A nice long chapter with a jealous Patrick and a couple of kettles (this is as steamy as this story will get). I write fanfic for the sheer enjoyment of it and reviews (even tiny ones that let me know you are reading) are like payment for me - any and all are welcome and make my day!

Chapter 29

Matthew Bancroft paced up and down in front of the Turners house several times. He knew he either needed to knock on the front door or head home before some well-meaning neighbour called the police.

He very much wanted to see Elizabeth Donald again, she was all he had been able to think about since they had met two days ago. He was torn though, he had to be at least 10 years older than her, possibly closer to 15 but he had genuinely enjoyed talking to her and watching her with Angela. He took a deep breath and walked up to the front door and knocked.

The door was opened by a woman who didn't appear to be much older than Elizabeth, perhaps there was another sister they hadn't mentioned the other night.

"Hello?" She questioned with the same Scottish lilt as Elizabeth, giving credence to his earlier theory.

"Ah, yes, Hello. I'm Matthew Bancroft."

"Oh goodness yes. I'm Mrs Turner, it's such a pleasure to meet you Mr Bancroft. Please come in."

Matthew was gobsmacked that this young woman was Timothy Turner's mother but he recovered quickly. "I don't mean to impose but I ran into Timothy, Angela and your guests the other night and they kindly invited me to join them. I was just out for a walk and thought I would stop by to see how young Angela was, after her fall."

Shelagh smiled as she led the young man through the house. "I'm pleased to say future doctors Donald and Turner handled the situation very professionally. Angela has made a complete recovery and is back to being her mischievous self."

Shelagh invited Matthew to sit, just as Elizabeth, who was playing with Angela in the garden, looked up and saw him. Shelagh witnessed the shy but delighted smile on the young woman's face. She then turned and saw a matching smile on Mr Bancroft's face and immediately knew it wasn't Angela he had come to see.

Elizabeth carried Angela into the sitting room. "Ice cream man!" The toddler said as she ran to his lap.

Shelagh laughed as she moved into the kitchen to put the kettle on. "I can see you found your way into Angela's heart very easily."

"Yes, I confess, I bought her affections with chips and ice cream." Matthew laughed as he tickled the toddler now sitting on his lap.

Elizabeth moved into the kitchen to help Shelagh make the tea. "Please don't leave me alone with him." She whispered.

"Why ever not?" Shelagh whispered back, worried at the young woman's tone. "I'm quite certain it is not Angela he has come to see, despite what he says."

Elizabeth twisted the tea towel she was holding and wondered how much to say. Ultimately she knew if anyone would understand it would be the woman in front of her. "Because I've thought about him rather a lot since we met the other night. Quite a lot in fact." She confessed. "I don't want to do or say anything that will make me look silly. Please Shelagh, please don't leave me alone with him."

"Of course I won't if that's what you really want, but Katherine is due to wake up any minute and will probably want to be fed."

Elizabeth visibly relaxed. "Thankyou"

"Now, given that I believe we should impress this young man, I suggest we get out the almond sponge Mrs B sent over this morning. Patrick and Timothy will just have to understand it has been sacrificed to a higher cause." Shelagh laughed.

They had decided it was such a lovely afternoon that they would have an afternoon tea picnic in the back garden. Shelagh had been reluctant to join Elizabeth and Matthew at first but Angela had been most insistent that her mother and 'Katiebaby' should join in the fun.

Elizabeth had been holding the baby while Shelagh and Angela played a game of patty-cake, she easily passed Katherine to Matthew when she needed to go inside for a moment and that was the scene that greeted Patrick as he arrived home – his wife and children laughing on a picnic rug with a young man who was clearly making himself very much at home in his back garden. Patrick knew what the feeling was the moment he felt is rise within him. It began in the pit of his stomach and spread throughout him until he was consumed by it and yet he was unable to take his eyes off what appeared to be a picture perfect young family.

Shelagh caught sight of him in the house and waved. Patrick's expression didn't change as he turned and stalked to the front of the house and up the stairs towards their bedroom.

"Oh dear, it looks like daddy may have had rather a bad day Angela. Will you wait here with Mr Bancroft until Elizabeth comes back out and help him look after you baby sister?" Shelagh asked her daughter.

"Yes mama."

Shelagh turned to the young man. "Do you mind Matthew?"

"No, of course not, you go ahead, Elizabeth will be back any moment and we have our two tiny chaperones to keep us entertained." He smiled as Shelagh rose and walked inside to find her husband.

"Patrick. Dearest." She called as she walked to the front of the house and began heading up the stairs to their bedroom. As she opened the door she watched as Patrick paced the room and proceeded to punch one of the pillows on the bed.

"Dare I ask what that pillow could possibly have done to warrant such treatment." Shelagh asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Dare I ask who it is who has replaced me in my own family?" Patrick rounded on her and demanded.

Shelagh stood there dumbfounded at the tone of her loving husband's voice and processed what he had said and thought about what he would have seen as he arrived home. It took all her willpower not to laugh outright at his assumption.

"That is Matthew Bancroft." Shelagh answered him calmly hoping he might recognise the name that signed the bottom of Timothy's report card.

"Right. Well next time you and Matthew want to play happy families, do you think perhaps you could arrange it for a time when I don't have to witness it?" He asked sarcastically.

Shelagh couldn't help it she had to laugh at him because if she didn't she would get angry at the fact that her husband thought so little of her that he could think she would even look at another man.

"Patrick you are being silly, and dare I say it, jealous, about a situation you could not have interpreted more incorrectly if you tried."

"Is that so?" He responded clearly not prepared to be dissuaded from his initial impression.

"Patrick." Shelagh said wearily. "Matthew is Timothy's principal, he called around to see how Angela was, well at least that was his excuse, I think the real reason he is here is to see Elizabeth." Shelagh explained. They stood there in silence, Patrick waiting for his jealousy to subside and Shelagh waiting for an apology.

Shelagh certainly didn't get the 'I'm sorry' she was expecting, rather she was scooped into her husband's arms and found herself pinned against the nearest wall while Patrick practically devoured her as his hands moved under her dress.

In a brief moment of lucidness Shelagh thought to herself that there was more going on here than just jealousy but Patricks mouth and hands were doing the most wonderful things to her and focussing on that was far more enjoyable than contemplating what could be bothering him.

Ten minutes later as both their breathing began to return to normal Shelagh saw a look of complete remorse on Patricks face and she knew she had to let him know that what they had just done was not at all unwelcome.

"Well, if that is what happens when you get jealous Patrick I am going to have to be sure to invite Matthew around more often."

"Shelagh….." Patrick was at a loss for words, unable to apologise adequately to his wife for his barbaric actions.

"Look at me Patrick." Shelagh told him firmly. "I mean it, look at me." Patrick reluctantly looked into his wife's eyes. "Next week, if I invite the postman in to make you jealous, do you think we could do this again?"

"Again?...You mean…."

"I rather enjoyed it?" Shelagh asked playfully nipping at his neck. "I don't know that I would like it every time but every once in a while? Yes …I will admit…..I found it …..rather stimulating." She grinned at him.

Patrick searched her eyes and saw nothing but sincerity in what she said.

Patrick carried her to the bed and gently caressed her as he straightened her clothes, once again so grateful that she loved him and only him.

"Do you want to talk about what the real problem is?"

Patrick was silent for some time not surprised that his wife would know there was more than just jealousy behind his actions this afternoon. Shelagh allowed him his time to think, knowing he would speak when he was able.

"I delivered a baby this afternoon."

"Patrick you have delivered hundreds of babies….it wasn't…..Patrick it's been over a year since Distaval was withdrawn…surely not…" Shelagh worried that Patrick would sink back into that dark place he was in when the effects of Thalidomide had first come to light.

"No! No love, not that." Patrick was silent for a few moments. "It was Millie Watkins." Patrick said as if she should know the name. Shelagh just waited for him to elaborate. "Millie Watkins went to school with Timothy."

Shelagh was beginning to see what the problem was.

"When I told Trixie she could bring the father through it was Jack. Jack Smith, Tim's best friend from cubs. Shelagh it hit me that it could have been Tim. I could be a grandfather. I have two babies of my own – what are they going to say when I go to their school events and everyone thinks they have bought their grandfather along?"

Shelagh tried not to laugh at the absurdness of what he was saying because it was obviously worrying him greatly. She took a breath before she spoke to make sure her tone was serious.

"Patrick, no-one is going to think you are the girl's grandfather. As for actually becoming a grandfather, I think you are safe for a good number of years yet, Timothy still has two year of school and then five years of medical school and two years as a junior doctor before I would think he will be ready for children. In ten years I imagine we will be more than ready for another baby in the family, especially one we can hand back to it's parents." Shelagh joked. She stroked his weathered face lovingly. "I understand why you would be upset, but remember Millie and Jack are just children themselves, besides I would think your actions up against that wall" She indicated with her head, "would prove that you are anything but old!"

They lay there wrapped in each other's arm until there was a knock at the door.

"Mum? Dad? Are you in there?"

Patrick and Shelagh looked at each other and grinned.

"Yes Tim but I wouldn't come in if I were you." Patrick called out.

"Why? Are you watching mum feed Katie again?" Tim asked unable to keep the disgust out of his voice.

"Ah, no dear, Katherine is downstairs." Shelagh called out, joining in with Patrick's mischief.

There was silence on the other side of the door until Timothy realised the implication of his parent's words. "OH! Ewwww! I didn't need to know that!"

Shelagh gave Patrick one last quick kiss. "I love you more than anything Patrick Turner. I don't need or want anyone but you." They straightened their clothes and opened the door.

"Oh very funny you two." Timothy said both relieved and disgusted at the same time. "I'm so glad that messing with my psyche is so entertaining for you both. Just remember you two are going to have to pay the psychiatrist bill when you take it one step too far." Timothy told them as he went down the stairs to the sound of his parent's laughter.

"It's a good thing he didn't come home half an hour earlier" Patrick whispered in his wife's ear as they descended the stairs.