Another episode in my Lukeverse (see "Hero", "Sons" and "Carols"). Lucien and Jean are happily married with a young son, Lucien, Jr., known as Luke.
Jean smiled in greeting as Luke ran down the steps of his school and across the yard to throw his arms around her. She hugged him back. "Did you have a good day, sweetheart?"
"Yes!" he told her. He loved school. Each day was a new adventure for him.
She smiled down at him. Her two older sons had never much cared for school, but then their father had not been very supportive of learning. Christopher had wanted them to know enough to run a farm and considered anything beyond that somewhat pretentious.
When she went to work for the senior Doctor Blake, he had encouraged Jean to take courses so that she could help out on the business side of his practice. She had rediscovered how much she enjoyed learning, and this had only increased when Lucien had taken over for his father. She had been awed by the man's knowledge in so many areas, and this had made her want to learn more herself. Often in the evenings now while she worked on her knitting Lucien would read aloud whatever book he was working through. She was grateful that her last child had inherited a love for education.
He prattled on about his day. "I got all my spelling words right," he told her. "Miss Spring said I could help Duncan with spelling. He didn't do very well. Duncan hates spelling."
"That might be because he isn't very good at it," Jean said. "Maybe if you can help him be better, he won't hate it any more."
"That would be good, wouldn't it, Mum?"
"Yes, sweetheart. It's always good to help people."
"Like Dad does?" asked Luke.
"Just like your dad does," Jean smiled.
"It's good to help hamsters, too, isn't it?"
"Hamsters? Yes, I suppose so," said Jean, somewhat confused at the turn of conversation. "Do you know any hamsters?"
Luke nodded. "Miss Spring brought him in for the class. His name is Hamlet. It's my turn to take care of him this week. You know, give him food and water."
"That sounds like an important job. Be sure you don't forget."
"I won't." He stopped walking and looked up at her with his big blue eyes. "Mum, do you think we could get a dog?"
"A dog?" Jean had to think quickly. She hadn't even considered the possibility. With Christopher Jr. and Jack living on a farm, they had always had dogs around. Working dogs, but still there for the boys. She supposed it was only natural that Luke would want a pet, living in town.
"I don't know, Luke. What with the surgery, and all the people going in and out, I'm not sure a dog would be the best idea."
"I could watch him. Please, Mum, can you talk to Dad?"
Jean rolled her eyes. Lucien could deny their son very little. And she also recalled him lamenting at his own dog being sent away when he was a boy. Still, they should discuss it.
"All right, I'll talk with Dad. He'll be back from Melbourne late tonight. I'll speak with him then."
"Thank you, thank you, Mum." The boy gave her an exuberant hug.
"No promises now," Jean cautioned. "I only said I'll speak to him about it. Understood?"
"Understood," said Luke, but his eyes were shining. Jean just knew he was already picturing the new pet in his mind.
Lucien had spent the last two days at a trial in Melbourne, offering testimony against a man who had killed his wife to sell off off her diamond ring, then attempted to cover it up with a tale of a home burglary. He had taken the last train back to Ballarat, not wanting to be away a moment longer than necessary. Now the doctor was happy to be back home, and even happier to see his beautiful wife waiting at the train station. He greeted her with a kiss that was just this side of scandalous in a public place, even if the night's shadows concealed them from prying eyes.
"Lucien…" she scolded, but her eyes were shining, making him laugh with delight.
"How are you, my dearest?" he asked, his voice low and husky with the promise of more to come.
"Much better, now that you're home," she told him.
"Me, too," he grinned. "How's Luke?"
"He missed you, of course. Lucien, he asked me if he can have a dog. What do you think about the idea?"
"A dog, eh? I had thought we might let him have one when he's old enough to take responsibility for it. What brought it on now?"
Jean explained about the class pet. "I suppose we could wait until his week taking care of the hamster is finished. The extra work might make him change his mind."
Lucien gave her a skeptical look. "Our Luke?"
"Yes, you're right. That will be the best-fed hamster in Victoria by the time his week is up."
"Do we know anyone that might let us borrow a dog, just to see how he handles it?"
"Only farm dogs. I don't think that would be the same."
"No," said Lucien. "He'll want a dog that will follow him around the house and sleep on his bed." He still had fond memories of his boyhood dog Rosie before she was sent away.
"We'll have to see about the dog sleeping with him," Jean said, frowning at the idea of dog hair all over the bed linens.
"It sounds like we've made a decision," said Lucien grinning.
Jean sighed. "I guess we have. I'll start asking around, see who has puppies needing a home."
"Me, too. And speaking of home, it's wonderful to be back."
"And it's going to be even more wonderful very shortly," Jean assured him, practically purring.
Lucien's eyes darkened. "I can hardly wait."
In the morning Luke bounded down the stairs, anxious to see his father. He rushed into the kitchen where both his parents were sitting over tea. "Hi, Dad," he said softly.
Lucien's smile was like sunshine as he held out his arms for a hug. "Come here."
Luke happily climbed up onto his lap and into a bear hug. "I'm glad you're back, Dad."
"I am, too. Everything all right?"
"Yes," Luke said slowly. "Dad, can I have a dog?"
Lucien glanced at Jean, and they shared a smile. "Your mom and I talked about it. You know it's a big responsibility, right?"
Luke nodded. "I promise I'll take good care of it."
"You'll have to train it," said Jean. "It can't come into the surgery or the waiting area. We can't have it bothering the patients."
"I will, scout's honor," he promised with a sly look at his father.
Jean could only shake her head at her two boys.
On Friday Lucien finished up his surgery early and drove over to pick up Luke at school. Ron Caxton, the local vet, had advised he had a litter of yellow Labrador puppies that had just been weaned, and Lucien thought Luke might like to choose one.
The boy could barely contain his excitement, with Lucien having to remind him to sit still in the car after he began to bounce on the seat. As they pulled onto the lane that ran up to Caxton's house, Luke had his face pressed against the side window, as though he expected the puppies to be running alongside the road. Lucien found himself chuckling at his son's happiness.
Ron came out to greet them. He shook Lucien's hand, as both men recalled their first meeting, when the greeting had been with a shotgun.
"Is this the chap who needs a dog?" Ron asked, nodding toward Luke.
"Yes sir," the boy said.
"Well, then, come along. I have them out in the barn." He led the way, with Luke skipping along right at his heels. Lucien walked behind his son, smiling at the youthful enthusiasm. He had to admit he was quite looking forward to a puppy in the house himself.
On the floor of the barn, the tiny pups seemed to be everywhere, tumbling and scrambling over each other in rambunctious play. Luke fell to his knees in the midst of them, and they swarmed around him, snuffling his hands and trying to climb into his lap. He giggled at their antics, which made Lucien laugh with him.
Ron said, "Right, I'll leave you to it. Give me a shout when you've decided," and he left the barn.
"I want them all, Dad," he announced.
"I know, but that isn't really practical, is it?"
Luke shook his head. "I know. How can I choose one?"
"Take your time," Lucien advised him. "You'll see the right one."
He looked around himself and found a stool in a corner, where he could sit and watch the proceedings. Luke was in heaven, rolling around on the hay-strewn floor with the animals crawling all over him. One in particular, somewhat smaller than the rest, insisted on climbing up him to lick his face. Luke would laugh uproariously and put him back on the floor, only to have him start climbing again.
As Lucien enjoyed the sight, he suddenly felt a warm, wet pressure against his own hands, which were hanging down between his knees on the low stool. He glanced down to see a beagle there, looking up somewhat anxiously toward him. The dog was obviously elderly, much of its fur having gone grey/white.
"Well, hello there," he said, reaching down to scratch the old dog behind the ear.
Luke noticed, and came over to investigate, his tiny friend following him while the rest resumed their rambunctious tumbling. The elderly dog licked Luke's hand, staring up at him with her mournful brown eyes. "Who is this?" Luke asked.
"I don't know, but she's lovely, isn't she?"
"She is," said Luke. He crouched down to pet her, and the small puppy came over and began rubbing against her as well. She accepted the pup, nuzzling him back. When the older dog lay down, the little Labrador curled up next to her and she licked his paw. Both father and son continued to pet the elderly dog, who seemed to look at them with gratitude for the attention as the little one continued to nuzzle her as well.
"Dad," said Luke, staring up at him.
Lucien knew what he wanted. How could they choose between the sweet old dog and the smallest puppy? "I'm just going out to talk to Mister Caxton. You're all right on your own?"
"I'll stay right here with them," Luke assured him.
"Good. I'll be just outside if you need me. I won't be long."
Ron was mending a harness right outside the barn door. "You've decided already?" he asked when he saw Lucien.
"A couple questions first, if you don't mind."
Ron inclined his head.
"The elderly beagle. What's her story?"
"Duchess? She was my wife's dog. Been pining for her ever since she passed. Won't be long for this world is my guess."
"Maybe she would benefit by having someone else to love her? My son is very taken with her, as am I, I must admit. Is she housebroken?"
Frowning, Ron said, "She is, but I thought you wanted a puppy for the lad?"
"Well, yes, that too. The runt of the litter looks to be the favorite there."
"So you want to take both of them? Listen, doc, even with the best of care, I doubt Duchess will last more than another couple of years. If the boy gets too attached to her, well, it won't be easy for him."
"No, it won't. But I don't want him to think older pets, or older people for that matter, can't give just as much love and support as the younger ones. Besides, it's something he'll have to go through sooner or later if he wants to have pets. And hopefully the younger dog will help him through it."
"It's your call, doc. The little one is going to take some training. If you want, I can loan you a crate to get them home. And there's an old blanket that Duchess likes to sleep on. I'll give you that and some food to get you started."
"Thanks, Ron, that's very kind. What do I owe you?"
"Not a thing. You've solved a couple of problems for me, giving Duchess a family again and taking the runt off my hands. Now where did I put that crate?"