Chapter 23 – Long time no see!

After the nutritious lunch, the conference continued. Martin and Martinus tried to listen to the presentations, but weren't very impressed by its content. They softly discussed with each other when they detected an error in the presentation or when they judged that an illogic conclusion was brought up. When they had to participate in discussions or workshops, they soon competed to be the first in finding the right answers. Martin had to admit to himself, that he really liked being seated next to Martinus and working together. It reminded him of the time in med-school, when he studied together with Chris Parson. But that was different, because Chris had difficulties in keeping up with him, intellectually. In fact, and Chris admitted it, he had been the one who helped Chris through med-school. This was the first time he found someone to spar with. Actually, he was having fun..

At 17:30, the conference finished. A drink was organized, sponsored by some pharmaceutical firm, but Martin didn't want to mingle, so he left the conference room. Martinus did the same.

'Off to wife and son', he said, 'see you tomorrow'.

Just as they shook hands, Edwin, with Louisa with James and Morwenna in tow, entered the lobby by the door leading to the garage. As soon as James saw his father, he squealed with joy and became fussy in his mother's arms.

'Dada', he said.

Louisa, who was discussing with Edwin, looked around and then also saw her husband, discussing with another man, similarly dressed in a nice dark blue suit and a modest tie. 'Two of a kind' , she thought while walking over to them.

James giggled and gave his father a huge smile. When they were close enough, James stretched his arms and reached out for his father.

Martin made a step forward towards Louisa and took his son in his arms, holding him closely. As he always did, Martin touched his son's forehead with two fingers to check his temperature. James gave him a smile and grabbed his daddy's tie.

'Well, that's definitely your son, Martin, a spitting image!' Martinus said. 'And you must be Mrs. Ellingham', he added, addressing himself to Louisa.

'Hmm, yes, my wife, Louisa. Louisa, this is Martinus Elzenbosch, a Dutch colleague.'

'That's wonderful, Martin, you already got to know someone!' Louisa had her wonderful smile on her beautiful face, when shaking hands with Dr. Elzenbosch. Martin felt a short pang of jealousy and possessively put his free arm around Louisa's shoulders. He bent down to kiss her on her cheek.

Louisa looked up at him, surprised by this behaviour, so uncommon for her husband. She then stroke his cheek and smiled at him too.

'I'm off, Ellingham, Martinus said, 'me too, I have a lovely wife and a son of about his age at home. I can't wait to see them. Have a good evening!'

Martinus paced to the door to the garage and Martin addressed a word to Edwin.

'Mr de Vries, how did it go, no scratches on my Lexus?'

'Martin!', Louisa warned.

'Dr Ellingham, you have a fine car, it was an honour to drive it. I think your family had a very pleasant day and I made good progress with my study.' Edwin handed him the keys.

'Ehm, would it be possible to use your services this evening as well? I'd like to take my family to a restaurant, but it'll be too far to walk.'

'Of course sir, at what time?'

'18:30, please, we'll meet you here in the lobby. And ehm, Louisa, we'll have a guest, another young student, British.'

'Martin, I don't know..? We have had a long day and James must be tired.'

'Nonsense, we'll have to eat anyway and trust me, you'd regret it when you'd not meet this fellow. Come on, let's go and freshen up'.

Her eyebrows raised in surprise, she followed Martin to the elevator, mentally scanning all persons she knew, to find out who this mysterious person could be.

When the little group arrived at their respective rooms, Martin handed James over to Louisa who had opened their door and said,

'Morwenna, can I just have a short word with you please?'

Morwenna flushed. 'What did I do wrong?', she asked herself.

'O -Of course Dr. Ellingham', she stuttered

'Morwenna, I suppose you'll join us at dinner tonight, right?'

'Thank you Doc… Doctor, yes, I'd like that'.

'Good, fine, that's settled then. Morwenna, tomorrow night, I'd like to take my wife to a restaurant. Ehm, together, just the two of us…'. Martin's face reddened when he said that.

'I mean, could you…would you mind to look after James tomorrow evening?', Martin asked.

'Of course you can order whatever you want from the room service and you'll be paid extra for the babysitting'

Morwenna sighed, she was relieved, she hadn't done anything the doctor disliked.

'Of course, Doc, that's why you asked me to come, isn't it?'

'Good, I am glad you accept it. Don't forget that I pay all of your telephone bill, so if you want to call Al, be my guest… Oh yes …and thank you for the wonderful pictures you made of my family, they are of very good quality. Be downstairs at 18:30!'.

Having said that, he entered his room, leaving Morwenna in awe. 'Gee, he must be seriously in love with his wife, that guy', she thought. 'I have to tell Al…'

In the meantime, Peter Cronk was busy preparing himself for his meeting with the Doc and his wife.

When the afternoon program was about to end, Peter Cronk had quietly left the conference room and had gone to his room. He didn't want to be late for the meeting. Doc hadn't mentioned her name, who would she be?

He took a shower, shaved and dressed in one of the new suits he had bought before coming to the Netherlands. But then he hesitated, here in the Netherlands, people dressed less formal when going to dinner, wouldn't it be better to dress casually? Suddenly the telephone in the room rang.

'Hello, this is Peter Cronk speaking…'

'Peter, Dr. Ellingham. Just dress casually, I 'll do too. See you in half an hour.'

Before he could say anything, the telephone dropped dead, Doc had hung up.

'OK, that's solved then', he thought and he put on a casual pair of trousers, a polo shirt and a dark blue pullover.

Martin and Louisa also prepared for the dinner meeting. Louisa didn't stop asking questions, but each time, Martin only gave a vague 'Hmmm' as an answer. While Louisa took her shower, he occupied himself with giving a short bath to James. He so much enjoyed this moment with his son, who joyfully played with a bath duck Louisa had brought with them. Martin watched his son for a moment, but then decided that it was time for him too, to prepare himself. So he lifted his son out of the tub and quickly dried him and dressed him in fresh cloths and put him in the cot with some toys. Then he took his shower too and dressed in his casual cloths.

At exactly 18:25 the small family went downstairs. Just before the elevator door closed, Morwenna arrived and joined them.

A bit nervous, Peter Cronk entered the hotel lobby at 18:25. No sign of the Doc yet. Only another young bloke seemed to be waiting for someone. Then the sound of the arriving elevator could be heart and the familiar large frame of the Doc exited it. He carried a toddler on his arm, blond like the Doc and with the same big, somewhat protruding ears. His son, without any doubt. Peter still couldn't get a glimpse of Mrs. Ellingham, she must be right behind Martin. Then Peter saw a very young woman, not much older than he was himself. 'No he thought, Doc wouldn't do that – marry a girl thirty years younger of age!'

The little group came closer and closer.

'Good evening Dr. Ellingham, Mrs Ellingham, Morwenna', the other young man said. He approached the group and politely shook hands with Martin. 'I'm ready to transport you to the restaurant.'

Then another woman appeared from behind Martin's back. Peter recognized her at first sight. It WAS miss G, his favourite miss Glasson, he discovered with intense relief. 'So it DID work for them after all!' he thought and he felt so happy about it. He made some steps forward.

'Mrs Ellingham, how do you do?', he said hesitantly when he was just a few meters away from them.

Louisa looked at him intensely, then smiled broadly, opened her arms and practically screamed, 'Peter, Peter Cronk, how good to see YOU! What are you doing here?' She kissed him on both cheeks and gave him a huge hug.

Peter returned the hugs and kisses and addressed a charming smile to his favourite Miss G , now Mrs. E.

'Good to see you too, Mrs. Ellingham'.

With a nod in the direction of Martin, he added, 'Uhm… Do you remember that fateful afternoon years ago, when I made the awful fall during PE?… When you escorted me to the hospital, because we didn't give the Doc the opportunity to examine me thoroughly? That's when I told you that you loved him. You wouldn't listen then. But I am so glad you've found each other.'

His remark made Louisa blush. Louisa then turned to Martin and smiled her lovely smile. 'Martin what is Peter doing here?'

'He attends to the conference too', Martin answered matter-of-factly. 'Now let's go and have dinner. Mr. de Vries, get the car, please!'

to be continued

Dear readers, I'll try to post the next chapter next weekend!