Chapter 8 – Conclusions
Morwenna had to take a deep breath when Al stopped his car in front of her house. The motor made a clattering sound when he switched in off, making an odd coda to what had been a nice evening – date actually. She tried to smile. It was a date. "It's been a nice evening, erh, date Al." She tried to say it nicely, and not let her voice betray how nervous she felt.
He glanced at her then out to the front. "Yeah. Uhm, it," then he hit the steering wheel with his right hand. "Yes, it was nice – very." He shook his head. "And we saved that bloke's life…"
"Boat crashed, got stranded, had to save Steve's life, typical Tuesday, isn't it?" she said, chuckling over her own scary adventure three months ago.
Al looked at her. "It's Wednesday. Oh, right – the lifeboat accident." He sighed. "That musta been scary. You didn't say much about it."
With Steve Baker slumped across the lifeboat controls and then the boat careened onto the beach her whole life, such as it was, had flashed before her eyes. "Steve's a screamer by the way."
"Yes, but I imagine a fractured femur would be painful."
"And Janice wasn't much help; a real complainer about how cold she was," Morwenna snapped. It was true. Janice was a bubble-head for she fit the that awful stereotype about blondes.
Al looked at her closely. "But you held it together. Saved his life."
She shrugged. "What could I do? Steve was hurt, unconscious and struggling to breathe and there was my flat mate moaning about her problems. That wasn't helpful." She turned in the seat to face Al more fully. "Like when… when Grandad died. Had things to do. But back to Steve, he wasn't dying, at least not yet. He'd had a minor stroke though. But the Doc set him to rights when he, Joe, and Gerry from the lifeboat crew got to us."
Al looked more closely at her, the way her earrings hung from her ears, the dress fitted her nicely, but her face? He saw steel there; more than you might think unless you got to know her. "You are a capable woman, Morwenna."
She shook her head. "I try to be. Like I said…"
"You have to be. On your own. A take charge sort of girl. Organized."
She scrunched closer to him. "Thanks Al."
"No, I mean it. That's what I like about you. A straight shooter; no messing about on your watch, as it were."
This was the opening she needed. "But."
"But? What's wrong?"
"Al Large you've chased after both the Doc's previous receptionists. I am just the next in the chain? A notch on your bedpost?"
"What?" Al sprang back. "My God Morwenna! Is that what you think this is about?"
She sighed. "If I knew I wouldn't ask, now would I?"
"So, I'm sort of an obsessed sex maniac?"
She shook her head. "If you were a sex maniac you might have done something about before now, wouldn't you? All those long nights when you were my house mate?" She smiled. "That would have given Mrs. Shin something to talk about."
He sighed. "Look…"
"If it's just about the sex… well I'd have to think about it." Sex? God of course she'd think about that!
"My God!" he repeated but then he gave her a sly grin. "I think maybe you're the sex maniac."
She laughed long and hard, finally having to wipe her eyes. "Boy, have you got it wrong." She stopped. "I mean…" She saw his smile get wider and wider, so she punched his shoulder. "Al Large you are winding me up!"
He shook a finger at her, still grinning. "What's good for the gander is good for the goose, Nefertari."
She shook her head. "Colin, you are a tease."
"And not a sex maniac?"
She gave him a smile. "We'll just have to see, won't we?" She squared her shoulders and straightened her neck. "Coffee?" She had her hand on the door handle.
He nodded, then got out of the car, following her to the door. "I could use some coffee."
She got the door opened and flipped on the kitchen light. "Janice? You home?" she called out. Hearing no reply, she invited Al inside. "She said she'd be out but… well."
Al looked around the kitchen. "Just as I remembered it."
Morwenna opened the cabinet. "Oh gosh, it's gone." She looked in the kitchen bin and pulled out the empty tin. "Janice must have finished it. Tea?"
"Yeah, tea… would be…" he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling very nervous, so he just stared at the floor.
Morwenna sighed. "Al."
"Yes?"
"Look…"
"Uh, oh."
She dropped the coffee tin back into the bin, and crossed the room to face him up close. "Dinner, the restaurant, all good."
"And the lifesaving."
"That as well." Then she put her hands on his shoulders and leaned in, kissing him full on the mouth.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. After a long, yet gentle kiss, he came up for air. "Gosh, Morwenna."
"Yes, Al?"
He smiled. "Been a busy evening." He had to yawn.
"And you have plenty of things to do tomorrow."
"I do," he yawned again. "And it's…"
"Getting late." She had to suppress a yawn herself. "And I have work in the morning. Doc hates it when I'm late."
"And I need to get to the B&B tomorrow and clean it top to bottom, then run to the co-op market for supplies. My guests - gosh come tomorrow at 3."
She smiled. "We'll just have to organize our schedules, won't we Colin?"
He kissed her again. "Yes, Nefertari, we will."
"So… dinner Friday?"
"If, that is, uhm, if I haven't put you off – I mean." He shrugged.
"Colin, I do want another date." She snuggled against him. "Maybe things are turning around? You and me?"
He answered her with another long kiss, then pushed her away. "Better be going."
Morwenna didn't want him to go. She thought of the pack of condoms she had in her night table upstairs. "You'd better." She'd bought them in Truro months back, just in case some guy came along; someone she liked. She did like Al, but it was early days. Still he was a good kisser, but she wasn't that kind of girl.
Al bit his lip, thinking of the condom in his inside jacket pocket. "Yeah… I think so too." Too early Al. As he looked at her shining face there was that thread of possibility, but it was too early. All in good time. That was a big step. He'd rushed Pauline and look how that ended up? His arms dropped so she walked him to the door. "Friday night. Crab and Lobster?"
"Or the chippy. I'm not too particular." She reached out and touched his neck. "Let's…"
He turned. "See where it, uhm… we go."
She beamed. "Yeah. I'd like that."
He stretched out his hand to the doorknob.
"If you need anything, tomorrow, you call me," she told him. "Be glad to help, anyway I can."
He gave her a mock salute. "Aye, aye. Anything my queen commands," then he opened the door.
"Great, good. Goodnight, Al." As he stood in the doorway kit seemed that though it was full night, his face glowed.
As he walked to his car he felt his step get lighter. He looked back at her with a big smile, and it made his heart more than glad to see her waving goodbye as he drove away. "Al, my boy, that was better than fine. That was GOOD! Brilliant, Al. You didn't bollix it up!"
Morwenna closed the door after he drove away and sighed happily. "Morwenna that was respectable and fun." She hugged herself then stared at the wall calendar. Friday suddenly seemed very far away. "Gee, what just happened?" She exhaled thankfully. "Morwenna, you've got yourself a boyfriend."
THE END
Author's notes:
We shall see what happens with Morwenna and Al in Doc Martin Series 8. And no, I have no 'inside' info. But I am looking forward to finding out. :)
Rob
