She felt slightly better the next day. She didn't like the medicine. She thought she might prefer the pain and would speak to Patrick about it.
Betty arrived as the visiting bell rang.
"You fell asleep. I sat with you until the bell rang."
"I'm sorry...the surgery."
"No matter. Are you feeling better?"
"A little bit."
"What did the doctor say?"
"That I arrived at hospital just in time. Thanks to Patrick or I would have been dead," she smiled and said, "look here is my savior now."
"Dad's always saving people," Timothy who arrived with Patrick said.
"Hello Timothy love."
"I told Dad I wanted to visit with him...Granny, how are you feeling?"
Granny watched as Patrick went to speak with the sister, answering Timothy she said, "I have a bit of pain, but it is already better than yesterday."
"How are you Timothy?" Betty asked.
"Fine. Thank you."
"I hear you have a new half-brother?" she added.
"Oh I suppose so. I just think of him as my brother...he and I do share half blood, what does it matter...Angela and I share no blood and she is my sister without question."
Granny noticed that Patrick was back and listening to his son. She spoke up, "I only share blood with Timothy, but they are all my family...especially Patrick...What did the sister say son."
Patrick smiled at the new joke between them and answered, "She says that you are recovering well. No signs of infection."
"Do I have to keep taking the pills? I don't like how they make me feel."
"You don't want to be in pain."
"No, but they give them to me before the pain starts."
"Perhaps they can reduce the amount. I can speak to them about that."
"When will I go home?"
"Not for a week."
"A week!"
"Besides you won't go home. You'll have to come stay with me," Betty said.
Timothy
Timothy noticed the look on Granny's face at Auntie's suggestion. He knew Granny wouldn't want to stay with Auntie. He knew it wasn't his place, but he spoke up.
"Granny you can come stay with us."
"With you. She should be with me...I'm her sister," Betty argued.
"Dad's a doctor and Mum's a nurse. They can look after her."
"Tim, Granny is welcome to recover where she chooses, but I agree she shouldn't go home alone," Patrick said, "Nothing needs to be decided today."
"Humpf!"
Granny
She did not like the thought of not being able to go home. The last thing she needed was to fret over where she would recuperate when she just had an operation.
Although Patrick and Timothy did not stay long, Betty sat by her side until the bell rang. She thought her sister had come around towards Patrick, but that did not seem to be.
She felt her sister's remark to Timothy was rude. Dwelling on the baby being Timothy's half brother...No one in the Turner house cared who was related by blood. Shelagh loved her first two children while sharing no blood with them.
Thankfully Patrick seemed to be amused by her sister's comments. Betty never liked Patrick, but when Marianne was alive she kept it to herself...well mostly. She remembered one day when Marianne was visiting with Timothy and Betty popped in...Marianne was tired, because Timothy was two and in perpetual motion. Patrick was working nonstop and Marianne was on her own…
Betty starting criticising him for being a bad husband and father and Marianne response was to ask, "What was the name of the pub that Uncle favored until after you'd put your children to bed?" Then she reminded her that Patrick was busy because he was a doctor and not in the pub.
Granny learned long ago that no one can measure up to Betty's expectations. Being the younger sister, Granny stopped trying and carries on with her own life.
Patrick visited the next day in the evening.
"You shouldn't be here. You should be at home with your little ones," She protested.
"I won't stay long. How are you feeling?"
"How did the nurse say I am feeling?"
"Ornery."
"Did you say you were going?"
"She said that you are doing well and are refusing medicine for your pain. How is your pain?"
"Fine if I do not move too much. The pills made me feel sick."
"Actually the nurse called you sweet," he said, "Clearly you don't take after your sister."
"She is ornery. That is the reason you came this evening to avoid her wasn't it?"
"Of course. I hope Tim did not put you on the spot."
"No...of course not."
"He was right. I have spoken with can stay with us. We want you to recuperate where ever you prefer. Regardless when you are discharged, I will drive you where you want to go."
"She must be too busy with the baby."
"She says she is not. She is really quite remarkable."
"Yes," agreed Granny, "She is, but I still need to consider Betty's offer."
Patrick
When he arrived home, Shelagh asked, "How is she?"
"Recovering as expected?"
"Did you invite her to stay with us?"
"I did. I'm not sure what she will decide. I think she is afraid of offending her sister."
"What is she like Sister Evangelina?"
"Oh no dear much worse. Sister had a good heart. She hasn't one."
"Patrick!"
"Someday if you meet her you'll see."
Tim who was lurking added, "Dad's right and if you're lucky you'll never meet her. She makes Sister Ursula seem nice."
"How can they be sisters?" Shelagh wondered aloud.