Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, sorry for the delay.

Chapter Twelve

She wasn't surprised when Nurse Dyer was back first thing, the nurse was on nights and must be used to their morning routines; her sisters would be just about to start chapel. That the young woman had the ledger tucked under her arm made Sister Julienne curious, she had brought it up here before she knew the extent of her condition and taken it last night when she got the details.

They were feeling each other out and seeing where to push; what boundaries needed to be hashed out. Nurse Dyer might enjoy the idea of keeping a secret, but it was more likely she would either come to resent it or feel compelled to tell the truth; and Sister Julienne couldn't fault that. She could only watch it unfold.

"I brought you some water." The nurse moved in a flurry of activity, pressing a glass into her hand as she took the bottle from the nightstand.

"Not this morning." She shifted, uncomfortable already and though the medication had helped her sleep she needed to work this morning.

"If you intend to get up you need something, and morphine will be stronger." Nurse Dyer frowned at her.

"I need to see to a few things this morning and I want to think clearly while I do it."

"Half a tablet then." Nurse Dyer argued. She consented and took it, reaching for her prayer veil, which Nurse Dyer tugged away. "Twisting and reaching up is how you are pulling those stitches; it hurts you."

She only closed her eyes, she knew the young woman was right and she could feel it. But when Nurse Dyer helped her up and forward she was surprised. Bending at the knee and encouraging her to lean in as she lowered; it was much easier to kneel this time. And with the young woman's hands under her forearms it was easier to hold the position.

As she began the familiar routine she was aware of the young woman's fidgeting. With her head still bowed Sister Julienne opened her eyes a moment, Nurse Dyer was carefully studying various spots on the floor and the room; anywhere but her. Gently she shifted and took the young woman's hands. "Will you join me, in praying for Barbara?"

"I, I don't pray anymore. I know this is important for you." The young woman looked at the floor rather than at her.

"Thank you." She murmured, considering the new information as she took only another moment before rising. "But you don't need to be uncomfortable for me."

"Its not uncomfortable." The young woman countered, even though she would hardly look at her after her admission.

She settled at her desk, hoping that Nurse Dyer would take the hint to slip away and get some sleep; her shift long since over. The young woman needed no coaxing and as she left Sister Julienne opened the ledger. Most of the data had been carefully noted in neat small lettering and as she read it; it was correct.

Certain records had been left for her to handle and she recognized the distinction. The figures neatly entered were the records of the receipts for the house and would be similar to any other business, the notations about the nursing and midwifery duties for the records were likely outside Valerie Dyer's experience, a little different than the notes recorded for patient records; but it made her job easier.

Sister Julienne spent her morning catching up the documents and writing several letters, including one to Nurse Franklin to inquire as to her plans for the next few weeks. She was aware of the strain that everyone was under, and how they were shouldering it.

Shelagh Turner was filling in a hole in their team, running the maternity home mostly on her own, a hole that she had effectively widened. Nurse Crane was dedicating every extra moment to Barbara and her husband while working the maternity home between call outs, Nurse Dyer was sticking it out on straight night shifts to allow the others to work without interruption and doing a great deal of the grunt work which was generally shared. Sister Winifred and Nurse Anderson were certainly not idle, the first attending the district roster while the latter took on an incredible list on her rounds and a great deal of deliveries.

They were scraping by, and in this moment, she felt her own limitations. A knock on the door had her turning to find Sister Monica Joan. "There is a most persistent visitor at the door, she is insistent upon speaking with you."

She nodded, that was one thing that she could manage to do; though it might take her a few more moments to get down there. But she barely made it to the front hall before Nurse Dyer was at her elbow and suddenly she was thankful for it.

"You, you wear that getup but like every other holy roller you think you're above everyone else; where are you when someone needs you? My granddaughter not good enough?" The woman lashed out, pushing forward as she caught Sister Julienne off guard.

Before she could say a word, or the woman could reach her Nurse Dyer was in front and she was afraid the two would collide. Sister Julienne did not forget that the East End fighting spirit was in the young nurse and she had probably broken up a fight or two in the pub; she had dealt with more than a few in her own work over the years.

She laid a hand on the arm of the one she knew she had some sway over. "Perhaps you would make some tea for us all Nurse Dyer?"

The Nurse glanced at her a moment before obeying, but she saw that as the situation diffused so did the other woman's anger. Something she had learned a long time ago, most people looking for a fight really just wanted their voice to be heard; and life taught them noise and violence got attention.

Over a cup of tea, the story began to come out, and it was not a simple one; Mrs. Lake did not need to be found. She'd come to them and as Sister Julienne teased out a few more details she came to understand the woman's ferocity. Mrs. Lake didn't know her, she wasn't from the area and something hinted that she hadn't had an easy life; but she did have a son.

A child she cherished and a daughter in law she wanted to look after. The girl was local, Sister Julienne recognized the name and the reason the woman was worried, Ilene Lake, had grown up in Poplar and had been one of their patients a few years ago; it had been hard on the young woman. There had been a late term miscarriage and the poor child had still needed to deliver the baby.

She hadn't been married, but Sister Julienne wasn't sure how much Mrs. Lake knew about that; the girl had gone by Ilene Cossen. Her mother in law said she had suffered two late term miscarriages, not normal for an otherwise healthy young woman. Either way, whether the first still born was included in the number or not it would have taken a toll on her; this pregnancy could be challenging. "Who has she been seeing?"

"My Logan moved them back here, he's got a good job now; but it takes him too sea too often. Thought having her somewhere familiar would help."

"Has Ilene seen a doctor?" Sister Julienne pressed the woman, though she had a feeling she knew the answer given the woman's dodging.

"Not since she came back to Poplar." The girl's mother in law admitted.

"First thing then, I want you to get her in to see Dr. Turner. If you don't want to take her to the clinic then take her in to the surgery but doctor needs to see her. Then we will get someone out to see her at home..."

"Will it be you? She wants you." Mrs. Lake cut her off, fire returning to her eyes.

She was silent for a long moment, the smart answer was no, she was in no shape to do a home visit and knew she had no hope of a delivery. But she remembered Ilene, she remembered many of her patients, she watched some grow up, and other families cope, slowly moving on from difficult circumstances. "I cannot guarantee who will be there for delivery and Dr. Turner may recommend that she deliver in hospital or in the maternity home."

"She is doing it at home this time, both times she's gone to the hospital she's come home with empty arms. It will be at home." The woman demanded, and inadvertently confirmed that there had been at least three babies lost; Sister Julienne had delivered the first in her home.

"Get her in to see doctor and listen to what he suggests." Sister Julienne encouraged, suspecting that Dr. Turner would recommend the young woman go to hospital, but it was impossible to know anything without seeing the patient.

It took a few more moments to send the woman on her way but Sister Julienne let Nurse Dyer see her out; she was exhausted. Slowly she crossed to her office and picked up the phone, Dr. Turner was not going to be pleased that she was working but he did deserve a warning that he had a potentially difficult patient ahead of him; or at least a challenging grandmother to be.