Chapter 115

Louisa did as she'd promised and phoned Chris that afternoon. "Chris? It's Louisa Ellingham. I'm just ringing to let you know our computers have been installed and work very well. Please thank Daniel and Owen for us. They did a superb job, and gave us clear instructions as to how to proceed."

"Hi Louisa. I'm glad to hear it. How are you feeling now? Over that cold?"

"Yes, Martin looked after me really well. I was back at school, teaching last week. The weekend saw Martin called out on several occasions. The last one, yesterday was particularly upsetting to me as I went along with some things he needed."

"Was that the car crash? I got a report about it when we received several casualties. Is Martin, OK?"

"Yes Chris. He is. We will be coming over to Truro, so that he can check up on those he treated, who are still there."

"Well, I'm glad you like the computers, Louisa. I have to go as I'm due in a meeting in 5 minutes."

"Bye Chris, Thanks." Louisa rang off.

She looked at the time and saw she had an hour before Martin took his break. She settled back on the couch and closed her eyes. She was on the point of dropping off to sleep when Joan's cheery "Only me!" reverberated through the kitchen.

She sat up quickly. "Hi Joan! Did you have a good time in London?"

"It was good. Ruth and I had a good chat about you and Martin."

"What? Really? But why?"

"Well, we like to keep each other in the loop, so to speak. It's been very noticeable what a good effect the two of you have on each other."

"Oh."

"Also, Ruth wanted to be kept informed about your pregnancy. I was happy to tell her you were doing well. How's the cold? Are you over it now?"

"Yes. I went back to school last week, and I've been in this morning to watch the new computers being installed."

"Times change, and how! Nothing like that in my day. We were lucky to have an abacus!" Joan smiled to show she was joking.

"I heard there was a big accident at the weekend?"

"Yes, a driver collapsed and died as he came down the hill on Fore Street. The car kept going and several people were seriously hurt. One little boy died."

"Oh no!" exclaimed Joan. "What was Marty like?"

"During the actual emergency he was really good, coping well with the blood, (only sick once) and making sure the victims were seen to as soon as he could. One woman had her baby with her and it started squalling, so he gave it to me to try and soothe it."

"Well! What were you doing there?"

"I took some supplies to him, from Mrs Tishell. There'll be an inquest, I think. After the post mortems have been done, Martin is sure he'll have to testify."

"So, Joan. Did you get to see your show?" Louisa changed the subject to something less gory.

Joan smiled as she recollected her evening out. "Oh yes. Phantom of the Opera was really good. I'm very glad I went. It was one of the early ones and I'd missed it. Spectacular scenery. I loved it."

"Oh, here am I twittering on. Would you like a cup of tea, Joan?"

"Yes, I'm in need of one. My throat feels parched!" Joan smiled.

"I'm afraid I haven't got any calorie-laden sweetmeats to offer. We've not been shopping for those."

"Doesn't matter, dear. The drink is the important item."

Louisa got up and made some tea. As she was pouring it out, Martin came in from the surgery.

"Hello, Auntie Joan. Are you well?

"As well as can be expected. The break did me good. Ruth and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves."

"Do you want tea, Martin? There's enough."

"Er no. Thank you; I'll have water." He sat down at the table with them. "Patient cancelled their appointment and so I escaped early."

"The accident on Monday sounded horrendous, Martin?"

"Yes, it was."

"Well? Any more details?"

"I can't discuss my patients, Auntie Joan."

"Martin, I was asking about you! How did you cope?"

"Normally, I hope. Louisa came at an opportune time with supplies from Mrs Tishell. She was just in time to look after a baby, while I looked at the mother's injuries."

"People were saying you did a good job, Martin."

"Hm."

As ever, Martin was not equipped to take praise, himself. Not for just doing his job, anyway.

Louisa caught his gesture of dismay at this turn in the conversation and stepped in with a diversionary tactic.

"Joan, our new computers were installed today. Chris Parsons at the PCT organised his technicians to do the work, and set up the software for us. I got a package which shows drawings of animals and gives out information on them. I can't wait for the children to see it."

"How many computers did he send, eventually?"

"We got three, a printer and a server to back up the data the children generate. The remainder of the computers were sent to other needy schools. Isn't that great?"

"Certainly a stroke of good fortune. If only the school had enough money for all its needs, eh Louisa?"

"In an ideal world, surely. We've got to be thankful for small mercies."

Joan finished her drink and stood up. "I've got to be off, now. You be careful, Louisa. Don't be doing too much. You're meant to be resting this week!"

"I will be, Joan. You are not the only one making sure of it!" She smiled at Martin.

Joan went quickly out of the kitchen, back to her farm.

Louisa said to Martin, "She's someone to be reckoned with, that is for sure." Louisa smiled to herself.

"How long before you are done for the day, Martin?"

"I have another six people coming in, so not until closer to five o'clock." He stood up, kissed her cheek and strode back to the surgery.

Louisa saw that she could have a proper nap and still have time to make tea, so went upstairs, set her clock for an hour and was soon fast asleep. She felt a tickle on her cheek and wafted it away. She felt it again and again batted it away. Then she felt a kiss on her lips and responded ardently. She drew back to see Martin at her side. "Have I slept in? Did I sleep through my alarm?"

"No, and no. I'm finished for the day. Three more of my patients cancelled, so I sent Pauline home early, tidied around and when you weren't in the kitchen, locked the doors and came up." A humorous look lit his eyes, as he waited for the ramifications to work through.

A frown preceded her look of comprehension. "Ahh. The Handsome Prince has come to the top of the Tower to seek out Beauty, eh?"

"You might say that…."

"In which case, you're over-dressed." She laughed when he proceeded to remove his armour, in what amounted to a frenzy for him. In no time at all he too was under the covers, and they were locked in a passionate embrace.

Later, after their evening meal Martin was asking about the trip to Truro on Thursday. "Do you want me to drop you off in the town when I go to the hospital? I'll probably be a couple of hours."

"Yes, I'd like that. I've heard that there are some new dress shops I'd like to look at. Also I'll have a drink first and gather my wits, before ambling around. Is there anything I can get you, whilst you're busy?"

"Not that I can think of at the moment. I'll let you know, though, if there is."

"Are you going to look at your clocks, tonight?"

"I thought I might, unless you want me to be here?"

"No, that's fine, Martin. Something wore me out earlier and all I want to do now is laze about. I'll check the TV listings and see if there's something on. You've been good and so I'll make the drink, tonight, but I'll shout you when it's ready."

He bent and kissed her again. "Thank you."

Wednesday was routine for Martin. Mundane case after mundane case. The trouble with events such as happened on Monday, when he was in the thick of the action, often showed up his more sedate life now. He failed to see that what he was doing as a GP, picking up cases which if left would end in tragedy, pointing out actions which would lead to long term incapacity did not strike him as anything out of the ordinary. By his very high standards it was just what a competent doctor should be doing. At the end of the day he was glad to be signing off.

Louisa had done a small amount of necessary housework, but by and large very little else needed to be done. She checked the fridge and took out some monkfish. Martin would enjoy that, she thought. That's not to say she wouldn't enjoy it as well.

She decided to walk down to the café and have a drink down there as well as enjoy the sunshine.

When she got seated the waitress came over to take her order. "Er, Orange and mango fruit juice, please. If you've got it?"

"Sure, Mrs Ellingham. I won't be long."

Louisa smiled after she'd gone. She'd remembered teaching Valerie Short back in the day. She looked around at some of the other patrons, but didn't see anyone else she knew. Soon Valerie appeared with her drink and took payment for it.

Sitting in the warm sunshine reminded Louisa that soon it might be too hot to sit outside without suntan lotion on. She'd have to ask Martin to recommend something which wouldn't damage the baby. As she pondered on this, a shadow fell across her. When she looked up, Danny was there.

"Lou!" he said. At her querying look he amended it to "Louisa."

"What do you want Danny?" she asked in a voice which gave no encouragement.

"Louisa, I wanted to apologise for my behaviour the last time we met. I've thought about it and you were right. It was just jealousy on my part because you chose Martin. Actually, I'm going back to London and I won't be returning for the foreseeable future. I'm glad to have had this chance to talk to you."

"Fine. Goodbye Danny." Louisa curtly dismissed him.

He looked taken aback by this, but accepted he could have no complaints. He waved goodbye and left.

Suddenly her drink held little appeal, but she finished it quickly and then walked slowly back home.

When she got back it was nearly lunchtime so she made some salad sandwiches and put them in the fridge to keep cool. She picked up her book and started to read.

Martin didn't come in until nearly 1 o'clock. "Hello," he said in the quiet voice he used when talking to her.

Louisa smiled and went over to give him a kiss. She sensed a certain distance in his manner but ignored it and went to get the sandwiches. "Do you want tea or water with those?"

"Er, just water. Thankyou."

Making tea for herself, she handed him his water.

When she sat down to eat her lunch, he'd taken a few bites of his sandwiches. He appeared to be struggling with something and she knew if she left him alone, he would eventually say what was on his mind.

"Why didn't you tell me you were meeting Danny?"

Louisa's head whipped up at the accusatory tone in his voice. "Who told you I met Danny?" she asked.

"One of my patients said she saw you with him at the café."

Just as she was about to respond with a vitriolic reply, his phone went off.

"Ellingham." He listened and said, "I'll come out as soon as I can, Miss Sawle."

"Got to go." He waved the phone at Louisa who simply nodded. He knew that something was amiss as she seemed a bit pale, but given the call-out didn't stop to find out why.

In truth, Louisa was white with shock, and dismay. How could he think she'd had an assignation with Danny? Didn't her words mean anything to him? She sat there for a time, slowly sinking into despair. The longer she thought, the more she knew she had to get away to sort out her feelings about what he'd said.

Deciding to leave a note for him she got out the pad and wrote,

Dear Martin,

I'm leaving this note so that you will know that I have chosen to go away to think things through. One of the qualities I really admired about you was your insistence on telling the truth. I compared you to "a stick of rock", I believe. I had thought that by now you would have had the same regard for me, but I see from your questions at lunchtime, you don't reciprocate.

Haven't I told you in words, and physically, how much I love you? There doesn't seem to be anything else I can add or do to persuade you of that fact. This is not the first time we have had this row, and seemingly even though I'm carrying your child, you still prefer to listen to gossip, rather than me.

As I said, I'm going away to a friend's where I will decide whether to stay with you, or not.

Regards

Louisa.

She put the note in an envelope, sealed it and left it on the table. Going upstairs she packed enough clothes for a few days and phoned for a taxi.

The taxi dropped her off at Joan's and after paying him, she went and knocked on the kitchen door.

Joan opened the door and, taking one look at Louisa's white face said, "What's he done now?"