Chapter 2 - And When Two Lovers Woo, They Still Say "I Love You"
There was a slight knock at the door to the house as it opened. Shelagh smiled, loving that Timothy still viewed their house as his home, letting himself in and out as he pleased. She loved that he had taught his young wife, Bernadette, to do the same.
"Hello, Mum!" Timothy and Bernadette greeted her, settling themselves into the sitting room, Bernadette taking a little longer to be situated, thanks to her ever-expanding stomach.
"Wonderful timing, you two!" Shelagh exclaimed, carrying in the tea and handing the first cup to a visibly grateful Bernadette. The poor woman looked quite uncomfortable these days, Shelagh made a mental note to check for swelling in her ankles later in the afternoon.
"What's this about, Mum?" the pregnant woman asked. Shelagh had loved it when Bernadette had begun to call her Mum, because she definitely viewed the young woman as a daughter. Although she was even more excited to be called Grandmother.
"Sister Winifred and I have decided that you two need a party at Nonnatus, to celebrate the newest arrival. I wanted to confer with you on dates you might be free, I know you have a busy schedule getting everything ready for baby," Shelagh glanced down again at the evidence of the newborn's impending arrival. "You're almost at the point of needing weekly examinations," she said, almost as an afterthought.
"Ever the midwife! But, Mum, we don't need a party. They gave us one when we were married, that was enough."
"Nonsense! You are a part of Nonnatus House, just like your father and I. You've been a part of that house since you were a boy. And soon you'll take over your father's surgery and you'll become even more a part of the workings of that house. The people there love you, Timothy."
"I know Mum, it's just… Well, it's not the same since… you know..."
"I know, dear, I know. The spirit of the house has not been quite the same with Sister Monica Joan gone," Shelagh paused, lost in thought about her dear friend. Life at Nonnatus house moved on, of course - it had to, but it seemed for far too long that the vivacious spirit of the house had been dimmed. "But Sister Winifred made a promise to Sister Monica Joan that she would never miss an opportunity to have cake and she intends to deliver upon that promise" Shelagh smiled. While no one had been surprised by the elderly Sister's passing, except perhaps that it had not happened sooner, it had still seemed to catch them off guard - as if they expected her to outlive them all.
The room fell quiet in bittersweet remembrances until Bernadette offered softly, "I remember the first time you introduced me to Sister Monica Joan." She looked up at her husband and took his hand, "It reminded me a lot of how we first met."
Tim chuckled at the thought, "You know, I hadn't realized it, but you're right."
It was a warm evening and Tim had far more places he'd rather be than at some party at the house of a friend he barely knew and would probably never see again after university. But he knew that he would begin his more hands-on, practical training at his father's surgery the next year and that would take all his focus. He was excited to get started working, he had put in far too many hours becoming qualified not to be, but he also remembered his dad's frequent exhaustion and being called out all hours of the day. Tim wanted to be a doctor; he knew it was his calling, but he didn't romanticize it, it was going to be difficult. He might as well enjoy parties while he could get to them.
He saw a girl with dark brown hair on the other side of the room, standing alone near the door, looking about as happy to be there as he was. Picking up a second cup of punch, Tim crossed the room. As he approached, Tim studied her, she looked to be a little younger than him and almost as tall. And beautiful, so very beautiful. He offered her the cup, attempting to act like the gentleman Mum had tried to teach him to be. "Hello! Would you like some punch?"
She hesitated at first, but accepted the offered cup, taking a small sip. "Thank you. I'm Bernadette."
Tim couldn't help it. He knew it was not something a gentleman would do, but he let a loud peal of laughter burst out, instantly regretting it. "Sorry, it's just that you don't look like a Bernadette to me." You're more like a beautiful Chummy, really, he thought to himself.
Obviously quite offended and not wanting to be the butt of anyone's joke, Bernadette stammered out, "I happen to like my name and since I don't even know yours, there's no reason for me to stay here to be laughed at." She turned away, quickly making her way through the nearby door.
Timothy caught up with her outside, gently placing his hand on her arm, not forcing her to stop, but seeking a chance to apologize again. "I really am sorry I offended you, I couldn't stop myself. Bernadette is a wonderful name, it's just, I used to know a Bernadette, Sister Bernadette actually, and, well, you're so tall compared to her it simply made me laugh. She is quite short, you see…" Timothy fumbled over the apology, not sure she would forgive him, but desperately wanting her to. "There's nothing wrong with your height, though," and before he realized he was saying it out loud, he added, "There's nothing wrong with any part of you, actually."
Bernadette had decided to hear him out, since he had the decency to come after her, but she had not expected to actually believe anything he would say. But at his last words, she couldn't help but turn and look into his eyes, startled. She had never thought of herself as overly beautiful, not unpretty, just not one who would attract the attention of men at first glance. One look into this stranger's eyes, however, and she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. He looked at her in a way she felt she had never been looked at before, and may never again if she walked away. His eyes were green and beautiful and his hair fell playfully above them as he looked down, interpreting her silence as a rejection of his apology. She couldn't let him go. "I was named after a nun, actually," she blurted out, though she couldn't name why. It struck her odd the way he had described the Sister he knew, once using past tense and once using the present.
"Really?" he laughed again, but this time more of a sweet chuckle that stirred memories deep within him.
She longed to know what those memories were. "Well, sort of," she giggled, "A nun in a movie, anyway. My mum absolutely loved The Song of Bernadette and waited years for a girl so she could name me after the nun. Too bad I had so many older brothers first."
There was that memory-filled chuckle again, "that movie may have been why Mum chose the name Bernadette too," Tim offered.
"Wait, 'Mum'?!"
Tim blushed, time having erased the sensationalism that surrounded his parents marriage so many years ago. "Yes. A year or so after my first mum died, dad fell in love with a nun, Sister Bernadette, and she left the order so they could be married."
Bernadette looked at this strange person before her, wondering what other strange revelations might spill from his lips next. Somehow, she was falling for this boy she didn't even know, eyes lingering on those lips now, wondering how they might taste upon hers. What am I thinking? I just came out for a bit of fun, not to lose myself over some guy! "I don't even know your name," she realized aloud.
"Tim."
"There, we've made a start."
When the happy couple came to Nonnatus to celebrate their engagement, and so Bernadette could meet all of the Sisters who meant so much to Tim, she could feel love permeating every bit of the house. Bernadette was quickly welcomed into this eclectic family, filled with nuns, a former nun, nurses, a handyman and his haberdasher wife. She almost immediately felt foolish for how nervous she had been on the ride into Poplar. Tim had told her how loving they were, but she had never expected this much instant acceptance and grace. Bernadette had grown up in a loving family, but had never known a love this strong that extended beyond the walls of her home. Perhaps that was the difference between living in the country and in the crowded city. Here in Poplar, people were forced together whether they liked it or not, and so this family, brought together from all parts of the world, chose to live their lives in unity and love. This type of life might break others apart, but it had only served to bring the Nonnatuns closer together.
When Tim introduced her to Sister Monica Joan, Bernadette could see why everyone loved this nun so much. She was an enigma, yes, with a spirit and child-like joy that disguised her age and quoting Keats and Shakespeare with the mind of one much younger, yet also not always clear on what was occurring in the present. "This is Bernadette," Tim proudly stated to the elderly nun.
"That's not Bernadette, young man," Sister Monica Joan responded, her eyes seeming to cloud over briefly, "that young sister left us long ago… Besides, she is much too tall. She must be a Chummy!" And off the Sister went in search of cake.