CHAPTER 2
Thanks for the early reviews, they encourage me to continue posting. In fact Google confuses "he" and "she", but as I said I don't write in English. I will try to check the final draft, so that the translation is as faithful as possible.
All rights belong to Buffalo Pictures.
The next morning Louisa woke up still sore. She had struggled to find a comfortable enough position. Shortly after, Martin knocked and entered with the baby in his arms, already awake and dressed.
"Good morning."
She saw him swallow in concern, his eyes fearful.
"Good morning." even though she tried hard, her tone was still flat.
She then looked at her son and immediately smiled extending her arm. Martin brought it to her helping her to take it and nervously cleared her throat.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like yesterday, I'd say." she answered dryly.
«I see…um…may I ask what your intentions are this morning? Are you going to rest or are you planning to get up?"
She looked at him annoyed.
"I don't know, Martin, I haven't planned anything yet."
"Of course it would be much better if I stayed in bed longer. I thought I'd take James to get some air, but I can make you breakfast first. If you want…perhaps you could eat here." he proposed with the air of someone expecting a tantrum at any moment.
"I think I'll get up, I need to move. You two go ahead, I'll make some tea and look for something edible."
"Well."
The man picked up James and put him on the cot. Then he pulled back the covers and held out his hand.
"No need, Martin, I'll manage."
He didn't answer continuing to extend his hand towards her, who gave up. He helped her to her feet and walked her to the bathroom door.
"Do you need help with..."
"No, not this." on this aspect she was adamant and he listened to her, for once.
While she washed, he opened the window and made the bed.
"What do you want to wear?" he asked her when she returned to the room. She pointed to a skirt and shirt. He helped her dress by talking only to ask for directions, then grabbed an elastic and tied her into a ponytail as best he could. When she was ready, he took James and they went down to the kitchen. Without saying anything, he put tea, an egg and some toast on the table. He placed the little one in the stroller, said goodbye and went out. Louisa sighed…the recovery wasn't going to be easy at all. She was tempted to throw it all in the trash and make herself some cereal. It infuriated her that he never took her opinion into consideration…he had stipulated that she should eat breakfast and what to eat, whether she liked it or not. Those were the rules and, good heavens, they had to be respected at any cost.
She shifted her chair, undecided whether to sit down or knock it over. It was then that she noticed a couple of chocolate chip cookies sitting on the napkin. He must have bought them for her while she was in the hospital, breaking all of her rules about healthy eating. She burst into tears and reproached herself for being harsh towards her husband. He certainly drove her crazy... and he made her suffer when he isolated himself from her... but he had always remained in his place... next to her and James... even if this created discomfort for him. He took care of them to the best of his ability.
Eventually she ate it all and took the meds he'd left on the table for her. Then she washed the dishes and wandered around the house for a while, before sitting down on the sofa and absentmindedly leafing through a magazine. After a few minutes she fell asleep. She woke up wrapped in a blanket to see James playing quietly in her playpen. She sat up and noticed Martin cooking.
"How long did I sleep?" she asked yawning.
He turned absently for a moment.
"I think a couple of hours."
Louisa got up and walked over to the boy. She was feeling a little better. "It'll take about half an hour..." he informed her.
While he busied himself with his pots, he told her where they had been and he brought greetings from virtually every Portwenn he'd met. It was a less silent meal than the night before.
While her husband fixed the kitchen, she played with James.
«I know it will be a bad idea for you and you will do everything to advise me against it, but... I really want to take a walk outside, to see the sun, the sea and get some air.» she told him suddenly.
Martin took the towel and wiped his hands with it, looking at her silently. "Just a few steps, I don't want to force it, but…please…don't stop me." she almost begged him.
She had relaxed a little and she didn't feel like arguing at all.
"No, I won't stop you." he replied kindly.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, but I'll take you."
The woman started to rebel, but she soon realized that it would have been much better to have him nearby in case she got too tired.
As soon as she walked through the door, Louisa stopped to breathe in the light breeze that she smelled of saltiness. She observed the blue expanse that opened in front of her and smiled moving her gaze on her beloved village of hers. They took the opposite direction to the town, she didn't want to stop at every step to explain how she was… she would have plenty of time later.
Martin timidly offered his arm as he pushed the stroller and she held on. She still didn't feel safe and she didn't intend to risk postponing the trip for too long… and anyway… angry or not… whether she wanted it or not… she was still madly in love with him and she allowed herself that little comfort.
When they returned, he took her to her room for a nap and she accepted without contesting. She got up refreshed and in good spirits. After dinner she decided that she badly needed a bath and, without mentioning it, she left Martin to do her dishes under the guise of another nap. She filled the tub and undressed with some difficulty, putting extra strain on her aching shoulder, but when she awkwardly plunged into the hot water, she forgot about everything. She remembered half an hour later… when she couldn't lift herself with one arm. She tried both, but she felt pain. She slipped and let out a scream as she fell back into the water and flooded half the bathroom. It was a matter of seconds and she heard her husband's quick footsteps on her on the stairs.
"Louisa!" he cried as she threw open the bathroom door.
She moaned and sighed at her as she brought her knees up to her chest and put her good arm around them.
"Now don't be angry, Martin."
"What? Did you get hurt?" he didn't look angry, just worried.
«No…not more than before…I think…»
"Are you sure? What happened? A faint?"
"No, I couldn't get up and slipped backwards."
He knelt beside the tub.
"I got everything wet, including the bandage and plasters." she admitted disconsolately.
Martin looked at the gauze on her shoulder and the dark bruise around her. «But that's not important, after that we'll go to the clinic and I'll change your dressings...provided you didn't hurt yourself.» he consoled her softly. The woman slowly raised her face to him.
"I am fine." she whispered.
"Okay. Stand still now." his eyes were kind, almost smiling.
The man took the available towels and threw them on the floor on the puddle of water. Then he went to the bedroom to get another and came back to her. He bent down and held it out in front of his wife.
"Now try to rotate a little and put your good arm around my neck."
She obediently followed his instructions and in a moment found herself surrounded by the soft toweling fabric and the arms of her husband, who lifted her up and helped her out.
Martin took the bathrobe she had packed and unfolded it behind her, so she dropped the towel and put it on. He then made her sit on the bed, knelt down and dried her legs and feet well.
Louisa remained silent, overwhelmed by the tenderness with which he performed these operations.
He took one of her slips from her drawer and trying not to look too much at her as he stripped off her robe, carefully slipped it over her.
«It will be more practical later…in the surgery.» he clarified with a light cough.
He put a dressing gown around her shoulders and went downstairs to get the baby. Respectful all the way…
He soon returned with James, washed him and they changed him together. Finally he handed her son to her to say goodnight to him and laid him in her cot.
"I'll wait for you downstairs, Louisa."
"Yes, time to fall asleep."
"Certain."
When she came downstairs, she found the door to the surgery wide open and Martin sitting sullenly at his desk. As soon as he saw her, he let her in, took off her dressing gown and helped her sit on the bottom of the couch.
He immediately went into doctor mode…he pulled a cart over and began gently peeling away the sodden gauze from his dislocated shoulder. "There's a little swelling... does it hurt?"
"I feel this whole part sore, but it doesn't hurt too much if I can keep my arm still enough."
"Mhmm. We will apply ice. Try not to move your shoulder for now and get help with everything. The sooner you get well, the less risk of complications there is."
He gently disinfected the abrasion and applied a clean gauze.
"Well. There appears to be no sign of infection."
While working, he took the opportunity to discreetly examine the damage his wife had suffered after the accident. A hematoma on the left cheekbone with a tiny cut, another fairly extensive one on the shoulder and some scratches on the forearm, some grazes on the leg and another blow that could be glimpsed on the thigh and which probably didn't end there. "This." he pointed to the black mark on her thigh.
"It hurts a little when I walk or bend over."
Martin inhaled.
"Can I see?" he asked kindly.
Louisa slid off the cot and let him lift her petticoat. Her stain spread towards her hip and pelvis and she saw his eyes widen.
In the hospital Martin had consulted the medical records several times… he knew of the bruises, but seeing them now… on that delicate body that had given him so much consolation… pained him.
"It will pass, Martin. It's not that serious after all, it could have been much worse for me." she cut it short by putting her dress back in place.
He worked to position a new bandage that supported her arm. After fixing the knot behind her neck, the man let his fingers descend lightly on the part of her bare back. He lingered lowering his head next to her ear and closed his eyes as he inhaled her scent.
"It was all my fault, Louisa, forgive me." he whispered.
She stood still, surprised by her behavior.
"If I hadn't exasperated you like that, you wouldn't have run after me and nothing would have happened." he continued.
"It wasn't our best day, but I certainly should have been more careful myself."
"No. I'm just the problem." his voice was haunted and uncertain. He spread his arms around her gently and slowly pulled her towards him.
"I'm so sorry, Louisa…for everything."
She closed her eyes in an attempt to regain self-control, but it was really hard to do it feeling his warm and solid body enveloping her.
Martin was really tried and suffering. She felt his breath on her neck…then his lips brushing against hers lightly. She wanted to turn around and find his mouth… it would have been so simple to surrender to his kisses and his strong hands… pretend there were no problems… and be loved all night long with that passion and that need that left her dreamy every time . She wondered if it would be so bad to give in just a little… just one more time… to mitigate her discomfort and console her husband…
She decided she couldn't. She didn't have to. Because the difficulties in their relationship would come back on time…whether it was in a day, a week or a month. She couldn't bear the constant quarrels, like those of her parents, which would lead to only one conclusion. She didn't want to suffer this time…she would have pulled away before the others left her. She pulled away and looked at him shocked.
"No! Stop it, it won't change anything... I don't want to..." she leaned towards him angrily "... in a week I'll leave anyway!"
Martin took a step back and staggered.
"You can't, Louisa. It's too early, you're not well yet, the risks to your health are real… and with such a small child, then…»
«I've already decided, I need a break from…from this.» she pointed with her hand to an indefinite point between her and him, but she didn't look at him because she knew she was hurting him. She went out quickly and not to wake James of hers, she took refuge in the dark living room… shaken by deep sobs, which tortured her shoulder… and her heart.