Nonnatus house was in full swing getting ready for the festivities.
"Sisters, please join me in my office!" Sister Julienne says.
"As you are both aware Mother Jesu-Emmanuel was due to come to the end of her ten years as superior next February, after which her successor would have been elected, however Mother Jesu-Emmanuel has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and has been given months to live!" Sister Julienne told her group of Sisters.
Mia clamped a hand over her mouth. Mother Jesu Emmanuel had been in charge since Mia could remember.
"She asks that we leave our work at once and return to the motherhouse until another superior is elected!" Sister Julienne explained. "Sister Mildred is due to arrive at the motherhouse with a handful of Chinese orphans!"
"We must leave to be with Mother Jesu!" Mia said leaving no room for discussion. "But there may be a problem, not all of us can leave!"
"Yes, I've made Sister Hilda aware of that so Mia, Sister Winifred, Sister Evangelina, Sister Monica Joan and I will leave for Chichester. Sister Mary Cynthia, will you remain here?"
"Yes of course Sister!"
Mother Mildred arrived in a taxi with the 4 Chinese orphans. Due to the snow, the roads were impassable to the airport. Mia was given the oldest girl to care for. May. She was a pretty little thing but small and very light for her age. Working with small children gave Mia a good indication as to what a well-nourished child felt. And it certainly wasn't that.
Mia sat with May on her lap and made up a small plate of food for her. May took a lot of encouragement to eat anything.
Mia wasn't known to eat a lot of food but when it came to children she knew that nourishment was vital from an early age.
"Sister Julienne?"Patrick asked.
"Good morning Doctor Turner what do we owe the pleasure?" Sister Julienne asked looking at Mia who shrugged.
"I'm here to see Sister Monica Joan?" Patrick replied sounding as confused as the nun.
"Oh!" Mia replied.
Mia sat on the stairs with May on her lap. Patrick came down the stairs and knelt beside the pair.
"Hello, you. Are you ready for the last leg of your journey?" Patrick asked May who looked at him innocently. "You've come a long long way haven't you."
" No reason to be peering at her Doctor she's not ill just one of my shyer types!" Sister Mildred interrupted. Sister Mildred gestured to Mia that it was time to go so Mia picked May up and followed the old Sister out of the door.
Mia thought that Patrick was so sweet with young children. And that small moment with May had proved that to her even more. Mia wished Sister Mildred hadn't interrupted them but she could have done nothing to stop it.
Soon enough Mia was sitting beside her nana in Fred's van with May on her other side.
Soon enough the Motherhouse came into view. Suddenly a car came around the corner and Fred had to swerve out of the way to prevent them from colliding.
"Oh god!" Mia exclaimed. "What on earth was that!"
Fred continued to drive down the lane until they were right next to the Motherhouse.
The Sisters climbed out of the minibus and they split off. Mia remained with her mum who hugged Sister Hilda ceremoniously whereas Mia embraced her.
"Speak to me later!" Sister Hilda whispered in Mia's ear. Mia nodded.
"How is Mother Jesu- Emmanuel?" Sister Julienne asked.
"Confided to her room and she resigned from her duties altogether!" Sister Hilda explained.
They entered the Motherhouse and walked into the office which was the centre of disarray.
Mia flicked through some of the records only picking up on the tail end of her mother and Sister Hilda's conversation.
"Don't think me indiscreet you really are the only one who could step into Mother Jesu's shoes!" Sister Hilda proposed.
"I have no desire to do anything of the kind. My work is in Poplar, where I live amongst the people I serve. And I am more use there than I ever will be behind a desk here!" Sister Julienne insisted. "Plus Mia is in Poplar. And she is my daughter, I am where she is as until she is 18 I must care for her!"
"I'm sure someone more suited with is selected!" Mia reassured her mother. "We will do our best in the office whilst we are here. Now however I must go help with the dinner for the orphans!"
Mia settled herself in the crib for Neil. Neil was one of the children who had been at the orphanage since he was born. He was starved of oxygen at birth so had to be spoon-fed. Mia had spent a lot of time with Neil when she had last been at the Motherhouse.
"Hello?"
Mia turned around to see Sister Winifred there.
"I wonder what your name is?" Sister Winifred asked. Mia shuffled over so Sister Winifred could sit down.
"His name is Neil," Mia clarified.
"Hello Neil," Sister Winifred said clearly. Neil smiled and laughed. "Why isn't he eating with the other children?"
"He was starved at oxygen at birth so he needs to be spoon-fed," Mia explained to her fellow Sister.
"How long has he been on the list for adoption?" Sister Winifred asked.
"Unfortunately he isn't. Nobody can handle a child with such complex medical needs," Mia told Sister Winifred. "You can feed him if you want whilst I go check on the other children?"
"Yes, I think we'd like that!" Sister Winifred realised.
"Good morning my dear," Sister Julienne exclaimed kissing her daughter's cheek. Mia kissed her mum intern.
"Morning mum!" Mia exclaimed pulling her hair up tightly in a pin and securing it with some lacker and bobby pins. "Is everything alright?"
"Mother Jesu has asked to see me at eleven o'clock today," Sister Julienne sighed.
"Well I need to see Sister Hilda, everything will be ok I promise!" Mia reassured her mother.
Mia knocked on Sister Hilda's door.
"Enter!"
Mia pushed the door open and then shut it behind her.
"Hello sweetheart, you alright?" Sister Hilda asked. "What's been going on a lot has changed since I last saw you, you're different now!"
"I fell in love with Timothy Turner, the Doctors son. It started when Shelagh fell pregnant with Teddy. It all blossomed from there really. We're childhood best friends it was bound to happen at some point I think!" Mia explained.
"I'm happy you've made this decision, it is the best one for you I think, "Sister Hilda said pulling Mi into a gentle hug. "I'm always here if you need me!"
"She ran away as soon as she saw me, I think we should call the police!" Sister Winifred announced. "She's heavily pregnant and looks extremely distressed!"
"Well, most pregnant women would be distressed if they knew what had just happened to little May here!" Mother Mildred exclaimed. Mia gave both the two Sisters a concerned look. She reached down and brought May up to sit on her hip.
"Her adoptive parents have failed to materialise, "Sister Mildred informed the group. Mia brought the young girl closer to her until May paid her head on Mia's shoulder.
"Something must be terribly wrong," Shelagh realised stroking May's head.
"Make way I require the telephone!" Sister Mildred demanded.
"Must May really wait a year before her adoptive parents can take her?" Sister Julienne asked. Mia nodded also wishing to know the answer to her mother's question.
"Tuberculosis is Tuberculosis. Twelve months in a sanatorium ought to see it off but while the father's away the mother doesn't think she can proceed," Sister Mildred explained.
"May already seems terribly withdrawn," Shelagh said sadly.
"Yes exactly. She has been expecting stability but still hasn't got it. It isn't fair on her she is too young to be put through all this!" Mia argued.
"May's mother was a refugee who turned to prostitution. Pretty thing forever determined to reform. Came back to the Hong Kong adoption agency three times. Talking of a better life, job as a servant at a night school. Each time she would take the child away and then weeks later bring her back. One or the other with cigarette burns or a black eye. I used to wonder who was in most need of care!" Sister Mildred told everyone.
Mia felt suddenly more protective over little May. The girl didn't deserve what she had endured no child deserved that kind of abuse.
The following morning Mia sat in the orphanage with Shelagh, Sister Winifred and Neil who was propped up on some cushions.
"Bringing him to meals and feeding him with the other children is having a really positive effect!" Sister Winifred exclaimed looking at Neil fondly.
"I've noticed that little May hardly eats at all," Shelagh told Sister Winifred. "I picked her up to put her on the rocking horse yesterday; I know what a well-nourished three-year-old should feel like and it's bony that like a baby bird!"
"I noticed that a few days ago two I'm worried she'll fall ill if she doesn't begin to eat properly," Mia said.
A few hours later Sister Winifred and Mia were sat in the church belonging to the Motherhouse. Mia and Sister Winifred turned around after saying their prayers to see a young woman who was startled.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to startle you. We saw you the other day when you were looking in the window, do you need help?" Sister Winifred asked and Mia approached the woman who began to run away. Mia and Sister Winifred ran after her. Out of the church and down a small hill.
Mia caught up with her.
They were quick to asses her and whisk her inside where Sister Julienne performed a few routine checks.
They learned her name was Lena. She was born in Poplar and had a brother called Billy. She had been moved to Australia on a private project where she was abused till she went insane. She married an older man and when he died she used the small amount of money he left her she paid for a passage home. Mia managed to persuade her to stay at the Motherhouse for a few days at least until her baby was born.
That was all Mia could do to help. She just prayed it would make a much-needed difference.
Later that afternoon at dinner Sister Winifred made comments about her staying on at the Motherhouse to care for the children.
Mia knew that Sister Winifred only wanted to care for Neil but nobody else needed to know that.
Sister Mildred then gave an encouraging speech about the quarrel that had everyone hooked on her every word.
Mia knew who her vote for the new Mother Superior was going to. If she hadn't already it was confirmed now for definite.
Lena delivered the most beautiful baby boy who she decided to name Billy after her long-lost brother.
The air was thick with love. Lena cradled her newborn son in her arms nuzzling her head against his.
Mia sat in the arms of Shelagh who Sister Julienne was hugging.
Mia smiled at the young mother. Each time Mia watched a new life being brought into the world it was magical and exhilarating. There wasn't a word to describe how it felt to be responsible for the safe delivery of a child.
The feeling of the air was different the following day as the Sisters sat huddled in pews choosing the new Mother Superior. As Mia slipped her piece of paper into the ballot she prayed.
She prayed more than she had ever in her life. She prayed for nothing short of a miracle!
Half an hour later they were back in the pews waiting for the verdict of this life-changing vote. As the chaplain pointed at Mother Mildred Mia relaxed and she looked over at her mum who was visibly more relaxed.
The now Mother Mildred stood up and began to make her first speech.
"I am to serve you as your new superior, and may I come to accept it with his good grace. Bearing in mind our recent debate on the role of obedience, I trust Sister Winifred won't resist my request that she remain here working with the children. Whilst Sister Julienne and her daughter Sister Mia return to Poplar and continue their work there. In the New Year, two new Sisters will join you!" Sister Mildred recited.
The next morning everyone arrived at the Motherhouse. Patrick had brought the children with him.
Shelagh embraced her husband. Mia came rushing down the stairs and into Tim's awaiting arms. She hugged him tightly.
"How I have missed you, sweetheart," He whispered kissing her earlobe. Mia giggled and nuzzled her head into his neck. "I can't wait till tomorrow!"
"Why?" Mia asked curiously.
"I have something special for you," He whispered. Mia blushed furiously. "You'll love it I promise!"
"I don't doubt you for a minute!" Mi replied grabbing his hand and leading him into the Motherhouse so she could introduce him to Sister Hilda.
"Sister Hilda!" Mia called and Sister Hilda turned around and strode back down the corridor to them.
"Hello sweetie, who's this strapping young lad then?" Sister Hilda asked making Mia blush a deep shade of scarlet.
"Sister Hilda this is Timothy Turner, my boyfriend, Tim this is Sister Hilda one of my mentors and close friends in the religious life," Mia introduced them. The two acquaintances embraced.
"Mia, are you helping with the nativity?" Sister Hilda asked. Mi nodded and grabbed Tim's hand. "I'm sure we can find a job for you too Master Turner."
"My job is to accompany Mia and love her relentlessly!" Tim replied. Mia swatted the taller boy clearly embarrassed.
"I was a girl before I was a nun Mia!" Sister Hilda said knowingly.
Everyone sat and watched the Nativity. Mia sat at the front beside Tim and Sister Hilda.
"Your happily ever after is yet to come!" Sister Hilda whispered. "Mia you are deserving of this and the Lord has recognised this. I can feel it!"