It had been a long, frustrating afternoon at the hospital and Lucien was looking forward to being home at last. He wanted nothing more than a nice meal and to spend some time in the calming presence of the lovely Jean, who was inexplicably marrying him a mere month from now. He smiled to himself as he thought of how much he had changed – it was not that long ago that the thought of Lucien Blake being such a homebody would have been laughable. His whimsical musings were interrupted by the unexpected sound of raised voices coming from the sitting room. He quickened his pace down the hall, bracing himself for he knew not what. He was shocked to find Jean, fighting back tears, and her younger son, Jack, who looked very pleased with himself.
"If it isn't the groom now! I was just chatting with mum here about if I'm to have a little brother or sister…I mean, that's why you are marrying her, isn't it, doctor?" the young man sneered.
"Outside."
Lucien didn't raise his voice, but there was an undeniable, dangerous edge to it.
"Now," the edge was sharper.
Jean had thought she had seen all of Lucien, all of his anger and frustration and sadness and joy, but this was something altogether different. She was used to seeing his anger more inwardly directed, but now to see it so concentrated at someone -someone she loved- a shiver went down her spine. Before she had a chance to recover from the momentary shock, the men had left.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
In those few steps back down the hall and out to the drive, Lucien concentrated all his effort on not doing physical harm to Jean's son. It had been a very long time, if ever, that he had felt such incandescent rage. He had known, somewhat academically, what rumors had been circulating about he and Jean, but to be confronted with it, and in such crass a fashion from her very own son, pushed his self-control to the brink. He felt the sting of his fingernails as they dug into his palms.
"You're not my father, so spare me the lecture," Jack spat. Lucien wheeled around.
"Be grateful I'm not your father, because if I were, I would knock you into next week for speaking that way about your mother," his tone of voice making it clear that he might just do that anyway.
Jack merely took a step closer, as if he wanted Lucien to punch him.
"After everything your mother has gone through, she deserves better, especially from you."
"Why?"
"Because you're her son! Because she loves you, and worries for you, and only ever has wanted the best for you, for you to be safe and happy."
Lucien took a deep breath and held out his hand.
"Come to the wedding, please,"
"You're inviting me…to the wedding?" Jack asked, incredulous.
"It would make her happy, so yes, I would like you to come."
The younger man just shook he head slowly, eyes fixed on Lucien's outstretched arm.
"You're not fourteen anymore, Jack, so maybe you should stop acting like it."
"You don't know anything!" the young man shouted at him.
"I know that your mother loved your father very much, and that he loved her," he shrugged. "And that's all I need to know," the anger in his voice dissipating.
He continued,
"The first thing that crosses my mind every single bloody morning is why on earth did I survive and good men like your father didn't…I can't explain it, and I certainly didn't ask for it…But then the second thing that crosses my mind is how lucky I am to know your mother and be loved by her, and that I have a chance to make her happy."
Jack just stood there, staring.
"Think about the 25th, for her sake. In the meantime, you will respect your mother. And if you don't, I will gladly punch you in the throat."
Lucien turned on his heel and briskly walked down the drive, not trusting in his temper any longer.