Part Ten: Understanding

Angela was not a huge fan of the bath. She scrunched up her face and let out a wail that could be heard by anyone close to the house. As soon as she was dry and in clean clothes, Shelagh cuddled her close and rocked her. As she did, she softly sang the lullaby. Angela- hearing the soft voice, slowly began to quiet down and soon nodded off- nestled in her mothers arms.

"You are definitely a natural at this," whispered Patrick as he and Shelagh settled onto the couch.

Shelagh smiled and leaned down to kiss her daughter's head. "When I found out I couldn't have kids, I gave up on this dream. The adoption seemed like a small light, but then the interview was a disaster and I gave up hope. Then came the phone call, and my hopes began to arise again. I still can't believe this is our daughter- yours and mine," Shelagh whispered as tears began to stream down her face.

Patrick wiped at the tears and smiled at his wife. "It wasn't exactly tickety boom and marvelous process, but I would say we both grew from it. The interview was bad, and I blamed myself. When we recieved the letter, I found myself beginning to believe again. I found a reason to smile when I saw you. You seemed to always have it together. I remember telling myself I was one lucky chap to have married you, and I better hold onto you. It's the reason I started smiling, and I hope I don't stop."

Shelagh smiled and said, "Even with this little one now here, we must find time for each other. Our courtship was so unusual that we missed a lot of time getting to know one another. There are things we are still learning- such as your love of pickles and my distaste for them. We need to keep learning from each other. My father told me that was the one thing his father had told him was to never stop learning about your spouse. I found it crazy him giving me that advice when I knew I was heading for the convent, but I never forgot it."

"It makes sense," said Patrick. "With my crazy schedule, I never KNEW Timothy till my wife died. Even then, we still had to hem and haw around each other. It was almost as if you were the one that started that process for us. We talked more after the three-legged race than I remember before. It was almost as if I was seeing him for the first time."

"I guess it's something we are going to have to promise each other- to never take the other for granted. To always be willing to listen and learn from each other. I have a funny feeling we will be differing on how to raise this little one, but we will have to talk it out," whispered Shelagh.

"We will," said Patrick. He eyed the clock and said, "I'm going to call Dr. Jones now. He should be home from church."

Shelagh nodded and said, "I think I'm going to join this little one and take a nap."

Patrick gently took Angela from Shelagh and placed her in the basket. He tenderly kissed both his girls on the forehead and headed for the phone. Once he finished, he joined his wife on the couch and fell asleep.

Sister Julienne- who had cleaned the room to her very high standards- walked in on this scene. She smiled at the sight of her former fellow nun and her husband sound asleep on the couch. She knew that Shelagh must be missing her mother something fierce at a time like this and made the decision that it would be her that would come and check on them each day. Shelagh might protest it, but it was custom for Nonnatus House to check up on babies for two weeks after birth. Angela would be no different, and she would be a much loved new member of Nonnatus House.

With the death of Mrs. Browne and Jenny leaving, the baby was a bright spot in Sister Julienne's life. She was used to bringing life into the world, not seeing it leave. Over the last month, she had seen more change than she was used to, but she would adapt and move forward. She always had, and she always would.

A small whimper sounded from the basket, and Sister Julienne crept over. She smiled down at the tiny baby and reached in and picked her up. Rocking her gently, she made her way into the hallway and foyer to walk with the little one up and down the hall. She did it to allow the parents a few more restful minutes of sleep.

"Little one," she whispered, "I'm so glad that the Lord chose you for this home. You will never go unloved, and you will always be a light for these parents. I lost your mother to the love of a man, and I see now that you were part of the plan. I know that you were picked by God to be placed here."

Shelagh, who had awoken at the baby's cry, slowly walked into the kitchen. She began to make a bottle and smiled at her former sister. She had walked so quietly that Sister Julienne had not heard her. It was only when Angela began to cry insistently that she noticed Shelagh walking towards her with the bottle.

"I heard what you said to her," Shelagh whispered taking Angela so she could feed her. "You are right, you know. She couldn't have come at a better moment for us- she was and is a light in this dark world. It's part of the reason why we chose Angela as a name. It reminded us of an angel and she is a precious angel to us. Patrick and I had given up hope to have a child, and all of the sudden this angel landed in our arms."

Sister Julienne reached out and hugged her friend gently. "I will return tomorrow to check up on you three. Jenny has decided to leave us, and we are planning a small get together before she leaves. I will let you know when and you can bring Angela to meet the rest of us."

Shelagh smiled and nodded. She carefully burped Angela, and spoke softly, "I can't wait for the rest to meet her. The people of Nonnatus House are my family, and I want her to know them as such."

With that being said, Sister Julienne left- leaving the Turners to continue to adjust as a family- not of three, but of four.