When she woke Saturday morning she was a bit sad. After four weeks, she was going to miss Timothy and Angela. She would return to her quiet life. It occurred to her that she should visit Poplar more often. She will also offer that Patrick and Shelagh leave the children with her frequently.

She knew that she would shed tears today, but was determined to stay strong for the children. She knew they both missed their Mum and Dad immensely.

She was unsure of when they would arrive for the children. She would enjoy her time with them until they had to leave.

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Timothy

Timothy woke to Angela calling his name from her cot next to his bed. He jumped out of bed. Today was the day! They were finally going home!

Picking Angela up out of her cot, they both went into the kitchen to find Granny. She was cooking another big breakfast. Timothy realized that it was a goodbye breakfast.

He was so happy to be seeing Mum and Dad again. He was so excited about going home to his own room and bed. He loved Granny, but they had been away too long.

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Shelagh

Shelagh's first thought was how tired she was. She and Patrick's airplane had landed after midnight after traveling the entire day. They had returned to a quiet, empty home. Too exhausted to say anything more than, "it feels so nice to be in our own bed" they slept.

In the light of day, Shelagh could not sleep as all she could think of was the children. Soon she would hold them in her arms again. She missed them so much. She desperately wanted to wake Patrick, but she knew it is too early.

She got up and avoided the children's rooms, because she hated to see them empty, then she went downstairs to look around. For years she lived without possessions, but as she walked through the sitting room, she felt glad to be among the comforts of their home.

All she could think about was how soon could they go get Angela and Timothy. She did not regret going, but being away from the children was torture. She was pleased that the trip was a success as they had done wonderful work and Patrick once again had confidence in medicine.

Making tea she looked at the clock and wondered how soon the could fetch the children. Sitting with her tea the quiet flat was interrupted by the sounds of Patrick getting up. Moments later he appeared in the kitchen.

"Good morning love," he greeted her.

"Patrick how soon can we get the children?"

"They may still be asleep."

"We can wake them. They will not mind."

"Let's get dressed. We can worry about breakfast later."

Shelagh knew that Patrick was as anxious as she was to see them again.

In the car she asked, "Should we have called first."

"Too late now, we are almost there," his smile matched hers.

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Patrick

When Patrick woke his first thought was he was in his own bed. A bed without a split in the middle where two beds were pushed together. His second thought was where's Shelagh as her side of the bed had already gone cold.

He went to find Shelagh. He had hoped he could entice her back to bed to enjoy the full size bed, but knew immediately that was no dice.

He knew how much Shelagh had missed the children while in South Africa. Even though she had carried neither of them inside her, she had a maternal longing for them. He saw it in the way she looked at their picture each night. There was a sadness in her because she was without them.

Patrick missed them as well and thought of them each day. He often found himself thinking 'I have to tell Tim' or 'Tim would love this' and when he saw little girls he thought of Angela. He had experienced the sorrow of loss, but the only longing he had ever experienced like Shelagh's for the children was the longing he had for her while she was in the sanitorium.

He knew they were leaving to get the children and he had best be agreeable. He knew that what she was feeling the same urgency that he felt when he dashed to his car to find Shelagh and ran to her along the roadside.

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Granny

She wanted to make a special breakfast on their last day. She listened to them chatter about as she was frying the bread when there was a knock at the door.

She watched as Timothy flew out of his seat and ran to open the door. He flung himself into his Mum and Dad who both wrapped their arms around him together.

Angela, who turned to see where her brother had ran to, saw her parents for the first time in over four weeks and ran over crying, "Mumma, Mumma.."

Shelagh scooped her up and held her tight. Angela clung to her. Patrick leaned over and whispered in his daughter's ear and kissed her.

After allowing them a few moments for their reunion, Granny said, "Come in, come in. We were about to have breakfast. Join us please."

Taking off their coats, they greeted Granny as well. Once they were all seated at the table with ample food for all, the conversations started.

"How was South Africa?"

"Amazing"

"Hot! How was your visit?"

"It was really nice. We missed you. We could not say Mum or Dad aloud or Angela would cry for you. She cried when she saw Nurse Mount in her uniform."

"When did you see Nurse Mount?"

"We went to Poplar to meet up with Colin and I went to get The Lancet."

"How was the surgery?" Patrick asked.

"Fine, but there is a new nun who seems rather mean."

"Timothy! "

"Well she does! The doctor seemed nice."

"You saw Dr. Burton at the surgery?"

"Ah noooo…."

Granny looked from Timothy to his father and interrupted to explain calmly, "Angela had a bit of a fall. She needed a few stitches. Really she is fine and was very brave."

"Where did you get hurt?" Patrick asked and Angela pointed to her forehead.

"Boo boo."

"Oh dearest let Daddy see," Shelagh said calmly.

Patrick examined her scar and showed it to a concerned Shelagh before he commented, "He did a fine job. It will hardly leave a scar."

Granny answered, "He was kind and competent. He also knew that he had a very important patient seeing as she's your daughter."

"Well I am just glad you took care of it so well," Shelagh said.

"It wasn't me. Timothy took control of the situation and even called for the doctor."

"I called for Nurse Mount to find out where to take her and she sent the doctor."

"Seems you deserve a thank you as well Tim," Patrick said.

Shelagh went with Tim and Angela who would not let go of her Mum to begin packing their things leaving Patrick in the kitchen with Granny.

"Thank you so much for taking them," he said.

"You are most welcome. I enjoyed it very much. Your little one has a permanent place in my heart...Patrick, I can't tell you how often I thought how proud Marianne would be of Timothy. You have done a wonderful job...both you and Shelagh."

"I think the same thing almost every day especially when he is at the piano."

"Yes...I also want you to know I am truly happy for you and your new family. I see how much Shelagh loves Timothy and you, of course, and that is all that matters."

"Thank you that means a lot and you should know you will always be a very important member of our family."

"Will you go back to work right away?"

"I will. "

Shelagh came back into the kitchen and said," The children had a marvelous time. Thank you."

"I enjoyed them so much. Please send them back often...for shorter stays of course."

When it was time to say goodbye it was bittersweet.

Hugging his Granny, Timothy said,"I am happy and sad. Happy to be going home, but sad to be leaving you."

"I will miss you, but you can come visit soon."

Hugging Patrick she said, "Don't work too hard. Enjoy your family."

Last to Shelagh who was holding Angela, "Thank you for sharing your daughter with me and thank you for loving my grandson," and to Angela she said,"Goodbye sweet girl Granny will miss you."

She stood in the doorway and waved as they drove away. She had plenty of work to do starting with cleaning the kitchen from breakfast, instead she sat down and listen to the quiet. She already missed them. It was then she let the tears fall.