Northfield Chapter 13

Shelagh woke up the next morning with the memory of the previous night still stirring a warm sensation in her body. After dressing and trying to figure out who that smiling, blooming lady in her mirror was, she went downstairs.

While eating breakfast in the kitchen, she heard Sister Monica Joan in the living room having a chat with a small girl, Glenda Severs.

Glenda was one of the Nonnatus House "lost" children: it seemed that she preferred this milieu to her home. Shelagh knew that she had a sensible father as well as a step-mother and a baby sister, but something always made her return to Nonnatus House. She even took part in prayers, fingering her dark curls while singing Magnificat with her feeble girl voice.

"The lantern parade will be great. Even my father has promised to come watch us. It will be exciting carrying a turnip lantern, with a real, lighted candle."

"It is the turnips' glow that lights the way of the dead. That was the old Pagan belief. It is an old tradition where the Christian and Pagan beliefs meet," Sister Monica Joan gently commented. Glenda didn't seem to mind Sister's odd ramblings.

"I know that Jesus came back from the dead and did miracles. So is Jesus a ghost, Sister Monica Joan? I'd like to see a ghost."

"No, dear, in reality, I don't think you will. And Jesus is not a Ghost, not in the pagan sense. He is the Spirit that created the Heaven and Earth, though. According to the Nicean Creed."

"My mother's dead and I should like to see her. Will you bring her back for Halloween?"

Sister Monica Joan sighed, conflicted. "Glenda, I can't do that. But I will come and watch your parade."

"Great. Jack and Timothy will be there, and all the Girl Brigade. I can't wait. Now I have to go to school. Goodbye, Sister, bye Nurse Mannion." Glenda was gone, her school bag swinging as she walked briskly.

Shelagh had come to stand on the door step and Sister Monica Joan looked at her mournfully. "Poor girl. Fred Buckle has told me that Glenda's mother is not really dead, but run away to Liverpool, ages ago. Her father and stepmother are good people and she is in safe hands. Yet her imagination runs so wild that I sometimes think it would be better if she was told the truth about her mother."

Shelagh suppressed a smile, not that Glenda's life wasn't sad, but she found it amusing that Sister Monica Joan would see the need of curbing someone's imagination.

A rather formal, insistent call was heard from the hall. "Nurse Mannion, would you mind coming to the surgery? I need your assistance." It was Doctor Turner. Shelagh left with flying steps to the surgery.

Once she was inside, Doctor Turner closed the door behind her and pushed her against it with a satisfied, mischievous grin. He bent his head to kiss her, circling his arms around her back. She gripped him by his waist, moving her hands up to his ribcage. Only after a moment, she pushed him from her with an embarrassed laugh.

"Patrick, you are crazy. What if someone comes in? This is a public place and the two other doors are not locked."

He kept his hands in hers, with a twinkle in his eyes. "I needed a quick diagnosis for a heart that overflows with love. Mine. What do you say?"

"Oh, it is a severe case of overflowing love, indeed. Is it catching? I might be in danger of infection."

He snickered and tried to kiss her again. She stopped him. "Patrick, be sensible. What did Timothy say?"

"He is over the moon. He will call on you after school." He bent close to her again. At that moment, the other door to the hall opened and Sister Monica Joan appeared. The lovers stepped quickly apart.

"Jupiter and Neptune will be aligned in a few weeks first time since 1917. A rare union. It could mean something unexpected like this should happen." The Sister was oddly serene, as she was not surprised at all.

Patrick and Shelagh each let out a stifled laugh.

"Good morning, Sister Monica Joan," Doctor greeted her. "I just remembered I have an urgent consultation meeting at the London. I have to leave."

"You're leaving me to explain this to her. Chicken," Shelagh said to him under her breath while he was packing his bag.

"You are no damsel in distress, my dear, you are my equal," he said in a low voice tingling with amusement. The he turned to Sister Monica Joan: "Good day to you. Nurse Mannion will fill in all the details of…the situation, if you ask nicely." He left.

Shelagh met Sister Monica Joan's eyes evenly. After all, there can be no hiding of their engagement, not after Timothy comes to call.

"'My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.' Nurse Mannion, do you plan to marry this man? Our Doctor Turner?" Sister Monica Joan's voice was undisturbed.

"Yes, Sister. I hope that you cite The Song of Solomon because you approve."

"There is nothing that stands in the way of true love. I hope you will be happy, dear."

Sister Monica came and took both Shelagh's hands in a most friendly, sincere manner. Then, on a whim, her face turned serious again.

"'For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest.'"

"What do you mean, Sister?" Shelagh asked, confused.

"Nothing, my dear. As I said earlier to Glenda Severs, it says this in Corinthians: "'For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.' "

And with those words she left.