The year 1941. Shelagh's point of view.
The bleak morning after the bombing dawned at the Musgrove household. When they had their breakfast, Fred was comparing the devastation by this attack to others in a monotone manner.
"Well, keep calm and carry on. That's what I say. Shelagh, you are unnaturally quiet, even for you," Enid commented.
"Sorry, Aunt Enid. I am rather done."
"You should be better than us, you had more room and peace perhaps at the Nonnatus than us in the shelter." Shelagh's cheeks gained a slightest shade of blush at this.
"By the way, I heard the oddest thing. It concern's the good Doctor Turner."
"What about him?" Fred asked.
"I heard in the shelter that he is living again with his wife. I mean his ex-wife. And his mother-in-law. Ex-mother-in-law."
"Surely not."
"I heard it from their neighbour from Aldwych."
"What was a neighbor from as far as Aldwych doing in our bomb shelter spreading undue gossip?"
"You're a good man, Fred. I am glad I married you. But I think it is not gossip, but plain truth. Isn't it a good thing if that marriage was saved?"
"Perhaps he is just helping them in these dire times. I think a lot of Aldwych people were bombed out of their lodgings a couple of times. Perhaps they need a temporary place to stay."
"I don't think it seemed that temporary."
"Didn't you say the Doctor has taken a room for himself at the London resident wing? So this explains it."
Enid gave a grunt. "He's an excellent doctor and a nice man. But with women, he is hopeless."
"Oh come on, old girl. It is not appropriate for us to take such a keen interest in the lives of our fellow men. Shelagh, what is it? You look pale. You should go to bed."
Shelagh was swallowing hard. "Yes, I will go to bed. But tomorrow, Fred, Enid, I will travel to Chichester. I need rest. I need to see Sister Julienne."
"Of course, dear. Take a day or two off."
The Chichester House. 1941. Shelagh's point of view.
"But Sister Julienne, surely there are circumstances that explain that."
"Yes. He perhaps should be there for his family, even if it is his ex-family. Perhaps there is even a chance of a reconciliation."
Shelagh winced at that. The old compassionate eyes of Sister Julienne didn't miss her reaction. Poor girl. She had been left too much to her own devices lately.
"But Shelagh, you can't seriously be thinking of leaving the Order...on such flimsy flirtation? To let such a vague...attention to lead your choices in life?"
Shelagh wanted to shout: it was not flimsy! It was not vague! It wasn't even flirtation! It was as enlightening and fundamental...as the Gospels. But she couldn't say that to Sister Julienne. She was still aching from the memory of his arm around her on that examination table.
Perhaps she was not the best judge of this. He hadn't after all been completely forthcoming towards her. He had told of his divorce, but not that he was staying with his ex-wife.
"Didn't you also say that he had joined the army? Do you find it easy to accept that?"
Sister Julienne was referring to the pacifism she was born and bred with. She had been brought up by these great people. She had admired them and listened to them since she was a child. They were her family.
"I have thought about that. I confess...that nowadays I don't see that as much more different than me working at a military hospital."
Sister Julienne sighed. "I can see that you don't. To tell the truth, I do not see the differences very clearly myself anymore."
Shelagh felt her old tenderness for Sister Julienne come back with a force. "Of course, it is difficult for you, especially for you". Shelagh gave her a hug.
She seemed so frail in Shelagh's arms. Shelagh understood that her disappointments with the peace movement had been severe. She had also taken Dick Sheppard's wife leaving him very badly. Then Canon Sheppard had died so suddenly, leaving them all bereft, under the cloud of the coming war. How could she not follow her wishes, in the few years this old lady still lived on this earth? She suspected that she was in much worse health than she pretended to be.
"Shelagh, I may not anymore be in a position to guide you." Sister Julienne had retired from her post as a novice tutor a year ago. "Would you still consider, as a favor for me, to not take any steps toward a solution in this matter until the war is over? If there is any measure of a man and his intentions, it surely is his capacity to wait. Surely you, such a gifted person as you are, with a vocation, should not throw your purpose in life away in such a rapid manner? At war time when all values are easily distorted?
Shelagh felt she could not resist this. How could she be so certain that he cared for her? Wasn't that foolhardy and silly? She hadn't really dated anyone since she was sixteen. How would she know?
"And please, do not try to keep up a correspondence with him."
"Why do you ask that?" Shelagh was a bit taken that she had the knowledge of that postcard sent to the Chichester House.
"It is no good. He knows that you are a novice. He must know that novices are not allowed to correspond freely with seculars. He has to wait. Besides, how would you ask him of his ex-wife in a letter?"
Yes, that was a direct shot in the heart. She really didn't know.