If Trixie's day off fell on a school day it was more than likely, she and Marianne would be found up west. Their favourite haunts were Fenwicks and Selfridges, occasionally Harvey Nicks and Harrods were also graced with their presence. HMV always got a visit.
Claridges gave way to the Lyons Corner House, much to Patrick's relief. Occasionally they took in a lunchtime performance at the Wigmore Hall. If Timothy wasn't at school, quite often Trixie would accompany mother and son to Victoria Park or a more grand day out to the Science or Natural History Museum or the London Zoo.
Trixie was always a welcome addition, for Marianne she was glad of another adult to field all of Timothy's increasingly in-depth questions. For the young boy, he knew Auntie Trixie always came with a ready supply of humbugs and a couple of new marbles for his collection. If it was the zoo, she would treat him to a toy animal, he had soon built up quite a collection of a horse, a camel and his favourite an oversized seal. Mummy let him keep them on the mantelpiece because they were from Aunty Trixie.
Things improved at Nonnatus too. The youngest of the Weird Sisters eventually married and left. In keeping with Sister Julienne's plans for the midwifery service, a young newly qualified midwife was appointed to the parish.
Cynthia Miller was an instant hit with both Trixie and Sister Bernadette. She lacked the brashness of Nurse Franklin and often found herself as peacemaker between the young midwife and her older colleagues.
With the dynamics becoming more even and perhaps with retirement on the near horizon for the two established midwives, tensions at Nonnatus House seemed to ease considerably. Sisters Julienne and Evangelina seemed to have become more sensitive to the climate their young colleagues had been working in and chose to intervene more often.
The remaining two Weird Sisters would retire at the end of 1956 and be replaced in the new year with a newly qualified midwife. With the potential of another, if she passed her exams?
Trixie and Cynthia had become firm friends. With the more experienced midwife trying to take the new recruit under her wing, as Sister Bernadette had so successfully done with her.
Trixie was glad of her new friend as Marianne had cancelled a few of their outings of late. Patrick was vague when she enquired after his wife. He simply said she was tired or a bit under the weather.
Marianne hadn't confided in her friend any desire for another child. After spending so much time with the Turners, Trixie however believed that they both, very much wanted a sibling for Timothy. She could understand if Marianne wanted to keep a pregnancy secret at first. She may be having a difficult first trimester. Trixie convinced herself that she was going to be an unofficial aunt to another Turner. All being well, soon Marianne would feel well enough and confident enough to share the good news with her friend.
…
" So, you can all understand that we need to work together to maintain the high standards of care, we already pride ourselves in." Sister Julienne continued.
Trixie was sat next to her superior, but it sounded like she was a million miles away echoing from some deep abandoned East End bomb crater.
" Dr Turner will be seeing patients and carrying out his normal duties for the foreseeable future and when the...when necessary he will appoint a locum."
Trixie started to feel bile rise in her throat. Sister Julienne was still talking, why was she still talking?
" The plan is to nurse Mrs Turner at home for as long as possible. Myself and Sister Evangelina will take on the role of main caregivers to Mrs Turner encompassing the district rounds in the process. If extra support is needed, I would like to ask Nurse.."
Not Me, Not Me, please not me!
" ...Miller, if she will volunteer for extra duties. Meanwhile Sister Bernadette will be in charge of our midwifery services, I know she can rely on you all to keep things in order and maybe go that extra mile. During what I can only envisage as being a very difficult time for us all."
The bile in Trixie's throat struggled for release, Sister Julienne and the others round the dining table seemed to be falling further and further down the bomb crater, Trixie could no longer make out what was being said. Or was it her that was falling,was it her own voice she couldn't hear.
Trixie felt something grab at her heart? The grip unrelentingly began to tighten inside her chest. She wasn't sure how she was going to manage to breathe. But somehow she found a way.
