Title: Mismatched Shoes, Chapter 3 (Disconnect)
Author: DianeB
Rating: PG-13 (K+)
Pairing: Martin/Louisa
Chapter 3 Summary: Once more, I'm filling in the narrative from the second conversation between Louisa and Martin outside the Wenn's house. This is a short one, because that conversation was short.
A/N: Please see Chapter 1 for original Author's Notes and Disclaimer.
Martin was the last person Louisa wanted to see, but it seemed the Fates were constantly conspiring to bring them together. This time it was outside the Wenn's house for the second time that day. As she was starting up the steps to the house, she looked up and there he was, just exiting. In a feeble attempt to explain her reason for being there, she lifted the bag she carried. "They've got me bringing homework over."
"Oh, right," he said, passing by her on the steps and then turning to look up at her. "At least they care enough about that."
Interesting, his response, yet she answered in what she thought might remotely amuse him. "No, I think they just like ordering people around."
"Be nice if they applied that discipline…"
They finished in unison, "…to their own boy." Louisa met Martin's eyes, and for once they were in complete agreement.
"Exactly," he said. "Well, sooner or later they'll have to own up. Have to take responsibility for their own child."
So much for complete agreement. She blinked in amazement and wondered if he ever, ever thought about the words before they left his mouth. It was inconceivable to her that he didn't get the double-entendre of his own statement! As it was, she couldn't stop her eyes from dropping to her swollen belly. "Yes," was all she could get out, afraid to look at him, hoping against hope that maybe this time, this one time, he'd make the connection.
To his credit, he seemed unsure what to say next and fell back on a surprising display of manners. "Uh, would you like me to take the homework in?"
"No, I can manage." She stuck out a foot, partly for spite and partly to show him that she'd fixed her shoes, since he hadn't made a connection about that, either. "Got the right shoes on."
"Yes," he said dully.
She waited for a second to see if he would say anything else, but when it became obvious he was finished, she turned and went up the steps to the Wenn's front door, purposely not saying another word to him, nor looking back at him.
oOo oOo oOo
And so it was that Louisa Glasson did not see that Martin Ellingham - standing there silently watching Louisa for many minutes after she'd gone inside - had for what could possibly have been the first time in his life made many connections. Anyone looking at Martin could have easily recognized his tortured expression for what it so plainly was: deep emotional conflict and the certain knowledge that he'd screwed up brilliantly – without the least idea how to put things right.
The Very End.