Thank you for reviewing, thanks to Jenny for proofing, you are a star. Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Long Island 1940
Meredith found Carolyn was really easy to talk too, in the car on the way to the Shepherd's home on the outskirts of New York; the girls had fallen asleep in her arms.
"So Meredith, have you finished school?" Carolyn asked her.
"I have, I was due to start University in the autumn" she said sadly, which both Carolyn and Chris picked up on and they shared a look.
"Which university were you attending Meredith?" Chris asked her.
"The University of London, dad wanted me to go there, but I guess that won't be happening now" she said sadly she was looking forward to attending university she had planned to study English and biology"
"There are plenty of really good universities here, Meredith, I am sure we could look into getting you in to one" Carolyn offered, she could see in her eyes how disappointed she felt at not being able to attend college.
"Thank you Mrs Shep...Carolyn, but i don't know yet, it depends on the girls"
"Meredith, my son Derek goes to New York University and when he comes home you can ask him about it, if you want"
"I will think about it, thank you. I know dad wanted me to go to University. And thank you for having us" she said grateful to her father's old friend, for looking after them.
"Meredith, that is our pleasure, we have known your father for years" Christopher told her. "Now here we are, Meredith, this is our home, it probably at little smaller than what you are used to" he said with a smile.
"No, it's nice and we appreciate this" she said speaking for the girls as well.
"There plenty of space around the back for the girls to play" he told her, has she was waking the girls up.
Once inside the house, Carolyn showed Meredith where her room and the girl's room are, thankful that that were right next door to each other, and adjoined by a bathroom.
"Thank you" Meredith said.
"Would you like any help to get the girls settle?"Carolyn offered but wasn't surprised when Meredith turned her down.
"Thank you but we will be fine" Meredith said not wanting to impose on Carolyn Shepherd; and besides she had been looking after the girls for the last week or so.
"Meredith, if you need any help, just ask" Carolyn should see that Meredith wasn't ready to accept any help with the girls at the moment.
"I will" Meredith says with a smile, watching Carolyn leave the room, and Meredith turns to see Lexie and Molly looking up at her, with her big eyes.
"Meri, we scared" Molly said clinging onto Meredith's leg.
"I know, but they seem nice"
"I want my mummy" Molly says crying, and Meredith sits on the floor and pulled Molly onto her lap.
"Mols, listen to me, mummy wants you safe, and it just isn't safe in London anymore. You are a brave girl, so let's know everyone how brave you are"
Carolyn walked into the kitchen, to see Christopher standing at the stove, she walked over to him, and he leant down and kissed her.
"I thought you would be upstairs helping the girls to settle in" Chris said to her, surprised to see his wife standing there.
"I offered, but Meredith said that she got it under control" Carolyn said offering her husband a small smile.
"She is very independent isn't she?" Chris exclaimed!
"And stubborn, just like her mother was"
"I am sure Ellis would love to hear that" Chris said to her, Carolyn smiled but changed the subject.
"I hope that once her and the girl's are settled in, Meredith will relax, and let us help her with Lexie and Molly" Carolyn told him, she wanted to help Meredith but knew how reluctant she was to except it.
"They are young Carolyn, and scared, you saw how they clung to Meredith, when they got off the ship, let's give them a chance to settle in, and besides Meredith is all Molly and Lexie knows" he said. " Let's give them a couple of days and Kathleen and Nancy are bring the children over on Wednesday so they will have other children to play with, and they should adapt much easier" Chris told his wife and pulling her closer to him so he could hold her.
"That's a good idea, no wonder I love you so much"
"I love you too, shall we get dinner started" Carolyn nodded her head and went to help Chris. They stood in the kitchen, Carolyn noticed on the calendar it says that Derek was home for college that weekend.
"Derek's coming home at the weekend and I completely forgot" Carolyn said horrified.
"It has been an eventful few weeks"
"Has Derek said anything about bringing his girlfriend home?"
"I believe that he said she would be joining us at the summer house" Chris told her, they spent the whole of August in the Hamptons.
"It would be good for Meredith to have someone roughly her own age around" she told her husband.
"Derek is still a good two years older than her"
"Yeah I know that Chris, but Amy is a lot younger than Meredith" Carolyn said moving around her husband.
"Carolyn, I hope you aren't planning on doing any matchmaking Isabelle sounds very nice"
"Who me?" she said biting back a grin, she couldn't help but think that Meredith would be perfect for her son.
"Yes, we barely know Meredith and beside Derek is talking about asking Isabelle to marry him"
"What?" she asked stunned, it was the first time she had heard about this.
"Carolyn, he loves her and Derek is happy that is the main thing, please. Meredith is a beautiful girl, and there will be plenty of men asking for dates...give her the chance to choose before you play matchmaker" Chris pleaded with her, but he knew how stubborn his wife was, when she got something in her head.
"Well it's the Nance's ball next weekend, maybe we should take Meredith with us" Carolyn said.
"Carolyn, we can't Ellis will be there and beside it is not fair on Meredith, she should know first about her mother"
"I promise Thatcher that I wouldn't say anything about Ellis" Carolyn told him.
"And you think taking Meredith to the ball is a good idea? She looks just like her mother Carolyn; there is no way that Ellis won't recognise her"
"Okay I get it Christopher. I just don't feel comfortable leaving them here by themselves in a strange place" Chris walked up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around his wife's waist.
"They won't be, Kathleen is coming over to keep the girls company since she can't go. Let's finish dinner. I am sure the girls are hungry" he said giving her quick kiss on the head.
Hoped you enjoyed. Derek does not make an appearance yet but soon. I need to set up the background of Meredith and her relationship with her sisters first. Please R & R.