Chapter 1
Dring Dring Dring
Barbara rushed to the phone «Nonatus house, midwife speaking. Yes Mr Colins, I'll be here in a few minutes». After hanging up the phone, the young nurse grabbed her bag and cape before rushing to the door. On the way she met Sister Evangelina.
«Nurse Gilbert, where are you of to?» asked the nun with her usual grumpiness
«Mr. Colin called, his wife is in labor»
«Then why are you still here? Of you go»
«Yes Sister» answered Barbara as she passed Nonatus's front door to get her bicycle.
A few hours later Sister Julienne, Sister Evangelina, Sister Monica Joan, Sister Winifred, Trixie and Patsy were eating in the dinning room, each relating their day. The latter three had to use all their self control not to laugh when Sister Monica Joan started rambling about how Neptune and Mercury were the reasons Sister Evangelina had a nasty temper. But they couldn't resist when Sister Monica Joan, seeing Sister Evangelina was looking up like she was praying for strength, asked with the most candid voice: «Are you summoning up a fart?» the three young women burst out in laughter, even Sister Julienne barely managed to suppress a smile.
«Do not encourage her» barked Sister Evangelina addressing Sister Winifred, Trixie and Patsy
«Sorry Sister» said the latter between two giggles fit «We couldn't help it» They continue laughing while Evangelina mumbled about respect towards elders and dementia.
Dring Dring Dring
«I'll get it» proposed Patsy getting up, but Sister Julienne raised her hand and said «No Nurse Mount, finish your soup, I'll get it» before hurrying to the phone.
«Nonatus house, midwife speaking»
«Sister Julienne, I'm glad it is you who answered»
«Doctor Turner? Is there a problem?» the nun hadn't miss the hint of trouble in the man's voice
«You are aware that nurse Gilbert went to a delivery earlier today»
«Yes, Sister Evangelina saw her leaving around eleven.» Suddenly a thought hit Julienne «Did something happened to her? Was she in an accident?» she asked concern building up in her chest. The girls were extremely vulnerable on their bicycle, they could easily be hit by a caution less driver. An image of Barbara, unconscious on the ground next to her broken bike her forehead bleeding, came to Sister Julienne's mind.
«No, no, no, no Nurse Gilbert is fine» the nun let out a breath, but her relief was short lived «Well…she is physically unharmed» apprehension took hold of Julienne's heart once more
«Doctor you are scarring me, what is going on?»
«Things did not go well»
«What do you mean? What happened?»
«Placental abruption. By the time Nurse Gilbert arrived, the mother was already haemorrhaging heavily. When I showed up, there was blood everywhere. But by the time the ambulance finally arrived…it was too late. Mother and baby died on the way to the hospital.»
«Oh God» whispered Sister Julienne after a brief silence «And Nurse Gilbert?» she asked deeply worried. Losing a mother or a child was a horrible experience. But losing both was devastating «How is she?». The nun knew of Barbara's sensible and compassionate nature. This tragedy would tore her heart a part, and Julienne wanted nothing more then to hold the young woman in her arms to comfort her.
«She is still in shock. I'll bring her back to Nonatus right away.»
«We'll be waiting»
«Sister Julienne, Nurse Gilbert went to a horrid ordeal today, the less fuss the better»
«Of course Doctor, thank you» Julienne slowly hung up. Instead of returning to the dinning room immediately, the nun took the time to address a small prayer: Lord, give your daughter strength. After making the sign of the cross, the nun made her way back to the dinning room. As soon as the nurses and nuns saw the sorrow in Sister Julienne's face, they all fell silent.
«Ladies…Something happened to nurse Gilbert»