It was Christmas eve morning when the call came. The voice on the line introduced herself as a sister from Nonnatus House.

She had seen many of the sisters during Marianne's illness. In her grief she had not paid attention to anything but the care they were providing her daughter. At the funeral she felt their presence, but never really spoke more than a few words to any of them

Her only memory of the sisters were that they cared about her grandson and his father and to her that was all that mattered. So she was surprised when one was calling her on the day that Patrick was to be married.

"Mrs. Parker, I am not sure that Dr. Turner would think to contact you, but I thought you should know that Timothy is in hospital with polio."

"Polio! Is he going to be alright?"

"It seemed it is a severe case, but it is too soon to know anything for certain."

"Oh my sweet Timothy...Is Patrick alone?"

"Shelagh is with him now. He has been there since yesterday."

"Shelagh," she remembered, "...but the wedding?"

"It has been postponed indefinitely. I wish I had more information for you. I will tell you that me and my sisters are praying for Timothy."

"Thank you Sister."

"Good bye Mrs. Parker. I will be sure to update you with any information I receive."

With that the line disconnected. Timothy...oh no Timothy, she thought over and over.

What should she do? Should she go to the hospital? Perhaps she would be in the way. She would wait for news. Suddenly she did not feel the spirit of the season.

Her second phone call came later that evening. The call was from Patrick himself. He explained that Timothy was breathing on his own, but it was too soon to know the extent of his paralysis.

"Oh Patrick, I was so worried when the Sister called and told me."

"Sister Julienne has been taking care of everything. She notified the minister…" he voice broke off.

"I am sorry you were to have been married today."

"The wedding will happen whenever Tim is better."

"Can I come see him?"

"Give it a few days yet. He is mostly sleeping."

"Can you keep me updated? Patrick, Happy Christmas," she added without any cheer.

"Oh right...Christmas. I somehow forgot. Yes I will call again."

"Patrick take care of yourself. You need not get sick too."

"I'll try. Happy Christmas."

And again she was left with the receiver in her hand. She was feeling relieved as she imagined Patrick rushing back to Timothy's bedside.

She celebrated Christmas by having dinner at her sister's house. It was always bittersweet because she was blessed with three children and seven grandchildren. Meanwhile she was facing her second Christmas without her Marianne and now her Timothy was in hospital with polio. She almost wished she had stayed home, but the silence would have been worse.

Patrick had thoughtful called her with an update on Timothy's condition daily. He had much recuperation ahead, but he was awake more.

When she arrived on his ward, she saw a small woman fussing over his pillows.

"There is the lump gone," she said.

"Yes, thank you," his voice sounded weak, but then he saw her and smiled, " Granny!"

"Oh Timothy, darling!" she said as she leaned over and kissed his forehead.

"Mrs. Parker, I am Shelagh..Shelagh Mannion, please sit here and visit with Timothy. I am just going to stretch my legs. Can I bring you some tea?"

"I do not want you to bother."

"I am going to get one for myself. It is really no bother," Shelagh explained.

While Shelagh was gone, she asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Better...but Granny I can't walk and it is all my fault."

"No darling, you just got sick."

"I was not feeling well for a few days and I hid it from Dad. I did not want to be sick for the wedding and now…"

"and now you will work hard to get better. Nothing's your fault," she insisted.

" But the wedding..."

"will happen when you are well, darling, your father only cares about you right now. Where is he?"

"He went to work. He'll come back later. There is no sense in both he and Shelagh sitting with me all day."

"Shelagh...do you like her?"

"Oh yes! She has always cared about me. Her mum died when she was young so she understands...better than anyone really...Well except you and Dad because we all loved mum."

His words brought tears to her eyes. She was telling him about some of the cousins when Shelagh returned.

"Thank you. One of the sisters called me to tell me about Timothy. I assume that was your doing."

"Yes, I asked Sister Julienne to include you in her calls. She was making the calls necessary to postpone the wedding. At the time, Patrick would never have left Timothy's side to make a call."

"I am very glad you included me, but am sorry about your wedding."

"Thank you. We will be married when Timothy is home and stronger. In the meanwhile I will help him towards that goal."

Timothy added, "We played cards earlier and I won."

Shelagh laughed, "I told you Scabby Queen is not my game. I will beat you at Stop the Bus when you are feeling a bit better."

Granny watched the two interact and detected a true affection between them. She herself felt drawn to this woman who she knew had once been a nun.

She was thinking that it was time for her to be leaving when Patrick arrived. He approached from behind he, but she had seen Shelagh's face brighten and then Timothy announced his arrival.

"Tim, I see you have company," he said upon his arrival.

Granny stood to greet him with an embrace. She had been treating him as a son for years and he had gladly accepted her affections.

"I am so glad you came," Patrick said.

"We have all had a very nice visit," she responded and watched as Patrick took a place behind Shelagh and put his hand on her shoulder.

It was her first look at the new couple which she realized may take her a little while to get accustom to. However after meeting Shelagh and seeing how much she loved Timothy and Timothy loved her, she would be sure to do her part to accept her.

When she left she promised to visit in a few days. Over the weeks that Timothy was in the hospital she visited regularly. She watched him get stronger and she and Shelagh slowly became friends.

She remembered the day she arrived and Timothy was not in his bed. The ward sister informed her that he was in therapy. When he returned to the ward shortly after he was walking with calipers.

"Granny," he exclaimed, "I am going home soon!"

"Oh Timothy! How marvelous!"

When he settled in bed, he told her about the plans that were being made for the wedding.

"You will come won't you?" he asked.

She wondered how she would feel watching Patrick marry again. Before she could answer Timothy continued, "Dad, is going to ask if I can stay with you the night of the wedding...I don't know why, but for some reason he said they want some time alone."

She answered the only way she could as not to disappoint her precious grandson, "Of course."