Chapter 1
AN: hi all, here is a new Call the midwife story, hope you'll like it.
«Good morning Anna» exclaimed Jenny Lee when she entered her patient's kitchen «How are you doing today?»
Mrs Anna Perry, was a plum woman in her late thirties, with bushy red hair and a kind face. She liked Jenny very much, the young nurse had delivered the last two of her five children: Lise, born last year, and Paul, born a month ago. The last one would have claimed Anna's life, if it hadn't been for Jenny's quick thinking. The red head already liked the young nurse, but she did so even more since the girl saved her life and the one of her baby. When she saw Jenny, she give her, her brightest smile «Good morning Nurse Lee. I'm fine thank you. I'll be with you in a minute»
«How is your little Paul doing?»asked Jenny as she put her bag on a table nearby.
«He is a real angel. He barely cries»
Right after Jenny had examined little baby Paul, the door of the appartement opened to reveal a small version of Anna Perry with one exception she had hazel eyes instead of green. It was Lily, Anna's third daughter.
«Hello Lily» saluted the young nurse while she packed her medical equipment
«Hello nurse Lee» even though Lily had answered with her usual energetic tone, something caught Jenny's attention. Red heads have a more then white skin, and even with that knowledge she found that Lily was a little pale.
«Anna?» whispered the young nurse
«Yes?»
«Is Lily all right?» her question caught Anna by surprise
«Yes. Why do you ask?»
«She looks a little pale to me» answered Jenny not hiding her concern. Anna took a good look at her daughter, but did not see any cause to worry
«I'm sure she is fine, a little tired maybe, she's been out all day»
«Isn't it a little cold to be out without a jacket?»
«Na, trust me nurse Lee, my kids are pretty strong»
Still not convinced Jenny dropped the subject, there was no point in arguing with Anna, she was sweet but no one could win an argument with her except Sister Evangelina «I'll be back tomorrow to check on little Paul» announced the young nurse as she put her coat on
«Perfect see you tomorrow»
«See you tomorrow»
The next morning, when Jenny arrived in front of the building where were living the Perrys, black clouds covered the sky. A storm was brewing.
The young nurse's concerns were confirmed the moment she entered the appartement.
«Oh Nurse Lee thank goodness you are here» exclaimed Anna nearly hysteric
«Anna calm down! What is it?» asked Jenny
«It's my little Lily»
«What's the matter with her?»
«She has a very high fever, and…and…she keeps on vomiting and…and she she has trouble swallowing…» Anna could barely speak. Jenny took control «Mrs Perry I need you to call doctor Turner now. I will take care of Lily, please hurry»
the young woman's tone seemed to make Anna snap back into reality. She nodded and ran out of the appartement to phone the doctor, while Jenny examined the child. And what she saw only made her concern grow. Lily had red streaks around her armpits, elbows and knees. Her fever reached 40˚C and she had swollen glands in the back of the neck. Oh no, not that, thought Jenny as she put two and two together. Anna re entered the appartement breathless
«He said he wouldn't be able to come before this afternoon»
«Damn it!» exclaimed the nurse,
«How is she?» asked Anna anxious
«Not good…Anna…Does your mother still lives across the street?»
«Yes. Why?»
«I need you to take your other children out of this house right now»
Her answer made Anna even more afraid «Why? what's the matter?»
«I may be wrong but I think Lily has Scarlet fever»
Five hours later, Doctor Turner arrived under pouring rain.«You are right Jenny» he said after examining Lily «She does have scarlet fever. I'm sorry I left you to deal with it»
«It's all right Patrick, I know how busy you are specially this time of year» reassured the nurse. She was really relieved he was here, she was exhausted.
«Jenny, are you feeling all right?» asked the Doctor worried
«Yes Patrick. Why?»
«You look pale»
«I must be tired»
«Do you want me to bring you back to Nonatus? It's pouring out there»
«oh no thank you, I'll be fine on my bike»
«Are you sure?»
«Yes, I've been through worst»
Jenny regretted her answer the minute she stepped outside Anna's house. An icy cold rain was pouring and a powerful wind swept across the empty street. Of course, no one is foolish enough to be out in this weather, sighed the young nurse before she mounted her bike and started peddling. It took her about half an hour to reach Nonatus.
When she finally arrived in front of the house, Jenny looked poorly. The wind had blown her hat away, her brown hair sadly fell on her shoulders, she was cold, tired and soaked to the bones. I just want to go to bed and close my eyes, she thought as she placed her bike in the shed. As soon as she entered Nonatus, the old grandfather clock in the living room struck eight, which meant she had missed dinner. Jenny breathed in relief, she wasn't hungry anyway and she knew that if she had been here on time, Sister Evangelina would have forced food down her throat. The image made the nurse laugh, the elder woman might seem harsh and cold at first, but when you got to know her, you realize that she had a heart of gold and that she really cared for her charges in her own rough way. Shivers went down her spine, she was very cold. A hot drink wouldn't be a bad idea, Jenny thought. As she headed to the kitchen in order to prepare some tea, Jenny started to feel a little dizzy. I must really be tired. She was not surprised to find the room empty. At this hour the nuns were probably in the chapel for their evening prayers, Trixie was out with her new boyfriend, and Cynthia was out of town for the week. As she waited for the water to boil, Jenny's dizziness didn't go away. By the time she poured the water into a cup, she was barely able to stand up. I will rest my eyes for a minute or two. She collapsed onto a chair and fell asleep on the kitchen table, leaving her tea untouched.
