"I'm glad that everything worked out with Mr. Miller," Shelagh said.
"He still doesn't like me, but he consented," Tim said smiling from ear to ear.
They had gone to Poplar after arriving back in London and not wanting to waste any time Tim had given Julie his mother's diamond ring, whilst they were sitting together in the garden. Julie was smiling too and Patrick had snapped a picture of the happy couple. Tim had promised her that someday, he'd buy her a new ring.
"This means so much. It represents the woman who gave you life," Julie responded.
Teddy announced, "Tim, she still likes me more."
"Teddy, I'll be another sister to you," Julie said.
"... And I'll be your favorite brother," Teddy declared.
Julie laughed, but agreed. Tim decided that Ted didn't need to know about her four brothers. He winked at Julie who smiled.
"Are you lying?" he whispered in her ear.
"Truthfully, no. Charlie and Bert are close competition though."
Tim had liked the younger brothers, but his favorite was Carole. After meeting Julie's family, he wasn't as opposed to her and Walter. The girl needed saving and Walter seemed willing to do just that. What worried, Tim was Julie's mother.
Mum had just asked, "Is your mother pleased about you and Tim?"
"She said she was."
Tim added, "I'm worried about her."
"Why? She liked you. It was Dad who was difficult," Julie commented.
"I'm worried about her health," Tim said.
"Why because she's…"
"... overweight. No, because she boasts she hasn't seen a doctor in what fifteen years and she has shortness of breath."
"Don't play doctor on my mother," Julie said angrily.
Ignoring Julie's sudden change of tone, Tim persisted.
"I haven't diagnosed her. I just think she needs to see her own GP."
"Tim, why are you bringing this up now? It's my mother's private business," Julie said obviously upset.
"Jules, I said I'm worried about her. Can you honestly say that she seemed healthy?"
"Tim stop! You're ruining my happy day," Julie cried.
Finally realising that he had truly upset her, he tried to apologise, but she walked away and went out to the garden.
Tim started to get up, but Shelagh said, "Let me."
He watched as she left too. Tim looked at his father who shook his head and said, "Tim, rule number one, if a woman says she doesn't want to talk about it, she means it."
"She's never been angry before."
"Your visit was stressful for her too. You've been traveling and she's probably tired. Another day, she might have reacted differently."
"Dad, I'm worried about her mum. I'm thinking diabetes, heart problems,..."
"Tim, stop being a doctor. You probably scared her. You should have talked to her privately. Son, it's a good thing you have a few years, because you have a lot to learn about being a husband. Lesson number two, if you make her cry, you need to grovel."
Julie wasn't certain why she was so upset. She knew he wasn't really insulting her mum. She could tell her mum was not particularly healthy, but hearing Tim scared her. She had been embarrassed to talk about her mother in front of his parents. Her mum was nothing like trim, little Mrs. Turner. She was a housewife and nothing more.
She went from being extremely happy to crying in seconds. She sat playing with the ring Tim just gave her. Feeling sad when she shouldn't have.
Shelagh sat down aside her and said, "Timothy has dedicated so much time to medicine, he hasn't yet learnt when to stop being a doctor. I'd like to say he'll master it, but he won't. I remember when I was carrying Teddy, I didn't think my husband would ever stop being a doctor and just be a husband."
"What did you do?" Julie asked curious to hear more. She thought they were always perfect.
"I had to remind him over and over again. Now that's not all that upset you, is it?"
Julie shook her head.
"Would you like to talk to me or Tim about it?" Shelagh asked.
She thought and decided, Tim's arms were what made her feel better.
"Tim, I think."
"I'll send him out. Go easy, he's had more training as a doctor than as a husband-to-be."
She heard her warn Tim, "Just listen."
Tim walked to her with his head down. He looked endearing and a bit like Teddy in that moment. He sat down and she leaned against him putting her head on his shoulder. She sighed when his arm went around her.
He whispered into her hair, "I'm sorry I upset you."
"You're probably right, but I don't want to think about it. She'll never go to a doctor. Her mum died in hospital. She went in to take something out of her and she left in a box. She was healthy as a horse and not like my mum. I'm surprised she likes you, because she typically calls doctors charlatans."
"I'm sorry. I don't want you to worry or be sad. We're supposed to be happy. I can tell you that you'll never be alone. You'll always have me," Tim said.
"Except when you're in Oxford," she reminded him.
"I'm still with you here," he said touching her chest where her heart resides.
She whispered, "Your mum is peeping out."
"I don't care," he said as he captured her lips with a kiss that was anything but chaste.
Parting, she said, "Tim!"
"I bet she turned away the minute she saw everything was fine."
Julie smiled and turned her face up and captured his lips.
Arriving back at her flat, Julie was greeted by Kate who showed forced excitement.
"What's wrong?" Julie asked concerned that Kate and Arthur had quarreled too.
"I've known Arthur longer than you have Tim, but you're the one wearing the ring," Kate confessed.
"Have you and Arthur discussed a future?" Julie asked.
"He tells me that he loves me. I think I need to make him jealous, like you did with that bloke at your office."
"I didn't try to, but that isn't the way. It could ruin everything. I say give it time, they've got years to go at Oxford. This ring doesn't change anything. I'll still never see Tim when term starts up again."
"You're right. I'm happy for you. I think you were right to choose Tim."
Just before Tim was due back in Oxford, the two couples had an evening out. Laughing in the pub, Arthur said, "Tim man, you're putting the pressure on."
Tim smiled and said, "I had to lock in on my girl. Jules is one of a kind and I won't let her go."
Julie turned to him and said, "You sound like I'm a car."
"... Or a horse," Kate added.
"Thanks a lot Kate!" Julie couldn't help, but laugh.
"How about a precious gem? Does that suit you?" Tim asked and smiled the smile that melted her insides.
##
When the girls went to the ladies, together of course, Arthur said, "I'm not going to tell Jim."
"What does Albert care? I heard he has a girl now," Tim protested.
"He's tried so hard to compete with you. Now you got his girl."
"She was never his. It doesn't even matter now that he's busy with Internal Medicine."
"You're both planning to be in London."
"Well Poplar is a long way from Harley Street," Tim said.
"A surgery on Harley Street is for the lucky few. Jim may not be that lucky. He'll probably end up at The London."
"I hope not."
"You hope not, what?" Julie asked as she draped her arm around Tim on her way back to her seat.
"Arthur here, thinks Jim will end up at The London. I don't want him making my life miserable because I stole you."
"You didn't steal me. I chose you," she said with her lips almost against his neck below his ear and her breast against his arm. He felt his reaction in his pants.
She has no idea the effect that she has on me, Tim thought to himself.
Later as they walked back to the girls' flat, the girls were walking arm and arm. Perhaps Kate had too much to drink, because she was singing quite loud.
Well, the rain exploded with a mighty crash
As we fell into the sun
And the first one said to the second one there
I hope you're having fun
People were turning their heads. Julie joined in for the chorus. She had a lovely voice.
Band on the run, band on the run
And the jailer man and sailor Sam
Were searching everyone
For the band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
Arthur was laughing and said in a low voice, "I know the real reason you gave her the ring."
"What's that?" Tim asked.
"You know engaged women are more willing to shag," Arthur suggested.
Before Tim could answer, Julie turned back and said, "Come on, then Tim, you can sing. Band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run."
Tim did think three years was a very long time.
Was it too long to just snog?