Chapter 44 - Gifted.

The evening turned out to be a relaxing one, with healthy nutritious food and pleasant discussions on different topics. Tom appeared to be someone who met Martin's standards for intelligence and was able to tell in a very interesting way about growing roses. He explained that he had managed to create a special species that had been recognized by the Brittish Roses society. It went without saying that he had called his new species Kathy. Martin showed really interested in the methods used for improving certain characteristics in a rose and understood that it needed a lot of patience.

"Apart from your job as a doctor, that you obviously do with a lot of passion and dedication, do you have any hobbies, Martin?", Tom asked him.

Martin suppressed his reflex to say "None of your business" and grunted instead: "Clocks."

"Clocks?"

"Hmm.. yes, clocks... antique clocks to be more precise... I like to mend them. Keeps in shape my manual dexterity. I've always been interested in how they worked. From the day that my grandfather allowed me to dismantel his pocket watch and to reassemble it. With his help of course."

From her side of the table, Louisa observed her usually grumpy husband. She stated that his eyes softened significantly when he spoke about his grandfather. Tom saw it also.

"Must be a wonderful memory for you Martin".

"Uhm.. yes", Martin replied, tucking in his chin. He started to feel uncomfortable and sincerely hoped that Fitzhenry wouldn't start about 'how wonderful family can be' or similar humbug and nonsense.

Tom noticed Martin's uncomfortable fussing. He said softly and out of hearing distance from the others, "It's Okay Martin, you may be oblivious of it, but the inner crowd of the so called noblesse, has given us a glimpse of your miserable background with a womanizer as a father and a mother as cold as a fish, keeping up appearances towards society but sending her son at a boarding school at the age of 5.. I feel sorry for you, my friend. I am glad to see that you have found someone to share your life with. From what I've seen from it Louisa adores you. As does your little boy.. And undoubtly, they both mean the world to you. "

"Thank you Tom", Martin said with a nod. With pride in his eyes he looked at his beautiful wife, who was at the moment busy with feeding James.

"Coming back to those clocks.. ", Tom said, "would you be interested in mending our Frisian pendulum clock? It's similar to the one in the hotel lobby. Ours has been in our family for quite some time, but since many years, it doesn't work anymore. So far, I haven't been able to find someone who could mend it. Can I at least invite you to come and have a look at it?"

"Well.. yes, why not?"

"Of course you should bring Louisa and James!", Tom added.

"I'm sure Louisa will be apreciate that" Martin confirmed.

Both men looked at their wives who were engaged in an enthousiastic discussion. For outsiders, it must look as if the two of them were old friends reunited, whereas they only knew each other for a couple of hours.

Martin's charming table companion required his attention again and asked him a lot of questions about how to treat frozen toes or fingers and if it was much different from treating fire injuries.

Again, it occurred to Martin how intelligent her questions were and he decided to do some research for her and find her an adequate book. For now, he told her "that's a really interesting question, Kathy. But I think it isn't a topic we should discuss while having dinner. I will send an answer to that by email to your mum or dad, OK?"

A little bit disapointed, Kathy nodded hesitantly. "Thank you doctor Ellingham".

Later, when they walked back to the hotel, Martin's thoughts wandered back to what Tom had said earlier. Indeed, he had been totally unaware of the fact that his parents' whereabouts had been publically shared with the high society jetset. He couldn't care less, but he was glad that it hadn't ever been written down in glossies and tabloids sold in the local shops of Portwenn. It had been bad enough that that moron of a Pitts had revealed his fear of blood. He also realized that Fitzhenry hadn't disclosed his knowledge, although there had been easy opportunities to do so. It felt strange that within a couple of days, he now had met two persons who at term could become a friend. Apart from Parsons, he had never really had any friends. And Parsons.. could he really be considered as a friend? Not in the beginning anyway. It was more a mutual need. Parsons simply needed his help with the study of medicine.. and he.. he needed Parsons' help with the paperwork and the social claptrap that unfortunately was also part of his job as a doctor. With Martinus and Tom, it felt different...

The happy laughs of the the two eldest children, who where chasing each other in the calm streets of Dokkum, shook Martin from his thoughts. Quietly, he walked next to Tom, who seemed to enjoy the evening walk. Neither of them felt the need to talk. Tom carried his youngest son who fell asleep during dessert. His wife and Louisa, still in an animated conversation, walked a few yards ahead of them. Young Kathy came back to them and took Martin's hand again.

"You and Louisa will go away from here tomorrow, isn't it Dr. Ellingham?" She asked.

"Yes Kathy, that's correct."

"I will miss you... and Louisa and James too!"

"Thank you Kathy. We will stay in touch, I promise you that. You can ask Louisa, I always keep my promises".

At the hotel, Martin took Tom apart. "Can I have a small word with you?"

"Of course Martin! Kathy, why don't you wish goodnight to Dr. Ellingham and join your mother and brother upstairs?" He suggested.

Kathy tugged at Martin's sleeve, forcing him to bend down. "Good night Dr. Ellingham!", she said and also gave him a small kiss on his cheek. She then quickly ran away, to catch up with the rest of the family.

Tom still carried his son around, the weight of the sleeping toddler didn't seem to bother him at all. He guided Martin towards the clock he mentioned earlier. It was a beautiful antique clock. The pendulum is inserted in a large wind box, which is called the tail in Dutch. On top of the clock you can always find a figure of Atlas carrying the world. He is flanked by two female mythological creatures.

"It's beautiful", he said. Martin just nodded. "What is it you wanted to talk about?", Tom asked.

"Ehm.. Tom, you do know that your daughter is very intelligent and has an exceptionally good memory, don't you? She is really gifted and needs special care. Do you realize that? She will soon outgrow the average schoolprogram, if she hasn't already... I would suggest that you and Kathy discuss her situation with a professianal. Maybe Louisa could help you explore opportunities for more apropriate schooling... without isolating her from the social environment that comes with her age. In our time, skipping classes was the only thing offered. I can tell you from my own experience that that's not the best choice... Anyway, in my opinion, it is very important to give her challenges alongside a normal school life with friends of her own age. That's why I'd like to buy her a book on human anatomy. If you allow me to do so, that is.."

"Of course, of course, Martin! Yes we are aware of Kathy's exceptional skills. So far we are able to keep her interested and motivated, but yes.. it's a good idea to exchange ideas about it with a professional expert. Thank you for your help.", Tom replied. Martin took a small notebook from his suit pocket and wrote down the address that Tom gave him.

They both agreed that it had been a long day, so they shook hands and wished each other good night.

When he arrived in their room, Martin saw that James was already sound asleep in his cot. He heard Louisa rummaging in hear beautycase. As from the sound of water running from the tap, Martin concludied that she was preparing a bath and supposed that she was looking for her favourite bath gel.

He just let her know that he was back in the room before taking a seat at the small desk. He opened his laptop and started looking on the Internet for the book he wanted to send to Kathy. It took him about 20 minutes to select an item of his liking. He chose two other books. Then he checked out and paid with his credit card.

The moment he closed his laptop, he felt Louisa's arms sliding around his neck. With her cheek against his, she asked,

"You weren't working, were you, Martin? We are on holiday, remember?"

"No, no, not at all! I just purchased some books. I found an interesting book on the human anatomy. I have sent it to Kathy. Found something interesting for the boys as well."

"I keep telling you, you're an exceptional man Martin Ellingham!"

"And I keep saying I'm not... It's just... it didn't seem fair to send a book to the little girl and nothing to the boys... By the way, we have an invitation from Tom to spend a weekend with them at their manor... Tom seems to have a clock for me to haveva look at.. "

"That's wonderful Martin! But for now I'd like to invite you to something for the two of us.. just us...", Louisa replied, in the meantime nibbling on one of his earlobes and starting to loosen his tie...

To be continued

Dear readers, thank you for your patience! Real life is currently filled with a lot of work. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. With a Kathy-like son in the house, I know what challenge it is to keep them interested in school matters. Sometimes parents don't realize it themselves. In his miserable youth, Martin has always found peace in studying. His aweful parents didn't prevent him from becoming a secluded individual, without any friends at the age you need them most..