After debating if she even wanted to go through with it, Louisa decided to go ahead with the dinner. Like Martin she knew she had to face her friends and decided to get it over and done with. She hadn't spoken to Caroline since their angry exchange and had no plans to do so until they were face-to-face.
One evening she told Martin she wanted to have the dinner on the first Saturday in April. By then, the daffodils, the first flower of spring, would be coming up. She had always liked daffodils as a symbol of a new beginning, out from cold and dreary into warm and sunny. She hoped that her friends would accept her upcoming marriage as her new beginning.
"We don't have to do it here, you know," he said. "We could always have it at a restaurant. It might be easier."
"No, they are my friends. We will have it here."
At 5:30 pm sharp, the Bosman's and Elliott's rang the doorbell. They had driven up from Cornwall together after deciding to make a weekend of it in London.
Tom, Caroline's husband who had learned diplomacy from years at the helm of his real estate business, had told her in no uncertain terms that she was to be on her best behavior. He reminded her that when Martin was the village GP, he had saved her life by correctly diagnosing that she was suffering from untreated diabetes and not alcoholism. Her response to both was a snort. She hoped that this evening, she could save Louisa from certain unhappiness. Tom loved Caroline but meddling in Louisa's and Martin's life was unacceptable. He respected Martin for his prodigious medical skills and was proud to say he knew him when news about the brilliant Martin Ellingham came out in the media. His last words to his wife were, "Please remember that we are their guest and act civil. You don't have to like him. I'm sure Louisa doesn't care what you think about him."
Isobel was delighted that Louisa's life had come full circle and she had found love with Martin again. Gary didn't feel the need to have an opinion as he had never met Martin. He concentrated on preparing the salad Isobel had asked him to make as their gift, with ingredients from his organic vegetable and herb garden.
Martin and Louisa greeted them at the door. Martin smiled guardedly as he ushered them in. Louisa introduced him to Gary and he nodded in recognition at Isobel and Tom. To Caroline who he suspected had caused Louisa some anxiety at the news of their engagement, he asked, "Are you keeping well? Everything under control?"
She knew what he was referring to and with Tom looking at her she had the grace to smile and say, "Thanks for asking Martin. I'm doing well. And you?"
Looking at Louisa, Martin answered, "Oh, I'm fine. Just fine."
Louisa was radiant. Her hair was caught in a ponytail with an emerald green antique hair clip Martin had given her as a surprise on one of her weekend visits. She had on a green floral dress that fitted her to perfection. Martin had helped her choose it and had insisted on paying for it. But before doing so, the sales assistant had offered to go with Louisa to the lingerie department to look at a particular set of underclothing which would have been perfect for the dress. When Louisa came back empty-handed Martin raised his eyebrow questioningly.
"Everything is lovely but pricey. What I have will do."
"No, no, it's a special occasion," Martin had insisted. "Select something nice. My treat."
In the end, he had treated her to quite a few sets of bras and matching knickers despite her almost fainting when she glimpsed the bill.
"Don't worry. They are beautiful. Think that you're wearing them for my viewing pleasure."
"What viewing? When I'm around you they are not on for very long," she countered.
"Half the pleasure is the anticipation of seeing you in them." he said.
"Furthermore, we'll soon be married. I like treating you to nice things. Please allow me these small pleasures."
And so Louisa was feeling confident about meeting her friends, even Caroline, because she knew Martin supported her and she enjoyed the little game of him watching her, and waiting for when they could be alone. When she was getting dressed, he had told her that she was beautiful and if the evening didn't turn out as she hoped, it wouldn't be her fault.
Martin thanked Gary and Isobel for their salad and bouquet and Tom and Caroline for their beautiful vase.
Gary had been a successful floral designer before he became an organic farmer. Once a designer, always a designer. Therefore, he had arranged an assortment of herbs and vegetables, mounted them on twigs and made them into a beautiful bouquet interspersed with daffodils.
Louisa was intrigued, especially when she saw the daffodils. She held the bouquet looking at it intently, savouring the intermingled scents.
"These are beautiful. They would be lovely for my wedding. Could you do something like this for me? Nothing fussy," she assured him. Gary was delighted and agreed immediately.
At the mention of the word wedding, Caroline asked if a date had been set. Sensing trouble, Louisa said they would talk about it later and offered everybody drinks. When they were seated and with their glass in hand, she managed to steer the conversation away from the wedding.
At their request, and while the men were chatting over drinks, Louisa took Caroline and Isobel for a mini-tour of the house. Caroline was lost for words, a rare occurrence, when Louisa told her that the furnishing and decor were all Martin's. She would never have thought. Although, she was gracious enough to remember that with his Saville Row suits for which he was known in the village, this was exactly the kind of home he would have in London. Looking at him, she had to concede that he was nothing near the Doc Martin she once knew. Sure, he was older, fully grey, trimmer than she remembered and so obviously in love with Louisa that she almost made to forgive him. Not yet, she warned herself.
Isobel the Romantic's only wish was for Lou Lou's happiness. Her eyes widened when she saw the master bedroom.
"Lou, Lou, to think this is where you spend your nights. I love everything about it."
She couldn't help herself and before anyone could stop her, she jumped on the bed and began rolling around. "I'm testing it" she told Louisa who looked at her as if she had gone mad.
Wagging her finger at Louisa, she said, "I want to be sure that Martin in looking after you properly."
"And in comfort," Louisa added, laughing at her friend's antics.
"And in luxury. This room is quite a spread," Isobel shrieked when Louisa threw a pillow at her.
"So Louisa," Caroline asked, "This looks like a nice love nest. I hope you insisted on a new mattress at least, when you moved in. Who knows who else has shared this bed with Martin."
Louisa was furious at Caroline's insensitivity and couldn't understand why she behaving like this. "I'm not a fool. I'm the only woman who has ever been even upstairs and if you must know, it's none of your damn business."
Isobel was more forthright. "Don't mind her Lou Lou, she's just jealous. Martin came back into your life, you got a second chance and I'm happy for you. I think Martin has impeccable taste and it shows."
Caroline's only comment on the exchange was a sarcastic, "This must be the life."
Isobel didn't mince her words. "Oh Caroline, be glad for her. Lou Lou is not your little project."
Biting her lip anxiously, Louisa skillfully led the two downstairs. Midway, she excused herself and went back to the bedroom. She just wanted a minute to compose herself.
Tour over, everybody sat around chit chatting. Martin and Louisa held hands and often turned to smile at each other. It all seemed so natural. Finally, Martin said he would bring the dinner to the table.
Gary offered to help. He was astonished when Martin told him that he and Louisa had prepared the meal and that they liked cooking together. The presentation was elegant without being fussy and the artist in Gary warmed to the couple. He was even more pleased when Martin told him that the table settings were antique pieces he had acquired over the years and that a few of the serving dishes, simple but obviously good quality, belonged to his deceased Aunt Joan from Cornwall.
"Hmmm ... they have learned the beauty of simplicity," Gary thought.
Dinner at the table, they sat down for a delicious meal of grilled salmon, roasted chicken, a vegetable quiche, roasted potatoes, Gary's green salad and a dessert of seasonal fruits served with a honey glaze. Louisa didn't each much, she was too nervous. By the time they got to dessert, everybody was relaxed. As usual Martin didn't have much to say, and it wasn't noticeable because Caroline, Isobel and Louisa kept up a running conversation with each other. Despite the good time they were having, Caroline was on a mission and choose this perfect moment to lob a grenade at Martin.
"Martin, it's been a long time since you left the village. A lot of water has flown under the bridge. Now that James is grown and settled in London, why would you and Louisa want to get married? I thought you were a confirmed bachelor."
You could hear a pin drop, save for Isobel choking on her raspberry and Gary trying to slap her back quietly to dislodge it. Louisa held her throat nervously like she was going to have a panic attack, Tom held his head down and Caroline, eyes flashing, dared anyone to stop her.
Reaching for Louisa's hand, Martin said "A fair question. However, why wouldn't I want to marry Louisa? We love each other ..."
"I mean, now. You had your chance before and walked away," Caroline interrupted.
"Caroline!" Tom and Louisa shouted at the same time.
An angry Louisa shouted at her, "Caroline, Martin is the man I love and am going to marry. Please don't insult him in his own house."
"I can handle this," Martin whispered to her.
Martin looked at Caroline for a long minute before he responded. "Caroline, you and Louisa have been friends for a long time so I appreciate your concern. When you knew me in Portwenn, I know I did not inspire confidence as a suitable partner for her. I have caused her and our son a lot of hurt and I regret their pain and the lost years that could have been."
He paused for a sip of mineral water, squeezed Louisa's clammy shaking hand, and looking straight at Caroline continued.
"I never planned to be back in Louisa's life. It didn't seem possible, so I lived as best I could without her and James. Along the way, I was finally able to forgive and release myself from the demons that caused me to inflict all this hurt." He paused for breath.
Caroline held her head down and clutched her husband's hand.
"Fate intervened and Louisa and I met under different circumstances. We fell in love all over again, but this time we were wiser and more pragmatic. This time I decided to lead with my heart and not my head and I'm grateful I did. As Louisa's friend, I hope you will find it in your heart to be glad for her and to support her as we make a new beginning. I will take good care of her. You have my word."
Caroline, after a nudge from her husband, exhaled. She looked around the table before addressing Martin.
"Martin, I only want Louisa to be happy. She has been through so much. You have always been a man of your word and I'm going to accept it as such."
Louisa got up and gave Caroline a hug. "Trust me, Martin and I will be fine."
Isobel, now fully recovered from her coughing fit, suggested that they raise a toast to the couple. Gary refilled the glasses, wine for everybody but Martin and Louisa who had mineral water.
"You're not pregnant or something are you Louisa? Mineral water!"
"Oh shut up Isobel," Louisa laughed.
"And now the toast," Tom reminded them. "Best wishes to Louisa and Martin."
"To a beautiful, simple life," Gary said.
"To happiness," Caroline added and from Isobel who might have had too much wine, "To wonderful times in that wonderful bed of yours in your wonderful bedroom and in this wonderful home."
Even Martin smiled at Isobel's exuberant toast.
Caroline offered to help plan the wedding. Louisa was hesitant to accept. She had been through that before with her first attempt at marriage with everybody offering their unwanted opinion which had unnerved her and led to her getting cold feet. Martin came to her rescue by saying that they hadn't made any decisions about the wedding as yet.
With the guests out the door, Martin and Louisa cleaned up the kitchen. Although it was late, Martin made himself an espresso. He needed it. Louisa's reason for not having wine was that she wanted to stay clear-headed in case anything had gone wrong. Now she asked him for a glass of her favourite wine. That settled, she curled up with Martin on the sofa.
"What you said to Caroline was sweet. You know she only wants what's best for me. She doesn't know you like I do, but after what you said, I think she saw a side of you that only I have seen."
"Friends are important and I'm glad you have them. You have what it took me a long time to appreciate, friends who will butt into your life to make sure you're okay. I don't blame Caroline. I could handle her."
She chuckled. "Good to hear. Now can we just relax?"
"Better yet, we can have our private after-dinner party right here. Waiting to see you know what has been on my mind all evening."
With that Martin pulled himself and Louisa out of the sofa, led her to the study where he had already laid out blankets and floor cushions for them. He lit candles, put on music, switched off the lights, propped himself up on the pillows and drew Louisa to him. With the glow from the candles and Louisa relaxed and smiling at him as she ran her fingers through his hair, Martin felt that his life could not be any more complete. One kiss led to another until he saw what he had been waiting for all night, her pink lace bra and knickers. The last thing he remembered was Louisa telling him that he was going to give himself a heart attack.
Later, their sweaty bodies tight against each other, he said, "What a way to die. A beautiful satisfied woman in my arms. Heaven."
The next morning, Louisa woke up first. "Let's go upstairs," she urged as he rolled over in mock despair.
"Now, you want to give me a heart attack?" Upstairs, they made sweet music and fell asleep again, only waking up when the sun streaming through the window hit the bed.