Disclaimer: Doc Martin and recognisable storylines belong to Buffalo Pictures.
Initiative - Chapter 3
Louisa smiled as her hair moved gently with the morning breeze. This was one of his favorite visions of her, but Martin still couldn't stop his first thought being one of concern.
"Why are you here? Are you ill?"
"No, Martin. I've come to help you with your new project. It has been my experience, both in life, and as a teacher, that people get discouraged at the amount of work necessary just to begin something new."
Martin thought of the personality description he'd been reading, but did not tell her that his type was the only type that would not have that problem. He welcomed her inside.
"So," said Louisa. "Have you started?"
Martin was still processing the fact that she was there. He saw her jeans and remembered her question from the day before.
"A couple of months," he answered. Well, to him it was an answer. Louisa just looked confused.
"Excuse me?"
"Uh, these trousers. I've had them a couple of months. Auntie Joan has been asking for my help with car repairs and a few things around the farm."
"Oh, right." She hadn't planned for that to come up again, knowing that certain topics made him uncomfortable. She dangled a pair of work gloves in her hand. "Have you started?"
Martin didn't respond right away. He hadn't planned on anyone helping him. He recalled a couple of bits of her personality description...
- oo0oo –
'... warm, enthusiastic ... can become very passionate and excited about things... ability to inspire and motivate others ...'
- oo0oo –
"Martin?"
"No. Was just heading out, as a matter of fact." He inclined his head and indicated they should go out the same door. He turned towards the little outbuilding and she followed.
"You should paint this up like the TARDIS. It's just the right size," said Louisa, teasingly.
"TARDIS?"
"Doctor Who?"
He looked bewildered.
"It's a show on the telly? Doctor Who travels through space and time in the TARDIS?"
"I'm not familiar with it," he replied. He opened the shed door and entered.
"It can be silly and fun, or scary, but sometimes it is very thoughtful and sentimental. It's one of my favorite shows."
Martin made a mental note of that. He had to start somewhere. However, back to the matter in hand. He gave four planks to Louisa, who leaned them, in turn, against the shed. She got a chance to peek around the side, and could see he'd already cleared a space for the raised bed herb garden.
"I had planned to construct a box to fill with soil, humus, and such, and then set in the plants."
"Have you bought the plants yet?"
"Um, no. I wanted to buy them when the garden was ready. In case something came up. I didn't want to take the chance of them drying out."
"Well, shall we get started? I am a very good assistant," Louisa said, cheerily.
He had a lot of thoughts competing in his mind. When he'd done the planning, he'd imagined himself constructing the garden alone. He liked the thought of her here, but couldn't help worrying if she'd only be in the way. He forced himself to just accept her offer of assistance, and added her to his vision of building this garden box.
"Okay," he said, and her smile was added to his mental inventory of images. "I had the home center cut the wood for the frame to the needed lengths."
"Good planning," she said. "Just tell me what to do, what to hold, and when."
Martin had brought out a toolbox, extension cord, and four short lengths of 4x4s. He laid out the box parts, and took out a drill and deck screws.
Louisa sensed that Martin could complete the whole project without saying a word, let alone needing her help, but she decided to try some small talk while they worked.
"Do you often get phone calls about broken clocks?"
"More like occasionally. There are many clock shops throughout Cornwall, and back in London, as well, but yes, I have been asked, personally, to take on certain clocks."
"Is it because you're so good at fixing them?"
"Um, I think it's when the shopkeeper has too many requests." Martin couldn't imagine himself being recommended. He enjoyed the process, and, if honest, could only remember one clock he worked on that he couldn't fix, but bragging wasn't something he did.
They had come to the last corner of the box now and efficiently finished it off. With Louisa's assistance, he set in the lining. Next came all the bags. They filled the bed with a mix of topsoil, compost, potting soil, humus and organic fertiliser.
"What next?" asked Louisa, still an eager participant. Her cottage didn't have even a tiny bit of garden, so she was enjoying this project.
"To be honest," Martin began, "I had planned on calling a couple of people I know who have worked on that particular clock's problem. I feel I shouldn't just leave it."
"Oh," said Louisa, with just a tinge of disappointment. "So, no plant buying, then?"
"You don't have to help with that," Martin said, his mind now divided between two tasks, and not sensing her feelings.
"Fine. If you don't want my company, I'll just..." she said, pulling off the gloves and indicating the direction she would now be headed.
Martin heard her pique. "Please, Louisa. Give me a moment." This was actually a big deal for him. She had stormed off on many occasions, and he couldn't remember a time when he'd asked her to wait a minute.
Louisa was surprised he'd actually asked her to stop. She immediately knew she was repeating a behaviour, and a negative one at that. She worked on calming herself.
"Yes?"
Martin thought about the last section he had read in the course pack...
- oo0oo –
'It's easy for us to misunderstand each other even though we speak the same language...
... If I want to improve our understanding of each other, I can do two things. One is try to make sure I understand you, and the other is try to make sure you understand me...
I can practise and develop both of these skills, and I don't need you to be good at them. They'll improve our relationship even if it's only me using them.'
- oo0oo –
"I'm sorry if you misunderstood," he began. "Your help this morning has been most welcome. Only it's... only I didn't imagine having help with this project. I'm not used to it."
"And I've enjoyed helping you, Martin." She thought for a moment. "Look. How about you make your calls, and, if you want, I can come with you later to buy the plants." She could see his relief. "I will go have some lunch, and you can let me know what you decide."
With that, she descended the four steep steps to the road, noticing in her peripheral vision that he was still watching her as she headed down the road.
End of Chapter 3
