Chapter Six
Tinsel and a Question
Delia thought she'd had her fair share of waiting by the letter box of Nonnatus house. But two days after her results were due she was starting to wonder if there was some unseen curse floating around involving her and letters.
"Watching it won't make it come any quicker." Trixie said kindly as she passed the worried looking brunette on her way to the clinical room.
It was Christmas Eve, but that did not stop the midwives of Nonnatus house from working or the mothers of Poplar going into labour. There were three babies due that week and both Trixie and Valerie were feeling the strain.
Deciding Trixie was completely right, Delia followed in the blonde nurse's footsteps. Perhaps she could hover around the morning routine to distract herself. Patsy was out again early, another meeting with the solicitor. Apparently she had tried to wrangle it so Delia could attend too but there were too many questions being asked. It stung slightly to be reminded that their relationship mean nothing when it came to financial matters, even if it was not very significant to them. To Delia it just felt like another brick in the wall of injustice.
Not that Patsy hadn't been discussing everything with her. They had agreed to view the property in Chelsea, not with a view to move there - Poplar was still their home at least for the moment. Patsy had many patients there and Delia was keen to work for Nonnatus (pending exam results) which meant staying within the East End was rather essential. The meeting Patsy had today was more to discuss the estate in Hong Kong. Delia hoped this could be settled without another trip overseas. She couldn't do that again. She was however painfully aware that these meetings were taking their toll on the confident woman. Her father had clearly been a big player in the business scene of things, something which his daughter cared very little about, and the stress of having to listen to countless men talk down to her about money was beginning to show.
The winter wonderland around Poplar had not lifted, if anything the snow had gotten thicker. Evenings were spent in the living room, huddled together for warmth around a roaring fire. Not that Delia minded. It gave her an excuse to snuggle up close to Patsy around the others. On one daring occasion they even held hands under the thick tartan blanket during a communal viewing of Panorama.
The clinical room turned out to be of little solace and so Delia found herself assisting Sister Monica Joan in the hunt for Christmas decorations. It made a welcome change from hunting for cake.
"I do believe they are contained within a box in the attic. I myself am not allowed near there for fear my fragile limbs betray me." Sister Monica Joan proclaimed rather disappointedly. "However you are young and strong and perfect for the task."
And so Delia, on her hands and knees in the dusty loft, came across the box of abandoned Christmas decorations. As the young Welsh nurse and the elderly nun went about decorating Nonnatus house gradually became more and more festive with each layer of tinsel and twee lace doily.
It was unlike Christmas at the Busby household, Delia had to admit. Her mam would never allow their prized decorations to gather this much dust. She strongly suspected the box had been hidden away from Sister Monica Joan for a few years now and this was its first outing in quite some time. But the nun seemed very pleased to see the plethora of gaudy items, stroking them lovingly and quoting in verse quite contentedly.
Before she knew it the day had all but passed Delia by. As she was hanging up the last of the shiny golden chains on the staircase, the front door opened along with a gust of wind, snow and a flash of red hair.
And a brown envelope.
Delia's stomach turned to ice at the sight of the object clasped in Patsy's hand.
"I just met the postman-" she began.
But Delia wasn't listening. She was eyeing the envelope as if it were a bomb wired to explode at any moment. Patsy saw the fear in her wide eyes and decided this was not the place to open the letter.
"Lets go upstairs" said Patsy softly, steering a dazed Delia towards the staircase.
Delia nodded numbly and followed.
In the safe confines of their own room Patsy held out the envelope towards a now shaking Delia.
"I can't." she gulped, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you want me to?"
Delia nodded.
Patsy tore open the envelope and took out the single page of cream pressed paper inside. She raised it up and began to read in as steady voice as she could.
"Miss Delia Anwen Busby, SRN. Following your recent examination to become a State Certified Midwife, the Royal College of Midwives would like to offer their sincere congratulations-"
Delia looked up, her eyes as wide as saucers. Patsy beamed.
"You passed Deels! Not only that you passed with distinction, it say it here, look-" she passed the letter into Delia's still shaking hands.
Blue eyes scanned the type three times, as if daring to believe it was true.
"Please find enclosed your State Certified Midwifery Badge - Patsy is this actually happening?" tears were beginning to form in her eyes.
"I think it is! Delia Busby, SRN, SCM." Patsy gave her best Phyllis impression.
Delia was eyeing the badge, her fingers ghosting over the silver and blue. Placing it carefully on the bed alongside the letter she threw herself into Patsy's arms.
Patsy was smiling so hard her face was aching. The small Welshwoman in her arms had began crying in relief, all the pent up worry coming out all at once. She held her tightly, one hand stroking through the brown tresses, the other rubbing small circles on her back.
"I love you." Delia choked, pulling away slightly.
"I love you too." Patsy replied, closing the gap between them.
They kissed long and slow, relishing the closeness of each other and the heightened mood of excitement and relief. Delia's mouth opened slightly as she attempted to deepen the kiss, her hands trying to rid Patsy of her outdoor coat, on a mission to seek out bare skin. Before they were successful however there was a knock at the door and the two sprang apart.
Without waiting for an answer, Trixie and Val appeared, both looking rather worried.
"We heard someone crying, is everything alright?" Trixie began before spotting the open envelope on the bed. "Oh-"
"It's alright Trix, I passed." Delia said with a watery smile.
Trixie's eyes had landed on the shiny new badge and she let out a whoop before crushing Delia in a hug, quickly followed by Valerie. The four of them ended up in a pile not too dissimilar to a welsh rugby scrum.
"We need to celebrate!" exclaimed Val.
"Luckily I picked this up on my way home then." said Patsy, reaching into her handbag and revealing a small bottle of very expensive looking Scotch.
Delia raised her eyebrows at her girlfriend.
Patsy winked.
The small bottle was quickly devoured between everybody (other than Trixie and the nuns). By the evening the Christmas atmosphere was in full swing. Sister Monica Joan's decorations had really set the mood in Nonnatus House and Despite being on call, Phyllis even indulged in a few mince pies. It was short lived however, soon the telephone was ringing and she was up and out on her bike to assist Mrs Morgen on Rope Street. The sisters finally retreated to compline, Trixie headed out for a date with Christopher and Val bid everyone farewell. She was to stay with her parents over the next few days.
Patsy and Delia found themselves alone in the sitting room, staring at a roaring fire, full of mince pies and listening to the haunting melodies of christmas carols floating over the wireless. It was like something out of a fairy tale Delia thought, the alcohol from earlier still warming her from the inside out. This wasn't her first Christmas at Nonnatus, she'd stayed there the previous year when most the staff journeyed to South Africa. But this was the first year she'd been here with everyone. They were truly a family here. A family she really hoped to join someday and today that dream inched ever closer. She let out a loud contented sigh and shifted to sit on the sofa next to Patsy just as the grandfather clock in the hall struck midnight.
"Merry Christmas Deels." Patsy whispered, kissing the small woman on the nose.
"Merry Christmas Pats." Delia replied, leaning impossibly closer until no space between their lips remained.
Their kisses were slow, measured. Delia could taste the mince pies and hot whiskey on Patsy's breath. She moaned quietly into the redhead's mouth and began to nibble of Patsy's bottom lip. Patsy responded, her tongue seeking entrance to Delia's mouth, the brunette obliging instantaneously, relishing the taste and sensation. Patsy's alcohol clouded mind was making her a lot more relaxed than usual, Delia noted as she felt strong hands around her waist pulling her closer.
The fire and the alcohol weren't the only things making Delia feel warm now as hands snaked around the big red woollen jumper. She wore it every night now, drowning in warmth and Patsy. It made her sad to think she wouldn't be able to wear it in the Spring, she'd have to find something else of Patsy's to steal for use in the summer months. Maybe another pair of her pyjamas...
Delia's thoughts were cut short when a hand cupped one of her breasts above the sweater and lightly squeezed. She gasped and kissed back, harder. The logical part of her brain telling her to stop, they were not behind a locked door, the room was not a hundred percent safe by any means. Not that she wasn't enjoying this daring side to Patsy. Before she'd barely kissed her outside her room let alone this.
Patsy's mouth was trailing hot kisses down her neck now, her hand finding the other breast and massaging it gently. There was a thrill about being touched in such a way on something as mundane as a sofa Delia thought. This is what normal people in relationships did. People who didn't have to worry about locking doors behind them.
Patsy continued her movements but did not push any further, seemingly content to be in the moment. Eventually they broke apart, slightly breathless, the firelight illuminating each others eyes.
"I love you very much Delia Busby." Patsy's voice was low, almost a growl.
Delia swallowed audibly.
Patsy withdrew a hand from around her waist and fumbled with the pocket of her jeans. She struggled slightly due to the weight of Delia half laying on top of her.
"Delia..."
"Oh sorry." Delia shifted her weight, sitting back into the sofa.
Patsy smiled, adjusting herself before reaching into her pocket again and pulling out a small object.
It was a tiny mahogany box with celtic engraving on the lid and a dainty golden clasp that shimmered in the dying light of the fire.
Delia's eyes widened for the second time that day as Patsy rose from the sofa and took the smaller woman's hands in her own.
"Delia." Patsy fell to one knee.
Patience "Unflappable" Mount as Delia so dearly liked to refer to her was feeling right this moment considerably "flapped".
She filled her lungs with a deep breath of smog- filled air and pushed open the door to the tiny shop. Confidence. That's all it took. And she had that in bucketloads, even if inside she was terrified.
"Good Morning." she addressed the clerk before she could get a word in.
RP accent strong, trying to ooze the class she hated.
"Good Morning Ma'am." The straight backed clerk replied.
She was in her late fifties, grey hair already beginning to show despite her clear attempts to disguise the fact. Patsy's eyes fell on a necklace of pearls, most likely her pride and joy and very likely fake. The redhead's father had seen enough of people trying to fit in with the upper classes to install the knowledge into his daughter of how to spot a charlatan.
"How may I help you? Ma'am?" the clerk asked timidly, clearly aware she was being scrutinised.
Patsy stopped staring at the woman's pearls and gathered herself in a split second. Keep up the confidence. She's buying it.
"Yes, I'm here for an engagement ring. The old fellow truly doesn't know the first thing about jewellery and quite frankly if he's ever going to marry into our family, it's the least I can do to make sure he gets at least one thing right."
"Oh. Quite."
Patsy's heart hammered loudly in her ears but she kept up the act.
"Indeed. I'm not sure what my sister sees in him to be honest, plenty of eligible bachelors around and she has to pick the one who'd elope with nothing more than his grandmother's ring." she laughed hollowly.
Hating how it sounded. Hated how easily the lies slipped out.
It went against every fibre of her being to be acting this way but she knew it was necessary. Today had been planned out to the nth degree and she would not lose it all now for the sake of her own pride.
"Well, I'm sure our selection will be more than appropriate for your... situation."
Patsy nodded curtly. The sales woman began to direct her towards the rear of the shop where everything was coated in velvet and the dazzling stones stood out clearer than anything. Panic rose slightly in her chest, this she hadn't planned for.
"Oh gosh no, not one of those song and dance numbers, honestly she'll probably be done with him in a few months - might as well keep it simple."
"Of course Ma'am."
The sales clerk changed course, eyeing Patsy rather suspiciously this time as she directed her towards the "budget" section of the store. Budget being the choice of word Patsy thought as she scanned the selection in front of her. If these were budget, the ones at the back could afford a small house.
"I'll give you a few moments." the clerk backed away and resumed her counting of receipts.
The shop bell sounded and a bubbly couple entered, clearly besotted with each other, the girl giggling nervously and the chap grinning from ear to ear. The sales clerk was on them, quick as a flash and Patsy finally let herself breathe.
The distraction allowed her time to slip back into herself and make the decision she had truly come to this little shop in the middle of an obscure street in London for.
"Will you marry me?"
She was shaking so much the ring could be heard rattling in the small wooden box.
"Oh Patsy." silent tears were streaming down Delia's face, her voice so horse Patsy could bearly hear it.
Slipping the ring onto Delia's ring finger, Patsy stared down at the perfect fit. The blue green of the simple stone twinkled merrily in the firelight, perfectly matching Delia's piercing gaze.
The small woman raised a hand to stroke the side of Patsy's cheek.
"Yes." she whispered.
Despite knowing the answer, relief hit Patsy like a train. For the briefest moment she wondered if she'd imagined the last few years of her life but no, this was really happening, she'd proposed to the love of her life with a real ring she'd had chosen specifically for the occasion. And, all going to plan, they would be moving in together within a month.
No more words were needed as the couple embraced, so many unspoken words shared in the hug. They may never have the chance to do things traditionally thought Patsy, but they were doing it in their own special way and somehow, that just felt perfect.
As Patsy had left the small jewellers, the sales clerk shook her head before making her way through a curtain into the back shop.
"Everything alright Doreen?" came a warm tone.
"Yes." she replied, still thoughtful.
"I made you a cuppa."
Doreen smiled in thanks as a figure handed her a warm, steaming mug. It was freezing out and she knew the sales she'd gathered this morning would at least feed the fire over Christmas. There was something odd about the red-haired woman though that she just couldn't quite place.
"Penny for them love?"
After a thoughtful silence Doreen looked up. "Just a customer today. Proper la-di-da she was, but there was summit off." she sipped her tea again.
A grunt came from the chair in the corner. "All the same those posh ones."
Doreen shook her head. "No. Not this one."
A warm hand rested on her shoulder as the figure moved to take over the afternoon shift. Doreen smiled, her eyes following the retreating form of the woman she'd came to love in secret so much over the past decades.
"Thanks for the cuppa Alice love."