CHAPTER 2

The next morning Shelagh woke to find the space next to her empty. She quickly put on her dressing gown and stepped out into the hallway. It was silent. She quietly opened the door to Timothy's room. The boy was still sound asleep and Shelagh suppressed a smile, that boy could sleep through almost anything. But still no Patrick. She opened the door to Angela's room and the first thing she noticed was that the cot was empty. The door to the toddler's room was closed again, and Shelagh made her way down the stairs. The kitchen was devoid of any light, but in the living room, a small light could be seen. It was there where she found her husband, lying on the couch, Angela on top of his chest. Their baby girl was sound asleep, her husband was wide awake. She made her way over towards them and Patrick made as much space on the couch as he could without waking their daughter.

"I missed you when I woke up." Shelagh said when she sat down on the small space she found besides her husbands legs.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't fall back to sleep."

"Talk to me, Patrick." Shelagh coaxed. "Ever since you came back from Nonnatus House yesterday, I've noticed you haven't been yourself."

Patrick looked at their joined hands, Shelagh had grabbed his hand while talking to him. The slow circular motions she was making on top of his hand with her thumb were soothing him. It always had soothed him. He knew he should tell her what he'd seen last night. He looked up and just when he was about to speak, the telephone rang. He silently cursed the damn thing for ringing.

"You stay right where you are." Shelagh said and she stood up to pick up the phone. "Turner residence, Shelagh speaking." It didn't take long before she looked his way and he knew he was needed. While he slowly tried to get up under the slight weight of their daughter, Shelagh had come over to pick her up from his chest, while telling him it was Sister Julienne on the phone calling him in.

"Doctor Turner speaking." He said.

Shelagh had laid Angela in her playpen, the little lady was still sound asleep, which was a miracle with all the bustling about. She entered the kitchen, switched on the light and started to make breakfast. Not long after, Patrick was still on the phone talking to Sister Julienne, Timothy came downstairs. One look at his father was enough to know he was already going to be called away. When he turned to his stepmother, he noticed she started breakfast. He was about to offer her some help when his little sister announced she was awake. "It's okay, mum, I've got her."

"Thanks, dear." Shelagh smiled. Timothy was a marvel as a big brother. When both she and Patrick were busy, he always volunteered to babysit his little sister, even though his friends were going outside and play.

Patrick was done talking on the phone and he went over to his son. "Timothy, please look after your sister for an hour. Your mother and I need to go to Nonnatus House."

"What do you need me there for?" Shelagh had heard Patrick's words to Timothy and her curiosity was piked.

"I'd already promised to go by to see how that woman is doing, but recent events made Sister Julienne sure that you needed to come as well."

Shelagh looked perplexed, but Patrick's gaze towards their son, made her understand they'd be talking about this whilst being on their way. "Sure, we can be on our way after breakfast." She said briskly.

Patrick and Shelagh had arrived at Nonnatus House an hour after Sister Julienne had contacted them and still Patrick had to explain to his wife why her former Sister found it necessary that she would come as well. As they stood in front of the door, waiting to be let in, Shelagh looked at her husband. She guessed she would have to hear from Sister Julienne herself, why she was needed as well.

When the door was opened by Nurse Mount, Patrick stepped inside quickly without saying a word. Shelagh apologized for his behavior, telling Patsy that she thought last night's call had shaken him more than he was letting them know.

Patsy, who had helped Sister Julienne this morning taking care of their new patient, replied: "I'm not surprised." Which earned her a confused look from Shelagh.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I'm not sure it's my place to tell, perhaps seeing is for the best. Guest chambers, first door. Sorry, got to run now for my calls."

Shelagh made her way over to the guest chambers, noticing the strange looks the Sisters were giving her. It made her feel uncomfortable, it was as if it was her leaving the order all over again. When she arrived at the first door, Sister Julienne was standing in the doorframe. "Shelagh, my dear, how are you?"

"Wondering why it is I'm needed here. Patrick's with her right now?"

Sister Julienne nodded. "But before you go in, we need to talk." The older woman had softly grabbed Shelagh's elbow and led her to the chairs standing against the wall across the room. She gently directed the younger woman to sit down, and she sat down herself. "Shelagh, when you first joined our order, we didn't know much about you. Now we know more about you as who you are now, in this moment, but your youth is still a mystery to us." Sister Julienne noticed the unshed tears that had gathered in Shelagh's eyes and she quickly continued. "I've always known your youth was a sore spot to talk about, but please answer my question honestly. It's of the utmost importance." And when Shelagh softly nodded her consent, she asked: "Do you have a sister who's about the same age as you?"

"I've a sister who's two years younger than me, but we're very much alike." Came the whispered answer.

Sister Julienne smiled a sad smile. "We've noticed some similarities between you and the woman we found on our staircase last night. Sister Monica Joan had mistaken her for you."

"I guess that's got Patrick so upset then?"

"I guess," Sister Julienne replied, "my dear Shelagh, it was her calling out your name this morning, when Nurse Mount and I were tending to her wounds, that made me call Patrick and ask him to bring you along. I know you probably haven't seen your sister in a very long time…"

But Shelagh didn't hear any of the words Sister Julienne was speaking to her anymore. Her legs carried her of their own accord to the room. She stood still in the door frame, seeing Patrick carefully placing the blanket back up to cover the woman. When he stood up straight and turned around to look at her, she got a good look at the woman's face. What she saw made her sick to her stomach. There, lying on the bed, was her baby sister covered in bruises. Shelagh had imagined their reunion many a time, but never had she thought it would be like this. "God no, not Aislinn!" She whispered before she sank to the ground.