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After several dances, Patrick and Shelagh returned to the table to find Timothy and Susan sitting quietly. Around them, the older couples chatted amiably about work, children, recent trips, but the two teenagers seemed stiff and uncomfortable. Shelagh thought quickly.

“Timothy, dear, why don’t you and your father go and get us ladies some refreshments?” She glanced to Susan for agreement. “Lemonade? You know I dislike red punch.”

“Because red punch stains like no one’s business,” her son recited.

“Yes. And perhaps you could corral a waiter with one of those trays of sausage puffs? I’m starving.” She looked at Patrick as she spoke and he leant in. “Talk to him,” she whispered. “He’s miserable.”

Patrick’s eyebrows rose for a moment. “You want me to play matchmaker? Shelagh, there are some limits in the father-son relationship.”

“Not tonight, there aren’t. Just give him a boost. He’s so terribly nervous. Something man-to-manish.” She smiled. “For me, dearest?”

Letting out a breath, he shook his head. “The lengths I will go to impress my girl. I’ll give it a try. But don’t blame me if I muck it all up.”

 

On the way to the refreshments table, Patrick observed his son. Shelagh was right. The poor lad had obviously not lost any his nervousness.

Patrick patted his son on the shoulder. “Relax, Tim. The night’s going well. Susan seems very nice.”

Tim scowled at his dad. “The night’s awful. I can’t think of a single thing to say to her. Susan’s going to think I’m a complete dud.”

“No, she won’t. She agreed to come out with you tonight, didn’t she? That’s always a pretty good indication that a girl is interested.” His head tilted to the side as he pondered his son’s situation. “Do you like her?”

“I do, Dad. Don’t tease. I like her a lot. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” He looked very young, despite his grown-up suit.

Patrick smiled wryly. “Talk to her. Make her feel important to you. You have to court a lady, Tim.”

“Hmph,” Tim grunted. “You never courted Mum. One day she came home from the Sanatorium and a fortnight later you were engaged.”

Patrick laughed. “I suppose our chronology was a little unconventional. When you know, you know.” He glanced over to the table, a little smile pulling at his mouth. “But I had to learn to court her afterwards. In fact, I’m still courting her today.”

Tim couldn’t help it. He rolled his eyes. “Don’t remind me.”

Patting his manly son on the shoulder, Patrick said, “The fact of the matter is you have to talk to her. It’s the only way you’ll get to know if there really is something there. Well, one of the ways…”

“Dad!”

 

 

At the table, Shelagh was doing her best to salvage the night for the young couple. Her tactics were a little less obvious, however.

“Timothy tells me you’ve just been awarded place at university. Your parents must be very proud, dear.”

“Yes. It’s rather frightening, really. I’ve never been away from home.” Susan fiddled with her napkin nervously.

Shelagh reached out and placed her gloved hand over the young girl’s. “Yes, I know what you mean. I was terrified when I left home. You just have to trust yourself to make the leap, that no matter how things go, you’ll find a way.” Trying to catch her eye, Shelagh continued, “It’s all about self-confidence, though I’ve had my own struggles on that front, too.”

Susan looked up. “You have?”

“Of course. Everyone has. Some are just better at disguising it, that’s all. Take tonight for example. I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but you seem a bit nervous.” Shelagh’s warm gaze softened the question.

By now, the napkin was a wrinkled mess. “Is it so obvious?” Susan whispered.

“Only to me, dear,” Shelagh consoled. “ I’m a mother. I can’t help but look out for you.”

“My friends always say get a boy to talk about himself, but I can’t seem to get Timothy to say more than two words at a time.”

Shelagh smiled. If he couldn’t find his tongue, Timothy must be terribly nervous. He was going to need some help, and with a little boost to her ego, Susan might be the girl to do it. “Any boy worth his salt will want to know about you, too. Don’t play second fiddle to anyone, Susan, especially if it’s just to impress them, boy or girl.” She leant in. “Can I tell you a secret? I’m a bit shy myself. When I was younger I was very afraid of making mistakes, that people would think less of me. Then one day, I decided that what others thought didn’t matter half as much as what I thought about myself. Once I realized that, things just…fell into place.”

“Was that when you left the Order?” Susan asked artlessly. Realizing what she had just said, she covered her shocked mouth. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Turner. I shouldn’t have said-”

Shelagh chuckled. “Don’t be silly, dear. I know it’s quite a tidbit. Nun gets married and all that. It’s all right, let people talk. But, yes, that is when I left the Order. I decided to trust myself.” She smiled. “And here come our dates.”

Patrick slipped into his seat, placing a plate of hors d’oeuvres in front of his wife. “As you ordered, madam wife.”

Shaking his head in resignation, Tim turned to Susan. “How about we take a walk before dinner? I heard that there’s a fountain in the courtyard. It’s quite loud in here, we could go…talk.”

Susan stood. “Let’s go see if we can find it, then.”

Patrick watched the young couple move off, then turned to his wife, a puzzled expression creasing his forehead. “Did what I think just happen, happen?”

Shelagh giggled. “I think perhaps it has.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a lot more of Susan in the future.”

“Maybe not so much of her tonight, though,” Patrick grinned. “I think I’ll let him take the car home.” He sat back in his seat with the air of a king awarding a fiefdom.

“Patrick!” Shelagh was stunned at the unprecedented offer.

“You wanted me to play matchmaker.” His hand squeezed hers as his eyes took on a rakish smile. “Besides, we haven’t snogged in the back seat of a cab for far too long.”

Shelagh blushed, but met his eyes squarely. “That’s as may be, Patrick. Just remember that Angela may play at Cinderella, but there is no way I’m leaving this Ball before midnight!”