Here we are at the last chapter.

As you have noticed, I preferred to give space to Louisa and Martin's relationship more than to the daily adventures and the other inhabitants of Portwenn. I laughed a lot throughout the series and I liked the adventures described, but what always interested me the most were these two characters.

I was sorry that the authors couldn't delve deeper into their love story and that they made Doc undergo an evolution compared to the first episodes. I am referring above all to the last three series, when his relationship with his wife was finally stable and he was loved. Martin continued to be withdrawn and even more irritable with the rest of the world, but even at home he remained rigid and restrained. Well... at least together with Louisa and their children, a softening would have been more logical... a few more hugs and affectionate words.

Either way, these two characters are wonderful for a writer. Their complex and varied personalities could be the starting point for an infinite number of stories.

Both are marked by a difficult childhood. They are alone in the world until the moment they meet and bind their lives together forever, despite a thousand misunderstandings and difficulties.

And this is the wonder of the Louisa-Martin couple... when they finally admit to themselves and to each other that they really need each other, then they mature as people and are capable of sharing their lives without any more sterile selfishness. Because they really love each other, that's the point of the whole story. They have an authentic feeling and from the moment they know each other, there is no room for anyone else, whether it's Danny, Edith or whoever.

Furthermore, great credit for this magic goes to the two actors, Caroline Catz and Martin Clunes. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Louisa and Martin. The way they each characterized their character is perfect. Well done!

It was a beautiful trip. I'll miss Portwenn...I'd even settle for a Christmas movie every now and then...to show a more loving Doc with his wife and their relationship with James and Mary grown up...but enough chitchat.

For a love like that of Louisa and Martin, I wanted a life and an ending worthy of their feeling, so... the last chapter is up to you.

Thank you and Merry Christmas to all of you!

Buon Natale a tutti!

Chapter 25

It was still dark when Martin opened his eyes. He listened to Louisa's calm, even breathing next to him.

It was Christmas morning. He smiled. He had experienced many similar days over the years and he never thought he would be able to appreciate them like this.

The house was perfectly quiet, but it wouldn't be for long. James and his family had stayed over. They had all spent Christmas Eve together and, since they were going to have lunch there anyway, they had decided that it wasn't worth traveling the extra distance.

He was happy with it. For some time he had discovered that he enjoyed the presence of all his loved ones in the house, despite the disorder and commotion that came with it.

It was precisely the birth of his son that made him understand that the time of a regular and silent life was over for him. At the time he had struggled a lot to get used to it... with the arrival of Louisa and James at the old clinic, it was immediately clear that the situation had changed.

Now James Henry was as tall as him and was a charming, gentle man, always ready to joke. He studied English literature at King's College in London and after graduating became a teacher at Exeter University. He had married early to Katherine, a beautiful girl he met in the city while he was studying. He had fallen madly in love with her and had convinced her to follow him to Portwenn.

She got pregnant almost immediately. James wasn't naive, Martin knew it. He was gifted with enormous intelligence and succeeded in everything he did, but he had never sought glory. He loved the simple life of the town where he was born, just like his mother, and had chosen to give priority to love and family. For this reason he and Louisa had been happy to put Aunt Joan's old farm at his disposal. They had inherited it after the death of Ruth, who had died at the age of ninety-six in her home shortly after finishing her last book. She hadn't sold it at the time, but she had rented it at the last moment for a very long period without saying anything.

That place was exactly James' dream...the perfect place to raise his children. So Victoria arrived...then it was the turn of Terence, Alexander, Elisabeth and Marion, the youngest just one year old.

James did very well working as a teacher at Exeter University and working on occasion with Bath University. He had also published a couple of books, historical novels set in Cornwall, which had met with some success.

Martin was very proud of him, even though he had not become a doctor as was tradition in the Ellingham family.

He had seen his father-in-law Terry well...James was a complete Glasson and he didn't mind at all, because deep down he had always hoped that his children would be more like Louisa. Kind, full of life, passionate and strong.

He reached out to his wife and intertwined his fingers with hers, turning onto his side. He fell asleep and was awakened again by the faint light of dawn. Motionless, he remained observing the profile of Louisa who was sleeping blissfully. She smiled.

He eagerly awaited the moment she would open her eyes and give him that bright, warm smile.

After only a few minutes he was satisfied.

"Merry Christmas, Louisa." he whispered.

He lifted her hand to kiss the back of it and she gently caressed his cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Martin."

The woman yawned and stretched.

«It's still early… what time is it?»

He turned to the nightstand.

"It's seven o 'clock."

«Not so soon, then…»

Louisa moved and snuggled against her husband's chest, who held her close.

«I have to get up…» she murmured, kissing his neck «…Mary will be here in a bit…the children will want to open the presents…and we need to prepare breakfast…» she sighed and slipped out of the covers to reach the bathroom.

Martin put his hands behind his head and watched her put on her dressing gown…after all those years, he still felt a strong attraction to her soft, feminine shape. He couldn't help himself and managed to grab a piece of the fabric, pulling her back onto the bed and then into his arms. She let out a surprised yelp and immediately burst out laughing at him as he held her close and covered her face in kisses.

In the end he let her go, with the promise to resume the conversation as soon as possible.

When they went down to the living room, they just had time to light the fire in the fireplace and the lights on the tree. Soon they heard the sound of fast, heavy footsteps in the upstairs hallway and someone knocking on the door. Martin went to open the door and in a few seconds the living area was filled with joyful voices, hugs, good wishes and eager children. The little ones were allowed to pounce on the incredible quantity of packages under the tree... Father Claus, wisely, knowing that they would all gather together, had decided to deliver everything to the grandparents' house.

With a slight smirk, Martin busied himself with making tea, coffee…and even some chocolate milk. James reached out to help him and placed his hands on his shoulders, squeezing them affectionately.

"I hope the kids didn't make too much noise last night, dad. They were excited to sleep in my old room and got carried away… »he began to prepare the cups on the counter.

"Don't worry. Why do you think we put your and your sister's rooms on the other side of ours?"

They exchanged an amused look and carried the trays into the living room.

The floor was already covered with a considerable amount of colored paper, ribbons and bows.

Louisa approached Martin to drink her tea and beamed at their grandchildren…eyes sparkling with surprise, laughing and exchanging enthusiastic comments. She reached for her husband's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"They're so cute, Martin, don't you think?"

«Umphff…they're…loud.»

She looked at him sideways, but smiling. She knew he adored them.

When Victoria, their first granddaughter, was born, he had had a gloating look on his face for weeks.

Every time they slept at their place, he changed them, put them to bed, prepared breakfast and patiently played with them. It was wonderful to watch him in those moments.

"Take her, dad, please."

Mary had come over to put a newborn baby of a few months in his arms and the little girl stopped whining immediately. Over the years, Martin had earned a reputation for being very good at calming children… perhaps due to his solid and calm presence. To his surprise, he had quickly begun to take pride in it and every new baby was quickly handed over to him when he began to complain.

He watched his niece in silence and held out a finger for her to take, which she immediately did.

Margaret.

She was Mary's third child, after twins William and Charles. She had wanted to give her the name of her grandmother... of his mother... and she had not been wrong about it, because the baby already had her delicate and elegant features.

His wife stroked her little head full of dark hair, speaking to her in that silly voice one uses with small children. Why it should interact with newborns in this way was a mystery to Martin.

Louisa took the opportunity to hold Mary close, taking her waist. Her daughter was taller than her, but otherwise very much like her physically, although overall she had the refined and composed beauty of Grandma Margaret.

She had often had to watch her father's reactions when she was a young girl courted by all the young men in town. Martin looked them up and down rudely, gritting his teeth, but she was so cute that in the end they tried anyway. A couple of more daring people had gone so far as to ask her out for a walk or an ice cream and her husband had definitely mistreated them. Mary didn't mind too much. She adored her father, but as soon as he was busy with work, she slipped away to live her youth peacefully.

Louisa didn't worry. Her daughter was a cheerful girl full of life, but she had a good head on her shoulders and was mature for her age. She had understood early on what her path would be and what she wanted from her life.

One day, a young man who was the most daring of all, decided to step forward and bravely faced Martin's roars. It was Philip, the eighteen-year-old son of one of the fishermen. The two boys had fallen in love when Mary was sixteen.

Philip immediately showed himself to be very serious and respectful. He would pick her up on time and bring her home at the appointed time. He was very polite, witty and helpful. Louisa liked him immediately.

When he realized that his daughter's adoring gaze was now turned to that Philip, Martin remembered Terry's words and gave up. It was difficult for him to accept that his little girl was now grown up, but eventually he adjusted and began to feel a sort of sympathy for the young man.

He realized that the boy's intentions were serious. He took care of Mary, he made sure she was well, that she had eaten and rested and he looked at her with two adoring eyes like boiled fish. He respected her and never insisted on forcing her to make anything of herself. Martin eventually became convinced that she would be safe with Philip.

The boy had decided to go to study in London, knowing that she would join him, and had graduated in architecture.

A couple of years later, Mary entered medical school at King's…the fourth generation of Ellinghams to do so…and immediately stood out among the other students for her speed of learning and brilliant results.

She specialized in cardiology and worked for a few years in London in a very famous clinic. She already had publications under her belt and was highly regarded in her environment.

Shortly before starting work, she had married Philip. They had lived for some years in the Ellinghams' town house, which had been rented until then, and had had the twins.

After they learned that the GP position in the village would become available and that Mary was pregnant, they decided to return to raise the children in a friendlier and more relaxed place.

They had moved to The Fern Cottage and, as Martin and Louisa no longer practiced, they had made their studios available to her. Returning to Portwenn and working in her father's surgery had always been her goal... she too yearned for a simple life full of affection, just as her childhood had been. She wanted her children to feel safe and surrounded by the love of their parents as she had been for herself.

Louisa smiled when she saw her husband with his latest granddaughter in his arms… and to think that she had to insist that he takes James as soon as he was born…

Martin was very proud of both his children and had never forced them to choose one job or the other, but Louisa could not ignore his satisfaction at knowing that Mary would become a doctor. She hadn't been surprised. Her daughter had a natural predisposition to take care of other people and take on responsibilities... like her brother in fact, only that they were attracted by different fields.

"We'd better start putting the toast on before everyone realizes they're hungry and storms the kitchen." Louisa announced.

"You're right, mum, I'll help you."

Mary kissed her daughter's little hand and then reached out to give a kiss to her father, who leaned down to receive it naturally.

While Martin kept an eye on the children, the adults busied themselves clearing the room of paper and discarded packaging and preparing breakfast. Then it was their turn to exchange gifts.

The morning flew by with laughter and games, while the ladies took care of lunch.

Martin thought everything was perfect as he looked around. He sighed softly. He felt very lucky. Too many times in the past he had risked living alone and unhappy without Louisa... and without everything that would come after.

Suddenly his thoughts were crossed by images of those who were no longer there...aunt Joan, his parents, Ruth, Terry and Eleanor. Aunt Joan would have loved to be there at that moment... but she hadn't even had time to meet James... poor dear aunt Joan.

«Dad…are you enchanted?» James put an arm around his shoulders. «You have a strange smile…I think you're already thinking about the moment when we will get out of the way and the house will be quiet and tidy again.» the man burst out laughing amiably.

«You don't have much to laugh about…» his wife Katherine interjected while she was setting the table «…I remind you that you too run after our children to tidy up what they leave lying around…»

James gasped in surprise and scurried away.

The meal was varied and plentiful. The simple and relaxed atmosphere put everyone at ease.

Just before dessert, the host stood up with a glass of wine in his hand…he had just poured it for the occasion. Those present were chatting and didn't notice, so Martin cleared his throat loudly and everyone turned to stare at him in surprise.

"I…uhm…just want to thank you all for being here today and wish you all a Merry Christmas again."

The guests responded noisily, toasting happily. Martin raised a hand to silence them.

«Well... I guess that seniority leads you to reflect more often on the past and the present... I've heard this phrase often, in fact... so I think it's my turn now.»

His wife cocked her head to the side with an encouraging smile in his direction. He cleared his throat again.

«I consider myself a lucky man…for many reasons…most of which are present here today. Generally I'm not good at talking about myself... but you know that well... and I can be... irritating... but you also know that.»

There was some mild laughter and knowing looks of amusement.

«I arrived in Portwenn...many years ago...disappointed and dissatisfied, but today I can say that it was truly fortunate. Here I met my future wife and my life was turned upside down. For the better…I mean…I had everything I hadn't had before…and more. So…here's to you, Louisa." he raised his glass to her.

"Thank you for marrying me and putting up with me all this time."

«To mum…» James immediately joined in, standing up, soon followed by the others «…who keeps us all in line and never lets us lack her affection!»

Louisa sat with tears in her eyes. Mary reached her and kissed her, hugging her. The children felt encouraged to do the same…they ran to her and kissed her together.

Martin looked at her shyly, with those vulnerable and sweet eyes that he still reserved for her and the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

In the confusion, his wife stood up to walk towards him, still staring at him. She put her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest in silence, starting to sway slightly. Martin also put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

They joined the rest of the celebrations. Finally, in the early afternoon, the children gave up exhausted. They were all put to sleep upstairs and their parents were adamant about doing the dishes and tidying up the living room themselves.

"Why don't you take a walk in the meantime?" Mary proposed.

«And when you return, you will find a nice hot tea waiting for you.» James added.

Martin and Louisa looked at each other and concluded that a little exercise and fresh air would help them digest after such a busy lunch.

They left the boys to clean up and headed down to the port. A little wind was blowing, but the sun helped keep them from feeling too cold. Louisa was clinging to her husband's arm. Several other people had had the same idea and were walking peacefully through the streets of Portwenn. Everyone knew them and everyone wished them well as they passed, so Martin proposed walking along the less frequented internal streets.

They turned onto Middle Street, continued along Dolphin Street and soon went up Rose Hill and Trewetha Lane. They went down the main street and turned into Fore Street. At the coastal walk they turned left. Unfortunately the amount of people walking was notable again.

They passed White Rose Cottage and both stole a glance at the door. Louisa released his arm to interlace the fingers of her hand with his, which promptly clasped hers.

"I never thought you would accept…that day…" Martin murmured as they continued walking.

"Why did you ask me, then?"

«Umpfh…I was desperate. I hadn't slept the previous nights, devastated by the idea of not having you in my life, but as I walked out the door, something inside me rebelled. I had to at least try...for once I wanted to have what I wanted and...I found the courage to propose to you.»

«I didn't sleep well after the concert either, if that's any consolation. I kept thinking about you, even though I told you I didn't want to see you anymore. I was angry and sad, because all I wanted was to be with you, but we couldn't seem to communicate in any way." she raised her head to look at him and Martin turned towards her, meeting her eyes.

«You see…that was it…it still is…you were always strong and independent, but then you gave me this sweet look and I…I would have done anything you asked of me.»

Louisa rested her face on his shoulder, hugging him.

Martin stopped in front of the wrought iron railing that surrounded the side entrance of the school.

«From that window I saw you for the first time in class.» he pointed to her. "You had the eye patch on and you glared at me."

«Yeah…I didn't understand why you were staring at me like that.» she laughed.

"Every time I passed by, I checked to see if you were there."

"And I had started peeking out a lot for the same reason, Martin."

He smiled shyly at her and they continued on their way, still hand in hand. Even though her husband's hair was now completely white and he had a few more wrinkles, she still found him fascinating... with those blue eyes and his elegant and confident bearing.

"Every morning, before I went into class, I looked towards your office in case you was drinking coffee on the patio."

Louisa stopped a few steps ahead to observe the stone wall overlooking the sea.

«And I drank it there just to be able to see you… even just for an instant.»

He peered at the perfect profile of his wife, still beautiful. He didn't notice the signs of aging on her face... for him she remained the wonderful woman who had given meaning to his life. The love he felt for her had never failed. It had grown, however, day after day... together with the love for their children.

"Do you remember your first interview to be headmaster, Louisa?"

«And how can I forget... they practically forced you to participate and we clashed on that occasion too.»

«They didn't force me, I refused, until I learned that you were among the candidates... and I remember a proud and indomitable woman who would have incinerated me in my place, if she could.» he giggled softly in his deep voice.

His wife burst out laughing as she remembered.

«It's true, I was furious at a certain point. I thought they wouldn't take me because of you."

«You stared at me with fiery eyes, resolutely defending your positions. You fought with passion, like a true lioness, and I could only look at you in admiration. It was at that moment that I realized that I was in love with you. In reality you entered my head from the first moment... when I noticed that you took the seat in front of me on the plane... but it was in that room that I realized I loved you.»

They were almost at the Platt and Martin darkened as he looked at the windows of the Crab.

«What I will never be able to forgive myself is that I allowed you to sleep in a pub the night you came back pregnant with James.»

«Misunderstandings between us were the rule… and my pride didn't help.»

«No, I had no excuses. I should have asked you to stay at my house."

"I don't know if I would have done it at that moment..." she remembered the pang of jealousy she had felt upon seeing Edith in his kitchen.

«Maybe…if I had told you clearly that I was still in love with you…that I was wrong not to show up at church…that I would have take care of you and our son…maybe…I would have convinced you.»

He gave her that vulnerable, guilty look and she stroked his arm with her other hand.

«Yes…if you had, I think so…but we would have argued anyway.»

"At least I would have stopped my son's mother sleeping in a dingy smelly pub."

"Martin, I've already forgiven you a million times for this. I don't even remember it anymore. Those were different times and we did everything we could not to understand each other."

"But I remember it."

She sighed. They had turned onto Roscarrock Hill again. Passing the public toilets, Martin remembered the words of that unbearable architect.

«That Danny…he was right. You deserved better than a grumpy, intractable grouch."

«Oh, Danny, of course…was this the authoritative opinion of a childish, unreliable and perpetually indecisive man like him? Well, forgive me, but I wouldn't have given him much credit." she replied sarcastically.

«I don't argue with the fact that he was a complete imbecile... but he understood that I wasn't enough for you.»

«Then why didn't you leave me? If we were so incompatible, why didn't you end our relationship?" she stopped and looked at him seriously.

He looked down mortified.

«For selfishness. Thinking of living without you was simply unbearable."

"Well, if you had, you would have made a big mistake. You would have made both of us miserable. I would never have loved another man and my existence would have been sad and empty. Would you have wanted this for me?"

He peeked shyly at her.

"No." he murmured.

"Martin…" his wife's voice was soft again. «I have two adorable children and eight very funny grandchildren. I have had jobs that gave me important satisfaction, especially the last one as a childcare consultant. I had the chance to recover the relationship with my mother and then with my father... and I had them next to me in their last years. I lived in the place I loved most, among the people I grew up with. I had and have all this...and it was thanks to you." she slowly smoothed the collar of his coat.

"You've given me the life I've always wanted, Martin, and all I hope is…that I've made you happy at least a little. Mistakes and misunderstandings are part of the journey, but the two of us together have overcome every difficulty and that's the only thing that really matters."

The man put his arm around his wife's shoulders and they started walking again.

"You have made me very happy, Louisa." he stated firmly.

They passed the old clinic, which had become Mary's home.

«Do you remember Mark's hen party? The policeman? You went looking for him in the woods with the ranger…Stewart…"

«Of course… the one who had a giant squirrel as a friend…»

"Exact. I was really worried while I waited for you on the patio in front of the clinic. Then I saw you get out of the car safe and sound and my heart started beating fast... it had been beating for you for a long time actually... I think since you examined my eye on the day of your interview to be a doctor here in Portwenn…but it was that afternoon that I knew I loved you."

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"I will never be good at expressing how I feel, but believe me when I say that you have made me happy…and you have made me a far better man than I ever could have been without you."

Louisa's eyes suddenly watered. She tilted her head toward his shoulder, slipped her hand around his waist, and they continued home in silence.

«So… big brother… what is your new book about?»

They were all sitting at the table sipping tea after they had cleaned the kitchen and tidied the living room. They spoke softly so as not to wake the children.

«Well... it's about a city surgeon... grumpy and rude, but very competent and appreciated in his work... who suddenly develops an aversion to blood. He finds himself forced to take refuge in a remote fishing village in Cornwall, where his aunt lives... the only person with whom he had had a loving relationship during his childhood... and he adapts to being a general practitioner. In addition to treating them, he spends his time insulting the villagers and chasing them away... all, except one... a sweet teacher from the local school, who knows how to give him a hard time. »

Mary rolled her eyes.

"Are you coking, James?"

"Not at all. Sounds like a good story to me actually."

They were interrupted by the arrival of their parents.

«Don't say anything for now…» James begged her «…and remember that I will need your help with the medical explanations.» he winked at her sister.

Meanwhile, Katherine had prepared cups of tea for her in-laws, who sat at the table with them describing the tour they had travelled. The older children began to come down, then the younger ones were brought down. Louisa suggested finishing the leftovers for dinner, but she wanted to go up and freshen up first.

Martin, who was holding the newly fed little Margaret, lifted the little girl to his shoulder and she regurgitated some of the milk. He secretly thanked his niece's providential help and went up to change.

When his wife came out of the bathroom, she found him at the window watching the sea. She walked up to him and hugged him from behind him, resting her face against his back.

"What are you doing here alone?"

«I came to change…Margaret vomited some of the milk on my sweater…so I waited for you to come down together.» he murmured.

«I understand…Martin?»

«Mhmm?»

«I was reflecting on our speeches just now…»

"Yes?"

«Please…forget the question of whether you deserve me or not…it has nothing to do with us. I know that I have the man I love and have always loved next to me. You gave me security. You made me feel loved and protected. You made my heart beat and made my dreams come true. You did everything you could to make me happy." she held him tighter. «You were an attentive and devoted companion. A wonderful father to our children. You supported me in the most difficult moments and always took care of me." she hid her face in his shoulders.

«I wouldn't trade you for anyone in the world. I wouldn't have done it before and I never will. You gave me everything and more. Not even in my wildest dreams as a girl I imagined a life like this." she released him and moved to his side. Martin turned to her and took her into his arms. She placed her hands on his cheeks.

«I didn't know you could love someone like that. I always wanted only you, even when we couldn't get along. You are the love of my life, Martin…and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving me like this.»

Her husband's eyes had turned red and wet as he pressed his lips together to hold back his emotion. He pulled her towards him and buried his face in her neck.

«I…it's me who thanks you.» his voice trembled «When I arrived, I was convinced I had lost everything. Instead I fell in love with you and since then I have never stopped loving you, not even for a second. Thank you for these years…for our children…and for making me feel loved.»

They remained close to each other, swaying slightly, for a long time.

It was the shouting of the now perfectly awake children below that interrupted them.

Louisa returned to the bathroom to quickly freshen her face and joined her husband to go downstairs. Before the stairs she turned and stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. She then took his face in her hands and pulled his head down, while he promptly wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you, Martin."

She kissed him softly, abandoning herself on his chest and smiled at him.

He moved a strand of hair behind her ear, watching her closely with adoring eyes and a still amazed smile.

«You are so beautiful…so…so beautiful…» he rested his forehead against hers «…and I love you, Louisa.»

He kissed her tenderly again, holding her close to him.

«Mummy…daddy…» it was James calling them from the bottom of the stairs. «The children would like to sleep over tonight too… is that okay with you?»

They looked into each other's eyes smiling.

"Yes, okay." Martin replied loud and clear.

Louisa took his hand and they went downstairs.

-THE END-