Chapter 4

Louisa sighed as she watched her brother and his family drive away from the farm. She loved having her family about, but now, their time together was coming to an end. Martin would drive her mum to the airport tomorrow morning, and Alan and his family were planning to spend the next day visiting some old school friends who lived in Boscastle. They would leave early the next day for home. She wouldn't see any of them again until Christmas when they would all gather again in Portwenn. She would miss spending time with them.

It had been a very full day, with James' birthday celebration and the attending pandemonium, and she loved every minute. Even Martin seemed to tolerate the chaos this year. She would have to commend him for his patience later on. As her brother's car rumbled up the driveway, a quiet stillness descended over the farm, broken only by the intermittent bleating of the sheep and the cry of the occasional seagull. It was late, the summer sun retreating towards the sea, but there was still enough light for a casual stroll out to the cliffs. She could see a few intrepid hikers walking along the coastal path and she shook her head. They still had nearly two miles before they reached the village. Footing could be treacherous especially in the dark. She hoped the morning news wouldn't include an item about a walker slipping off the path and into the sea. It had happened before. However there was time for she and Martin to take a stroll and enjoy some quiet time, just to themselves. As if he had read her mind, he turned to her and said, "Shall we walk out to the cliffs?"

"I was just thinking the same thing."

"Good. I'll get your wrap."

Martin returned and helped her on with her cardigan and led her to the door.

Louisa peeked into the lounge and addressed Joan who had just poured herself a glass of single malt, "Martin and I are going for a walk. James is asleep, but keep an ear open anyway, will you?"

"Of course. Enjoy the walk."

"We will". She looked up to Martin and smiled, "All set then?"

"Yes."

They walked away from the house and strolled toward the sea, hand in hand.

"Our little boy is growing up. Three years old. How can he be three already?"

"He has passed and exceeded all the customary milestones for growth and cognitive development ..." Martin started to enumerate all of James' accomplishments, but Louisa cut him off.

"Yes, I know, but that's not what I mean Martin. It's just … well… I have loved every moment and I'm sad that he won't always be my sweet little boy."

"Mmm. I understand." Martin put his arm about her shoulders and then added, "Don't forget we will have another baby soon."

She slipped her hand behind his back and grinned, "Mmm. I haven't forgotten."

Another baby, in just a short eight or nine months. It was just last night after dinner, after the house had quieted down and they were preparing for bed that they had confirmed her suspicions. They had taken the same short walk along the farm path to the sea cliffs where they had stood quietly in the light of the full moon, relishing each other's closeness. It was quite windy out and there were whitecaps on the sea and a heavy surf pounding against the beach below. Despite the warmth of her heavy wool cardigan, Louisa shivered in the cold wind coming off the water. Martin sensed her discomfort, "We should go back."

"What?" The wind was howling and she couldn't understand him.

"We should go back." He shouted as he steered her away from the cliffs and towards the farmhouse. By the time they reached the house, clouds had swept in from the south and a light rain was beginning to fall.

Joan, Miriam and Ruth were settled in the lounge, each with a whiskey glass in hand conversing amiably. "That was quick", Joan remarked as the two of them opened the terrace door.

"It's starting to rain." Louisa announced as they hung up their wraps on the peg beside the door.

Joan jumped up holding up her glass, "Can I get you each something to drink?"

"No. We are headed upstairs," Martin replied, gently leading Louisa to the stairs.

"Yes, goodnight. See you in the morning."

Ordinarily Louisa would have felt obliged to join her mother and Martin's aunts, but for once she was grateful for Martin's decision to decline such conviviality. She had been barely able to contain herself all evening as she had been anxious to have this private time with him, alone in their room. As soon as they had closed the bedroom door, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly, "I've been waiting all evening to do that."

He returned the kiss, stroking her back and letting his hands wander to caress her bottom, "I have missed you." He kissed her again, pulling her closer, "Shall we prepare for bed?"

She smiled with a twinkle in her eye, "Yes, but there's something I'd like us to do first."

"What?"

"It's right over here." She reached over to open one of the dresser drawers and pulled out a pregnancy test strip and handed it to him.

A tentative smile crept across his face, as his eyes lit up, "You're pregnant?"

"Could be." She teased him with an impish grin. "I'm late, two weeks at least, so probably, but I wanted to wait to do the test with you."

"Yes." She could see his eyes misting over, as he blinked trying to capture the tears that were seeping into his eyes. They had talked about it before she left for Portwenn. He knew that Louisa wanted more than one child and he had agreed to have another, but they had been trying for over six months with no success. His experience as a father to James had instilled in him, if not a strong desire, certainly the willingness to try for another child. James' enthusiasm and zest for life had been infectious and had affected him in ways he had never anticipated, and he found himself looking forward to having another child with whom to share his life, but as the months passed he began to fear that James might be an only child and was surprised at his growing disappointment. Now … perhaps … that disappointment was premature. He pulled Louisa close and hugged her tightly, "I'm glad you waited."

"Yeah … so I'll just go do it then?" She held up the test strip and turned toward the en-suite.

"Do you need any help", he asked as he followed her into the lavatory.

"I think I can do the first part by myself. You know … preserve the romance." She gently escorted him out of the lavatory and closed the door. She chuckled to herself at the surprised expression that crossed his face just before she closed the door, and shook her head at her husband's clinical approach to bodily functions and his failure to understand her desire for privacy whilst attending to said functions.

By the time she opened the door a minute later, he had removed his suit coat and tie and had hung them up and was removing the cuff links from his shirt. He watched as she moved to the bed, put the test strip flat on the bedside table and sat down. She looked up at him smiling and patted the spot next to her indicating he should sit next to her while they waited for the result. "Just a few minutes."

"Right." He put the cufflinks in their case, sat down and took Louisa's hand, caressing her fingers as they sat there in silence sharing the same hopeful thoughts. He reached up and turned her head in his direction and kissed her tenderly. "What you said just before you closed the door, 'Preserve the romance.' I remember that from my dream."

"Really?" She was always surprised when something she said or did brought back that dream that had brought them together.

"Yes. We were at a shop picking up a few supplies the morning after James was born and you had just told the cashier that you were a bit sore. I asked you where, and offered to take a look when we went home, just to make sure there were no tears or lesions, but you declined my offer. You said, "Martin, we're in a shop." One of the other patrons said just that, 'Preserve the romance, Doc.' I never really understood what he meant by that."

Louisa laughed giving him a peck on the cheek. "Oh my brilliant man. I'll explain it to you later." The timer had just sounded indicating the test results were ready. Louisa picked up the stick and held it in front of them …. Positive.

Yes, it had been a magical night and she snuggled deeper into Martin's side as they stood under the moonlight lulled by the rhythm of the surf as it rolled into shore and back out again. "We should make an appointment with Doctor Behru your first week back, make sure all is in hand," Martin advised as he rubbed his cheek over her head. "On second thought, perhaps we should get a referral from Chris to see a consultant at Truro next week since you won't be back in London for another month."

"Do you really think that is necessary? I remember some of the older teachers saying … and it wasn't that long ago … that the doctors didn't want you to come into surgery to confirm a pregnancy until you were two months late. I won't be much past that when I get back to London."

"Louisa, you are a geriatric mother. Any number of things could go wrong even early in pregnancy. I'd just like to make certain that nothing is amiss."

"Martin, I feel fine … and you know I hate being called geriatric."

He sighed as he thought how his medical terminology could annoy Louisa, even now. "Yes, I should have chosen my words more carefully, but I couldn't bear to lose you if something should go wrong that could have been prevented." There was a catch in his throat, and she knew he was thinking of her bleeding to death from something like an ectopic pregnancy.

She sighed. "Oh Martin". He was like this when she was pregnant with James, always fussing at the slightest thing.

"I couldn't bear it."

She knew he wouldn't let this drop. "Okay, we'll ask Chris when we meet him and Michelle for brunch on Sunday and see what he can do."

"Right. Good."

They stood together for a few more moments. "Mum leaves tomorrow. You'll still be able to take her to Newquay, to the airport, yeah?"

"Yes." She could feel him stiffen as he let out a huff. "Do you know what that woman said to me this morning?"

"Nooo … " After Miriam's leering look and salacious comment the night before, she could believe anything he said. "What did she say?"

"She asked me if you were having a lie-in because I wore you out last night! Humph!"

Louisa laughed, "Sounds like Mum."

"It's not funny Louisa. The woman has no sense of decorum."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. She loves to tease me … and you too it seems." She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You know, you actually did wear me out last night."

"Good." He patted her behind lovingly and gave her a quick kiss.

"So … What did you say?"

"Humph! I wanted to tell her it was none of her business, but I just gave her one of your looks and walked away."

"Yeah. The best response is often no response. Good for you." She reached up and gave him a lingering kiss. "So …. Do you want to wear me out again tonight?"

"Mmm … that could be arranged."

"Good."