The next day Shelagh collects Tim from school and walks him to his grandmother's, they chat as they walk but she gets nervous the closer they get. Mrs Parker is a lovely woman and has fully accepted Shelagh, they have all enjoyed dinner together many times since the engagement but she is worried about what she will think about her running away from Patrick and Tim and making them upset.
"Hello my dears." She greats warmly.
Patrick had briefly told her what happened and she was concerned for the young woman who made the Turner boys so happy.
"Hi granny." Tim says before running inside to see her two cats.
"Hello Mrs Parker." Shelagh greets her.
"Now my dear I have told you to call me Jean."
She waves her in and they sit on the sofas while Tim looks around.
"They are up on the bed Tim." She chuckles handing him a bag of cat treats.
He races off leaving the women alone.
"How are you dear?"
"I'm better. I assume Patrick told you what happened." She answers shyly.
"Yes. He rang me to ask if you had been here then a few days later he phoned again to say you had gone to Scotland to think things over and were now back home. You don't have to tell me anything but I am always here if you need me. Even if it's just to complain about those two." She says squeezing her hand.
"Thank you. I feel so stupid now, I found out it is very unlikely that I will be able to have children and I know Patrick wants more so I thought if I left he could find someone who could give him that." She tells her.
Mrs Parker chuckles and shakes her head. Shelagh looks at her confused.
"It déjà vu. My Marianne sat here when Tim was 4 and she had just had tests at the hospital, they told her they would have to remove her womb because of the cancer. She said she was going to leave Patrick so he could find someone who could give him a family. I asked if she had told him this, she said no so I told her to go home to her husband and son and be a family. A family can be build many different way Shelagh, just have patients and enjoy the love you have with Patrick, life can surprise you when you least expect it."
She hands her some tissues to wipe her tears and smiles, the two Mrs Turners couldn't look more different but their hearts and minds were so alike.
"Thank you for sharing that I know it must be difficult." Shelagh says.
"It can be but my darling girl left so many memories for me and she gave me a family to love." Mrs Parker replies.
"Mum can we get a cat?" Tim asks as he comes back in.
Shelagh looks wide eyed at Mrs Parker and is about to apologise when she laughs.
"So you finally asked her." Mrs Parker says.
Tim nods and smiles.
"Yes when we came home after Scotland."
"Took you long enough. Honestly Timothy you and your father asked me nearly two months ago about calling her mum and you only just asked."
Shelagh sits there shocked at how calm she is.
"You don't mind?" She asks.
"Of course not dear. You are his mother figure now, we will never forget my Marianne but I can't think of a better person to be a parent to Tim than you."
"So can we get a cat?" Tim says.
"I don't think so Tim. You and your father are out most of the day and I might be returning to work full time soon. I wouldn't want it to be neglected."
"Ok I guess I can just visit here when I want to play with one."
"Thank you Timothy Turner, is that the only reason you visit my house?" Mrs Parker asks teasingly.
"No. You also make good cake." He answers making them all laugh.
They have some tea and cake before Shelagh heads home. She makes a simple dinner and gives the sitting room a quick clean before Patrick comes home.