September 14, 1968

This was not anything Tim ever anticipated ever in his life. It's not something any boy ever expects to do with his father. But of course, Tim and Patrick were different than most sons and fathers. Now more than ever. So perhaps this shouldn't have been odd at all. It did, however, leave Tim with some questions.

"Why now?" he asked. "I mean, you could have done this a month ago or waited another year. Why now?"

Dad paused for a moment, considering. "Well, a month ago we were more focused on you than anything else."

"I'm sorry about that," he replied sadly.

But Dad just put an arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "Don't be. It's for the best. We've all found our way. Come out the other side better, yes?"

"Yes," Tim agreed. "So does that mean that you would have done this a month ago if you weren't busy?"

Dad shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Shelagh and I haven't actually been together for very long. It was only three months ago that you ran into her on the street and brought her back into our lives."

Tim smirked at that. "Yeah, but you would've married her that night if you'd been able to."

"Yes, actually, I would have. But the time we've had together since, to figure it all out and such, we've needed it. Not just for Shelagh to find her way to herself after making the decision to leave the Order and all that. And since then, we've gotten the chance to…well, to figure out how to live together. You know I haven't lived with anyone since you moved away for school. And I haven't lived with a woman since your mother died. It's been quite an adjustment for both of us," he explained.

"But you're ready now?" Tim asked.

"I think so. I think we both are. We've talked about marriage. From the beginning, actually. I wouldn't have expected her to give up her entire life for me without any assurances. Assurances I was happy and ready to give, of course. But I didn't want to pressure her, of course. Now, though, I think is the right time."

Tim was happy to hear that. It was sort of funny, he'd never have thought he'd want to hear his father talk about his romantic life; such a thing would have made him miss his mother. But Tim was a grown man now. And he and Dad had been through a lot. Quite a lot in the last six weeks, in fact. Hearing him talk about his relationship with Shelagh was wonderful. It didn't make Tim wish his mother was still alive—that dream had been one of a grieving little boy who had grown up to be a man who accepted the way things had happened. Instead, it made him unspeakably happy that Dad was finally happy. They'd discussed it at length by this point, the similarities between them, the way they'd both fallen in love with someone that they shouldn't have. But both he and Dad had been brave enough to pursue the person they each loved and to carve out a little life where they could be happy.

And now they were walking up the high street to a little shop where Tim would be assisting his father in something he'd never imagined: choosing an engagement ring.

When Shelagh had first discovered the truth about Mike and himself, Tim had still harbored a twinge of jealousy in comparing their situations. Shelagh and Dad were allowed to get married and be a happy couple in front of everyone. Tim did not have that luxury with Mike. But Tim had never expected that with Mike. Marriage wasn't something that he pictured as what he and Mike could share. Weddings were about flowers and a woman in a white gown and exchanging rings in a church. None of that was what he and Mike wanted. All they wanted was exactly what they had, and they didn't need to be married to have their house and their rabbits and be happy.

Dad, however, was a man built to be married. He'd done just fine as a widower these last eleven years, but marrying Shelagh was exactly the right thing for him. Tim could just picture this lovely life they shared, having seen a glimpse of it on occasion. Shelagh enjoyed learning to cook and keeping things tidy and organized for Dad; organization had never been his strong suit and the fact that he'd never lost or mixed up patient files was something of a miracle. And Shelagh was a skilled nurse and midwife, and even though Dad was halfway retired, she would be able to assist him in his work. Dad had often talked, back in Poplar, about how good Sister Bernadette was, how sometimes he'd be called to assist in a difficult birth and she would end up doing absolutely everything with him just watching and standing by just in case. That did not surprise Tim. For all her shy quietness, Shelagh was always an extremely capable person. As a child and now as a man, Tim was quite sure there was nothing she couldn't do. Except perhaps make a proper pastry crust. She always somehow either burned it or left it raw and soggy on the bottom. It was weirdly comforting to find something she wasn't brilliant at.

Tim and Patrick went into the jewelry store and focused on the task at hand. "Right, so what sort of thing are you thinking?"

"I don't quite know. I think gold would be better than silver or platinum. With her blonde hair, I think gold is better," Dad posited. "But other than that, I just don't know."

It shouldn't have surprised him that Dad hadn't given this much thought. It had been a very long time—over twenty years, in fact—since he'd bought a diamond ring for a woman. Dad was thoughtful and sweet to Shelagh, but buying extravagant gifts was not something he was at all known for.

Dad got some more ideas as he looked at the jeweler's cases. "Nothing too big. Both for the sake of my bank account and because she works with her hands. I don't want her to be worried about it when she works or feel compelled to take it off and leave it at home."

Tim smiled at that. Dad wasn't the possessive type, wanting to show the world that Shelagh belonged to him, but Tim could tell that he wanted to give her something that she would love and cherish. And Tim was determined to find something that Shelagh might cherish almost as much as she cherished Patrick himself.

The jeweler was busy with another customer, which didn't bother the Turners at all. They could look around without interruption. Tim gazed at all the glittering gemstones in all their gold and silver settings.

"I think diamond, don't you?" Tim asked.

"Yes, I think that would be best. Shelagh likes to wear color and patterns but I don't think she'd want something too ostentatious to wear."

Tim agreed with that. "Yeah, you want it to match whatever else she's wearing." He avoided the case with emeralds and rubies and sapphires. "This sort of square cut," he said, pointing to a large ring in the center of the next case. "I don't think that's really right."

"No, I don't think so. It doesn't really feel like her."

He had not known what to expect from this outing, only that he was honored to be a part of it, but it was actually sort of fun. Dad called him over to another case. "See this one with the big band? I don't want anything too big like that. Not just because it's impractical, but because Shelagh's quite small. She's got lovely dainty hands. A thin band would be best. Won't overpower her."

Tim took that into account and wandered around to another case. And then he saw it. He hadn't realized what he was looking for, but as soon as he saw that ring, it seemed to call out Shelagh. "Dad, come look at this one," Tim said slowly, unable to take his eyes off the ring.

Patrick came over to where Tim was standing. He didn't even ask which ring Tim was talking about. "Oh yes, that's the one!" he said triumphantly.

It was at that moment that the jeweler came over to assist them. "Can I help you, gentlemen?"

"Yes, I'd like to buy that ring," Dad announced, pointing at the ring Tim had found.

"Ah yes, the floral cluster is a very beautiful setting. And this one is in eighteen karat gold with inlaid baguettes around the band. The diamond cluster all together are a full carat."

Dad smiled. "Thank you, I'll take it."

The jeweler seemed pleased at that. He gave the price and Tim nearly fainted. Yet another reason Tim was glad he'd never marry a woman. He'd never afford the bloody ring!

But Dad wasn't fazed in the least. Maybe he knew better what rings cost. And Tim knew he'd saved up his money and had always been willing and able to help out Tim when needed. Apparently the small fortune he was spending on an engagement ring for Shelagh was not anything to worry about.

Dad paid and they waited patiently while the jeweler cleaned and polished the ring and placed it in a small leather box. He offered to wrap it up, but Dad politely declined. He took the little ring box and put it right in his pocket. And with that, they left.

For a moment, Tim wondered if Dad's bad knee was bothering him, the way he was walking. But then he realized that it wasn't arthritis, it was a spring in his step! Tim had hardly seen him this excited in a long time.

"I can't believe the perfect ring was just sitting right there waiting for us," he said.

"Well spotted, Tim," Dad praised. "It is perfect. I think she's going to love it."

"Do you know how you're going to propose? Are you going to do it tonight?"

Dad shook his head. "Actually, I was going to ask if you could keep the ring at your house. And if I give you some money, can you get a bottle of champagne for our next dinner at your place?"

"You want to propose at my house?!" Tim asked in surprise.

"I think so. I want to celebrate with you and Mike. I know Shelagh will say yes, and having dinner all together with champagne is the best way. Maybe when we come over, I'll ask you for the ring and I'll take Shelagh out to the garden, since you know she likes the flowers and the rabbits. And hopefully the weather will stay nice. It won't be very nice to do in the rain," he realized.

"Well if it is raining, we've got the overhang on the porch in the front. You could do it out there by the roses," Tim suggested.

"That's a good idea. I'll keep that in mind, depending on the weather. But yes, I'll do it on Thursday when we come over."

Tim grinned. "I'll make sure Mike and I make something special for dinner, then. I'll ask Shelagh tonight when we come over to yours, get an idea of what her favorite food might be. I already know what you like."

"I like just about anything," Dad said.

"Yeah, I know," Tim laughed, "So that's why I'll have to ask Shelagh."

The two men continued on walking until they got back to Tim's house. There, Patrick handed over the small ring box, opening it once, just to get another glimpse of the ring inside. "Keep it safe. I know it's only for two days, but still."

"I know. Thank you for trusting me with it," Tim replied. "And I won't even tell Mike so we aren't tempted to let the secret out when we come over for dinner later."

Patrick laughed, "Yes, maybe wait till you both are back home tonight before you tell him."

"And you, don't get yourself too worked up over figuring out what to say. You know she's going to say yes. Just tell her you love her and ask her. I know you, you're going to get down on one knee, and if you aren't careful, you'll talk for too long and you'll be in agony and unable to celebrate when she accepts," Tim warned.

Dad smiled. "I've got it all worked out. Don't you worry, Tim."

"I don't worry about you much anymore. You've done alright."

"I think we both have," Dad replied softly.

Tim hugged his father for that.