For Wee-hope you get home alright

'Well well well. Our international nun of mystery gets more and more mysterious. And less and less nunlike.' A voice called from behind her. Spinning she saw Nurse Peters leant against the doorway to the sitting room with a smirk plastered across her face.

'Ah, yes.' Shelagh coloured.

'Don't you worry I haven't been eavesdropping. Are you alright?'

'More alright than I have been in a long time I assure you.' She beamed at the woman who had unknowingly watched her make the hardest decision of her life.

'Was that your infamous letter writer on the phone?'

'It was. He's coming to pick me up, banned me from taking the bus actually.'

'It sounds like he really cares about you.

'I think he does. I think he really does. Oh Nurse Peters is it wrong for me to be so excited to see him? I know I'm leaving the order so I can be with him but I am still technically a nun until I sign the papers.'

'I may not exactly be the most versed in religion but I'm sure He would understand you get excited a few hours early. Doesn't he always talk about love and all its wonder?'

'Yes. He does.'

'And you love this Dr Turner?'

'Very much.' She nodded furiously.

'Then I shouldn't imagine it to be wrong. Now if you don't have to be quite as practical then maybe we can do something with that hairstyle of yours?' The nurse offered

'What's wrong with it?' Shelagh frowned, her hand flying to the bun. She had so little experience or practice, only what she'd remembered from a decade ago and whatever she had witnessed the nurses do. She was far too inexperienced to try their hairstyles and as such she was quite proud of what she'd managed.

'Oh nothing, it's fine. It's very well done for someone who hasn't had to deal with their hair for a fair few years but we want to impress your young man now don't we? It's a bit factory worker at the moment. Great for day time day practical work but it can't hurt to bowl your suitor over. Forgive me if I am being forward but you're really quite pretty. Surely it would be nice to have your hair down after so long?'

'I suppose so. And uh…thank you? I think.'

Barely half an hour later she found herself stood before a mirror once more marvelling at the woman staring back at her. Such seemingly minor changes had made such a drastic and, dare she say, rather pleasant change to her visage.

Many of her fellow patients had joined in with the task, all delighting in the once in a lifetime chance to make over a nun. One person had loaned the hair curling tongs she had been in the middle of using and so some very light curls had been applied to the waves of hair that now mostly flowed down over her shoulders. Another had loaned some kirby grips and so the upper portion of her hair was swept up. Nurse Brown had leant her some subtle lipstick.

There had been a great debate over the sharing of eyeliner and mascara and the health risks sharing those could pose but after sterilising the mascara brush they had reached a compromise and a subtle application of it had been applied. Trixie was right-mascara did open up the eyes, and the lipstick brought out the blue of her eyes just that little bit more.

The main sticking point had been her clothes. They were the only things she owned, the main things that had stopped her being Sister Bernadette and become Shelagh Mannion again. She hoped Doctor Turner would like the changes. She could just about admit to herself that she did.

'Hello, I'm here to pick up someone who was discharged today.' Patrick walked up to the reception desk.

'Ah Doctor Turner?' Nurse Peters smiled.

''I…yes. I'm Doctor Turner. How did you know?' He frowned confused.

'Our mutual friend is the only person being discharged today. I've also been acting as her postlady.' She smirked at him as he coloured.

'Ah. Where might…where might I find her?' He asked nervously. She smiled.

'Come with me.' She led him through to a seemingly deserted room of armchairs and sofas. He looked at the nurse confused before she pointed to the corner of the room and leaving. He turned to where she'd pointed.

There she was!

Curled up in an armchair with her legs tucked under her and reading a book less than 10 metres away. She was a blonde! He'd always thought she'd be a brunette, her hair was longer than he expected too. Though he'd never overly had reason to think about the hairstyles of the nuns he'd always assumed they'd have to keep it short and manageable-he'd heard Sister Evangelina complain about how long Sister Bernadette spent in the bath but he'd always either been too preoccupied to think it through or trying too hard not to imagine her in the bath to consider why she spent so long there.

She hadn't noticed him.

Silently he walked over until he was almost at her. With every step he took she became clearer-some of her hair was up, she was quite pale, she wearing a little makeup. He stopped feet away from her. She still hadn't noticed him so engrossed was she in her book.

He cleared his throat.

Sorry the temptation to end here was just too strong

Reviews appreciated xxx