Chapter 93

It didn't take long to put the shopping away. She decided that she was too upset to have a cooked meal and opted for sardines on toast. They could always have fruit for afters.

A nap was out of the question and so she got out her marking and tried to let the upset with Sally fade from her mind. She couldn't do that entirely, because of the looming talk with Martin.

Gradually the clock crept around to five p.m. and she waited with the tea ready for Martin's arrival. He came in and bent to kiss her. "Now then Beauty, how have you been?"

"OK for the most part. Sit down and we'll have our tea. I've just done sardines on toast because I didn't fancy a full cooked tea. Fruit for afters if you want it." She poured the tea out and sat down to eat.

Normally the Ellinghams didn't talk too much while they were eating so Louisa's silence was not so remarkable. Eventually they'd finished and Louisa looked across at her husband. "Martin," she began, "I've got something to tell you. It isn't very pleasant and I have taken steps to alleviate the situation."

"Well what is it? I can't be expected to react if I don't know what this is about?"

Louisa took a deep breath and began, "I called in to the chemist to get your things. Mrs Tishell said that she would have to order several items. I said that was fine, and that you would be in later to collect everything once it was there."

Martin cocked his head to one side, still unsure as to what Louisa was upset about.

"She'd greeted me when I came in with the statement that she didn't think I was in Portwenn. I asked her what she meant and she came over all funny. Declaring that she didn't know how to tell me about something shocking she'd seen between you and a red-head, on Friday afternoon!

"She claimed she'd seen you and said red-head in a passionate clinch, on the terrace. She'd been shocked to the core to see such behaviour!"

Martin began to look thunderous. "What? How dare she say those things to you?" He began to get up.

"No, sit down, Martin, I'm not done yet. As she told me this, I noticed she was looking at me to see what my reaction would be. I protested that you would not do such a thing, and then I saw her smirk. That's when I knew she was just winding me up. She said she knew I would be at school, but had to tell me about what she'd seen."

"I leaned over the counter and said quietly that I hoped she hadn't said any of this to anyone else?"

She replied, "No, Louisa, I haven't."

"Then I told her that actually I was at home on Friday as it was time for my check-up. I also told her that I'd seen Edith go and that all she'd done was to briefly kiss your cheek. Then I said THERE WAS NO PASSIONATE EMBRACE at all, and that this was just her fevered imaginings."

"I threatened at first to tell Clive as soon as I saw him about her odious behaviour. Then I said that I hoped she'd not said anything to anyone else because if I heard from another person about this, I would sue her for defaming your character! Adding the rider that this could probably see her being struck off!"

Martin looked at her and could see she was really upset. He was gratified that she'd leapt to his defence, and from what he'd heard, quite effectively.

"I asked her if Clive would be home within the next two weeks and she confirmed he would be. I then stormed out of the shop leaving her looking absolutely miserable."

"Good, thank you for defending me in that way. I won't go and see her now because I might do something I'd regret. I'm going to close my private account with her, but I'll have to leave the business one open. She might take the hint that if she tries to cause anymore mischief between us, I would close that account as well."

Louisa could see that he was still very annoyed with Mrs Tishell, and was happy that he wouldn't go down there immediately. She too, was afraid he would go too far. "I think you're right, Martin. We'll let her stew for a while."

"So, how was your day?"

"Boring compared to yours. No fireworks, just routine things, really." He stood up, came around the table to embrace her. "I love you," he whispered.

"Right, I think I'll go and tinker with my clock. Will you be all right now?"

Louisa said, "Yes. That's fine. I've got more marking to do, and now I've got all that off my chest, I should be able to concentrate properly."

Although he looked calm, inside Martin was seething. "How dare that woman interfere in his life? Didn't she have enough to do between her business and her own husband?"

Sitting down behind his desk he wondered just what to do about the situation. He mulled it over and decided he needed an objective view on it, so picked up the phone and called Paul.

"Good evening, Paul. This is Martin Ellingham."

"Hi there, Martin. Did you enjoy your holiday?"

"Yes. That's not the reason I phoned. I've got a situation between myself and Mrs Tishell, which I'd like to discuss with you. I need an objective viewpoint to decide what to do about it. Can you make time to see me this week, please?"

"Let me check my diary," Paul went and picked it up off the desk. "Would Wednesday afternoon be suitable?"

"That would be good, erm fine. I'll close the surgery for an hour or two. What time shall I be there?"

"Say 1:30 ish?"

"Thank you, Paul. I'll be there."

Martin got up and went back into the kitchen. "Louisa, I've arranged to go and see Paul on Wednesday afternoon. If I try to speak to Mrs T anytime between now and then, well I won't be responsible."

Louisa agreed. "It is very stressful, I know. Talking it over with an outsider to the village, might be very useful. At least he does know what she's like."

Martin sighed. As If he didn't have enough to think about. He went back to his desk and looked at the box in the corner. He couldn't summon up the enthusiasm to begin looking at the clock again. Instead he flipped through the pages of his old BMJ's, but even those didn't hold his attention for long. He checked the time, too late to go for a walk, or drive. Too early to go to bed. He flipped open his computer and began looking for examples of obsessive women. Sadly there were far too many pages of information. He shut the computer down and instead went back to the lounge.

As he went in, Louisa was just putting the school books back in her bag. She looked over to him and smiled her special smile. Immediately it made him feel lighter and his mood lifted.

He went over to her and pulled her close. "Have I told you how much I love you?" he murmured.

"Hmm, I believe you've mentioned it once or twice, but I like hearing you say it!" She tightened her arms around him and they kissed.

"Come over here," she said, pulling him towards the couch.

He sat down and lifted her onto his lap. They began kissing and talking quietly to each other. Martin eased back and drew her with him. His hands moved slowly over her before finding the bottom of her blouse and sliding in to her bare flesh. Slowly he stroked her back as he kissed her gently.

Louisa sighed and reached up to unknot his tie. The top button of his shirt was opened as she nuzzled in to him.

Just as things were really getting interesting Joan's "Only me." Sounded in the kitchen.

The lovers jumped off the couch, like naughty schoolchildren. "Auntie Joan! What are you doing here?"

Joan looked from one to the other and quickly surmised what they had been doing. "I've been to the Women's Guild meeting and thought I'd pop in to see my favourite nephew and niece! Why, do you want me to go?"

"No Joan. Stay and have a cup of tea. We were just about to make one." Louisa offered.

Martin was slow in saying "Yes." But had to back up Louisa's invitation. He went to the kettle and put it on.

Joan sat at the table and waited for Louisa to join her. Martin got out the cups and made the tea.

"What's your day been like, Joan?"

"Fairly quiet. I didn't deliver any veg, but I did get some new seed potatoes to put in, ready for later in the year. I saw Mr Moysey walking around looking totally lost. I think he ought to come and see you, Martin."

"Why's that?"

"His wife isn't well; in fact I'm wondering if she is rather ill. He doesn't seem able to cope. Have you seen him, recently?"

"I can't discuss my patients, Auntie Joan. You know that."

Joan rolled her eyes at Louisa who just shrugged.

"Well what about the two of you, have you got any news?"

"Not from me. My patients today had fairly routine ailments so nothing to tax myself over."

"The school children were quite good. I only had to tell one or two off for being noisy. They are usually boisterous after a weekend off."

"When I came home, I called into the shops to get fresh milk and bread, but other than that, not a lot going on. I'm still being asked about our holidays. It keeps them fresh in my mind."

Louisa asked Joan, "Have you heard from Ruth?"

Joan perked up and said that she hadn't but had arranged to go to London over the Whit weekend to see her and go to a show.

"Ooh, that will be good. Which show?"

"The Phantom of the Opera, I think. It's one I haven't seen before, anyway."

"We've been invited to go to the Parson's house for lunch, this coming Sunday. I'm looking forward to seeing their place and building up my friendship with Carol."

"Are they the ones who live in Truro?" asked Joan.

"That's right. Martin was in medical school with Chris. Did I tell you the school is getting some of the PCT old computers?"

"No. How did that come about?"

"Well, when they were here, we were talking and I mentioned how disappointed I was that the school couldn't afford new ones because of budget constraints. Chris suddenly said he had an idea, but wouldn't elaborate. A few weeks later I was called into the headmaster's office and told that three of the old computers plus educational software would be sent to us! Free, gratis and for nothing!"

Joan smiled brightly. "Well that is good news. When are they coming?"

"Hopefully during the next school holidays. Chris is sending a couple of his technicians to position the computers and install the software. The children will be excited, because these new computers will be so much faster than our old ones."

Martin had been content to let Louisa take on the brunt of the conversation, and therefore was surprised when Joan suddenly asked him if he'd heard from his parents?

"No, and I don't want to, either." He nodded his head firmly to show he was adamant about that.

"Okay, okay. I only asked."

Joan had finished her tea and told them she was going home. "I'll pick you up at half-three on Thursday, Louisa."

"Thanks Joan, Goodnight."

Martin echoed the farewell, and then closed and locked the door before going to the front door to make sure it was securely shut.

"Where are you going with Joan?"

"Oh I forgot to mention it, didn't I? I decided to go and get some new blouses and trousers with an elastic waist which will expand as I do." She patted her now larger abdomen. "I didn't want to spoil the whole of your weekend so I asked Joan if she would take me to the late-night opening shops in Wadebridge. In return I'll treat her to some fish and chips for tea. You too."

She saw Martin begin to open his mouth, "Martin, don't even think it!"

Martin closed his mouth and said "Yes."

She moved closer to him and asked, "Where were we when we were so rudely interrupted?"

"I know where we were, but I think we'd do better to finish it upstairs," he whispered.