Granny's life, living in London and her sister have all been AU. I go a bit further with a backstory for Marianne. I am not sure we will ever know the truth though...

Granny was not surprised when she heard the news that the Turner family would be moving house. She was well aware that they did not have enough room for a family of five. She knew that Timothy was not happy about sharing a room with Angela. It was helpful during their long stay at her house because Angela needed her brother nearby.

A little girl can really intrude on a teenage boy's need for space and privacy. Timothy being such a gem put up with it for long enough. She was looking forward to seeing Timothy for the first time since the move. Because he was becoming busier, his visits were often for one day without an overnight. Some days Angela joined them and others times she and Timothy had a visit for themselves.

This visit was just for Timothy, but Angela she was assured would come when Timothy was picked up. Timothy was also allowed to take the bus alone to her house which helped as Patrick's work was hard to plan around.

"So how is the new house?" She asked when he arrived and settled in the kitchen for cake.

"It is big. I am glad to have my own room."

"Are you happy about the move? I know you left the only home that you've ever known."

"It was sad to see the rooms empty...Dad and I stood together for a few moments. He said that we take the memories with us, but I felt like I was leaving Mummy behind...Are you sad because her home is gone?"

"No, because I am so happy that your family is growing."

"But it was Mummy's home."

"It was one of your mummy's homes. She lived here for most of her life. I walk these room and I think of her. You sleep in her room when you stay here. Some of her belongings are still there. Still if I were to move, she would come with me, because she is in here," she said as she put her hand over her heart.

"I feel as though we moved away from her."

"No, she is part of you. You have so much of her in you...not just her talent, but you have some of her personality...You have a lot of your Dad too."

"I guess I liked that we were where I remembered her."

"Yes, and now your new family has their own home...Shelagh has her own home."

"Mum...oh I guess it was a bit like living in someone else's home. We used to have to show her where things were."

"Let's go have a look around and I'll tell you about your Mummy."

They walked into the sitting room and she went over to the piano. She lifted up the seat and inside was sheet music. Timothy had played some of it before. Granny lifted the sheet music and on the bottom written in pencil that dug into the wood was 'Marianne'.

"She wrote her name!"

"Yes I scolded her, but now I am quite happy it is there."

"There is more there...what does it say...loves...loves who?"

"I believe it said more than one name through the years. I seem to think it says Nigel."

"Not Patrick?"

"No, by the time she met your father she had long since stopped writing in the piano bench."

"Who was Nigel?"

"A boy who lived down the way. They were quite sweet on each other when she was about your age."

"Really!"

"You're not sweet on any girls are you?"

Timothy smiled and said, "Oh no not me."

"Hmm not sure that was a straight answer...your mother liked to keep her feelings to herself...well except for the bench."

She took him over to the bookshelf and carefully lifted a delicate paper mache bird. It was painted with great detail.

"This she made for my birthday. She was very artistic as well."

"That is beautiful. I remember we would paint quite often."

At the bottom of the stairs, Granny lifted the carpet and point to a gouge in the wood floor at the bottom of the stairs.

"I put the carpet here to cover this... She had her hands full and decided to throw her shoes down the stairs. The heel left this mark...I'm not sure the shoe was ever the same either."

"Wow..she was destructive."

"I suppose...Oh next is the most important," Granny said and led him upstairs."

She walked to a cupboard in the hall opened the door and there on the door jam were pencil marks and ages written next to each.

"See I write on wood too," Granny laughed.

"Am I taller than she was?"

"I should think..wait here"

She came back with a pencil and had to reach way up to mark his height. He was definitely a taller.

"She would have been proud to look up at you...perhaps a bit sad that you're so grown up...Come into the bedroom...She painted the picture hanging over there...In the bottom drawer are some things she left behind when she married your Dad...you can take a look if you'd like."

Timothy

Granny left the room and he opened the draw. Inside were a lot of papers, photographs and a very old doll. He looked at the photographs and saw a very young Mummy with friends and Granny and a man he knew was his Grandfather. In some she was dressed up...for a dance perhaps. Others were just groups of friends smiling.

The papers were drawings and reports from school. He even found some of her grades. At the bottom he found some letters addressed to his mother. He was not sure if he should read them. He continued to look through the contents of the drawer when Granny returned.

"What are these letters?" He asked.

"Oh those are from her old beau who went off to the war."

"What's happened to him?"

"He died in France. So many did."

"Can I read them?"

"If you want, but you need to understand that she was planning to marry him, but he never came home."

"Who was he?"

"His name was Eddie. He lived next to my sister. Your mummy knew him growing up, but did not take a fancy to him until later."

"So she loved him?"

"Yes."

"...but she loved my Dad. Just like he loved Mummy and now he loves Mum."

"Yes."

"I'm glad...now she will understand."

"Understand what?"

"Mum and Dad, and moving house, and the baby and Angela."

"I think she is smiling about all of that," Granny said as she gave his shoulders a squeeze.

Coming soon Chapter 24 (to be published after S6e8 airs)

Granny had been on edge for days. She knew the baby would be coming soon, but didn't want to disturb them. If Shelagh was her own daughter or even her real daughter-in-law, she would be right there ready to help. With Shelagh, a midwife herself, and Patrick, a doctor, they had things all arranged.

She had been assured that she would be called after the arrival. So she tried to occupy herself as she waited. She knew she was batty for not leaving the house. If she missed their call they would try again. Still she had no intention of missing this call.

With the ups and downs of the last nine months, she would be glad when the baby's born and all the anxiety is over.

She jumped when her telephone rang…..

To be continued