Chapter 1
Trixie could barely dial the rotary dial on the phone, the jitters made her hands shake. As she sat on the sofa in Matthew’s sitting room, she steeled herself. She took several deep breaths and picked up the receiver. And she dialed the number of a Glasgow flat she had often called over the last few years. This time was different though. And she was elated. She had called the previous night but no one picked up. Tonight they picked up on the second ring.
Hello? Trixie recognized the Welsh accent right away.
“Hello Delia! Is Patsy there too, I have some amazing news!!!”
“Trixie! Yes – she’s here – let me go grab her – hang on – I’ll be right back!”
Delia dropped the receiver awkwardly and ran down the hall. Patsy was soaking in the tub. She burst through the door to see her love covered in bubbles.
“Lovelovelovelovelove! Trixie is on the phone. She has something important to tell us This is it!!!”
Patsy’s face lit up! She knew what the news was and she couldn’t wait! Delia grabbed the towel from the bar on the back of the tub and wrapped it around her sudsy, naked girlfriend. She did her best to towel her off as Patsy scurried out of the tub. They ran down the hall together to the sitting room. Delia ran back to the bathroom and grabbed Patsy’s robe, though she certainly appreciated the mostly naked view she had.
Patsy took a deep breath before picking up the receiver. Delia was back with her robe and took the towel and helped her get her arms through the sleeves.
“Trixie! We both have our ears on the receiver. Please do tell us why you are calling!!!” All three ladies were bursting with excitement!
“Girls! You won’t believe it! I certainly don’t but I am engaged! Matthew proposed two nights ago. We were walking along the Thames, very near the spot on the pier where you proposed to Delia, Patsy! He was so nervous, he ended up throwing the ring into the water because he thought I didn’t like it! I absolutely love it and I love him! I am so unbelievably happy!
“Trixie – we are so happy for you! No one deserves happiness more!” Patsy all but squealed!
“Yes, Trixie! You deserve happiness so – we are over the moon for you!!!!” Delia squeaked.
“Patsy – I have something important to ask you. Patsy, my best friend, the closest friend I have ever had - will you please do me the honor and be my maid of honor? I wish you could be my matron of honor. You will be in my heart!”
“Oh my god, Trixie! Yes, of course, I am honored, and nothing could keep me away! Have you set a date yet?”
“Not yet, we have a church in Chelsea in mind and are working on the date. Oh my god – Delia – I am so sorry, I got ahead of myself - Delia – I would be so honored if you would be one of my bridesmaids!”
“Oh Trixie – thank you so much, of course I will, I am so honored.”
“Phyllis has said yes also! I've a letter out to Jenny and Chummy too! You will all be the most amazing team ever assembled! Of course, Barbara will be with us in spirit!”
“A formidable team for sure! We are honored to be a part of it!”
Delia asked: Have you thought about who is going to give you away?
“Well girls, as you know, I am a modern woman and have had so many amazingly strong women in my life! I’ve asked Sister Julienne to walk me down the aisle! I wanted to ask you both first before asking the others, but there was no answer last night when I called.”
“Oh we are so sorry – Deels was with her study group and I was in a delivery. It was past 11pm when we both got home. No matter, we humbly accept and how amazing to have Sister Julienne give you away! Did you have to convince her or was she keen on the idea right away?”
“She looked stunned, as you might imagine – I actually thought she might faint – but she understood. She may be a bit old fashioned, but she’s always seen the world through such understanding eyes. Once the shock wore off, she hugged me and told me that nothing could make her happier.”
“Oh Trixie – we are so happy for you!”
“Thank you, girls. It certainly took long enough – but I finally found an amazing chap! I know you’ve only met him twice, but he is kind and loving and not too bad on the eyes either if you ask me!”
“He is very pretty, for a man!” Delia chortled.
“You two are the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been so happy for you ever since Delia confided in me all those years ago now. It only took Patsy leaving on a boat for the Orient to get you to open up to me!”
“Well, Trixie, you just never know how people will react. We could have lost so much, even possibly your friendship!”
“I’ll never forget when poor Delia told me. You were sobbing so hard. Even though I didn’t know, when you told me about your relationship, it was as if the puzzle put itself together in my head – all of the times Patsy came into our room late at night with her hair messed up, all those gazes – puppy dog eyes – that you would make at each other. I am sorry that you had to be so careful, but I understand. I am so happy that you’ve been able to live together all this time in Glasgow and that it’s all gone so well for you both!”
“Did we ever tell you that our landlady is also lesbian? That’s been a gift like you cannot even imagine. You know we started out moving the twin beds together in the flat – Miss Ronson had a full size bed that she swapped out for those twins. We’ve been snug as bugs for the last year!” Delia beamed.
“Oh girls, I am so happy for you! I told you about the couple earlier this year – they had been together since the second world war. They were such lovely women and Jessie was so devoted to Olive. I saw you both in them every second I was there!”
“Yes, you told us. It touched us both so deeply. Especially me, with no other family – Deels is my only family, other than you and everyone I lived with at Nonnatus. You are all my family! MY god – Trixie! Oh my god – I am so thrilled for you! So a church in Chelsea, when do you think you’ll have a date set? Deels has exams in early May, then has a 3 week break.”
“But don’t worry – name the date and we will be there! With bells on or whatever else you want us to be in!” Delia chimed in.
“This is a bit quick, but we are going to try for September. I will give you as much advance notice as possible.”
“Don’t worry, Trixie, your maid of honor and bridesmaid will be there! We will need to come down for a fitting or two too I would think. Just let us know – we can’t wait to take the train down for as many long weekends as we need too!”
“Not to mention a bridal shower!”
“Oh, thank you girls, I absolutely love you both to death!”
“We love you too, Trixie and we are both so happy for you!”
“Right, I’m going to say goodnight now, but I will be in touch soon! Thank you so much for saying yes!
“Trixie, we both love you and are so happy for you!” Patsy’s eyes welled up with tears as she said this. She did love her as a sister.
“I love you both too! OK, I’m going to hang up now – I’ll call you next week with an update! Goodnight my loves!!!”
In unison: Good night, Trixie! Give our best to Matthew! The receivers are placed back on their respective bases.
Patsy and Delia look at each other and explode into fits of laughter and love. They embrace and kiss. Delia unties Patsy’s robe and leads her down the hall to their bedroom. More celebrating is in order!