Chapter 9
Sara really enjoyed visiting with Bernadette and Patrick. The first time she met them, Patrick was very quiet, but he seemed to be warming up.
Faced with an afternoon off she decided to go for a run which was something she had not done in months. She took it slow, but felt great when she was done. After her shower she decided to go visit Lily. Even though she was on a tight budget she stopped to buy a colouring book for her. She had just seen her this morning and she was all smiles when she walked in her room. Christine was sitting by her bed.
"I heard you were already here today," Christine said.
"That was official, this is not."
"How are you Lily?"
"Tired Sara."
"I've brought you something," Sara said as she took the book out of the bag.
"Ooo thank you."
Sara and Lily coloured for a while as Lily provided the conversation. Christine went to stretch her legs while Sara was with Lily.
When Lily was too exhausted, Sara told her to rest and she sat by her side.
Christine came back shortly after with tea for Sara.
"Thank you for coming to see her...It means so much," Christine said.
"She is special girl. How are you doing?"
"Just holding on. She had one more chemotherapy treatment and then they'll do scans. She has had radiation and chemo...I just hope they've worked."
"Me too," Sara said quietly.
"I never see my other daughter. She is having difficulty coping...of course."
"I didn't know Lily had a sister."
"Daphne..She's thirteen. Lily was our little surprise. I was almost forty when she was born. Dr. Turner wanted me to go to an obstetrician, but I insisted that I wanted a Turner to deliver my baby."
"Were you delivered by a Turner?" Sara asked.
"No, one of the sisters, but old Dr. Turner was there to check on things because I was born in his Maternity Home," she answered.
"I saw the sign for the maternity home and surgery."
"They're long gone now, but if you grew up in the East End, you were brought into this world by one of the Nonnatus nuns or nurses. Then Dr. Turner gave us our jabs and took care of us if we were sick."
"Now his children are carrying on today," Sara said thoughtfully.
"Everyone loved the Turners. Oh Mrs. Turner couldn't be nicer."
"Are the sons like their father?"
"Yes, each in their own way. Lily loves Dr. T and I think it's mutual."
"I think you're right of course he isn't the only one," Sara laughed.
Sara left shortly after and as she exited the building, she saw Dr. Turner heading her way.
"Hello doctor."
"Have you been working?"
"No, visiting Lily."
"Ah, well I have a baby on the way," he paused and added, "I know it's not part of your training, but it's quite an amazing thing to see...That's if you aren't busy."
"No..no, I'd love to watch...if the mother doesn't mind."
She followed him back in. He went to change out of his street clothes.
When he reappeared he was looking very much like a doctor in green hospital issued scrubs. They entered the room and he announced, "Hello Mrs. Watson, I am afraid you've got me today. I've brought my student Miss. Macmillan."
"Where's Dr. Gill-ow, ooo."
"That's right just breath through it. My sister's off with her family for the day...Nurse how far along is she?"
"Last check eight," the nurse said.
"Foetal heart rate?"
"Steady 130."
"Ok, after your next contraction I am going to check to see how you're progressing."
Sara watched as he examined her and he announced, "Well done. We can get you ready to meet this baby."
The pushing went on for quite a while. Sara watched as he made a small incision to help the head.
"Alright now, one big push now….Well done...now on the next contraction I want another big push...That's it, that's it, wonderful. Well done, you have a boy. Father would you like to cut the cord?"
As the new father came closer, doctor took a moment to turn toward Sara and smiled. She was already smiling having watched the birth, but his smile sent prickles straight through to her belly and beyond.
'Get a grip' she chided herself for her reaction. He called her over as he assessed the newborn. Although delivery was outside of her area, newborn care wasn't.
She waited as he took care of the third stage of labor and repair. He then left the new mum in the capable hands of the nurses.
"Congratulations! You have a very health son. I will let Dr. Gilligan know. I'm scheduled to come by in the morning, but you will see her Monday morning...possibly before."
"Thank you doctor."
"Do you think Angela will come see her this weekend?" Sara asked once they left the room.
"She may. I have rounds in the morning regardless."
"Yes doctor. Thank you for inviting me," she added and walked away.
Sara wasn't sure why she left so quickly. Watching him in the delivery was a hundred times better than watching him with patients in the surgery. He was so gentle and encouraging. Then when he smiled at her. She knew it was obviously a smile over the joy of the birth...meaningless. Clearly her body didn't listen to her brain when it reacted.
She was watching a romantic comedy when her mobile chimed. She read the text.
No rounds CU at surgery. Trixie on rounds.
That was the first text she received from him. She entered his number and responded:
OK.
She then texted Lydia:
I heard you got rounds in the am.
Lydia responded:
Yes :-(
Sara noticed that he referred to Lydia as Trixie. Did he refer to her as Sister? Even after she asked him he to call her Sara, he still called her Miss. Macmillan or his student. Angela was right he was proper. For the first time she did not arrive at the surgery early. She was not late, but not early. If doctor noticed he said nothing.
