Dr. Turner had a different relationship with each of nonnatus Sisters. He and Sister Julienne were like professional partners. They relied on each other's support and counsel as they ran the clinic and served the people of the district. Sister Evangelina was a tough bird, but was as practical and hardworking as anyone he had ever met. Often they did not see eye to eye, but she was the one who saved him from running to every delivery with gas and air. He was busy enough with this over populated district. Sister Bernadette was a highly accomplished midwife, but also she always seemed to care about everyone in her own unique way. She especially cared about Timothy. This meant a lot to him as he himself always seemed to be letting his son down. As Timmy was quick to point out he was always late for everything. He was too young to understand the importance of his job as general practitioner to the people of Poplar.
It was Sister Bernadette who asked about Timothy and listened to his concerns about their first Christmas after his wife had passed. She shared her experience of losing her mother at a young age. Over time he found himself enjoying conversations with her. It was not until after she started wearing her new spectacles that he began feeling different towards her. He suddenly noticed her amazing warm blue eyes. They were like a magical sea that just pulled him in.
It was hard to see her eyes much of the time. She was always looking down and quick to avert her gaze. Only during deliveries when they were a team working together did she look his way without censor . It was also during deliveries when it was not uncommon to be physically close. This was often due to cramped rooms and the nature of complicated deliveries.
It was during the Carter delivery that he became acutely aware that his feelings had taken an inappropriate turn. As he passed the first baby off to her before going out to share the good news her hand touch his. The feeling that went through him was shocking. It happened again as she brushed by him after placing the second baby with her mother. Maybe it was just the intensity of the situation, he thought, as this was immediately after he had watched her skillfully revive that baby.
After that intense delivery including Sister being punched in the face, the moment outside when she shared his Henley was like a dream. She spoke of being age fourteen and he found he wanted to hear every story of her life in that moment. Before she peddled off she looked up at him and he knew he was in trouble.
Then she was there to step in when Timothy had left school with his scraped arm. His son needed a mother or at least a father who was not pulled in every direction all over the East End. There was a bond there between Sister and his son. Timothy felt it when he drew her the picture of them. Sister in her habit and holding his hand. He did not know why he kept the picture and delayed passing it on. He also was not sure why he gave it to Sister Julienne to forward. Perhaps he was afraid of what he would say if he delivered it directly.
The day their eyes locked over the spirit lamps, he thought his heart would leap out of his chest. He was not a young man, but he suddenly felt like a smitten schoolboy around her. If Timothy had not come in just then, he was unsure of what he may have said or worse done.