When they arrived at Martin's home, Louisa discovered that he had already made arrangements for dinner to be prepared by Zee, his friend who Louisa had met at James's graduation in June.
"Why on earth is he doing this? Isn't he a practicing surgeon?"
"Yes and no."
Martin explained that Zee had gone into semi-retirement after years of chronic back pain from the rigours of surgery. He hadn't left surgery completely. With time on his hands, he found a new passion in cooking. Louisa wondered if this Christmas could get any more curious.
"And what is he preparing?"
"Louisa, you have to trust me," Martin answered sounding a little peeved.
"He's doing roast turkey, baked cod, new potatoes, steamed broccoli, cheesecake, plum pudding and a gelato that James like. Don't worry, it will be here in time for dinner?"
When Martin had called Zee from the train to check that everything was going as planned, he told him about his engagement. To celebrate, Zee and his architect wife Marissa, who had done Martin's renovation, had asked his permission and for his entry code, with the promise to glam up his house in honour of his engagement. Martin, still reeling from the events of yesterday had reluctantly agreed.
Zee brushed aside Martin's protest that the dinner was enough.
"Ellingham, you're lucky I'm not bringing the entire surgical team to your home. After meeting Louisa, we prayed that this would happen. I won't tell anybody but Marissa. You had better tell Viola quickly or she'll destroy your office with her bare hands when she finds out."
They transformed the house into a Christmas wonderland. Nothing over the top, just enough to make it look and feel special in honour of the occasion. It was sparkling. An intoxicating scent from perfumed flowers and a faint aroma of spices filled the air. Christmas decoration discretely dotted the house AND, there was a lighted Christmas tree in the lounge piled with gifts. Martin had left them on the sideboard, but once the Christmas tree was up, his friends had placed them under the tree. The fireplace was ready to be lit and piped music flowed throughout the house. The table was set for three with some of Martin's special antique table settings. Everything was so beautiful that they relaxed downstairs a little before going upstairs.
Louisa gasped when she entered the bedroom. Light from the bedside lamps bathed the room, a huge bouquet sat on the table by the seating area and red rose petals were scattered over the duvet, which was turned back invitingly.
"Martin, this is wonderful."
"Oh, God," he groaned, feeling himself getting weak as he pulled Louisa into his arms.
"We may never leave this room tonight."
"Yes, we will. James will be here before you know it."
Sensing where the evening might go, Louisa disengaged herself from the moment and went to take a shower. She slipped on the green dress she had worn when they had first met at the Parsons's, her new ring and brooch, let her hair loose around her shoulders and put on little gold heels. When Martin came back from his shower, with only a towel wrapped around him, she was applying her lipstick. He took it from her, ordered her to wait, then drew her into his arms.
"I'll always remember you in this green dress. I'm glad you put it on for me."
She pulled away with a laugh, shooed him away to finish dressing and went downstairs for one last check on the table and the dinner which Zee had delivered and prepped for serving while they were still downstairs. James will love this, she thought. Hearing a sound, her breath caught in her throat when she saw Martin coming down the stairs. He had on in a matching soft grey shirt and trousers and a pair of navy suede dress shoes. The grey matched his hair perfectly and the navy shoe complemented the grey. She stood watching him with a smile.
"You look wonderful, my charming fiancé."
"You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he told her with a wicked grin.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" she asked in mock surprise.
"Yes."
"No need to, I'm all yours, ready and waiting."
"Good. James is at the door."
Louisa hadn't seen James for a couple of weeks and was glad to see that he didn't look any the worse for the "kill dead" hours he was keeping.
"Are we celebrating anything special besides Christmas?" he asked as he came through the door. " After dinner at the Parsons, I thought you would want to keep it low-key here. Aunt Jenny goes over the top at Christmas, especially now that they have grandchildren. This is a lot for just us."
"This Christmas is special. It's the first time we're all together for Christmas. As you know, the past few Christmases have not been very festive," Louisa said ruefully.
"Hmm … uhm." Martin took Louisa's hands, looked at James, opened his mouth to speak, when James interrupted.
"I KNEW it. Something is special about you two? Has Mum agreed to marry you?"
Looking at their faces, he answered his own question by jumping up and hugging first Louisa, then Martin.
"Uncle Chris was right. You made the best decision for each other. Congratulations."
Louisa took his hands in hers. "Thanks James, we weren't sure how you would take the news. I'm glad you approve."
"You have made it to six months exactly. That was my major concern. The rush."
Martin and Louisa exchanged glances. Without meaning to, really thanks to Chris, they had waited six months to make their major decision.
"Let's drink a toast to my new official family." James said enthusiastically as he topped up Louisa's wine and sparkling water for himself and Martin.
"Let's make a wish."
Martin wished that he would soon get this gorgeous woman before him to himself and thanked his lucky stars that he could do this for the rest of their life. Louisa wished for grandchildren to complete her family. James wished that whether it was Rosie or someone else, when he found the one, he wanted to be as happy as his parents were. Then they lifted their glasses.
Dinner over, they sat around the tree to open their gifts.
Louisa gave James an album she had filled with special photos dating back to when he was a baby, recent ones of him in London, his graduation, a couple of them sightseeing in London and one Martin's friend had taken of the two Ellingham men prepping for the same surgery. She also gave him a box filled with special Cornish fare that he liked, such as pasties, frozen, from a little shop in the village. For Martin, there was a CD with all the songs they had enjoyed together since meeting that fateful day at Chris and Jenny.
Martin gave James a camera and Louisa, a beautiful long, red cashmere shawl, his favourite colour for her.
James gave Martin an antique book on vascular surgery that he knew he would appreciate. For his beloved mum, he had framed the hastily handwritten note she had slipped into his pocket when he was leaving home for London and was about to board the train. Smudge marks from her tears were still visible on it
It read: James, my heart goes with you as you start your new journey. Auntie Ruth and your father will look after you. Do well. Please do not forget us. Love, Mum.
"We have come a long way," he said as he saw her about to tear up.
Martin went upstairs and returned with a small box which he placed in Louisa's hand.
"This is for you. Please open it."
Inside was the gorgeous diamond platinum antique ring that she had given back to him after their non-wedding many years ago.
"Martin!"
He gently lifted the ring from the box, knelt before her and looked anxiously at her.
"I offer you this as your engagement ring. If you don't want this reminder of all that has happened with it, we can go to the jewelers on Monday, and get another made specially for you."
"All that's in the past. I would be honoured to carry on the Ellingham tradition by wearing this ring."
He placed it on her finger. Again, it fit like a glove.
James had questions about where they would live, would Louisa continue volunteering at the National Education Board, how much longer would Martin retain his practice, how soon did they plan to get married, who were they inviting to the wedding - all practical , but none they could answer then. He stayed until the hospital called him at 8 pm.
Martin and Louisa cleared up, stacked the dishwasher and settled down on the sofa before the Christmas tree. As usual, they didn't talk much. Louisa had grown comfortable with silence.
Then Martin said, "Let's dance." He popped in the CD Louisa had given him and they danced to a few tracks. Long after the music stopped, they stood swaying to some private rhythm until Martin said that he was ready to give her his last gift for the evening.
Perhaps because they were now engaged and their son had given them his blessings, she gave herself to him in wild abandon. Well, wild for them, Louisa had qualified when she was remembering the night the following day. Low moans, sighs of pleasure, even tears filled the room for a long time as they held their private gift exchange.
Complete and exhausted she slid into Martin's outstretched arm. He was jolted back to the present when, out of the blue, she jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. After waiting for a little, he found her sitting on the edge of the bathtub looking as if she was about to have a panic attack or a meltdown. He felt her pulse. It was racing.
Concerned he knelt before her and asked, "Louisa, are you feeling unwell? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no, it's not you, it's me"
"What do you mean?"
As tears filled her eyes, she stood up pulled him to her, kissing him on his cheeks, grabbing him around his neck, moaning as she held on to him.
"Please don't leave me again," she begged.
"Whatever gave you that idea? What is wrong, did I hurt you? Why are you crying?"
"Just hold me," she said, clinging to him even tighter.
He rubbed her back until she calmed down then repeated his question. "Why are you crying."
"It's just that when I'm happy I also feel sad," she explained tearfully.
"Come. Let's go back to bed and talk about this."
After they were back in bed, Louisa explained. "Tonight I'm especially happy. For the first time, I have no inhibitions about making love to you. I'm so happy. Everything is going so well. I'm so happy that James is happy for us. "
The inhibition bit was news to Martin. Louisa was unabashedly creative and eager in bed. In her, he had a willing partner who helped him reach multiple levels of ecstasy. Out of bed, even her brushing against him could send him into a high state of arousal. And it was the same for her, she had told him.
"At the same time, I'm sad. I know it sounds odd, but that's how I feel. What if after you make me so happy, then you leave? What if history repeats itself?"
"I'm not going anywhere, Louisa. You have to believe me," he pleaded.
It was all his fault he mused. Earning her trust was going to be harder than he thought.
"I believe you and I don't believe you. Everybody leaves eventually and ..." She trailed off not sure if she wanted to say anymore.
"Louisa, if you're thinking about death, that's inevitable."
She was beginning to feel cross. "No, not death, just leaving. You love somebody, they leave you. You trust somebody, they betray to ... that sort of thing. I don't mean to be ungrateful but it seems I can't control my thoughts."
Chris had pointed out to Martin some time ago that Louisa might be suffering from depression. Martin had tried to get her to see her GP but she had brushed him aside and called him a fusspot. What Martin didn't know was that in the early stages of Nathan's illness he had suffered from depression and Louisa feared that her happy/sad episodes, as she called them, were a precursor to a deadly disease.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. We can do so tomorrow. This is not like you, let's get some sleep." Martin soothed her.
Satisfied that he wasn't going into medic mode after such a lovely evening, she drifted off to sleep in his arms, murmuring, "Thank you Martin for a lovely Christmas."
And so ended their special, surprising, unbelievable, incredible, strange and curious Christmas.