Patrick finished up with Mrs. Wallace's difficult delivery. He had trouble understanding why she would not take her baby. He and Shelagh are so desperate for their baby and here a mother did not want hers.

On his way home he remembered his conversation with Timothy. Clearly his son was upset with him for not wanting to talk about Shelagh's condition. What Timothy did not understand was that he did not know what to tell him. The not knowing was what was so difficult.

On a whim he decided to stop for a bottle or two. If Timothy was wanting something from him that he was not giving he would try to make things right.

He was aware that if Shelagh found out he bought ale for Timothy, she would be angry for certain. He was surprised when he got home to find that Timothy had gone to see Shelagh on his own.

Patrick was glad because he knew Tim needed some reassurance that seeing Shelagh would give him. Also he felt terrible that he was unable to visit her himself. At Mrs. Wallace's he had kept thinking of her all alone at visiting hours.

Timothy thought he was in trouble when he came home after his Dad. His father even thanked him for going to see Mum. Then when he pulled out the ale, Tim was completely surprised. Tim had tasted his father's from time to time, but he had never had his own.

Tim watched as he opened one bottle and poured it into two glasses.

"Here son, I am sorry I did not explain things to you well enough. The truth is I really do not know what is going to happen."

"I know Dad. Mum helped me understand."

"Of course she did. This is so difficult, because I am a doctor and I can't make it right. I know what can go wrong, but not how to stop it happening."

"Mum said that you both know too much."

"She did. How was she? I worry about her being alone."

"She was glad to see me. It was so nice. I have missed her."

"Of course you have. Poor Angela does not understand what is happening at all."

"Dad what if something happens to the baby?"

"Mum will be very sad for awhile...we all will be. What makes it so hard is that this baby was never supposed to happen. This is our one chance. There likely will not be another. In my experience the best way for a woman to overcome the loss of a baby is a new baby. Your Mum would never be able to have that."

"She has Angela."

"Yes, and she was perfectly happy with you and Angela until this baby came along."

"Dad I do not want to talk about how this baby came along."

"No," finishing his glass he opened the second bottle, "You know if we were in a pub, we would probably throw some darts. I'll get them from the cupboard."

Clearly Patrick was out of practice. He did fair better than Timothy.

"Dad that was miles off bull's eye," they laughed.

"Me! You need practice," Patrick teased.

When Timothy missed the board together and the dart landed in the door they both laughed.

"What was it you said about the being miles off bull's eye?"

Timothy did not want to think about what Mum would say about the hole in the door. He could not imagine what Mum would say about anything he and Dad were doing.

Timothy belched and they laughed. Tim was feeling better than he had in a long time. It was seeing Mum and now spending real time with Dad. The feeling the ale gave helped.

Eventually they both collapsed in the chairs still laughing.

"Dad thanks for this."

"Tim whatever happens with this baby family life won't change."

"But I'll change."

Patrick laughs, "You've been changing for 15 years and I love you just the same."

Patrick realized that perhaps Tim had something about men talking in pubs. The words that mattered did slip out easier after imbibing a bit.

"We need our beds. You have school and I have work tomorrow."

In the morning, Patrick opened his eyes to Angela staring at him. Glancing at the clock he realized that they overslept.

Jumping out of bed, he called, "Tim, Tim, get up!" he turned to Angela, "Go get Tim."

Quickly he threw on clothes and rushed to check on Tim. Luckily Tim was up and dressed.

"Dad, why did you let me sleep so late. I am going to miss my bus."

"I overslept."

He handed him money for lunch and a piece of bread and told him to run.

He set about making tea for himself and toast for Angela, when he spotted the bottles on the table in the sitting room. He quickly put them in the rubbish and rinsed the glasses. He decided that perhaps he should empty the can. It may be his home, but he did not want Mrs. Penney to know that he drank two ales or worse Timothy drank some too.

He just finished cleaning up and there was a knock on the door. Expecting Mrs. Penney, he was surprised to see Sister Julienne.

"Good morning Doctor Turner. I am scheduled to help at the surgery this morning. I thought that I would come early to see if I could help with anything."

"Thank you Sister. Angela and I are waiting for Mrs. Penny."

"And how is Shelagh?"

"No change. She is just waiting. Timothy went to see her last night. I was called out to Mrs. Wallace."

"Oh yes, but Timothy is not yet sixteen."

"Apparently no one realized his age. I think the visit was exactly what he and Shelagh needed"

"I am sure you are quite right. Take your time enjoy your tea. I will visit with Angela. You look like you did not get very much sleep last night."

Patrick thought, good thing she did not see Timothy, because he looked worse.

Timothy came home from school turned on the telly and fell asleep on the sofa. He woke with Angela staring at him.

Winter 1963

The storm raged outside, it had been a cold stormy winter. Feeling a bit stir crazy. Timothy rummaged through a cupboard looking for something to do.

"Dad?"

Patrick looked up to see Tim smiling and holding up the dart board.

"Okay..." Patrick said not quite sure what Shelagh would say if a dart landed in the door..

Shelagh watched while the two took it in turns and barely hit the target at all. She smiled because they were laughing and having fun.

She stood up and said, "My turn."

"At this?" Patrick questioned holding out the darts.

"Yes."

Shelagh took a few moments to aim and then threw her first dart which landed a hair off bull's eye."

She turned and smiled at their dropped jaw expressions.

"Beginner's luck," Tim said.

She threw her second dart and it hit the bull's eye. "Beginner's luck?" she laughed.

"Do they have a dart board hidden away at Nonnatus House?" Patrick asked.

"No, of course not. I just have good aim."

"Well I am glad you set your arrow on me, because you are one talented wife," Patrick said twirling her in his arms, "and I love you."

"Oh now you've gone and ruined it with all this mushy stuff."

From across the room, Angela who had been drawing on her own, looked up and said,"Uck, mushy stuff."

Patrick said, "Not another one!"

And they all laughed.