A/N: Apologies for the delay – real life has taken over at the mo!

Chapter 11

Saturday 28th April 2007…

Once Toy Story has finished, Harry and Ruth take Grace to the park and the three of them have lunch in the café by the lake. They are home all of ten minutes when the doorbell rings.

"Now who can that be?" asks Ruth rhetorically.

"There's an easy way to find out," Harry quips, earning him a throw cushion to the face. Grace is highly amused and Ruth can still hear her laughing as she opens the front door.

Her jaw drops when she sees who is on the other side. "Sheila!?"

"Hello Ruth dear," greets Mark's mother with a brief hug.

"Erm…come in."

"Thanks."

Ruth turns to lead Sheila into the living room and finds Harry and Grace stood in the doorway, sharing a conspiratorial smile. Grace runs up and gives her Grandma a big hug.

"What's going on?" Ruth asks looking to and from Harry and Sheila.

Harry steps forward, but not to greet Ruth. "Hi Sheila, I'm Harry. Thank you for doing this."

"Harry! It's nice to put a face to the name...and the voice. And it's hardly chore to spend time with my Granddaughter."

"Well, I really appreciate it."

Ruth is frustrated that she is being kept out of the loop. "Would someone please tell me what's going on?"

"It's a surprise!" Grace tells her.

"I knew you two were plotting something! What is it?"

Grace looks to Harry and he nods his consent. "I'm going to sleep at Grandma and Granddad's."

Ruth looks to Harry. "Why?"

"So that I can take you out for a meal. You haven't forgotten what tomorrow is, have you?"

Ruth thinks for a moment and then realisation dawns. "My birthday." Harry and Grace nod. "I can't believe I forgot."

"I think that's understandable; you have had a lot on your plate recently," Harry replies before turning to Grace. "Grace, why don't you go and get your bag; it's in the bottom of your wardrobe." Grace runs off smiling.

"When did you have time to…" she trails off as she realises how she was played that morning. "Toy Story?"

Harry nods. Ruth is astonished that she fell for it and voices her bewilderment. "How did I not work this out?"

"We were sneaky!" declares Grace bounding back down the stairs with her bag in one hand and her teddy in the other.

"You certainly were," agrees Ruth with a smile, checking through her bag to make sure Harry hasn't forgotten anything. She is pleasantly surprised to see that he hasn't. He's even packed her nightlight.

"So, is it okay?" Harry asks. "Will you let me take you out?"

"Well, once again you're being rather presumptuous but I suppose I should be used to that by now." She smiles at him, letting him know she's not really upset; she's teasing.

"Is that a yes?"

"Of course it is, you daft man. As if I'm going to turn down the promise of a night out."

He smiles. "Good."

"Do you want a drink, Sheila?" Ruth asks hospitably.

"We'll have to be going actually; I've got to pick Jim up from the golf club soon."

"Another time then," Ruth offers and Sheila nods.

"I'd like that."

"Come on Grace, it's time to go," beckons Ruth. Grace says goodbye to Harry. He in turn ruffles her hair and tells her to have fun, before Ruth and Sheila take her out the car. Ruth transfers the car seat and secures her daughter in it; double checking she is strapped in properly. "You be good for Grandma Sheila, okay?"

"I will," Grace nods.

Ruth places a kiss on her forehead and shuts the car door. Sheila is waiting by the driver's door.

"Thank you for doing this," Ruth says. "I hope you haven't had to re-arrange anything."

"Ruth," Sheila says firmly. "I've already told you, it's fine. Stop worrying about us and just enjoy your evening. Harry's put a lot of thought and effort into it."

"I'm sure he has; he's not one for doing things by halves."

"He seems like a good man," Sheila observes.

"He is," Ruth agrees. "Do you think Mark…" she trails off as she realises how silly she must sound.

Sheila seems to sense Ruth's question. "Do I think Mark would have approved of Harry?"

Ruth nods. "I know it's daft and I wouldn't have needed his consent or approval but he was my best friend and he'd normally have a comment or two about who I was seeing…about how they weren't good enough for me.

"Probably because they weren't," Sheila tells her truthfully. "But I think he'd like Harry; it's obvious how much he cares about you and Grace." A blush creeps up Ruth's cheeks but it doesn't stop Sheila, who puts her hand on Ruth's upper arm and rubs. "I'm glad you have someone…and Mark would be too."

"Harry's not going to try and replace Mark in her eyes," Ruth explains.

"It never occurred to me that he would."

"And I meant what I said after the funeral; no matter what happens in the future; I want you involved in Grace's life."

"Ruth. Stop. I know. You don't owe me any explanations. You're happy; that's all that matters."

"Thank you," Ruth replies, trying not to get choked up. Sheila has practically been a second mother to her since she and Mark met and Ruth values her opinion highly.

"Now, you should get back inside. It's getting cold and Harry will be wondering what has happened to you." The two women embrace and Ruth waves them off before returning to the house.

Ruth enters the living room to find Harry stretched out on her sofa, watching the football results come through. Ruth tidies up a few of her toys before joining Harry, who's now shifted over, on the sofa. They sit quietly, the only sounds being those of the television presenters. After a few minutes, Harry breaks the silence. "You okay?"

"It's strange without Grace; too quiet."

"Most mothers would be glad of the peace."

"I know; and I am, but it just brings back memories of before…when she'd go back to Mark and Kevin."

Harry wraps his arms around her. "She'll be back before you know it," he tells her. "We can go and pick her up as soon as you want to tomorrow."

"I know. Sorry. Here we are, properly alone for the first time since we got together and all I can do is mope."

"I know something that could take your mind off it?" he whispers seductively.

"Oh really?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Mmm-hmm," he murmurs, touching his lips to her neck and kissing upwards towards her ear.

"Have we got time?" she asks, her breath catching slightly as he finds a particularly sensitive spot.

"Plenty. Our reservation isn't until eight."

"Then what are we waiting for?" she asks. His answer is to capture her lips in a passionate kiss.