Shelagh woke with a start. Today was a special day and because of that, she had a lot to do. She slid out of bed trying not to disturb Patrick. He had been on a call and returned rather late. She had been sleeping restlessly before his return. Still she barely remembered him kissing her cheek before she drifted into sound sleep.

She hoped that she could get breakfast started before the the little ones started to wake. She knew that Angela would be very excited. They'd been talking about this day and planning for it all week. If only it had fallen on Sunday, but today was Friday, because little Teddy had been born on Thursday. So instead of spending this special day together, Teddy would be at nursery. Unfortunately there was surgery and rounds and school.

Both Tim and Angela had their own ideas as to how their brother's birthday should be celebrated. Tim thought a dinner of steak and chips was in order. Shelagh had to remind him that Teddy couldn't yet safely chew steak, so there was no point in a birthday dinner that the birthday boy couldn't eat. Angela was really only concerned with the cake that might be served. She couldn't understand after having her friends at her party why Teddy wouldn't be having any friends at his.

"Dearest, Teddy is still a baby and we will be celebrating with just the family. We will have dinner together and give Teddy his present." Shelagh had informed her.

"... and cake!" she added.

"Yes, mummy will make a cake for Teddy's birthday."

So now Shelagh was faced with a full day of work only to come home to prepare a nice family dinner and a cake. She hoped to come home while Patrick was on his rounds to start on the cake, if the Maternity Home was quiet. She was planning out how long it would take to prepare the cottage pie. Angela had wanted toad in a hole, which would have been easier, but Teddy wasn't keen on the bangers. So cottage pie was decided on by a consensus of both her vocal and opinionated children.

Laying the table for breakfast, she could hear Teddy stirring. He always woke happy and babbled for awhile, but she didn't like him to wake the others. He seemed to have a bit of his mum in him because he was an early riser. Tim could sleep for hours if they let him, but there was no reason to sleep any perfectly good day away unless one was ill.

Shelagh went up the stairs and found Teddy standing in his cot. He had grown so big in the past year. Just thinking of it, Shelagh ran her hand across her abdomen, remembering how he had once grew inside of her. The change in him was remarkable. She scoffed at herself for being foolish, after all this was not anything that she didn't already know. Angela had changed much the same as did every other baby that was pushed in a pram around Poplar, anywhere really. Yet somehow the memory of carrying this child and giving birth to him changed her reaction to things.

When he saw her, he smiled his toothy grin and began calling, "mummummummummum…"

It was more of a sound than a word as his lips vibrated. She picked him up and suspected more teeth were on the way, because his fingers were wet from being gnawed on and he was drooling from his mouth. He was a sweet baby with a good disposition, but he was messy and often soggy. His nappy was certainly soggy after the night and she set about changing him. This was another task that had gotten harder, because he was not typically content to lie still and often twisted and turned his body. When Angela was about, she would be called upon to distract Teddy, so that he would lie still.

Once fresh and clean, she carried him downstairs and set him on the floor in the sitting room in front of some toys. She didn't expect him to stay put, but she could keep and eye on him as she went about her work in the kitchen. Within an instance he was at her feet, as he could crawl faster that most children run. She sighed and gave him a Tupperware bowl and wooden spoon to amuse himself with. She had found that much like with Angela it was never the actual toys that entertained him.

The rest of the family began to rouse and first Tim came into the kitchen looking unamused to be awake. Shelagh had learned that cheerful greetings annoyed the teenager in the morning so she avoided one. Angela followed behind bursting with excitement over her little brother's first birthday. Tim groaned at the happy screeches of his sister.

"Teddy, Teddy, Teddy! Happy Birthday!" Angela said in a loud high pitched voice.

"Angela come sit and eat some breakfast," Shelagh said as she lifted Teddy and settled him into the high chair. She gave her son some toast to eat as she served the others.

Patrick came into the kitchen looking tired. Angela saw him first and announced, "Daddy, it's Teddy's birthday!"

"Is it?" he asked surprised, giving Shelagh a wink.

Shelagh approached him giving him a kiss on his cheek as she said, "Good morning dear."

"I'm sorry that I woke you last night."

"You didn't. You know I never sleep well until you're home," Shelagh assured him.

"Urgh!" Tim exclaimed.

"Timothy, it is just a matter of caring. I don't sleep at all until you are home, because I want to know that you are safe. It is the same with your father."

"You just want to make sure that I make curfew," he said,

"Tim, that's my job," Patrick said in his watch it voice. Looking at his wife, he said, "I have a little something for your breakfast."

"Oh?" she asked eyeing the amused look on his face.

"Here you go, love." Patrick handed Shelagh a small paper bag.

"It's Teddy's birthday, not mine, Patrick," she said nervous, not knowing what he was up to.

"I know," he said, as his smile turned to laughter.

Shelagh took a little peek inside the bag and exclaimed, "Patrick!"

He said, "Just a memory from your breakfast last year."

"Mum, what is it?" Tim asked suddenly interested in his parents.

Shelagh pulled the contents out of the bag and Angela exclaimed, "Pink wafers!"

This is a companion story to Chapter 114 of the Unexpected series. From 2008 to 1963, I wanted to write something to tie into the original Turner family. I hope you enjoyed it.