The TV programme "Doc Martin" and its cast of delightful characters are the property of Buffalo Pictures.
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Martin had returned to London this morning from a conference in Belgium where the media had received his presentation with their usual adulatory reviews. Legendary surgeon that he was, he was a fixture in medical journals all over the world, even into semi-retirement. His books and research papers were required reading at most medical schools and his research team was composed of some of Great Britain's finest surgical minds.
Some attributed his success to his natural brilliance, enhanced, they thought, by his not having the distractions of a family. Those familiar with his fall from grace to haemophobia, medical purgatory in Cornwall, Phoenix-like rise to the top of his profession and the circumstances of his son joining him in London, knew better. What was certain was that seismic changes had taken place in Martin's life and only a very few knew how it had come about.
Martin had left Belgium to join James immediately following his presentation. James was a brilliant student, who had sailed through high school, skipping two years, and Imperial had accepted him despite his young age. Martin knew the exams were grueling and thought his place was with him.
Given a second chance at fatherhood when James came to London to try to get into Imperial, Martin had given this new responsibility his all. Whatever he decided to do, he did exceedingly well. They had a rocky start, but because their minds worked the same way, they had forged a relationship based first on respect for each other's intellect, then as father and son.
James missed Nathan and Louisa. Yet, he secretly revelled in the anonymity London offered him. The city's sights and sounds were so different from what he had experienced in the village. Medical school and the challenges Martin seemed to enjoy throwing at him were all welcome. He never minded the challenges because he knew it would make him a better student and eventually a good doctor.
Initially, he didn't want anyone to associate him with Martin. That was hard, you couldn't miss the resemblance. Martin too wished to keep their relationship a secret lest anyone think James was getting a pass. That too was futile. Despite their different surnames, they were mirror images of each other physically and intellectually.
What James appreciated most about Martin was that he was a good listener and a great teacher. He could be brusque and gruff, but with him, he was patient. Over time, James felt comfortable opening up to him. Eventually, they began sharing stories about their lives. Martin disclosed bits and pieces about his dismal childhood. James talked about his happy childhood but never mentioned that he always wondered why his biological father was not a part of his life.
One day, out of the blue, James shared his concern about his mum. "I'm worried about her although she tries to put on a brave face. Dad is having unexplainable bouts of illnesses with cancer-like symptoms. Neither of us can get him to see a doctor."
"Fear can be worse than the disease. If it is what you think it is, I'll have a word with Chris. They get along well. I'll also find some literature that you can share with your mum to help her deal with what's ahead."
Martin had been overjoyed to talk to Louisa when she had called a couple of years ago, almost in tears, about Nathan's reluctance to see his doctor. She had asked him not to say anything to James about her call. On reflection he thought she must have been very worried and not thinking straight. Surely she knew that James was a bright, observant medical student and would have done his own research on Nathan.
As he remembered that call, he waited for James to continue but he didn't.
They fell into the comfortable silence that had developed between them. Like his father, James was a man of few words.
"Dad, what would happen if Mum were suddenly alone?"
They stared at each other. James realized he had called Martin "Dad" and looked away embarrassed. Martin said nothing, trying to process what had just happened. He touched him on his shoulder.
"Uhm ... I don't mind being called Dad. I know it is odd to call two people in your life, Dad, but ..." That was the beginning of a bond that neither thought was possible.
Looking at Louisa staring at him with worried eyes and with all the memories rushing around in his head, Martin shook the cobwebs away. No point in him thinking of this evening as anything more than a chance meeting. Too much water under the bridge.
Louisa was still the beauty he remembered from their first meeting on a plane, on his way to interview for the GP position in Portwenn. She had blossomed and aged gracefully with an allure that only age could pull off, he thought. Thanks to what might have been the good Cornish air and fresh food, she looked younger than her years. Her face did look a little drawn and although her eyes had a sadness to them, they still twinkled. She was thinner than he remembered. Her grey-streaked hair was still in the ponytail that he had always loved. And, God, she was so stylishly dressed in an edgy kind of way.
He longed to touch her, hold her in his arms and beg forgiveness for all the pain he had caused her and their son.
Martin had never stopped loving Louisa. He had been with a few partners here and there, but none had developed into a lasting relationship. Nobody could take Louisa's place in his heart, yet she was always outside his reach thanks to his misguided rejection of her. Then, there was her husband. But now …Like Jenny, he had noted her naked ring finger.
Surely Jenny or Chris could have warned him, he fumed to himself. What he didn't know was that Jenny had panicked when he had arrived a little ahead of Louisa. Chris didn't see a problem and had suggested that Jenny keep one of them busy.
She had pushed a tray in his hands and told him to make himself useful. To Jenny, Martin was just a regular friend. His fame didn't mean zilch to her. Without thinking, he had offered a drink to the first person he met. As the glass fell from Louisa's hand, he had looked closely and realized it was really her and only caught her before she fell to the floor on the shattered glass. In shock himself, he had scooped her up and carried her into the study at the same time that James, Chris and Jenny had come running to see what was happening.
His heart too was thumping away and he had to exercise extraordinary control to slow down his breathing. He shook his head, looked away, then turned his gaze on Louisa again. He remembered how grateful he had always been for her efforts to stay civil with him and to keep him in James's life; and how much she had appreciated his help when she had called him in a panic about illnesses or other matters. This all seemed such a long time ago, now that James was living in London. Was it really possible? He was an old man, albeit in perfect health and still an extremely valued surgical consultant.
Ever the pragmatist, he pressed her hand gently and said, "If you're sure you feel well enough, let's join the others. I'll get you a cup of tea and some crackers. The carbohydrate will bring up your blood sugar."
Louisa took the hand he offered her. It was an effort to get up from the sofa. Her feet felt as if it too had stopped working.
Chris and Jenny exchanged glances as Martin and Louisa walked into the lounge. In their defense, they hadn't thought it wise to alert Louisa about Martin as they weren't sure that he could make it. Over the years, Martin had visited the Parsons's, mostly on medical business, and never once had Louisa's name been mentioned. This visit was different because Laura held a special place in Martin's heart, but he was never Mr. Sentimental, or so they thought.
Looking at them, Chris and Jenny saw that Martin and Louisa still had feelings for each other. Did they realize it, though?