Summary: Patsy and Delia's relationship is tested.
Disclaimer: Call The Midwife belongs to the BBC and others - I am simply borrowing their beautiful characters.
Author's note: So I'm not quite sure what is going on but none of the reviews I have received since 12th May have appeared in the Reviews section. I just wanted to let you know that I did get them via email and as always am very grateful that people take the time to feedback. You can tell I've got them, as I am once again updating a bit more quickly than planned. Enjoy...
Despite Patsy's promise, it proved difficult to get some quality time together. It was mainly due to the awkward mid-shifts Delia was having to do in order to provide cover on the ward. They caught glimpses of each other, and had left notes, tucked discretely under a pillow in an effort to keep the contact there, both acknowledging that things were still fragile between them but they would need to wait another three days before they both had some proper time off.
One thing that markedly improved was Delia's confidence about the situation. She marvelled at the restorative properties of a loving hug as she bounced back from her self-doubt and distrust over what was going on. She had not changed her mind about Dr Parker at all, but she believed in Patsy and knew that their connection was solid. She wouldn't like Patsy spending time with the doctor but she would put up with it.
There was just the small, tiny, issue of how she might react if Patsy started speaking about her, or indeed decided to socialise with her again. Delia knew she was going to have to work on that if she wasn't to have a repeat of the stand-off in the kitchen. Of course, that was much easier said than done, but the Welsh woman had no one to confide in or ask for help. It was both frustrating and lonely trying to figure out how to deal with that.
However, Delia had rediscovered her determination and optimism. She had a renewed faith in herself that she would find a way to deal with this, even if it was at the expense of Dr Parker, she allowed herself to think darkly. Nurse Crane gave her a knowing nod as she bustled around, getting ready for work, and Delia returned it, acknowledging that the older nurse had indeed been correct in her prediction that things would get sorted in the end. While they weren't exactly worked out, Delia was certain she could deal with whatever Dr Parker decided to do next. In the meantime, the brunette had plenty to keep her occupied at work and with St John Ambulance.
For Patsy, the disagreement had left her feeling awkward around Dr Parker and she didn't really know why. It was hardly fair on the doctor, who was simply trying to do a job and improve the health of the local community. To her credit, Dr Parker didn't seem to mind Patsy's initial distance and simply worked professionally, remaining cordial with the red-haired nurse. Patsy was grateful that the doctor didn't pry but her attitude and behaviour merely accentuated the distance Patsy had put in place, and she felt both guilty and annoyed that it had happened.
At the end of the clinic, while Patsy was tidying away, she noticed Dr Parker hovering near the door, watching her with what could only be described as a melancholic look on her face. The second the doctor spotted Patsy watching her, her face became a mask of neutrality, but it was too late; Patsy had seen quite clearly that the woman was upset. She recalled the very brief conversation they had had a few days ago when Joanna had spoken of 'scaring people off' and realised that she hadn't been fair on the doctor at all. Confident that Delia now understood that she only had eyes for her, Patsy decided that it would not be unreasonable to continue her friendship with Dr Parker so she took some positive action and approached the brunette. "Sorry if I've been a bit remote," she apologised with a small smile.
Dr Parker leant back slightly as a huge grin broke on her face. "Oh, thank god. I really had thought I'd blown it."
The midwife shook her head emphatically. "Not at all. All down to me I'm afraid."
Joanna looked at her questioningly. "What did you do?"
"It's a bit difficult to explain, and to be honest, it doesn't really matter."
Dr Parker was intrigued. Nurse Mount was a real enigma but that simply added to her charm. "Fair enough. So what do I owe the pleasure?"
"No real reason, other than I realised that I hadn't really spoken to you much in the last few days."
"Well that's easily remedied. Fancy coming for a drink tonight to make up for lost time?"
Patsy felt a warning bell go off in her head, but she had already breached the gap - it would look awful if she backed away so quickly. "Maybe just a quick one? I'm on duty first thing tomorrow."
"As am I, so that's no problem. Shall I meet you at Nonnatus?"
Patsy shrugged. "Aren't you coming back to eat?"
"I thought I'd change before going out." Dr Parker gestured at her suit.
Patsy shook her head. "Why? You look perfectly presentable. It seems a bit nonsensical to do two extra journeys."
Joanna smiled lightly. "Think of these suits the same way you think of your uniform. I only ever wear them for work."
"Oh, I really hadn't thought of it that way. I can see why you want to change then," Patsy agreed. She looked back at the clinic. "I'd better finish tidying up," she continued, offering a smile before returning to her task.
Joanna allowed herself to smile outwardly this time. The connection with Patsy had been restored with a little patience and perseverance. She wondered if it would be too soon to put on the charm. She'd start by wearing something a little less formal and a bit more dressy, and see what might happen.
Trixie came into the room just as Patsy was putting the finishing touches to her make up. "Are you off out?"
"Just for a drink in the pub," Patsy explained, brushing off the enquiry.
"I thought Delia was still at work." The blonde nurse frowned in confusion.
"I'm going with Joanna," Patsy told her, as she put her lipstick away.
"Are you sure that's wise?" Trixie was astonished. It seemed an awfully reckless thing to do after Delia seemed to be back on an even keel.
"It's just a drink, Trixie," Patsy pointed out. "Why is it such a big deal?"
Trixie raised her eyebrows as she sat down on her bed. "Well, perhaps because you came upstairs in a compete huff the other night after you had a row with Delia, and the following day she looked like death warmed up." She held up her hand to stop Patsy interrupting. "You may well have spoken and made up, but I clearly remember the source of said contretemps being Dr Parker. I'm asking because I'm your friend, and I'm also on call tonight which means I may well not be here to be of support if things go awry again."
"Things won't go awry. I'm going out for a drink with a colleague, that is it. Delia understands that, and is perfectly happy with it too." Patsy shrugged on her coat. "Besides, I won't be late. I'll probably be back before Delia gets home so I can catch up with her then."
Trixie wasn't at all convinced that Delia would be perfectly fine with it, but she couldn't really say much more without overtly pointing out their relationship status. And she had to be fair to Dr Parker; she hadn't actually discovered anything sinister about her. The blonde nurse speculated that perhaps Patsy was building another relationship in order to deflect attention away from the obviously close relationship that she had with Delia. Her heart ached for the pair of them. It was bad enough developing and nurturing a relationship in normal circumstances. To have to live in secret and conduct it in private felt appalling to her. She smiled brightly at the tall nurse. "In that case, have a good time."
Patsy nodded and then made her way to the front of Nonnatus House. Dr Parker was waiting by her car, wearing a royal blue dress with full skirt. "Aren't you cold?" The red-head asked.
"I wasn't planning on staying outside for too long," Joanna replied drily. "Where are we going?"
"Well, I was rather thinking of just going to the local. Why, what did you have in mind?"
Joanna smiled. "I'd rather not drink where I work if you don't mind. I was thinking of heading into the city a bit more. There are some lovely pubs along the river."
Patsy shrugged. She could understand why Dr Parker didn't want to go out locally; she had been approached by people she knew through her work on numerous occasions when she had been out with Delia to the point where they too ventured further afield when they had the time. "Fine with me," she agreed easily and stepped up to the car. She was slightly surprised when Dr Parker opened the car door for her but thought nothing more of it as she slid onto the seat.
Dr Parker closed the door gently and determinedly kept the grin off her face as she walked round to get in the driver's side. Patsy had noticed what she was wearing, even if she had made a glib comment about it, and had agreed to having a drink somewhere else. This meant that there was next to no risk of them being interrupted by either patients or co-workers.
A short drive later and the two women were sat by a window in a pub that overlooked the Thames. They had found a quiet corner so that they could talk without interruption. Joanna offered Patsy a Gauloise before lighting her own and inhaled deeply as she sat back and relaxed.
Patsy took a drag and enjoyed the pungent aroma of the cigarette. "Expensive wine; French cigarettes. Dr Parker, you do like to treat yourself."
"I've had to work twice as hard to be considered half as good as any male doctor. I think I'm entitled to reward myself now and again." Dr Parker stated candidly.
Patsy was intrigued. "How tough was it?"
Joanna took a moment, drawing another lungful of cigarette smoke down, before exhaling dramatically. "Bloody awful at times. It was bad enough having to convince the professors and consultants that I could think for myself. Once we started as housemen, I had to keep pushing myself forward in order to get noticed." She shook her head. "Well, other than the obvious sort of getting noticed, that is."
Patsy rolled her eyes. "So they thought you were fair game too? I thought they just pestered the nurses."
Parker laughed humourlessly. "None of the housemen would come near me. They all thought I was taking the place of a male doctor. And, after all, why would I need to train? Surely I would get married and then give up work anyway." She huffed in frustration. "Every single mistake I made was accentuated and mocked. And the consultants thought that I'd be good notch on their bedpost, so to speak, so would use any mistake as an opportunity to offer additional tutoring."
"Oh, for goodness sake." Patsy was indignant on her behalf.
Joanna took another drag before sipping her gin and tonic. "I know. It's not as if I'd be interested anyway," she said casually.
Patsy could hear her pulse racing behind her ear. How was she supposed to react to that? Could she even react to it, without giving herself away?
Dr Parker appeared not to consider the comment unusual or in need of reply however as she continued with her story. "So I endured my entire training fending off unwanted advances and having to out-think every other doctor in my set." She sniffed dismissively. "Fortunately, that wasn't too hard to do. They were too busy trying to sow their oats to bother studying." She smiled at Patsy and noticed she was blushing. "Sorry, am I being a little too forward again? I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"You haven't," Patsy was quick to assure. "I just don't often hear that type of talk."
Joanna laughed out loud at that point, earning a few glances from the other, predominantly male, patrons in the establishment. "I don't believe that for a second," she retorted. "A convent full of midwives and nurses? I'm sure that it crops up quite a bit."
Patsy shook her head as she took a sip of her whiskey. "Well, most of the senior citizens in Poplar seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to pinch our bottoms during fetes but other than that we get left alone in the main. I think poor old Delia has the worst of it on Male Surgical."
"Ugh, how does she put up with it?" Dr Parker made a moue of disgust.
Patsy shook her head. "I have no idea. I had to leave. It drove me to despair."
"Perhaps she likes the attention?" Dr Parker knew she was creeping into dangerous territory but she couldn't resist probing just a little.
"God, no," Patsy refuted reflexively. Her brain caught up with her words a split-second later. "I think she just concentrates on the patients who genuinely need her nursing skills and blocks out the others." She took a sip of her drink to calm her thoughts.
"How very noble of her," Joanna responded. She was desperate to pursue this line of conversation and start to delve a bit deeper into Patsy's personal life and feelings but she could once again sense that the midwife was closing down. She had to be patient, apply the charm slowly and not rush the building of rapport between them. She smiled inwardly. Becoming a doctor had been a significant challenge but her father had told her that nothing worthwhile in life was easy. It seemed that she now felt the same way about Patsy. She knocked back the last of her gin and stood up. "Let me get another round and I'll tell you all about my stint on Male Surgical at Guys."
To be continued...