Chummy stood in the doorway, waiting to be noticed. The casual way he sat on the edge of his desk took her by surprise. Dr. Turner was on the phone and she could not avoid hearing him.
He said quite passionately into the phone, "You are not traveling thirty miles by public transport...Sister Bernadette."
It was then that he looked up and noticed her. Holding his hand over the receiver, he asked what she needed.
Having delivered her message she returned to Dolly Smart,her laboring patient. She felt awkward about interrupting him and she wondered why he would be speaking to Sister Bernadette.
Although the Sisters were silent, The nurses at Nonnatus House were a buzz about the news that Sister Bernadette was not returning and questioning what God wants of her. Cynthia was full of disbelief and questions.
What Chummy could not put right was why she would be calling Dr. Turner when she was going to the Mother House. Her nagging thoughts did not go away when Dr. Turner rushed out following his examination of Dolly.
By the time Jenny arrived, Chummy was about to explode. She wanted to be told that what she saw and heard was perfectly normal. As she told Jenny about the phone conversation and Doctor's sudden departure, she began feeling faint twinges in her own belly.
Jenny whispered,"It sounds a bit strange are you sure that you heard it right?"
She assured her that she had, but their moment to themselves was over and Dolly needed them.
Between taking care of Dolly and the start of her own labor, Chummy did not think about the phone conversation again.
Jenny Lee listened to Chummy story, but was too busy to give it a moment of thought. Her day went terribly wrong after Chummy haemorrhaged and was rushed to hospital. As they sat in holy silence throughout the day and night waiting for news, all she thought about was Chummy.
It was not until after she and Sister Julienne returned from visiting Chummy that Jenny even remembered their previous conversation that now seemed so very long ago.
Jenny and Trixie were together with Cynthia in the room they shared. Jenny was telling about the visit to Chummy. They were still shaken by how close Chummy had come to leaving them.
Cynthia said, "I heard Sister Evangelina speaking to Sister Julienne. She said 'just like that she did it' and Sister Julienne silenced her clearly not wanting to be overheard."
Trixie said, "She may have been talking about Sister Bernadette. She was here yesterday when Chummy was in labor. I saw her leave when I was bringing down the empty soapy bowl. She was...she was…"
"She was what?" Cynthia asked.
Trixie took a deep breath and said, "She was wearing a suit and she had come from Sister Julienne's office. I saw her from behind and I recognised her walk."
Cynthia's face looked sad, but she spoke first,"Do you think what Sister Evangelina meant was that she already left the order? I just don't understand why she would do that."
Jenny who had been quiet said, "Chummy overheard a telephone conversation yesterday. Apparently she was taking the bus from the sanatorium. I guess we now know she was coming here to meet with Sister Julienne."
"Telephone conversation. Who was she speaking to?" Trixie asked.
"That's the interesting thing. She was talking to Dr. Turner," Jenny said.
"Why Dr. Turner?" Cynthia asked.
"I don't know," Jenny said, "Chummy said he rushed out of the maternity home right after the call."
"Do you think he went to get her in his car?" Cynthia asked.
"I don't know if anyone else noticed, but he has been acting strange lately," Trixie said.
"No, but what does that have to do with anything?" Jenny asked.
"Maybe he is the reason why she left the order," Trixie whispered.
"Trixie, you're crazy!" Jenny said.
"Yes, you're not funny," Cynthia added.