Shelagh was was dusting the living room as Patrick walked in with Teddy and Angela. He offered to take them to the park while Shelagh got some chores done around the house that Saturday afternoon. Timothy was upstairs finishing a project that was due Monday. Shelagh was thankful for the warmer weather of spring because Angela loved playing outside so much and she learned that Teddy calmed down when she would step outside with him in the backyard. Teddy also loves to be strolled around the park in the pram and Angela enjoys the change of scenery from their backyard.

Angela let go of Patrick's had as soon as she walked in the door and ran to her and said with a smile "Hey mommy"

Shelagh put the furniture polish and rag, bent down to hug her and asked "Did you have fun at the park?"

"Yes" she answered and then ran off to play with her toys.

Patrick walked in to the sitting room with Teddy in his arms and said to her "Hello love" and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello sweetheart" she replied

She looked over at Teddy and said in a baby voice "And hello my sweet Teddy"

He smiled in response and Patrick handed him off to Shelagh.

"Did you have fun at the park?" she asked Patrick

"It was fine" he replied in a strange tone

"What's wrong?" she asked him

"Nothing is the matter" he replied

"I can tell something is bothering you, so you might as well sit down and tell me" she told him

He sat on the settee as Shelagh placed Teddy in his play pen and then she walked over and sat next to him. Shelagh held his hands to try to comfort him and encourage him to open up.

"When I was at the park today, this lady told me how adorable Angela and Teddy are, but she thought that they were my grandchildren" he said looking down

"What did you do?" she asked him

"I just said thank you and kept on walking because it would have been way too awkward to explain" he replied

"It was a painful reminder that I am not the young man that I used to be and I am afraid that when Angela and Teddy get older they might come to resent me because I am a lot older than most dads" he added

"Timothy, Angela and Teddy love you so much and so do I. When Angela and Teddy get older and see other dads, I highly doubt that it would even cross their mind. Instead, they will think about all of the happy times that they have spent with you" Shelagh told him

"Im sorry, I know that this is silly" said Patrick

"No it is not silly Patrick, it is perfectly normal to be sad and to have fears about the future" she said

"Once again I am reminded of how thankful I am to have you" he told her

"And I am so thankful for you" she replied

He leaned in and they embraced in a soft, sweet kiss. They heard the pitter patter of small feet running and they broke their kiss to find Angela coming up to them with her baby doll in her toy pram.

"Mommy daddy play with me?" asked Angela

"Of course we can my Angel girl" answered Shelagh

Shelagh sat in the floor while holding Teddy and watched as Patrick and Angela played beside her. Moments like this reminded her just how wonderful of a father he was and hoped that he would never doubt that again.