It's now time to venture into married Turners... snoopmk this one is dedicated to you... my first wordpress follower and also a guaranteed reviewer of this on tumblr... maybe a kettle...
Every once in awhile, Shelagh found herself staring at the rings on her fingers. She had worn a ring as a nun, but it was on her right hand. Now, she wore two on her left hand. The engagement ring was simple- a small diamond on a simple band. It was now taken off whenever she put on her nurse's uniform, but the wedding ring remained. It was a cherished reminder that she was taken, and it reminded the world around her that she was Nurse Turner- wife of the beloved doctor.
Shelagh Mannion... oops, Shelagh Turner still couldn't believe the changes in her life. In a little over six months, she had left the order, gotten engaged and then married to Dr. Turner- Patrick. It was more of an adjustment than she had ever expected or dreamed. For one thing, she now lived in a house with two other people of the opposite sex, instead of a convent with just women. It was also an adjustment to get used to cooking. She had quietly gotten Mrs. B to teach her some simple recipes before they had gotten married. It had been a lifesaver. The other thing was the lack of routine or schedule...
For the first week or two after arriving home from their honeymoon, Shelagh had stayed home. She had found things to keep her busy during the day, but it wasn't enough. She found that if she did things on a certain day of the week, it helped her adjust to the normalcy. She also realized that there was only so much shopping she could handle. Food shopping once a week was a thing she would have to do, but clothes... she would do it only when necessary.
It came as an offhand remark from her husband one day. He mentioned that he was having a harder time finding stuff in his office. Apparently his locum had left things in such a mess that he was having trouble finding files. Shelagh smiled and mentioned to him that she could come in and help him- but only as a part-time help. It was still her hope and fondest wish that she carry their child. In quiet moments, she had started working on a nightgown.
When Nurse Turner had a moment to stop and breathe, she found herself almost missing the quiet days when she first started working for Patrick. Things hadn't seemed as busy to her then and she didn't need a calender to keep up with her family's busy schedule. She could only begin to imagine how much busier it would be when Angela entered school. For now, it was keeping Mrs. Penney informed of her schedule to make sure childcare was covered. It was now an entirely different world than what she would imagine back in those first months as Mrs. Turner.
When Shelagh had started back to work as a medical secretary, it was brought to her attention by Nurse Cynthia that her skills could be used at the clinic as well. Cynthia had explained, rather hastily, that with clinic two days a week now, more people were coming. It would help having someone who could keep everything organized helping keep them straight. For that reason, Shelagh said yes. It also didn't hurt in her mind that she got to see her husband more often that way!
For the first clinic session, Shelagh had worn her new brown wool suit. Patrick had given her a sunflower pin during their honeymoon and it worked well on the suit. He knew she was worried about the gossip once they returned to Poplar, and he hoped the pin would remind her to stand strong and beautiful- much like the sunflower. When she had brought the suit, it reminded her of the habit- warm, layered and completely modest.
By the end of the session, Shelagh was exhausted. She had written more today than she could ever remember writing in one session. Unlike her husband's atrocious handwriting, she kept hers nice and neat, so anyone who took her place in the clinic would be able to read it. The hope of a baby remained, and Shelagh had no doubt it would be as wonderful as she imagined in her mind... so she kept stitching on the nightgown. It would also cause the frequent daydream of how she would tell her husband...
Husband... that was a word Shelagh had to get used to saying or even thinking... and she found herself daydreaming of moments when she could spend time with him. From moments stolen during clinic, the alone time in the office and in their bedroom. It was during one of those daydreams that Shelagh found herself blushing... and her husband arrived home unnoticed.
Patrick entered the flat, and saw a sight that made him smile. His wife was washing dishes- or had been- when something had made her stop and smile. As he walked closer, keeping his footsteps quiet (a feat learned from years of sneaking in not trying to wake up the household), he could see that she was blushing. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled him to her.
"What are you thinking about, my love?" Patrick whispered as he tenderly planted a kiss on her neck. Shelagh shivered at the intimate contact and said, "You..." She carefully placed the plate she had been holding down and turned around. The sight of her husband staring at her like she was the most precious thing on the planet took her breath away. She slowly reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, slowly and tenderly. Patrick said nothing- only watched her with all the love in his eyes. Once her arms were there, he leaned down and kissed her- slowly at first, but then allowing it grow deeper.
After several moments of kissing, Shelagh pulled back. Her voice now deeper and slightly husky, she asked, "When is Timothy due home?" Patrick smiled and said, "Not till after seven. Fred volunteered to drive him home tonight from cubs." Shelagh couldn't help but grin and reached up to pull her husband back down to her and kissed her husband- this time being the one to make it even more passionate than before. Patrick could feel his desire for her growing, so without breaking the kiss, he swung her into his arms and carried her into their bedroom where they were blissfully uninterrupted until the need for food sent them back to the kitchen.
The next day when Shelagh arrived at the maternity home wearing a grey suit- she found a small package with her name on it. She smiled and opened it and found a red angel pin with the note from Patrick- "for my angel- now and always". Shelagh smiled at the note, and went to find her husband to get his help putting it on her suit.
Every once in awhile, especially when she opened the jewelry box, Shelagh found the sunflower pin. It was still worn, but not as often. For with her husband's help in those first months as Mrs. Turner, Shelagh had found the strength now to stand tall and proud- much like a sunflower unswaying in the breeze.
author's note: I'm taking liberties on the pins, I do realize. Blame the wardrobe analysis... Since she didn't start wearing them until series 3, they could have been gifts at first. And who knows, maybe Patrick gave her one or two :D
