Christmas Day, 1963

Shelagh woke to the sound of whispers and giggles. Stretching out, she realized the other side of the bed was cold and empty. She forced her brain to wake and she remembered the phone and the kiss, but nothing more… Did he tell her why or where he'd been called out? Putting on her glasses, she saw the children outside the bedroom door. Timothy was trying to keep the little ones corralled and quiet.

"Come on then," she said, "Happy Christmas!"

"Mum, I've given you your first present. I changed his nappy for you," Tim said looking put out.

"Thank you dearest. Are you all dry now Teddy darling?" she said the later in a sing song voice as she nuzzled the thirteen month old's chubby cheeks. Teddy giggled.

"When will Dad be back," Tim asked with concern.

"I'm not sure," she said puzzled trying to remember when Patrick left.

"But Mummy, It's Christmas!" Angela said quite dramatic and excitedly added, "We need to see if Father Christmas has come."

"I think I much prefer Dad pretending to sleep whilst we beg him to get up much better than him not being home," Tim said quite decidedly.

"I'll ring Nonnatus House. Perhaps I can find out when we can expect him home," Shelagh said. She dialed the familiar number Poplar 459 and waited as the phone rang.

"Nonnatus House, Sister Julienne speaking."

"Happy Christmas Sister! It's Shelagh."

"Oh Shelagh! Happy Christmas!"

"Sister, the children were wondering if you have any information on when Patrick might be home," Shelagh explained.

"Oh Shelagh, none of us here called on Doctor Turner. It was a rather quiet night," she said.

"Oh… Well thank you Sister."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of help. We'll see you later for Christmas luncheon though."

"Of course, Sister. Thank you." Shelagh said and put the phone back on the cradle. Looking at Tim, she said, "He's not with a midwife."

"Mummy can we go down to see if he came?" Angela asked.

"Angela darling, I'd hate for Daddy to miss our Christmas morning," she said unsure of what to do, she said, "Let's stay in bed together for a bit." She smiled at Tim as he rolled his eyes.

Patrick Turner had been woken by the telephone just after five on Christmas morning. The caller told him there was a sick baby on a barge. He kissed Shelagh and said, "Sick baby. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He arrived to find a ten month boy struggling to breath with the distinctive sound of pertussis. His first thought was he's just a bit younger than his own son and his second was that there's a vaccine to prevent this disease. He used the same suction that he used on newborns to clear his airway.

Looking around there was a family of five living together on the tiny barge. One of the other children was coughing as well. It took some convincing that the baby needed hospital. The other child would need penicillin and the whole lot from all the barges would need jabs if he was going to prevent an outbreak of pertussis from London to Birmingham.

He keep the baby breathing until the ambulance came. Sighing he realized it was well after six. He imagined his children were missing him. Still instead of ringing home, he rang Nonnatus House to request a nurse to bring the vaccines and to help him administer them.

Sister Julienne said, "Of course Doctor. I'll send more than one. Shelagh and the children were wondering when you'd be home. We'll do everything we can to speed your return to your family.

"Thank you, Sister. Could you please let her know I've been delayed. Tell her to go on without me," he said.

It wasn't fair to make the children wait. Still he and Shelagh had spent a bit of time setting up Angela's dollhouse, so it would be just right. He was looking forward to seeing her excited face. Then there was the hobby horse he picked out for Teddy. Shelagh said, he was too little. He'd only just started walking, but Patrick insisted. Timothy had had one like it when he was small. He reminded her that he's be running soon enough. Well at least Teddy may be too young to respond to that gift, but he'd be sure to like the boxes and bows.

The telephone rang and Shelagh lurched for it. She listened as Sister explained why Patrick was delayed. She wished she could go and help him.

"I've sent Nurses Crane and Dyer as well as Sister Winifred. We'll get him home to Christmas morning with the children as fast possible," Sister assured her.

Shelagh looked at the children and said, "Daddy's going to be out longer. We need to go downstairs. Teddy is hungry and he doesn't understand," Shelagh said and looked at Teddy who was fussing.

Tim said, "Ange, what if we wait for Dad before we unwrap our gifts. Can you wait like a big girl?"

Shelagh watched as Angela thought about it and started to frown. Quickly she said, "Angela darling, Father Christmas often leaves something under the tree that is not wrapped. We can go see."

She gave a smile of relief to Tim when that seemed to satisfy her daughter of four years. She watched as Angela bright eyes ran to the tree and said, "Oooh Mummy look. Timophy look! A house!"

Shelagh replied, "Oh darling, it's wonderful." In her mind she thought poor Patrick is missing this lovely moment. "Let's make a nice breakfast," she said carrying Teddy and placing him in the highchair.

Patrick was tired, but they had given vaccinations to all the bargee children. They may have disagreed, but he thought it was a wonderful Christmas gift for each of them. When he finally arrived home, he heard Angela before he saw her. She was calling, "Daddy! A house! Father Christmas! Chimney! A house."

She ran to him and he scooped her up. She smelled of soap and bacon and little girl. He hugged her tight as she clung to him tight. She looked into his face and said, "I love my house!"

Patrick smiled and looked over at Shelagh who also had a huge smile. He reached out to her as he put Angela down. Shelagh took her daughter's place in his arms. He kissed her, not on her cheek, but a mushy kiss that's normal reserved for private.

"Welcome home," she whispered.

"Happy Christmas, my love," he said in return.

"We haven't unwrapped any gifts. Tim suggested we wait."

"He did," Patrick said and looking over Shelagh to Tim who was standing in the doorway holding Teddy, he added, "Thank you son."

Tim smiled and Shelagh said, "Come eat. You must be hungry."

Angela zipped by on the hobby horse meant for Teddy. Shelagh started to say something and Patrick held up his hand and said with a big smile, "They'll both enjoy it."

The end.

Merry Christmas!

From lovetheturners