One of the figures made their excuses and headed back next door, that must have been John, Patrick thought. But his concentration was drawn to the other mysterious, hooded person, as they stepped over the threshold. They began unwrapping themselves as he closed the door behind him. In the light of the hallway, Patrick gasped as he turned round to face them. She was here!
Pulling off her heavy cloak, she made her apologies for being so long, but explained that the fog had settled heavily and it was far too dangerous to go anywhere at speed. She turned to hang her cloak up on one of the pegs, on the opposite wall, and caught sight of his face, relaxed with relief, it seemed.
"How is she?" She asked, lightly touching Patrick on the arm
"In a lot of pain, as you can imagine," Chuckling gently, "But she's coping so well."
Maternal pride swelled within her heart, pleased that 'her' girl was well, and was loved so dearly.
"And baby?" she asked
"Healthy as far as I know, but I've not been able to check the heartbeat. Waters have gone so it shouldn't be too long now." He looked over toward the living room door, wondering whether he should lead her to the door, say his goodbyes to his wife and sort out fresh towels and hot water. The squeeze of her hand, still on his arm, brought him back down-to-earth.
"Could I trouble you for a cup of tea, Doctor Turner? It's becoming bitterly cold out there."
"Of course, Sister Julienne. Sorry." Apologizing for his poor manners, "Go through to the living room, she'll be over the moon to see you."
As the Sister walked through the door, she caught sight of Shelagh arching her back against the cushions on the sofa, moaning through a contraction with her eyes tightly shut. She took hold of the woman's hand, squeezing gently to reassure her and kneeled by her feet. Shelagh's eyes feel open and immediately filled with tears, falling one by one down her reddened cheeks.
"You're here!" She breathed, the pain leaving her; ready to take over her body again in a few more minutes.
"Of course I'm here, my darling, darling girl. Of course I'm here!" She eyes, too, filling up as she spoke.
Patrick silently came into the back of the room, placing a cup of tea on the sideboard, for the Sister, and a pile of fresh, warm towels.
Catching the eye of Sister Julienne, he murmured to her "I'll run some hot water for you" receiving a nod, he went back into the kitchen, making as little noise as possible.
"Sister, I was so afraid. I was so afraid something would happen because you said you would be here, and you weren't. And… I was afraid" She finished meekly, all sense in her mind had disappeared.
"Shh, my darling, sweet girl. I am here," Taking a deep breath she continued "And your baby is ready to meet you and your husband. So why don't I see how long you've got to wait?"
Shelagh nodded and widened her legs, and watched as the Sister pulled on some gloves and settled herself directly in front of her. Not for the first time, she thought about how lucky she was to have a loving husband, such dear friends, and beautiful step-son. Timothy!
"Patrick!" She cried, "Patrick! We've forgotten Timothy!"
Chuckling, he came back into the room, his sleeves rolled up to the elbows and bent to kiss her brow. "Don't worry, my love. I rang Jack's parents earlier to see if they could have him for an extra night. They were more than happy to when they heard the news." Realising where he was, and the current situation, he went to back out of the room, only to be stopped by the Sister calling him.
"Doctor Turner! I feel, if it was alright with your wife, that you should be allowed to stay in the room. After all, you are a doctor." She said with a sly wink. In all honesty, she had seen how Shelagh's face lite up when he was in the room, she seemed to be refuelled with energy. An energy that would help welcome the imminent arrival into the world.
Shelagh nodded in reply, her breathing changing once more as she panted through the increasing pain.
"Right Shelagh," Deciding that taking charge of the situation was the best thing to do for the pair, "Doctor Turner can sit on the sofa next to you, that's it" She said, smiling, when Patrick gently told hold of her hand, allowing her to squeeze it tightly. "Now, let's see how we're doing shall we?" With that, she sank beneath the nightgown Shelagh had put on.
A couple of minutes passed and she popped her head up again, looking directly at the soon-to-be-new parents, her eyes, once again brimming with unshed tears. "You're ready" And that was all she had to say, for both Shelagh and her husband knew what this meant. It was time for this baby to see the outside world.
"Come forward slightly my dear… That's it" Helping her sit toward the front of the sofa and leaning her clammy body on Sister Julienne. "Now, we are going to deliver the head on your next contraction, are you ready?" Shelagh blew a deep breath in answer, all in the room knew this meant a contraction was nearing quickly.
"And push Shelagh, that's it! That's it! Well done! That's the head delivered" She turned her attention away from Shelagh, who now had sunk back to the shoulder of her husband for a brief moment of rest before the real hard work began. Patrick was surprisingly relaxed, but had a distant longing lined in his face, and Sister Julienne, knowing that this moment could be made incredibly more special than it already was, sharply took off her gloves and handed the doctor a pair of fresh ones.
"I believe this is your moment now." She whispered to him simply.
Understanding her meaning, and knowing there wasn't much time before the next contraction he quickly swapped places with the Sister and knelt, once more, on the floor.
"Are you ready Shelagh? This is it!" He said, with a full grin on his face. Following Sister's lead, he bent down when his wife increased her moaning and crying in pain.
Suddenly her crying was overtaken with the shrill of a newborn. Patrick slowly appeared beyond her bump, holding their newly born child carefully wrapped up in a duck-egg blue towel.
"Oh Shelagh! He's beautiful" That was all he could say, that was all anyone in the room could say. And the cup of tea that stood on the sideboard, grew cold, but the love in the room intensified.