Chapter Text
As the hen night games wrapped up Trixie made her excuses to head back to Nonnatus House, pointing out she had a flight to catch the next day. Sister Veronica offered to go with her so she wouldn't walk alone, and she would be home in time for compline. Nurse Crane quickly organized for the remaining ladies to get home via either her or Miss. Higgins' cars. Once that had been straightened out she made a loud comment about Geoffrey escorting the two ladies that would be forced to walk. He bobbed his head in agreement and got up to join the duo putting on their coats.
"Oh can you be a dear and take some cake back to Nonnatus House for Sister Julienne and Monica Joan?" Shelagh asked, swaying slightly as she walked closer with a Tupperware container in her hands.
"Oh yes." Geoffrey replied. He grabbed the container and followed as Trixie and Sister Veronica headed out the door.
The East End was quiet as they stepped out into the dark, the streetlamps glow the only thing to help guide them home. Trixie walked confidently down the pavement, arm linked with Sister Veronica, who radiated the serene satisfaction of someone who had just eaten very good food. A few steps behind them, Geoffrey walked slightly pink-cheeked, clutching the container of cake like a sacred relic.
“I hope I’m not intruding. Nurse Crane said I should… walk someone home. Or everyone. It was rather loud at the time.” Geoffrey said after clearing his throat.
“Geoffrey, after what we’ve all just witnessed, you could turn up riding a unicycle and we’d barely blink.” Trixie replied with a giggle, glancing back at him for just a moment.
“Indeed. Compared to the giggling of three young girls and the musical entertainment of Miss. Higgins, your presence is positively restorative.” Sister Veronica added. They walked on. Geoffrey frowned slightly, trying to remember all the details of the evening in his mind.
“I must say… I’ve never been to a hen night quite like that. I didn’t realise nuns… participated.” He blurted out, the alcohol in his system blurring the filter he normally had in place.
“We observe. We reflect. Occasionally we clap in time with songs.” Sister Veronica replied, lifting her chin in slight defiance to his implication.
“And occasionally they confiscate the rum before someone starts a conga.” Trixie added, giggling slightly as she remembered Sister Hilda at the hen night that they had organized for Lucille.
“Right. Yes. Of course.” Geoffrey said with a cough. A beat of silence passed over them before he continued.
“It’s just… all these years that you have been a midwife I knew it wasn’t all starched uniforms and solemn expressions. But every time you talked about nun’s. I did assume it was solemn expressions. Not… party hats.” Geoffrey admitted. Trixie stopped in her tracks to turn and face her brother.
“Oh Geoffrey. Never assume anything about women in Poplar. Or hats.” Trixie said, a smirk on her face and a twinkle in her eye before she turned to link arms with the nun beside her and continue their walk back to Nonnatus House. Sister Veronica glanced at Trixie, wondering if the midwife was planning to reveal the most shocking bit of history about Nonnatus House. Trixie’s mouth twitched with the idea but she decided to stay quiet.
“I know my curry was enjoyed by all but I do have to say Mrs. Turner’s cake was delicious too.” Geoffrey said to break the silence. His eyes glued to the container of cake in his hand.
“And she kept insisting I call her Shelagh. She was so warm. So friendly. Not at all what I expected of… well…” He trailed off, embarrassed at his line of thinking.
“Go on. Say it.” Trixie encouraged playfully, her eyes twinkling as she glanced at the nun beside her.
“A doctor’s wife.” He said, the blush back on his cheeks. Sister Veronica stopped walking and Trixie was pulled to a stop beside her. They both turned again to face Geoffrey.
“Geoffrey, have you ever heard of Sister Bernadette?” Sister Veronica asked, her voice now suddenly stern in what had been a mostly teasing conversation.
“Like the movie, The Song of Bernadette? I don’t believe I have met an actual nun by that name.” He replied confused. Trixie beamed, like a cat who’s just caught a canary.
“Oh, you have. You just know her by a different name.” Trixie added, smirking again. Geoffrey looked between them, uneasy.
“I’m not sure I follow.” He replied. Sister Veronica resumed walking, calm as ever.
“Shelagh Turner was Sister Bernadette.” Sister Veronica announced matter-of-fact. They reach the train underpass near Nonnatus. Geoffrey stopped dead.
“I’m sorry… she was what?” Geoffrey sputtered.
“Nun. Full-time. Vows. Habit. Starched uniforms and solemn expressions, the whole lot.” Trixie replied with a shrug. She had seen it happen and it was so many years ago that it didn’t feel like a big deal any longer.
“Shelagh? But she… she bakes cake. She laughs. She told a joke about forceps.” He stuttered out stunned.
“Even nuns enjoy carbohydrates, Geoffrey. I’m sure you have noticed that by now.” Sister Veronica pointed out. He had joined Nonnatus House for enough holidays and dinners to see how a whole cake would normally be inhaled.
“You mean to tell me, little Shelagh Turner who got drunk on Liebfraumilch tonight at a hen night was a NUN?” He said, his voice getting louder as he ranted, his eyes wide in shock.
“Yes, and a good one too…” Trixie replied, thinking back to the lessons the small nun had taught her before she changed out of her habit.
“For ten years!” Sister Veronica added as if that detail were important.
“But… but she’s married.” He stuttered back as he tried to wrap his brain around the scenario.
“Astute observation Sherlock.” Trixie said with a roll of her eyes.
“To a doctor.” He choked out.
“Doctors are not immune to love.” Sister Veronica added, at least trying to be helpful. Geoffrey pressed a hand to his forehead.
“So you’re telling me… that the woman who helped you revise your Latin terminology when you started nursing… took vows of celibacy?” Geoffrey asked, turning to look at his sister.
“Once upon a time, yes.” Trixie replied, still not seeing how he was so stuck on this. Maybe the alcohol was affecting his system more than she realized when they had started their walk.
“And then she just… stopped?” He said, waving his hands around despite the container of cake he still carried.
“It is rather more nuanced than that. But essentially yes.” Sister Veronica admitted. There was a long pause. Geoffrey stared at Nonnatus House as if it might crumble before his eyes.
“I danced with her tonight. Before the hula hoops.” He mumbled.
“She’s very good at the foxtrot.” Trixie replied, trying to lighten the mood.
“She told me to “follow the rhythm and trust the turn” when I almost stepped on her feet.” He replied. Sister Veronica smiled faintly.
“A sound philosophy.” The nun replied, watching his face as the news seemed to sink in.
“I asked her why she moved to Poplar and she said “life takes you where you’re needed” like some sage in a storybook.” He rambled. Trixie softened, her smile now small and genuine instead of teasing. She reached out to link with his arm too.
“That sounds like Shelagh.” Trixie replied. Geoffrey exhaled, half-laughing now. They continued the short walk.
“So… former nun. Married. Mother. Midwife. Doctor’s wife. Dancer. Cake enthusiast.” He listed off, once again filling the silence.
“Poplar women are nothing if not multifaceted.” Trixie replied. Geoffrey smiled, finally delighted rather than dazed.
“You should be glad mother never heard of this, a nun you worked alongside getting married before you.” Geoffrey chided, bumping his elbow against Trixie. She only grumbled back.
“Mothers are persistent creatures. But I’m sure she only wanted the best for the both of you.” Sister Veronica reminded them both as she unlinked her arm as they approached the steps.
“And just you wait, Nonnatus House has many more surprises.” Trixie added as she took the lead towards the door. From inside, they could hear Sister Monica Joan’s voice, “Who has eaten the last custard cream?”
“Does she also have a backstory?” Geoffrey asked, looking up at the door with more foreboding than he ever had before. Trixie grinned wickedly.
“Oh, Geoffrey. You have no idea.” Trixie replied as she opened the door. They ushered him inside as the door closed on Poplar, laughter spilling out behind them.