The atmosphere at Nonnatus House was pleasant and relaxed. Supper was drawing to a close, and the kitchen was filled with the sounds of light-hearted chatter. It was only Trixie who was quiet, seemingly lost in thought with her brow furrowed, and Sister Julienne had recognised this.
"Is everything quite alright, Nurse Franklin?"
Trixie started out of her daydream, wrenching her eyes away from the scene in front of her, and dropping her fork down onto her plate with a clatter.
"Yes… sorry! It's been a long day,"
Taking the explanation with a nod, Sister Julienne turned to resume her discussion with Barbara. With the focus on her lifted, Trixie found herself staring back at Patsy and Delia again.
They were sat opposite her, and were deep in conversation. Delia was leant in to Patsy, with her head inclined to look up at her. There was something in her eyes; a type of adoration that Trixie was used to seeing between a mother and her new-born. Her whole face was alight with a brilliant happiness, and the same expression was mirrored by Patsy. With everybody else so taken up in their own lively exchanges, nobody had stopped to see just how deliriously enamoured the two nurses were with each other.
Everybody, that was, except Trixie.
When dinner ended, the nurses and midwives stood to clear their plates, and Patsy offered to do the washing up. One by one, the women left the room, many talking on animatedly, still wrapped up in the events of the day. Soon, it was just Trixie left. She was leant against the table, and her fingers were anxiously tapping out a rhythm on the wooden surface. The muscles in her jaw were visibly clenching as she deliberated on what she should say; how she should say it… and whether she should say it at all.
"Patsy,"
The redhead whipped around, and look surprised to see Trixie stood alone. She curiously studied her, trying to decipher the unusually sombre look on the blonde nurse's features.
"Trixie?"
"I was just wondering if I could talk to you about something,"
"Oh, right, yes… of course," Patsy said, turning back to sink her arms down into the soapy waters, "What did you want to know?"
There was a pregnant pause, and the air began to fill with a nervous tension as Trixie shuffled uncomfortably back and forth.
"You're making me worried now, Trix," Patsy said, trying to inject an untroubled tone into her voice.
There was no response, and Patsy looked around again. She had paled, and Trixie could see her chest rapidly rising and falling as her breaths came short and fast. Droplets of water from the sink dripped down onto the tiled floor, and their little splashes seemed to be deafening in the silence.
"What's going on, Trixie?"
More silence. And then:
"How long have you been in love with Delia for?"