Chapter 18 - Farewell to arms

Early riser as he was, Martin woke up even before James started his early morning concert. He quietely slipped out of the bed, dressed in his casual cloths and bent over the baby cot at the very moment his son opened his eyes and stretched his little body. Martin lifted the boy out of the cot, cuddled him and whispered, 'Good morning James, come on, let's get some coffee downstairs'. He picked up the baby bag, tossed in the necessities for his son's breakfast and silently left the room.

Downstairs, he first went to the toilet room of the restaurant, to the special baby room. He changed James' nappy and dressed the boy. Then he headed to the restaurant. A rather young waitress came to his table. 'Strong double espresso and.. uhmm.. Can you warm this bottle? Make sure it does'nt get too hot, please.. And a bowl of dry cornflakes too'.

'Komt in orde mijnheer!, right away sir.'

Martin sat back, with James on his lap, when the waitress returned with a small but practical highchair for James. In her Amsterdam accent she said, 'zo jongeheer, een troon voor de kleine prins!'

Martin didn't understand much of what she said, but captured the last word and assumed that James was called his little prince.

'You know, in two weeks time we will get a new King. He will be crowned her in Amsterdam - logic, it is the capital of the country! After four Queens, it's quite something here in the Netherlands, to get a king.'

Martin tapped with his fingers on the table getting impatient. He longed for his coffee.. Why do people always want to chat or give you information you didn't ask for, he thought. The sessions with Dr. Johnson had learnt him to hold his tongue, however. He didn't want to spoil the stay in the hotel, which was of high standard and excellent quality. If not, he wouldn't have asked the girl to prepare the bottle for James.

The girl tickled James under his chin. It made him gigle and squeal of joy. 'I've seen another boy of his age in the hotel yesterday', the waitress added. 'His daddy was to attend the medical conference. I bet you'll do that too?'

'Hmm, yes... none of your business!'

'Definitely two of a kind!, he answered the same thing, none of my business..'. The waitress finally went away to get his coffee. A few minutes later, James was enjoying his bottle and a bowl of dry cereals he nibbled on and Martin took the first sip of a steaming hot espresso - just the way he liked it, strong and hot.

'Ellingham!', a well known voice said.

This time Martin was better prepared, so no nausea attack came up. Must have been the efficient remedy his wife gave him last night. He blushed at the thought of it, then inhaled and said,

'Edith...Either call me Dr. Ellingham, or Martin, but not just Ellingham - sounds so.. so cold..'.

'Gee, I am surprised you're even allowed to speak to me! Those lovely women around you keep you firmly under the thumb, don't they? Ellingham, you've become a wimp!' She plopped down on a chair opposite to Martin.

'NO, I've not!' Martin yelled.

James scowled, but continued to suck his bottle. He seemed to know by now that when his daddy yelled like that, it wasn't addressed to him.

Martin cleared his throat,

'You know, Edith, you've always thought you can put everything at your hand'.

Thinking about his departure from the hotel just before her presentation, he continued 'Sometimes without success, you have to admit that. You have become rather crass over the years. Your insinuation yesterday was ways beyond what's acceptable, even to me. And I can tell you, I've been called a tosser more than a thousand times. I've changed, Edith, yes indeed, that's what love, real love does to a person, it makes you more considerate, but not a wimp! .

Having said that, he stroke his son over his soft blond hair, then he added, just the way she used to do in the past:

'Appology accepted, ...coffee?'

'Ehm, no I have a plane to catch' Edith stood up.

'Well then, uhm... I do hope you'll have the occasion to have this experience yourself some day. Well not the child of course, your way to old for that as you know far better than me, but it might not be to late to find someone to melt your hart...good luck and goodbye Edith'.

'Goodbye Ellin... Martin'.

Dear readers, for this rather short chapter I found the inspiration in the spirit of Christmas... Merry Christmas to you all! Hope to finally give you a glimpse of those tulip fields soon, cheers!