This is my first Call the Midwife story, a bunny that's been bouncing in my head for the past week. I hope it's ok.
Disclaimer - I don't own anything all characters belong to Jennifer Worth.
Timothy looked at the certificate in front of him, was he really an orphan now? They had written 'Heart attack' as a cause, but he knew the truth, it was a broken heart. One could not live without the other, both in life and now in death. He closed his eyes inhaling a deep breath steeling himself before going back out into the world.
It had been a year and a day since his father passed away peacefully at home, it was prostate cancer that finally took him from her arms. A bright spring morning in March with the sun streaming through the bedroom window, his wife and 2 children watched as his soul slipped from this world. She mourned him deeply and for months she would not receive visitors except family and the Nunnatus nurses, spending her time in silence praying, but ever so slowly she began regain the enthusiasm she always had about her.
He knew the significance of the day and wanted to spend the day with her reminiscing about Dad and take her over to the grave, but he never got that far. The memories from that day cut like knives in the depth of the man's heart. Standing on the doorstep of the modest bungalow in west Essex, ready for a day of laughter, tears and memories, after the 2nd knock he began to get worried.
"Mum, you ok?" he called though the letterbox as he fished out the spare key and let himself in, "Mum?" the worry now firmly laced in his voice. Checking the sitting room, kitchen and bathroom he turned his attention to the closed bedroom door, tentatively Timothy pushed the door open. The hurricane of emotion hit with immense force, he could not stop the tears or soft smile of release that fell over his face.
On the bed lay his mother Shelagh. She lay on her right side, arms curled up at her chest, in her delicate hands was a photograph of his father, moving closer he checked for signs of life.
He found none.
"Oh mum, you couldn't live without him, you just make sure he looks after you ok? Oh what am I saying, he's been doing that for years." Timothy half whispered in the silent room, not caring about the tears making fresh tracks down his cheeks.
Shelagh was buried with her beloved, the stone read:
Patrick Stephen Turner
Husband, Father
Beloved
Shelagh May Turner
Wife, Mother,
Together again