Chapter 38

Louisa was standing next to Martin at the Parson's boxing day open house, her arm wrapped around his waist whilst they listened to one of Chris' staff regaling them with an entertaining story about an eccentric lab technician. Just as he was finishing the story and the other guests were laughing, she heard Martin's mobile buzz. Even though he was on holiday, he kept his mobile with him at all times for the occasional call from hospital. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and scowled when he glanced at the screen before excusing himself to take the call outside.

Louisa had though it must be an emergency at hospital, especially as he returned to the party under a dark cloud. When she asked him if he was okay, he replied with his usual, "Mmm … later." Martin had been very engaged with all the guests that afternoon, conversing amiably and even chuckling at the occasional joke. Whatever news that call contained must have been quite disturbing because his demeanor changed back to the somber taciturn Martin of old. As promised, later that night when they were preparing for bed, he told her all about it, and she was distressed to learn that his mother had called demanding his help. Their holiday had been so happy; why did that woman have to disrupt it?

He always enjoyed the Parsons' open house. Even when it was a small gathering as it was this year, there were enough attendees with medical backgrounds to keep him engaged. It was unfortunate that his mother had to call in the middle of the party insisting that he return to London to deal with his father who was becoming more and more belligerent. Secretly she was proud of him for standing up to her, but they both knew Margaret would be demanding his attention once they returned to London. Knowing that made their time in Cornwall even more precious.

She had plumped the pillows on the bed, and was sitting against them as she watched him hang up the suit he had worn to the party and lay out a fresh suit, shirt and tie for Joanie's christening the next day

"It was good that you rang off with your mum today," She thought it might be good for him to discuss it.

"There was nothing more to say."

"I suppose … but still."

He cocked his head, "Brendall will take care of it."

"I hope so."

"Mmm." He slipped into bed, sitting up against his pillows and leaned over to kiss her, giving her a questioning look. She knew what that look with the raised eyebrow meant, and she lifted her own eyebrow as she gave him a wry smile and slid over to straddle his lap, responding to his look with a kiss and a seductive, "Uh hum."

He slid his hands under her pyjama top, caressing her back in slow circles, "Good."

She shuddered at his touch and kissed him tenderly, "I had a really nice time today."

He was only half listening to her, lost in the physical sensations that her body always aroused in his, but she continued, "I always like going to the Boxing Day open house at the Parsons. It makes me think back to the first time I went … with you."

He relaxed further into the pillows and let a half smile cross his face, "Mmmm … yes."

"That night was the first time you kissed me. Do you remember?"

He responded with a soft smile, "I do."

She started to explore under his pyjama top, "I don't think I will ever forget that kiss. I wanted you so badly."

He brushed the loose hair off her shoulders, and replied, "Mmmm …. As I did you."

She leaned in to hug him gently, burying her face into the base of his neck, and murmured, "Mr. Ellingham, you make me very happy, do you know that?"

He lifted her head up and gave her a delicate kiss, "Good." He continued to caress her cheek and looked deep into her eyes, then cradled her head in his hands as he kissed her more deeply, "Very good."

xxXxx

Two nights later, she lay in bed waiting for Martin to finish his evening ablutions and she thought about the past several days, full of the holiday's celebrations and festivities. What with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day spent with her brother and his family, the Boxing Day trip over to the Parsons' in Truro and Joanie's christening the day after, they had had a full slate of revelry with very little time to themselves until today. Tomorrow she would take the boys to the village holiday celebration whilst Martin and Ruth stayed home with Joanie.

She remembered back to when she and Martin were courting, how concerned she had been about his social skills, that he would resist her need to spend time with friends. She needn't have worried. True, even now, nearly ten years later, he rarely seemed to enjoy their evenings out, standing stoically next to her side, responding to anyone who tried to draw him out in short one or two-word responses. When she tried to comfort him saying she knew how much he hated these outings, he responded, "It's fine. I enjoy being near you." He would never be the life of the party, but he was usually willing to escort her whenever she wanted to go out. He might not say much, but he was there and he frequently found one or two fellow souls with whom to commiserate on the banalities that passed for small talk in so many of these situations. And they had developed a close circle of friends, both here in Cornwall and in London whose company they both valued.

This week he actually seemed to enjoy the festivities … most of the time. Fortunately, he found the company of her brother Alan and his wife Annie pleasant which was a relief because family could be the most difficult people with whom to socialize. He still had trouble with her mother who seemed to enjoy winding him up; fortunately, she rarely joined them at Christmas and was not here this year even though Joanie was being christened. Of course, he had his parents; perhaps they supplied all the family angst that any one person could be expected to endure.

Joanie's christening was a special day for the family and their close Cornwall friends, Alicia and Stefan, and Chris and Michelle Parsons, who were just like family. Ruth and Alan's wife Annie were Joanie's godmothers, and they had tapped Danny Parsons, Chris and Michelle's oldest to be her godfather. Danny was so sweet, taking his duties very seriously; and at the luncheon afterwards at the farmhouse, he frequently could be found carrying her about, making sweet baby talk with her despite his younger sisters' teasing.

Little Joanie couldn't have been a better baby; she was transfixed by the service, seeming to watch every move made by the vicar, solemnly gazing into the vicar's eyes as she made the sign of the cross on her forehead as if she understood the significance of every word. She merely blinked her eyes and wriggled a bit when the vicar poured the water over her head and intoned the words, "Louisa Joan Ellingham, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen" It was only at the end when everyone present clapped to welcome her into the family of the church that she startled and began to cry. That was when Martin took her from Ruth's arms and held her close to his chest to comfort her. Louisa had to wipe away a few tears as she saw her gruff husband be so gentle with her. He was always that way with their babies so she shouldn't have been surprised, but she found herself overcome with emotion, "Must be the postnatal hormones still affecting my emotions." She immediately thought, and then secretly laughed at herself, "I'm beginning to sound like Martin, always attributing my feelings to some medical condition."

With most of their social obligations over, this day had been serene. Martin took the quiet time to retreat to his study to work on a paper he was writing on one of his research projects. Ruth had taken the car to visit with an old friend who was down in Truro for the holidays, and Alan and Annie had made a trip into Wadebridge to visit with one of his old school mates, leaving Amelia and Abby on the farm with them. The girls were wonderfully attentive with the boys, helping them learn to play with the gifts that Father Christmas had brought, a wooden train set for Robert and a simple chess set for James. When the sun came out after lunch, all four of them went outside to play football.

Martin turned off the light in the bathroom and slipped into the bed next to her, lying on his back with his hands folded across his chest, his usual sleeping position. She propped her head up on her hand and smiled at him, leaning over to give him a chaste kiss. "Making progress on your paper? I heard you on the phone today. Any problems?"

Martin had been on the phone several times over the course of the morning and early afternoon, long words with Latin roots, and she knew he was discussing his research with one of his colleagues. Once or twice, she stood outside of the study door to listen to him. She was always impressed by his knowledge and abilities. When they were courting, she frequently felt far beneath him and wondered why he had chosen her. She was intelligent, she knew that, but she wasn't in his league and couldn't comprehend what she could offer him as a life's companion, but the longer they were together, she began to realise that she had a kind of emotional intelligence that he would never have and that he relied on her more and more to fill that emptiness in his psyche. Listening to him today brought back those old fears. She pushed them down trying to deny the feelings, but they refused to lie still. As she listened to his conversations, she wondered if she would ever feel comfortable about the differences in their educational backgrounds and professional achievements. Well, she refused to let those fears ruin her holiday, not tonight.

'No problems. Just one or two points that needed clarification. We made good progress today. I should be able to finalise the first draft and e-mail it to Brendall by Monday."

"Ah. Did he say anything about your mother?"

She asked the question without thinking and saw him wince before replying, "Yes. He had Miss Newcross contact social services and give Mum their number. They will contact her if she doesn't do so by Monday."

"Good." She wrapped her arm around his chest and snuggled into his side." "I saw Abby join you on your walk out to the cliffs this afternoon. It appeared that you and she had a very serious conversation."

"Hmmm."

"I've noticed how she listens carefully whenever you speak, especially when you and Annie talk medicine. I think she admires you."

"Perhaps." He paused and let out a sigh. "She wanted to know if girls could be surgeons."

"Really?" Louisa was slightly confused. "Isn't Annie a surgical nurse? Surely she has mentioned one or two women who are surgeons."

"Apparently Annie doesn't have a very high regard for surgeons. According to Abby, Annie doesn't think they are very nice people, and she calls them arrogant male chauvinist pigs. Which is why Abby thought that girls couldn't be surgeons."

"Oh my, that is disturbing. What did you tell her?"

"I wonder if Annie thinks I'm a male chauvinist pig." He shrugged his shoulders and picked at a loose thread on the duvet cover. "We really need to purchase a new cover for the duvet. This one is becoming shabby."

"It's fine Martin, just a little worn, but still quite serviceable." She had brought it down to the farm when she had redecorated their London bedroom shortly after Robert's birth. It was the one he had used on his bed when they were first married, and it was getting old and starting to fray at the edges, but she saw no reason to replace it just yet. Martin could be such a snob sometimes.

"Humph."

"So … Annie thinks surgeons are male chauvinist pigs, does she? I hope you didn't ask Abby what her mother thinks of you."

'I'm not completely insensitive Louisa. No. I did tell her that many women were surgeons. I told her, in fact, that the surgeon who delivered Joanie was a woman."

"Not that we'd want to discuss her." Louisa answered him sarcastically, propping herself back up on her hand.

"No. But she did want to know why we needed a surgeon when Joanie was born."

"Oh dear. What did you tell her?" Louisa was apprehensive because even though Martin wasn't completely insensitive, he might be a little more forthright than necessary about these matters when explaining them to a twelve-year old girl.

"I explained how babies in utero move around, and that sometimes they are in a position that is not favourable for a natural birth, and that it is safer for the doctor to make an incision in the mother's abdomen and take the baby out that way."

"How did she handle that information?"

"Seemed to be fine."

"Good."

They lay there for a few quiet minutes, Louisa absently trailing her fingers across Martin's chest as he started to drift into sleep. "By the way, my dear husband. I would never consider you a male chauvinist pig – you are equally arrogant to everyone, male or female."

His eyes opened, and she could see his eyebrows lift sceptically, "Humph."

"And I love you anyway."

"Good." He bent his head over and kissed her on the cheek, then continued, "She asked me if I thought she could become a surgeon."

"I hope you encouraged her."

"Yes. I told her to study hard, especially her Biology, and Chemistry and Latin. Get good marks."

"I've heard Annie brag on her school marks, on both girls actually."

"I told her that I plan to get James a frog to dissect for his birthday next summer, that I'd bring one for her to try if she wanted. She seemed to find that exciting."

"We should check with Alan and Annie to make sure it's fine with them."

"Why?"

"Well, it's always possible that they will think she is too young for such an activity. It's best to inform them in advance. I'll speak to them tomorrow."

"I was five when my grandfather gave me my first frog to dissect."

"Yes, I know, but not all children are as curious or precocious as you were."

"Humph … Undoubtedly she will be exposed to dissection at school in the next few years.

I suppose you are right."

"Yes."

Louisa had discouraged Martin from exposing James to dissection for the last two years. She still had reservations, but she knew it was important to Martin and had promised him that he could introduce the subject to James next summer for his seventh birthday. He was anxious to share his passion with his oldest son and she didn't want to discourage him any longer. However, she had no idea how Annie would feel about her daughter dissecting a frog under Martin's supervision.

Martin yawned and reached over to turn off the bedside light. He leaned over to give Louisa a kiss, "Good night."

"Mmm. Goodnight."

Ever since the night of the Parson's party, the tension that Martin had managed to lose during their time at the farm had returned; as she snuggled deep into the bedclothes next to him, she could still sense an undercurrent of anxiety coursing through his limbs. There was a way to distract him, she knew, even if its effects lasted just a short time. And after a few minutes, unable to resist the nearness of her husband, she slipped her hand under his pyjama top and started to caress his stomach, working her way upwards.

"Louisa, what are you doing?"

She pushed his shirt up higher and started to trail kisses across his chest, "Mmm. What do you think I'm doing? Hmm?"

Perching herself up further on his chest, she found his lips in the darkness and kissed him more sensuously than a good-night kiss warranted. He pushed her up to peer at her face and said, "You have become insatiable this week Mrs. Ellingham."

"Yes, I want to take full advantage of having you all to myself."

He kissed her back lightly as he deftly loosened the buttons on her pyjamas with his thumb and forefinger, "Right … all to yourself if you ignore Aunt Ruth and the three children."

"Martin, shut up and make love with me."

"Very well," he groused, and before she realised what he was doing, he had stripped her of her nightclothes, and cupping her bottom in his hands to pull her close to him, he buried his face in her neck smothering it with the titillating kisses he learned years ago would drive her mad.

"Martin", she squealed, surprised that he had acted so spontaneously.

He pulled his head back to look at her, puzzled, "What?" He skipped a beat, "Did I hurt you?"

"No, it's just …. "she hesitated, not certain why she had called out his name.

"What?" He put his hands on her shoulders to lift her so he could see her face more clearly in the pale starlight streaming in though the unshaded windows. "I thought you wanted … "

"I do, "she whispered back, leaning down to kiss him softly. "I do." She giggled a bit and rolled over onto her side pulling him with her. "You surprised me is all."

She reached down to pull up his t-shirt, "We need to dispose of this first, don't you think?"

"Yes." He sat up, swiftly finished removing his shirt and shimmied out of his pyjama bottoms as well, and then lay back down facing her, bestowing a quick kiss on her lips before asking "Now, is that satisfactory?"

"Yes, definitely satisfactory," she replied, kissing his lips ardently as she slid her hand down the length of his torso and hips, relishing the feel of him and pulling him closer. "And very useful," she added as she trailed her finger tips lightly across his chest up over his shoulders and back down to his bottom, enjoying the shivers her touch induced.

"Useful?"

"Yes, very useful," she replied as she grabbed his bottom, squeezing it firmly.

"Useful," He chuckled to himself, as he rolled over and pulled her with him, kissing her playfully, and sweeping her hair off to the side.

She felt, rather than heard the chuckle and she could sense a grin on his lips as she returned his kiss. She leaned back, tilting her head, "What's so funny?"

He lay back, "That word, useful. It reminded me of something I said to you in my dream."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell me about it?" It had been at least a year since he shared something new from his dream, and she was always curious to learn what his imagination had conceived back before they had actually met .

"Yes." He paused a moment while he let his hands trail lightly over her back, sending shivers over her skin, just as she had done to him. "It was the morning after I first proposed to you and you wanted me to ask you again to marry me. I did, but when you didn't reply right away, I asked you if you found it useful. You said yes, you said it was useful."

"Ah. Were we similarly attired?

"What do you mean?"

"I mean were we in bed together? Like we are now?"

"No. I had already risen and dressed for the day."

"Too bad.." She tilted her head and started to giggle, "Useful. I'll have to remember that. Now, where were we?"

He rolled them both back to their sides, "I believe you had your hand right here," he said as he took her hand and placed it on his hip, "and I was … umm" He returned his attentions to the hollow at the front of her neck, reaching down to her bottom as well, pulling her closer.

"Mmmm," she groaned with pleasure. "Useful … ," she gasped as passion took her breath, and she pulled his leg in between hers, "Oh, Martin … yes"