Martin couldn't believe his ears. Leaving for Portwenn? He felt as if the bottom of his world had dropped out. It wasn't as if she hadn't been backing and forthing between Cornwall and London, but not under these circumstances.

"Louisa, please don't leave. Let's be together as a couple and work this out. I have no reason to believe there's a child out there. Give me a little time to get to the bottom of this."

She was resolute as always when her mind was made up. "I have to go Martin. I need time to think through what has happened."

Truth is, seeing Dr. Kent had stirred in Louisa a familiar sense of inadequacy. Deep down, she always thought that one of the reasons Martin had left her for London was because he didn't see her as his professional equal who would fit in with his London life. Of course this was not true and in rational moments she would scoff at the idea.

"Louisa," I begged, "We will have problems from time to time. I ran away once, and it was the wrong thing to do. Please don't repeat the disastrous history of our past by running away."

She would not budge.

"You say you want to leave on Monday, that's a busy day at the hospital. I want to see you off, take you to the train station. Can you leave on Tuesday instead?"

In an act of mercy, she said, "Tuesday will be fine."

Sunday is usually a quiet day for us. I spend a few hours reviewing my lectures and research projects and catching up on my reading. Louisa and I take turns preparing dinner during the week, on Sundays we do it together. Sometimes after dinner, we go for a walk. If James and Rosie can make it over, we spend the evening with them. Louisa likes to read the two Sunday newspapers from cover to cover, often dozing off in between spurts of reading and the crossword puzzle.

I have no idea what we did today besides prepare dinner, eat and sit on the sofa leaning against each other.

Neither of us slept well that night. Louisa was restless and kept murmuring words that I could not make out. My body clock was off because we had gone to bed later than I liked, so I had a hard time falling asleep especially with Louisa in obvious disquiet beside me.

The next morning I was up earlier than usual for an early start at the hospital. When I was leaving, I couldn't help brushing her cheek with my lips and telling her, "You are the only woman I have ever loved and will always love."

Bleary eyed, she squeezed my hand and whispered back with a smile, "I know, Martin. I know."

Today I would be observing doctors doing their first solo surgery. Time didn't always allow me this indulgence so I was looking forwarding to it, especially the one-on-one reviews with the surgeons. Today's surgical list was long, the only saving grace was that the morning went by quickly. As soon as I got a break, I called Chris.

He couldn't help himself and stated the obvious. "About last night's call, this is serious, Mart."

I followed suit."It's a disaster."

"I made a few calls after we spoke and have a couple more to make today."

Chris to the rescue again. He must have read my mind because in his best cheerful voice he said, "You know I will always help when I can. Please don't lose heart. You and Louisa have come too far to turn back. This must have been a shock for her, as it was for you. Be patient."

On the way back to theatre, I passed Viola in the corridor. I didn't realize my emotions were showing until she stopped to ask what was wrong. "You usually enjoy your reviews. Has something happened between you and Louisa?"

I sidestepped her question with one of my own. "How well do you know Margaret Kent, Internal Medicine?"

"Not well. My recall, and that was years ago, was that her skills were falling off and the Board had their eyes on her."

I didn't elaborate and Viola knew not to press, but I noticed that she kept an eye on me all day and my list seemed shorter than I had thought.

When I got home, Louisa was on the phone with Isobel. That was a good sign. I preferred Isobel to Caroline who could be a drama queen. I could hear her laughing so it couldn't be all that bad. She had already prepared my favourite dinner of fish and sprouts. After she got off the phone and I had washed up, we ate silently save for our usual how was your day questions to each other.

Later, we sat together in the lounge lost in our own thoughts. At about 9 pm, she reminded me that tomorrow would be an early morning. As she was reaching in her drawer for her night clothes, I said, "Please, not tonight." Nodding mutely, she slipped off her robe and came to bed. It took her longer than usual to get settled, but she eventually shifted around until she found a comfortable spot in my arms. Tonight, we wanted nothing more from each other but to be close. Long after she had fallen asleep, I continued rubbing her back, not knowing if this was the last time we were sharing a bed.

Early the next morning, still in bed, I looked on helplessly as she selected her travel outfit and packed her overnight bag. When she was dressed, she sat on the bed and asked me to button her up. My hands trembled as I caressed her with long soft strokes and watched her arch her back in pleasure.

For the last time I tried to reason with her. "Louisa, there is enough space here for you to think things through without my getting in the way. You could stay with James or at a hotel. Please don't leave London."

"Buttons," she said softly. I got dressed, prepared breakfast and we ate in silence. Louisa didn't eat much, so I packed fruits and a cheese sandwich for her to eat on the train.

When she announced that she was ready to leave, I gave her a long lingering kiss. We held each other for a long time before she signaled that it was time to go. We drove to Paddington in silence. When we got there, I held her hand as if to stop her from leaving. She pushed it gently aside, reached up and kissed me on my lips. "I'll call you tonight."

"Promise?"

"Yes, Martin. Promise. I'll call you before I go to bed." Then she was gone.

I consoled myself that she had said she loved me. Yet I couldn't help wondering if our love could stand up to this new obstacle in our path.

Louisa watched Martin until he was a speck on the platform. She wasn't sure why she was leaving London and what exactly she wanted to think about. Everything was such a muddle. She just knew that she had to be alone, in familiar surroundings that had supported her through all her rough times

A few stations out from Paddington, another message came over the intercom. The train would be staying in place again for an unspecified time. That's when Jenny called. Chris had told her what had happened.

"Louisa, why are you running away after all you and Martin have gone through to get to where you are?"

"I'm not running away." How could Jenny of all persons think this? "I had to get away for a little. I need time alone to think things through. "

"No, Louisa. You and Martin are now a couple. You think things through together."

That made her pause. She hadn't thought about it like that. She hadn't even been thinking straight and had shied away from talking it over with Martin. Suddenly, she regretted leaving.

I should have stayed with Martin and discussed this. What if the child was his? What would I do? Shouldn't I have talked to James about this? His life will also be affected. Perhaps I was too hasty. Perhaps I was the one abandoning Martin. Wasn't this what Dr. Milligan talked about in our last session? Well, too late now. It will have to wait until tonight when I call him.

Jenny's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Louisa, don't blow this. You have to be responsible and extra sensitive in this relationship. Martin has waited a long time to be with you. If you remember, he didn't get into any long term relationships. It was you that he always loved. Please, he deserves more."

After she got off the phone, Jenny looked at Chris who had been listening. "If it's not him, it's her. Why do they have to do things the hard way?"

"They have been apart for a long time. Don't worry, they will be fine." Chris answered with a sigh. He was not ready to go through another break-up.

Not hearing from Louisa by 8 pm, I called and left a message. When she hadn't responded by the next morning, I began to worry. I called, texted, no response. This was not like her. I decided to drive to Cornwall. The train would have been easier, however, I didn't know what to expect and wanted to be mobile if something had happened to her.

At 8 am, I called Mrs. Green and asked her to rearrange my schedule for the rest of the week. My next call was to Chris who had promising news about Dr. Kent. His inquiries had yielded nothing about a child. Everybody knew about an ex-husband. Someone who had worked with her for the last 12 years could not recall her being pregnant and remembered that some years ago she was undergoing fertility treatment. Chris thought this was strange, coupled with the fact that she hadn't contacted Martin or his office since her home invasion.

I was more than relieved. "Well, at least I don't have a lost child out there. Thanks Chris" and hung up.

I drove straight to Louisa's home. It didn't look as if anyone was home. Reluctantly, I used my key and went inside. Trying to control my fears, I searched the house for signs that she had come home. Her bed was neatly made up, none of her usual pile of toiletries were out in the bathroom and her refrigerator was as bare as she must have left it. I checked with her neighbour, Mrs. Mills, a chatty woman who seemed to spend her time travelling from one relative to another.

"No Doc, I haven't seen Louisa for some time. I just got back this morning from spending time with my sister in Wadebridge. Is anything wrong?"

"Thank you Mrs. Mills." I said quickly and walked to my car to avoid the question.

Worried, I called James. James called Caroline, Isobel and a few friends. Nobody had heard from Louisa in the last few days. That's when Chris called.

"Mart, James called. I didn't know you hadn't heard from Louisa. Jenny spoke with her on Tuesday at about noon. She said there was a problem with the train and it was holding for a long time at stations."

I called the rail company. Louisa's train had had mechanical problems all along the route and was taken out of service early Tuesday evening.

"That's preposterous. You wait until that late to put the train out of service?"

"Sorry, sir," the clearly exasperated representative answered mechanically.

"How did the passengers get to their destination after the train went out of service?" I asked.

"Most passengers had gotten off before there was a complete breakdown. A replacement came right behind, within an hour."

"Any casualties?"

"A woman was taken off and taken to a hospital in Truro."

"Do you know her name? Which hospital? Can you do your job and give me a bit more details?"

"Sir, I can't disclose the passenger's name. You'll find more information on our website."

"Thanks." I was too relieved that there was no report of a death to challenge the woman's idiotic response. If the information was public knowledge, why couldn't she tell me then and there.

Accepting that I needed help, I headed over to the Parsons's home. I wasn't a praying man, but on the drive over I asked whomever was Louisa's guardian angel to keep her safe. If she was the passenger taken to the hospital, I hoped the problem was nothing more than a panic attack. Why she hadn't called or gotten off the bloody train was still a mystery.

Jenny greeted me with a hug. "Good news Martin, Louisa is here in Truro at the hospital."

"And?" I knew there was more when I saw her guarded expression.

"Well … Chris thinks it's her. He's on his way over to check for himself."

"Do you have the number for the hospital? Let me call and see if I can speak with her."

"That's the problem. The person whom they brought in didn't have any identification on her and has no memory of the train going out of service or who she is."

I felt sweat running down my back and the contents of my stomach rising.

"I'll keep you posted," I told Jenny as I ran to my car and raced to the hospital.

Chris was out front to meet me and led me to a ward where Louisa was. He explained the situation to the ward sister, who allowed me to go in. Chris elected to wait outside.

I could spot her a mile off, even in her pink hospital gown and a bandage across her forehead, sitting up in bed leafing listlessly through a magazine.

My heart seemed to stop and start, and I had to force myself to sound calm. "Hello Louisa," I said quietly as I drew the curtain around us, sat down on the bed beside her and took her hand.

She looked at me and I could see she was struggling to be polite and place who I was. Then she smiled and asked, "Are you Martin James?"

"Yes, Louisa, I am Martin. James, who is our son, and I were worried about you. How are you feeling?" She looked at me with furrowed brows, trying to frame an answer and I realized that there really was some memory loss, temporary I hoped. At least she associated me with my name and remembered James's. I let go of her hand gently and reached for her chart.

… patient responsive on arrival, slight memory loss suspected, tests scheduled for Wednesday morning, 1" surface laceration on left hairline from fall, vitals good, nothing remarkable …. Memory loss confirmed.

Nothing major here, I though with relief. We'll just have to wait on her memory to return. Her wound will heal quickly.

"Have you come to take me home," Louisa asked anxiously. I sat back down beside her and again held her hand.

"Do you feel well enough to come home, Louisa?"

"My head hurts, I really hurt all over, and I don't remember a lot of what the doctors says I should. I don't like it here, I want to go home … Martin James." She said my name again as if she was still trying to place me.

The neurologist, Dr. Bernard, walked in then. Chris had gotten in touch with him and told him I was with Louisa.

"Hello Mr. Ellingham, sorry to finally meet you under such circumstances." I shook his hand and waited expectantly to hear what he had to say.

"There's an empty office outside the ward, let's talk there."

I turned back to Louisa. "Louisa, Dr. Bernard and I will be a few minutes. I won't be long."

"Are you coming back … Martin James?"

"Of course. I'm never leaving you, ever. " I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Soon be back."

Chris was waiting on us in the office. Dr. Bernard said that Louisa had come in with a full blown panic attack on Tuesday evening, and that it had taken them a long time to stabilize her.

"She didn't know who she was or what had happened why she was here. The paramedics who brought her in at about 6 pm told us what had happened with the train. Apparently, she must have fallen and hit her head when the train lurched. Nobody realized that she wasn't feeling well until the call came for passengers to offload. It wasn't until they were making their last check, that they found her slumped in her seat and on the way in, she had the attack. "

"Has the police been alerted?"

"Yes. Standard procedure as you know. She didn't have any papers or anything on her."

I winced. My Louisa, alone and in distress for almost two days.

Chris patted my shoulder. "She will be fine, Mart."

I shot him a grateful look as I was no longer the surgeon, just a distraught fiancé.

Dr. Bernard explained that the memory loss was temporary, but he couldn't say when it would be back 100 percent.

"Anxiety about the problem with the train, and her long day on it might have brought on the attack, but there is some other worry. She didn't sleep well and mumbled agitatedly in her sleep. This morning when the nurse brought in her breakfast, she found her crying and calling for Martin James. Chris tells me James is her son."

"Our son," I said quietly.

Chris and I looked at each other. I groaned. That damn Margaret.

"On the bright side," Dr. Bernard continued, "You're free to take her home tomorrow morning. Give her time to get used to being with you. A private room is available. She should be back to normal in days and maybe earlier if something at home triggers her memory."

I knew Dr. Bernard's assessment was correct, yet I had to ask. "And if not days, how long could it be?"

"I don't know. It's hard to say with memory loss. Of course, if it's prolonged we could try a number of treatments, but I don't think it will be necessary."

On the way back to the ward I called Mrs. Green at home, told her I didn't know when I would be in and asked her to work with Isaiah to take care of my schedule.

"Anything I can do to help otherwise, Mr. Ellingham?

"Thanks for asking. It's Louisa. She's ill and I need to be with her."

"I understand. Please give her my regards. I know you will look after her."

Right after, James called to say the police had contacted him. They had found Louisa's overnight bag and handbag wedged under a seat where it must have fallen when she fell, and would send them over to his flat.

I spent the night at Louisa's bedside holding her hand. I tried to take a nap on the extra bed that had been kindly provided, but each time I tried to let go of her hand, she would grip it tighter. She slept fitfully, sometimes murmuring "Martin James." I rubbed her back which seemed to soothe her and she would fall asleep again only to wake up in another hour or so.