Patrick, A Granny Parker Chapter

Still 1958 Again

"Timothy please don't say anything to Granny. I will talk to her when I come fetch you on Sunday," Patrick was driving to Granny Parker's house and Shelagh was sitting beside him.

"Dad what if she sees you are not alone is the car? What if she asks?"

"Just don't say anything. Leave it to me."

"Maybe you should go talk to her now," Shelagh suggested.

"It will take too long and I am afraid it would be awkward for you. You can meet her after Christmas. It'll be fine."

"Patrick, I have met her before."

"Yes, but I don't think she remembers you. It was a hard time for her," he added quietly thinking of when Marianne was sick.

"Of course, but Patrick, I will not hide."

"You do not need to. We will drop Tim and be off."

Patrick stood in front of the car while Tim rang the bell. Granny stood on the threshold and waved.

"I'll come for him on Sunday," he said.

"Will she be upset when she finds out?" Shelagh asked.

"Surprised yes, upset no. She's been encouraging me to find someone. I kept telling her I was not interested. Well until I was interested in someone who was otherwise committed."

"She really encouraged you?"

"Yes, I was going to have her sew the button on my clinical coat, but then I found it already sewn on. She teased me of having a secret admirer," he explained.

"That was me," Shelagh admitted shyly.

"I know. It took me awhile, but I figured it out. Thank you," he said as he reached over and squeezed her hands in her lap.

They had a wonderful time. He had not courted in years, but this felt different. They've known each other forever. It just felt right. He returned her to her lodging rather early as she was still recovering from her illness.

He made his tea early the next morning, he always missed Timothy when he was gone. Soon he realized he would not be alone. He would have Shelagh and smiled at the thought. When the telephone rang, he thought he was being called out.

Turner here."

"Patrick?"

He knew Timothy said something about Shelagh so he asked, "What did he say?"

"Nothing, except that you rushed off, because you were going out. Who is she? Is it serious?"

Patrick knew his mother-in-law enough to know there was no use evading her questions. He felt sorry for the position he put Timothy in.

"Yes, it is very serious. In fact we are going to be married."

"Married?" she repeated, "Has this been going on for some time?"

"No, but we have known each other for a very long time. We have been...friends, but that changed recently."

Alot more than that changed recently. How does he explain that he is marrying a woman who a few weeks ago was a nun? He now understood the uncomfortableness that Shelagh felt.

"What is her name?"

"Shelagh, her name is Shelagh," he repeated it because he just loved the sound of it on his lips.

"When will I meet her?"

"Not yet, but soon."

"Hold on Timothy wants to speak to you."

"Hello son," he said. He could not be mad at him. He had asked him to do the impossible.

"Dad, promise I didn't say anything."

"I know. I shouldn't have put you in this situation. I told her about the wedding. You can answer any of her questions."

"You don't mind me telling her?"

"No son...Tell her everything she wants to know."

"Everything?..Even about before..you know."

"Yes, she is going to find out eventually. Tim, thanks."

"Bye Dad. See you tomorrow."

He hung up and looked at the phone willing it to ring. He actually wished to be called out, so he would not have to think about the conversation that Timothy was having.

Patrick took a deep breath before he knocked on the door. Tim answered and Patrick asked, "Am I allowed in?"

"I heard that!" Granny called from behind Timothy, "You are this time, but I'll decide later if I'm going to change my mind." She reached up pinched his cheek as she scolded him and he laughed.

"One of the sisters?"

"Yes. She cared for Timothy and in a way me, like you did..."

"I cared for you because you are my family and I love you."

"Exactly, at some point she realized the same thing...that she loved us too."

"And you loved her?"

"Yes before she did me. I realized or at least accepted it...by that I mean accepted that I loved her, but mustn't."

"Is this the reason for all your moods recently."

"I suppose so. I can't hide anything from you."

"No you can't. Now why can't I meet her."

"Because it is still very awkward for her. She is even avoiding her former Sisters. This was a very serious and hard decision for her to make."

"Life changing, I'd say."

"Exactly."

Timothy sat quietly and took in the conversation. Patrick realized that he was more open with Granny than he had been with Tim.

On the way out, Granny hugged him as she always did.

Patrick added, "After Christmas. Timothy can come stay during his school holiday. You can meet Shelagh then."

Granny again

She watched them go. She liked what Patrick said about Shelagh loving them. She wanted to be happy for him. She really did, but it was a lot to take in.

As they were eating, she had froze when she noticed that Patrick no longer wore his wedding band. She had felt a lump in her throat , but swallowed it down.

She herself had been tempted many times to suggest he may heal if he took it off. She always stopped herself because it was a reminder to her of how much Marianne was loved.

She realized that the next time she saw Patrick, he would be wearing a new wedding band and he would have a new wife.

Epilogue:

Her phone rang on Christmas Eve and she learned about Timothy's illness and the postponement of Patrick's marriage. So she did see him again without a wedding band and a wife. She was surprised as to how sad that made her feel.