Chapter Text
Trixie had spent her afternoon off at the shops. She was looking for new clothes of course. Her aunt had just sent her some money with specific instructions to “Buy something nice to find yourself a husband.”
She had been ignoring those types of letters for some time now. Seeing that she didn’t have any further interest in trying to find a husband through the marriage bureau she didn’t think it would need to be addressed.
Trixie had made her last stop and was heading back to the bus stop when a man exiting a restaurant almost ran her over.
“Excuse me!” She exclaimed.
When the man turned around her scowl turned to surprise. “Mr. Aylward?”
“Nurse Franklin? I’m so sorry.”
“What are you doing here?” They asked in unison.
They both smiled and brushed aside the awkwardness.
“I was just at the shops.”
Mr. Aylward looked down and noticed an abundance of bags. “I see.”
Trixie blushed a little. It did appear she had gone a little overboard again.
“What about you? This is a fancy restaurant to be running out of.”
It was very fancy and very expensive. After discovering more about Mr. Aylward she could understand this would be a regular place for him.
“This is slightly embarrassing actually. I was on a date. We hadn’t even ordered before she decided it was over.”
Trixie’s eyebrows rose in shock. “I’m so sorry!”
“Unfortunately it seems to be my luck these days.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Jonathan isn’t a very poplar subject it seems. I have been told and I quote “Talk about Jonathan too much.””
“Oh my!” Trixie felt sorry for Mr. Aylward but understood how woman could be. “That’s terrible! You should be able to talk about him. How is he?”
“He’s walking now.” Mr. Aylward lite up.
“He is! He’s growing up for fast.”
Mr. Aylward reached into his pocket and retrieved a picture from his wallet. “This was just a few months ago.”
“Look at him! He’s so adorable. I’d love to see him.”
There was a silence for a moment.
“It was wonderful to see you, but I must catch my bus back to Nonnatus. Give Jonathan my best.” She said beginning to walk away.
“Nurse Franklin wait!”
Trixie stopped and Mr. Aylward walked to her.
“Seeing that we are both here and it is supper time, would you mind joining me for dinner?”
Trixie could see he was slightly nervous. They did have a good time together in the past. Dinner couldn’t hurt.
“That would be lovely.”
They both smiled and walked back toward the restaurant together. Mr. Aylward, Trixie and all of her bags.
______________________________
The two had been seated and were gazing over the menu when the server arrived.
“May I take your drink order?” The man asked.
“We’d like a bottle of your best red wine.” Mr. Aylward stated.
“Excuse me.” Trixie interrupted and looked at the waiter. “Can you give us one moment?
“Yes ma’am.” He responded before walking away.
Trixie could see Mr. Aylward was confused.
“Mr. Aylward.”
“Please call me Matthew.” He almost blurted out.
“Matthew.”
“I’m sorry for assuming. I shouldn’t have ordered without asking your first.”
“Matthew.” Trixie continued. “I don’t drink. That’s why I sent the waiter away. I am perfectly fine if you order yourself a drink, but none for me thank you.”
Matthew smiled. “Thank you for telling me. I will remember that.”
Trixie smiled back. “And you can call me Trixie.”
The dinner was going very well. The food was just as amazing as the conversation. They talked about most everything including a lot about Jonathan.
“You mentioned earlier that dating hasn’t been going well?” Trixie asked.
“My mother had been pushing, maybe more demanding that I start dating. Finally last month I gave in. It didn’t go well. I guess having a son wasn’t addressed before our date.”
“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s going to be hard.”
Matthew laughed. “That’s reassuring.”
Trixie placed her hand on top of Matthew’s on the table. “Dating is hard even without having a child.”
Matthew looked down at her on hand on top of his before slowly sliding it away. “I doubt it’s hard for you!”
Trixie leaned back in her chair. “Late 30s. Single. Midwife. Lives in a convent. You can see why that isn’t very appealing.”
They both laughed.
“Maybe you should leave the convent part out.” Matthew said still laughing.
“Maybe so!”
The laughing calmed before Trixie became serious.
“How are you doing?”
Matthew became serious and slightly emotional. “Alright. I have days where I can’t breathe, but those days are becoming less and less now.”
Trixie’s heart broke hearing him say that. “It will get easier, but no matter what your mother says or pushes you to do, you and Jonathan come first.”
“Ha!” Matthew had tears in his eyes now. “She is very much for a notion of moving on. She doesn’t understand. She just wants me to find a mother for Jonathan so I can be less “hands on”.”
Trixie gasped. “No! That is unacceptable! You should be allowed to grieve and care for your son.”
Matthew just looked at Trixie without saying anything. She noticed how he was looking at her and she suddenly felt a change.
“How are you so compassionate and caring?”
Trixie just looked down. She didn’t know what to say to such a question. To her all of this was common sense. Why wouldn’t everyone feel this way?
“Can I ask you something Trixie?” Matthew leaned forward. His eyes had somewhat dried but his voice was still crackling.
She looked up. “Of course.”
“One woman I thought things were going well with came to meet Jonathan. He was napping so we sat and had tea. She wasn’t there for more than 20 minutes before she made an excuse to leave and I never heard from her again. It look me a while to realize she had been looking at all of the pictures. Most of them are Fiona. Should I take them down?”
“Never!” Trixie almost yelled which caused some people to look toward their table. “She was your wife. The mother of your child. The woman you loved more than anything. She was an amazing woman Matthew. Never take her pictures down. Never!”
Matthew looked down. Trixie could tell he was crying again. Again, her heart was breaking for this man who loved his wife and son so much. She had seen tonight how much he had healed, but new wounds were showing.
“Thank you Trixie.”
“You are a wonderful man Matthew. You will find someone that will love you, Jonathan and Fiona.”
_____________________
They finished up their dinner and decided to skip dessert at the restaurant. Trixie had said they deserved some ice cream after their emotional conversation. Matthew had agreed.
Down a few shops was an ice cream shop that was just closing up.
“Please sir?” Trixie asked kindly to the man who was beginning to lock the door.
“Make it quick.” He stated.
After getting their ice cream they found a bench to sit.
“I must admit, this has been a wonderful evening.” Matthew said.
“I’d have to agree.” Trixie smiled.
It was beginning to get very chilly and suddenly Matthew and Trixie had noticed how quiet and dark everything had become .
“Oh my! It’s after midnight.” Matthew said looking at his watch.
“Midnight?! No! I missed the last bus!”
“I have my car. I can drive you home.”
“It’s not exactly in the same direction you’re headed Matthew.”
“It’s my fault you missed your bus, so I will take you home. Plus, you shouldn’t be walking around with so many bags.”
“Oh stop! Don’t judge a girl by her love of fashion!”
They began their walk to Matthew’s car. Trixie stopped when she saw it.
“This is your car?”
Matthew looked at it, looked at the keys he had taken from his pocket and then at Trixie. “If it’s not, I certainly don’t know how I ended up with the keys.”
Trixie laughed and was slightly giddy. She hadn’t driven in this nice of a car since she had dated Christopher. Matthew’s car was nicer if that was possible.
__________________
The drive was nice. Trixie told Matthew about Christopher, his car, his daughter and their relationship.
“That was hard for you wasn’t it?” He asked.
“Very, but children should always come first and her feelings were much more important than mine.”
They had stopped in front of Nonnatus a moment before.
“You did a beautiful thing Trixie.” Matthew said before exiting the car.
He came around and opened the door for Trixie. As she stood they came face to face.
Both released an auditable gasp as they looked at each other.
Trixie slowly stepped aside. “Thank you for a wonderful evening Matthew. I did really enjoy myself.” She began walking toward the door.
“Thank you Trixie. I did as well.”
________________
Trixie did her best to be quiet as she entered the house. As she closed the door she heard voices.
“Now who is awake?” She thought to herself. Maybe it was Sister Monica Joan.
As she came up the stairs to the hall she saw almost everyone sitting around the table.
“She’s here!” Sister Francis said.
“Nurse Franklin where have you been?” Sister Julienne asked.
Trixie froze. A flood of guilt ran over her. “I’m sorry. I ran into a friend and had dinner. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Trixie never thought once about how worried everyone would be. It was true, she never was out this late. How was she going to explain who she was with?
“Nurse Franklin? Can I see you in my office?” Sister Julienne walked to Trixie and slowly guided her.
Trixie sat down and Sister Julienne closed the door and came around to sit behind her desk.
“Sister, I am so very sorry. It wasn’t intentional, I promise you.”
“Nurse Franklin, I have known you longer than any of the other midwives here, even some of my Sisters. I can see you are genuinely sorry. All we care is that you are safe, but I sense something else may be going on.”
Trixie’s eyes widened. “I haven’t committed any sins Sister Julienne!”
“I’m not saying that you have. Your personal life is yours, but I do hope that you wouldn’t keep any secrets from us,”
“I had dinner with Mr. Aylward.” Trixie blurted out.
“I see.” Sister Julienne was surprised.
“I had left a shop and he quite literally bumped into me. We chatted for a moment before he asked me to join him for dinner. That was all.”
“I believe you. I know you have a lot of respect for that man, his son and late wife. Be careful Nurse Franklin.”
Trixie didn’t know what Sister Julienne meant other than what other’s may think. Maybe that’s why she felt so guilty.
_______________________________
As Trixie laid in her bed that night she kept replaying the evening in her head. She really enjoyed her time with Matthew. She could be honest with him and she felt he was with her.
A sudden realization came across her mind and she shot up in bed.
“Oh no!” She said aloud.
She was falling in love with him.