June 1945
Shelagh Mannion was a newly trained nurse of the bright young age of twenty. Because it was wartime, the nursing school had accepted her at just sixteen. She took the train from Aberdeen to London despite her father's fears because of all they'd heard of the blitz. Her father had been terrified, as he had already lost her mother, and she was all he had left. He knew, however, that he couldn't hold his little Shelagh back, and she needed to be somewhere she'd make a difference.
Shelagh had just finished her four-year training, and had decided to stay on as a fifth year since the war had just officially ended. She hated that she hadn't had an opportunity to do more for the soldier out fighting, but she was also so glad that it had finally come to an end. Her plan was to spend another year wherever she was placed for nursing, and then she was highly considering joining the religious life after that. She always had such a strong faith, and knew it would be nothing to devote herself – mind, body, and soul – solely to God.
Shelagh was placed at the Northfield Military Psychiatric Hospital. It was filling up fast with war veterans, and they needed all hands on deck. She was thrilled to still have an opportunity to serve the courageous men of the military.
Nothing in her training prepared her for the things she'd see and experience in this area of medicine. Many nights she would go back to her dormitory and cry herself to sleep out of sorrow for her patients. She couldn't let any of those emotions show while working, so the evening cry was her sort of release of all of the things she would feel throughout the day. It was because of these nights that she was grateful that she did not have a roommate in her particular cell. However, as time went on, she grew thicker skin and learned a stronger appreciation for these men and the crying nights became fewer and farther between.
It had been about two months since Shelagh had been placed at Northfield, when she was walking the corridor with one of the elder nurses and they came across a very attractive man who the elder nurse introduced as Doctor Turner. He seems to be dressed quite casually for a doctor. Maybe he is here as a visitor to a patient today and not in the professional capacity, Shelagh thought to herself.
"So nice to meet you, Doctor Turner. Maybe I'll see you around again," Shelagh replied to the introduction.
"I'd surely like that, Nurse Mannion," Doctor Turner said.
Shelagh found that she would run into Doctor Turner quite frequently after that. She wasn't sure if it was coincidence or if her subconscious was just noticing him much more now. Finally, one day, Doctor Turner approached her, "I feel I see you around every corner."
"Oh, so it isn't just me? I kept thinking the same thing, too," Shelagh sheepishly admitted.
"What should we do about this bit of fate dragging us together continuously?" Doctor Turner asked.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Doctor," Shelagh said as she tried to hide the blush that was creeping up on her face now.
"Have lunch with me in the gardens tomorrow, please?" Doctor Turner politely requested.
"Sure, my lunch break is at noon," Shelagh replied as she was now beaming with excitement.
"Until then, Nurse Mannion," Doctor Turner said as he casually strolled away.
The next morning, Shelagh – a woman typically not too concerned with makeup and fancy hairstyles – woke up an hour earlier to plan out the perfect look – within uniform guidelines, of course – for her lunch day with the oh-so-attractive doctor. The clock seemed to be standing still that day, until finally it was noon and she all but ran to the gardens to meet the doctor.
"Nurse Mannion," Doctor Turner said with a bit of surprise in his voice, "you came!"
"Of course. I'm sure I like the fact that I'm already doubted on my word," She playfully teased back.
"Lovely and cheeky, what a fascinating combination. So refreshing," He retorted.
Shelagh giggled, then began the conversation she'd been looking forward to having all day.
"So, Doctor Turner," Doctor Turner interrupted before she could say anymore, "It's Patrick, please."
"Shelagh," she smiled "Okay, Patrick. Tell me about your work."
"Well, I'm here for a couple more months, but then I'll probably head back to Poplar to my general practice patients. I really miss it."
"Oh how lovely. I've actually been in contact with the nuns of Nonnatus House in Poplar for when I make my final decision about joining the order when my fifth year is up. They seem to do some incredible work there."
"Wow, looking to become a nun? Such a beautiful and accomplished young woman, I wouldn't have guessed," Patrick said, puzzled.
"I'm still working on that decision," Shelagh replied, but thought to herself that if she kept meeting men like Patrick, she might have a hard time headed for the religious life.
Her lunch break ended all too quickly and she had to get back to her patients, but only after the promise to meet again later in the week.
Shelagh couldn't deny the spark she felt between them. It was incredible to feel something so tremendous after just meeting and only having a lunchtime conversation. She hoped and prayed that he felt the spark, too. She was smitten already.
It was nearly the end of her shift the day after her first lunch date with Patrick Turner when she received word that the head matron had asked to see her once her shift had concluded. Shelagh hoped everything was okay, as she had never been called to see the head matron before.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Enter!" Shelagh heard the head matron say through the door.
"Matron, you requested to see me?" Shelagh asked timidly.
"Yes, Nurse Mannion. I want to remind you of our policy of fraternization with patients," Matron responded.
"I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow," Shelagh replied quite perplexed.
"Nurse Mannion, you had, what seemed to be, a quite personal lunch meeting with Patrick Turner yesterday. Did you not?"
"Yes. What does he have to do with the policy of fraternization with patients?"
"Nurse Mannion, do you not realise that Doctor Turner is a patient here?" Matron asked, seeming a bit perplexed herself.
"I had no idea! I was under the impression that he was one of the Doctors," Shelagh admitted mortified by her actions. What had she done?
Matron realised that is was an unintentional breach of policy and took the time to explain Doctor Turner's casefile to Shelagh. She explained that he had been in the medical corps and was near the front lines aiding wounded and dying soldiers and it took a very serious toll on him; however, he was making a grand recovery and should be discharged by the fall.
Once Shelagh was dismissed, she went straight to her cell and let her emotions fly. She was so angry with herself for not realising. She was also so confused by how quickly she had grown a fondness for him and was so upset that she would not be able to pursue this any further. She prayed for forgiveness, as she knew it was an inappropriate relationship to hope for at this time.
Over the next several weeks, Shelagh did all she could to avoid Patrick. Until one day, he stopped her at the far end of the corridor to talk.
"Have I done something to offend you? I feel as though you've been avoiding me," Patrick said with the utmost concern.
"No, you haven't. I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I was summoned by Matron because of the policy of fraternization with patients. We cannot have lunch date or anything of the sort. I didn't realize you were here in the capacity of a patient and not a doctor. I'm sorry," She said, holding back the urge to cry.
"My dear Shelagh. I'm so sorry. I know the policies, and I should have never put you in that position in the first place. I had hoped that since you work a different ward and I'm so close to discharge, they may have turned a blind eye. Please forgive me. I felt a spark from the moment I met you and I couldn't resist. I promise to leave you alone, but only until my discharge and, if you'll allow me, I'll write you once I arrive back in Poplar," Patrick pleaded.
Shelagh let out a breath she seemed to have been holding the whole time Patrick was confessing his feelings for her. She was blown away that he felt it too and was willing to wait for the right timing despite the challenges that lay before them.
"I think I'd be most upset if you didn't write," she sweetly responded and made her way past him to go on to her next patient. She didn't want to leave time for him to say anything else for she may fall apart completely.