'Shelagh?! Darling what's wrong? Where's Angela? Is Tim alright?' Patrick panicked as his wife rushed in to clinic and ran up to him in the kitchen where he had been chatting to the midwives.
'Jean's with her. She's fine. Tim's fine. I'm fine. I just need to talk to you. In private. It's sort of time sensitive.'
'Okay.' He said, confused but aware that this was something important to his wife. They moved into one of the rooms off the main hall. 'What's going on Shelagh?'
'I had a phone call about half an hour ago. From Miss Ellaby from the children's society. Remember her? It turns out that Carole's parents have decided to return her to the adoption people and Miss Ellaby wanted to know if we were would be interested in adopting her. She says that we are first choice as we got on with her so well that day we sheltered her and are, apparently, such stellar parents to Angela and Tim. I know this is big and very unexpected.'
'Uhhh' Patrick gaped at her as he let the torrent of information sink in. This was not what he had expected her to say.
'My reaction was similar. We have an exclusive first chance to adopt her but we only have 3 days until anyone can adopt her. And if we were to go for it Miss Ellaby would prefer that we reduce the stress and confusion for Carole by getting it done as quickly as possible'
'I don't really have to ask you your opinion of this do I my love?' He smiled. 'I haven't seen you this excited since we got Angela. You want to adopt her don't you?'
'Honestly? Yes. I do. But I am more than content with our family the way it is. I have more than I ever dared to dream of with you and our incredible son and out beautiful daughter. I don't want you that to sway your decision though. Don't say yes just because I would like to adopt her. This is a very different situation than with Angela. For one Carole has already formed an attachment to her parents, secondly she's nearly a year old and we're not prepared for that, thirdly she's mixed race and therefore we can't pretend she is biologically ours and we couldn't tell Carole she's adopted and not Angela. That wouldn't be fair on either of them. They'll only be 7 months apart in age as well so it'd be hectic at times. It won't be as easy as with just Angela and Tim.' She pointed out sighing at the mammoth task they may be about to take on.
'No form of parenting is easy love. I must admit-I have missed Carole. She's was the first glimpse into what having a baby with you would be like. Seeing you sitting on the sofa with Carole in your arms, pulling faces at her and doting on her made me fall even deeper in love with you. I did not think it possible yet I have fallen more and more for you every day since. After your diagnosis, and after that interview, which I am still so very terribly sorry about my darling, I often thought of her and wished we had found a way to keep her. You so wanted a child and it broke my heart that biology and I could stand in the way of that. If I could turn back time and keep her I would. I would do anything to make you happy, to remove the pain of our not being blessed with biological children together. But we have Angela now and she is every part our child so the pain, though still there, is not quite the same. I suppose, had we been able to have biological children, we may have had more than one young child at once.' He reasoned running his hand through his hair. Shelagh scowled at the action. His hair was bad enough on a good day; it certainly did not need help from his hands.

'I know it's a lot to take on board at once and will be difficult but I honestly believe we could do this. We could make it work, more than work. This could be brilliant. If you are agreeable.'
'I need to think this over.' He said apologetically, as excited as his wife was, as happy as seeing her light up like this having spent so many months in torment made hi, he had to keep a level head. This was not a decision either of them should make on the spot. Whilst the time limit did hang over their heads there was such a thing as sufficient time to process and think a situation over. He was going to use that time.
'Oh yes if course. Sorry, I wasn't pressuring you for an answer right here right now. We'd need to talk to Tim first anyway.' Shelagh reasoned.
'I don't imagine he'd have too many objections. He was all for Angela remember? Once he realised his pocket money wasn't at risk. He had his priorities straight.'
'But this is different. With 2 young children he may feel excluded too feel like we're not spending enough time with him. I'll go now, let you return to work. Let you think this over. Don't rush home-take all the time you need. We don't need to decide anything today.'
'We'll talk more when I get home okay?'
'Okay. Miss you already.' She grinned leaning up to kiss him briefly. Pulling back she ran her hand through his hair, trying to tame the mess. 'I will never understand how your hair can be so unruly.'

'Because you can't keep your hands out of it Mrs Turner.'

'I'm trying to tame it!'

'Right now you are. But you seem to have an unnatural interest in playing with it whilst we make love.' He teased as she blushed deeply. She was still not quite used to such teasing, especially outside of their home. Not to mention that the nuns were only metres away.

'It's surprisingly soft!' She defended herself as he laughed and pulled her flush against him and kissing her deeply. 'I should really go.' She sighed as she pulled back. 'I love you Patrick Turner. No matter what we decide about this I will always be so in love with you.'

'I love you darling. I'll see you at home.' He let out a deep sigh as she walked out. He had a lot of thinking to do