Doc Martin Fan Fiction
Chapter 7 – A Dinner for Martin
Louisa hummed as she got out a baking dish. She'd quickly come home after work and put an apron on over the blue dress she'd worn to school in the morning. Now she knew she had just a limited amount of time until there was a knock at the door – HIS knock. She'd stopped at the bakery for a light dessert, a fruit tart. Surely he could eat that, right? She'd get the asparagus spears ready after she dealt with the meat for the meal. Martin always enjoyed eating fish, but Louisa had gotten several lamb chops. That was her favorite meat and tonight she wanted to be good to herself. She was nervous, had been all day, in fact.
Last night Martin had called, just to talk. So she had matter-of-factly asked him if he could stop by for dinner the next evening. She didn't ask him what he'd like to eat, as she sometimes did. And she did not say she had something important to tell him. That he would find out soon enough. She did tell him, right before saying goodnight, that he was always welcome for dinner at her home. Did she hear him say a soft "Thank you" right after they'd both said "Good night" almost simultaneously and she'd said "See you tomorrow"? That would have been lovely, and Martin was always a gentleman, but Louisa sensed that he was more reserved lately. Was he feeling unsure about giving her some of his time? He seemed to have pulled back a bit from how often he called or took her for a drive. This would not be an easy evening. A challenge lay ahead and she was not sure how it would go.
She had gotten through her first big challenge yesterday after school. Her request for a quick meeting of the school governors had brought everyone to her room except Mrs. Matthews who was visiting her daughter in Brighton. Her announcement that she planned to further her educational experiences by accepting an appointment for the summer to a school in the United States took them by surprise. She'd quickly told them that seeing a bit of America had been something she had wanted to do when she was a young child. This dream had come back when she'd read about the opportunity with the Council for International Teacher Exchange to travel and work overseas during the summer. She hastened to explain that she felt she would learn new ways to approach situations with students that were universal. How to motivate a disinterested child, to discipline one who was unruly or harmful to others, or to make up class time for students who were absent for one reason or another, due mostly to illness of course. As Louisa said those last words, a picture quickly flashed through her mind of Doctor Martin Ellingham in his most professional pose fixing his eyes on his patient with serious intent to do his best, no matter what the ailment. She added that teachers always were eager for useful ideas to help them do their best to help their students.
Louisa had received congratulations from everyone when it became clear that she had passed a selection process that eliminated a number of people seeking to work with this renowned international organization. Mr. Willard, the chair, closed the meeting as he warmly praised her work in Portwenn and thanked her for the well-run school year that was almost over. He was then free to tell of his part in helping Louisa by writing a letter of recommendation to the Teacher Exchange Council earlier in the spring. Louisa felt elated by their best wishes for her summer adventure in America.
As Louisa set the table, she wondered if she would end the evening with a similar feeling of elation when she and Martin said Good Night to each other? Days were longer now and fresh spring air and sunlight streamed in through the open window in her living room. How quickly time had passed since the cloudy gray days of winter had hung over the village. Although he was not a cheerful soul, she had to admit that spending time with Martin had helped dispel the usual gloom that would sometimes engulf her as she put on a heavier coat, with scarf and gloves handy to dispel the cold before her trudge to school.
There was a knock at the door. Already? She glanced at the clock. He was a bit early. Louisa opened the door with a smile on her face as she looked directly into his eyes to greet him. "Martin, come in! I'm not quite ready but that's fine. I'll just get you a glass of water so please, sit on the couch." She had poured her glass of wine already and there it waited, on the kitchen counter.
Martin quickly moved a hand from behind his body and produced a bouquet of white daisies. "Hello, Louisa. It is good to see you."
Louisa's smile widened and she leaned over and quickly kissed his check as she took the flowers from him. "How thoughtful! Thank you, Martin. Another sign of spring! The students really don't want to be inside for lessons any longer and I can't blame them."
Martin watched as she brought a vase out from under the sink and arranged the flowers in it. "Please," she said as she gave him the vase and motioned for him to set this lovely centerpiece on the table. She was ready to hand him a glass of water when he turned back to her.