Chapter Nine

Distractions

Working at Nonnatus House was a very different experience to being in a busy hospital. A fact Delia had to come to terms with rather quickly in the coming weeks. Not only the pace changed but the company became (in her opinion) much more enjoyable. The only downside she could find was after a couple of weeks on district rounds, everything had slowed to a snail's pace. On the flip-side, the midwifery side of Nonnatus was struggling immensely, due to the staffing shortage and terrible weather that continued to plague Poplar and Greater London.

As such, Sister Julienne informed them over dinner one evening that Nonnatus House would be taking on a new midwife. Nurse Anderson was set to arrive imminently. Delia felt a little perturbed that she wasn't getting the opportunity to assist the strain on the midwives but the change in situation did seem to soften Sister Julienne somewhat. The Sister had agreed Delia could begin shadowing in clinic the following day and that had put pep into the smaller woman's step.

Delia skipped up the stairs, taking them two at a time following the good news. She headed for the room she and Patsy had now been sharing for over a month. It was exciting to say the least, the prospect of finally getting stuck into the business end of things, so to speak.

That night she could barely sleep from excitement. Patsy appeared to be out like a light, but Delia tossed and turned, running over various scenarios in her head. Occasionally she stole a glance over to the sleeping form of the redhead. It would be the first time the two of them would have worked alongside since male surgical and she would be lying if she said half the excitement was caused by that thought alone.

She had always enjoyed watching Patsy work. There was a beauty to the elegant woman's actions, her methodical approach, unwavering determination but also unmatched compassion. Watching Patsy in her element made Delia's tummy do flips. She smiled to herself as she recalled an incident on male surgical all those years ago when the two of them had just started courting.

"Nurse Busby, Mr Lester in bed four is in need of a bed bath, can you see to it please?"

Matron's voice echoed crisply off the white polished tiles. The dutiful nurse in question scrambled to attention. She'd been caught off guard.

Today just happened to be a Wednesday. And a Wednesday meant that she was sharing her shift with her best friend, Patience Mount. Patience was a fantastic nurse, highly skilled and competent and Delia would often find herself mesmerised watching the taller woman work.

It was the little things, the way she payed extra attention to a chart, the way she scrubbed her nails with disinfectant, making sure she covered every square inch. The sound her heels made, clipped and efficient, just like her bedside manner. Yet Delia knew the cold front was exactly that, a front. She knew the warmth that was behind the cool façade. Knowing that and feeling herself falling madly in love with the woman made Wednesdays particularly difficult to navigate.

Exquisite torture.

She tried to ignore the moment earlier that morning when they'd crossed paths in the storage cupboard, Patsy reaching to restock a box of gauze. The way her bright pink uniform stretched, hugging her figure even more than it normally did. The brief brush of her hips against Delia's in the confined space. Delia was ever grateful she wasn't a patient around Patience. Her elevated heart-rate would surely be a huge cause for concern.

Blissful. Agony.

"Busby!"

Tearing herself away from her daydream Delia double timed it to the sluice, picking up the necessary supplies for a hot bed bath and proceeded to draw the curtains around Mr Lester's bed.

"Good Afternoon!" she sung, happily.

"Is it?" he grumbled.

She beamed at him. Not even a grumpy old man was going to dampen her spirits today, not on a Wednesday.

"I've got your bed bath all ready to go."

The man looked at her incredulously. "Do I have to?"

"I'm afraid it's doctor's orders." Delia said brightly. "Now, would you like some help removing your gown?"

Following a violent shake of the patient's head, Delia stood back outside the curtain, allowing her patient some privacy for de-robing.

At this exact moment, the tell tale tap tap of Patience Mount's footwear entered her ears. Delia gulped and tried to keep her focus.

"Let me know when you're done Mr Lester"

"Eh!?" came a shout.

"I said, let me know when you're done!" Delia almost shouted.

A silence followed. Delia took the opportunity to scan the poster on the wall opposite; A magnificent drawing of the male genitalia. Something she had little to no interest in, whatsoever.

Unfortunately, someone caught he staring.

"See something you like?" Patsy whispered as she passed.

Delia turned a rather unsavoury shade of beetroot red.

"Ready, Nurse." came a call from behind the curtain.

She rounded, relieved to have a reason to return to her patient.

That was until she saw the sight in front of her.

Later they would laugh about it. Redhead and brunette, happily sloshed with a bottle of Patsy's finest brandy, late night on a rickety nursing home bed. As it happened Mr Lester in bed four was indeed in need of a bed bath. However Mr Miller in bed five was currently awaiting a procedure to remove a bedpan from a rather awkward part of his anatomy. The poor fellow had been as confused as Delia had been until she actually noticed her mistake and informed him he could re-gown himself and there was no need for a bed bath considering he'd just arrived in hospital earlier that morning.

There was some things that Delia would never forget. And Patsy being responsible for her distraction during the 'depan bedpan incident of 1958' was one of them.

Clinic had been moved from the local community center to a much larger space. Something that the Nonnantuns were very relieved by. It meant a lot more time could be spent assessing each individual mother's needs as well as allowing for any of their older offspring to attend a nursery set aside at the back of the hall.

Delia's job was to be shadowing Trixie. Equal parts dismayed but also accepting she agreed. It was probably for the best anyway.

The first few patients went by without a hitch. Delia enjoyed watching the process of examination, note taking and care planning. Antenatal care, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy was not a common sight at the London, neither was continuation of care under the same nurse. To see many women comfortable with Nurse Franklin, some greeting her like a long lost friend, was a lovely change.

Trixie waved goodbye to Mrs Porter as she, her large bump and four other small children left the building.

"I remember delivering her other two." Trixie smiled fondly. "She's a trooper is Janette. Hopefully I'm on call when the latest little one gets their dancing shoes on." she giggled.

Delia smiled, only half listening. Her attention being drawn briefly by some long legs in a fetching powder blue dress with matching starch white apron.

She was shaken back to reality when trixie pressed a file into her hands.

"I think you've heard quite enough of me talking for today, why don't you take the next one?"

"Oh." stuttered Delia in surprise. "I'm - Sister Julienne said I was only to observe..."

"Nonsense. You learn in this job by doing. And besides, I'll be with you every step of the way. If you need any help, sweetie, just say." the blonde smiled kindly.

Delia nodded in thanks, her heart suddenly beating fast. She was about to assess her very first patient!

The woman who lay before did not look pregnant. She was small, slightly stocky and had piercingly green eyes. Her dark brown hair was drawn up into a tidy beehive, spectacles resting on the bridge of her nose.

"Hello, Mrs... Robinson." Delia checked the paper in front of her.

"Please, call me Gwen." came a soft Welsh lilt in reply.

Delia's eyes shot up immediately.

"Just moved here from Cardiff, the husband and I. He prefers living near his family, especially with a babby on the way." she smiled, her hand stroking a non-existent bump. "Do I detect a Welsh tone with you my dear?"

"Yes. I mean, I'm from Pembrokeshire, Tenby." Delia replied with a warm smile.

Trixie looked between both women. "Well in that case, I'll leave you two kindred spirits to it, give me a shout if you need any help Nurse Busby." she turned to Gwen and winked "Go easy on her, it's her first day!"

Delia opened her mouth to complain but Trixie was gone in a flash on blonde and a cloud of Chanel no 5.

Pursing her lips she gathered a new chart and pulled up a chair to sit beside her patient.

"So, you've registered with your local GP, Dr Turner. How many weeks since your last period?"

"It's been just over 3 months, nurse."

"I see, and is this your first pregnancy?"

"Yes. We only got married in December, me and Larry."

"Congratulations!" Delia beamed. "And what's your maiden name?"

"Thomas."

Delia continued making her way through her questions, diligently taking notes and listening carefully. She quickly learned Mrs Robinson was quite the character, bubbly and kind but underneath her jolly exterior there was an unspoken nervousness about the woman. Ever astute, Delia picked up on this small nuance.

"Is there anything you're worried about Mrs Robinson?" she asked kindly.

"Please, call me Gwen. And I'm not sure. It's all rather new this whole thing." She gestured to her stomach.

"It's quite normal to be nervous during your first pregnancy but don't worry, we'll be with you every step of the way. You'll have regular visits from a midwife who'll keep a close eye on you and baby from now on."

"Will it be you?"

Delia paused. She honestly didn't know. But the woman seemed ever so nervous.

"I'll try my best and see what I can do." she winked.

"Knock knock" called Trixie from behind the curtain.

Delia pulled it back and allowed her companion to re-enter the small space.

"I do hope everything's been going alright."

"Very much so, Nurse Busby has been wonderful." said Mrs Robinson sincerely.

"High praise indeed!" said Trixie. "I'll be out of a job before Easter!"

Delia beamed.

"Now then Mrs Robinson, we need to conduct a physical examination now so if you could remove your undergarments, pull up your dress and hop up onto the bed for me." Trixie turned to Delia "Could you fetch me a pair of sterile gloves please."

Delia nodded and headed for the supply closet.

Halfway across the room she heard a sudden crash. Turning on her heel abruptly she saw the cause of the sound. Patsy was standing over broken glass of several empty urine testing kits.

Quickly, Delia was at her side.

"Patsy, are you alright?"

The redhead's hands were shaking.

"Quite alright, Thank you Nurse Busby."

"I'll get you a towel." Delia squeezed her arm and Patsy flinched away.

Several towels and a dustpan and brush later, most of the glass had been removed from the floor. Sister Winifred insisted on cornering off the area just in case and Patsy was supporting a rather deep gash on her left hand.

"Here, put pressure on it." Delia held out some gauze and Patsy took it gladly, holding it over her throbbing hand.

"Perhaps you should take a break Nurse Mount, I'm sure Nurse Busby can assist you with your hand." suggest Phyllis.

"I'm fine." said Patsy defiantly, attempting to stand but wobbling slightly.

"No you're not lass, come on, you're no use to us with legs made of jelly."

Delia steered Patsy towards an empty bed and busied herself trying to find a wound suture kit in the first aid box.

She returned to Patsy, who was no laid on an examination bed, her skin pale, almost matching the tone of the sheets she lay on. Pulling the curtain shut behind her, Delia lay the suture kit down and took the redhead's uninjured hand.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

"Nothing, I just dropped the bottles."

"Pats..." Delia said warningly.

"Fine. I felt a little dizzy, I haven't been drinking enough water today." she spat.

Delia took the injured hand gently and removed the towel. A scab had begun to form but some blood was still seeping into the cloth.

"This is quite deep. I'm going to clean it, make sure there's not fragments in it and then give you some stitches."

Patsy nodded, averting her gaze from Delia's.

As gently as she could, Delia began to clean the cut. The alcohol stung and Patsy hissed in pain.

"Sorry." Delia apologised."Nearly done."

She stole a glance at the redhead's face. It was the closest they'd been in days and Delia could make out dark circles under Patsy's eyes, a clear indicator that she'd not been sleeping.

"I was thinking about the Bedpan incident last night..." she tried to change tac. Maybe lightening the mood would help.

Patsy's eyes flickered and met their blue twins, mischief sparkling within their depths. It did the trick.

"The one of 1958?"

"Yes."

"Oh?" she said playfully. "Which part?"

Delia blushed.

"Ah. That part."

"I still blame you. you know that don't you."

Patsy batted her eyelids. "Innocent until proven guilty, Deels. Ow!"

Delia finished stitching in one fluid motion.

"Hurts less when you're distracted." she smiled, dimples in full force.

"I'll say." murmured Patsy, examining her newly sutured hand.

"Hang on, let me put a dressing and bandage on it, don't want you ruining my lovely needlework!"

Patsy dutifully held out her hand for Delia to finish.

"Delia..." came a small voice.

Wrapping the bandage tightly, but not too tight, Delia looked up into sparkling blue.

Patsy was staring at a spot on the curtains.

"I'm... I'm sorry. I owe you an apology, for how I've been the past few weeks."

Delia sighed, finished securing the bandage and planted a light kiss on Patsy's injured hand before laying it on her lap.

"I'm just worried about you, Cariad."

"I know. And I've been utterly ghastly towards you." she reached out and took Delia's hand in her good one, linking their fingers together.

"I want to make it up to you."

Delia sighed. And squeezed the offered hand tighter.

"Why don't we go to the cinema this weekend? Just the two of us."

Delia's eyebrows shot up. "I'm listening..."

"I know you've been dying to see "Girls, Girls Girls!" after reading about it in Trixie's Women's Weekly."

"Well, she's right, Elvis looks rather dishy on the poster..."

This earned her a playful slap followed by a sharp wince as Patsy tested the integrity of Delia's stitches prematurely.

"Then it's a date?"