Julie couldn't keep her night out with Tim from Kate, especially when she spent the next day teetering between her head in the clouds and worrying if and when he might give her a ring.

"Do you really like him?" Kate asked.

"I like talking to him and laughing with him. He is easy on the eyes too. Oh did I tell you about his brother?"

"Only about ten times," Kate rolled her eyes.

Now Julie knew Kate was exaggerating. Still when she thought about Tim, she remembered Teddy. Tim listened to her in a way that no one short of Kate ever had. Yet she knew it showed the man he was, because he did the same with his brother and sister.

Tim Turner was going to be a very good doctor wherever he practised, she thought remembering again about Jim Albert's comments.

Her agony ended a day later when Tim rang whilst on his dinner break. After that first time, they spoke about the same time most every day. Most evenings, they couldn't talk for long, but they started to share bits about each other's day.

One evening, Arthur was visiting as Julie ended her call with Tim.

"Jim's not going to be too happy when he finds out he lost out to Turner."

"Why?"

"I like him myself, but Jim's been competing with him for top marks and he keeps losing out. Turner is smart. Rumor is that he's been reading The Lancet, since age ten."

Julie didn't know what The Lancet was, but she thought of Teddy who was age ten. If Tim was as precocious as Ted, he would have known that he wanted to be a doctor at that age too, just not a footballer. Although she didn't know that for certain, there was so much she didn't know. Suddenly she wanted to know more about him.

Kate interrupted her thoughts. "Please Arthur don't tell Jim. No sense in making him feel worse. Tell us more about Tim…"

"Turner always makes me laugh…" Julie smiled. "He is a dedicated hard worker. We're in GP together and I don't compete with him. I've ridden on his shirt tails a bit, but he's willing to help."

"He sounds…"

"Perfect!" Julie interrupted Kate.

"Truthfully, Jim doesn't know that I like Turner, so we'll keep that to us too," Arthur said.

"Sorry Arthur, but your friend, Jim, isn't any fun, that's why I wasn't keen on him," Julie said honestly.

##

Tim had an entire weekend off and he promised Teddy, he would spend time with him. Although he liked being home, it was going out with Julie on Saturday night that he was looking forward to the most.

When he arrived home on Saturday morning, he was greeted by an over excited Teddy.

"Tim, Tim… we have a special night tonight!"

"What!"

His panicked eyes darted between his dad and mum.

"Teddy told us you promised to spend time with him which is perfect because I'm on call and Mum has a shift."

"Dad, I have plans tonight… Mum," he pleaded. Realising there was an easy solution, he said, "Angela can stay with Teddy."

"Dearest, Angela has a birthday pyjama party."

He felt like he was age fourteen again, when he complained, "This isn't fair."

He sulked off to his room. He'd have to call Julie and cancel. He felt just like Jim Albert. More than anything he was disappointed, because he wanted to see her again.

He went into his parent's room to use the telephone in private. Her flatmate answered. Although he hadn't met her, he'd spoken to her.

"Oh hi ya, Tim," Kate said loudly.

He heard muffle sounds and then Julie's voice.

"Hi. Are you at home?" she asked.

"Yes, but I've got a problem." He blurted out, "I never told anyone about our plans and my mum and dad are expecting me to mind Teddy tonight."

"So I get to spend my Saturday night with two handsome Turners," she said sweetly.

"You wouldn't mind," he asked, feeling the disappointment melt away.

Why hadn't I thought of this solution?

"I would like to see Teddy again."

"The truth is my dad's on call so there is a chance he may be home. He just can't count on it, so…"

"So you're telling me that I may meet your father? I don't mind."

"You're sure?"

"Why would I?"

"Brilliant! When can I come for you?"

Suddenly Tim wanted to spend his day with her. Originally he intended to spend his afternoon with his brother, but not now.

When Tim went downstairs, his parents were talking with their heads together.

Shelagh said, "Tim, we should have thought."

"It's sorted, Mum. We'll spend the evening together with Teddy. Luckily she was rather keen on the idea."

"Thank you, son," Patrick said. "Now tell us about this girl you're bringing home."

"She's perfect. I know you'll like her."

"Who?" Angela asked as she joined the conversation.

"Julie. She's coming over," Tim said.

"Julie! Really? Wow! Mum, will I see her before my party?"

Teddy heard and came running, "Julie's coming to see me!"

"Mum tell him that she's coming to see me," Tim implored like he was age ten.

"Teddy, Julie is Tim's friend."

"She's my friend too!" Teddy sounded just like Tim had a moment ago.

##

Sitting on the top of the bus, Tim kept asking if she was certain.

"Why are you so worried?" she asked.

"Isn't meeting someone's family a big step? We've only been out once."

"You bought my chips."

"Truthfully, my dad did. He gave me a couple of quid to take them out that day."

"Still we've talked every day for three weeks. I think we know each other."

"We haven't really even…"

Julie was suddenly aware that his eyes were fixated on her lips. In a whisper, almost like a sigh, she asked, "What?"

Instead of answering, he leaned into her and captured her lips with his. The kiss was rather chaste. Nothing like Kate and Arthur had been up to. Still it lit an ember within.

When she smiled at him. He kissed her again a bit longer and with a bit more of something nice.

He smelled of a manly scent that made her feel heady. She was certain that he had more experience kissing than her. Remembering what Jim said, she thought of the nurses on the paediatric ward and her belly tightened.

After ending the kiss, he rested his forehead on hers and quietly said, "Ready to meet my mum and dad?"

"Your mum the nun!"

Tim laughed and Julie thought it was a wonderful sound.

They walked away from the bus stop with her gloved hand in his. She took in his neighborhood, as she again remember Jim's words about where Tim lived. She knew Tim's home couldn't be worse than hers.

She wasn't prepared as they entered a housing estate with houses unlike she'd ever been to before. Jim Albert was wrong and she was suddenly nervous. She was used to small flats and cottages, but she didn't know anyone who lived like this. It was one thing to go to the party at an even grander house, because she didn't care what they thought of her. Maybe she should have worn a skirt.

She suddenly froze and stopped walking, Tim turned toward her after he unwittingly tugged her arm.

"All right?" he asked.

"No, I wasn't expecting this." She waved her arm in a sweeping motion. "I thought the East End was different… flats and such."

"We lived in a flat before Teddy was born. I even had to share a room with Angela. I was fifteen and she was three. It was awful."

"We always shared rooms growing up. I could never be alone… not even in the loo much of the time. I had a friend whose dad was the chemist. She wasn't allowed at my house. We had to play outside."

Even at a young age, she knew she wasn't good enough for her friend. Thankfully she had Kate, not that her mother afforded her much time for playing.

"My family isn't like that. My father has cared for the people of the East End since before I was born… before council flats and rehousing. Was your loo outside?" She shook her head. "Did you pay the meter for hot water?" Again her head shook. "My parents will only judge you on one thing."

"What's that?"

"How you treat me… well and perhaps Teddy given the fact, he thinks it's him you're coming to see."

"I would never be rude…"

"I know. That's why you have nothing to worry about."

Tim pulled on her arm drawing her closer. He gathered her into an embrace. Her head was against his chest. If it weren't for his coat, she reckoned she would hear his heart beating.

"Come on. Now we've got that sorted, your boyfriend is waiting for you."

She stopped again causing Tim to tug on her arm again. He look back at her and relaxed his shoulders when she smiled.

"If it's all the same with you, I'd rather you be my boyfriend."

Tim smiled wider than she'd ever seen and said, "Me too, but let the lad down easy."

"Maybe I'll just two time you."

"That's fine as long as the bloke wasn't born before nineteen-sixty-two."

"That leaves a lot of candidates for me."

"Julie Miller, you're a tease and you're going to be sorry, because I can tease too, just ask Angela.

They were laughing as Tim led her through the garden. Suddenly the door opened and a petite woman wearing a nursing uniform was smiling at them.