Chapter 49

Ted stayed up too late marking his student's work. He wanted to turn them into the university so he could be with Sara. Wednesday the surgery without her was just not the same. Next week they would have two more students, but neither would be Sara. He stopped his appointments early so he could finish up his work and submit it to the university. He had thought about Sara as she was on school holiday until Monday.

Ted had asked his brother and sister to write up their own evaluations of Sara and Lydia. All the other students would have evaluations from their mentors. He knew he needed more than just his opinion for Sara. He told no one that he made an appointment with the Dean. When he sat down in his office he explained carefully, that he didn't think he could evaluate his mentee's work objectively. He handed the Dean her completed case as well as three written evaluations. The third being from him.

Finally he said, "Barring any objection, I will be contacting her to pursue a personal relationship."

The Dean assured him that as they were no longer academically connected, he was free to do as he chose. When Ted left he felt better than he knew was possible.

Sara wondered if Ted was officially done. She had spent the day keeping busy around her flat. She organized and tidied. Then she decided to pop in at the surgery to accept their offer. She was greeted like an old friend by everyone as if she wasn't just there the day before.

"Sara!" Angela said when she saw her.

"I wanted to speak to the three of you about your offer."

"Ted's not here, but Tim and I are almost finished for the day," she said. Sara felt the need to be honest.

"No matter. It is you and Tim that I need to speak to," she said wondering if Ted was still finishing his university work.

They sat down in Angela's office and Sara fidgeted nervously. She decided to start out lightly. She looked at Tim and said, "First off, no more sister. No matter how much I resemble her physically and otherwise it isn't fair to your mother." Tim agreed like a child who had been scolded. Sara continued, "Before I accept I have something I need to disclose...I think you need to know this in case it changes your mind. If it does, I understand."

"Just say what you want to say," Tim said impatiently, "We'll decide."

"Alright….I...I really like Ted," she said.

"Like?" Angela asked.

Sara shook her head and mumbled, "Love."

Angela reacted first, "Bloody Julie, I'm out 50 quid!"

"You had a wager. I thought all her suspicions were crazy!" Tim said.

Sara was relieve that they had switched their focus from her to what Julie knew.

"Wait a minute what about Teddy," Angela said, "Does he love you?"

"He likes me," Sara answered looking down, "Neither of us have used the word love. Anyways I want to work here, but if you're not comfortable then I understand." With that Sara left not waiting for their answer.

Ted had just gotten home with his kids and had changed into jeans and on a whim his old Police tee. As he was going downstairs to start dinner, his sister burst into his house.

"Ange what are you doing?" he asked.

"We had a visitor after you left!" She said and then looking at his children who were watching her and said, "Sorry loves, let me talk to your Daddy."

"Go hide upstairs and we'll come find you," Ted said suspecting he knew where she was headed.

"Sara came by to accept our offer. Do you know that she loves you?"

"Yes, did she tell you?"

"Yes and what are you going to do about it?"

"That's what I'm working out. I was going to text her that I finished at the university. I thought of inviting her over unless because of the kids I shouldn't," he rambled on.

"But do you love her?" Angela demanded.

"Yes, it took me awhile, but yes."

"Then you need to go to her and tell her. She needs to know. GO! I'll stay here."

"You do remember my kids are hiding upstairs?"

"I can find them. Go!" she said again.

He put on his trainers and went out the door. He checked his mobile no text. He texted her:

I'm coming over

No response came. He rang her buzzer and got no answer. Looking around he wondered if she was on her run. So he started walking the direction she would be coming from. When he saw her in the distance he ran to her.

She stopped and looked up at him, "What are you doing here?"

He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her, "I had to find you. I needed to tell you that I love you."

"I love you too."

"I know I think it took me longer to know, but.."

"How did you know I loved you?" she asked.

"Besides my sister, you told me right before you fell asleep…"

"Did I?"

"Yes and it was exactly what I needed. I was afraid to love more," his voice trailed when he saw the tears in her eyes.

"You can't possibly love me more than I love you," she laughed. That was all he needed. She was in his arms and he was kissing her in public and didn't care who saw them.

Ted remembered when his brother told the story of the misty road. To Tim it was the moment in his life when Sister Bernadette disappeared and their family started. Suddenly this was his 'misty road' and the start of his new life... life with Sara.

The magic disappeared and he was back to reality when Sara said, "Okay football star let's go!" and took off running.

Ted was out of shape, but he kept up. At her building, he said, "Come have dinner with us."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm not going to keep you from anyone and certainly not Bernadette and Patrick. Clean up and come over, please," he smiled.

"Alright," and she was gone.

Angela accosted him when he walk in the door, "Where is she?"

"At home, showering...She was running. I found her in the park..."

He was just about to send Angela home when Bernadette and Patrick came running up to him. Bernadette asked, "Where's Sara? Auntie said you were going to see Sara."

"I did, but she was running. She'll come eat with us," he said.

"We ate. We had the same as last night," Patrick complained.

Angela shrugged, "They were hungry." she followed Ted into the kitchen and watched as he began taking ingredients out.

"Ange thanks for coming over and everything, but I'm all set here."

"What I can't stay I want to see you together when you're not pretending to hate each other."

"We never...Well maybe. It wasn't easy," he confided.

"How long have you been going behind everyone's backs?"

"Months," Ted answered with a grin.

Angela was shocked and said, "You hid it well."

"It wasn't easy we had our ups and downs."

"I'm glad you chose well Teddy bear," she said as she kissed his cheek.

Before Angela left she called out, "Sara's here."

Ted heard the patter of feet running to the door. He smiled as he went about his food preparation. When she entered the kitchen with two little bodies clinging to her, he noticed she had her scrubbed look and ponytail...the look he loved. All he could do was smile...