She Loved Daisies
Chapter 1
Phryne Fisher Robinson stretches sleepily feeling the heavy weight and warmth of Jack's body wrapped around her. She snuggles into Jack and tries to slip back into sleep her mind drifting. It is time to go to the cemetery. Thankfully Aunt Prudence successfully moved Janey's remains to the family plot, and Janey has a lovely resting place there. Phryne goes to the cemetery on Janey's birthday and after she learned that it was actually she who should have been targeted Phryne goes on her own birthday or very close to it; Janey's death gave her life. Sometimes she goes at other times of the year, but as thoughts and memories of Janey are never far away Phryne doesn't feel a need to visit the grave more frequently.
She thinks of Murdoch Foyle, a slight frown marring her forehead. Knowing that Janey wasn't in pain is a decided benefit of having been in the madman's hands Phryne acknowledges, her frown lifting. As a result a number of Phryne's nightmares about Janey's death ceased after he revealed that information before he was rearrested during the King Memses case. Today Jack will go with her to the cemetery; the first time since the wedding. How Phryne wishes Janey could know her brother-in-law. She sighs softly shifting even closer to Jack. Phryne knows that Janey and Jack would be fast friends. She smiles softly as Jack tightens his hold on her in his sleep finally allowing sleep to reclaim her.
After rising a bit later than planned, because Jack knows Phryne needs the rest and to feel his strength and he is certainly willing to accommodate her wishes; in any case he wants to marvel at her pregnant body. His fascination with the changes he observes is boundless. Today especially so because for the first time he can definitely feel a little foot, fist, elbow or knee pushing against his hands as they rest on Phryne's belly. Sometimes he spends time talking to the baby and feeling how the baby responds to his voice by what he can feel through Phryne's skin. Previously he felt just the slightest of movements, ripples almost like a breeze gently ruffling the waters of the Yarra.
Phryne is so incredibly beautiful to him always, but even more so with his child growing inside her, possibly children he reminds himself in wonder. Dr. Mac just told Phryne that she may be carrying twins or even triplets. His hands are no longer able to completely cover the entire swell that exists where once her alabaster stomach was flat, and he perceives alterations in her body almost daily now. What a change from the beginning when there were just the tiniest of changes noticeable only because he has thoroughly investigated her body. He smirks slightly as he thinks about the night this baby was created. It was quite a passionate night and filled with a bit, ok more than a bit, of angst as well when they realized they might have created a child due to Phryne forgetting her diaphragm.
It is hard to imagine that they have been married for 5 months now. He grins lopsidedly rubbing her stomach lovingly and pushing slightly against the baby who answers with a push of its own. His voice rumbling Jack says, "I guess we need to get moving Mrs. Robinson. Just let me talk to the baby for a moment." Phryne rolls her eyes as he extricates himself from around her and moves his head down to talk to her stomach, secretly pleased that he is so interested in the pregnancy, "Jack, really, what will people think if they see you talking to my stomach?" she asks suppressing her laughter.
"I don't really care what people think," is Jack's reply refusing to rise to the bait focusing instead on the movements of their child. "Hello little one," his deep voice is gentle; his fingers soft yet firm on her skin, his mouth mere millimeters away. "How are you today? Your Mummy and I are going to visit your Aunt Janey today. I love you already and I can hardly wait to finally meet you," at the sound of Jack's voice the baby pushes harder and kicks against his hands, Phryne's skin moving with the rhythm of the baby.
"Jack," Phryne says in mock severity, "you are incorrigible. I am going to have to limit your discussion time with the baby if I'm going to be kicked incessantly as a result."
Smiling Jack kisses her stomach and pressing kisses all along her body he slowly moves up to kiss her mouth, his lips warm and sensuous against hers. "I love you Phryne," he whispers between kisses.
"I love you more," she says against his lips. They kiss a few more minutes passion rising between them as it almost always does, but they know they need to get ready to go see Janey, so Jack slows his kisses and finally rests his head against hers breathing heavily, his voice gruff with need, "Later Mrs. Robinson, I intend to follow this line of interrogation until you tell me what I want to hear."
Her breath hitching in her throat Phryne curls her fingers into the hair swirling across his chest before she answers her voice dripping with anticipation, "Oh, Inspector I do look forward to your attempts to break me under heavy interrogation." Smiling suggestively at him Phryne tosses her head sending her hair flying and she scrambles from the bed as Jack tries to catch her. Laughing he pulls her to him one last time and after a final kiss full of promise they prepare for the day ahead.
Today, September 21, is Janey's birthday. Phryne is taking a bouquet of Daisies to place on her grave. Daisies were Janey's favorite flower as a little girl and thus those are what Phryne wants to take with her. They also have a picnic lunch prepared for the trip. Mr. Butler has filled the basket with a number of tempting treats knowing this could be a long emotional day for the Phryne.
When they arrive at Aunt P's house, they take a few extra minutes to spend time with Arthur and sending the picnic basket ahead with one of the household staff. Finally they head for the stables. "Phryne, I really wish you would take the car," Jack's voice is concerned though not insistent as they approach the stables.
"Jack, you know that Mac says it is perfectly ok for me to ride at this time. Besides, it won't be long before I will be too big to do anything at all," her voice trails off and a tear glimmers in her eye, "I am practically the size of a whale now."
"A gloriously beautiful whale," Jack says with a slight chuckle coming up behind her pulling her against him and kissing her neck, "You have no idea how alluring you are. All these delicious new curves," he growls his hands brushing the swell of her heavier breasts and skimming down her sides to rest on her hips before tenderly holding her stomach. "I find it difficult to keep my hands off of you," he murmurs nuzzling her neck pulling her closer letting her feel just how much he desires her.
Phryne turns to him winding her arms around his neck, burying her fingers into his hair and kissing him with abandon. "Thank you Jack, I needed that reminder," she says softly her blue eyes capturing his. Her look is soft, slightly uncertain with tears glimmering suspiciously in their depths, but her smile is genuine as she thinks that her noble Jack has been true to the words he spoke to her on their wedding night. He has walked every step of the way with her thus far. From her initial shock and dismay, to the morning sickness, to her fears of being a good mother, to her continual hunger for more than food, to keeping his word about her sleuthing with him Jack has patiently, steadfastly been her rock. He reads all the information they can find about the development of the baby and childbirth. She can imagine no man being a more involved father to be than Jack Robinson. She softly presses her lips against his and rests her head against his chest listening to the steady thump of his heart beating as she regains control of her emotions.
"Happy to be of service," Jack quips as the groom brings out their horses. The horses are beautiful their glossy coats gleaming in the sun and Jack can't help but think this is a fitting way to get to the cemetery especially as he observes Phryne's obvious delight at the prospect of riding.
Jack gives Phryne a boost up; she doesn't seem to have lost a bit of her nimble abilities he notes with a very slight sigh of relief. He mounts his horse and they head across the grounds toward the cemetery. The grounds in September are beautiful, but Phryne is itching to gallop, to feel the wind in her face and to feel free before Mac and Jack confine her to a life of lying about with nothing to do but contemplate how fat she is. These thoughts spur Phryne to kick her horse's flanks and take off at a gallop leaving Jack momentarily stunned. "Come on Jack," her voice full of mischief floats back to him, "catch me if you can."
Jack clamps down on his tongue as he gives his mount its head and the horse moves into a gallop in order to follow its stable mate. "I am going to kill her!" he says to his horse as he leans low across its glossy neck urging it to run even faster. "I know Mac says she can ride and gallop and do, well, pretty much anything except jumping. But do the two of them concern themselves with how I might feel about her riding; of course not!" Jack sighs heavily grateful he is able to vent these feelings before he catches up with Phryne. He really is trying not to smother her and so far he has managed to keep a tight rein on his emotions when it comes to the more dangerous activities Phryne insists on participating in. Jack hears her laughter floating back to him, and his frustration vanishes. A grin of delight at the sound steals across his features. Grateful his horse will not reveal his secrets Jack shares a few more. He tells the horse of his awe at becoming a father, how he still can't believe Phryne chose him over her freedom, of his fear that she might not want the baby once it is born, that he loves her to distraction, his concern that something might happen to Phryne. Jack shares all of his deepest feelings and concerns with the horse whose ears flick back at the sound of his deep voice and whose soft nicker seems to say your secrets are safe with me.
Jack finally catches up with Phryne and she slows her horse to a more sedate canter and then a walk. "Nice of you to join me Inspector," she says saucily. Jack looks at her and sees that her cheeks are pink from the exertion and her blue eyes are sparkling, a total look of abandonment and joy in them. "As you know Mrs. Robinson, I try to keep in step," is his only response.
Phryne grins at this her heart going out to him. He is trying so hard to allow her to be free. She knows it can't be easy. He is by nature a more cautious soul than she and in the best of times will be much more careful, so she knows he is sacrificing for her and she is truly moved by his care and love for her. "Thank you, Jack. Those words are so lovely to hear," she says her voice cracking slightly with emotion.
They are fast approaching the cemetery. As they come upon the family plot, the beauty of the location makes an indelible impression. There is grass and large trees provide a canopy of shade. Benches set at various locations and there are flowers all around. The plot is surrounded by a black wrought iron fence. Not visible to the eye, but bringing a soft musical quality to the setting is the sound of water running in a stream. Jack's observational skills take all of this in. It is easy to tell which grave is Janey's. It is the newest of course. The Macclesfield Pink Marble headstone shimmers in the sunlight.
They pull up the horses. Jack vaults down and ties his horse to the fence moving quickly to help Phryne dismount. She slides gracefully off her horse and into his waiting arms. He sets her gently on her feet steadying her with his strong arms. "Are you ok?" he asks noting that her look is more serious now.
She smiles softly, "Jack, Janey would have loved this spot. She loved coming to Aunt P's and running around the estate with Guy and Arthur."
"Tell me," he says softly. He wonders if she will. Phryne really hasn't talked of Janey instead keeping her memories private for the most part. Jack respecting her need for sharing when she is ready has not pressed for details. He has simply been there for Phryne when she gets that faraway look and slips into the past, holding her as she cries, anchoring her to him and the present, soothing her as one would soothe a child, whispering his love until she returns to him. Phryne always smiles gratefully and thanks him for being there with her, but she doesn't share. The sadness in her eyes at these times causes painful contractions in his heart, and he has very dark thoughts of Murdoch Foyle his fists clenching with the desire to beat the man to a pulp for causing Phryne pain.
Phryne doesn't respond immediately. She ties her horse and enters the gate moving toward a bench where the picnic basket and a blanket are waiting. She peeks in the basket making appreciative noises. The exercise has sharpened her voracious appetite, but she takes the Daisies from the top of the basket and walks over to Janey's grave laying them down at the base of the pink headstone. "Hello Janey," she says kneeling beside the tombstone, "I wish you were here to know Jack and to meet your niece or nephew. There may be more than one if you can believe it," she places protective hands on her belly, "Dr. Mac thinks so anyway. Her voice cracking with emotion Phryne chokes out, "I miss you sissy. I think I may tell Jack your story, our story. Perhaps it's time he knows. I love him so Janey. He is everything I need but never understood I wanted. It took nearly losing him for me to realize. You would think having lost you I would not be so foolish as to push him away, but I did," shuddering, thanking God that He spared Jack and she had come to her senses she continues in a whisper tears trickling down her cheeks, "Janey, I'm so scared, that I might lose this baby like I lost you, but I am going to try to be a good mother. I'm sorry I lost you sissy."
Hearing Jack come up beside her she falls silent dashing the tears from her face. "Phryne, let's eat lunch, I'm starving." Jack says reaching his hands out to pull her up from the ground.
Nodding her agreement, she says, "So am I Jack, so am I." They walk arm in arm back to the bench. "Jack, let's get the horses taken care of first," Phryne says looking at the horses tied to the wrought iron fence.
"Excellent idea," he replies moving to tend to the horses, "I'll do it. Why don't you spread out the blanket?" After Jack waters the horses and puts them on longer leads so they can graze, he grabs the picnic basket and brings it to the blanket Phryne spread out at the foot of Janey's headstone the cheerful floral pattern of the blanket contrasting nicely with the pink stone. He sets the basket on the blanket and flopping down beside Phryne they unpack the basket to see all of the delectable treats Mr. Butler prepared for their day the two of them acting like children in a candy shop trying to decide what to eat first.