us.
I took two steps forward and gave Gladys a wave. Well, ta-ta.
When she’d left, I wondered how I should have introduced Bridie.
And what in the world would Gladys have thought if she’d seen us kissing on the roof? More than that, what would she have done?
I’d stepped so far away from my old life, I wasn’t sure I could ever go back.
When Bridie and I entered Maternity/Fever together, Sister Luke looked up from the desk. She didn’t like our being friendly, that much was obvious. She asked, Well rested, I hope, the pair of you?
I assured her that we were. If she didn’t know about the nurses’ dormitory having been shut, I wasn’t going to mention it.
The small room stank of eucalyptus. Honor White was out of view behind a steam tent of sheets, but I could hear her coughing. Her baby was in his crib, bundled legs stirring.
Sister Luke reported that he’d taken his first two bottles all right.
I had to grant the nun this much—her prejudices didn’t get in the way of her looking after patients.
Bridie poured herself a glassful from the jug of boiled water and drained it with a gasp. Then she set to work tidying up the ward like an old hand.
Delia Garrett told me, I’m leaving today, Nurse Power!
Really?
Dr. Lynn was in, and she says I’ll do better convalescing at home.
It was unorthodox but I couldn’t object, given the state of the hospital. The Garretts were comfortably off enough to hire a private nurse, whereas for most of our patients, this was their only chance to be looked after.
Sister Luke told me, Father Xavier was gone last night, and he’s out at a funeral at the moment, but I’ll see can I find another priest to christen that one. (Nodding at the White baby.)
Once the nun had left, I met Bridie’s eyes. Her smile was dazzling.
She asked, What now?
In her steam tent, Honor White was crimson. I decided it was time to get her out.
I wiped her face with a cool cloth. Is that any better, Mrs. White?
She only muttered another of her prayers.
I checked her chest binder. Barely damp; her milk hadn’t come in yet. I loosened the fabric further so it wouldn’t constrain her noisy breathing. Bridie, could you ever make Mrs. White a hot lemonade while I check on Mrs. O’Rahilly?
The young mother was nursing her little girl, whose head was rounding out nicely already. Mary O’Rahilly’s face was serene, and the tray beside her looked as if she’d eaten well. But my eyes went compulsively to the shadowed insides of her wrists—the blue marks.
As if she’d read my mind, she mentioned him. Mr. O’Rahilly’s coming for Eunice tomorrow, she said, for her to be christened. They’ll let him in as far as the visitors’ lobby, and she’ll be brought down.
Very good.
I was watching her face. Was she longing to go home to her husband, dreading it, both?
Stay out of it, Julia. Marriage was a private business and a mysterious one.
I turned to Delia Garrett. I see you’re packed up already. I’ll change your binder before I dress you.
When I unwound her bandage, it came away soaked with milk.
She kept her face averted.
Such a waste, those plumped-up breasts; I wondered how long it would take them to register and accept that there was no one to feed.
I wrapped Delia Garrett up again with a fresh bandage. Then I looked in her bag and pulled out a loose dress.
Not that old thing!
I found a skirt and blouse instead, and Bridie and I got her dressed, very gently.
I looked back at Honor White, who’d already dropped into a doze, her lemonade untouched on the cabinet. Sleep was the best thing for her, I supposed; we had no medicine any more effective.
In his crib, her boy made a catlike sound as his legs stretched. No need to carve a crescent on my watch for this one. Despite being premature, he was doing grand. Already his asymmetrical mouth hardly startled my eyes anymore; just two pieces of lip that didn’t quite join up, a brief hiatus.
It occurred to me that this tiny stranger had some of my blood in his veins. Would he always be kin to me under the skin?
Shall I show you how to feed him, Bridie?
Do.
I found the crosscut teat and bottle where Sister Luke had left them in soda after boiling them. I shook up the jar of infant mixture (pasteurised cow’s milk, cream, sugar, and barley water, according to the