Chapter 13
Truth Comes Out
"Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to the eyes. Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow strong or we grow weak, and at last some crisis show us what we have become." – Brooke Foss Westcott (1825-1901)
ME/LE
The ride back to the hotel is quiet, even Phillip is a bit subdued. I am unable to think clearly through all that I've heard. How my father's lawyer used my personal information to help him in his scheme to swindle Joan and me. I wonder if my father and I were on better terms would he have come to me and explained his plan. I will never know as we were never on good terms.
As I go through everything in my mind I realize that we are not going back to Portwenn in the morning as planned. I will need to make arrangements with Chris Parsons for coverage at the surgery.
The traffic is heavy and the time it should have taken to travel the short distance took nearly three times, but I am reluctant to give Phillip his usual snack. I dig around his bag and noticed Joan packed his baggie of chopped cooked carrots. After using a wipe to clean mine and Phillip's hands I pull a couple of chunks from the bag and Phillip using his pincer-like action to obtain a bit and puts them in his mouth quickly chewing and reaching for more, which I gladly place in my hand. Phillip has nearly finished the bag when our taxi arrives at the hotel. I quickly unsnap his car seat and step out to help Louisa when I notice Joan hurrying towards us. I reach in to gather Phillips' bag to hand to her and pull my wallet out to pay the fare before grabbing my son in his seat out of the vehicle. Ruth and Joan escort Louisa into the hotel as I trail behind them with Phillip smacking his lips and asking for more, this brings a smile to my face. "In a moment Phillip, let's ride the lift up and I will prepare your lunch as soon as we get to our room."
I set Phillip down and release him from his car seat just as Joan comes over to pick him up and place him in his highchair. Louisa is busy looking in the fridge for his banana from this morning to cut up for part of his lunch. Ruth watches this well-oiled act and decides to seat down next to Phillip. She leans over towards him and smiles, "Now you are one lucky little boy." Phillip rewards her with his big smile and presents her with a slice of mashed banana to share.
"Oh Ruth, you are one lucky woman, Phillip doesn't share his food with just anyone," Joan says with a laugh.
Once Phillip is fed the scene of the room slows down and Louisa notices the look in my eyes. She catches Joan's attention as she motions her eyes towards me. It seems my aunts understand, and she slowly walks over and takes my hand, leading me to our room and closing the door behind us.
"Now husband come to lay with me so we can talk. I know your first instinct is to shut down and internalize everything, like with Danny, but we are going to lie down together and just talk about what we learned today."
She carefully crawls onto the bed ensuring I have plenty of room, per my usual I lay on my back and she places her hand over my heart as she cuddles close. I sign as all the emotions start to flood out.
"Louisa how could he do that, I just don't understand how he hated his sister so much to try to steal her livelihood just to hide his money from his wife. What if I didn't offer to sell my flat? What would he have done, gone through with his intent for half the farm's worth?"
"Oh Martin, I think your conniving father knew you better than you thought. Didn't he know your love for Joan? I think Joan once said that they wanted to keep you and hopefully adopt you but your father got angry when Phil asked and he took you away only to send you back to school. Joan contacted him asking when to expect you for the Christmas holiday, and your father mentioned her affair with your father threatening to tell Phil. Your father knew the second he put his farm scheme into motion telling your mother that it is how he would get her money for the divorce that you would save Joan and he would get his money."
I sit up and look at my wife, "How do you know about… everything Louisa?"
"Lie down and I will explain," she responds with that knowing smile that she uses when I am so confused with her observations. I lie back down and take her hand and replace it over my heart. "Martin, you told me bits and pieces, just as Joan has done when I have asked questions. Even Ruth mentioned something in passing that you all took for granted and I just put it together. Now it has taken me some time, a few years but everything fits in with what I knew from the gossip around the village that I heard growing up. The quiet little boy that visited the Norton's; shy but polite, wearing wellies a size too big with his too-big overalls, helping Joan and Phil for a few summers. When I was growing up visiting different friends like Moo and her son, they all told stories about the village and villagers."
Martin groans with the mention of Danny.
"She would tell stories of her friends and sometimes the Norton's were mentioned and you were also in the stories. I'm not the great detective you think I am, just someone that people will talk to or they just talk and I quietly listen in the background, gathering information that I have stored away for many years. But getting back to you my Luv and Joan, your father knew of your love for her and wasn't worried his scheme wouldn't work because he could count on you. The kind loving man you grew up to be." She reaches up and caresses my face. "Martin are you upset that you had to sell your flat or that your father used you?" she asks wondering if he had that flat and no longer had his phobia would he have left Portwenn for London and surgery.
"No, the flat was an investment. I kept it when I left because the economy was bad and I would lose money selling it. But I think in the back of my mind I held onto it with the hope I would one day return as a surgeon; it was a dream several years ago."
"What do you mean a dream?"
"You know how I felt about the claptrap of therapy and refused to take part when my phobia first came on. I thought it was brought on by stress from a very stressful job. Remember I said that to you once."
"Yes, my darling husband."
"When the forced leave didn't help and the hospital administration canceled my contract with the hospital, I was devastated and called my one and only true friend, Chris Parsons. He helped me sort out my medical career and suggested GP retraining. He pulled strings for admission to a course that foreign doctors used to qualify in the UK and retrained faster than the standard medical school student and finished up in a little over a year. When I finished and started looking for NHS positions, I knew I didn't want to stay in London that would be embarrassing. I noticed the job in Portwenn and contacted Chris again and he set everything up to include meeting you at my job interview," I finish and lean over and kiss the top of Louisa's head. "I heard you were the only person on the board that voted against me," I say with a smile.
"Well I wasn't happy with your people skills and told you that our village needed you and I would keep an eye on you," she says with a smile of her own.
I roll over onto my side facing Louisa, holding her hand over my heart, and reach out with my other to caress her cheek in the same loving manner she displayed just earlier, "I have spent my entire life unable to depend on anyone but these last few days you were by my side helping to manage the negative thoughts bombarding me. You have said I am your rock, but Louisa Ellingham you are my rock now and forever." I lean in and kiss her deeply and then playfully nibble down to my favorite sweet spot on her neck. I am a contented man lying with the woman I love and depend on for stability.
"I have another thought. Why did my father cast this particular trust? As far as I know, he didn't know if our marriage existed or that I fathered a child."
Louisa thoughtfully looks into my eyes, "I didn't meet your parents when they visited Portwenn, and I only heard gossip about your father. Pauline said his voracious eyes made most of the females in the bar forget their male companions. She fell for his look and wanted you to be more like him."
"When we were returning to the surgery, he made snide comments about Mylow and his fiancé. He said he and I were the same when it came to women. We would need to drug them to keep them."
Louisa can see the hurt in my eyes. Like so many times she knew how I felt. "Martin, you did drug me. Your gentle loving charisma when you look at me engenders every other man's silence in my mind. I can see only you and me forever. Martin, you are my soulmate for life. That took me six months without you to figure out. When you offered me your bed just a few short days after my return, I knew you had forgiven me for leaving. I love you, Martin Ellingham and you are stuck with me whatever may come our way." She slides her lips across my hand holding hers over my heart in the gentlest of kisses. I pull her closer so I can kiss the top of her head.
We lay cuddling for some quiet time before I realize she is sleeping cuddled against my chest. I slowly disentangle from her arms and leg that she has wrapped around me. I place the pillow under her knee to support her back. I stand staring at the most important part of my life carrying two more important parts and can hear another important part talking in his way about the book my aunt must be reading to him, he sounds so happy. I open our bedroom door and step out of our bedroom. As usual, Phillip happily announces that he sees me. Joan helps him down onto the floor so he can wobbly walk to me,
"Phillip your legs are getting stronger and your balance is improving. Well done," I say as I reach down to lift him to hug him. I look at my aunts, "Have you decided on lunch."
"We placed an ordered to come at the top of the hour, figuring you and Louisa would be finished talking," Ruth announces with a sly smile as she observes me with a knowing look.
"Good, I'll wake Louisa when it arrives, she… umm… fell asleep after our talk."
I look at my son, he is smiling at me and once again self-doubt bubbles up. I push it back to the black hole of my mind and return a smile to him, and his usual greeting he grabs my ears and places his head against my forehead, "Wuv Dadda."
Out of the corner of my vision, I catch the look Ruth has on her face and will wait to hear her newest evaluation on my family when we are alone. My thoughts are interrupted with a knock at the door, lunch has arrived.
While Phillip naps, we sit at the table with our computers and go over the trust/will of Christopher James Ellingham. Louisa and Joan work on her computer pulling up the property information on the Kensington address, the description, and worth, while Ruth and I go through the investments- stocks and bonds portfolios. Joan brings up the farm question as it is part of the trust, I provide the answer she needs, she and my children own the farm, and no one else can stake a claim to it, meaning Margaret. Even though I am angry with my father and what he tried to do to Joan, I am surprised by the wealth that he hid from my mother. Maybe he and his solicitor were smarter than I would ever believe. Ruth agrees with my assessment.
"Margaret has no claims whatsoever on Christopher's estate," Ruth states. We all can see the relief on Joan's face. "
We work a little while longer before we hear Phillip's babbling. Ruth watches once again amazed how this little fellow has three adults so well trained; Joan goes into the room and picks him up and changes his nappy while his parents prepare for his snack, pulling out a clean bib drink and food. Ruth watches the interaction between Louisa and her nephew, nodding approval of the easiness between them. Joan was correct with her version of the love Martin has for Louisa.
"Louisa, Phillip, and I are going for a stroll in Hyde Park" I announce after Phillip finishes his snack. "I think we can finish going over the documents after dinner and call the solicitor with our needs tomorrow afternoon. When I return I'll make inquires with the undertaker mentioned in the will; I would like to finish up this business and return my family to Portween by the end of the week."
I use the warm flannel and clean Phillip's face and hands, remove his bib and lift Phillip out of his chair. "Phillip why don't we take your mum for a lovely walk in the park, maybe we will see some interesting sites while you exercise your legs and get fresh air even though it is fresh sea air." He babbles out his response and points to Louisa all the while bouncing excitedly in my arms.
ME/LE
A quarter of an hour later, Joan and Ruth are enjoying a cup of tea discussing their nephew when there is a knock at the door. "I wonder what Martin forgot in his hurry to take Phillip to the park," Joan says as she gets up from the table to answer the door.
"His key card would be my answer if he is knocking" Ruth mummers as she scans the will.
Joan opens the door expecting to see Martin or Louisa instead she sees Margret's astonished face.
"Look what the cat's dragged in," she mumbles loudly, as she looks back towards Ruth.
"What are you doing here? I was told by the solicitor Martin was staying here."
"Helping your son with the issue of his father's death, I could ask the same question to you" snaps Joan.
"Christopher's solicitor called me to inform me of his death. He said Martin was handling things and knowing his lack of sense I have come to ensure Christopher is duly recognized by the London medical community."
Ruth joins her sister at the door and says, "Martin isn't lacking anything and doesn't need your help."
"Where is Martin, I need to speak to him."
"Out, taking care of matters," Joan replies as she gives her sister a knowing look. "What have you come for Margaret? You are no longer Christopher's wife and have no right to makes any claims regarding what Martin does."
"When will Martin return" I want to speak to my son in private," she expresses.
"Now you have a son? We will pass your message to Martin and he will decide when the conversation will take place so in the meantime where are you staying?" asks Ruth.
"I just arrived and haven't checked into a hotel. That is why I must speak to Martin; he needs to make my accommodations."
"Go darken someone else's door and leave Marty alone," Joan snarls.
Ruth turns away from the door, "Excuse me I'll make your reservation. Martin doesn't need to be involved. Take a taxi to the Sheraton Grand."
"The Sheraton, that is unacceptable."
"Take it or leave it. It doesn't matter where you stay as long as it isn't here. Marty doesn't need or want you right now." With that announcement, Joan closes the door in Margaret's face.
Ruth returns from the other room to announce Margaret's reservation is set, with a small budget for food that they will inform her of when she checks into her room."
"We need to call Marty and alert him to Margaret's arrival. It's a good idea to send her across the park to stay. She's less likely to run into Martin and Louisa, and she does not know of Louisa or Phillip. Remember my conversation with you last September when I told you of his marriage and birth of his son and we discussed what she said to Marty among other things."
"Yes, I recall now. How Margaret could say such a thing. Never mind it is her personality and I wasn't surprised when you told me. Together and with Louisa's help, we will limit Margaret's time alone with Martin. Oh, as usual, you were correct in your observations of Martin and his love for Louisa, but I think you underestimated the love Louisa has for him. She would go into battle to protect him. I have noticed a few things these past days."
"I thought they were chalk and cheese with her upbringing not much better than Marty's but she can hide her problems very well and she has a temper that Marty hasn't encountered before but then all women confuse him. Every time Marty has confusing interaction with Louisa, he mentions a woman's hormones, believing they are at the root of his not understanding. I believe their biggest issue will be her urge to run when her life overwhelms her, just like her mother did so long ago. I did tell you about that didn't I?"
"I don't recall, remind me."
"Louisa was eight at most, her parents were always fighting. Her dad was gambling or drinking his paycheck away and her mother socializing at the pub at all hours. Eleanor enjoyed her drink and men. A slimy Spaniard bloke from a fishing boat took root in Portwenn for a short time and he hung out with every female that entered the pub alone so of course Eleanor took an instant like to him and before long the two disappeared together to parts unknown, she hasn't been back. The village raised Louisa and made sure she had food, clothing, and her education. Unknown to her the WF raised funds to get her to University with a partial scholarship. She worked hard and received her teaching certificate and eventually returned to the village to teach and took over the headship at the primary school."
"The urge to run as you put it is what she did when they called off the wedding?"
"Yes, I believe so. Some of the villagers brought up old stories about her parents and she just up and left for London, only to return six months later pregnant with Phillip."
"What kind of stories because I don't recall you mentioning any of them when we spoke of the canceled wedding and how devastated Martin had become."
"I mentioned her father's gambling well it led to him stealing from the lifeboat fund and some in the village tried to compare Louisa trying to steal the good doctor's money through marriage as nobody could understand why she wanted to marry the posh rude doctor. They tried to compare her to her mother in the same way. The worst I heard just a few months back when Louisa's old beau returned to the village, someone said Danny came back for his child and the mum but anybody with eyes can see Phillip is Martin's son." Joan finishes with tears flooding her eyes, "Marty had to hear that nasty rumor."
"I can see they have gotten past those incidents, if what I have witnessed in evidence these past days. As you say they are 'chalk and cheese', I would say they are more like magnets and the opposites that will keep bringing them back together. Send Martin a text with the heads-up on Margaret but makes sure he understands we took care of Margaret."
ME/LE
After dinner, Joan took Phillip to her room for his bath and will dress him for bed but it seems the usual bottle and story are not needed tonight, as she finishes snapping up his pajamas Phillip has fallen asleep. She picks him up and carries him to his parents to kiss him goodnight before she places him in his cot.
"Well that makes for an easy evening," mumbles Ruth as she looks up from the computer screen. She and I are going over the information in the will regarding my father's burial request. "It says here that Christopher isn't to be buried in the Ellingham family plot, something about a falling out with Grandfather, so he has requested to be cremated and his ashes dumped in the Thames as London is the closest he will get to a home with his family," I say.
I hear the smirk from his sisters. Christopher burned too many bridges with them.
"A crematorium in London isn't hard to find, maybe this William Shawcross is associated with one that is why your father wants him to take care of his burial?" says Ruth.
"I will call him in the morning and get the details Dad has worked out with him. We shouldn't need a large space to pay our final goodbyes, it will only be family."
To my chagrin, my father paid for a different send-off than what I was prepared to have. Ruth and I spent time with Mr. Shawcross going over exactly what Christopher had in mind. Upon return to the hotel, we explained to Joan and Louisa the details for the funeral. We also mentioned the possibility of another half-sibling.
After another full week in London waiting on the will requests of my father's burial to proceed, the morning of I finds myself with Louisa on the steps of the chapel waiting for the burial procession. I was dismayed to read that my father paid for his death announcement in the Times to run for three days, ensuring everyone knew the day, time, and place. He also set up and paid for a well-sized room for the wake so all of the medical community could fawn over him. The only person happy with this show is my mother. She is in her element as the black-veiled widow standing on the chapel steps waiting for his body.
The procession is coming closer as I remember this morning's conversion with my wife and two aunts over breakfast, "I will not escort him to the chapel and I told Mr. Shawcross instead I will go directly to the chapel." This is no surprise to my aunts and they volunteer to ride behind the hearse, I turn to Louisa and I am about to tell her she should go with Joan and Ruth. But her look stopped me from uttering any more on the subject.
"I will be with you on the chapel steps, you will not be alone. I have arranged for a sitter for Phillip and she should be here any minute."
"But I thought Phillip would be with us today, I don't think I am comfortable with Phillip with just any old sitter. Who did you hire?"
At that moment a sound knock is heard on our door, I get up and answer it. The shock on my face when I open it. "Poppy, what are you doing here?"
"Poppy, come in, have you eaten?" Louisa asks.
My question is hard to hear as Phillip has finally seen her and he is loudly babbling for her attention, "Oppy" he squeals.
I let Poppy in and watch her walk right over to Phillip, planting kisses to the top of his head, "Hello Phillip, how are you doing?" Phillip babbles and finally points to his new aunt and announces "Roo" and giggles.
Louisa introduces Ruth and Poppy to one another and answers my question as I just stand there befuddled with all that is happening in front of me. "Martin, I knew you would want Phillip with us today, but as he is only eleven months old a funeral would be a very hard day on him. I called Poppy when we knew the day of the funeral and asked her if she would come by train to London and be with Phillip. She arrived yesterday afternoon and is staying in a single downstairs. To continue my other announcement, I will be at your side today because we Ellingham women believe you will need all the love we can provide today."
She says this as she walks up to me, taking my hand and squeezing it, this is our private way of communicating with each other. I look at the table with my aunts nodding their heads confirming Louisa's announcement when Joan speaks her mind.
"We know Margaret is going to try to make demands on you today. It is her last chance so we are here to support you against the nasty witch and can only hope she flies off on her broom at the end of the day."
I look over to the other side of the chapel entrance, I see my mother. Her stony glaring look on her face is the expression I can recall all my life when I was in her presence. I look down where Louisa has intertwined our hands and rubbing her thumb along the palm of my hand; soothing my emotions to stay in control. Again I glance across to the woman who gave birth to me remembering her grumbling just earlier at the lack of attendance to the burial. "Your father was a prominent surgeon in London and you show your contempt with this," she says as she waves her arm at the funeral attendance, "You should put it in more than one paper and given more than a weekend notice to come and honor him." I didn't want to hear her comments and thankfully Louisa took my hand and distracted my thoughts as I was slid back into the cupboard emotionally. I look into Louisa's eyes and she smiles, and whispers "Let it be, she will never be happy." I close my eyes trying to retain control and when I open them again, all I see is Louisa. Then her spell is broken as my mother attacks again, but Louisa interrupts her new verbal barrage,
"Margaret, mind if I call you by your first name. I am Louisa Ellingham, Martin's wife."
I can see the surprise on my mother's face, but again before she can say a word Louisa continues.
"We didn't carry out this funeral for you. We are following Christopher's request and we are not doing this for him but the Ellingham family name. He burned one too many bridges for anyone else to care, and if this is not to your satisfaction then you set up something that meets your standard and pay for it to takes place on another day. Today Martin and I with his aunts will do what Christopher requested."
As she finishes speaking to my mother, Louisa is slowly moving and stepping in front of me, but I will not allow my mother to take her revenge out on Louisa and gently take her hand and slide up next to her,
"Mother you are welcome to stay but you will not sit with my family. Louisa, Joan, and Ruth are waiting for us."
I slowly guide Louisa away, joining my aunts behind my father's coffin. I nod to Mr. Shawcross to continue and we slowly walk into the chapel and take our seats indicated by William. He discreetly waves my mother to the other side of the chapel as he seats all attendees as they file in. We stand and wait for all to enter, Louisa places her hand on my arm and I calm instantly. I look at her hand then up to her face where I know with just her look she is providing support to help me get through this day.
Joan nudges Ruth handing her Louisa's cushion just as I requested, Mr. Shawcross to have it delivered to the chapel for Louisa's comfort during the service and cremation. When we are asked to take our seats, Louisa is surprised by the cushions' appearance. She could have sworn it wasn't there when she entered the pew. I gently help her to sit down and receive my reward of her smile and a gentle hand squeeze as a thank you.
ME/LE
After the service, we are standing in a large room receiving condolences as a family unit. My mother has stepped off to the other side to separately receive her own well-wishers. We have been standing for some time talking when I notice Louisa's pained face, but we are expected to stay a while longer so I look for a chair for Louisa to sit on for a while, I pull it away from the wall and help her to sit. I walk over to the refreshment table and pour a large glass of water and return handing it to her as I reach into my trouser pocket and pull out her medication, Joan notices and helps with the bottle and hands Louisa a pill, and Joan hands the bottle back to me.
We are interrupted with Ruth uttering "This is interesting", she is looking across the room.
A man is talking to Margaret and she seems agitated during their conversion, with the man gesturing towards us. Ruth notices Margaret's outburst and looks more closely to recognize Margaret's opponent. Ruth turns and touches my arm, to gain my full attention, "Martin isn't that John Rasmussen talking to your mother?"
"Yes, it is. I wonder why he is here. I wouldn't think he'd have time for this nonsense."
Margaret and John finish their heated discussion with Margaret turning away and walking over to her old friends that still live in London for comfort.
Shaking his head at her departure, John turns and walks towards the rest of the Ellingham clan, and extends his hand in condolences to Joan, Ruth, and me. "I am sorry for your loss. Your father was injured while attending my hospital award ceremony; a nasty accident" he says.
Ruth notices Martin's reluctance to do introductions, "John let me introduce Louisa Ellingham, Martin's wife. She also was injured at the hotel."
I grunt towards my aunt and finally find my voice, "Louisa was injured in the lift with my father and was able to call for help."
John takes Louisa's hand, gently shaking it, "I hope your injuries are not too bad."
"No, it is inconvenient more than anything else."
"John, we are sorry about Margaret's ugly words," Ruth voices, trying to find out the problem between them.
"No problem at all, she didn't like my opinion and said as much."
I can see even though Louisa is sitting, she looks tired. I notice Joan and Ruth in conversation with John and decide now is a good time to leave, "Excuse me Ruth, Joan, I need to take Louisa back to the hotel. Louisa needs to lie down for a while. It is good to see you John but Louisa's injuries require her to rest often."
"Martin, maybe later I can get a word with you?"
I can't fathom what he needs or wants from me, but agree, "Yes, later then."
I take Louisa's hand and we leave the room. "Martin, may we walk a bit before hailing a taxi?"
"Are you sure" I don't want you overdoing it."
She squeezes my hand, and gives me a tired smile, "I'm sure."
Joan, Ruth, and John continue talking, mostly of different times earlier in Christopher's life. John looks around before asking his question, the one that made Margaret angry. "While Margaret and I were talking, I asked about Martin and if what I heard was true about his haemophbia. That is when she bit my head off. She became upset that I wanted to talk about Martin and not Christopher. As she put it 'her husband the better surgeon than her son could ever be.' Does she not understand what medicine lost when Martin developed his haemophobia and gave up surgery? Christopher was adequate in surgery but couldn't compare to Martin."
Joan and Ruth glance at each other; Joan smiles as she listens to someone of Martin's equal sing his praises, while Ruth searches the room and finds Margaret watching with angry eyes on the three of them.
"I have heard a rumor that Martin has conquered his haemophobia and is performing surgery again is this true?"
Once again Joan and Ruth look at each other but this time in stunned silence wondering how John would hear of the recent work Martin is doing in Cornwall. "I recall he has helped a few villagers and a tourist over the past year in emergencies. A year ago a farmer had his tractor roll and land on him. Martin laid in the muck attending to him and as I remember it was a bloody mess. There was an accident in town earlier in the year, a few villagers were hit by a vehicle on one of the narrow lanes and one had a bleeding injury, I think from the broken bone in her leg. That is what you called it Ruth."
"I remember, yes, she had a compound fracture and bone fragments slice the femoral artery and if Martin hadn't clapped it and stabilized the leg she would have bled to death."
"Then the night before his wedding the locum called for help; the constable brought in two from the road outside town, the man was badly injured. Martin had to sew up his artery somewhere near his hip area while they waited for the ambulance. You see there was a multi-car accident near Wadebridge and all the ambulances were occupied. I believe PC Penhale said they waited almost two hours before it showed up. Joe said the man was in bad shape, as he put it on 'death's door' until Martin operated on him."
"John why are you asking about Martin," Ruth asks.
"Truthfully I would like him to come back to London and head up my vascular division, if it is true he has conquered his phobia. As I said to Margaret – medicine lost a great deal when her son left the surgery profession." John looks over towards Margaret and shakes his head, "How does she not know anything regarding Martin and his superior abilities in medicine. She went off on he has no backbone and whined all the time. She speaks of him as a child, and became furious with me when I said he is ten times the surgeon than Christopher."
"I don't think they followed Martin's medical career when he refused to follow Christopher into the Navy after medical school" replies Ruth.
"They haven't spoken in many years" adds Joan.
"I believe it is a shame; I hope to talk Martin into coming back. Do you think he would or has vascular lost it greatest surgeon, researcher all-around best hope?"
"You will need to talk to Martin and his wife; he is a family man now, they are what is important to him now," Ruth says.
"I have a meeting later next month with NHS associates at the Royal Cornwall. I can call on him when I finish my meetings. As I understand the village he resides in is about an hour away."
"Portwenn, yes roughly an hour."
"John, give him a call and talk to them. Joan and I should get back to the hotel and help Martin with his son. It was good seeing you again."
"Goodbye" acknowledges John.
John watches the women leave and his thoughts are interrupted by some fellow doctors, "John it is good to see you again so soon," announces one. "I didn't know you were friends with Christopher," says another.
"I was not one of his golfing buddies. I am closer to his son, Martin," he replies. "Martin and I were together at St. Mary's before I moved over to Imperial to take over the head of surgery. His father worked under my supervision."
"Christopher's wife had no information on her son, maybe you can tell us where he disappeared to four years ago."
"First, Christopher and Margaret are divorced. Second, you weren't interested in Martin four years ago when he worked with you at St. Mary's, why are you interested now?"
"Well word is out he is coming back. A friend of mine saw him in the observation room advising Shaw on a procedure last week. They were working together on a new coiling procedure," the unknowledgeable oaf states.
John looks at these two doctors and shakes his head, "Martin and Shaw were cooperating on the surgery to save Christopher. As of now, Martin does not plan to return but if I can persuade him to return to surgery in London it will be to join my hospital." John looks away scanning the room again, not seeing anyone he wishes to talk with abruptly turns and walks out of the room without any notice to the two men.
ME/LE
Louisa and Martin stroll down a side street off the main boulevard, talking about the events of today. "Who is John Rasmussen," she asks.
"He is a surgeon at Imperial and heads up their surgical departments. He and my father worked together for a few years. He and I worked together at St. Mary's but when he left I would see him at many of the conferences and he tried to recruit me onto the Imperial staff, but I liked what St. Mary's offered me. St. Mary's isn't as large as Imperial, and it allowed me to develop techniques without the cumbersome micromanaging at Imperial. He was always interested in my research and occasionally sent donors my way."
"Why do you think he wants to talk to you?"
"I'm not sure; he and my father were friends, but I don't believe he was a golfing buddy so he wasn't a close friend. I will wait for his call to find out. Let's hail a taxi at the next corner, Phillip needs to see his mother."
'Changing the subject is not answering the important question I see – John Rasmussen's sudden interest in Martin. Maybe a call to Chris Parsons will provide an answer; he knows everything that happens in medicine in Cornwall and London as well.' Smiling she agrees and they find a taxi quickly and head back to the hotel.
End of Chapter
No medical information this time.
We all know William Shawcross – MC's alter ego in the show 'William and Mary'. More on him in the next chapter and you all know where it will lead. I'm not done with Margaret; she will spread her 'love' in the next chapter and others.
Phillip and his "wve Dada" is a special acknowledgment to TheaMama for her wonderful PM she sent me.