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Mrs Delia Scott was sitting by her husband's bedside listening to his slow heavy breathing.In…… outIn…… out
In…… outFor several painstaking hours since he was let go from The London, Delia sat by his side just taking it all in. Mr Robert Scott had endured a tragic accident at work which led to him having to undergo surgery. Unfortunately though, the doctors soon realised there was nothing that could be done for him, and they decided to send him home to be with his wife before he died.——————————————————————Delia was nearing her ninth month of pregnancy, at one point in time she had been a nurse and was hoping to train to become a midwife, but money was tight and the nurses home wasn’t going to be around forever. She decided that if she could get married she’d have the financial security to continue pursuing her career, Robert however, needed an heir (or an heiress) for his business.Within two months of courting, the pair were married, and within a month of marriage, Delia found she was pregnant. Delia didn’t tell her parents about her marriage or her pregnancy, she didn’t know why exactly but she couldn’t bring herself to tell them a thing about her life.——————————————————————The local reverend, Tom Hereward, was visiting the couple and he was in the kitchen making himself and Delia some tea when he heard her cry out.“Revered come quickly, it’s Robert!” Delia yelled from the bedroom, she was choking back tears.Tom swiftly entered the room and saw Delia with her bed on her husband’s chest. He had taken his last breath with her and that’s how he’d intended to do so.
“I’m going to call an undertaker but before I do, would you like me to bless him?” Tom asked warmly.“You can if you wish. He wasn’t much of a church man, I’d consider myself more religious than he was and even I don’t go to church much.” Delia spoke quietly.Tom said some quiet words to himself, Delia suspected he may have been praying for Robert but she wasn’t sure, he then excused himself and went out to the nearest street phone.
Delia stood upright and composed herself before she too left the house. She walked, well, she staggered down the street. She walked in the late September evening warmth for around 15 minutes, although in her current state it seemed like hours. She finally reached the front steps of Nonnatus House and spotted a larger man in his 60s, in the allotment between the school and the grand house.
“You alright love?” The man called.He obviously wasn’t a midwife, men weren’t allowed in that profession, perhaps he took care of the business side of Nonnatus, but he seemed more of a handyman.
——————————————————————In the parlour at Nonnatus house, the nuns and nurses were enjoying their hour of handicrafts. Nurses Phyllis Crane and Barbara Gilbert (soon to be Hereward)
were practicing Spanish together. Sisters Winifred and Mary Cynthia were crocheting. And poor old Sister Monica Joan was complaining that the television was not working. Nurse Trixie Franklin appeared from another room where she had been manning the phone.
“An old boyfriend of mine, Robert Scott was in an accident a few days ago, apparently he’s just passed away today.” She spoke solemnly, looking down at her feet.
The group of women immediately began to offer her words of encouragement and comfort.
“Do not be sad, my child, for he is in a better place with God.” Sister Monica Joan approached Trixie and took her hands, giving her a nod of appreciation, Trixie turned her head towards Barbara.“Why aren’t you with Tom, Barbara?” She asked politely.
“I’m afraid he’s been the very man you were just talking about. I expect he’ll be back soon though.”
Trixie nodded and went to sit beside her good friend, Nurse Patsy Mount. Patsy gave her an affectionate squeeze before taking over the position of manning the phone. She knew that Sister Evangelina would be turning in her grave at the thought of something so important as the telephone being left unattended.
—————————————————————
Fred, the handyman, opens the front doors to let the heavily pregnant Delia Scott into the foyer of Nonnatus house.
Fred, the handyman, opens the front doors to let the heavily pregnant Delia Scott into the foyer of Nonnatus house.
“Anyone about?” Fred called down the corridor.An older nun came out from what must’ve been her office, she had a very kind face.“Everyone is in the parlour Fred, who’s this?” The nun peered at Delia and then at her large belly.
“I’m Delia Scott, I was a nurse but left just under a year ago to get married. I hoped to get back to it after my baby was born but now my husband is dead.” Delia realised she had said quite a lot in a very short breath and the sister and Fred were looking stunned.“I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I don’t recall seeing a Delia on our maternity records.” The sister said.
“I’m not registered anywhere. I just thought I’d go to The London when the time comes, since I used to work there.” Delia admitted.“Oh alright then, I would like to have someone take a look at you though, especially after you’ve dealt with such a great loss. I’m Sister Julienne by the way, I don’t remember if I said.”“Thank you so much for all this hospitality, I didn’t expect this.”
Fred ushered Delia towards the parlour followed by Sister Julienne.
As they entered the parlour everyone’s eyes were on the pregnant Delia. Sister Julienne cleared her throat.“Nurse Franklin, could you assist me in giving Mrs Scott here a check up?” She asked.“Certainly Sister Julienne.”Just then Patsy Mount came into the room calling after Phyllis.“Phyllis! That was Mr Hewlett on the phone, Marlene’s twins are coming. Now you can take me if you like or-“ She paused as she noticed the young pregnant woman stood in the parlour with Sister Julienne.
“Oh my goodness Delia it’s you!”There was an awkward silence, then carefully to avoid hitting her bump, Delia rushed to give Patsy a hug. She almost accidentally went in for a kiss which would’ve been a crazy mistake, especially in front of all these people.
“I can’t believe it’s you Patsy. I’m sorry I left the hospital, money was so tight and I was so stressed and..” Delia wanted to explain herself but she started to feel pains“Relax Deels you don’t need to explain anything. Nurse Crane, do you think you could go to Mrs Hewlett with Barbara?” Patsy asked the older woman.
“Of course lass. Come on you, Nurse Gilbert, let’s let these two catch up.” Phyllis and Barbara set off to the front door.“Nurse Mount, perhaps you’d like to check Mrs Scott’s baby with me?”“Scott… isn’t that the man who..” Patsy began but she stopped herself. Delia left to get married, if her husband was Robert Scott she probably wouldn’t want to talk about him just yet.After a short while Delia was led on a bed that nobody uses, with Trixie performing a check up on her, and Sister Julienne observed and Patsy was perched on the edge of the bed. She wanted to stroke Delia’s hair but didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.“Okay sweetie everything looks good here, but I’d say it won’t be long before we’re delivering this baby!” Trixie spoke excitedly.Sister Julienne nodded at Trixie towards the door in an effort to suggest they leave without actually saying it. Luckily, Trixie caught on and the two left Patsy to clear the room.“Delia, can I just say, I’m sorry I was gone for a while, they really needed me here. I missed you so much when they told me you’d left.”“I've missed you too, Pats. I can’t believe this situation I’m in, I feel so stressed.” Delia admitted“Try not to feel stressed Deels, not with baby being on its way. Can I do anything to help you?”
“You don’t have to but I… I really need a bath.” Delia chuckled to herself realising she probably sounded ridiculous.“I’d love to help you with that, let's do it.”Patsy helped Delia to the bathroom and began to draw a nice warm bath. Delia began to feel a little tense and nervous which Patsy noticed pretty quickly.“Are you okay Delia? I can leave you to it or give you a wash with the cloth. Up to you.”
“I’m okay, I just feel so lost. My husband has just died and now I’m back with the one person I never thought I’d see again, but she’s the one person I never want to be apart from…”“Delia, that's lovely of you to say, I want to be there for you no matter what. Now hop into this bath you.”Patsy turned around whilst Delia got undressed and slipped into the warm water. She would not notice her waters breaking several minutes later. Patsy began to dampen the cloth and scrub Delias shoulders.
Delia began to tense again as she was suddenly aware that all of her body was exposed, and the woman she was once crazy about was washing her.
“Don’t get all tense again, Deels remember the baby. Lift your arms up for me now that’s it, lovely. Would you like me to do your chest too?”
“Yes please, as long as you’re comfortable.”“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
Patsy finished washing Delia’s top half when Delia started to feel an excruciating pain. She grasped either side of the bath with her hands and felt a sudden urge to push.“Delia what is it?”
“I- I think it might be time.”Patsy moved to the end of the bath to take a look between Delia’s legs.“I’d say so! Don’t worry about moving, this is probably the best place to be right now.”“What do you mean Patsy, I’m in the bath! I can’t give birth in the bath!” Delia yelled, splashing water half playful and half irritated.
“On the contrary, you’re in the perfect place. In the 1800s in France a woman gave birth in 15 minutes in the bath after she’d been in labour for like 2 days straight.” Patsy informed her. Delia could only nod.
Patsy quickly left the room to yell for help before returning back to Delia’s side. Sister Julienne and Trixie appeared at the door with towels.
“A water bath is it?” Sister Julienne looked uncertain.
“There’s a phone call for you Patsy by the way. A Mr Giddens.” Trixie chimed in.——————————————————————Patsy looked irritable to be leaving Delia but she left at once to take the call. As she was walking down the stairs, she could hear Delia beginning to experience another contraction. She sat at the table and picked up the phone that was waiting for her.“Hello, Patience is that you? It’s Mr Giddens, your father wanted me to ring.” The man on the phone spoke with a deep and rapid voice.“It’s me Mr Giddens. What’s the matter, is my father okay?” Patsy asked urgently
“I’m sorry Miss Mount but your father is rather ill. He’s bedridden, I’m helping him get his affairs in order but he wants you to come and visit. He has things to share with you before he dies.”“Things he can’t share over the phone??” Patsy thought to herself.“We have booked you a plane ticket, it’s for tomorrow, it should have arrived in the post this morning. Hope to see you soon. Goodbye.” He hung up the phone almost as quickly as he’d said that sentence.Patsy looked star struck. Her best friend had just come back into her life, a pregnant widower at that. Now she learns that her father is dying and she has a plane to Hong Kong the very next day. She slowly moved away from the phone as she snapped back to reality and remembered Delia upstairs. She didn’t quite have it in her to return to the bathroom just yet.——————————————————————Delia had to be positioned on her knees with her lower end still in the water to maximise comfort whilst also providing a smooth way for her baby to be born.
She had Trixie at her lower half and Sister Julienne by her head. Where was Patsy! Why hadn’t she come back yet? Delia didn’t know how much energy she had left and hoped this would happen quickly.
“I can see baby’s head, Delia. On the next contraction I want you to push really hard so baby’s shoulders can come out. You’re doing so well!” Trixie called out.Delia had never felt so incredibly strange. There was another human coming out of her! Amazing, beautiful of course and yet completely bizarre. She felt the next pain coming and began to push with all her strength. She could feel the baby’s shoulders, arms and part of its torso exiting her body.
“That’s wonderful Delia, I’d say another big push and your baby will be all the way out.” Trixie called once more.
Still Delia began to let her mind wander. Why wasn’t Patsy back yet? She really wanted her to be there too.But just as she was getting lost in her thoughts, Patsy came bursting back through the bathroom door.“Hi hi I’m sorry I was gone for ages! My father-” patsy paused to catch her breath, “my father is dying and I have to catch a plane tomorrow to visit him. I’m sorry guys I’m sorry for springing this on you Sister Julienne! Oh Gosh Delia I’d almost forgotten, are you okay??”“Patsy, slow down at once!” Trixie whisper-shouted. The baby had been born without any notice, apart from by Delia, presumably. The baby didn’t cry at first but Trixie immediately began to rub his back and wrap him in a nice warm towel.
“What is it, Trixie? A girl or a boy?” Delia asked.“A boy.” Said Trixie.
“Praise be, I shall go and tell the others. God bless this baby. And well done Delia.” Sister Julienne said and she left the room.While Trixie was busy with the baby, Patsy helped Delia deliver the afterbirth smoothly with no complications. Delia turned around so she could lie on her back in the bath, which was now turning cold. Then, Trixie brought the new baby over to Delia and offered him to her. She took her new baby and held him to her chest.
“Amazing Delia, I'm so proud of you.” Patsy said.“Simply marvellous. Have you thought of a name for this little chap?” Trixie asked.Delia looked up at Patsy, who seemed a little distracted, otherwise completely overjoyed.
“What’s your father’s name Pats?” Delia quizzed.“Um it’s Joseph, Joe, Joseph.. Joe. Whoever the person is, he decides based on that, what they call him…” Patsy trailed off realising she probably sounded rather silly.“Robbie Joe Scott.” Delia declared, after a few minutes of thinking.“Really Delia, are you sure? You don’t know my father, you don’t have to add his name to your child’s.” Patsy spoke incredulously.“I’m absolutely certain Pats. And I’m so sorry to hear that he’s ill.” Delia spoke softly
“Ah yes about that. I apologise for coming in and saying all that so quickly, especially while you were bringing this little one into the world. Yes he is ill, bedridden apparently and his business partner has already sent me my plane ticket in the post. I had no idea until he said it.” Patsy spoke far too quickly once again but oh well, she was allowed to feel stressed.“Patsy please try not to worry, anyway haven’t you better start packing?” Delia prompted.
“Oh goodness me yes I should. Are you okay if I leave you to finish up here Trixie?” Patsy asked her friend.
“Of course sweetie. Get packing. We’ll sort everything out in here.