The Family Way (Molly Murphy, #12)

I nodded sympathetically. “It must have been awful for you. I feel so badly. I didn’t want Sister to make Blanche leave, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”


“Of course not. She wanted Blanche out and nothing was going to change that.” She pulled off her uniform dress and knelt beside her bed to say her prayers. I was touched by her innocence and found myself wishing that my religion still meant something to me and that I could pray like that. I had plenty I wanted to pray for tonight, the most pressing item being that I’d be able to go back to my real life, my friends, and my husband, in the morning. That my baby and I would be safe. I too undressed and lay in bed, feeling the coarse roughness of the nightgown against my skin and breathing in the unfamiliar smell of damp and mold, mingled with a tinge of carbolic soap from the laundry and just a hint of antiseptic.

One of the girls went over and blew out the candles, plunging us into complete darkness. Used to a place of streetlamps and city noise that never died down completely, the silence and darkness were overwhelming.

Daniel, I wish you were here, I thought. I wish you’d come and take me home. I wouldn’t care how much you shouted at me for my stupidity. Because I have been stupid, and proud and overconfident in my abilities. As usual I haven’t thought things through to see what might go wrong. And I promise I’ll never do it again if only I get out of here safely.

One by one the other girls fell asleep and I lay there listening to their heavy rhythmic breathing. From outside came the hoot of an owl. Images danced in front of my eyes in the darkness. And that whispered voice in the chapel, Come and find me. Was that my heightened imagination or had I really heard something? How could I hope to find Maureen if I was locked away here, I thought. And my first task is to save myself and my baby. I can’t risk lingering any longer to see what might have happened to her. If she is among the novices, I’ll spot her during mass in the morning. If not, then I’ll have to admit that I’ve failed and she will never be found.

I suppose I must have been drifting off to sleep when I was awoken by a bloodcurdling scream. I sat bolt upright. Moonlight was coming in through that high window and I could see Aggie standing beside her bed, doubled over, clutching her stomach and screaming. On the floor at her feet I could make out a dark puddle.

“I’m dying!” she screamed.

Other girls were sitting up now. “She’s gone into labor. Get Sister,” one of them said. “You’re not dying, Aggie. Stop making a fuss. It’s only labor pains.”

“I’ll get Sister,” I said. My fingers trembled as I tried to light the candle. I felt my way along the hall, down the stairs. I knew which door belonged to Sister Jerome and I hammered on it now. It opened with great force and Sister herself stood there, dressed in a voluminous nightdress and a white cap on her head. “What is it?” she demanded.

“It’s Aggie. She’s gone into labor, I think. She says she’s dying.”

“Stupid girl. Always inconsiderate, going into labor in the middle of the night,” she snapped. “Hold that candle up so I can see.”

She took her habit from a hook on her wall, pulled it over her head, then tied her belt with the keys on it. Lastly she draped the veil over her head. “The wimple will have to wait,” she said, as she stepped into carpet slippers.

“Do you want me to wake Sister Angelique?” I asked.

“She sleeps in her cell with the other sisters,” she said. “I’ll go and wake her after I see what’s happening with Aggie.” She slammed her door behind her and took the stairs at a great pace. I tried to keep up without letting the candle be blown out.

“Stop this nonsense at once, Aggie,” I heard her say as she came into the dormitory.

“But I’m dying,” the girl gasped. “Look, there’s blood all over the floor.”

“That’s not blood. Your water broke, silly girl. Quite natural. Come on, let’s get you across to maternity.”

“I’ll help if you like,” I said.

“You can stay and clean up that mess on the floor,” Sister said. “Gerda. You help me bring her across.”