Chapter 5

**Again, many thanks for reading and reviewing. Keep 'em coming! And just so you know, I am an American so the comments below are okay!**

Martin awoke before his alarm as usual. He vaguely heard James Henry stirring in the guest room, but the noise soon stopped. He lay his head back down and thought about the last several weeks. Things had gone amazingly well. The young doctor who had been slated to come to Port Wenn was very satisfied to come for only a few weeks and then move permanently to the other village. Chris had been right in thinking that his youth would draw him to the other post, as it was closer to Truro. And, from what Martin had heard from Morwenna, meeting Stewart the ranger and his 6 foot squirrel companion on his third day didn't hurt any in helping to settle his mind! From what Morwenna said, Martin gathered that he wasn't at all used to shotguns and knew nothing of red OR gray squirrels.

Then there was Imperial. Almost unbelievable! He had called and had lunch with several on the board who had hired him. A few had known Martin for quite a long time and knew, or knew of, his father also. Once Martin explained what had happened, they smiled and raised a glass to him. He couldn't believe it! But these 3 men and 1 woman were familiar enough with his life story that they knew that having a family was fairly miraculous for this brilliant man. They encouraged him to try to keep his hand in by working in Truro if possible but readily agreed to let him come on board until they could find a replacement.

Then, they had contacted their number two choice and she had happily accepted the position. He had only had to be in London for three weeks. Louisa was thrilled of course, and Martin had made sure to come home each weekend. And, just as he had expected, he had enjoyed the surgery but had not wanted to stay. When he would leave work in the evenings, he would often wander around the streets close to the hotel where he was staying, searching for gifts for his tiny son, feeling lonely, but imagining James Henry's face. Occasionally he even bought a small present for Louisa as well, although this caused some consternation. He was not used to buying gifts for women and so would usually settle for some perfume or a small decorated chocolate.

Louisa was amazed at the changes in him and so grateful. She kept very busy while he was gone but missed him terribly. The woman who had been hired to keep James Henry was great. Her name was Anne. She had one small child of her own, a girl, and wanted to stay at home with her. So she and her husband had decided that she would remain at home and keep one or two other children to earn extra money. Martin had really hoped that they could find someone who would keep James at the surgery, but really it was probably best that he was away from the germ-filled reception area and Anne had a small garden in back where the children could play as they got older.

And so, here they were, cold November, Martin back as Port Wenn's GP and Louisa as head of Port Wenn Primary. Conversations were still going well for the most part. Martin was still grumpy, though perhaps not quite so much. In the evenings, after James Henry was in bed, Louisa and Martin would usually sit down on the couch, Louisa doing marking and Martin reading his journals. Often, when she didn't notice, Martin would study her in the lamplight. The soft light shining behind her made her chestnut hair glisten and she would often grin or grimace, depending on the work of the child she was grading. Martin felt himself growing closer and closer to her heart and he wanted to discuss their rooming arrangements more than once but could never quite figure out the way to bring up the subject.

One Thursday evening, as they sat watching a television documentary on the fish of England's southern coast, Martin put his arm around Louisa and began to rub her neck. She glanced at him and smiled, leaning her head over so that he could continue. Soon, the program came to an end and Martin paused to lift her chin. She looked into his eyes and they kissed. Gently at first. Then the kiss deepened. Martin could feel himself stirring inside and wondered if she felt the same. Louisa, for her part, was thoroughly enjoying this attention. Martin drew her closer still and began to nibble at her neck.

Louisa giggled at the tickling sensation. He hadn't shaved since the morning and his chin was a bit scratchy. Martin drew back and frowned. "Is something wrong? Did I do something to amuse you?" he asked.

Louisa gave him a small smile. "No Martin. Of course you did nothing wrong. It was feeling a bit tickly is all."

Martin sighed. "Louisa, this exile. How long is it going to last? I love you. You love me. We both know that now. I want us to be together."

"Oh Martin," Louisa smiled. "I feel the same way. But the 'exile' as you call it, isn't meant to be an exile at all. I just think we still need more time to deal with our communicating. With commitment. With accepting each other just as we are. I want to be with you too but I know now that physical intimacy sometimes masquerades as real intimacy and I want us to have all of each other when we finally make love again. I'm not trying to be difficult. Honestly. But this is something I feel very strongly about right now. No more confusing what is real with what is false. I don't really like it any more than you do, but I think it will be best in the long run."

Martin sighed. "So do you think I am going to go sneaking off? Don't you trust me?"

"Yes, Martin of course I trust you. It is just that I want to wait a bit longer. I want to be sure that we are both, not just you but me as well, going to be able to keep this up. This getting along. This loving behavior. I haven't had a good example of a long, loving relationship Martin and neither have you, from what I have been able to understand. And I want to know that this is the real thing."

"I understand, I think. I can't say I like it, but we will keep at it then," he answered.

Louisa felt the same frustration that Martin felt and decided that a change of subject might be in order since it was almost bedtime. "Um Martin. Changing the subject - I have been feeling like I would like to go out. You know. Out to somewhere other than Bert and Al's place or the pub. I met someone new in the village today. Natalie Jackson, Jason...something like that. She and her husband have bought out the shop from the Tishells and she will soon be your new colleague. She seems great. American. Would you mind if I set up a time for the four of us to go out?"

"Louisa, you know that this really isn't my thing. I still don't really talk." He raised his hand before she could protest. "I know that I talk to you more now but I don't know about this. What do you know about this Natalie? Maybe she is just as crazy as the last chemist!"

"Oh Martin I don't think so. She is fairly young, somewhere between your age and mine, and dresses well, wears no cervical collar, and doesn't seem the type to take drugs of any sort. Probably vegetarian. She did say something about needing to find peanut butter. Please can we go?"

"Of course. But I can't promise anything. I still don't enjoy small talk and Americans can be so noisy and tedious. What does her husband do?"

"I don't know Martin. I didn't even get his name. But I will try to find out. Saturday night okay?"

"I suppose so. Will James Henry go as well?"

"I will ask her," Louisa said. "I believe she said they have only one child and since they are new around here, they may not have a sitter. Not sure but I will ask and we can set something up, all right?"

"All right Louisa. Good night."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good night Martin and I DO love you."