Sam did call her parents to speak with them about a visit. Her father had several obligations for the coming week, so the Foyle's journey to Lyminster was delayed a week. Sam was relieved.

Christopher read her relief quickly when she told him of the delay and wondered why she didn't want to tell them the news of an impending grandchild. After several days of her evading his less direct inquiries, he finally just asked directly. "Sam, why don't you want to go to your parent's? You haven't seen them since our wedding and I'd think you would like to, especially to consult with your mother with those things most daughters consult with mothers about on the topics of marriage and children."

Sam let out a sigh. "I know I should," she replied guiltily. "But I don't dare bring up the more... " her face scrunched as she paused to find the right words, "Personal details of marriage," she finally concluded. "And I really don't want to hear her thoughts about having babies. She is frail, but not as much as she wants everyone to believe. And I'm quite sure I'll hear how difficult it was for her when she was pregnant with me and that she had an awful time with delivery and most likely that I was a fussy baby." Sam dipped her head, her lips working as they often did when she contemplated things, especially unpleasant ones.

"Look Love, we just won't let the conversation go there," Christopher said. "You or I will find a way to take the conversation elsewhere."

"I know you'll try," she worried. "But Mother isn't that easily dissuaded. "And Father... I have no idea how he will take the news."

"I would think he will be pleased." Christopher tried to reassure her but it was clear that she wasn't accepting it.

Shaking her head negatively, she bit her lower lip. "No, he'll give me his look, the one he has always given me when he believes I've been... disappointing."

Christopher's brows furrowed. "What could he possibly find disappointing?"

"That I... we ... have been at it. He was always very clear about well, even in marriage there can be too much of a good thing." She peeked up at him from under her brows.

"Too much of... " Christopher took a deep breath. "Christ Sam, do you think he really believes our marriage is a celibate one?" He took a moment to calm himself before continuing. "And wouldn't he, even if he does have a very narrow view of... relations, wouldn't he acknowledge that the whole point is to have a family and provide a caring home for the children? He and your mother did have you, after all."

"Yes, but... "

"No Sam, I think you are putting your parents in too tight a box. I have no idea of the nature of their marriage other than they managed to produce a lovely young woman and nurture her until she was ready to be on her own. But I wouldn't think the fact that we are having a child will come as a great shock to them."

"But they'd been married five years before I was born. They'll surely think we rushed into it. And... and I don't mind for my sake so much but surely Father will give you the eye."

Now Christopher was amused. His lips turning down into one of his restrained smiles, he chuckled. "Wull, I think I can bear it."

Sam looked up at him, her storm clouds floating away. "I just don't want him to treat you like that."

"I know Love, but it will be alright."

"I hope you are right," she said with a sigh.

As their day of departure neared, Sam seemed more and more anxious about telling her parents until finally Christopher offered a suggestion as they drove towards Lyminister. . "No need to say anything immediately on arrival. We'll erm... test the waters?"

Sam smiled at his questioning suggestion and lifted brow over an amused tug downward at the corner of his mouth. "Right... yes, I ... I think that will help.

The Stewarts greeted them warmly and Foyle left Sam to chat with her mother as he followed her father up the stairs to their room. "We put you in the room closest to the bath, Christopher," the older man said. Christopher paused a moment, the thought flashing through his mind that perhaps Sam hadn't been wrong in her assessment of her father's thoughts on marital relations and they were to have separate rooms. But as the reverend opened the door to the room and placed Sam's bag that he was carrying on a lowboy near the cupboard, Foyle sighed with relief.

Placing his own bag on a chair nearby, he looked around the room. "Very nice. Was this Sam's room?"

His father-in-law straightened considerably, growing even taller as he looked down at Christopher. "Samantha's room was down the hall, next to ours. But once she married, we've redone the room for my wife. This was a sitting room for her on her frail days. We decided to move Sam's things in here. Thought you might like a bit of privacy."

"Wull, certainly is a bright, cheery room," Foyle replied as he pondered his in-law's new room arrangements. Perhaps Sam wasn't as far off the mark about her father's view of things as I'd thought...

Downstairs the two men rejoined the women in the front room. As soon as Christopher saw Sam's face, he knew she was struggling in the conversation with her mother. Her face brightened when she saw him though, her eyes pleading for reprieve. "Christopher, I was just telling Mother about our house," she said in an effort to pull him into the conversation.

"Oh?" He settled next to her on the setee. "Nnot much to tell, really. Sam has plans for a fresh look, but it seems with rationing there aren't many options," he directed at Mrs. Stewart.

The Reverand settled into a chair matching the one his wife occupied. "So how are you enjoying your retirement, Christopher?" Iain Stewart's tone was commanding and dismissve all at once, leaving Foyle with the impression the man thought less of him for being retired.

"Oh wull, quite well as a matter of fact," Christopher replied with a smile that he didn't completely feel. "Sam keeps me busy and…"

"Yes, Samantha can be quite demanding what with all the predicaments she finds herself in; always has. Her mother and I were always on our toes for her next adventure." His expression was benevolent as he gazed toward his daughter but Foyle could see the effect the words had on Sam and he didn't like it one bit.

"Wull, wouldn't call her demanding. Sam's actually quite a comfort to me, not demanding at all. And as for her predicaments, as you say, we managed to to find outselves in several when we worked together." He made a point of elevating Sam's role in his work when he commented, giving her job more weight than actually called for but her parent's attitude toward Sam irritated him.

"Yes, I imagine… " was the other man's reply. "How's that Sergeant of yours… Miller. Was it?"

"Milner, " Sam jumped in. "He's actually a Detective Inspector now in Brighton. And he and his wife have a daughter."

"I was impressed with his intelligence and his loyalty when I met him."

"Who is that, dear?" Mrs. Stewart asked blankly. Sam frowned but her father brushed past it, "Milner. He worked with Christopher and Samantha."

"Yes Mother. He was wounded in Norway early in the war but Chrisopher encouraged him to go back to police work. He was Christopher's sergeant until the end of the war."

Encouraged him? Why should he need encouragement?" Foyle was beginning to wonder how someone as bright and able as Sam could have come from the woman.

"Because Mother," Sam started, her frustration rising, "he lost part of his leg and was having difficulty when Christopher learned he was in hospital. "

"Oh dear. And you say you worked with this man?" She turned to Iain looking scandalized. "You didn't tell me Samantha was spending her days with such people."

"It's alright dear," Iain soothed. "I met the man. Really very nice fellow. And I could see both he and Christopher had taken our Samantha under their wings and were protecting her."

"But he couldn't protect her," the woman whined. "He… he is a cripple."

"A very capable one," Christopher said darkly. "Milner proved himself up to the task on more than one occasion."

"Right," Sam declared. "And he is my friend, Mother. Really! He lost part of his leg, not his senses. Paul Milner is very dependable and …. And…" Chrisopher could see her ire rising and intevened. "He's an honorable man. I never had any worries about him where Sam was concerned." His chin dipped as he recalled how upset he'd been when he heard that Sam had stayed at Milner's after she'd been bombed out. Thankfully it was short lived as the first Mrs. Milner returned home unexpectedly. But the jealousy that had ripped through Christopher upon hearing about it was his first indication of just what his true feelings were for her. No worries indeed… between that incident and that night Andrew spent at her flat I was nearly undone.

"But she isn't your daughter, Christopher," Mrs. Stewart said tremorously.

"Nnno… bbut she is my wife and…"

"You mean to say you had feelings for even then?" The woman was working herself into a state.

"Nnot…. Wull, possibly. Only became aware of them later. And they grew, of course."

Iain looked aghast while his wife looked as if she might faint. "But you did not act on them?" the other man asked, seeking reassurance.

"Nup. And had no intention to until Sam … wull, she pulled it out of me, I s'pose." He turned and looked at Sam fondly, calmed by the shining admiration that was being reflected back at him. The discomfort of her parents with their shared gaze was not lost on either Foyle.

Later that evening after they'd finsihed supper, Sam offered to do the cleaning up and Christopher joined her in the task. "I'm beginning to understand why you were so worried about sharing our news with them," he said softly as he dried the dishes she washed. "We'll leave it for tonight. I think you're mother has had all the revelations she can manage for one day. Perhaps tomorrow after breakfast. It will give them the whole day to digest it all."

Sam smiled at him as she handed him the last plate to be dried. "I do love you, you know… ever so much."

"Mmmm, counting on it," he replied dryly as he set the plate down on the table and took his wife in his arms for a kiss.

Just want to take a moment to thank all who continue to read and especially those who take the time to leave a comment or two. Your comments are much appreciated and often cause me to rethink things.