After a quick dinner Martin and Louisa picked up her things and brought them back to the surgery. Louisa bathed James Henry and then Martin read to him and they both put him down to sleep. Neither were in a hurry to leave his bedside, taking turns in patting his small back until he settled down completely, seemingly none the worse for his "lively" day.
Louisa glanced over at Martin and then looked down at her hands. She started to reach for him, to place a kiss on his cheek, but decided against it. He needed to make loving moves toward her, she felt. At long last Martin stopped looking at James, reached under Louisa's chin and brought her face up to his. Looking deeply into her eyes, he kissed her gently. She returned the kiss but stopped before it deepened. She wanted to talk, but not tonight. Everyone was too worn out.
"Much as I would like to talk and be with you Martin, I think I will go to bed and try to sleep. This has been completely exhausting and I guess I must go back to the school tomorrow or the governors will have my head after the way I left today. I have already contacted a few mothers in the village who keep children and I have a few interviews set up for tomorrow evening. I guess I will take James Henry with me tomorrow and then hopefully by Monday we will have someone lined up."
"There is no need for that Louisa," Martin said. "I will get Morwenna to cancel all but the urgent appointments tomorrow and I will keep James here with me. I'm sure it will be fine."
"Really Martin? Are you sure?" asked Louisa. "That is awfully kind of you. I don't want anyone to get any sicker but that would be great."
"Anyone who is really ill can always go up to Wadebridge. After all, I have hardly had a day off since I came here. This will be fine," Martin replied. "It will have to be." Martin did not think he could bear anyone else taking care of James Henry the next day. Though he didn't really want Louisa to know, and he knew it was illogical, he was too afraid that something else might happen.
"Maybe tomorrow night we can have a talk about what we might do next Martin. I'd like to think a bit about London," said Louisa.
"Yes of course," Martin replied. "That's fine. And Louisa,...I...love you. Is it useful for me to say that again?"
"I love you too Martin and yes, it IS useful. Necessary in fact. You can never say that too much for me. I suppose that's something I should have told you by now." She paused and looked down. "We'll talk more tomorrow. And Martin, thank you for all you've done today. I, well, I always feel safer around you and now I know why more than ever. The way you kept at it until we found James..." Her voice caught as she began to cry. "I can never thank you enough..."
Martin encircled her with his arms. "Shush, Louisa. Everything is well. Thank God. Everything is well." He held her for a few moments, stroking her soft chestnut hair. Then, with a sigh, he let go.