Tim rang the doorbell and bounced excitedly as they waited to be admitted to Nonnatus House. Patrick watched Shelagh and the baby in her arms, paying no attention to the excitable young boy.
"Please do not run when the door is opened Timothy." Shelagh requested as they heard footsteps approaching.
"Yes mum." He replied automatically but the smile he flashed her was more mischievous than usual.
"Hello sweeties." Trixie exclaimed as she opened the door for them.
"Hello Nurse Franklin." Patrick replied for them all as they made their way inside.
Tim removed his jacket easily and placed it on a lower hook of the coat stand by the door. Patrick removed his coat and hat before turning to slowly take the baby from Shelagh's arms so she could take her coat off as well. The smooth transition of baby and coats had Trixie impressed, they had only had the new baby for a few days and already they were both naturals.
"My my, look at this adorable little one. I'm so glad you chose to have her christening here." Trixie chattered as she held a finger out for the baby to grab. The smile on the blonde's face grew larger as the child gripped her finger firmly.
"Tim, I asked you not to run." Shelagh stated as the boy took off towards the kitchen. He slowed down when he heard her but she knew he had most likely sped off as soon as he rounded the corner.
"He probably wants to check that Sister Monica Joan hasn't eaten all the cake." Trixie said with a smile. Patrick chuckled despite Shelagh's stern look regarding their son's behavior.
"I will supervise his cake inspection and ensure an end to his running." Patrick replied as he handed the baby back over to Shelagh and headed towards the kitchen.
"Reverend Hereward has everything ready in the chapel and we have the food and decorations all done. I'm so glad we are able to celebrate the christening at the same time as Jenny's going-away party. I can blame any tears on the joy of being around this little one." Trixie said, her smile faltering slightly at the thought of Jenny leaving.
"We have to let people go where they are being led." Shelagh said to her wisely, a small smile gracing her own face at the knowledge that she was the last person to leave Nonnatus and how wonderful her life had become since then. Trixie continued to watch the petite woman holding the baby to her chest and pondered the statement until it clicked. She smiled brightly at the woman, finally seeing what she had meant then giving a decisive nod of her head. Together they headed down the hallway to the chapel, ready to be with the rest of the Nonnatuns.
As the christening began the nuns and midwives of Nonnatus were gathered around in the chapel. There was also Fred Buckle and one other member of the extended Turner family, Mrs. Parker. While some at the gathering were not religious they still felt the need to support the family that was so ingrained in their lives.
Shelagh smoothly passed the baby to Reverend Hereward and watched as he brought a handful of holy water to splash on her forehead and then made the sign of the cross. The baby looked shocked at the action but did not cry. Her beaming parents looked down at her as a final prayer was said. When the Reverend introduced Angela Julienne Turner to the world, Shelagh looked up to witness the shocked expression on the face of the baby's namesake. Her jaw dropped slightly and her eyes opened wide before she glanced up at Shelagh's face and returned the smile she saw there. The other nuns did not look shocked at all at the choice of baby name, in fact the gruffest of the nuns had tears glistening at the corner of her eyes.
Once the ceremony was over Sister Julienne walked up to the couple, all of them smiling brightly. She could not believe that of the many women who had helped shape Shelagh's life that she was the one chosen to name the baby after. Her heart clenched in her chest with the love and joy she felt for this family.
"She will be the most loved baby in Poplar." She stated loudly, beaming at the baby in her friend's arms.
"Do you like her name?" Tim asked from beside Shelagh, he had squeezed in quickly after spending the christening in the seat beside his Granny Parker.
"I think it is very fitting, Angela the angel. And you have done me such kindness. I really don't know what to say." The nun replied looking not at the little boy who had asked the question but at the woman who used to be her sister.
"You don't need to say anything. She will grow up knowing why you are so important to us by seeing how connected our family is with Nonnatus House and especially with you." Shelagh said confidently before handing the baby over to the nun. Sister Julienne had held baby Angela before, in fact she first held her the night she arrived at the Turner house when she had brought over some much needed baby supplies, but this time was different. Not only was she holding a much beloved baby joining the Nonnatus family but this was also her namesake, the first one she was ever aware of.
"It has been so hard not to say anything." Tim commented, moving over towards the nun and offering his baby sister a finger to grip.
"Did you have a hand in naming her?" Sister Julienne asked. She loved how well Shelagh and Dr. Turner seemed to be doing, including their older son in the process of adopting Angela.
"Yes. I'm actually the one who thought of it." He remarked proudly. Granny Parker walked up behind him at that moment, beaming at the scene before her. She was so proud of her son-in-law and grandson who had both faltered after the death of her daughter but had found a family in which love was blossoming.
"Good thing too. Your father has always been hopeless at picking names, you would have been a Clarence if your mother hadn't put her foot down." She said cheerfully, her eyes dancing playfully towards Patrick who blushed at the comment.
"All of dad's suggestions were horrible. Mum's were nice but all from the Bible so they sounded so old fashioned. They had started calling her "little angel" so I thought of Angela." Tim informed them all proudly.
The nun looked down at the now drowsy baby and turned to carry her over to the other nuns. Sister Evangelina and Sister Monica Joan were standing nearby, not so patiently, for their chance to finally meet the baby personally. Sister Winifred was out at a birth but would hopefully be back in time for cake.
"Oh look at that wise face. She knows more about our world than we ever will." Sister Monica Joan remarked, smiling at the baby as she brushed a cheek with her finger.
"Those chocolate brown eyes are lovely." Sister Evangelina said as she stuck her finger close enough for the baby to grab. "Oh and she has an excellent grip." The gruff nun added with a proud smile.
Shelagh beamed at all three of them, her former sisters now gushing over her baby girl. The midwives started to gather nearer as well and she felt a wave of emotion at all the love that surrounded her family. Tears pricked at her eyes but she blinked them away furiously as she smiled at all those around her.
"She has a lot of wonderful women to look up to as she grows up." Granny Parker gushed proudly to the room which caused a chorus of agreement.
"Most of all her mother." Patrick whispered as he leaned close to Shelagh's ear. Somehow her smile grew even wider at his comment.
Sister Julienne arrived back to the party with a parcel wrapped in tissue paper and tied with twine. While there had been a few gifts for Angela from Nonnatus House Shelagh had not expected anything more, especially not from the frugal nuns. Patrick reached to grab Angela from her arms as it was obvious that Sister Julienne wanted Shelagh to open the gift.
"You didn't have to." Shelagh exclaimed softly.
"Don't worry it was not purchased out of the petty cash." Sister Julienne said with a coy smile.
Shelagh opened the package to reveal a baby's nightdress, lovingly made by her own hands with cross stitches in lemon yellow. Her eyes instantly went watery as she looked up at the wise nun.
"The night dress? You kept it?" She asked breathlessly, her smile growing wide at the gift.
"For you. For better times to come." Sister Julienne replied, her bright smile beaming at her friend.
Shelagh turned towards Patrick, still smiling, but before she could think of what to say to him she turned back to Sister Julienne. The two women hugged tightly, expressing all of the emotion they had pent up about Shelagh's situation.
"You will be a wonderful mother even though you did not birth the child yourself, all we must do is look at Timothy to see it." Sister Julienne whispered to Shelagh during their hug. When they finally pulled apart a tear streaked down Shelagh's cheek but her large smile showed that they were tears of joy.
Shelagh turned to see Angela cuddled and asleep in her father's arms. He smiled back at her, knowing how much that night dress had originally meant and glad that her friend had thought to hold on to it.
"The night dress." She whispered softly up at him.
"Yes. And we can finally both see the baby's face." He remarked, remembering what she had said about picturing the baby as she had sewn the night dress. That moment felt like a lifetime ago. He looked down at the sleeping baby that he could now call his daughter. When he looked back up at Shelagh she noticed the wetness in his eyes, showing his joy at the family they were building at the one they had found at Nonnatus.
"Yes, the beautiful face of an angel." Shelagh replied as she softly brushed the back of her hand against Angela's cheek.