There are many stories on this subject. This is just one of the many...Enjoy!

She had wanted to see Timothy since before he started at the grammar school. When she called the response was 'we are just too busy to get him to you.' Patrick seemed apologetic as he explained that in addition Timothy was a big help with Angela. She would offer to take the baby too, but she sensed that Shelagh was not ready to let her go. She was just too little.

One Thursday evening, she telephoned and told Patrick, "I am coming this Saturday. I will come and see my grandson and help out where needed."

"I very sorry it's gone on for so long. I will speak to Shelagh. She is not one to ask for help."

"Then I will hold the baby and visit with my grandson and she can do whatever so needs to get done. I will bring a dish of something."

"Shepherd's pie?" he asked.

"Perhaps. You are just like your son."

"You are famous for it."

"Don't tease me Patrick, I am too old."

"You are not old and you have always been as healthy as can be."

"My bones creak."

"Mine too," he laughed, "We will see you on Saturday and barring any emergency I will drive you home."

Patrick

Hanging up the phone, he returned to the sitting room smiling.

"I assume by the look on your face, you do not have to go out," Shelagh observed.

"Not this time. Before you say anything hear me out though…"

"I do not like the sound of this…"

"Tim, come sit here too," Patrick indicated the sofa to Tim who was still working on homework.

"Just a minute please," as he wrote on the paper in front of him.

"Are you almost done dearest? You have been at it for hours," Shelagh commented.

"Done now...what is wrong now Dad?"

"Nothing's wrong, but Granny Parker called and took me to task for not letting Timothy visit for so long."

"It is just that…" Shelagh started.

Patrick put his hand up and said, "Just hear me out….she insists on coming here this Saturday. She says she will help and she is bringing a dish."

"Shepherd's pie!"

"Probably," Patrick laughed.

"What is it with you two and shepherd's pie? I can make shepherd's pie."

"When you taste Granny's you will understand...I think it is marvelous that she is going to visit."

"Patrick, I don't need help."

"You do. She said that she will hold Angela and let you work."

"Mum, I don't mind helping with Angela, but I really want to see Granny," Tim pleaded.

"Alright. I will get the cleaning done early before she arrives."

"Shelagh, you don't understand. She does not want you to clean for her visit. She wants to visit to help you."

"Very well," Shelagh knew she could be stubborn, but had no argument left.

"It is just like when you needed help with the name tags for Timothy's school clothes," Patrick added.

Granny

She was looking forward to spending the day with her grandson. She even splurged on a taxi rather than taking the bus.

Timothy answered the door and before greeting her, he asked, "Is it?"

"Of course," she responded. Putting the dish by the coat rack she said, "How about a proper hug for your Granny!"

Timothy's hug was just what she had been missing. They carried the dish into the kitchen where Shelagh was preparing tea carefully with Angela on her hip.

"Oh look how she has grown! She is beautiful...let me take her Shelagh."

"She can be a bit shy…" but her words trailed off as Angela leaned into Granny's outstretched arms.

"She and I will do just fine together."

"I'll have a pot of tea in a moment. We can visit."

She took Angela into the sitting room and Timothy followed. She looked around. It had been awhile since she had been to the flat. She saw some small changes, but not many. Most were the result of having a baby including the addition of the playpen and the highchair.

Shelagh put Angela in the playpen so they could have tea. She started the conversation, "You can be a guest. You do not need to do anything."

"Shelagh, let me help. Most young mothers have their own mother to lend a hand."

"But you are not my mother or even my mother-in-law," Shelagh protested.

"No, but I am a mother without a daughter and it would mean so much to me, if you thought of me as...I don't know...another mother-in-law. Now...what besides Angela has been keeping you so busy."

Timothy chimed in, "She has been working at the maternity home and as receptionist at the surgery and…."

"Timothy! You make it sound like I am always working. I manage dinner on the table every night…"

"Most nights."

"Okay most nights and I have Mrs. Penney to help watch Angela."

"You do seem busy, but does it keep you happy?"

"Oh yes, I love it all!"

After their cup of tea, Granny played with Angela while Timothy practiced piano and Shelagh said she was going to change the beds.

Granny loved listening to Timothy play. It reminder her so much of Marianne though. Angela seemed to enjoy it as well.

Patrick came rushing in, "Shelagh!"

She came out, "What is it?"

"I need to go one a call and Nurse Franklin needs another midwife at the maternity home."

Shelagh looked at Granny, who responded, "Go! We will be fine."

"I will just change then."

It seemed only a moment when she reappeared in her nurse's uniform.

"Timothy, be sure you have lunch. You know where everything is."

Just as quickly she was gone. It was while they were alone that Timothy brought out his camera and took a picture of Granny and Angela.

"Isn't that your Dad's camera?"

"Yes, he gave it to me."

"He took pictures of you when you were little."

"Yes. I know the last time he used it."

Granny was about to ask when, but Timothy got up and walked away. When he came back he was holding a photograph and handed it to her.

She studied it. There was her daughter smiling back at her so happy. She has pictures that she looks at every day, but it was always nice to see a new one, especially one of the three of them together.

"My birthday," he said quietly.

"Yes, I think perhaps David snapped that one."

"Were you there?"

"Oh I was at all your birthdays until…"

"Until my Mummy died."

"I just think it was too hard for your father at first and then you had your new family...You and I have always done something special just the two of us for your birthday."

"I know. I lied to him."

"Who?"

"Dad...when I developed this picture I told him his finger must have been over the lense. I just did not want to make him sad…"

Timothy

Sad...Tim thought. He was remembering his father's bout with exhaustion. He did not tell Granny about that, but Timothy was old enough to know that even as happy as his Dad was, he still felt sad sometimes.

"I think seeing this memory would make his happy. He missed a lot when you were little, but he did not miss this day. It was a very happy day."

"Perhaps when he comes home, we can show it to him together."

"But…"

"If you are worried about Shelagh, she will not mind. She knows how important your Mum was to both of you. Just because your Dad loves Shelagh, he didn't stop loving your Mum."

"We took a new picture. Do you want to see it?"

Timothy brought out a picture of the four of them sitting together on the sofa.

"Lovely."

During lunch, Timothy told her about the baby mix up after the fire and his suggestion to take a picture of each baby.

"Oh my! No wonder things have been busy," she commented.

Patrick came in from his call looking for lunch. "I just popped in at the maternity home. Shelagh has things well in hand," he said bouncing Angela on his knee.

"She is quite a force isn't she," Granny comment.

"Indeed," he answered between bites.

"Patrick, Timothy and I have been talking and he has something he needs to show you."

Timothy gave her a look, took a deep breath and said, " Dad, I am sorry. I lied to you. I didn't want to make you feel sad."

"Sad?" Patrick shrugged at Granny.

Timothy returned and said, "Your finger was not over the lense."

He handed the picture to Patrick who was still balancing Angela.

Patrick

He studied it silently as the memories from that day came back to him. He remembered the celebration with family.

"Tim...this does not make me sad. This was a special day...your birthday. We can talk about Mummy and even look at pictures. We have a lot of other pictures of other happy days as well."

"What about...?" Tim asked.

Patrick knew what he was asking and interrupted, "She wants you to remember Mummy. She remembers her Mum and she knows that I loved Mummy, but she also knows that I love her now. Just like you do. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Why not keep this picture in your room where you can look at it."

"Alright."

Granny added, "That sounds like a marvelous idea."

Granny

The afternoon passed quietly. Angela went for a nap and Patrick went on some more calls. Timothy and Granny played cards for awhile. When Shelagh came home, the dish was heating in the oven.

Timothy set the table with carefully folded serviettes. The boys were eager to dig into their shepherd's pie. "Patrick you are as bad as Timothy," Granny scolded as Patrick responded by putting his fork down.

Shelagh laughed at her husband being scolded, but when she tasted it herself she said, "This is the better than any shepherd's pie, I ever made."

"I will give you the recipe."

Patrick added, " We have it, but no one has ever made it as good as you."

She hugged Shelagh and thanked her at the door and Patrick and Tim drove her home. She had a wonderful day and was looking forward to more like it.