Coffee and/or Tea

Shelagh didn't think she could ever be as happy to wake up in her own bed as she was this morning. It had been weeks since she had a decent night sleep, as the mattresses at the mission in South Africa had been less than ideal, worry over the children constantly kept her awake, and the sounds so vastly different from what she was used to in Poplar had awoken her at all hours of the night. It had also been weeks since she had a decent cup of tea. She wasn't sure whether she had missed her mattress or the tea more.

Taking a deep breath, willing her sore muscles to stretch and her fatigued body to begin the process of waking up, Shelagh reached over toward Patrick, only to realize that he was already up. She must have been exhausted, she never slept through him getting out of bed unless she was ill. At least she wouldn't have to wait long for that tea, surely Patrick already had a kettle boiling.

Using the promise of a piping hot cup to entice her out of bed, Shelagh wrapped herself in her dressing gown and made her way toward the kitchen. Today would be a good day, she smiled to herself: she was home, Granny Parker would be bringing the children home in a few hours, and finally, finally, she was going to be able to sit down with her husband and enjoy a good cup of tea.

And then she walked into the kitchen.

Her husband had indeed made her a cup, just the way she liked it. One whiff of the milk, however, sent her running in the opposite direction with butterflies in her stomach... could it be?

One thing was certain: tea was the last thing on her mind now.