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Martin spent more than two weeks in the hospital before Sara gave Maggie permission to take him on a road trip.
She had spent that time with DI Chamberlain—Jamie—to find out what happened to Martin’s mother.
They found her, and today, Maggie wanted to give Martin the chance to see her, to finally say goodbye.
Sara had arranged for one of the wheelchair accessible vans from the nearby rehab centre, along with a driver. Maggie could handle the Rover, but she wasn’t going to get behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car.
Now, she waited while two male nurses helped settle Martin in the wheelchair she had bought for him. He would need one for a while, and she wanted him to be comfortable.
“Ready, Professor.” One of the nurses wheeled him over to Maggie. “I can take him as far as the entrance, Mrs. Martin.”
“Maggie, please. I’ll do that. Thank you both.” They waved and walked out. She leaned down and kissed Martin’s cheek. “Ready?”
“As I will ever be.” He closed his hand over Maggie’s. “I do want to see her, love, but standing in front of her grave makes her death—final.”
Maggie understood; she’d felt the same way when she visited Aunt Irene’s grave for the first time. “We can wait, Martin.”
“No need. I have waited long enough.”
She pushed him out of the room, down the corridor she had walked so many times she lost count, and out to the van waiting for them. Several of the nurses waved, and Maggie knew they were thrilled that Martin was up.
His injuries had been challenging. One of the nurses told her that their usual patients were routine surgeries, locals coming in with injuries, or accident victims.
The driver and his assistant took over once they reached the van, locking Martin’s wheelchair onto the lift at the side. Maggie stood back, hands shoved into her jacket pockets to keep from helping. After Martin was in and secured, the driver walked over to her.
“I’m Campbell, Mrs. Martin. If you have any questions or concerns, please give a shout. You will be up front with me.”
“It’s Maggie, and thank you, for taking the time to do this for us.”
“No worries.” He smiled. “The Professor and I will be seeing our share of each other over the next few months.”
He helped her climb into the tall van before he headed around to the driver’s seat. The trip out to the small church took them through rolling fields, dotted with sheep and grazing cows. Maggie kept glancing back at Martin, but he stared out the window, his hands gripping the arms of the wheelchair.
Campbell pulled up next to the church, then hopped out to help Martin. “Ready for your first test drive, Professor?” Martin nodded, holding on as the lift lowered him to the paved road. “One latch, and you are free to roam about. I’ll be here if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Campbell.”
“My pleasure. Big fan, Professor. I look forward to seeing you back on the screen again.”
“As do I.” He looked at Maggie as she approached; behind the smile, she saw the grief in his eyes. “Shall we?”
She moved behind him and pushed his chair toward the open gate of the small graveyard. It had been well tended over the years, and even had a narrow, paved path that wound through. From the map she had found online, she knew that his mother’s grave was halfway down, just off the path, under a tree.
They made their way through the graveyard, Maggie waiting for Martin to start any conversation. She would let him take the lead today; if he wanted to talk, he would let her know. The spot came into view, and she turned him so he could see the small, neat headstone.
“This is her?” he whispered.
“Yes. Did you want me to leave you alone?”
“For a few minutes, if you don’t mind.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’ll be just down the path.”
“Thank you, love.” Grief scraped across his low voice.
Maggie walked far enough away to give him some privacy, but still close enough to hear if he called her. She read the inscriptions on the headstones as she wandered, her heart aching at the final words to loved ones carved in stone.
“Maggie.” Martin’s voice brought her head up.
She ran over to him, not liking the way he sounded, and crouched next to his wheelchair. Tears streaked his face, the spare pair of glasses she had brought to him in the hospital sitting in his lap.
“Oh, Martin.” She stood, and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you for finding her,” he whispered, wiping at his cheeks. “I would have been fine, if not for the inscription.”
She leaned forward, found the lines under her name and the dates. It was the only other thing carved on the headstone. Tears threatened when she read it.
“To my son, Martin, I give the world. My one regret is that I am not at your side to discover it with you.” She kissed his temple, tightened her grip. “She loved you.”
“More than I deserved, at times.” He cleared his throat, closed his hand over hers. “I want to find out who knew to carve that into her headstone.”
“We will, I promise.”
“I am ready to go.”
“Are you sure? We haven’t been here that long.”
“I know where she is. That means more to me than I can ever express.” He reached up, brushed her cheek. “I love you, Maggie.”
“I love you back, Martin.” She maneuvered until she could kiss him. He was smiling by the time she managed. “We need a better system.”
“Unfortunately, we will have more than enough time to devise one.” He didn’t sound discouraged, like he had the last few days. “Thank you for putting up with me.”
“You’ve been a delight compared to how I would have acted in your place.”
His smile widened, and some of her constant worry eased. “So diplomatic.” He kissed her again, gentle, heartfelt. “Let’s go home, Maggie.”
She leaned back. “Martin—we have to go back to the hospital.”
“I managed to pry a temporary leave out of Sara. You didn’t notice our bags in the back of the van?” She shook her head, too stunned to think of anything to say. “Campbell is taking us back to Holmestead, staying there to help until I head to the rehabilitation centre.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise. Spencer will be waiting at the house with Kit.”
“I—you—” she couldn’t think of a way to express how much he meant to her, so she kissed him.
A loud throat clearing had him easing back. “Sorry to disturb, Professor, Maggie.”
“Is it time, Campbell?”
“If we want to see Holmestead before dark, yes.” He strode forward. “Shall I take him?”
“Okay.” She moved to Martin’s right side and reached for his hand. “I’m ready to go home.”
***
Spencer wasn’t the only one waiting for them at the house.
Maggie’s jaw dropped when she saw that every window was lit up, and what looked like the entire population of Holmestead standing in the front yard, waving madly as they approached.
She looked over her shoulder; Martin had the same surprise on his face. He obviously hadn’t planned this part of it.
When they pulled into the driveway, Spencer headed straight for Maggie, Kit in his arms. “Someone wants to say hello to his mum.”
She opened the door and slid out, reaching for Kit. “Hey, little man.” As soon as she had him in her arms, the weight on her heart lifted. “I missed you so much.” She gave him a sloppy kiss, smiling when he giggled. “Your dad missed you just as much. Ready to see him?”
Campbell had been busy while she reunited with Kit. The lift started up, bringing Martin’s wheelchair to the ground. The crowd behind them grew silent, telling Maggie that Spencer hadn’t shared details with the residents.
She moved over to Martin, not surprised when Kit clung to her. Martin spoke before she prompted him.
“Hello, Kit. I’ve missed you.”
After studying the wheelchair, Kit tried to launch himself at Martin. Laughing, she carefully settled him on Martin’s good leg. He patted the cast on Martin’s leg, then peered up at him. Martin spread one hand across Kit’s back to keep him in place.
“Not quite the dad who left, am I?” He smiled when Kit chattered at him, patting the cast, his cheek, and the wheelchair. “I expect you’ll have plenty of time to climb every inch of this contraption.”
Kit grinned, as if he understood what Martin was saying. Maggie was afraid he did.
She moved to Spencer as they got reacquainted and hugged him. “Thank you.”
He wrapped his arms around her and returned the hug. “I figured you would want to answer questions all at once. I told certain people everything,” he nodded over at Lilliana and Enid. “The rest know more now than they did, after seeing Martin. How is he?”
“Better.” She lowered her voice. “We went to see his mother’s grave before we came home.”
He let out a low whistle. “How traumatic was that?”
“Bittersweet, and painful for him. I’m guessing he’ll be going to visit her regularly, now that he knows.”
“How are you, Mags?”
“Tired, but better. He seems to be adjusting to the wheelchair.” Martin was wheeling around with Kit on his lap, stopping to talk to people. “Or at least resigned to it, for now.”
“Maggie.” Jamie Chamberlain walked over to her, Sara at his side. “Martin is looking better.”
“Much less deathly since the last time you saw him.” She liked the Inspector, and appreciated how much he had done for Martin during the investigation.
Jamie stared and Spencer, then let out a surprised sound.
“Spencer Knight?”
Spencer blinked. “I—yes.”
Jamie extended his hand. “It is a pleasure. Your latest exhibit was brilliant.”
Spencer took his hand, the closest thing to speechless Maggie had ever seen. It took him a long minute to recover. “You—saw my exhibit?”
“Haven’t missed one since your take on the Witch of Dell. Read your book as well.” He grinned. “I snuck into the village myself as a lad. Scared me sleepless.”
Maggie understood that feeling.
Martin joined them, Lilliana at his side, with Kit bouncing on her hip. He must have gotten too rambunctious to stay in Martin’s lap.
“Sara, Jamie.” Martin held out a hand to each of them. “Good to have you here.”
Sara moved to him and took his hand. “This is a lovely village, Martin. I understand why you were so eager to return. We will do everything we can to bring you home again.”
“I appreciate that.” He squeezed her hand and let go. “Maggie, may I see you for a moment?”
“Sure.” The worry that had been easing clutched her again. She forced it down and followed Martin to the side of the front porch. “Is everything okay? Is your leg—”
“It bothers me no more than usual. I wanted to speak to you about an opportunity I’ve been given.”
“Do I need to sit for this?”
“Perhaps.”
She was half kidding, but she leaned against the porch, prepared to sit on the grass if she had to. “What is it?”
“I’ve had an offer from the University of York to teach a limited course, based on my finds at the dig site.”
“York.” She gave in to her need to sit. “That’s not driving distance from here.”
“I am afraid not.” He leaned over and took her hand. “If leaving Holmestead is too much for you, I can refuse the offer.”
“But you want it, don’t you?” She could tell, by the way his eyes lit up, that he wanted to accept. “Don’t lie to make me feel better, Martin.”
“To teach again—it would mean I could still contribute, even with this.” He tapped his leg. “I have not spoken with Sara, but the university knows of my physical circumstances, and has recommended a local facility for my rehabilitation. The offer includes a home for us, close to the university.”
Maggie lowered her head, her thoughts spinning. This would be the best thing for Martin, she knew that—and was thrilled that he had been given a chance to teach again. But it meant leaving Holmestead, and everything familiar to her.
“Not forever,” she whispered. “Only for now.”
She pushed to her feet and moved to Martin, framing his face with both hands. “I say yes.”
“You’re certain?”
“Absolutely.” At least, she would be, once it happened. “How soon?”
“As soon as I can make the trip up there.”
“Okay, then.” She kissed him. “I guess we need to start packing.”
“Maggie.” He laid his hands over hers, his grey blue eyes sober. “I will say no, if this is too much for you.”
“And miss out on giving Kit the chance to watch his dad in action? I’m all in, Professor Martin.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.” She smiled as she kissed him.
A throat clearing had her rolling her eyes. She’d lost count of how many times they’d been interrupted the last couple of weeks.
When she turned, she caught Spencer’s grin before he managed to cover it with one hand.
“Sorry, Mags, Professor. People are leaving, and want to say goodbye.”
“Thanks.” She turned him around and headed back to the waiting crowd. “Let’s not mention that we’re leaving Holmestead—not yet.”
“Agreed.”
Maggie smiled and braced herself for the barrage of questions. She loved talking to her neighbors—but all of them at once could be exhausting.
“Here we go.”
Martin’s chuckle lightened her heart. She hadn’t heard it since before—before Geoffrey.
No matter what they faced, she knew they would come through it, as a family.