Rewards
Lucien breezed in through the front door; married to Jean for a few months coming home at the end of the day was one of the best things about his life.
He could hear the radio in the kitchen and Jean humming along to the tune playing. She had a lovely sweet singing voice and whenever he played the piano he encouraged her to sing along.
He put his hat and jacket on the peg and went to see what she was up to. A delicious smell floated from the kitchen, dinner was obviously well under way.
Glancing through the hatch he saw Jean folding the laundry she had brought in from the washing line in the garden. A scene of simple domesticity, nothing really different to before they were married. He had suggested they employed someone to clean and do the laundry to take some of the workload off her, but she had said 'No'. They both knew he could no longer pay her to be his housekeeper, it was part of being married, but he had decided she should have some income of her own. Between them they came up with the idea that he would continue to pay her to be his secretary and his receptionist, but also as more of a partner. She would organise his clinics and appointments as usual but also help him when he needed some 'sneaky' detective work. she agreed this was a good idea and it also meant she had her own money to buy little things, gifts, something for Amelia without using Lucien's income; although it was also hers.
Jean became aware of him watching her.
'Hello, Lucien,' she said brightly, 'you're home early.'
'I can go away again if you want,' he approached her, grinning.
'No, you can help me fold these sheets,' she told him, thinking, 'You're not getting away with it that easily!'
'Alright; what do you want me to do?' Lucien had to admit he was a stranger to domestic chores, someone had always done it for him. There again, he could wash up the dishes after a meal.
Jean motioned him towards her and thrust one end of a double sheet into his hands, then backed away from him. He raised his eyebrows.
'Do exactly as I do,' she smiled, spreading her arms wide with a corner in each hand. Lucien copied her; shake the sheet, corners together, pull, shake, collect the fold, hands together, shake, all well until bringing the ends together...
As they met, bringing the ends together, hands touching, Lucien bent down and kissed her. She smiled and took the folded end of the sheet and backed away. Lucien gave her the 'what've I done wrong !' look which received in reply a coy, upward through the lashes look, the 'later, darling' look he had come to delight in over the last few months.
it's surprising how quickly one can learn an new skill when there's a reward on offer!