Unexpected

Chapter 8 - Family

Elizabeth Burke laughed. "He's so sweet he always made me laugh."

Tim said, "Good thing he was married or Nick and Clare would be Michauds."

Michael Shaw said, "I'm not in medicine, and even I know it doesn't work that way. Nick and my darling wife wouldn't exist."

Julie teased. "And Tim would be without a mother. I'm not sure I would have fell for him."

Elizabeth said, "It was the widower doctor who captured my heart not the patient."

Tim whined, "I thought it was his adorable son."

"It was you too, Timmy." Elizabeth reached over and pinched Tim's cheek.

Clare and Nick laughed. Recovering Clare said, "So the patients like Sara."

Nick nodded. "She charmed Lily too."

"When did she meet Lily?" Tim asked surprised.

"I ran into her as I was about to start rounds. She was dropping off her boyfriend's wallet. He must have left it at her place and work somewhere in the hospital, so I invited her on my rounds, including a visit with Lily."

Nick didn't know why he was so curious about who she was seeing. It wasn't his business.

Elizabeth Burke said, "I heard that little Lily is at home again, poor Christine."

His whole family knew about Lily and her illness. Their town was too small. Nick had been in school with Lily's uncle.

Wanting to lighten the mood, Nick said, "Mum, ask Tim about his nickname for our physician assistant."

Elizabeth said, "Timothy, you and your nicknames. What do you call this one?"

Tim glared at his brother, and Nick just smiled. He enjoyed getting Tim in trouble although it wasn't very difficult.

Julie said, "You haven't mentioned she has a nickname. What is it?"

Tim smiled. "It's a good one, really."

Nick knew that Tim was itching to tell because regardless of how Mum would react.

Nick said, "He's calling her Betty!"

"What?" Elizabeth glared at Tim.

"Mum, I've got a good reason for giving her your old nickname. Really, she sounds just like you. She looks like you when I met you." Tim insisted like he was ten again trying to get out of trouble.

Nick said, "He's right. Even Bridget noticed that she sounds like you."

Clare looked surprised. "When did Bridget meet her?"

"At the supermarket, we ran into her. She must live nearby."

Clare frowned. "You didn't know?"

"Know what?" Nick asked.

"She moved into Tardiff's extra apartment."

Tim said, "Oh Jesus! Sorry Mum. She's living in that same house as the bastard! Sorry again Mum!"

Elizabeth Burke tutted her stepson. Nick knew, she had heard worse during his and Clare's teen years.

Nick said, "She must know. I'm sure there are rumors."

Clare said, "I don't think so. No one talks about the accident. On my side, I'm not sure who they are more afraid of, me or Miles. He wants to keep it quiet, because he knows he came close to an ethics violation, they just couldn't prove it. On your side, the staff respects you too much."

Nick suddenly felt dread thinking of anyone with the bastard, but Sara was an adult. At least she wasn't single, not that it ever stopped Tardiff before. Still Sara wasn't really his type. He liked them tall and striking, like Mel. Sara was petite and not striking, but pretty. Yes, it was fair to say she was definitely pretty.

John Burke said, "Enough with this talk. I'd like to hear more about this young girl who looks like my wife. I might have to go see her for myself. My Elizabeth was beautiful, of course, she still is."

Nick smiled as his father reached out and captured his mother's hand bringing it to his heart and held it there. It comforted him to see his parents madly in love after forty-two years. His father had a second chance at love, but Nick wondered if he even wanted another shot or if he even knew what love was anymore.

His father was a lonely widower trying to run a practice and care for his son when he hired Elizabeth as his nurse. She and Tim got along and that was when the nickname, Betty, started. Tim spent his afternoons in the office and Mum always said she was unsure who fell in love first, her or Timothy. Tim had cleverly defied his father, who had insisted his son not call his nurse, 'by her given name'.

It was only after his mother returned to England when her father was sick that John Burke realized he loved his nurse. Upon her return, they were married a month later. Nick couldn't imagine repeating their perfect fairy tale.

"Mum... Mum," Clare repeated.

"Sorry, darling I was deep in thought."

Nick smiled, because he was certain his mother was reminiscing.

"The boys are hungry, can I help you in the kitchen," Clare asked.

"We need to feed this family don't we?" Elizabeth smiled.