'Shelagh!' Trixie cried joyfully as they walked into the sitting room of the sanatorium. Several patients glared at both blondes.
'Hello Trixie.' Shelagh laughed as the nurse threw herself at her. She drew the woman into a tight hug before pulling back and hugging Cynthia and Jenny. 'Oh it's so good to see you all. I've missed you so terribly.' She beamed excitedly between them.
'We've missed you too.'
'Your phone calls have been a lifeline in here.'
'You look wonderful. How's Tadpole?' Jenny asked glancing at Shelagh's larger than average for 3 months pregnant belly.
'Well actually I have some news on that front. Come sit.' She led them over to where two sofas sat facing each other.
'So? What's the news?'
'I was being checked over by the midwife who works here ...you'd be surprised how many patients here are pregnant ..and she noticed something.'
'What? Is everything okay with the baby?'
'Well let's just say Tadpoles would be a more accurate name for bump here.' Shelagh smirked.
'Tadpoles? Plural? You're having twins?' Trixie gasped.
'I'm having twins.' Shelagh confirmed the widest, proudest grin any of the woman had even seen splitting her face.
'Congratulations!' Trixie pulled Shelagh into an awkward sideways hug.
'That's wonderful. I'm so pleased for you.'
'Thank you. It's going to be hectic but I can't wait.'
'Do you want all boys or all girls or a mix?'
'I'm not sure. Both of them being healthy is all I want but I think I'd like one of each. My best friends growing up were boy/girl twins and they were so close. I haven't seen them since I left Scotland...i suppose I should phone them really.'
'That would be nice.'
'I can't believe you're a married woman now. Who'd have thought you and Chummy would be the first two to get married.'
'The nun and the self-professed walking accident.' Shelagh chuckled. 'Hardly top of the list.'
'You sounded so happy in your phone calls but I have to ask in person what's it like being married?'
'Well I hardly have a typical marriage. I only see my husband 4 times a week.'
'Why?'
'Too much of a health risk. He would be here every second of he could but...Tim's allowed here even less though as my treatment goes on they're both allowed here more and more. I didn't see Patrick for the first 10 days after we married.'
'Oh no.'
'Yes that wasn't pleasant. But Patrick's going to announce he and Timothy are leaving tomorrow. We've narrowed down some potential places to live so Patrick's going to visit them and report back, see if there are any jobs going there.'
'Where are you thinking?'
'Somewhere by the sea. But not too far away. Perhaps Margate or near there. Possibly Southend on Sea. Possibly Brighton. Patrick's got a lot of traveling to do soon.'
'That sounds nice.'
'I just can't believe I'm in a position where I'm debating where my husband, stepson, future children and I should live. I still haven't fully accepted everything that's happened. Being here..It's like I've gone on holiday. It feels like I should be going back to Nonnatus. None of this is how I expected it to be. I don't live with my husband or stepson, I don't know where I'm living. Until that's happened and I have my babies in my arms I can't sit still.' Shelagh admitted.
'Oh Shelagh.'
'Not that there will be much time to sit still with twins running around. Patrick and I were both rather energetic, inquisitive, mischievous children so I shudder to imagine what the tadpoles will be like.'
'Not to mention they'll be hitting the terrible twos around the same time Tim becomes a teenager.' Trixie giggled as Shelagh paled.
'Oh my. They are aren't they. That never even occurred to me. What have we done? It's going to be a nightmare.'
'What is love?' Patrick appeared behind them.
'Patrick!' Shelaghs face lit up. 'I wasn't expecting you until later.'
'Don't worry.' He leant down and kissed her. 'I'm not here to interrupt your catch up with the girls. I'm not even here to see you.'
'Oh you're visiting your mistress then?'
'Indeed. We're plotting to do away with you. 7 weeks is entirely too long to be married. Actually I'm here to see Derek.'
'Ah. Has he found something then?'
'Possibly. I'll discuss it with you later. Ladies.' He nodded to them before striding off.
'Derek?'
'Dr Richards. His brother works at a hospital in Southend and he and Patrick have become friends so he said he'd ask his brother of there were any job openings there. Patrick's made friends with almost everyone in here. There's a few people who know me only as Patrick's wife even though it's me they see everyday.' Shelagh chuckled.
' He is rather endearing isn't he?'
'Hands off Cynthia, he's taken.' Shelagh grinned.
'Did we mention Chummy's coming home next month?'
'She is? Oh how lovely. She's got quite the surprise to come home to hadn't she.'
'Do you want us to send her here?'
'If you wouldn't mind. And if she doesn't care about the tadpoles origin.'
'She's hardly best placed to judge.'
'Yes I noticed she didn't marry in white.'
'She'll just be glad you're happy. Will you even still be here next month? What have the doctor's said?'
'I'm recovering well. They expect I'll be discharged within a month so I may still be here. If I'm not still here then you'll be the first to get my address. Oh I can't wait. I'll get to be a proper wife, an actual stepmum. I'll be Shelagh Turner not just another patient in a sanatorium or sister Bernadette sneaking around. I'll get to live my life.'
'And we're all just thrilled for you. Though it's strange not seeing you everyday.'
'How are...how are the sisters? Patrick says he barely sees them anymore.'
'They're uh...fine.'
'You're a terrible liar Cynthia.'
'Sister Evangelina is grumpier than ever, sister Monica Joan keeps asking where you are, which makes sister Evangelina even grumpier.'
'And Sister Julienne?'
'Barely talks to anyone and had buried herself in work.'
'Oh. Oh dear.'
'We hear her crying sometimes. They all miss you.'
'I miss them too. But they hurt me. I need to protect my babies from any potential harm. Even if it's potential harm from the two women I love most in the world.'
'Oh Shelagh.' Trixie's heart broke anew at the sadness on her friends voice. 'They'll forgive you. They just want you to be okay.'
'It's easier for everyone if leave them alone. Well it's not easier for you ladies, and I am truly sorry for putting you in the middle of all of this, but I just can't.'
'Okay.'
'You haven't told them anything have you?' Shelagh asked suspiciously.
'No of course not.'
'Good. One day...maybe...we'll be okay...But not now. Enough about me. How are you all doing?
'Same old. There's not much going on in poplar. Even the births are down. Everyone seems to have calmed down after the hot weather thankfully.'
'And Jane? How is she?'
'She's doing okay. She misses you. She wanted to come with us but they couldn't spare four of us at once so she said she'd come some other time. Soon hopefully. She credits you with her growth you know. I never realised the two of you had spent so much time together, that you had taken her under your wing and helped her. She's doing so well. You'd be proud of her. I also never knew that you helped her with her feelings with the Reverend. They're still pottering along together. It's quite cute really. She's visiting his parish next month. I do so hope they find happiness.'
'Are you sure you can handle the walking disaster, a nun AND a woman who wouldn't say boo to a goose finding romantic happiness before you Trixie?' Shelagh teased.
'I could reconcile myself to it eventually.'