This is dedicated to Sarah, you know why, Hannah, because it's your birthday tomorrow, and the rest of the MMEPAC girls. I love you all xxx
A shadow edged up the steps of the new Nonnatus House in the dead of night, creeping quietly so as not to disturb the inhabitants within, the people who lived in the onlooking buildings, or the bundle in her arms. She laid it down in front of the door before turning and fleeing.
The bundle lay there for another couple of hours before dawn started lighting the sky and Jenny returned from a house on the far side of Poplar where she had delivered a new baby girl. Her thoughts were on the baby she had just delivered, and so she didn't see the bundle lying in front of the door until she nearly tripped and it screamed.
Jenny leapt back, her heart in her mouth as she grabbed her torch from her bicycle and shone it on the floor in front of her, where sat a little girl blinking in the light. Jenny's gaze softened as she took in the scared little girl, but she swallowed nervously. She had no experience with children that had obviously been abandoned, her only experience with (she ran an eye over the child, judging her size) children about the age of six was that of the midwife when they attended clinic with their mother.
She knelt down, and touched the child's hand. In a few hours time, she would have to inform Sister Julienne and the other nuns and midwives, alert the police, start the hunt for the missing parents, but for now, as dawn was only just starting to break through the darkness, a terrified child needed to be comforted.
"Hello" she said quietly. The little girl met her eyes, her lower lip trembling, but didn't speak.
"Can you talk?" Jenny asked, her voice gentle, desperately trying to emulate the calming nature of Sister Julienne, Cynthia, and Shelagh. The girl nodded, but made no move to speak.
"What's your name?" Jenny tried again, kneeling on the cold steps so she was at eye level with the child. The girl's eyes were wide with fear, but she managed to open her mouth and whisper her name.
"Annie"
"Ok Annie" Jenny nodded, "are you cold? Would you like a warm drink?" Annie nodded, gripped the blanket she had been wrapped in but didn't stand up. Jenny stood, and leant down and picked her up, wrapping her more firmly in the blanket as she held her before she opened the door and carried Annie in.
Annie still looked terrified as Jenny settled in to warming some milk, so once the mug was placed in front of her the midwife sat herself down on the other side of the table with a mug of her own in order to put the girl at ease.
"How old are you Annie?" Jenny asked, trying to ascertain the facts to present to Sister Julienne once the nuns had woken.
"Six" Annie whispered, seemingly unable to speak any louder. She focused on drinking her milk and Jenny smiled as she watched her return to sleep. Once she had washed up, she carried Annie to her own bedroom that she shared with Trixie and hoped that she would wake before Trixie could disturb the sleeping child. She knew she didn't want to leave little Annie in an unfamiliar building to wake on her own, but she had been at a birth for several hours and her bed was becoming ever more attractive.
She somehow managed to fit both Annie and herself into her bed, but the sleep she was looking forward to never came, leaving her restless and only sleeping lightly until it was time to wake again.
"Trixie" Jenny whispered as soon as she realised her friend was waking, "Trixie!" Trixie sat up with a start, blinking blearily at Jenny who stood before her. Although Jenny had every right to lie in a bit extra, perhaps have a cup of tea or a mug of Horlicks after what could only have been a very late night, Jenny stood by her bed already in her uniform.
"What?" Trixie asked sleepily. In whispers, Jenny explained what had happened just a couple of hours before, the finding of Annie, the little girl who now lay in Jenny's bed, the small information she had managed to gather from her, and could she please keep an eye on her while she went to speak to Sister Julienne.
Trixie nodded, baffled. She slid out of bed and quickly dressed herself as well so she would be prepared for when Annie woke up while Jenny made her way to the chapel where the nuns would soon be leaving.
She stood quietly by the door, smiling at each of the nuns who left before indicating to Sister Julienne she needed to speak to her. The kind nun nodded, and led her to her small office.
"What's happened?" She asked immediately, having realised something was wrong. The last time Jenny had met her at the door, at such an early hour of the morning was in the last Nonnatus House, when she had brought Mary, the pregnant teenager for the night.
"Someone left a little girl outside the door last night." Jenny said. Sister Julienne was shocked, and breathed in sharply.
"A little girl?"
"Like with Raymond. Only Annie is six years old and very scared. I brought her in and gave her some milk, she's in my bed now - Trixie is looking after her." Jenny explained the rest of the mornings happenings, and Sister Julienne nodded approvingly.
"I must speak with her before I contact the police, I might recognise her. And if she trusts more than just you, then with us with her, the police might not be so terrifying for such a small child." She stopped and looked at the young midwife before her.
"I'm very proud of you Jenny, I wouldn't have done anything differently. Would you like to return to bed and get some rest?" She asked gently, seeing how exhausted Jenny was. But Jenny shook her head.
"I'm up now, and it's just the clinic today so I should be fine. I can't leave Annie on her own."
Sister Julienne smiled, and instructed Jenny to go and fetch Trixie and Annie while she briefed the other nuns and Cynthia. So when Jenny, Trixie and Annie all entered the kitchen, a quiet conversation was being held so the little girl wouldn't be terrified by a deep silence and a row of staring faces. Jenny introduced Annie to each of them in turn and Annie stared silently at each as they said hello, but remained clinging to Jenny's hand.
Once breakfast was eaten, Chummy stumbled in, having left her son Freddie with Mrs Torpy.
"What ho, who's this?" She gasped, reaching out to Annie who recoiled in fear. Chummy came closer, but Annie burst into tears and Jenny snapped.
"Stop it Chummy, you're scaring her!"
Chummy reeled back, startled.
"She just needs to get to know me, then we'll be best chums" she replied. But Annie winced and hid herself behind Jenny's legs again and Jenny sent a warning glance at Chummy.
Soon after, Sister Julienne stood up. She smiled as her fellow nuns took their leave and left the table, and the other nurses did the same, but she asked Jenny to return to her office with her and Annie.
"It is time to call the police, I feel." She calmly stated. Jenny nodded. Sister Julienne then knelt down in front of Annie, who edged closer to Jenny's side once more.
"Oh, my dear" she quietly said, "trust me, please? We're going to find out who your mum is and why you've been placed with us. We need to talk to someone who can handle this well, and Jenny will be here every step of the way." Reassured, Annie glanced up at the young woman who held her hand, and Jenny nodded.
"I'll be here Annie" she promised. Annie nodded, and Sister Julienne stood to return to her desk and call the police.
"Hello, may I speak to the police please? Oh, hello Constable Noakes. I'd like some assistance at Nonnatus House."