Once again, I face this part with nervousness… 2×09 is the wedding… and if I'm not mistaken, when I became a diehard turnadette fan… which led to me joining tumblr! On a side note, this chapter is dedicated to my-little-yellowbird … I can only hope that this story is as good as yours :D
The gold couch was a fixture in the Turner household. Family photos were taken on it, babies were fed on it, but Shelagh's favorite time of all: when the children were fast asleep and she and Patrick could snuggle on it. Ever since Angela had been brought into their home, she found herself craving those little moments with her husband.
Craving time with Patrick was still a foreign idea to his fiancee. In a matter of weeks, Sister Bernadette had left the order, and was now Shelagh Mannion- the fiancee of the town's doctor. It had left her confused, and the well-meaning town of Poplar's gossip train didn't help her. She had also felt almost like a drifter- she knew she belonged with Patrick and Timothy- but what about her old friends at Nonnatus?
When Patrick had first brought up the wedding, Shelagh had found herself quite adamant about keeping it simple. If she kept it simple, in her minds eye, she didn't have to invite many people. It would make the decisions easier, and besides, Christmas Eve was a family day… a day for people to gather with their family. She had laughed at Patrick when he admitted the main reason why he liked the idea of the wedding being that day was he wouldn't forget his wedding anniversary! Coming from being a nun, Shelagh also had a harder time letting go and spending any money with ease… everything seemed like an extravagance
The bomb threat had begun the shift in her- Shelagh would later realize. It was then that she had gone to the Turners for refuge- refusing the idea of staying with "Sister Bernadette's" old friends. A sweet conversation with Patrick- who looked so handsome in his braces- and Shelagh was now sleeping on the gold couch. It was from that gold couch that she woke and tried on that grey gown… and realized something was off. She had left that morning and had gone back to the shop… and returned with the same dress but reeling from the harsh words of the well-meaning dress lady… little did she know her world would be turned upside down once again…
Every once in awhile, Shelagh could tell… Timothy still thought back to those days when he was still so sick with polio. He mostly did it in his own quiet way, but it still made its presence known. It had last shown up in his essay that he had to do for entrance to Grammar School. The school had asked for him to write a 1,000 word essay to display his writing ability, and he had chosen to do it on his experience having polio. Shelagh was one of the few to read it before it was sent off, and his descriptions had sent her memories flooding back.
Polio…. Shelagh couldn't believe it… her soon to be stepson had gotten sick under her watchful eye. The look on Patrick's face was so strong that her heart had broken and she retreated to a familiar place- Nonnatus House. Once she arrived, she could hear the singing… and it didn't take long for the story to pour out of her. Sister Julienne found her a place to sleep, and much like a mother caring for a daughter, took the plans out of her hands. Shelagh was able to return to the hospital with a clear head and was better able to support her fiancee- while the rest of the community supported them.
Once Timothy had begun to breathe on his own again, Shelagh and Patrick began to tentatively re plan their wedding. Old plans were no longer relevant… for Shelagh had begun to see that she still needed her friends… and that they accepted her… no matter what her name was.
Jenny, Trixie and Cynthia had insisted on taking her dress shopping- explaining that they could help her find her dream dress. It was then that Shelagh had made them her bridal party. So, on a cold January day, the four ladies reentered the dress shop. When they left, Shelagh was much happier with her choice and knew she wouldn't be returning it. The girls had also found dresses for themselves.
When the date for the wedding had been finally set, Shelagh was invited over to the Noakes household the day before. Oh, how when she was Sister Bernadette did she envy the girls hanging out together so freely. But, now as Shelagh, she was the guest of honor. Makeup, nails, clothing tips and hairstyles were all flowing freely. Shelagh knew then that she was finally at peace- she was accepted as Shelagh by them and she didn't have to worry about their feelings. When Sister Monica Joan had arrived with the flowers, Shelagh could only feel the decision had been confirmed… she was one of them.
Shelagh smiled at the letter she had received from Jenny. It appeared to her that she had made the right decision to leave, and the young man was becoming quite special to her. She would remain a dear friend to her even though distance now separated them. It was nice to reflect on friends, but right now, her husband was demanding her full attention and she was ready to give it to him.
My grandparents got married on Christmas Eve- my grandfather worked as a teacher- and he said it was his only day guaranteed off and that he would always remember! I may be slightly off with events, but call it author's liberties…. next up- Series 3!