One of the things that I love about this chapter is working with my beta, I discovered that an epic childhood memory for the era of this story was just as common in England as it was in the US. I hope you love it too!
Julie woke to the ruckus of everyone getting out the door to work. She rolled over to fall back to sleep. Instead her eyes popped open.
Albert and Linda will be up by now.
She waited until she heard the door slam and the quiet, then she jumped out of bed. She washed and dressed. In the kitchen her mum was sitting at the cluttered table with a cuppa.
Sighing she knew she should help with the washing up. She prepared tea and toast and set to work. Stopping periodically for a bite and a sip.
"You should have a seat and eat," her mother scolded.
"It's fine. Remember I'll be off with Tim and his family. You can meet his parents tomorrow at the breakfast."
"I don't know. A fancy London doctor… what would I say?"
"How about hello and thank you for being kind to my daughter? Or perhaps I'm so happy that Julie and Tim found each other. Mum someday you'll share the same grandchildren."
"You're right of course. They are being awfully nice taking you in. Are you certain you should be giving up your good job to mind a baby?"
"Mum, it'll be fine. Once we're married, I'll be back in London. I can get a job until I have my own baby to care for."
"Well at least you aren't one of these modern women who don't want babies. I've seen them on the telly. They fight for women to be like men, but we're different. We were made the weaker sex. We'll never be equal."
"Mum, the world is changing. Dad will never treat you any different then he does, but men like Tim are different. He treats me equal and he knows all about childbirth. He even said that no man would survive."
"I just don't know about a man seeing all those…" In a whisper, she added, "down belows."
"Mum, doctors see a lot of things."
"He sees men too. I heard about that film on ITV. Your father wouldn't allow the telly on. Men liking men, it's unnatural."
"Mum, Tim loves me and not men or his woman patients. The world is changing, you best accept it.
She left shortly after to walk over to see Tim. When she arrived, Tim was alone having tea.
"I was about to set out for your house."
"Well I'm here. We have awhile before your family arrives."
"We're expected at the convent for lunch. I wonder how Arthur's feeling," Tim said.
"If Kate wasn't already up the duff she might be after last night."
"I'm not so sure," Tim said.
"Why?" Julie wondered what Tim knew.
"Well if a man is too drunk he might have trouble…"
"Oh," she giggled but she felt heat in her cheeks. "There is a lot that I don't know."
"There is a lot that we'll experience together," Tim said taking her hand.
Lacking anything to do they found themselves on the sofa where Tim had spent the night. Cuddled together Julie felt herself doze off. She woke with a start and felt Tim's arm holding her. Opening her eyes, she took in Tim's peaceful face. Just how late had he stayed up and how many pints did he have? She studies his face as it was the first time she'd seen him asleep. She remembered their conversation about Arthur and felt the embarrassment
Curious she had asked Kate what it was like, but Kate's answers were vague. She said, "It just happened and there was no reason to stop…"
When she told Kate what her mum told her, Kate just laughed and said, "Maybe your dad doesn't know what he's doing, because after the first time, it's the best thing ever."
Until she met Tim, Julie would probably say that chocolate was the best thing ever. She looked at him again he had a funny crinkle on his forehead. She wondered if he was having a bad dream. She imagined kissing him awake and then letting them go too far, but she knew that Tim would never allow it. He was too responsible.
It was getting late, so she did kiss him awake and he smiled. She whispered, "We need to go into the village to wait for your family. Tim groaned.
As they waited for his father's new estate car, Tim said, "Having you there will be far more peaceful than traveling with just Angela and Teddy. Now they won't need to touch each other in the backseat."
Julie always laughed at the siblings antics.
###
When the car approached, Tim stood and waved.
"What a wonderful little village," Mum said with a smile.
Dad called, "Ted climb on into the boot."
Angela said, "I'm always the middle."
Tim ordered, "Ange move over. Julie will be the middle. She can sit next to both of us."
Angela allowed for Jules to sit in the middle. Mum had the map and was navigator. This was not their normal route to Chichester.
Teddy provided updates on the lorry traveling behind them for a good bit of the way. Tim kept wishing both he and Angela who liked to sing would stop because he had a headache.
He hadn't thought he had drank too much, but after walking Julie home he had one more pint. He didn't relax until Mr. Miller left the pub. Julie's hand in his helped him to feel better.
Waking up to see her face was better than a dream. He wished they could lie together all day, but he was glad to be going to see Sister. He hadn't seen her in a few years. Whenever they went to visit, he was busy in Oxford.
He had shut his eyes, but heard Julie gasp. They were approaching the drawbridge.
"It's a castle!"
Teddy corrected, "No it's a convent."
It took a moment for them to get out of the car. Tim watched as his father stiffly stretched. Tim hated that his father wasn't young for Teddy, like he was when he was growing up. Then again he was so busy it hardly mattered. At least he had more time for Ted.
Sister Julienne appeared and she looked older as well.
"Oh my dear Shelagh! Look at you, as young as ever!"
"Sister you're too kind…"
"Oh my what have you been feeding these children?"
"Sister, I'm not a child. I'm fifteen," Angela said as she kissed Sister's cheek.
"I'm not a child either and we brought Julie," Teddy announced.
Tim saw Sister look from him to Julie and he squeezed her hand.
"You have. Tim, look at you. Should I call you Dr. Turner now?"
"You can save that for Dad, Sister. You've known me my whole life. This is Julie Miller, my fiance."
Sister took Julie's hands in hers and said, "You could not have chosen a better family. I am happy to meet the girl that I've heard so much about."
Tim saw Julie blushing and whispered, "You know we all love you."
Sister went on to greet his father as Dr. Turner because somethings will never change.
They set down to luncheon with other retired sisters. Teddy and Angela did most of the talking. Still Tim listened as Sister and Mum updated one another on the former midwives.
"I received a Christmas card from Jenny and Philip. Their girls are teenagers now," Mum said.
"Trixie writes periodically," Sister added.
"We see Sister Winifred and Val because like us, they haven't left the East End."
"So many have," Sister said quietly.
"A great many years have gone by Sister," Mum said.
"Tim is a reminder of that," Sister said.
"My knees remind me enough," Dad added.
"Mine too," Sister laughed.
"You look well," Dad added.
"Oh I am. Just a bit slower than I used to be. I think of dear Sister Monica Joan and hope that my mind and body go at the same pace."
"You're healthy now and we can thank Him for that," Mum said putting an end to the conversation.
The focus turned to Tim and Julie and he answered questions about his training.
"She's moving into our house!" Ted blurted when Sister asked about Julie.
They told Sister about Julie's plans to become a nanny and about loving children. Sister smiled, probably thinking about Mum being a grandmother in a few years.
Tim could tell that Mum was reluctant to say goodbye when it was time. He was glad that like Nonnatus House the Mother House always served cake. Tomorrow he'd have more. That thought made him smile on the ride back with Teddy rambling on in the boot and Ange talking Julie's ears off.