Chapter 11

The week passed quickly with Louisa and Martin both very busy. James Henry still seemed to be enjoying staying at Anne's house and Emily was going to stay there too in the mornings. This would give her plenty of time to play beside others and then be in the upstairs room in the chemist shop for her afternoon nap.

Martin and Louisa remained cautious of each other to a certain extent, still careful of what they said and how they said it when speaking to each other. Martin was often grumpy still - Louisa figured that would always be the case - but interestingly when he was with James Henry he was rarely that way. Even when the baby was crying it usually didn't bother him much. He just looked at it as medically normal behavior. He did drive Louisa crazy when he felt James' forehead for fever so often. She had to bite her tongue not to yell after a while, but she learned to just turn away. It was a battle not worth fighting.

Mornings were still a challenge, however. Louisa was slow to get started and on Wednesday had been running so late that Martin ended up taking James Henry to Anne's. The little cottage wasn't far from the school so having to do this got Martin very aggravated. Anne was intimidated by his gruff mood. That evening Louisa finally asked Martin to try to be especially kind to Anne. Good caregivers were hard to come by.

"Especially kind?" questioned Martin. "I am sorry if my stress shows in my face and attitude Louisa, but if you would be on time more often, this wouldn't be an issue," Martin said in a rather acidic tone.

This was the first time they had quarreled in a while and it scared them both. Louisa took several deep breaths before answering. "Martin, you are right. I should be the one taking James every day since Anne's cottage is so close to the school, but I am not as hyper-scheduled as you. Wait!" she said as he started to interrupt. "I am not criticizing you by using that term. Sometimes I wish I were more like that, but it is just not in me Martin. And if you will stop and think, if we were both like that, it could really get troublesome because when something out of the ordinary happens, we would BOTH be upset. All I am asking is that if you are upset with me, you have every right but please just tell me, but don't take it out on Anne. She is a young mother, but very capable and loving, and neither of us want to lose her, do we?" she asked.

"No, I suppose not. But, fair warning. I expect punctuality and so I will likely raise my voice," Martin said.

"Fine Martin. I will try to be punctual and when I am not, I will try to remember that you gave me warning. I wish you wouldn't shout but, as I said, I understand why it is so important to you," Louisa said.

Friday afternoon, five o'clock came sooner than expected. Natalie had said they could bring James Henry and she would close the shop at half four to watch both children while Martin and Louisa met with Luk. So off they went to the vicarage, arriving just at five.

When they went in, Natalie took James and went to get him settled. Louisa excused herself for a moment, finding a small bathroom next to the room she thought was Luk's study, judging by all of the books she could see as she passed by.

Luk welcomed them into his study a few moments later. Martin and Louisa were both finding themselves very nervous as they sat down on Luk's couch. "Well, how has your week been?" Luk asked, looking at Louisa. "Busy as usual," Louisa said. "It is amazing all of the things that come up in one week in such a small school. I am not sure if I could handle a larger one." They all startled at a noise in the hallway. Luk said, "Sorry about that. Having a bit of trouble with a leak in the small toilet there. I hope there won't be too much clanging as we talk."

He continued to question, "And you, Martin? Busy at the surgery?" Martin nodded and said, "Yes. I have seen the normal amount of unnecessary injuries, diseases caused primarily by poor diet and no exercise, and infections easily avoided by proper hygiene. A regular week in Port Wenn, in other words."

Louisa frowned and tensed at Martin's rudeness but Luk just smiled, nodded and held up his bandaged hand. "I imagine that many of us truly are a challenge to a highly gifted and organized man like you Martin. It would be really frustrating I think, to feel yourself in charge of the health of so many and so unable to get them to see what they should do to help themselves. A bit like being a vicar, now that I think about it," he continued. "Always wanting to help people move closer to God, but sometimes it is so hard to know how. So most of the time is spent listening."

Louisa relaxed a bit. Luk certainly seems to understand Martin, she thought. No wonder Martin has talked to him. And how can he stay patient with all of that rudeness?

"Well, why don't we talk about the baptism service?" Luk continued. Louisa looked at Martin and Martin spoke. "Luk, um, ah, there is something else that Louisa and I would like to discuss with you first."

"Sure," Luk said. "What is it?"

"Well, as I am sure you know, what with the village gossip going constantly, Louisa and I, well, we almost got married a while back." Luk nodded and said, "Yes I had heard something about that."

Martin grimaced. "I'm sure you heard more than 'something' about it. Anyway, Louisa and I have decided, well, we have decided that we do want to marry. Now." Martin became flustered. "Well, obviously not RIGHT now, but soon. Perhaps before the christening if we can manage it."

"Luk," Louisa said, "I know you will probably think we are crazy but we have really thought things through this time and we have been working to try to learn to communicate with each other better. Talk more, you know. We didn't take enough time to really know each other the first time and now we want to make it right. We just want to have a small ceremony. Just us, James Henry, you and your family and Aunt Ruth. Oh and maybe Anne to watch the babies. And we don't want anyone to know. We just think it will be easier that way." She paused. "Will you do it?"

"Wow Louisa," Luk said. "I guess I have to admit that I hoped we would all be having this discussion at some point but I didn't think it would be tonight. Hmmm. Well, I would have to say yes I would be happy to perform your marriage. Honored. But with one condition. And it is a condition I ask of everyone for whom I perform a wedding ceremony. The condition is that you agree with me, solemnly and with serious intent, that if I perform your wedding, you will not ever separate from each other unless told to do so after counseling with a qualified professional. Of course I can't MAKE you keep that vow, and it won't be part of the ceremony - it is just between us - but I feel so strongly about marriage that I ask it of everyone. Will you make that agreement?"

Martin looked out of the window. This is a bit highhanded he thought. If we were to ever separate that would be our business, surely. Then he looked over at Louisa. She had a frightened look on her face. Almost like a bird caught in a cage would look, he thought. Why would she look that way?

Luk noticed the looks on both of the faces before him. Faces he had already grown to like so much. He saw fear and pain and wariness. "Louisa, you look frightened," he said. "Does that agreement frighten you?" he asked.

"Just a little, I guess," Louisa said. "I hate to tell you this but, like Martin said, you probably already know it anyway. My parents never set an example of 'staying put.' They still take off when they can," although Dad's not going anywhere right now, she thought.

"And you, Martin. You look a little put out, I must say," said Luk.

"Well, I just think that we have just told you that we have been working things out and of course we plan to stay together. How would it be your business if something happens later and we feel the need to go our separate ways?" He looked quickly at Louisa who was staring at him open-mouthed. "Not that I am planning that at all, Louisa, it is just, well, you know, not anyone else's business what we do, is it?"

"Martin," Luk interrupted. "I understand your feeling that way because we don't know each other very well yet. But here is what I need for you to think about. You are asking me to perform a solemn duty. One of the most solemn I CAN perform. And you will be making promises that day to God that you will not separate. Ever. I am not asking you for the agreement because I want to get into your business, but because I care about you. And that is why God is asking you to make promises in this ceremony. Because God cares about you and about Louisa and little James. God wants the very best for you all, and the very best is to be in a totally committed marriage. It is not always easy, just ask Natalie. And me as well. But at the end of the day, if you know you are totally committed, you can relax and feel safe, trusting in each other."

Martin thought. He is talking about a duty of care. A duty of care. Just a bit different from the one I have. Not to intrude but to care. He visibly relaxed.

Louisa was literally holding her breath. She finally let it out. "Martin, what are you feeling?" she said. "I am feeling a bit scared, but I trust Luk and I want to do this."

"Louisa I was just thinking of what Luk was saying. It is kind of like what I often tell these hard-headed villagers. 'I have a duty of care'. I can see what you mean, I think. It just gives me a feeling of intrusion. But I am committed to Louisa and after all that we have gone through, I don't want any more separations. I'll agree," Martin said

"Me too," said Louisa.

"Great," said Luk, and then HE exhaled. These two must have really had it rough, he thought. "Now about the wedding, when were you hoping to have it? Let me look at the church calendar."

"We had wondered if we could do the wedding on the Friday evening before the baptism on Sunday?" Louisa said. "Since it is a Friday, we thought that just maybe we could work it out?" Luk looked down as a clanging noise, then Natalie's voice at the front door, interrupted the silence. "Well hopefully that leak is sorted out," he mumbled then continued, "Yes, that should work, especially if we could do it around five o'clock. I have another couple coming around seven for a wedding rehearsal but since your ceremony will be so small, we should be able to finish in plenty of time." Luk said. "Normally I have couples come in and go through a wonderful workbook on marriage with me for several weeks beforehand, but we can do that afterward," he continued. "I can tell that you all have been doing a lot of the things suggested already, just by what you have said tonight. So, we will plan for that, shall we? I will send you both an email with some particulars and questions. He paused." "Now, about the baptism..."

***Note to you readers. Thanks again for sticking with the story. You may think Luk's agreement is strange but that is a real agreement that my husband and I made with our pastor when we got married. He asks all couples for that as well, and I have often thought it was one of the best gifts he ever gave us. The story will continue...

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