"Granny thank you for the hot breakfast. At home we are so busy we often have corn flakes, but my Dad loves a good fry up," Timothy explained in between bites.

"You do not need fried bread on a school day, although a warm breakfast will help you concentrate," Granny Parker replied.

"I think Angela likes her breakfast," Timothy said as both he and Granny watched her pick up her tomato with her fingers and just as quickly squish out of her grasp, each time she would laugh.

"You need to hurry Timothy or you will be late. You do not want to answer to the headmaster and I do not want to answer to your father."

She watched as Timothy put on his coat, scarf and hat thinking how grown up he was. She thought to herself for the two hundredth time this week, Marianne would be so proud of him. Each night as he practiced piano she found herself with tears in her eyes.

Timothy had stayed with her for overnights and weekends countless times, but those were visits. Even when she kept him after Patrick's wedding that was only for the night. Patrick was reluctant to have him away from home as Timothy was still fragile and recovering from the polio.

Now he and Angela had been with her for their first week of four and a half. Although Angela quite tires her out each day, she is enjoying this time with them enormously. The sadness that she feels when she thinks of Marianne is mixed in with the joy of having life and music back in her home again.

With Timothy out the door and Angela cleaned up from breakfast. She set herself down to enjoy a cup of tea while watching her little charge play with her baby doll. Most often she spends her time giving her doll a medical examination with her doctor's kit. The first few days she wanted to only wear her little blue "nurse" dress, but Timothy convinced her that even Mum wore dresses when she was not working.

She knew her grandson calls his step-mother, Shelagh, Mum. She overheard Patrick say to Timothy shortly after he was married that if he was busy on a call Mum would come get him on the bus in the morning. Being a caring soul, Timothy, she noticed, went to great lengths not to refer to Shelagh as Mum when he was at her flat. However with Angela joining them for the first time, he was having more trouble and it was obviously uncomfortable for him. Perhaps this evening they should have a little chat.

Her only complaint about her son-in-law Patrick was that he worked too much. She knew he loved his wife, her daughter, and his son. When Marianne was dying of cancer she saw first hand his love. It was a terrible time for all of them. She remembered the brave face that both the Turner boys put on. Even in their grief, she knew he and Timothy needed each other and needed to make their way on their own. She visited and offered support, but resisted the urge to step in and take over, after all she was mourning the loss herself.

Gradually after the first year they all seemed to get on. Her visits with Timothy were happier. She always knew that Patrick would remarry rather quickly. Most men find the need for a wife. She never expected him to chose this tiny woman who used to be nun or for him to be so obviously devoted and in love. Perhaps it should hurt that her daughter was replaced, but her grandson was happy and that was what mattered.

She was at a loss to truly understand how Patrick romanced a nun out of her habit. She had heard bits of the story from Timothy….TB, sanitorium, misty road, but she was never knew what to believe. She suspected that much of what he told her was embellished or completely made up.

Enough sitting and thinking, it was time for her and Angela to visit the shops. With a growing teenage boy visiting the larder was always low. Bundled up warm for the January temperatures, the two set out. Angela was content to hold her hand. She excitedly chattered away and pointed out things along their way.

She was doing remarkably well without her Mum and Dad. Shelagh was anxious about leaving both the children. She explained the stress that Patrick had been under and the need for him to have a change. It seemed clear that Shelagh was leaving the children and taking this trip because she hoped it would help her husband. It was now her job to keep them healthy and happy until their parents returned.

Loaded with goods from the butcher and the green grocers, the pair returned home for lunch and naptime. She planned to make a shepherd's pie one of Timothy's favorite meals. Perhaps she would make a cake as well.

Timothy returned from school and set down to complete his homework. She was a pleased that he was an ambitious student. He seems to have an interest in medicine like his father. Again her mind returned to Marianne and how proud she would be of her son.

She waited until she served cake to start the conversation that had been nagging her for a few days.

"Timothy, I know you loved your Mum. What are some of your memories of her?"

"I remember playing piano with my Mum and bedtime. She would read to me before kissing me goodnight."

"Your Mum loved you very much. She would be so proud of you. I really think she would be happy that you and your Dad are happy now just as I am," she paused and continued, "I am so glad that you have a new family now. Never feel bad about it and don't feel like you have to hide it from me."

"I don't want to forget her though," he said quietly.

"Memories fade, but you will never forget how you feel in your heart. I know you love your new Mum too and I am glad. I want you to feel comfortable telling me about your life and that includes your family. I know you try not to talk about your Mum with me, but I want you to."

Timothy was silent for a while, when he did speak he said, "when I talk about my mum I always say My Mum, but I just call mum Mum. I only remember my Mum taking care of me. Maybe I was too young, but I don't remember Mum and Dad together. In our house now it is always mushy stuff, I do not remember mushy stuff."

"I think you were too young," she replied.