The Invitations
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“Who else, Patsy?” Trixie asked, as she finished writing out an invitation and placed it on a stack of papers next to a pile of envelopes Phyllis was sealing and stamping.
Seeking privacy, the three friends were seated around the small four top wood table in Patsy and Delia’s room, as they hurriedly finished their secret task before the brunette returned from work.
“Who do we have so far?” the redhead replied as she penned the final birthday invite script they had decided on for the invitations.
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‘Please join us in celebrating our friend Delia Busby's Birthday!
Saturday April 19th, 7:00PM. Nonnatus House.
Park on 3rd street out of sight and come in the back door quietly!
Second door on the right in the hall past the kitchen- there will be a gold scarf on the door handle. Let yourself in and be ready for Delia at 7:15. It’s a surprise!
Please RSVP to Patsy Mount.’
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“Well, the complete list includes me and Phyllis... your friends Jane and Linda…”
Patsy smiled as she thought of Delia’s brisque but kind-hearted ex who worked at their favorite pub, and her perky new girlfriend they had met for the first time at the Christmas party at Gateways.
Trixie continued on. “Sharon… who’s that again?”
“We met her at Gateways at the Christmas party, but she works at the hospital too. She’s quiet as a mouse and frightfully timid. Delia has taken her under her wing and now they have lunch together twice a week in the cafeteria. I’m fairly certain Delia is Sharon’s only friend… she’s dreadfully shy.”
“Well, that sounds very sweet of Delia,” Trixie said beaming at the redhead before looking back at the small stack. “Then we have Darcy and Emily…”
“Those are the two from your group, right lass?” Phyllis said, looking up over the edge of her spectacles that slipped down her nose.
Patsy nodded, instantly picturing the laid back, short haired group facilitator and her outgoing blonde partner. “Yes, Darcy runs the women’s portion of the SCSW group and Emily is her partner who Delia visits with during the meetings. We’ve also met them at Gateways a few times now.”
Phyllis nodded with approval as she stamped their invite. “I’m very much looking forward to meeting them.”
“Let’s see… next is… Rose Walker!” the blonde said with heartfelt emphasis.
“Brilliant,” Patsy said, unable to hold back a smile as she thought of how delighted Delia would be to see Michael’s grandmother at her surprise birthday party. “Delia and Rose absolutely adore each other now. They’ve taken to calling one another for no reason at all every few weeks for a chit chat outside of our dinners and outings with Michael.”
“That’s wonderful,” Trixie said as she crossed off the name and set her checklist down. “How are Michael and Abigail?”
“Excellent,” the redhead replied. “They’re both enjoying school, Michael just told me he’s getting highest marks in all his studies and he’s joining the baseball team,” Patsy said proudly. “Delia and I will be having dinner with them the Friday before the party. Rose and I will have to keep the secret between us that we’ll all be seeing each other the very next day,” she said with a smile.
“Oh, how fun!” Trixie exclaimed. “I just love surprise parties! It was a brilliant idea planning it after the birthday dinner with the nuns and nurses, Delia will have absolutely no idea!”
“It really was an excellent idea to put them on the same day… and that’s wonderful Michael is doing so well in school. You know that’s in large part because of you.” Phyllis said, looking to Patsy.
“Oh, I don’t know about that…” the redhead mumbled as she blushed.
“Well, I do. You saved that boy’s life. You got him into that wonderful home with his grandmother, and you continue to be a part of his life as you pour your love into him.”
Patsy smiled as she thought of how much she really had grown to love Michael, and how grateful she was that Rose enthusiastically encouraged her continued involvement in the young boy’s life.
“Phyllis is right you know. Michael thinks of you as something not unlike a mother Patsy,” Trixie added. “Not as a replacement of his own, of course. But as something altogether new, and wonderful.”
Patsy no longer rejected the sentiment, as she too acknowledged the deep connection that felt familial.
“Right then, who else?” the blonde asked, switching the subject before any of them got lost in the emotions of considering the boy’s life.
“I believe it’s just Elise, an old friend of Delia’s from nursing school. I have yet to meet her but she’s also…” Patsy trailed off suddenly feeling a wave of uncertainty.
“A fan of a lady’s beauty,” Trixie said matter-of-factly as she was hunched over writing.
Patsy couldn’t contain her embarrassed laugh.
“The term you’re looking for is lesbian,” Phyllis said without looking up from her task.
“Oh gosh,” Patsy said as her cheeks turned red and Trixie joiner her in laughing at the older midwife’s seriousness.
“Do avoid that term if you could Phyllis, I’m not even comfortable using it yet,” the redhead said as she tried to contain her awkward laughter.
“I don’t see what all the fuss is about, it’s just a word. Lesbian. It’s just a word, that describes you, and nearly everyone at this party for Nurse Busby. We’re either lesbians or the friends who want the best for them.”
Trixie and Patsy again burst into laughter as Phyllis rolled her eyes.
“Honestly… you two are worse than the Cub Scouts sometimes,” the older nurse said as she sealed the last envelope. “I’ll take these to the mailbox on my way out. We better get these in the mail, it’s only two and a half weeks until the party.”
Patsy cleared her throat as she held a stitch in her side from laughing so hard. “Thank you Phyllis. You’re the absolute best. Delia is going to love it.”
“I believe she will. It was a grand idea, and it was all your lass, I’m just helping make sure it gets done in time. And Barbara has the Nonnatus house dinner in hand. All is taken care of with that portion of the evening.”
“And I’m just helping make sure it’s all done with style,” Trixie said with a wink as she stood.
“I will always cherish your fabulous sense of style,” Patsy said with a grin as she followed her two friends to the door. “Next we need to order the desserts and select the food and drink. Thursday evening for the shop?”
“Already have it in my calendar,” Phyllis called out as she traveled down the hall.
“I’ll be there! And you better start thinking about what you’ll wear,” Trixie called out as Patsy closed the door, smiling and rolling her eyes.