Part two: Family
As Patrick turned the corner onto the road, a thought occurred to him. "Shelagh," he said softly, "it might be easier for me to go to Nonnatus house and pick up everything in the car. I can't imagine how the nuns would be able to bring everything on a bicycle."
Shelagh smiled and said, "Tis true. Fred is off with the singing competition and I doubt Sister Evangelina ever learned to drive." A stirring from the baby in her arms caught her attention and she added, "Just make sure you let us unload the stuff before you go. I think this wee child is going to need a diaper change and bottle before her daddy returns."
Daddy. The thought made Patrick grin wider than he could remember doing in awhile. It could have been his wedding day, for all he could remember at this moment. He parked the car and unlocked the boot. Timothy caught what his dad was doing and immediately headed for the boot to start unloading it. Patrick smiled at his son, already being a helpful big brother and went to take the wee child from her mother's arms. He leaned down to place a soft and tender kiss on her head and followed Shelagh to the door.
Shelagh unlocked the door and smiled at the thought that this would now be a home of four and no longer three. She immediately went to the kitchen to start heating water for a bottle and directed Timothy to put the bundles down in the living room. Shelagh returned from the kitchen and found a bottle and a box of formula and immediately trekked back to the kitchen.
Timothy, ever the observer, eyed the rest of the stuff, and asked "What do I do with this?" Patrick smiled and said, "Wait for your Mum to give instructions. Sit down on the sofa and I'll give her to you, and I'll get going." He carefully handed Angela to Timothy and ruffled his son's hair. His son was too captured by the sight of his sister to protest. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he told Shelagh quietly as she came back in with a bottle- stopping long enough to catch her lips for a quick kiss.
Angela, who up to this time, had laid quietly in her brother's arms, scrunched up her face and began to wail. Timothy winced at the sound and looked at Shelagh. Shelagh smiled and said, "It's okay. She's probably hungry. Do you want to feed her?" Timothy shook his head- this was something that he wanted to do, but at the moment, he would rather watch. Shelagh smiled softly at him and took Angela in her arms. She placed her in the crook of her arm and placed the bottle near her lips. Angela immediately latched on and began to feed. Shelagh watched her and said softly, "Tim, can you place one of those clean nappies on my shoulder? I'm going to need to burp her after she finishes eating." Timothy nodded and followed her instructions. Shelagh and Timothy watched, completely enraptured, as Angela continued to eat.
After she burped her, Shelagh cradled the darling girl and eyed the pile of things. "Let's see about getting this sorted. Why don't you go ahead and take the extra bottle into the kitchen and place this one in the sink. I hate to ask, but you may need to do dishes- I don't know how many bottles Nonnatus house has and we may need this one clean sooner than later." Timothy nodded and went to do as he was bid.
Angela's face began to change and Shelagh very quickly caught the reason. She grabbed one of Patrick's older jumpers- a hideous green and laid it on the sofa. Placing her daughter on it, she quickly took of the soiled diaper and replaced it with a new one. Picking up her daughter once again, she picked up the dirty diaper and the one from her shoulder and went to place them in the hamper. She then quietly and instinctively began to pace around the room, quietly singing an Irish lullaby to the bundle who was now asleep in her arms.
