Chapter 11

Shelagh sat in the living room of the Donald's house and watched her daughter pushing her dolly around the room in her brand new pram. Occasionally the little girl would stop and toddle over to sit in Elizabeth Donald's lap, at which point the young woman would read one of the little girl's new books. Although having reached the grand age of two that very day Angela Turner had an extremely short attention span, too many new things to play with and too many grown up to dote on her.

Shelagh sat on the couch watching the scene before her. The Donald's had given her daughter a marvellous day. Patrick and Timothy had surprised her by shopping and selecting the perfect dolls pram for Angela. Timothy had also selected a wooden puzzle for her. The Donald family however, had taken Angela to their hearts and provided everything else. Alex and Elizabeth spared no time or expense providing party food and a chocolate sponge cake with two candles and each of them had given her the most thoughtful gifts. Alex and Ian had bought her a pale pink party dress – a terribly impractical dress that her mother would never actually buy for her but loved seeing her daughter spinning around the room watching the dress spin with her. Elizabeth gave her several books about animals, something Angela adored and Bernadette pieced together a new doctor's bag for the little girl. Shelagh was amazed at the effort the young girl had put into Angela's gift in such a short period of time and they had all been subjected to Angela-style check-ups throughout the day.

As she sat on the floor in Elizabeth's lap Angela looked up at her mother. "Mama I sleepy." Angela admitted as her eyes began to droop. Elizabeth sensed this was an important time for mother and daughter and gently lifted the little girl into her mother's waiting arms.

"You've had a big day my wee two year old." Shelagh whispered into her daughter's hair. She knew she could ask someone to take Angela into their room and place her in the cot for her sleep but Shelagh's arms had been without her daughter for too long and she decided that she would tuck her daughter under her arm and they could doze together.

Elizabeth whispered, "I'll just be upstairs if you need anything Mrs Turner." Shelagh grasped the 18 year old girl's wrist and smiled. "Sorry… Shelagh".

Elizabeth left the room and headed to her bedroom. She closed the door quietly behind her and moved towards her bed where she removed the bible that was under it and knelt to pray. For over a year now she had been thinking of joining the convent. She knew her parents would not understand and had been keeping her thoughts and confusion to herself. Having the Turner's living with them had only increased her confusion. Part of her believed she had a calling to do God's work but having Angela in the house made her heart long for a child of her own.

As close as Elizabeth was to her mother she knew her mother wouldn't understand her dilemma and the nun's at school weren't exactly approachable. Elizabeth had been longing for someone to talk to and she knew Mrs Turner would be the perfect person but she had only known her a few days but had immediately felt a connection with the older woman but so far her innate shyness had kept her from broaching the subject.

An hour later she heard the doorbell ring and went to answer it. Just as she got to the foyer a sleepy looking Angela joined her. Elizabeth bent to pick her up and the little girl snuggled into her shoulder. Elizabeth loved the feeling of the little girl in her arms which only increased her confusion about what God wanted for her.

"Trix!" Angela yelled joyously as Elizabeth opened the door and tried to leap from Elizabeth's arms into Trixie's waiting ones.

"Hello birthday girl!" Trixie enthused as she tickled the two year old. "Have you had a lovely day?"

"Yes!" Angela wriggled to be put down and lead Trixie into the sitting room where a now awake Shelagh was sitting there with a smile.

"Good afternoon Trixie." Shelagh said as Trixie came over and sat in the chair beside her.

Elizabeth followed them in carrying the bags that Trixie had bought with her.

"Oh thank you Elizabeth I didn't mean to leave you carrying everything." Trixie apologised looking at the young girl who immediately cast her eyes down, reminding Trixie of something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"I'll just go and make tea." She said as she left the room, Trixie's eyes not leaving her as she tried to place why the girls actions seemed so familiar.

"Trix! Trix! Look pram!" Angela distracted her as the little girl showed off her presents.

"And here is another one for you darling". Trixie handed the toddler a brightly wrapped present which she promptly tore into and found a soft hairbrush and every clip and ribbon a little girl could ever want. "I thought we could play hairdressers this afternoon while mummy and I talk."

Shelagh smiled. "That would be lovely."

"Oh and I almost forgot the rest of the bags are a gift for you from my cousin!"

Shelagh looked at Trixie confused as to why a woman she had never met would be giving her a gift.

"Helen said it was either give them to you or she would burn them – either way she never wants to have to lay eyes on them again let alone wear them." Trixies explanation had Shelagh intrigued. "After all she has got five children so I guess you would get sick of maternity clothes. Anyway, I was telling her about how you would be here until your third trimester and she happily packed everything up for you."

Shelagh had a look at the three bags on the floor beside the couch and was overcome with gratitude. Since moving to the Donald's she had no reason to stay in her pyjamas each day and dressing gave her a sense of normality however, she had noticed her clothes were becoming tighter and knew they would not fit her by the time she left Scotland. Patrick would have gone and bought her something had she asked and it wasn't that she didn't trust him but he wasn't exactly known for his taste in clothing. In fact it was the one area of his life he had willing given over to her as soon as they were married. Actually before they were married if Shelagh were honest but he never knew of the particularly hideous items she had purged while they were courting. Trixies cousin had just unknowingly solved a huge problem

"My goodness." Shelagh said as she pulled some particularly lovely items from the bag. "Please thank your cousin immensely."

Elizabeth entered the room with a tray of tea and leftover birthday cake and placed it on the table. "Tea and cake Miss Franklin?"

"Please call me Trixie and that would be lovely thank you."

Elizabeth cast her eyes down again and began to pour the tea. Trixie was once again perplexed by who the girl reminded her of as she took the offered tea and cake. Her face lit up though as she looked over at Angela.

"I'm sure there is no need to ask Angela if she wants more cake." Elizabeth laughed as the little girl came toddling over.

"I think Angel may have a sweet tooth to rival Sister Monica Joan." Shelagh and Trixie laughed as they watched the little girl eat her second piece of birthday cake for the day.

"Who is Sister Monica Joan?" Elizabeth asked wondering how these two women would be well enough acquainted with a nun to know her eating habits.

Shelagh and Trixie looked at each other both wondering how to explain. Trixie decided Shelagh was the best person to explain. "Trixie and I are both midwives in Poplar in London. The Sisters of St Raymond Nonnatus provide the midwifery services to the area and Sister Monica Joan is the oldest of the sisters – she's retired now but she was one of the first midwives to qualify in England. The midwives and sisters all live together and well, let's just say that when Mrs B baked a cake it always had to be well hidden if any of us wanted a slice before Sister Monica Joan found it." Shelagh smiled at the memories.

"Remember when Jenny arrived and Sister Monica Joan had her eat four slices?" Trixie laughed remembering what it had been like when they all lived and worked together.

"So you lived there too Mrs Turner, as one of the midwives, before you and Dr Turner got married?" Elizabeth asked.

Trixie choked on her tea. "Yes Shelagh why don't you explain to Elizabeth about how you lived before you married Dr Turner." She teased Shelagh who poked her tongue out at her in a very un-Shelagh like way.

Elizabeth looked at Shelagh perplexed. "Trixie just likes to remind me that she has known me for a very long time. Before I married Dr Turner I was living at Nonnatus House as one of the sisters. I spent a year questioning my calling and then I was diagnosed with TB. Eventually I realised God was pointing me in a different direction and I left the order and married Patrick."

Trixie scoffed. "That has to be the most simplistic description of your life Shelagh! I wouldn't recommend you ever try and write your memoirs – you've reduced the most romantic story I know to the equivalent of medical notes!"

Elizabeth looked at Shelagh with fresh eyes, no wonder she had felt such a connection with her, she had been through the same torment as Elizabeth herself was facing. "I have felt a calling." The young girl whispered, relief at finally being able to speak about it evident in her voice.

Shelagh and Trixie looked at each other. "Angela, I think you and I should go for a walk and see if we can find an ice cream shop."

"Ice cream!" Angela ran to the foyer. "Bye Mama" she yelled behind her as she stood waiting for Trixie to put on their coats.