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Chapter 2 - Christmas Eve

The next days he felt better and was in a much better mood. He had found some appropriate presents for everyone. His only preoccupation was the way to get the presents delivered. But for once, luck was on his side and postman Dave appeared to be the last patient on Christmas Eve. By experience, he knew that he could close the surgery for the 25th and only stay available for emergencies which, miraculously hardly occurred and this time he decided to close the surgery at 15:00 on the 24th.

When his "Next patient!" resulted in Dave entering the examination room, Martin stood up and reopened the door to tell Pauline "Pauline, Merry Christmas, you may go home now. See you after Christmas, goodbye!" and he closed the door before Pauline had a chance to answer. "Thank you Doc, Merry Christmas to you too" they heard her screaming through the door. A slam of the door proofed that she had left indeed.

After dealing with the Asthma check-up Dave needed, Martin told Dave to get back in the seat in front of his desk. "I 'd like to ask you a favour", Martin started. "But I want you to keep your mouth shut about it and I count on you to treat my request with as much confidentiality as I do with patient information. Can you do that for me?"

"Depends, Doc", Dave replied, "maybe you should tell me first what you want me to do?"

"Ehm.. yes of course!"

Martin started to explain that he'd like Dave to deliver his presents for him. "In this time of the year an extra delivery wouldn't be abnormal, I assume? Of course I will pay you for the service".

Dave looked up, quite surprised by the fact that the Doc had any present to deliver. Then he answered "It's OK Doc, you already saved my life once, so I'll do it for free. I'll get my bag, it's in the waiting room".

"Nonsense", Martin answered and he handed Dave a couple of bank notes. "Buy something for your wife and children then, if you don't want to use it for yourself".

Incredulous, Dave looked up from the 100 pound he just received from the Doc and stammered "Thank you Doc, much appreciated!". He hurried to get his bag and started to pack the presents Martin had retrieved from a cupboard in the meantime.

Reading the names on the packages and mentally figuring out the most efficient round through the village for this delivery, Dave filled his bag in an efficient way.

"Doc?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't you think you forgot someone? There's no present for Louisa…".

"None of your business.. but.. I will take care of that myself. Rather fragile, you see?"

Martin stood up and accompanied the postman to the door. "Remember, no word about it to anyone".

Once Dave was gone, Martin returned to his desk and retrieved the small clock from the cupboard behind him. He made a last check on it and polished the hourglass a last time. It was a French Art Deco clock, made out of red Languedoc marble, cut and carved. It had a front of bronze floral decorations on each side of the pendulum. The dial, in bronze as well, with Arabic numbers was very delicate with its oval form. The balance, ornamented with a flower design too, could be seen through a half moon pane lined in bronze. The combination of the red marble and the Bronze made it a perfect piece of art. It had taken a lot of Martin's precious time to fix the clockwork, but the result was worth the effort.

Martin placed the clock in a specially purchased wooden box and added a small letter to it before closing the box. He wrapped a red ribbon wrapped around the box and then placed it in his medical bag, that he had emptied completely for the occasion. The box just fitted in it as if it were made for it. It wouldn't have been Martin Ellingham, if he hadn't prepared everything meticulously, including the best way to transport it through the village, without drawing any particular attention to himself.

Martin waited until it was a bit darker, before he put on his coat, picked up his bag and left the house. For any reason he couldn't even understand himself, he felt the urge to make a detour through the village, which he turned into a useful occasion to buy some fresh fruit and vegetables for his sober Christmas meals. By the time he arrived at Louisa's cottage, it was completely dark. And so was her house. He was disappointed, mostly in himself, because despite all his planning he hadn't thought of her being absent, maybe even for the whole Christmas week… He sighed deeply and returned home, feeling even more lonely than ever before. Now she would most certainly learn about all the presents he had given to her friends and fellow villagers and she would conclude that he had – like Dave said – forgotten her!

With his deepest frown on his face and in his usual firm pace, he went straight home, took the corner of Roscarrock hill very briskly and nearly knocked over Louisa, who came downhill at the same time.

"Louisa!", he nearly yelled and to her surprise, Louisa heard something what looked like relief in his voice.

"Martin? Is anything wrong, were you looking for me?" she asked.

He stood still and stammered "No.. no not really.." then the solution to his problem dawned to him and he sincerely hoped that she wouldn't have other plans for Christmas day.

"Well.. actually yes, I was looking for you. I was wondering… What are your plans for tomorrow…?"

Louisa bit on her lip, like she always did when she was nervous or insecure. "Oh Martin, you know, nothing special really.. Have a lie-in and then go for a walk along the coastal path. They announce beautiful weather, cold but sunny… And you?"

"So no visits from family and friends?"

"No.. No family around and Christmas is typically something you celebrate with your family, not with your friends…"

"Good! .. I mean.. ehm… can I invite you for dinner tomorrow then? I mean, we both have to eat anyway…". And then, when he realized that he hadn't answered her question, he hurried to add "No, no plans either. Also some exercise, a walk maybe, but no further plans. Aunty Joan is not here this Christmas as you probably already know".

"Yes Martin, I love to accept your invitation. Would you also like to join me on my walk? I'd love that! At 10:00 OK for you?"

"Good, fine, yes of course", Martin replied.

"Well that's a date then, See you tomorrow, Martin!"

Louisa stretched out and kissed his cheek and then continued her walk home. Martin covered the place where she just placed her kiss with his free hand, as if he could keep the pleasant feeling a moment longer doing that.

When he arrived home and opened the door, a dim light seemed to glow from his living room. It alarmed him, because he was pretty sure that he had flipped the lights out before he left. He shook off his coat, dropped it on a chair in the waiting room and ran into the living room. He feared the worst and thought that some sort of short circuit had set the house on fire.

Relieved and surprised by what it really was, he put down his medical bag and his groceries and stepped forward to the small Christmas tree that miraculously had found its way to his house. Fragile and delicate decorations were attached to the branches and a small string of soft lights added exactly the right glow to the silver bows and blue tiny Christmas balls. For a moment Martin wondered where he had seen something similar, but then his realized that it were the same type as the decoration on Louisa's door. A small present and an envelope were placed underneath it. Martin picked up the envelope and recognized Louisa's handwriting. "Please open this as soon as you find it" was written on the back. Martin decided to put away his groceries first and also put his present for Louisa underneath the tree. Then, he sat down on the sofa and opened the letter.

Dear Martin,

First I have to apologize for letting myself into your house. Pauline lent me her key. Please don't blame her, it's entirely my fault. She didn't want to give her key. Frankly I really had to bribe her before she gave in.

Secondly, I apologize for having stalked you recently.. I wanted to find out what I could give you for Christmas and one day I peeked through the window. It wasn't my intention, but I accidently witnessed a very personal moment you had about a week ago. Then, I realized that – despite our differences – we have in common that Christmas is a burden for both of us, Martin. Without family, we are condemned to spend very long hours alone, without the magic and the cheer that others experience these days and I feel sorry for that. I saw you, sitting in the dark, with your hands before your eyes and I knew I had to bring some warmth into your life.

I don't know what happened in your past Martin, but I suspect that calling you Scrooge triggered some awful memories. I'm convinced you're not at all like that and never were.. I feel ashamed about my fellow villagers. They don't realize how painful calling names can be. So, on behalf of the community, please accept my apologies for what they said.

Martin lowered the letter for a moment and sighed, bewondered that this beautiful woman stood up for him.

Martin, in my past, there wasn't room for Christmas celebration either. Probably for other reasons than for you, but as a kid, I also saw other people's children getting sweets and presents, whereas I stayed at home alone while my father got completely drunk in the pub without even thinking of me, his girl, his family…And my mother… she probably celebrated Christmas the Spanish way, hiding the existence of her little girl for new friends..

But what I do know, dear friend, is that sitting in the dark and think about the past doesn't help. It doesn't help at all! On the other hand, bringing some colours and light into your life helps. It does to me, so I'm sure it will help you too. So please accept my gift to you, this small Christmas tree. I do hope you like the decorations, I made them myself, a school teacher doesn't have much to spend…

No boxing day without a present, so under the tree, you will also find something to open on a moment on which you feel it is really a good, Christmassy moment for you.

Your friend, Louisa

Martin folded the paper and put it back in the envelop. He walked to the tree and looked closely to the beautifully crafted decorations. He carefully slid one of the blue bows from the branch it was attached to and also put it in the envelope. After that, he stuck it into the inside pocket of his jacket. He would keep it forever. The letter and the promise of a Christmas day in her company were enough to push his horrible childhood memories to the background.

to be continued