Author's note: I've just started watching Season 5. Sarah & David are living in the groundsman's lodge, Sarah & George are clearly acting like a couple and David calls George 'Daddy.' I wonder how the people of Inverness reacted to all of that?

Oooooooooooo

1955 CWA Hospital Benefit

Doris Collins stood behind her cake stall, watching the festivities around her. It was a beautiful sunny day. Carolyn wandered by and stopped to look at Doris' wares. Both women looked up when Roy Briggs let out a booming laugh, placing his arm around his new fiancée.

Carolyn spoke warmly to Doris, surprising her a little. "It's lovely to see them find happiness after all these years isn't it, Mrs Collins?"

Doris stiffened just a little. She was still becoming accustomed to the news. "Yes, of course, Mrs Duncan. Lovely." Her eyes wandered to a picnic blanket nearby, where Sarah & Olivia were sitting with their little boys. "I am a little concerned for Mrs Nordmann, though. Mr Briggs has been such a support for her."

"Yes, he has. And will continue to be, I'm sure."

"Yes, but where will she go? There are no properties available in town at the moment that I know of, and I usually have my eye on such things. Of course I'd love to invite her to return to my place, but my girls need their rest, and babies don't always accommodate such requirements."

Carolyn smiled inwardly. She had been hoping for just such an opening in the conversation. "Mr Bligh has offered for Sister Nordmann to lease the groundsman's lodge at Ash Park."

Doris was instantly on full alert. "Really?"

"It's seldom used these days, and it will be comfortable for her as David gets older."

Doris spied George as he spoke with a group of men, her mind whirring. "What an extremely generous offer. Some may wonder, though, at her being in such close proximity. Not that I would ever think anything of it, of course. But perhaps folks would be more comfortable if they were in the cottage, for example"

"George wants to keep the cottage free at the moment. Apparently some of the city politicians like to think they're getting out into nature when they're out of town. Living like the local people, and all that."

Doris considered this. "Well, yes, I suppose so."

Carolyn looked back towards the picnic blanket. "Little Georgie and David can be company for each other. And Olivia for Sarah." Carolyn paused for a long moment, looking reflective. "George wants to do what he can for Sarah, of course. How happy we all were when they became engaged. His second marriage was the regrettable decision of a broken man. But, he is a man of his word. Whatever schemes may have been used against him, he would never turn his back on Mrs Bligh in her hour of need."

Doris nodded seriously. "Such a regrettable situation. You never can tell about some people, can you?"

Carolyn was silent. She would pour no further fuel on that fire. They both watched as George made his way across the lawn, stooping to pick Georgie up as he toddled away from his mother.

Doris smiled. "Such a devoted grandfather. What a lovely family he and Mrs Nordmann could have had, if things had been different. But that David is a precious little poppet. Full of energy already." She sighed heavily. "Boys need a father, I've always thought, not that I was fortunate enough to have any of my own." Doris paused again, then looked sidelong at Carolyn. "I'm sure nobody could blame Mrs Nordmann if she allowed an old friend to guide her son, whilst things with Mrs Bligh are so uncertain. Or indeed if they saw fit to keep each other company on the odd occasion."

Carolyn tried to cover her surprise at the statement, relieved that Doris moved away to supply a customer with a piece of cake. She kept watching as George deposited the runaway Georgie back onto the rug beside David. He sat himself down between his love and his daughter-in-law, taking hold of the hand that David stretched out towards him. Carolyn smiled. Perhaps the people of Inverness would be more understanding than they had thought.