Summary: Patsy and Delia's relationship is tested
Disclaimer: Call The Midwife belongs to them BBC and others - I am simply borrowing their beautiful characters.
Sister Julienne came late to the breakfast table and sat down with brisk efficiency. "Good morning," she greeted the midwives and nuns already seated. "I have just had a telephone conversation with Dr Turner," she continued, simultaneously reaching for the teapot. "Due to the increasing numbers of pregnancies in the area, and as part of an ongoing training programme, we are to have an additional doctor to support the clinic."
Sister Evangelina huffed slightly. "I hope we don't have to drum an appropriate bedside manner into him," she grumbled.
"I rather hope that she will already have a bedside manner commensurate to your standards sister," the senior nun commented drily. The midwives looked at each other in surprise.
"A female doctor?" Patsy clarified. "Hurrah!"
"Hear, hear," Trixie agreed, nodding with enthusiasm. "It's about time too. Our ladies will feel much more comfortable with a feminine touch."
"When does she start?" Phyllis asked.
"Today, apparently." Sister Julienne sounded surprised. "There was a mix up in the paperwork getting to Dr Turner."
"I'll be sure to look out for her," Phyllis advised. "Come along," she encouraged her team. "We still have to allocate roles today."
As the nurses cleared the table, the front door to the convent opened and then closed. Patsy looked down the corridor and saw Delia heading for the staircase, looking tired and pale. "Morning," she called cheerfully.
Delia looked up and smiled, immediately feeling better at having seen the red-haired nurse. "Morning Pats. Hope you don't mind but I am going straight to bed."
"Bad night?" Patsy queried.
"A couple of emergency surgeries. It's been manic. That's why I'm so late."
Patsy nodded and smiled softly. "Well it's nice to catch a glimpse of you. Sleep well," she wished.
"I will. Only two more nights then I've got rest days. We'll catch up later," Delia promised waving slightly as she ascended the stairs.
Patsy smiled wistfully as she returned to cleaning up. Delia's night shifts were the worst for them both; she was usually asleep by the time Patsy was up for her day and would often leave for work before Patsy finished. Just catching a glimpse of her had cheered Patsy up immensely and it was with a renewed spring in her step that she made her way to the prep room.
Nurse Crane looked up from the desk at the clinic to see an immaculately dressed young brunette walk confidently towards her. Her dark blue suit was obviously tailored, and her dark chestnut hair was coiffed into a sharp French plait. She smiled in greeting although it did not meet her grey eyes. "Joanna Parker," she introduced herself formally.
"Pleased to meet you," nurse Crane replied, glancing at the registration book. "Do you have an appointment Mrs Parker?"
"It's Dr Parker, and no, I didn't think I'd need an appointment to start work."
"Dr Parker? Do forgive me." Phyllis stood up immediately. "We were told of your arrival, it must have been force of habit," she explained.
"No problem." Dr Parker scanned the clinic area with a critical eye. "Perhaps you could spare someone to show me around and then I can get started?" She suggested, her voice cultured and smooth.
There was something fractionally off about Dr Parker to Phyllis's mind, but she couldn't quite figure out what. She had a feeling that first impressions were very important to this woman as she weighed up her options. Barbara was competent but came across as young and eager to please and Mrs Turner was in civvies today. "Nurse Mount," she called out. "Dr Parker is here. Would you be so kind as to show her round?"
Patsy turned round and smiled broadly at Dr Parker. "Of course." She strode over and held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Dr Parker found herself smiling back and stared at the tall nurse as she shook her hand. She was stunning. "Nice to meet you too. Shall we?"
Patsy nodded and eagerly took on the role of guide and started with the tour. "So what was the attraction of Poplar?" She asked conversationally, sensing none of the usual aloofness she usually experienced with doctors and their rigid pecking orders.
"There's just so much to do here. The most deprived areas provide the biggest challenges," Dr Parker answered simply. She shot a look at the Titian-haired nurse and smiled inwardly. There might just be some unexpected benefits to working here too, she thought.
"I know. It's not just a high pregnancy rate here. Poverty brings a whole range of other problems and risks..." Patsy caught herself before she really launched into the subject. "Sorry, I get a bit carried away sometimes."
"Don't apologise. I love seeing passion like that," the chestnut-haired woman replied. She studied nurse Mount's face for a flicker of recognition at the slight flirtation but she appeared oblivious to it. Interesting. Well, it wasn't just work where she liked a challenge.
As they continued the tour, Patsy slipped into an easy conversation with the doctor. She was engaging and quite charming, and had an obvious interest in helping people. It was nice to see a woman making headway in a predominantly male occupation and who appeared to have come through the system without picking up the awful inapproachability that most doctors ended up with.
"That's about it, I'm afraid," she stated as they ended in Mrs Turner's office. Shelagh, as always, had been the epitome of politeness, advising the doctor that Dr Turner was away at an urgent house call.
"Well then, perhaps I can make a dent into the list on his behalf," Dr Parker suggested. She looked at Patsy appraisingly. "Ready to get to work?"
Patsy was taken aback slightly, fully expecting to returning to her own duties rather than assisting the doctor, but she nodded acquiescence and led the way to the room Dr Parker would utilise, grabbing a set of files on the way.
"You strike me as an extremely efficient sort, nurse Mount," Dr Parker remarked casually. "I thought we'd be a good match."
Patsy nodded agreement freely, missing the slight glint in the brunette's eyes.
The clinic went well, and Patsy was delighted by the new doctor's bedside manner and attentiveness. The locals were a little suspicious of a female doctor to start with, but the natural banter she seemed to strike up with their nurse Mount, who was posh but caring, reassured them that they were in good hands.
As the clinic finished and the tidy up began, Patsy asked the dark haired woman how she had found her first day.
"Well our ladies have certainly been a bit challenging. And very set in their ways," she commented.
"I know." Patsy sighed. "The problem is that many of them are so bound in traditional family values that any break from that or suggestion to do something a bit differently is considered criticism and viewed with suspicion."
"And yet you keep at it," Dr Parker lauded.
Patsy thought nothing of the compliment. "We all do. It's part of why we nurse," she shrugged.
Joanna stepped slightly closer. "Well I, for one, think it's very admirable."
Nurse Crane looked up and frowned slightly at the interaction even as Patsy smiled back at the doctor. For some inexplicable reason she felt the need to interrupt. "Are you almost done, nurse Mount?"
Patsy looked toward the older nurse. "Yes, nurse Crane. Ready to head back?"
Nurse Crane nodded curtly and Patsy turned back towards the doctor. "Have you got far to get home?" She asked conversationally.
"Blackheath. Not too bad once the Blackwall tunnel is endured. But I'm not sure if Dr Turner expected me to assist with evening surgery or with any sort of on-call."
"He should be back soon. Perhaps you could pop back to Nonnatus with the midwives for a spot of tea, and I'll send him over when he gets home," Shelagh suggested.
"That's a good idea. Mrs B does a good spread," Patsy agreed.
"I don't want to be an imposition," Dr Parker stated guardedly.
"Nonsense. And you'll be able to meet the others. You'll end up working with us all at some point." Patsy responded.
Dr Parker afforded her a wide smile again. "In that case, lead the way nurse Mount."
The evening meal was a hubbub of chatter and Dr Parker spent a lot of time talking to all the midwives, surprised at how committed the nuns were to providing assistance along with the trained NHS midwives. She found sister Monica Joan to be somewhat of a puzzle but smiled politely as she spoke in cryptic riddles. Her main focus was Patsy, however. The tall red-haired nurse had shown a cool efficiency throughout the day and dealt with every patient with with brisk diligence. Joanna was enchanted by her. She noted that the nurse wore no jewellery but that wasn't unusual for nurses. The gentle social banter she had with nurse Gilbert and nurse Franklin provided no other clues about her non-work interests but Joanna was determined to learn more. She would have to tread extremely carefully however. It seemed that already nurse Crane had a slight suspicion about her, and the risk of approaching a woman who didn't share the same proclivities were extreme - it would almost certainly lead to being struck off the register as well as dismissal.
Nurse Mount looked like a woman that it would be worth the risk for though. Parker would just have to take her time and slowly test the waters before making her intentions a little clearer.
After receiving instructions about the rest of the week from Dr Turner, Joanna made her excuses in order to drive back to Blackheath. She couldn't resist one parting comment however. "I do hope we team up again nurse Mount. I feel we make a most efficient team."
Patsy smiled widely as she walked the doctor to the door. "Me too. I've had a really enjoyable day."
It was a start, thought Dr Parker; and a good one at that.
To be continued