With Valentine's Day around the corner, Nonnatus House was a buzz with excitement. Admittedly not from the older residents that it housed, but the young midwives looked forward to the day with enthusiasm.
"Nothing says Valentine's Day quite like the district round," sighed Trixie, "I somehow doubt that Mr Right is going to be hiding in Mr Smiths closet waiting for me to finish redressing his leg ulcers."
The girls around the kitchen table giggled.
"Maybe Mr Smith will have a bouquet of flowers waiting for you when you get there as a surprise," snickered Barbara. The youngest midwife took a final sip of her cup of tea and stood. "I can't believe I got put on the night shift. There goes all hopes of a night out with Tom; not that he's even asked me."
"He might still Barbara," sympathised Patsy, "there's always February 15th for a night together. It'll be just the same I'm sure."
"Easy for you to say Patsy, you have managed to get the day off. Free to be swept off your feet by any eligible bachelor that appears." Barbara made a poor attempt at hiding her disgruntled face as she left the kitchen, throwing a quick wave and goodbye as she left for a day of cycling between the expectant mothers of Poplar.
Patsy took her breakfast in silence in an attempt to hide the growing blush across her face. Sadly, this did not go unnoticed by Trixie who quickly pounced on her roommate at the faintest stench of gossip.
"Who's the lucky man?" Trixie enquired, with an air of nonchalance, expectant eyes roving over Patsy face for the faintest sign of a tell.
Patsy cursed Trixie's keen eye. The problem was that there was no man. Well it was not a problem for Patsy, having had no desire to be with a man in the slightest. The problem unfortunately lay in the mind-set of the 1960's. To expose herself as a lesbian would have dire consequences. The fact that Patsy toyed with the expectations of her gender was a cause of great stress for her. However, the form of stress relief that she received in return made it all worthwhile: Delia.
"There is no man Trix, I have told you before that you would be the first to know if there was." The statement was not a total lie, Trixie would be the first to find out about any potential male suitor, it was just that there was never going to be one.
With a disappointed look, Trixie tidied up her breakfast plates. "So what are you doing with your free day then if you have nobody to spend it with?"
"She's going to be spending the day with me. I'm afraid that I still have some belongings that need sorted out. I can put her abnormal height to good use," said a voice with a soft Welsh lilt.
Trixie re-entered the dining room to find Delia leaning against the doorway with the faintest of smirks on her face. Patsy's feigned hurt expression made both Trixie and Delia laugh.
"I am not actually that tall. It's just that the two of you have been made in miniature size," she muttered.
Changing the subject back to the matter in hand Trixie faced Delia, "I am awfully glad to hear that you will not be letting Nurse Mount get away with lolly-gagging about her room all day. Be sure to get her a man now Delia. I have been trying unsuccessfully for years now, but she seems to listen to you more than me."
Trixie left for her day leaving Patsy and Delia suppressing giggles in her wake.
"Did you hear that Nurse Mount? I am to find you a man. I shall start my thorough search today. Maybe there is one hidden behind Fred's shed, or maybe even hidden in the compost heap out back." The giggles had turned into reams of laughter from the Welshwoman who was finding it difficult to look at Patsy clearly due to the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"Enough of your cheek Miss Busby, or I might just have to forget all about the plans I have made for tomorrow," threatened Patsy, "I am sure there are plenty of people who could use two seats at the cinema tomorrow to see La Dolche Vita." Patsy did not attempt to hide the grin that formed at Delia's shocked, wide-mouth at the news.
"You got us tickets for La Dolche Vita?" Delia exclaimed, "I thought it had been all sold out for the foreseeable future?"
"Well it is only sold out for the people who did not help deliver Miss Kerr's baby daughter yesterday afternoon. Her father owns the cinema in this area. He offered me the tickets as a thank you when I had mentioned that I had been looking to see the film."
"Oh, Patsy!" Delia could not contain her excitement anymore, she flung herself into the taller woman's frame and wrapped her arms around her in an enveloping hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Patsy smiled, "you're very welcome my love," she whispered into Delia's ear, pressing a kiss to her head. She always enjoyed these stolen moments away from the unwavering gaze of their fellow housemates. Sure, Patsy had been able to see Delia everyday since she had moved back to London and into Nonnatus. When she was at home in Wales after the accident, the letters had been few and far between. Since her change in lodgings had occurred, every moment they had together was always spent with the others. It was rare that they found themselves alone.
Finally breaking the hug, Delia's face glowed with excitement thinking about their date the next day. "Ok, change of plans, I need to go find an outfit to wear. What time is the showing? If it's late I'll need something warm, it's not quite Spring weather yet…"
Delia babbled to herself for a few moments as Patsy sorted out her breakfast plates and re-joined her love in the dining room. They walked together to the preparation room where Patsy gathered her equipment for the day and then made their way to the bike shed.
"Do not worry about what to wear tomorrow, do not worry about when we are going, only worry about the fact that we will finally be able to spend a day together. Our first Valentine's Day as a couple." Patsy smiled down at Delia and embraced her in a quick hug before they walked into full public view of Poplar. "Everything will be fine; because we'll be together."
Their lips locked for a few seconds, a few more precious moments before their inevitable goodbye. These seconds gave Patsy more of a wakeup call than the strongest cup of coffee could ever manage. Delia flashed a mischievous grin.
"It'll be more than 'fine' Pats. Tomorrow will be perfect."
With that the small woman turned and skipped her way back into Nonnatus House. Patsy smiled broadly as she walked to the bike shed. That Welshwoman had a way of making her feel so alive with the greatest of ease.
Pushing off on her bike, Patsy began a countdown. Only nine hours of work: only nine hours. Then it was just her and Delia.