During Tim's summer holiday he'd meet Julie after work. She assured him that Luke was acting as a boss should. Although Tim wished Julie wasn't working for the bloke, he was proud of her for carrying on.

Just before the end of his holiday, they set off by train, so he could be introduced to Julie's family. It was sorted for Tim to stay at Kate's house.

Tim struggled to keep Jules calm with each mile. Kate reassured her, as well, but Tim sensed that even her friend wasn't convinced that his visit would go well.

"Jules, It's going to be fine. Even if your father hates me, it won't change anything."

"My family isn't like yours," Julie reminded him.

Kate, who had been a guest at the Turner house said, "Most families aren't like Tim's."

"We're a normal family," Tim argued, but even he knew his parents had vocations that made them more compassionate. Tim imagined if his father worked at a machine all day every day, for a wage, he might be bilergerent and short tempered too. Mum wouldn't love a man like that, so she'd be a nun and he would be an only child. The thought made him shudder.

Dealing with difficult people would be a part of his job as a GP, so he thought of Mr. Miller as a challenge. It would be a very important challenge, because Julie's happiness was at risk.

Disembarking the train, Tim took Julie's hand. She looked at him nervously and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. He pulled her into his arms and whispered, "It'll be fine."

He was reminded of the first day, he brought her home, but that day he certainly knew his Mum and Dad would welcome her. He wasn't as certain the same would be true here.

Kate left them, because she didn't want to be a witness. He took a deep breath as they approached the cottage. The garden was overgrown and not well tended. The cottage itself looked like it could benefit from some repairs. They entered the kitchen which felt stiflingly warm. The room was tidy and empty.

"Mum," Julie called, as she made her way across the room and through the door into the sitting room.

"Oh Julie. You're here already."

Tim saw Mrs. Miller resting on the settee. He had been warned that she was of a large girth, but he saw swollen ankles, breathlessness when she went to stand, and obvious fatigue. If she was presented to him, he would question a list of ailment starting with high blood pressure, heart issues and diabetes.

"Mum meet Tim." Julie's voice was high with nervous excitement.

"Hello Mrs. Miller. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She smiled warmly and Tim relaxed.

"Julie, you didn't tell me how tall he is. You're too tall for her," she said looking up to Tim herself.

"Mum don't be silly. Look!"

Julie reached up and put her hands on Tim's shoulders, then she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. Tim held her lightly away from his body.

"Don't let your father see any of that. Now Julie put the tea on we've got a guest."

Tim relaxed, because he seemed to have Mrs. Miller's approval. After tea, they walked up the High Street so she could show him around.

Carefully he said, "Jules, I'm not a GP yet, but your mum worries me. Does she see her doctor?"

Julie laughed, "She boasts she hasn't seen a doctor since my brother was born."

"That was how many years ago?"

"Fifteen, almost sixteen…" She was looking off in the distance distracted. "Tim, you promised you wouldn't judge right?"

"I'm not judging your mum. I'm concerned."

"Mum just needs to lose a few stones. I meant about my sister."

"Right and Walter… yes, I agreed to keep my opinion to myself," Tim said, but didn't commit to accepting like Julie.

"Good, because she and Walter are walking this way. She's seventeen now."

Tim didn't think that made much of a difference, but he promised to hold his tongue, as Julie's sister approached. She looked like a younger, but taller version of Jules.

"Julie!"

The young girl ran to Jules and hugged her, but just as abruptly she pulled away and looked at Tim and said, "You came. Dad was convinced that she made you up. He told Mum this morning not to bother about any guests coming."

Tim liked that spunk, but not her message.

Why would Jules make me up?

Julie intervened. "Tim, my sister Carole and Walter."

Tim was so caught up in the younger version of Julie, he hadn't noticed the man with her. Upon introduction, he offered his hand, which Walter shook firmly. His father had taught him that a firm handshake was a sign of a good character.

Carole said, "I have to get home to help with dinner. I spent all morning cleaning up for the guest that wasn't coming."

Tim watched them go and turned to Julie.

"Why would your father think you made me up?" he asked.

She motioned him to an empty bench and said, "A hundred reasons, but mostly he doesn't think I'm good enough for a man like you."

"Is that why you question your worth, because your father doesn't value it?"

"He can't imagine that a doctor would like me, because he is threatened by smarter and richer men."

"I'm very poor," Tim said trying to ease the tension. He definitely was, his father wasn't.

"But he heard Oxford and that was enough. Just so you know, he'll probably lie to you and imply some reasons why I'm not worthy of you. He might even accuse you of a certain thing."

"I'll defend you even against your father."

He would do anything for Jules, but all he wanted was to receive her father's blessing and to return to London.

"I should go help poor Carole. Maybe you can keep Mum company, but no diagnosing!"

Tim smiled, because he'd already diagnosed her, as much as he could without an examination and tests.

When they entered the kitchen Mrs. Miller was lumbering with heavy breaths. Julie went straight to work.

He said, "Shall we leave them to it and sit down. Did Julie tell you how we met?"

Carole spoke up, "No!"

"Well we were both at a house party. She had a date…"

"He wasn't my date…"

"I noticed her right off. She ignored me, so I played a song for her on the piano."

Carole asked, "Really? What song?"

Julie sang, "The first time ever I saw your face I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave to the dark and the endless skies…"

"Did you go to him and did he ask you out?"

"Yes and no," Julie laughed. "I thanked him, because Mum you raised me right. He didn't ask me out."

"Why not?" Carole was enthralled.

"Because she was with a classmate!" Tim said dramatically.

"I wasn't! Besides you were too busy talking about your dead mother!"

"Julie!" her mother scolded.

Tim laughed, "It's true. I had no chance after I told her my late mother taught me to play piano."

"How did you end up going out?" Carole implored.

"Oh we saw each other at the cinema and he asked me out," Julie said nonchalantly.

Tim smiled as their eyes met, because that was when their story really began.

"So romantic," Carole said.

"What were you and Walter doing up the High Street?" Julie asked.

"Just walking."

"Just walking, my foot. Those two have been quite inseparable since she came of age," Muriel said.

"What does Dad say about it?" Julie asked.

"Nothing good," her mother answered.

Suddenly the jovial mood in the kitchen evaporated, when four men entered and each one looked surprised.

Tim stood and went to the oldest and extended his hand, "Mr. Miller, Tim Turner."