God Gave Me You 16
"Shelagh! Wait!"
She'd barely gotten round the corner of the building when she heard her name being called. Looking from the perch on her mother's shoulder, Angela touched Shelagh's cheek to get her attention and pointed behind her. "Daddy run."
Stopping, Shelagh turned just in time to see Patrick bent over in an attempt to catch his breath. Stifling a laugh, she walked over to him, shifting Angela on her hip as she did so.
"Patrick...?"
"Shelagh...I wanted to...ask you..." He puffed between words, still trying and failing to catch his breath. "Sorry...um, are you busy this evening?"
"No, I'm not on call until tomorrow."
He smiled at her, a warm smile that almost made her weak in the knees until she realized that her daughter was in her arms.
"Would you like to have dinner with me?"
"That would be lovely, Patrick. But it's been a very long day, and I don't think Angela will be much company..."
He cut her off. "I didn't mean...Shelagh, will you have dinner with me?"
"Oh." Shelagh felt herself begin to blush.
"Not that I don't want to spend as much time with Angela as possible...but I would very much like to spend some time with her mother. If you'd like to, that is."
Shelagh smiled, fussing with Angela's dress and not meeting Patrick's eyes. "I would. Like to." She met his gaze then, a vibrant smile forming on her face. "Oh, but what about Timothy?" Her smile fading suddenly.
"He's got Cubs tonight, then doing a project at Jack Smith's. So...I'll fetch you around six? Would that be alright?"
"Yes." She nodded, feeling almost unable to form any other words.
"Wonderful. I'd better get back to work, Nurse Collins isn't exactly the most comforting receptionist...I'll see you tonight. Bye Angela, don't go running your mother into the ground, hm?" He said to her as he kissed her bandaged hand.
Shelagh watched in quiet amusement, or possibly shock, as he kissed the tiny palm in the same way he'd kissed hers the day their daughter had been conceived. She wondered if he realized the similarity of the gesture, but was broken out of her thoughts by the giggles from her little girl.
"See you tonight." She responded as she watched him turn back towards his surgery, not noticing the spring in his step as he rounded the corner.
She barely closed the door of Nonnatus House before Angela began squirming out of her arms and running down the hallway. Following her up the stairs, she caught up to her just as she reached Sister Julienne and flung herself into her awaiting arms.
"Hello, my sweet! Oh, what happened to your hands?"
"Fell. Daddy fix." Angela replied, showing off her bandages and indicating the one on her knee as well.
Sister Julienne raised her eyebrows as she glanced at Shelagh, who could do nothing but smile. Turning back to her goddaughter, she responded cheerily.
"Well, your Daddy is quite a good doctor. I'm sure you'll be all better in no time. I was just headed to the kitchen, are you hungry?"
"Cake!" Angela squealed, eliciting a laugh from the nun.
"No, dearest. Lunch first, then cake." Shelagh cut in before Sister Julienne could respond. Knowing that if left alone, Sister Julienne would spoil the child by giving in to whatever Angela asked for. Much the same as Trixie.
"Mummy's right. Come on, Angel. Let's see what we've got today."
Shelagh moved her high chair next to the table, situated at Shelagh's right side and to the left of her godmother, as Sister Julienne settled her into it. It was a practiced move they had perfected after many mealtime tantrums of Angela wanting both of their constant attentions. If Trixie was present at the table, however, all bets were off as Angela would sit in her lap without argument from Trixie, the high chair pushed into the corner of the room, unneeded.
Lunch was eaten, cake was then demolished and an exhausted Angela fell asleep on Sister Julienne's lap as they read one of her favorite pop-up storybooks.
"So, it seems that you had a rather interesting morning..."
"Yes...and it appears that I have an interesting evening ahead." Answering the quizzical look she received, she smiled and looked down at her lap. "Doctor Turner has asked me to dinner. Alone."
Sister Julienne smiled. "I see. Well, I'm not on call this evening so it seems that Miss Angela and I will be having some quality time while you're out."
"Sister...is it strange that I'm nervous?"
"No, my dear. It's not strange, it's completely understandable. But you do know that there is no need to be, don't you?"
"I don't know what to do. How am I supposed to-"
The nun cut her off. "Shelagh. Just be yourself." Sister Julienne shifted on the couch, doing her best not to disturb the young girl. "You're no longer bound by the rules of the Order, you can do as you please. And frankly, you've already done the awkward bit of introducing him to Angela, so now you should just go and enjoy yourself. You're tied to him forever, so you might as well get to know one another, don't you think?"
Shelagh smiled and nodded. "I suppose you're right. Do you want me to take her, Sister? You don't look at all comfortable."
Julienne shook her head and leaned back on the couch. "No, leave her. It's been a while since I've gotten a cuddle. She's been spending a lot of time with her Daddy."
The tone was not lost on Shelagh. She had been waiting for that remark. After all the years they'd known each other, she was able to read the thoughts of her mentor with so much as a glance.
"I don't know what came over me...I just blurted it out as we were leaving."
"It is the truth. And the truth will always come to light, even when you least expect it. What time is your dinner?"
"Doctor Turner will be here at six." Shelagh glanced at her watch. "Goodness, it's nearly four o'clock."
Sister Julienne smiled at the look of nervousness that came over Shelagh's face, doing her best not to laugh. "Then I suppose you ought to start getting ready...go on. We'll be fine right here."
Shelagh smoothed her daughter's hair from her eyes as she stood from her chair. "Thank you, Sister."
Watching as Shelagh walked up the stairs to begin getting ready, Sister Julienne smiled as she held Angela closer. "Your Mummy and Daddy are going on a date, my sweet. Great changes are coming, my love." She whispered, conspiratorially, as she kissed her forehead.