It was rapidly becoming quite a week. After the news for the hospital board and the pending inspection, there was the meeting at Nonnatus House where Sister Ursula made it quite clear that they were on their own when it came to the maternity home.
Shelagh's patience with Sister Ursula had long since worn thin. The fact that she took Sister Julienne place as head of Nonnatus did not sit well with her. Then there was her meddling with the clinic appointments by instituting tickets. Shelagh was certainly glad she was no longer bound by the vow of obedience... the one that would require her to be obedient to Sister Ursula.
Her vows to Patrick seemed easier to keep than those she made for the religious life. She and Timothy were in the kitchen when Patrick came home.
"Hello dear," she greeted him at the door to the hall giving him a quick kiss as she does most evenings.
"Daddy," Angela ran to him and he scooped her up.
"I just had a conversation with Nurse Crane," Patrick said.
"Oh," Shelagh responded somewhat distracted.
"She said the Sister Ursula has instituted twenty minutes for home visits," he stated.
"What! Bloody heh!" Shelagh exclaimed, but stopped herself from completing what she was about to say.
"Mum!" Timothy said shocked.
"Oh I am sorry. I am not sure what came over me," she said.
"I think you have heard Dad say it a few too many times," Tim said.
"Me?" Patrick questioned.
"Even I know better than to say that at home," Tim added.
"At home? Does that mean that you use bad language away from home?" Shelagh asked.
"Tim, don't answer that," Patrick warned with a wink.
"Patrick, don't encourage him."
"I don't know why he blamed me," Patrick said quite indignant.
"Because we hear you when you think we don't," Tim answered.
"What?"
"Just the other day, when you were fixing the drip in the sink, I heard you say it a few times," Shelagh answered.
"I heard worse," Timothy added.
"And you?" Patrick asked Angela who just smiled at her Daddy.
"Mum told me to practice my piano so that Angela wouldn't hear."
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes, Really," she answered.
"What about you?" Patrick asked Shelagh.
"Me!"
"Not too long ago, you would never dare say anything inappropriate...but what about your 'uncharitable thoughts'? Patrick laughed.
"Unchar...oh! I remember you encouraging me," she laughed back.
"Of course, I was having some myself. I would venture that mine were worse than yours."
"Uncharitable thoughts about what?" Tim asked.
Patrick answered, "In South Africa, the Sargeant …" He explained how they had to push the truck.
"You pushed a truck! Mum too?" Tim asked.
"Yes, along with Fred and Reverend Hereward," Patrick answered.
Timothy continued to ask questions and Patrick explained the politics of South Africa while Shelagh set the table.
Once they were all seated, Shelagh said, "Patrick, I am concerned that they can't provide adequate care with just twenty minutes for visits."
"As is Nurse Crane."
"Poor Sister Julienne, she can't do anything about it," Shelagh said disheartened.
"Why can't she speak out about something that is wrong?" Tim asked.
"She must live by her vows...chastity, poverty and obedience," Shelagh explained.
"You didn't."
"Tim!" Patrick said.
"No Patrick. It's alright. I did...I never broke any if my vows while I was still in the order. I left the order the day I left the sanatorium."
"I just thought…"
"I know what you thought and I am sure you are not the only one."
"Tim that was a long time ago," Patrick added thinking that he wasn't sure he wanted his attempt to break her vows known. Remembering how he lost his senses in the parish hall.
Shelagh looked at him as if knowing what he was thinking. "I was unhappy and then I realize what would make me happy was being in a family with you...both of you."
"I'll never understand how he managed to convince you."
"Well there's a crushing verdict," Patrick added.
They all laughed.