"Turner residence. Mrs Turner speaking. "

"Shelagh, it's me. I'm running late on my rounds and have to go to the London before clinic this afternoon. I wanted to let you know so that you're not angry with me when I pick you up."

"You, Patrick? Running late? I never would have guessed." She said with a smirk she was glad he couldn't see through the phone.

"Ha ha. Anyway, by the time I get home to fetch you, we shouldn't be terribly late to clinic, even by my standards."

Shelagh shook her head. Since she'd gone back to Nonnatus as a nurse, she'd taken even greater pride in her work. She certainly couldn't be late to clinic on the busiest Tuesday of the last few months.

"Don't worry about me, dearest. Take care of your patients and I will see you at the clinic. It's one thing for you to be late, but to bring my reputation down to your level would be inconsiderate." She smiled again, thinking of the grin her husband probably had on the other end of the phone. "Mrs Penny will be here shortly to watch Angela and Tim's got the photographic club after school today, so as soon as I get our young lady settled, I can head over."

"Are you sure, my love? It's a bit chilly out, today and with your lungs..."

"Patrick! I'll be fine. You're wasting your time arguing with me when you could be seeing to your patients and trying to get to clinic on time."

Patrick sighed. He knew that tone. It was bossy Shelagh. It was best that he gave in now. "Yes, dear"

"Oh, and Patrick? There are some patient files on my desk. Can you just take a quick peep before you head to clinic and make sure you see them?!"

"Yes, love. I'm leaving now, grabbing those files and heading to the London. See you at clinic. I love you."

"I love you too, dearest. And Patrick, look at the files." And with a click, Shelagh hung up the phone.

Patrick looked at the receiver with a smile as he thought of his wife at home. Probably already dressed in her uniform, entertaining Angela while trying to get everything organized for Mrs Penny. He hung up the phone, grabbed his bag off the chair and coat from the peg and headed out of his office. He'd almost gotten to the door when he realized he'd forgotten the files.

"I suppose she reminds me again and again for a good reason." He thought with a groan at his own memory lapses.

Shelagh's desk was immaculate. Perfectly organized, just like his wife. In the corner of her desk stood a frame with their most recent family photo. Patrick smiled as he looked at his family. How did he get so lucky?

In the center of the desk, just above the appointment book sat a small pile of files. Quickly gazing through them, he noticed he had already signed off on these patients. Maybe Shelagh was mistaken, these couldn't be the files he needed to see. As he went to put them down again, one caught his eye.

It was thinner than the other files, and the first thing he noticed was the last name: Turner.

Dropping all the files except that one, he flipped it open and found only 2 pages. On the right was a blood test result, scanning through it with the practiced eyes of a GP, he now knew why Shelagh was so insistent on him actually looking at the files. On the left of the folder was a piece of paper with his wife's beautiful scrawl on it. He threw the folder into his bag and rushed out of the office, intent on getting home to his wife.

As he jumped into the drivers seat, he glanced at Shelagh's note again. Just to make sure he hadn't dreamed it. There it was, those two words that he'd wanted to hear from her since their first month of marriage:

Congratulations, Daddy. xxx