Chapter 90

Carrying the bunch of dianthus, Martin walked into the kitchen. Louisa was sound asleep on the couch. He knelt down and kissed her gently. A flutter of eyelashes and she finally focussed on the flowers. A smile lit her face as she looked beyond them, into Martin's eyes. "I'm sorry Martin, to get so het up about a such a trivial thing as a digestive biscuit. Thank you for the flowers."

She made as if to rise, but Martin held her down and kissed her again. "I love you," he whispered. "You stay there and I'll make tea. Or do you want to go out?"

"You make tea. I still feel a little tired."

He put the backs of his fingers to her forehead. "Perhaps the walk on top of the emotions you've had today, was a little too much, hmm?"

"Would you put my flowers in water, please? They'll last longer if you do that." She relaxed back onto the sofa and watched him efficiently put together a light meal.

"Fruit for afters?" Martin's raised eyebrow asked the question. "Tinned fruit cocktail in natural juice, or another fruit?"

"I'll have the cocktail, please. Did you get Edith's paper sorted, then?"

"I don't know why she came to me. If she'd expended a little thought, she could have done it, herself. Instead she mucked up my afternoon." Louisa could see that he was irritated, but kept her delight to herself.

"Has Chris been in touch about going there?" She diverted the conversation to other, more pleasant avenues."

"Ohh! I forgot to mention it. Next Sunday, 1:00p.m."

"I'm looking forward to that. A chance to put my glad rags on." At his quizzical expression she said, "my good clothes."

"You look lovely in whatever you wear," he observed.

"Thank you, Martin. I'm glad you appreciate it."

"Yes."

Louisa washed the pots and Martin retreated to his study to work on the French clock.

He'd thought he knew what was wrong, but polishing out the bur on one of the gear wheels hadn't resolved the problem. He set his tools out and then proceeded to strip the clock down again.

As each part came off, he dropped it into the cleaning solution he'd prepared. He left the pieces to soak and got a soft cloth and cleaned the inside of the case, as well as the protective glass cover. Both were very dirty and he grimaced at the cloth when he'd finished.

He laid out some paper towels and carefully placed each piece separately onto the paper. Then he took another piece of paper and carefully cleaned the part. Again there was more dirt coming off each item.

As each piece became clean, he used his loupe to finely inspect the cogs and spindles. Eventually he found a small abrasion on one of the spindles, which may be inhibiting the smooth running of the gears. He used more polish to clean the abrasion out and then began to put the pieces back.

A knock on his study door and Louisa popped her head around it. "Do you want a cup of tea, before bed, Martin?"

He looked at his watch and was astonished to see that he'd been working for nearly three hours! "Time flies when you are enjoying yourself," he said. "No pun intended,"

"Er, yes tea would be fine, good, hmm."

She disappeared back to the kitchen and he stored the dismantled pieces in a tray, ready to go back in the clock at his next opportunity.

"Did you find the problem, Martin?"

"Er, I think so. There were two problems, actually. One of the cogs had a bur on a tooth, and one of the spindles had an abrasion on it. I smoothed out both of them and cleaned the inside of the clock thoroughly. It was quite dirty. I've not had time to put everything back, but I'm hopeful that when I do, it will work."

She smiled at him, recognising the boyish pleasure he'd had whilst "fiddling about."

"What about you? What did you do?"

"There was a nature program on TV. I saw that and then finished my book. Pretty mundane really."

The next morning Martin was up and about before Louisa. He prepared breakfast and as he was waiting for her, he was looking at his diary.

When Louisa appeared she kissed his cheek and then sat down to eat her breakfast. "Thank you, Martin," she said, indicating her food.

"Mm."

"What are you doing? With your diary, I mean."

"Starting to check around the due date to make sure I get my time off, and to see that nothing interferes with the delivery date."

"Aren't you a little early with that? We don't know for definite it will arrive then! Might be late."

"That's why I'm clearing my schedule for the week before and the week after."

"Martin, how many pregnant patients have been through your surgery?"

"I don't know. Perhaps ten to twenty, why?"

"How many of those babies arrived on their due date?"

He thought back. "Three."

"I rest my case."

"So what are you going to do with the rest of the day?"

"Thought I'd continue with my clock. I feel sure it will work, this time."

He looked at Louisa, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to go through my wardrobe and sort my clothes out again, so that I have stuff to wear which actually fits. The outfits I'm currently wearing are now getting too tight. Besides with summer almost upon us I need lighter clothes, so as not to get too hot."

"I'll make lunch around 12:30. That OK for you, Martin?"

Looking through her wardrobe sometime later she pulled out a suitable dress and matching cardigan which would be just the thing for the visit to the Parsons, next week. She set that to one side and began to go through the rest of her clothes. As she worked her way through the outfits, she was reminded of the times she wore some of them. Martin had liked this one she knew. Although she was looking forward to the birth, she was also thinking that she would be glad to get into her "old" clothes again.

When she'd identified the outfits which would fit her now, she decided that a few more trousers and tops wouldn't go amiss. Perhaps Joan would like a run into Wadebridge after school next week? That way she wouldn't interfere with Martin's surgery work.

Louisa returned the clothes to her wardrobe and went and washed the bathroom. She also had to sort out her make-up and beauty creams which were in danger of falling off the shelf. Looking enviously at Martin's neatly arrayed toiletries she wished she could maintain that sort of order.

Going downstairs again Louisa made some tea and took a cup in for Martin. He looked up as she entered, "Oh, thank you. I was going to do that."

"I beat you to it. How's it going? Have you got it to work, yet?"

His face clouded, momentarily. "Not yet, there must be something I'm missing because I felt sure there were no more burs or abrasions on the cogs and spindles. I'll have to take it apart again and see if anything else is wrong."

Bending down she kissed his cheek, "Attaboy, tiger."

"Humf," was his response.

Laughing she went out to go and sit with her drink and read for a bit.

She'd read a few more chapters when her phone went off. Seeing that it was Joan, she settled herself into a more comfortable position, ready for a longish chat.

"Hi Joan, how are you today?"

"That was what I was going to say to you! I thought you looked a bit down in the dumps when I left yesterday. Did you resolve things with Martin?"

"Yes, in the main. He went to the garage to fill the car up and brought me back a bunch of dianthus. They're sat on the kitchen windowsill so that I can see them every day.

"That's good. "You know he does love you, very much. The trouble with him is he's had his feelings trodden on so many times by his parents and others, that he retreats behind his armour and rarely lets his true feelings show."

"I know that, Joan. Just at the minute my hormones have got me up and down like a yo-yo. I find I'm fine and then the next instant I'm at killing point. The least little thing gets on my nerves. I did find out one good thing though. After he'd helped Edith yesterday, he told me that with a bit of thought she could have done the revisions herself. He felt she'd mucked up his afternoon! He couldn't see why she bothered him at all. You can be sure I didn't enlighten him!"

Joan agreed, "The nerve of that woman! Thinking she could come waltzing back in and pick up where she left off! Detestable creature."

Louisa smiled at the vehemence of the statement. She certainly knew whose side Joan was on. "Joan, can I ask a favour of you, please?"

"Well go on, I can't say yes until I know what it is."

"I've been sorting my clothes out ready for the next couple of months and I've decided I need some more summery tops and trousers. I don't really want to ask Martin to take me on Saturday, as we're going to visit the Parsons on Sunday, and that would totally wreck his weekend. So could I ask if you would take me to Wadebridge one evening after school?"

"I'd be delighted to do that. I've enjoyed our visits together. Makes me feel useful again."

"Oh Joan, I hope you don't feel left out? I know you are an important person in our lives, for Martin and myself."

Suddenly Louisa giggled. "Why don't we choose a night when Mrs Cronk's fish and chip shop is open? We can bring a 'proper' fish meal in for tea. My treat!" She laughed merrily at the thought of Martin's consternation.

"How about next Thursday, then? Mrs C is open late on a Thursday, so we wouldn't have to rush back. Only for Martin's carbohydrate curfew. He can put that off for an hour or so if needs be,"

They chatted on about Joan's vegetables and her neighbours. She mentioned that she was doing some knitting now for the next jumble sale in aid of the Lifeboat station.

"If the little outfits you've done for Junior are anything to go by, I'm sure the garments will be snapped up in no time." Louisa was full of praise for the beautiful suits and matinee coats that Joan had already made, for Junior.

After a few more titbits of gossip were exchanged, Joan rang off leaving Louisa quite relieved that a) Joan was on her side vis-a-vis Edith, and b) that she would get the required lift into Wadebridge. All in all, a satisfactory morning.

Martin came through at lunchtime in a much better frame of mind.

"Have you found out the problem, then? asked Louisa.

"I believe so. One of the cogs is not quite the correct size. I'll need to replace it before testing out my theory."

"Well done. You must feel a great sense of satisfaction to have worked that out?"

"Simply a matter of going through the stages and arriving at the correct deduction." Martin, as ever, downplayed his skill.

"Are you going to do some more work on it, today?"

"No, I have to check the surgery supplies and make a list of anything I need. I'll go to Mrs Tishell's tomorrow."

"I need some toiletries from her, so if you give me your list, I'll drop it in. How's that?"

"Thanks, Louisa. You know how she fawns over me, if I go in. She's becoming a real nuisance."

"Well I've got lesson plans to prepare, then I have to check a couple of the books I marked. So, I'll see you at teatime then?"

He kissed her briefly and went back to the surgery.

Louisa had her nap and then made a cod mornay for tea. It was easy to do and only required a small amount of cooking time.

After tea, Martin suggested a walk down to the Platt.

Louisa was surprised, but pleased at his suggestion. Arm in arm they meandered down. They'd reached the bottom of the hill, when Bert's wheezy voice came from behind them.

"Doc! Here Doc," he puffed.

They stopped and Bert came up to them. "Doc, you were right! I got the envelope out and gave it to Al to look at. It does say I'm his Dad!" Bert's eyes teared up and he fought for composure.

"You always were, Bert. No one could doubt that. We're going for a walk, so excuse us." Martin pulled Louisa along and away from the emotional Bert.

She looked up at Martin. "You were very kind to him there."

"Despite what some people think, I can be considerate if the situation warrants it! Er, I didn't mean you."

Louisa smiled at his quick amendment. She squeezed his arm and they went on down.

As the tide was just coming in there were a few fishermen getting their boats ready to go out on the late tide. Chippy Miller was hovering, looking undecided about something.

"I hope you don't intend going out, Mr Miller? You could do a great deal of harm."

Chippy's shoulders drooped. "I know Doc, but it's hard when your mates are going and you're not."

"Well, you have my opinion. Your choice."

Martin and Louisa walked on. Martin looked down at her and saw her struggling not to ask him what was the matter with Chippy. He smiled and then straightened his face as she began to look up at him. Eventually they came as far as the school and turned around to go back home.

Various houses now showed lights at their windows, giving a softer picture to the village. The sea air added saltiness to the experience. A few of the other strollers greeted them, but beyond a few words in reply they continued their way home.

When they arrived home, Louisa said "I'm going to have a bath and wash my hair. Will you come and help me out, please?"

"Of course, Beauty. What else are Princes good for?"

She smiled her knowing smile, "What else indeed?"

Martin retired to the lounge to begin reading his BMJ's. Sometime later he heard Louisa call and so made his way upstairs to assist her safely out of the bath.

"I'll dry my hair and then come down for a drink of tea."

"OK." He knew from experience that it would take a good twenty minutes before this task was completed.

When she came down her tea was on the coffee table and he was again engrossed in his magazine.

"Did you make out your list, for the chemist?"

"Yes, but I left it on my desk. I'll put it on the kitchen table for you, tomorrow."

When she'd finished her drink, she went up to bed, while Martin locked the doors.