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It Had been a hectic day for the nurses and nuns of Nonatus house; not only was there an unusual number of births, but it was Tuesday which meant it was clinic day. The clinic was hard enough to run and keep organised on an average clinic day, but it was almost impossible with the midwives, and the doctor kept having to leave to tend to birth mothers. All in all, it was an extremely tiring day for everyone. Still, it was especially hard on two of the newest midwives at Nonatus house, sister Winifred and nurse Gilbert, neither of whom had ever experienced a day like this before.
They were all sitting around the table having a well-earned cup of tea with the Turners, as the Autoclave at the surgery was broken again when Trixie walked in from her latest delivery.
“Mrs Thomson’s has a perfectly healthy little girl; both mother and baby are doing well,” Trixie told everyone to sit at the table.
“I don’t think we’ve had a day this busy since the summer of 1957,” Trixie says, sitting down as sister Winifred brought her a cup of tea.
“I remember that day,” Cinthia remarked, “If I remember correctly, Sister Julien wrote down how many babies we each delivered.”
“Ahh yes, I remember I put it in the draw in the clinical room when we moved,
Why don’t you go and get it, nurse miller?” asked sister Julienne.
“Yes, sister”, Cynthia replied as she ran to find the piece of paper with the information on it. “Here it is,” Cynthia said as she handed the piece of paper to Sister Julienne.
“Ahh, yes, of course, there was a total of 11 babies delivered in one day, all while keeping the clinic running.” Sister Julienne told the group.
“Let me have a look at it?” asked Sister Evangelina, reaching over as her fellow sister handed her the list. As sister Evangelina looked down the list, Trixie read it over the shoulder.
“Go on then, Trixie read it out to the rest of us”, Barbara encouraged; she hadn’t been at the nonatus house long and wanted to find out as much about the area and the people who lived there.
“There were 14 babies born that day,” Trixie said, passing the note back to Sister Julienne.
“Sister Evangelina and Nurse Chummy Browne both delivered one baby each”, started Sister Julienne. “Chummy was a nurse who used to live with us. She now is the matron at the mother and baby home.” She told those who might not have known.
“Ahh yes, that was the day I was left to run clinic with just chummy being her usual clumsy self.” Sister Evangelina huffed out, and then she left to check up on everything in the clinical room as she already knew this story and how it ended.
“Nurse Jenny lee, Trixie franklin and Cynthia Miller Attended two births each, as well as their pre/post-natal and district duties.” Sister Julienne carried on. “And finally, Sister Bernadette who attended three births, two of which were twins if my memory serves me correct.”
“Wow, it sounds like it was a busy day; I don’t think that I could have coped with it myself if I’m being honest”, Sister Winifred admits sheepishly.
“I could not imagine delivering five babies in one day; I would love to ask Sister Bernadette how she goes through a day like that”, Barbara said, amazed and thankful that she hadn’t experienced a day like that yet. Still, she was excited at the possibility that she would one day be that busy.
“A lot of tea, prayers and a long sleep at the end of the day, if I remember correctly,” Shelagh said before having a drink of her tea, thinking back to her days as sister Bernadette, back to before she married Patrick and before she had her children, her family.
“Did you know Sister Bernadette, Mrs Turner?” Barbara asked innocently.
“Um no I was Sister Bernadette.” Shelagh answered whilst looking at her husband, who was trying not to laugh; he wasn’t successful, which wasn’t helping the situation’s awkwardness.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know that you used to be a sister,” Barbara said nervously, hoping that she hadn’t upset or hurt Mrs Turner.
“it’s no bother Barbara, and it’s not like I advertise my past life”, Shelagh reassured.
“I just have to ask how you ended up renouncing your vows and going down a completely different path,” Barbara asked.
“Her eye was caught by a particular doctor and his little boy, wasn’t it Shelagh.” Trixie giggled whilst nudging Cynthia’s arm with her elbow as Cynthia was the only other person, apart from the couple in question, who would understand what she meant.
“Yes, in a round-about way, you are right, Trixie”, Shelagh confirmed with a nervous chuckle, “I spent a long time doubting whether the convent was my true calling. I worked with Patrick on many cases, which wasn’t helping my doubts as I struggled with growing feelings for him. I was diagnosed with Tuberculosis; it gave me time away to think about my feelings and what God wanted me to do.”
“When she left the sanatorium, she had finally come to terms with her feelings and started her new life with me and timothy, isn’t that right, my love” Patrick finished with a cheeky grin.
“Yes, something like that, my dear”, Shelagh answered with a chuckle.
“It all sounds very romantic,” Barbra said excitingly.
“Oh, it was”, Trixie laughed.
“Right, Doctor, the autoclave is finished, and I’ve bagged your instruments up, so they are ready to go in your bag,” Sister Evangelina said as she came back into the room.
“Thank you, sister; I’ll go and sort them, then we can get out of your way” Patrick made his way to the clinical room. Five minutes later, Patrick came back into the parlour with his bag, ready to go home. “Are you ready to leave, my love? We can’t leave Mrs B with the kids much longer.” He said with a slight chuckle.
“Your right; let’s go; ill see you all tomorrow.” Shelagh said to the group, and there was a collective “goodbye” as the turners left the nonatus house to go home for the night.