Chapter 21

Lessons were suspended and games were the order of the morning. The children enjoyed themselves and were ready for lunch when the bell went. It would be a short afternoon for after the assembly they would be finished for the holidays.

Louisa had been given lots of cards from the children and staff, and packed them in her bag and set off for home. She knew she had to call into her old house and collect her decorations, so turned in that direction. She went upstairs to her little bedroom and searched the cupboards. The lights were the first thing she found and then the baubles. There was no sign of the tree. She locked up and went back to the surgery. She spotted Al and asked if he would be free to take her to Wadebridge to buy a tree?

"Yeah, sure Louiser. I've got some things to get for Pauline."

Later that night as Martin entered the kitchen, he looked around at the soft glow coming from the lounge. Standing in front of the window, a small tree decorated with baubles and lights reflected soft colours around the room. He recalled the tall, stiffly decorated trees that his mother had someone put up in their formal dining room. The light spreading out from them seemed harsher. He had been forbidden from touching the tree and most of the time even entering that room. The ambience cast by the lights was warming and so telling of Louisa.

At that moment she entered from the garden and saw him looking at the tree. "Evening, Martin. Do you like it?"

He startled and recollected his whereabouts. "Yes, I do. It looks different somehow to the formal trees I remember from my childhood." He dropped his eyes and said quietly, "I wasn't allowed to touch them."

Louisa moved into his arms and hugged him. "We'll start a new tradition, going forward. A real tree with lots of lights and decorations," she promised him. Looking into his eyes she saw a new hope sparking to life.

"Yes."

"Come on, tea's ready. Have you finished for the day?" she asked him.

"Finally. There seems to have been a run, on stupidity and common colds, overtaking the population of Portwenn," he grumbled.

"Martin!"

He shrugged and moved to the table to eat.

"Well, I'm finished until the New Year and so I'll get to see you throughout the day, which I'll enjoy." She peeked up at him with mischief in her eyes.

He took a fresh look at her, seeing with his doctor's eye that she was looking both fit and relaxed. "You mustn't overdo things Louisa. You should take more time to do tasks now that you don't have to go to school. You don't have to race about."

"Yes Doctor. I'll take care." She dropped a kiss on his head as she went to make a pot of tea. They sat on the couch, each in their own thoughts. Louisa was contemplating what she needed to do to make this the best Christmas ever, while Martin was lost in remembrance of some of the worst Christmases he'd had as a child.

His parents, especially his mother, entertained a lot and there was a party held on most weekends, during the holiday season. If family were present or a person who was important enough to his father's career he was brought down and paraded before everyone before being banished back to his bedroom. He was always quiet and introverted, something which his parents seemed to detest about him. He had never found favour with either of them no matter how hard he'd tried.

He brought himself back to the present, once again looking at Louisa. Her vivacity and love for him was both heart-warming and astounding at times. He sometimes pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He'd finished his drink and, taking her cup from her, pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her gently and then with more passion. Louisa was delighted and responded willingly. When they came up for air, she looked at him and suggested they would be more comfortable upstairs.

"I'll just lock up and be there shortly," he promised…