Later in the week, Christopher answered the door to J.J. Josephson. "Was calling in on Mrs. Dyer down the road and thought while I was here I'd check in on your lovely wife," he told Foyle as he stepped through the door.

"Oh, right. Thought you might be here to see how I'm surviving," Christopher said with a dip of his knees as he teased the doctor.

"Oh Christopher, we both know you'll do just fine. If anything, your young bride has lifted you from the doldrums you insisted on dwelling in after the late Mrs. Foyle died. Added years to your existence, I'll wager."

"I am feeling, erm... not quite so old," Foyle agreed. "I'll fetch Sam for you, if you'd like to go through," he said as he opened the door to the sitting room.

Josephson nodded and walked through, making himself comfortable in the room as only one who had a long acquaintance with the Foyles would. Christopher went up the steps, an extra lightness in his step. He wasn't certain why, but he awoke feeling especially optimistic that morning and feeling quite light hearted.

"Sam," he said softly as he entered the bedroom. "Darling..." He sat on the bed next to her and began to stroke her arm gently to awaken her from her nap. She'd seemed tired after lunch and he'd suggested it.

Responding to his gentle prodding, Sam moaned and then lifted her hand to let it settle contentedly on his leg, just above his knee. "Mmmm, how long..."

"You've been up here about an hour, love. And I wouldn't have wakened you except Josephson is here. Was in the neighborhood and wanted to check on you."

"Oh crikey," she said as her eyes flew open. "You don't suppose he thinks there is something wrong, do you?"

"No love. He hasn't seen you in several weeks. J.J. just likes to keep up with his patients. Shall I tell him you'll be down in a moment."

A yawn preceded her response. "Yes, alright. Just give me time to go across and... you know," she said with a small blush. "Then I'll be down."

It amused Christopher that something as normal as mentioning the water closet to him could still cause her cheeks to color, but he supposed it was indicative of the newness of living with him still was. "Yes, of course. I'll prepare some tea. Probably what J.J. is really here for ."

Christopher was just serving tea to the kindly doctor when Sam appeared in the doorway. Josephson started to take the offered cup but hesitated. "How about a drop or two of whatever is in the bottle?" He tilted his head toward Christopher's meager stash of spirits on the sideboard. "Bit early in the day, don't you think?" Foyle replied with a twinkle in his eye and a quirk at his mouth. "Nonsense," the doctor shot back.

As Christopher stepped back to add the desired liquid to the cup, Josephson chided, "You're not a copper any longer Christopher. " Sam smiled as she watched her husband's head come up, his face struggling not to reveal his amusement. "And glad of it," he finally answered.

She stepped into the room just as J.J. took the refreshed cup. "Hallo," she greeted him happily, pushing away the worry that had tried to pervade her when Christopher woke her with news that he was there. The doctor was mid sip and hurriedly set his cup aside to attempt to stand but Sam waved him back in his seat. "Please, enjoy your tea. I'm sure Christopher has made it quite special for you," she said cheekily. Josephson settled back in the chair as the couple exchanged amused glances.

Christopher motioned to the teapot he'd set on the dining table and cocked his head, an eyebrow raised in question. Sam nodded and smiled before turning her attention to the doctor. "Christopher said you are here to check up on me?"

"Well yes, was in the neighborhood. But you look well enough and Christopher said you were having a nap, so I assume you are getting enough rest?"

"Yes, thank you," Sam replied as Christopher handed her a cuppa. "Christopher is very watchful and refuses to let me do anything too strenuous . And if I appear the least bit tired, he practically shoves me off to bed." Her shining eyes belied her grumbling tone. Christopher settled in his usual chair with his own cuppa and smiled at his wife.

" Well that's good to hear. So many of the husbands are busy readjusting to life at home after the war that they are overlooking how hard the wives are working too. And as horrible the circumstances were for so many of those men, they seem to forget it wasn't exactly a picnic for those of us here either. I'm glad to hear Christopher is being mindful of your health."

"Oh he is, very much so... too much at times." Her eyes darted to her husband's face to catch a glimpse of his amused tenderness.

"And so you're sharing your news now, or must I still keep it under my hat?"

"Oh please do... keep it under your hat, I mean." Sam answered quickly. "We haven't told anyone yet. "

"Oh, but I thought... well, it is welcome news, is it not?" the doctor seemed perplexed.

"It is," she answered, "but, with what happened with the... other baby," she nearly choked on the words. Christopher shifted in his chair, ready to go to her side when she shook her head. "I wanted to be certain before we said anything, especially to my parents."

Christopher sat, watching his wife with just a twinge of awe. At times she seemed so easily flustered but underneath it all, she was very strong, something of which he'd been aware from early on but the depth of her strength still surprised him from time to time. To speak of the lost child was painful for her, he knew. Far too many associations with that one for it not to be. And yet she was so looking forward to this one. She said because it was his child this time and he believed her. But he also thought that her inability to mourn the lost child weighed on her conscience. This child would be the beneficiary of her need to cast out those demons and pour out her love on her child. But seeing the bit of surprise in J.J's expression alerted Christopher that perhaps it was time to begin telling everyone. He would speak with her about it later though, not in front of the doctor.

"Yes, well I can understand your reluctance, dear girl," J.J. was saying. "But now that you're past the initial months, it might be nice to share the news and let others fawn over you a bit. Also, considering your past year or so, I believe I'd like to see you more often, perhaps once a fortnight? Must stay ahead of any possible complications."

Sam blinked hard at the doctor's suggestion and Foyle was taken by surprise as well. "You tthink something mmight be... wrong?" he asked.

"No. It is easy to see that Samantha is the picture of health. But with that radiation exposure, we'll want to watch carefully for any signs of trouble. Just precautionary, don't you see?"

"Yes, right..." Foyle was watching Sam, concerned by her stricken expression.

"Yes well, time for me to be off then," J.J. said, noticing the quiet concern of his old friend for his new bride. "Keep doing what you are doing... and do allow yourselves the joy of this time. " He rose from his chair and went to the door with Christopher on his heels. Once he'd seen the doctor off, Christopher returned to Sam, who sat still in her place on the sofa.

"Sam?"

She looked up at him and smiled. "I'm fine, darling."

"Right," he replied, unconvinced. "What J.J. said, about sharing our news; do you suppose we ought to make a trip to your parents? We could travel up on Monday or Tuesday and be home by the week's end, so we wouldn't disturb your father's schedule too much."

"Yes, I suppose," Sam sighed. "I'll call them tonight."

"Yes. But before that, how about supper out? I think it will be good for us to be out for awhile."

"Oh, that would be lovely." His mood lifted considerably seeing her brighten up at his suggestion. "How shall we spend our afternoon?"

"Wull, there is a matinee at the cinema. Perhaps that and an early supper?"

"Oh, jolly good. I'll just go up and freshen up then?"

"Yes love, and I'll need to change as well."

Less than an hour later the Foyle's left the house on Steep Lane for an afternoon and early evening out, walking hand in hand toward the high street.