Kate delivered a baby girl called Heather at the end of February. Julie and Tim went to visit the new baby in the hospital.

Arthur was quite proud. Julie overheard him talking to Tim. "She was such a little one, she slipped right out, nice and pink. Then she let out a cry and I almost cried myself."

Julie sat by Kate's bed and asked, "Was it awful?"

"Horrible, the pains went on for hours and then I pushed and pushed, I never thought she'd ever come out and then they cut me and out she came."

"Ouch."

Julie desperately wanted children, but the idea of childbirth scared her. She'd ask Tim later why Arthur and Kate told a different story. Looking over at him, she smiled. He looked very professional reading the chart which had been hanging on the end of the bed.

Arthur was next to him bragging. "Did you see that Apgar, a solid ten for my girl?"

Tim replied, "She is beautiful. You're a lucky man."

Julie watched as Tim expertly took the sleeping newborn from Arthur. She imagined him the proud daddy. Tim brought the baby to her. She was tiny especially since Julie was accustomed to holding Oliver who was already more than six months.

Once they left Julie said, "Kate and Arthur told a different story about the birth. She said that she'd been cut."

"That's why Arthur said what he did, I imagine he wasn't thinking about the long bit while Kate labored."

"Where did they cut?" Julie just couldn't imagine being mutilated on purpose.

"It was probably just a little snip to help the head out. It's done quite a bit and there has been some criticism about that. My mum and dad don't think it should be done unless necessary. It means a more painful recovery and a risk of infection."

"Stop! All this is so common to you yet you haven't even…"

"I know, but let's not get into that tonight."

Julie had been letting Tim have some time to think about her proposition. She felt disappointed that he hadn't changed his mind, although she did love him for his morals.

They stopped at Tim's digs which he shared with Bernie and two others. They paid Julie to clean the place for them. Julie liked that Tim was tidy compared to the other three.

She used the phone to tell her mum about the baby. Every time she called home she was afraid she'd learn that Carole and Walter had left for Australia. Luckily it was taking them longer than they planned to save enough money.

"Mum, I've just been to see Kate's baby. She's beautiful. I can't believe Kate's a mum."

"I had four babies at your age," she replied.

Julie could hear her breathing heavy and asked, "Mum have you been working too hard?"

"No, I've been resting."

"Resting? Why are you breathing hard then?"

Tim hearing her question came to stand beside her to listen in.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired now that neither of my girls are any help." Julie signed her mum was always reminding her that she left. Why wasn't she more upset with Carole who was too busy with Walter to help? "No one cares about me. I'm just a bit off, must have ate something funny. I still feed the boys."

"Mum, I'm sorry, but…" Tim was shifting feet. Julie knew her mum was full of complaints. Although she maintained that she was healthy as a horse and refused to see a doctor. Her father grew impatient with the complaining and wouldn't believe that she was bleeding even if the warm red blood was dripping on the floor.

"I've felt a bit funny all day."

Abruptly Tim asked, "Is your chest tight?"

"Julie, what is he yelling?"

"How does your chest feel?" she asked concerned.

"It's nothing. Just something I ate. Your father said if I ain't falling down I'm fine." Julie suspected that doing manual labor all his life, her father worked through pain that none of them knew about.

Tim looked alarmed and whispered, "She could be having a heart problem. I think she needs a doctor or an ambulance."

Frightened she calmly said, "Mum, Tim's worried it's your heart. Where is Dad?"

"I'm fine and you know where your father is. I'm enjoying my quiet evening. If you're going to nag me about doctors I'll hang up."

"Mum, please. I love you and all I want is for you to see a doctor."

"Goodnight."

Julie looked at Tim and said, "Are you sure?"

"No, not a hundred percent, but it's possible."

"I'll call the pub then. My dad will likely kill me!"

After many rings the phone was answered. She asked for her father, but the message back was he didn't want to talk. She asked if Carole was there, but she wasn't. Neither was Charlie or Albert, so she had to settle on speaking to George.

"Julie what are you doing?" he said gruffly.

"I just spoke to mum and she feeling poorly. Tim thinks it's her heart."

"Your doctor keeps upsetting mum. She's fine."

"Just ask Dad to go home and check on her."

"Yeah alright."

The line went dead. "Tim do you think she'll be alright?"

"I hope so."

###

Tim had been worried for Mrs. Miller since he first met her. Being so far away, he was helpless. He wasn't certain holding Julie was calming her, but it helped him.

"There is nothing we can do. I'll take you back to the Jeffers. They've got that number haven't they?"

Julie nodded. She was quiet for a bit and then she started talking. Tim suspected it was nerves and he just let her go on, not that she was telling him anything she hadn't already.

"Carole is going to leave soon. She told me last week. Then mum won't have any help at all. Linda can help, but now that she has little Jeremy. I'm glad that Albert wasn't out at the pub. Now that he's a father he needs to stay home. I think he's going to be a better father than… You know Albert is a good man…"

He didn't speak until they reached the Jeffers. "Why not call home again to see how she is?"

"Alright."

They were greeted by Dr. Jeffers, he took one look at Julie and asked, "Has something happened?"

Tim answered, "We're worried about her mum. She's going to call now if that's alright."

"Of course."

Now poor Julie had two doctors and a nurse hovering when she called.

"Oh hi. How is mum?"

"I don't care. Tim really thinks…"

"Carole not you too. Alright, but I'll call in the morning."

Julie ended the call and looked at the three of them. Taking a deep breath, she said, "No one believes us. She has gone to bed. My father is angry with you for stirring up trouble again."

Tim didn't care what Henry Miller thought of him. He could be King Midas and turn the Miller cottage into gold and the man would still not accept him.

Paula brought Julie into the kitchen for a cuppa whilst Tim explained to Dr. Jeffers about Mrs. Miller's health. He nodded as he explained her obesity, breathlessness and current symptoms. He expressed his concerns for both diabetes and heart disease.

"There isn't much you can do if the woman doesn't want help…"

Paula came out and said, "It's been decided on my next day off, Oliver and I will drive Julie for a visit. It will be a daytrip of course."

"When is your day off?" Tim asked hoping he'd be available too.

"Day after tomorrow…"

Unfortunately, Tim couldn't get away. Absences were frowned upon. He found Jules in the kitchen staring into her tea.

She looked up to him and said, "I'll be alright no matter what happens with my mum. You were…"

"Jules maybe she's fine and will live to see our children grow up," Tim tried to convince himself.

####

Julie didn't believe him. "Maybe. You survived losing your mum, so I can too. I have you."

"Julie, let's take it one day at a time, but you do have me and my family. You may still be a Miller, but you're part of the Turners."

Julie couldn't love Tim more.