Chapter 30

Margaret was still standing, waiting on the lift, when Ruth exited the lift opposite with James and Robert in tow. Their nanny Emily had afternoon classes and an exam this particular afternoon, and as much as she wanted to see the new baby, she couldn't afford to skip her exam. Ruth had agreed to take the boys to hospital to see their new sister. And here they were. James was concerned about the new baby and why she was still in hospital, "We're here Graunty. Are you sure we won't be allowed to hold her? Maybe mummy will let us."

"I don't think so James. She is very little and they don't want her to get sick. That is why she can't have visitors. But we can look at her through the window and mummy can come out to the hall and visit with us."

"Baby Joanie here? We go see baby Joanie?" Robert piped up.

"Yes Robert. We are going to see baby Joanie. And Mummy and Daddy." Ruth replied in a soft tone to the younger boy whose hand she held securely. She had to admit that she herself was anxious to see this new child of Martin and Louisa's, the child they would name after her younger sister Joan, the boys' de facto grandmother who had died suddenly not quite two year's ago. Oh, how she wished Joan were still with them to be able to hold and cherish all Martin's children. She deserved that after not having children of her own. She had left them all too soon.

As she turned to go down the hall, she startled as she practically ran into Margaret who was standing there with a smile on her face. "What are you doing here?" The question was out of her mouth before she had time to think.

"Nice to see you too, Ruth." Margaret smirked.

Ruth pulled both James and Robert to her protectively. "I thought you were in Portugal."

Margaret raised her head to reply, "Didn't Martin tell you? Christopher is ill and his doctor referred him to Martin for treatment."

Ruth could sense that James was curious about this woman with whom she was speaking. Unlike his father, James was highly sensitive to people's emotions and she would have to explain later, but for now she was struggling to keep him behind her.

"Well. I will discuss that with Martin, but right now I must be off." She turned to usher the boys down the hall, but not before James squeaked out a quick, "Hello, Miss Margaret."

"Hello James. How are you today." Ruth glared at Margaret as she grabbed James' hand and pulled him away.

"Fine. I'm going to see my new baby sister." He shouted back at her as Ruth hustled him down the hall

Margaret managed a quick, "Congratulations."

Ruth looked down at James wondering to herself how it was that James knew Margaret. There would be time for that later. They had arrived at their destination and she knocked on the door. Martin answered and the boys both lunged at him, "Daddy, Daddy" they squealed as they hugged him. It had been more than a day, after all, since they had seen him and they missed him almost as much as their mum.

Ruth always enjoyed observing her nephew in his role as a family man. When he and Louisa had told her of their plans to marry all those years ago, she had had grave reservations, fearing that the effects of Martin's loveless and lonely childhood would inhibit his ability to function successfully with a wife and children. When he had come to her asking for a referral to a therapist because of nascent haemophobia, her fears deepened; but he was obviously determined and it appeared he had succeeded in overcoming the damage done by his mother and father. He was a stern father with high standards and expectations. But he was also affectionate and she smiled to herself as she watched him engage with his sons, smiling and ruffling the hair on top of each one's head.

As he went down on one knee to give each of them a hug and a kiss on the cheek, he admonished them, "Shush. We must speak quietly in hospital." Robert was the first to ask, "Baby Joanie?"

"Yes Robert. Baby Joanie is here in the room with Mummy. I'll get her, shall I?"

Louisa peeked out of the door and they both cried out again, although in slightly quieter voices as Martin gave them a cautionary look, "Mummy, Mummy we missed you." Robert especially clung to her leg, refusing to let go even when she told him that he was squashing her. Martin slipped into the room and pulled out a chair for Louisa to sit on whilst she visited with the boys. "Be gentle with Mummy Robert, James. Her tummy is very sore and you don't want to hurt her."

Robert climbed up on her lap anyway and tried to soothe her by rubbing on her tummy. "I will kiss it and make it better."

Louisa grimaced slightly and shifted his weight, "Thank you Robert, that will help." Once Robert was comfortably settled, Louisa looked up at Ruth, "Thank you so much for bringing them Ruth. Recovering from this surgery has been much more difficult than I expected. I'm so grateful to have Martin here to help me."

"Mmmph", Martin nodded, and colouring, turned his head to the side, "I want to ensure that you heal properly is all."

"Oh, for goodness sakes", thought Ruth, "Why can't the man take a compliment. His wife is obviously grateful. Those parents of his!" She replied to Louisa, "My pleasure, dear. Do you know when you will be taking the baby home?"

"Maybe tomorrow. I hate being in hospital … even with the best surgeon in the country taking care of me." With a conspiratorial grin aimed at Ruth, she waited a beat for Martin to bluster a reply.

"Hm … uh …. I'm just concerned for your welfare. Your specialist will evaluate your healing this evening, and if appropriate, we will go home tomorrow." Turning to Ruth, he continued, "I've hired a private nurse to care for her in the afternoons and early evenings when our nanny can't be there and I must be at work, so she may be able to be discharged earlier than is otherwise standard. Can you drop the boys off at the Woodvine's again for tonight?"

"Of course." Much as she loved the two boys she was relieved not to have to care for them for more than a few hours.

Louisa looked up at Martin thoughtfully, "Do you think that is necessary Martin? I'm sure the staff will take good care of me if you want to take the boys home for the night."

"Yes. I don't want you falling during the night if the staff can't respond immediately when you need them."

Whilst holding Robert in her lap, Louisa pulled James to her with her other arm and started to ask them how their night at Amy's was and how school was that day. As she was engaged with her children, Ruth pulled Martin aside. She had noticed a small crowd gathering down the hall staring at Martin as he interacted with his family, undoubtedly staff curious about the gruff surgeon with the pretty wife and three children. Martin would be incensed if he realised that he was attracting attention, and she turned so that he was facing in the opposite direction, "Do you have a moment? I ran into your mother near the lifts."

"Ahh. Yes. Dad is ill … severe atherosclerosis."

"Christopher wouldn't be on this floor. What was she doing here?"

"She heard about the baby and wanted to see her."

"Oh, that's disquieting. I'd be very cautious if I were you."

"Yes."

"James seems to know her."

"What?" He peered at her, concern and curiosity colouring his face.

"He said hello to her as we were leaving the lifts. He called her Miss Margaret and she spoke to him by name. He told her he was going to see his new baby sister. It appeared to me that he has spoken to her before."

Martin was clearly troubled by this news and stepped over to James to discuss it with him, but Ruth blocked his way. "I think you should wait until after the boys see the baby. Don't spoil their excitement."

"I won't spoil anything." Martin replied in a huff. "I'll talk to Louisa about it after you leave. Perhaps she is aware of the situation. Now, would you like to see Joanie?"

"Well … that's why we are here, isn't it?" Ruth tipped her head and arched her eyebrows

Martin slipped back into Louisa's room and pulled the curtain from her window. He rolled the baby's cot over to the window, then stepped out. "James would you like to see your new sister?"

The window was quite high and James had to stand on his toes to see over the ledge. "Here, let me lift you up." Martin picked up James and balanced him on his hip while James leaned into the window to gaze at the sleeping infant. "She's so tiny. Look at her little fingers. Were Robert and I that little when we were new, Daddy?"

"Um … no …. Joanie is smaller than you or Robert were."

Robert climbed up Louisa's lap to see, "Me see baby Joanie … please."

Ruth chuckled at her great nephew's use of manners to achieve his goal.

Martin put James down and picked Robert off of Louisa's lap and held him up to the glass. Mimicking his brother, he exclaimed, "Baby Joanie is little."

Louisa stood up, steadying herself with a hand against the wall. "Why don't we move my chair over so the two of them can stand on it and look in. Martin, you can go hold her so they can get a better look."

"Right."

Ruth crowded near the window, holding on to Robert to steady him and observed not only the baby but also her nephew. His face had softened into a slight smile and he was cradling the baby in one arm, loosening her blanket so that they could all see her better. She squirmed slightly as he disturbed her and smacked her lips together. He stroked her cheek lightly with the back of his fingers and it was obvious that he was totally smitten with his youngest child. "Fathers and daughters," Ruth thought. "He will have to be careful not to spoil her."