Chapter 5 - Stars

Martin and Louisa slept quietly after their very satisfactory love making. Their legs intertwined and Louisa's head resting on Martin's chest. Both had obviously very pleasant dreams..

In the other room, James started to whimper. Martin's perfect hearing woke him up immediately. Carefully, he moved out of the bed, trying not to wake up Louisa. He put on his dressing gown.

He entered James' room, 'Shsh, James, you're going to wake up your mother..', he said softly.

James stood in his cot his hands holding the bars in a firm grip to steady himself. Big tears fell down on his chucky cheeks. Even though in the beginning, when James was just a few days old, he preached that it wasn't good to pick up the baby at any first little whimper, he now bended over and lifted James up in his arms.

'What's the matter son, can't you sleep? You can't be hungry, is it? You're too old for night feedings now young man..' Martin touched james' forehead. 'No fever either'. He then took a tissue and gently whiped the tears away. James already calmed down by the soft and comforting voice of his daddy. Martin kissed James on his forehead to sooth him further.

Martin sat down in Louisa's rocking chair right next to the window and installed James comfortably on his lap, rocking the chair gently.

Martin remembered the time he was a little boy. When he couldn't sleep, he put a chair in front of the window and on his knees, his arms resting on the window sill, he used to stare into the dark night, scrutinizing the sky for blinking stars.. He kept looking at them until his eyes were too tired to stay open and then went back to bed.

Very young, he had understood that this was a better method to get over his fears and worries than to call for his mum or dad. That would only result in either a promiss from his mother to be locked in the cupboard or a lashing with his belt from his father and in both cases it would result in wetting his bed...

Martin shivered at the sad memories of these lonely, anxious nights.

'My sweet little son, I will never ever let you struggle alone with your nightly fears or spooky dreams! I hope you will always come to me - or to your mummy - with any trouble you have to cope with...'

James looked at his father with his great blueish eyes and smiled. As if he understood every word his father said. 'Dada', he babbled, 'Dada'. One of his little hands reached at Martin's face. It felt like being softly caressed on the cheek. Martin swallowed hard and looked down at his wonderful son, HIS son... How wonderful this felt - comforting his little son and being comforted by this little creature at the same time..

Martin opened the curtains a bit. The sky was really bright and full of stars. 'Look James that's the Ursa Major and there you can see Ursa Minor and there is the moon too.. When you're some years older, I'll show you my book on the galaxies..'

Martin continued talking to James with a soft soothing voice. James had already put his thumb in his mouth. It didn't take long before he dozed of. Instead of putting him immediately back into his cot, Martin stayed a bit longer in the chair, cradling James and quietly rocking and enjoying the warmth of the little boy sleeping in his arms.

He looked at the stars and at his son alternately and thought about their marvelous little star. The center of the Ellingham universe.

Then, he stood up, gently kissed his son on his forehead, put him in his cot and tucked him in. 'Sleep tight James, tomorrow we are going to prepare our holidays..' Martin whispered, 'Our first family trip abroad, to the country of Rembrandt van Rijn, Van Gogh, Ruysdael...You're a bit young to understand it all, but your mummy will love it! And so do I'

As silently as possible he entered the master bedroom and regained his place in the bed, avoiding to touch Louisa with his cold feet and trying not to wake her up.

'What was wrong with James, Martin?' Her motherly instincts must have awakened her anyway.

'Nothing Louisa, he probably just had a bad dream', he put an arm around her waist and snuggled close to her, 'Now let's all try to have nice dreams...'. Based on the regular breathing, he understood that Louisa fell asleep immediately indeed. Must be one of the magical wonders of motherhood, he judged, benefiting of each moment of sleep you can get...

He himself lay awake for some time.

The wonderful evening, followed by the fabulous love making and the precious moment with James passed in review. He was sure that he would never forget this evening and night that brought him new, sweet memories, fading away the bitter ones from his youth. Not many persons will believe this, but it made him, the gruff and grumpy Dr Ellingham, smile...

To be continued..