Chapter 4 – An Unusual Man

Louisa had no idea if she and Martin had a future together, and a number of times she was left to wonder if they would even have a next date. Martin seemed content to have her in his life as an occasional female companion. She was someone to listen to his very thorough clinical descriptions of whatever ailment popped up in conversation as they were out and about. He was giving her a medical education, whether she wanted one or not.

Just last week Louisa had been embarrassed for Martin, but he seemed completely oblivious. A young waiter came to their table to take their order, and he had a brown discoloration on his hand. Louisa was aghast when Martin spoke up, "Why, your birthmark … that's a café au lait spot on your hand." Louisa shook her head "no" to Martin as he continued, "Another kind of birthmark also has the name of a drink. A famous person who has what is called a port-wine stain on his head is former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev. The color of those can vary from pink to dark red."

Desperately, Louisa tried to change the subject by telling about a row between two students at school that day. But Martin would not be deterred as he went on to explain why some birthmarks disappeared shortly after birth and why some needed medical attention, but not the kind of mark the waiter had. The young man continued serving them, but he obviously was now feeling awkward about coming to their table.

Louisa had looked up at the waiter, rolled her eyes as she tilted her head at her dinner date and quietly said, "I'm sorry" to the young man. He grimaced at first, but then shrugged his shoulders and gave Louisa a full smile to indicate he understood her concern. Louisa finally was very direct with Martin and said, "Martin, no. No more talk about birthmarks. You are making our waiter uncomfortable."

The confused look on Martin's face showed no understanding of what had happened. Louisa tried to explain further, "Have some empathy for people, Martin, please. By talking about birthmarks, you focused on something that young man is aware of, but it isn't a fault. He's doing fine, he's living with it and getting on with his life." The meal had ended in silence between them. But she noticed that Martin left the waiter a rather substantial tip.

Arriving at her home, Louisa quickly said "Good night" to Martin as she stepped out of his Lexus, and he gave her a rather disparaging look as he drove off. She was sure he wouldn't invite her out again, and that night two contrasting thoughts kept her awake. "That's the way he is. Let him go, let him go." Then she'd focus on what she'd done, "Oh, why am I compelled to give him a sermon about proper behavior all the time! Why can't I hold my tongue with Martin … that man, he … he …?!" She had to admit to herself: yes, she really did like that man. Finally, an uneasy sleep came.

But there were more dinner dates. Or just a drive through the countryside in the evening. Now Louisa was sure many people knew that she and Martin had been spending time together. Bert Large certainly wasn't shy about piping up with a sly comment about "your certain friend" when he saw one of them. Even Martin's Aunt Joan had told her that she thought Louisa was the best thing that had ever happened to Martin.

That someone like him had turned up in Portwenn had seemed unreal to Louisa, and Martin certainly would not be here if he hadn't developed a problem in continuing his work in London as a surgeon. Their paths certainly had not crossed the few years she had taught in that city. She'd had her work and some new friends in a pleasant city neighborhood where she felt secure, and from which she would venture to explore the fabulous culture and history of London. But there were days, even though she was quite removed from the hustle and bustle of the center of the city, when she would begin to feel uneasy and claustrophobic if she thought too much about how she missed the countryside of Cornwall and her little village of Portwenn.

Martin had told her about his blood phobia. He was seriously troubled by that turn of events in his life, and he expected his time in Portwenn would be of short duration. He so wanted to be back in London working as a surgeon again. In turn, Louisa had confessed the claustrophobia she'd felt in London. She laughed while she told him as if it had been a joke on her that she was not infatuated with city living. To settle in London with a job that provided the means to enjoy a cosmopolitan lifestyle was the goal of so many young people in small cities and villages around Great Britain, and indeed, from around the world. But Martin's London was not one of enjoyment, Louisa could tell. That was where he felt he could do the greatest good. His intellect and skill would benefit patients with critical surgical needs and the younger doctors on staff that he mentored. In London there was the opportunity for Martin to spend almost every waking hour in service to his calling.

Martin could not understand the hold this village had on Louisa. He was not a folksy sort of character, not at all in tune with the casualness of life in a small village nor with the scrutiny that everyone was under by everyone else. But it was home to her. And for that reason, when she had applied with CITE, the organization that handled teacher exchanges abroad, she had specifically requested an assignment in a smaller city or village. Louisa was delighted that it appeared her preference had been taken into consideration

Could she jeopardize her relationship with Martin by accepting this summer teaching position? Or was that what it needed? Martin was an unusual man and her mind would swing between believing they could become a loving couple to wondering how on earth she could possibly expect they would ever move on to sharing any kind of mutual bond. She knew if she flew away, he would hardly know she was gone. But then she would veer right back to imagining that he would realize he missed her while she was gone and, when she returned, he would be eager to be with her and try to be more compatible. He'd be more willing to talk about making some changes that would move them into greater understanding and intimacy.

What should she do?