Thanks for the lovely reviews - this chapter starts off a pretty sad arc (but there are some happy moments too). I hope you enjoy and I'd love to hear which bits you liked and didn't like.

Chapter 36

Shelagh Turner put the last plate on the table and took her place next to Katherine's high chair and started to feed the baby. "Katherine and I went to visit Trixie today while Angela was at nursery. Little Christopher is absolutely adorable, Sister Julienne arrived not long after us and we ended up having a lovely visit."

"Yes, Trixie had him at the clinic on Tuesday, he's a strapping young chap, John is completely besotted with him." Patrick smiled thinking it was exactly the way he had felt about each of his three children. "And how was nursery Angela?" Patrick asked, still not able to believe that the precious little bundle he had placed in his wife's arms nearly three and a half years ago was now old enough to be attending nursery two mornings a week.

"We painted daddy. I painted a picture for mummy and Sis Julie and Beth." The little girl talked enthusiastically. "And we read a story and sang a song."

"Goodness your day was even busier than mine!"

"And I talked on the lellophone." She continued.

"The lellophone?...Oh the telephone." Patrick grinned, happy that he had been able to decipher without Shelagh or Timothy's help.

Angela frowned and got a little wrinkle between her eyebrows, almost an exact replica of her mothers. "That's what I said daddy, the lellophone."

"And who on earth was calling you on the telephone little one. Please don't tell me you have a boyfriend ringing you already. Daddy's poor old heart is only just coping with Timothy and Bernadette I don't think I could cope with you being in love too." Patrick teased.

"Silly daddy." Angela grinned. "I talked to 'lizbeth. I's gonna be a flower."

This time Patrick had to look to his wife. As Angela grew he was becoming much more adept at talking 'little girl' and he marvelled at how her little mind worked but there were times he needed his wife to interpret.

"Elizabeth has asked Angela to be a flower girl at the wedding."

"And mummy is going to be the tron of horror." Angela told him importantly.

Patrick couldn't help himself, he burst out laughing and turned to his wife. "The tron of horror darling, what on earth will you wear?"

Shelagh laughed and addressed her daughter. "The Matron of Honour sweetheart. It means I will get to wear a pretty dress like you and Bernadette." Shelagh turned to Patrick. "The date is set for June 3rd so we will need to visit at least once before then for dress fittings. I'm sure I can convince Timothy to accompany the girls and I on the train if you can't get the time off work." Shelagh explained while she looked at the grinning Timothy.

"No. No that's fine. Just let me know when and I can clear my schedule. We can drive up if you like. It will probably be faster and we can stop along the way." Patrick didn't like the idea of his whole family going away and leaving him behind.

"Timothy dear, would you like to get the dessert out of the oven?' Shelagh asked as Patrick took over the feeding of Katherine while Shelagh ate her now lukewarm dinner.

"Sure mum." Just as Timothy stood the phone rang. "Dad's not on call so I'll get it." Timothy picked up the phone in the hallway. At first all he could hear was sobbing until he finally heard a broken "Tim? Tim is that you?"

"'dette? What's wrong? Calm down and tell me what's wrong." Timothy was trying to stay calm but he was clearly worried. His voice obviously alerted his parents because his father came out to stand beside him and he could see his mother telling Angela that she could go and play while she wiped Katherine's hands.

"Tim." Bernadette sobbed. "Tim, I need you."

"What's happened? You know if you need me I'll be there but you need to tell me what's happened." Timothy spoke evenly hoping to calm the obviously distressed girl.

"It's mum and dad." She cried again. "They were in the car and hit some black ice. Tim they're gone, my mum and dad are dead." Timothy listened to the heartbreaking tears on the other end of the phone. He looked at his watch and made a decision.

"'dette? Sweetheart, I need you to listen to me. I'm coming. I'm going to put you on to dad while I go and throw some things in a bag. I'm going to be on the overnight train. I'll be there in the morning. I love you and I'm coming." Without thinking he handed the phone to his father while he raced up the stairs. The overnight train was leaving in an hour and a half.

"Bernadette?" Patrick heard a break in the sobs. "I'm going to send Shelagh up with Timothy tonight. Is Elizabeth there with you?"

"Ye….yes."

"I want the two of you to try and get some sleep and Shelagh and Tim will be there first thing in the morning."

"O….Okay."

"You're not alone Bernadette, I'll get them to you as fast as I can."

"Th…Th…Thank you Patrick."

Patrick hung up the phone and turned to his wife who was holding Katherine in her arms. "It's Alex and Ian love, they've been killed in a car accident." Patrick told her gently as he took her into his arms.

Shelagh was in shock. "But I only spoke to her this afternoon…"

"Sweetheart, the girls need you. They are all alone and they need you to help them with their grief." He felt Shelagh nodding on his chest. "Go and pack a bag. We need to get you and Timothy on the next train."

Shelagh took a deep breath. "Yes. Oh Patrick, what about Katherine and Angela?"

"They will be fine. Katherine is taking a bottle now and they will both be fine with me tonight and I'll call sister Julienne first thing tomorrow to see if she can have the girls for a few days and I'll drive up as soon as I have everything sorted."

An hour later Shelagh and Timothy were on the train in the last sleeping compartment that had been available. Shelagh doubted either of them would get much sleep but Patrick had insisted they try as they would need their strength for Bernadette and Elizabeth.

Early the next morning as they stepped off the train they saw a familiar face coming out of the dining car. "Matthew!" Timothy called

Matthew turned and saw Timothy and Shelagh, relieved to see them both and to know he wouldn't be alone in helping his fiancé and her sister.

"Oh Shelagh. Timothy. I'm at a loss – I have no idea what to say to them."

Shelagh reached out and grasped Timothy and Matthew's hands. "You don't need to do or say anything you just need to be there for them. You both know what they are feeling, you have felt it yourselves and you know there are no words of comfort that will make them feel any better. You just need to be there to hold them and to listen."

Matthew immediately understood why she had come. He and Timothy needed to be there to support Elizabeth and Bernadette and she was there to support them all.

…

Bernadette answered the door when they knocked and she launched herself into Timothy's arms as soon as she saw him and began to sob again. Timothy just held her and allowed her to vent her grief, knowing this would not be the last time this would happen. Eventually she pulled away and saw Matthew.

She walked over and gave him a hug. "She's in the sitting room, I think she has been there all night. I couldn't get her to leave." Matthew kissed her forehead and walked into the sitting room.

"Beth? Beth? Look at me sweetheart." Matthew knelt in front of her and grasped her freezing hands.

Eventually Matthew's voice reached her. "Matthew?"

"Yes darling, I'm here. I'm here for you."

Elizabeth stared at him blankly. "They're gone. They were going to a ball at the hospital and they were laughing and joking as they left and now they are just gone and I'm never going to see them again."

"I know sweetheart. I know." Matthew moved to sit next to her and gathered her into his arms and Elizabeth finally cried.