Fred speaks

"Do you need any help with that?" Timothy asked, approaching Fred who was busy picking strawberries in his garden. Fred looked up from his task and grinned: "Yes, I could use some help. But make sure to pick, not just eat, young lad," he added.

Timothy eagerly squatted down next to Fred and began picking the red fruit. "But I am allowed to occasionally check whether they are ripe, aren't I?" the boy asked mischievously.

Fred laughed. "Oh yes, of course. Let's see. You can check with every tenth fruit whether they still qualify for being ripe, alright?"

Timothy smiled and nodded, stuffing another piece of fruit into his mouth. He and Fred worked along in silence for a while until Fred asked: "Do you like them? Aren't they just the sweetest ones?" Timothy nodded: "Yes, they are very good."

"You know who once gave the plants to me?" Fred asked. Timothy looked at him with big eyes and shook his head. "Your Mummy. Do you remember the time when my girls used to babysit you? Oh, that was a few years ago. Eight years or so, I guess," he tried to remember. "Perhaps you don't even remember. One day, your mother sent a small basket of these strawberries along, and the next day I went to her and said "Mrs Turner, I need to have a few plants of these. I have never tasted a strawberry this sweet."

Tim grinned and said: "I remember Dolly always singing a song about a chimney sweeper with me. I can't remember it anymore, but this is one thing I remember. And Marlene would always hold me by my feet and tickle me."

"Good morning Fred, "Marianne smiled. "How are the strawberries coming along?"

"Splendidly, Mrs Turner," Fred replied. He was watering his garden, and Marianne had come to greet him after dropping off some medicines from Patrick's surgery for the nurses to take on their morning rounds.

"Yes, I was hoping so. These really are the best. My mother has been growing them since I was a child and I am glad you like them. How are the girls? I have to say, we are going to miss Marlene now that she has started her typist course. How is she doing? Glad Dolly will still be around for a while."

"The girls are all Mrs Turner this, Mrs Turner that, even Marlene. She's doing alright, all fancy clothes and new friends now, though," Fred said with a serene expression. It was hard to bring up the girls all alone, but they also made him very proud every day.

Now he held a few pieces of fruit to three-year old Timothy who had hidden behind his mother's legs.

"Go on, Timothy, take them," Marianne encouraged him. Then, looking at Fred, she continued: "They are such great help. They are lovely with Timothy and I am very glad to have them over every once in a while."

"I am certainly glad you do," Fred said. He lowered his voice just a bit and said: "You know, I do the best I can, but I am just their father. There are a few things girls need their mother for, or, at least, a lady friend. Mrs Gee has also been lovely with them, helping them make and change their dresses and such. But I can tell ever since they have been watching Timothy at your house every now and then, I am quite relieved. They seem to get answers for questions I wouldn't even know to ask," he chuckled.

Marianne laughed. "Oh yes, I know what you mean. I am happy to help. I can only imagine how hard it must be bringing up one's children all alone. And look at me, I only have one. If I was alone with Timothy I certainly would appreciate for a male friend to take care of him once he is a bit older."

"I hope Marlene doesn't get any wrong ideas now she is all over town with her new friends from school," Fred said, slightly worried.

Marianne smiled. "Oh no, I think you needn't worry. She is a very responsible young lady. I think she is a lot more grown up than most sixteen-year-olds. She is very determined to finish school and earn her living, I don't think she will get any ideas. And if you don't mind me saying, we did indeed have a long heart-to-heart, so you can be absolutely assured you can trust her."

Fred nodded and smiled a thankful smile. He bent down and looked at Timothy: "Now, did you like those strawberries?" The little boy nodded shyly. "Then come over, have some more."

Fred nodded towards the bowl he had already filled with berries. Timothy considered it for a while until he slowly trodded away from his mother, towards Fred's hand. "Now, there you go," Fred laughed.

The older man looked up at Marianne and said: "You have such a lovely little lad here. Even though I hope it will be another few years, I can't wait to be a grandfather. I forgot how much joy it is to be with them little ones."

"Oh, yes, it is. But it can be demanding at times, too," Marianne laughed. "Though I suppose as a grandparent you can enjoy the good times and let the parents take over once it becomes too tiring. At least this is what my mother is telling me."

Both laughed and Fred said: "Dolly said she would be glad to watch Timothy for the summer fete if you feel like going to the dance with Dr Turner?"

"Oh did she? This is very kind of her. Yes, I mentioned that we haven't been for a dance in quite a while. He is always so very busy with the new National Health guidelines. But yes, I may hold her up on her offer."

13 November 1950

I think Dolly has got a boyfriend. If I saw right, she held hands with some young lad at the park today. It is perhaps time I have another talk with her, though I believe she is as responsible as her sister when it comes to these things. But then you never know with today's young people.

Look at me, going all on about young people. When have I stopped being young? Now, at 37 I certainly am no longer young. With the war having shaken up so many relationships it is not uncommon, though ever since I have had Timothy I feel the difference. There are so many mothers 15 or more years my junior. I wonder if we ever will have another child. We have been talking about adding another one for quite some time now. For the past two or three weeks I did feel quite different and I suspected I might be pregnant again. Until yesterday my cycle began again, very late and unusually strong. So I may have been pregnant but not for very long. I very much hope for it to happen again.

Patrick keeps telling me he would like to have a girl, a little sister for Timothy. The idea is appealing. I don't care; as long as it is healthy I am going to welcome any child that wants to be part of our family.

Though I must say, ever since Dolly and Marlene have been coming over every few weeks, I have come to like being a bit of a mother to them. Not a real mother, but offering them advice and encouragement where Fred is no longer able to. And I think Fred appreciates them to be able to talk to me whenever they have "women's questions".

It is five years now that Patrick was released from Northfield. Almost five years we have been married now. Who would have thought? What a long way we have come. From the war and all the misery related to it to being a happy family living in a community where circumstances are difficult, but where we both feel needed.

Indeed, would we have met people like the Buckles? Probably not, and we would have missed out greatly. Also the Sisters, I can't imagine our lives being different anymore, and I am very happy.

Ted will be going to New York. He told us recently. When he visited, he left a letter for me, which I enclose here. He suggested Patrick should consider his spot at Harley Street, he said he would recommend him. He would probably earn double than what he is making as a GP here in Poplar. He would have much fewer on-call times and a very different group of people for patients. But Patrick declined right away, without even considering it for a minute.

Later, he apologized. He told me we should have discussed it before he finally declined, but I understand. This is not who Patrick is. He is in the exact spot where he is supposed to be, he is no Harley Street doctor. And after five years in Poplar, I cannot imagine myself becoming a Harley Street doctor's wife. I'd rather discuss Fred's strawberries, be a judge at the handicraft competition or help Nonnatus House with sorting charity donations for families in need.