La sonrisa de Bernadette

Mid September

He came home late that night, still upset about Spencer Wray's story.

The lights were off, the house was quiet. He was tired, but he needed to let go of the flow of thoughts that had invested him in the last few days.

He sat at the table, in the dark, the smell of the stew that Shelagh made for dinner still in the air. He really needed moments like that, soothing his senses and stop being Dr Turner to get into the shoes of the man Patrick Turner, the husband, the father. He sighed with a half smile, realizing that truth to be told, that side of him had no less thoughts than his professional alter ego.

The husband... of his Shelagh. God, how he loved that woman! So petite but so extraordinarily strong, delicate and bold at the same time (oh so much bold sometime…). They'd been married for ten years now, but he hadn't still finished wondering how much he loved her.

That woman who only a few days before had stormed into the Maternity Home, demanding to speak to him in private. He knew right away that it was serious... and it really was. He barely had time to close the door of his office and sit down when Shelagh blurted:

"I'm pregnant, again."

And then…there was Patrick, the father.

Timothy's father, his 20-year-old son who had been involved and quite shocked by the consequences of schizophrenia of the young Wray. His first born, everyday more and more like him, physically and temperamentally, who was growing into a young man and at the same time was also beginning to face the dark side of the medical profession.

Angela's father, his angel girl, to whom they would sooner rather than later have to disclose her whole story... reveal her about the special way she became part of their unique family.

May's father, who he loved so much that he was breathless at the thought that at any moment someone could come and tear her from their lives.

Teddy's father, their miracle, so like Shelagh in features and so like to him in character. A little rascal that with his funny faces could always make them smile, but at the same time a very sensitive and attentive kid, especially to his sisters and his mommy.

And...

He couldn't help it, the thought of a new baby possibly joining their family filled him with joy. He hadn't hesitated for a moment to be happy about it, not even when Shelagh had taken it out on him, her voice broken by tears, saying she was afraid she wouldn't make it because she was too old and too tired, that the house wasn't big enough, that they might not be enough. Of course they'll be enough! They will always be enough!

The sound of footsteps descending the stairs roused him from his thoughts. He knew those footsteps very well. He looked up and saw her coming down, wrapped in her blue robe.

"I couldn't sleep. The results of the test has arrived today…but I didn't open the envelope yet."

"I couldn't sleep either. You weren't in bed and I missed you" said her, going down the last few steps.

"Come here," he invited her with a smile, extending his hand towards hers than he kissed softly the back of her hand.

That gentle hand of his was her refuge and protection. Of course she was still scared (terrified to be honest) of what could happen from now on, but she knew deep down her heart that with him by her side she could face any storm, they had already done it in the past. They did it every day. They would do it again, no matter what.

She sat on the other side of the table, grabbed his other hand. They looked into each other's eyes, smiling tenderly.

"So…Shall we open it?" asked him.

"Oh Patrick, what if…"

"Shelagh, whatever the result, we will face it and we'll be fine."

He put his right hand in his jacket, taking off the envelope. She got up from the chair, approaching him. Patrick made her sit on his lap. They opened it together, their hands trembling, then Shelagh pulled out the sheet of paper with the result stamped from the lab.

In the center, typed, in capital letters well marked, there was written POSITIVE.

"Oh Patrick!…a baby.." stated Shelagh in a whisper

"A baby…" echoed Patrick, smiling.

"Am I allowed to be scared?"

"Shelagh, darling…you can, of course. But do know that everything is just as ought to be, because we have everything a family could want." reassured her by holding her in a warm embrace.

After a moment of silence, he softly added "And am I allowed to be happy?"

His question drew a smile on her face.

"Of course you can. I know you are happy. And I want you to know that, despite all my fears, I am too."

Overwhelmed by the emotions, they head to their bedroom still holding hands.