Will you marry me? – 1946-47

During those summer days of 1946, Patrick occasionally thought about his first engagement. Olive and he had been engaged for several years and it had felt right to go at a slow pace. Now, Patrick felt things could not progress quickly enough. He was older. Marianne was, well, not old, but not exactly a young girl anymore. And the war was over, and people wanted things to get done quickly.

Therefore, Mrs. Parker was hardly surprised when Patrick stood in front of her door one afternoon in early September, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. "Dr. Turner," she exclaimed, "Marianne is out, she is still at the school. They have a planning meeting for the new term."

"Yes, I know," Patrick said, his voice trembling of nervousness. "I am actually here to see you." Mrs. Parker raised her eyebrows, suppressed as smile and asked Patrick to come in.

She ushered him into the sitting room and onto the sofa. Patrick hastily declined her offer of tea and came to his point right away. "Forgive me for being straightforward, but there is a question I would like to ask and I presume you will know which one this is," he said, pressing his hands together so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Well, ask me then," Mrs, Parker replied, a barely visible smile playing around her lips.

"I would like to ask Marianne to marry me and I am here to seek your approval, Mrs. Parker. I know we have only been courting for a few months, but I love your daughter very much and I know that we are right for each other." His hands trembled, and his breath hitched – but he was quickly calmed by Mrs. Parker's reaction.

She smiled warmly and took his hands into hers. "I am very happy, Dr. Turner. Yes, you only met a few months ago, but I know my daughter and I have not seen her this happy in a very long time. I could not be happier for both of you."

Patrick was overjoyed. "Thank you, Mrs. Parker!" he exclaimed, squeezing her hands tighter than he intended to. "Your approval means very, very much to me."

"Well then, I think it is about time that you introduce me to your mother, Dr. Turner," Mrs. Parker said. "Oh, and I also think it is time that you call me Joan," the older woman smiled.

"Please call me Patrick, Mrs. Parker, … Joan," a relieved Patrick exclaimed.

"Now that everything is out, will you still decline my offer for tea?" Mrs. Parker asked.

Patrick smiled. "Thank you… Joan. Yes, I would like a cup."

A few days later, Patrick had a free Saturday afternoon and suggested he pick up Marianne for a surprise outing. She was curious because Patrick usually did not appreciate surprises. She smiled in anticipation when she noticed that Patrick led her to the park where they had shared their first kiss and which they referred to as "our park".

When they approached the bench under the weeping willow, Marianne giggled: "Patrick Turner. You only wanted to steal a few kisses in our park, admit it."

Patrick swallowed hard. He did not feel giggly at all; instead, he was now very nervous. When he did not respond, Marianne's smile dropped, and she became self-conscious sensing his sombre mood.

Patrick looked at her earnestly, took in a deep breath and slid his left hand into his coat pocket. He produced a little black box and asked, voice trembling: "Marianne Parker, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Marianne opened her mouth, not able to speak. She gasped, then cheered: "Yes, Patrick, yes, I want to marry you." She had to blink back a few tears of joy and sobbed and laughed at the same time while embracing Patrick tightly.

Patrick's chest felt as if it was to explode. He had hoped for this answer and now that he had received it, his world was whole. They would become one, a family, married until death do us part. He drew her into a tight embrace before kissing her enthusiastically.

Patrick soon separated them. Then he took a step back and carefully slid the engagement ring on her finger. He had bought it two weeks earlier while passing a jeweller's store during his rounds and had been carrying it in his pocket ever since. He took Marianne's left hand, now wearing a ring, into both of his and held it tightly. "Marianne, I cannot tell you how lucky you are making me. I must be the luckiest man on earth right now."

Marianne bit her bottom lip before breaking out in another bright smile and said, "And you are make me feel like the luckiest woman on earth. I could not be happier, Patrick."

They stood there for a few more moments beaming at each other until Marianne said "I hate to spoil the moment, but I am really curious as to what you brought with you in that picnic basket. You said I should not eat lunch and as a matter of fact I am quite hungry now." Patrick smiled and began to unpack the basket that he had filled with the generous help of his housekeeper. Among the many things he loved about Marianne were her pragmatism and her way of not hesitating to speak out what was on her mind.

Later that afternoon, after they had finished their picnic and daydreamt about their future life as Dr. and Mrs. Turner, they returned to the Parker's house, which they found empty. Mrs. Parker was out and Marianne quickly brewed some tea. The newly engaged couple held hands and kissed over two cups of tea before Patrick would have to return to Poplar as he was on call for the night.

"We ought to tell your mother soon," Marianne suggested. "I very much want to get to know her."

"I will make a phone call tonight," Patrick said "and invite her to visit us as soon as she can. Knowing her, I am certain she will come visit very soon," he added, smiling.

Two weeks later, Mrs. Turner arrived for her visit, and Patrick introduced his fiancée and his mother over tea at his flat. It was the first time Marianne was visiting his flat, he noticed nervously. He watched her look around, carefully taking everything in and felt slightly uneasy being unable to tell how she felt.

Patrick had told Marianne on the day of their engagement, that she was free to change or adjust anything she wanted in the flat which would become theirs. Marianne had smiled at his suggestion; knowing Patrick quite well by now, she had expected his flat to be in need of a little polishing and decorating.

Mrs. Turner and Marianne got along very well and the day after Patrick had introduced Marianne to his mother, the Turners were invited at the Parkers. Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Parker instantly formed a friendship and soon, plans were made to spend the upcoming Christmas holidays together. Mrs. Turner would stay with Patrick for Christmas and subsequently visit Mrs. Parker for a few days after. This would also give the women the opportunity of planning the wedding. All three knew that Patrick would happily agree with anything they suggested rather than being involved in the planning himself.

Both Marianne and Patrick were keen on getting married sooner rather than later. Both felt more than certain and did not want to lose any more time. Since getting engaged, they kept talking about having children. Both were eager to try for a baby right away and aimed at having more than one child in the future. Both came from rather small families and thought that at least three children would be desirable.

Marianne had suggested getting married in March, during the Easter Holidays. This would permit her to take a few days off for a short honeymoon and her subsequent relocating to Poplar. Patrick had agreed, even though he would rather have married her on the spot. But he gave in to her wishing to have some time for planning. Moreover, out of obligation to her pupils, she wanted to continue teaching until the end of the school year. Therefore, getting married, and possibly getting pregnant, much earlier, might turn out to be quite uncomfortable for her.

The days and weeks dragged along until, eventually, the big day arrived. The wedding was rather small with about 25 guests and the bridal couple. Neither Patrick nor Marianne had large families. Their mothers would attend and so would an aunt and uncle of Patrick's living in Manchester. Marianne had two aunts and several cousins who would attend. Ted would be Patrick's best man and Barbara, eight months pregnant at the day of the wedding, would be Marianne's bridesmaid. In addition, there were two close friends of Marianne with their spouses and children as well as Dr. Stephenson and his wife.

Marianne had wanted to get married at her local parish church where her parents had gotten married and where she had been baptized. Mrs. Parker offered to have the wedding reception at their house. And the Sisters of Nonnatus House, happy to receive Dr. Turner's news about his impending wedding, had offered to provide a wedding cake, made by Mrs. B.

Even though it was a modest wedding, it was a day full of love. When Marianne walked down the aisle, led by her uncle, Patrick's eyes became misty. Only about two years ago he had been in the darkest place imaginable and now he was about to get married to the most wonderful woman he had ever met. He felt complete and could not believe his luck.

He would always remember her approaching him in her modest cream-coloured dress, her curls pinned up, wearing a delicate wreath of white flowers instead of a veil and the feeling of utter joy when their hands joined in front of the altar.

Leaving the church after the ceremony, the newlyweds were surprised by Marianne's school choir waiting outside, singing for them. The wedding party then moved on to Mrs. Parker's house. After having had tea and plenty of cake, the tables and chairs were moved towards the wall of Mrs. Parker's living room and everyone danced to music from the wireless.

Eventually, the newly married Turners bid their farewell and climbed into Patrick's car. They were going to spend their wedding night in their now shared flat before leaving for a three-day honeymoon at the seaside.

When they arrived at the flat, they found a picnic basket at the doorstep. It was filled with sandwiches, pickles, more cake and other foodstuffs. A card written in Sister Julienne's neat handwriting said that the staff of Nonnatus House congratulated them on their wedding and wished them a pleasant honeymoon. They beamed each other at the friendly welcome before Patrick lifted his wife up and carried the new Mrs. Turner over the doorstep.