Chapter 108

The day after Fiona came down with the cold, Julie went by to see Sara. She knew a sick baby could be trying. "So how's our girl?" Julie asked.

"She's stuffy. Fever seems to have broken. Her little nose is making it hard to eat," Sara explained.

"I thought you might be looking ragged," Julie commented.

"Last night wasn't awful. I'm used to being up, but Ted was up some too. I think he was worried about her congestion," she said.

"Doctors aren't like normal fathers at least not when their child is sick," Julie assured her.

"So I've decided to go back half days to start. I hope Tim doesn't mind," Sara said.

"I think Tim is quite in favor of enjoying them while they're young. He's still adjusting to the girls and their relationships. He feel as if they don't need him," Julie said.

"I still need my father. Of course I live here, but we talk. Finding Ted didn't change that. I hate to admit it, but I like Jack. I've never seen Evie so happy," Sara said.

"He was always good with her. I can tell he loves her… Thankfully Tim is starting to accept it," Julie confided.

"Well it's a good thing you're experienced with weddings," Sara laughed.

"Marianne might like a simple wedding like yours, but I suspect Evie will want the Ritz," Julie said.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Sara said. Julie realized lately she couldn't predict anything with Evie, so perhaps Sara was right.

Apparently Evie had decided that she and Jack should come for dinner. Tim had tolerated him with the whole family, but dinner was just the five of them. She would have to rely on Mum's diplomacy. She was glad to see that Sara and Fiona were doing fine and left to get ready for her dinner guests. She told herself not to, but she decided on the pork roast that Jack always loved. She had waved her white flag and decided to accept that Jack was back.

Tim wished he was on-call. He dragged his feet leaving the surgery. Finally he ran out of reasons to stay. He had to go face dinner with an unwanted guest. He had to give the boy credit for trying. He brought along a Victoria Sponge from Tim's favorite bakery. Jules was a baking wonder, but even she admitted that cakes from this bakery's were superior.

When he arrived home Jules greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and the glare that said I'm disappointed in you. He couldn't respond because he expected and deserved it. She announced, "Let's sit at the table. Tim, we were just about to tuck in without you."

Evie said with a smile, "I'm sure Dad had important things to take care of."

Tim knew she was lying, but he loved her just the same. The conversation flowed as both teachers shared some stories. Teenagers today were always doing things that Tim couldn't understand. In his day things were different, he thought.

He commented, "I hope our Andrew is too smart for those shenanigans."

Evie said, "He's a good boy. He comes to my room to see me. He has a nice group of friends although the girls seem to like his lot."

"Oh no! We have enough trouble with you girls. We don't need him getting involved too," Tim said dramatically.

Evie laughed and said, "The only trouble is you. Mare and I are happy. Andrew is going to start with girls… He's at that age."

"I tell you my brother's the lucky one. His children are too small to worry about," Tim said.

Julie laughed, "Little ones bring enough worry with them. Sara said that he was up last night checking on the baby. It's just a little cold, but he lost sleep over it."

Ted noticed that Jack sat quietly. He decided to drag the boy into the conversation and asked, "What about you? You're a father."

"Well Matty does play with this one girl, but I believe it platonic," Jack answered with a smile.

Tim wanted to smile because he answered the wrong question much like Tim himself would have. Everyone around the table laughed.

Shelagh said, "I've seen pictures of the boy. He is a handsome lad. You'll have trouble in a few years."

"I'd like to say he gets that from me, but we know it's not true," Jack said with regret.

Julie spoke up, "When do we get to meet your boy?"

"I'm not sure she'll ever let me bring him here. Maybe when I have him over the summer…"

Tim felt bad for Jack. He clearly cared about the boy. He missed his brother's kids if he didn't see the regularly. He couldn't imagine not seeing his own. Well of course now he didn't, but as much as he hated to accept it, his girls were adults. They were both, as Evie said, happy and living their own lives.

"Where is Marianne tonight?" Tim asked realizing that his eldest daughter was missing. He had seen her earlier because she visited the surgery and followed him and the others as they saw patients.

"She and Tony are staying away. She didn't want to watch you suffer," Evie answered.

"Evangelina!" Julie said in her mother tone.

"Sorry Mum, but that's what she said. We're meeting them at the pub later," Evie said.

"What to give 'em a play-by-play of our dinner?" Tim said not trying to be funny.

Jack laughed and said, "In the first few minutes, the outcast stayed back and the father scowled. In the final minutes, the father seemed to enjoy his Victoria sponge. He is notorious for liking cake after all."

Evie said, "Jack!"

Tim tried not to, but he smirked and said, "I don't scowl."

In unison, Shelagh and Julie said, "You do to!"

Even Tim laughed then. Bloody hell, he thought, why was he reminded of how much he had liked that boy.

Evie was happy when she left dinner. She could tell her father was fighting it, but he was starting to like Jack again. She understood, because she had to work through a lot of hurt herself. The truth was that it was hard not to like Jack.

Her sister and Tony were already at the pub when they arrived. Marianne jumped up and asked, "How was it?"

Evie said, "Jack got him to laugh!"

"Well done," Marianne said to Jack.

The four sat and got on quite well, Evie realized. Of course she got on with her sister and Tony, but Jack and Tony seemed to like each other which made her very happy.

Noticing a bloke at the bar, Evie said to Marianne, "Look there's Thomas Junior."

"An old boyfriend?" Tony asked.

"Oh no! Auntie was dating his father when she left for Boston," Evie said and explained, "He didn't wait for her and that gave Michael his chance."

"We should be thanking him," Marianne said.

"Why?" Jack asked.

"Because if Michael hadn't come after Auntie, I would never have met Tony," Marianne.

"How do you know about her old boyfriend?" Tony asked.

"Uncle Teddy told us. He told us all about when they were young," Evie said.

"He also would point out every other woman of a certain age and tell us that our Dad chased after her," Marianne said.

Jack asked, "How would he know? He was too young!"

"I think he was teasing, because my Dad liked chasing the girls," Evie said.

Tony said, "I think he caught the perfect one some thirty years ago."

"Only Mum can put up with him," Evie said.

"I agree with Tony. Your parents were made for each other," Jack said.

Evie thought, we are as well.

Marianne thought Tony and I are made for each other too. She squeezed his hand. She only had a few more days before she was due back in Oxford. This time home had been perfect. The holiday, the family, the rest and, of course, Tony.

She liked visiting the surgery. She was learning how things work. They were rather efficient, but she could see they were busy and she'd be needed… Sara too.

Julie said, "Tim dear, I think you enjoyed dinner tonight."

"Well it was better than the dentist," he smirked.

"I suspect it's becoming a matter of pride with you," she eyed him.

"I've pride that you're my wife," he said.

"Now you're changing the subject," she said as she swatted the wet dish towel at him.

He laughed and said, "So how late will our daughter be out tonight?"

"Oh let her be. She's so busy typically. Let them have time together," Julie said.

"I really am trying to accept that they're all grown up," Tim said.

"Yes soon they'll be wives and hopefully mothers. Sara told me that she didn't stop needing her father's love when she married Teddy. She still needs him and they don't even live nearby," Julie said.

"Well Mare will be at the surgery… She'll need my experience and Evie… she'll never let up until I accept Jack," Tim said.

"You will. You were coming about tonight. Your heart's too soft," she whispered in his ear.

"Keep this up and I'll show you I'm not all soft."

Now Julie was the one smirking...