Chapter 4

She stood at the plat for a little while to take in some good, fresh sea air. She listened to the waves as well as innocent chatter from the locals, going about their business. She had done this since she could remember but it resonated with Louisa that the more stressed or upsetting life was, the more time she spent on the plat, or sometimes on the beach, well just anywhere near the sea. She'd come for a wander before work this morning. She wasn't sleeping too well, and she wasn't really sure whether it was Martin- or baby-induced. But she had to focus her attention now, the birth was just around the corner. 4 weeks to go.

The news of Martin moving away had knocked her more than she'd ever show. Being a single mother was one thing, but being a single mother with Dad in a different country, well, that worried her terribly. But she had to remind herself that Martin was a free man, can do what he wants. Just like she can do what she wants. Martin didn't have a say when she moved to London or when she moved back to Cornwall, so she wasn't really in a position to question him.

The peace and quiet was so tranquil and then….

'Loooooouisaaaaa' Bert shouted all the way from his restaurant. Which was part B&B, part shop for old plumbing equipment, and well, whatever Bert fancied turning his hand to of a weekend. He held up both arms and waved them in the air, being sure to get Louisa's attention. Never mind Louisa's attention, the whole village heard him.

Louisa laughed with slight embarrassment, but Bert never failed to amuse her. She gave a big wave back with a beautiful, wide smile. She was so happy to see everybody. Her friends that had looked after her since day one.

'I've got a few bookings at the eatery this afternoon. Then I'll be right over to yours, Louisa. Might have a little surprise for yoooou!' He continued to shout.

'Ok, see you later!' before she waved him goodbye. Louisa didn't really want to guess what the surprise may be but that was so sweet of him. Knowing Bert, it would be something homemade. She laughed and made her way to school.

XXX

Meanwhile at the surgery, Martin was erecting a big whiteboard on a tripod stand, right in front of Pauline's desk. It read 'Absolutely NO TIME WASTERS. Anybody who wants to chit-chat, talk about the weather, or discuss imaginary symptoms- register at Wadebridge or Truro. 01579 333471.'

Pauline and the patients who had already arrived for their appointments were trying their hardest to take this seriously, and not to laugh. Pauline just couldn't contain herself any longer and burst into fits of laughter. Martin was mystified. 'What's wrong with you?' he asked her.

'Nothing. Haha. Doc, why don't you just put a sign outside the front door saying No Riff Raff allowed.' Again, she burst into laughter.

'Riff Raff?' Martin rarely had any idea what she was talking about or why she behaved in such manners. 'Strange girl' he muttered to himself.

'Pauline. Anybody who enters the surgery must read this notice. You must then check that they have read it. And double check.' Before marching his way to the consultation room. He sat down briefly before his first patient. Every spare minute he had was spent wondering about Louisa. It felt as though every day, a new question would spring to his mind or a new concern, or a new anxiety. The long and short of it was, that he needed to speak to Louisa. Not in the surgery, or in the school playground. Somewhere appropriate.

He made up his mind. After his last appointment of the day, he would go to Louisa's cottage and sort things once and for all. He could not bury his head any longer and this mess couldn't go on. Also, a perfect opportunity to check that Louisa was ok, physically.

He sighed as the first set of notes made their way to him. 'Hewitt. Harry Hewitt' he barked.

XXX

'Ok Louisa. You stay back here and keep your eyes closed at all times- those are the rules' As Bert lead Louisa into her kitchen insisting that she turn her back to the front door.

Louisa was intrigued but worried at the same time. What was he up to?

'It's bigger than I first thought, you see. I'm going to need to wheel it in'

'Oh Bert. I hope you haven't gone to any trouble' She really was a bit worried. Bert had the heart of gold but could be a bit ambitious at the same time. She kept her back to the front door as well as keeping her eyes shut as promised, all the while wondering what on earth was going on. She heard a thud against her front door and cringed slightly.

'Nearly there, Louisa. Just don't look'. There was a lot of shuffling between him and Al as they attempted to manoeuvre this mysterious package into her lounge.

'Ok so before you look, Louisa. I want you to know that you can be honest and tell us if it's the wrong colour. We did ask Pauline for help, woman's touch and all.'

Louisa cringed again. Whatever it was, knowing Pauline, it would be bright orange or yellow.

'You can look now'

Louisa turned slowly around and was just blown away. Completely and entirely blown away by surprise. 'Oh my goodness!' she gasped.

Bert and Al began to feel very proud of themselves. 'You like it, then?' Bert chuckled.

It was a brand new, black and red pram. It had a silver chassis with a little parasol. It was beautiful. Louisa walked closer to get a better look as she gasped again. 'Oh my goodness! Is this for us?'

'Certainly is. Me and Al kept aside some of our profits from last week, from the restaurant and also had a cheeky little whip-round in the Lobster. We wanted to show you that we care. We all care. Well except for that tosser Doc Martin.' Al gave his father a nudge and one of his 'shut up' looks.

'Oh Bert. I don't know what to say. It's beautiful. Thank you. Thank you so much!' Louisa continued to play with the bits and pieces and started pushing it around the lounge. It would be so handy for her and the baby.

'Here. I spoke to the guy at the shop. He showed me how to use it so I can show you, Mummy.' That was Al trying to make her laugh. He went on to show Louisa how it could lay baby flat, and came with a cushioned, white inlay. Then he showed her how the pram sits upright for when baby is a bit older.

'This is just perfect.' Louisa was completely overwhelmed and didn't even know where to begin when thanking everybody. She gave Bert and Al a hug. She grew up with inadequate parents really, but how could she complain, when the people she grew up around looked after her so tenderly.

'Gosh, we're so spoilt' she laughed. That laugh was then cut short when Bert became serious 'Oh Hello Doc.' Louisa turned her head swiftly. Bert and Al picked up on the cue that maybe it was their time to leave. 'Right Louisa, I'll call back again soon. Leave you two lovebirds together.' Lovebirds they were not.

XXX

Martin stared at the pram as if it were something from space. He tilted his head to inspect it further, he had no idea what all the little mechanisms were for. He also had no idea that these things needed to be so big; it almost filled Louisa's front room. He also felt a surge of guilt, he knew that it should have been him buying a pram for Louisa.

'Is that for the child?' he didn't really know how else to start the conversation.

Louisa could see he was nervous, so was she. There they both sat directly opposite each other in Louisa's lounge. This painful, uncomfortable tension between the two of them as they both sat awkwardly with both their backs upright. The most painful thing about it was that, beneath everything, beneath all the painful words they often, over the years, spat at each other; their rows were much closer to love than they would ever be hate or anger.

Martin sighed and looked down. Louisa sighed and looked down.

'I know about Edinburgh.' She was so fed up; no matter what the issue had ever been between the two of them, there was always an elephant in the room. And they didn't have time for that now.

Martin looked startled. He wasn't expecting that. Of course, he was going to tell her and discuss it, but how did she know?

'Right.' He replied quickly, 'It's er, with the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, err, Vascular. Not head of, but I will be performing surgery alongside Dr Arnold Barrett. He's agreed to er guide and mentor me for the first six months at least and errr'

'You know, I would have appreciated it if you had just told me, Martin.'

'I was going to tell you. I was waiting for the right time. But also, I'd appreciate it if you didn't send your friends to pass on messages.'

'What do you mean?' She rubbed her forehead- Pippa! 'All I'm saying, Martin, is that I have a right to know. I think I deserve to know where my child's father is!'

'And I had the right to know about this child. Eight months ago.'

'Actually, I think you gave up any right when you made it perfectly clear, that you wanted nothing to do with it!'

The whole conversation had a very passive-aggressive tone and they were both equally frustrated with one another.

Martin stood and made his way to the door, 'I don't see the point in this discussion. Neither of us are going to benefit from it.' He said in a defeated tone. They both felt defeated, and also exhausted by it all.

'Goodnight, Louisa'

'Goodbye, Martin'.