Thanks to all my readers and for your comments. I received one comment that I wanted to respond to as someone left me feedback that the whole student/teacher scenario is not very realistic. I am well aware that it is flimsy, but there is excitement in forbidden love as every turnadette fan knows. There are no good scenarios for forbidden love aside from making Sara married, but I wanted to make her similar to Shelagh in innocence (or Romeo and Juliet, but the Turners don't have enemies). A friend mentioned the churches view on divorce, but even that is not a big deal today or twelve years ago. This story is completely written while edits are always being done it is too late to change it.

There are a few moments in this chapter that I absolutely love although it is still about Lily's death.

Chapter 35

The minute Sara set foot in the surgery she sensed the mood was somber. Angela approached her and asked if she knew.

"Yes, I was told last night," Sara said.

"From my brother?" Angela asked, and Sara nodded, "I glad he remembered to tell you."

Lydia immediately ask Sara what was happening so Sara told her. "I'm so sorry. I know how close you were," Lydia hugged her.

When Teddy came in he looked at her with brooding eyes. Was it the look of sorrow or regret she was seeing? They all went about their day which kept her mind occupied.

At the end of day, she left immediately with hardly a goodbye. She wanted to go for a run. No, she needed to go for a run. She also needed to stop by to see Christine. She had texted her earlier.

She ran faster than usual as if trying to outrun her feelings. She showered and prepared to leave for Christine's when she looked at her mobile. There was a text that said:

Are you ok?

She hastily replied:

Going to Christine's

Ted:

Call me later. Please.

The please told her that he was sensing something was off with her. The trouble was she wasn't sure what it was. Was it shame about their carrying on last night? Was it because she loved him and he...she didn't know what he felt...or was it anxiety because she was in over her head. Last night, she realized that if her own wants scared her, his frightened her even more so. He had been a husband and based on what she was told, a lover before that. He must be expecting...but in the light of day she knew she couldn't. When this little charade they were playing ended, it would be hard enough without that too.

Seeing Christine shattered her. Already plans were coming together for Lily's funeral. Sara did the only thing she could and that was to listen and be a friend.

Later when she spoke with Ted, they spoke only of her visit and things concerning Lily's death. As neither had slept well the night previous, they ended the call early.

The day of Lily's funeral was a gorgeous summer day. They had rearranged their appointments at the surgery so anyone who wanted could attend. Sara knew all the doctors were attending.

When Sara arrived at the gravesite, Christine motioned her over and they hugged. When the service began she moved aside to allow their family to gather around Christine and Gordon. She found herself next to Emily and her husband, John, who happened to be one of Daphne's teachers at the Grammar School.

Across from her all the Turners stood together. There were six of them...Tim and Julie, Angela and her husband, and then Ted with his mother. Standing on one side looking across reminded Sara once again of how she didn't belong. Still every time she look their way, Ted was looking at her. He looked amazing in his dark suit. She had trouble not looking his direction.

At the end of the service, mourners were invited to gather at Christine's mothers house. Sara had already told Christine that she needed to go back to work. She noticed the Turners were trying to make their way to speak to the family, just like her they needed to get to the surgery.

Sara bumped into Tim, looking around she asked, "Where's your wife?"

"Julie and Mum went ahead to help set out the food," he said, before he asked, "Do you need a ride to the surgery?"

"Yes, I suppose I do," she had planned to take the bus, but a ride would be nice."

Soon she realized that all three doctors were together. It was Tim's car and Angela got into the front seat which Sara wondered if it was because she was older. She found herself in the backseat with Teddy.

Angela started right off on Tim, "You owe me 50 quid."

"What! Why?" Tim protested.

"I saw those tears glistening in your eyes."

"Tears! That was the sun," Tim exclaimed.

Teddy spoke up and said, "The sun was behind us. You lose mushy one."

Sara was smiling at the exchange. She knew that Teddy was right because she had been looking across at them most of the ceremony and the sun was in her eyes. Angela spoke most of the ride about Lily, the ceremony and East Enders that she saw. Sara was glad she was too busy talking to look back, because Teddy was holding her hand and she needed that more than anything at that moment.

He let go just before they reached the surgery when Angela said, "You two are quiet back there."

Teddy responded, "Couldn't get a word in with you going on and on."

The East End had changed remarkably over the years, but there were still some of the old families. Many remained the pillars of the All Saint's congregation and there was none more respected than the Turners. They however earned their respect which was why Julie and Shelagh did not hesitate to help the family after the burial.

The crowd was large and somber as expected with the tragic death of a child. Busy refilling serving trays and picking up discarded plates, Julie chatted up people that she had not seen in many years and some that she'd seen regularly. Slowly the crowd thinned out and Julie found herself washing up in the kitchen. Christine came in to get a glass of water and Julie took one look at her and said. "Sit. Have you eaten a thing?"

"Oh no, I couldn't," she protested.

"You need to eat for Daphne if for no other reason. Here have some of this," Julie said as she filled a plate with a variety from the enormous selection of food.

"It was nice. Wasn't it?" Christine said flatly as she took little bites.

"Yes. It was."

"I wish Sara could have come back this afternoon, but I understand that she needed to work. I don't know what I would have done these months without her. She's a good friend," Christine said thoughtfully.

"Yes, I have only met her a few times, but what Tim says she is very good at what she does," Julie responded.

"She and Dr. Turner, Ted, were always visiting Lily both in hospital and here. They make quite a pair," Christine said.

"Pair? Professionally perhaps with their equal dedication, but from what I hear they don't get on all that well," Julie said, unsure if she should be talking about her brother-in-law this way. She knew that he had changed since Melissa died. He was far too serious and aloof.

"They didn't seem that way when I saw them with Lily," Christine said thoughtful, "In fact, I thought I noticed something between them."

"I don't think so. I keep hearing about how they just tolerate each other."

"Maybe I was wrong. I said something about it to Sara and she denied it, but I thought she seemed nervous. Maybe I just wish it were true. They're exactly what the other one needs," Christine replied and continued, "Besides I quite liked the distraction...Oh well."

Christine's words nagged at Julie and later that evening she said to Tim, "Is it true that your brother does not get on with Sara?"

"I wouldn't say not get on. You know how serious he has become since Melissa."

"Yes, serious and aloof. But how does he act with Sara?"

"A bit proper and smug. I think she is quite fun to joke with and the old Teddy would have like to as well. Why all these questions, Jules?"

"I was just thinking of something that Christine said...She thought they got on well,"Julie said.

"Well of course they would be professional," Tim replied.

"I think she meant more than professional," Julie said cautiously.

"Oh no, I don't think so. I would have noticed and besides that wouldn't be appropriate given that she is a student," Tim said, "The only thing they have in common is their work."

Julie thought for a moment of the last time, she saw Teddy he was disheveled and smelled of beer...Of course, that was the night Lily passed. She remembered thinking he smelled a bit of perfume when she hugged him. She assumed he had hugged Christine. Could she have been wrong?