They set off for town as soon as Jean had finished the necessary housework. Since they would be away at lunchtime, she had left some prepared sandwiches for Thomas. He had offered the use of his car, but they decided as it was such a beautiful day they would walk. If Li grew tired, she could ride on her father's shoulders.
Jack chattered constantly as they walked. He pointed out to Li everything that they passed, telling her the names of neighbors and their dogs, indicating the nearest park and the best shortcut down to the lake, showing her where there were fruit trees with windfalls that were safe to eat.
Walking beside Jean, Lucien observed, "He knows more about this neighborhood than I do. You'd think he's lived here all his life."
Jean replied, 'l think he's just pleased that he can act as a big brother. No longer the youngest. Plus he seems to really like Li."
"With what she's been through, Li can certainly use a big brother to look out for her."
The closer they got to the city center, the more people they saw. Lucien was studying them, wondering if he knew any of them from his time spent here, and he didn't notice Li had moved closer to him until she slipped her tiny hand into his much larger one.
He glanced down at her, seeing she seemed quite unsettled, glancing all around somewhat anxiously. He looked to see what was upsetting her, and only then noticed a number of people staring at her, with some even pointing in her direction.
Jean seemed to notice at the same time and without a word she moved to flank Li on the other side, holding a hand to her. The little girl took it and gave her a tentative smile by way of thanks.
Lucien cursed himself for not anticipating that Li's appearance would be an issue with the small-town sensibilities that dominated Ballarat. In Singapore it mattered very little, what with Westerners and Asians living and working side by side. He supposed if he had spent more time in Shanghai and not been so singularly focused on finding his daughter there he might have felt some of what she was now experiencing.
Even Jack noticed it, and he scowled fiercely at anyone who dared to point at his 'sister'. "Why are they doing that?" he asked testily.
"Because Li doesn't look like them," Jean quietly explained.
Jack, who had lived in Borneo and the prison camp near Singapore for most of his young life saw only one real difference. "She's prettier," he said firmly.
"Yes, she is," Jean agreed.
Li smiled shyly at Jack, then at Jean, and whispered, "Thank you" just loud enough for them to hear.
"They only need to get used to her," said Jean, glancing at Lucien who wore a look of concern. "It takes a while for people to accept anyone who didn't grow up here."
"Yes, of course," Lucien said slowly, not completely convinced. The last time he'd been home before the war, he'd paid a visit to the Clasby ladies who had told him a little of the way his mother had struggled to be accepted in Ballarat.
"Just ignore them all," Jean advised. "Soon enough they'll find someone else to gossip about."
Lucien was still concerned. What had he brought his daughter into? But now was not the time to second guess his decision, not in front of the children. Perhaps he and Jean, and even his father, could discuss the situation after the children were in bed
"Well, then, we should decide what we're going to do while we're here," he said instead. "Shopping first, get it out of the way?"
Jean nodded. "The boys and I don't really need anything, since we were here last week to get all their kit for school. I thought Li and I would go to the department store so we can get everything we need in one place, while you gentlemen get whatever it is you need for fishing."
"That shouldn't take long," said Lucien. "With your permission, when we're finished I'll take the boys with me to the Colonists' Club to say hello to an old friend. No drinking for any of us there, but afterwards we could all go to lunch before we head home. And maybe a quick stop at the ice cream parlour?" he suggested, looking down at Jack.
"That sounds lovely," said Jean, while Jack grinned and nodded vigorously.
"Would two hours be long enough for you to get what's required?"
"I'm sure it will."
"Then we'll come back for you in two hours and settle up with the store for the purchases," said Lucien. He pointed to a sporting goods shop a few doors along on the opposite side of the street. "We'll be there or at the club if you need to find me." Just in case things became too uncomfortable for Li or for Jean, he wanted her to be able to reach him quickly.
She squeezed his arm. "We'll be fine," she insisted. "Now shoo, you lot."
Lucien looked a question at Li, wanting to be sure she was going to be all right. She nodded, so he leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "Have fun, ladies."
This was the same store where Jean had bought clothes for the boys with the help of a lovely saleslady so she sought her out once again. The woman remembered her.
"Mrs. Beazley, it's very nice to see you again. Can I help?"
"I hope so," said Jean. "This is Li, my employer's granddaughter. Doctor Thomas Blake."
"Oh, yes, everyone knows Doctor Blake. A fine man."
"Yes, he is," Jean agreed. "Li has just arrived from China, so she needs almost everything."
"It would be my pleasure to assist you. Now, Li, do you have a favourite colour?"
Li nodded and said softly, "Pink."
"Of course. Now let's see if we can find some pink dresses that you like."
Jean was relieved that the woman seemed to have no prejudices, or at least concealed them very well in the spirit of professionalism. She and Li could shop in peace. She just hoped Lucien wasn't worrying himself sick over what had occurred. She decided to talk to him about it later, when there would be no little ears to overhear.
At the sporting goods shop across the way, Lucien allowed the shopkeeper to explain to the boys about using the rods and reels correctly. In the years since he'd last been fishing, the gear had evolved, so he listened closely to everything that was said. No reason for Christopher and Jack to know that his own experience of fishing had been with much cruder tools.
He bought almost everything the man recommended, hooks and bobbers and a creel. He drew the line at live bait, though, thinking the boys might actually enjoy digging for earthworms. After settling the bill, he asked the shopkeeper to package it all up and hold it for them to retrieve in a couple of hours.
As they left the store, Jack said, "Do you think Li would like to come fishing with us? Maybe we should get a rod for her."
"Your mother thought she and Li could do more feminine things while we fish," said Lucien, "but if Li decides she would rather come fishing, she can use my rod."
"Okay," said Jack, satisfied. "Where to next?"
"Now we're going to visit an old friend of mine at what's called a 'gentlemen's club'," Lucien explained.
"Are we gentlemen?" asked Jack.
"Only in the very loosest sense of the word." Lucien quipped before he looked down at the boys, thinking that he should be setting a good example for them. "But we should always strive to be, like the way you pulled out Li's chair for her. That was being a gentleman."
"So being nice to girls is being a gentleman?" asked Christopher.
"Treating everyone with respect is something a gentleman does," said Lucien. He paused in his explanation as a slender man in a police uniform approached him. "Speaking of gentlemen, Matthew Lawson, as I live and breathe. How are you, my old friend?"
Lawson shook the hand that was offered to him. "Blake. You're looking good, considering everything. When did you get back?"
"Yesterday, as a matter of fact. You?"
"Been back for a while. It ended in North Africa several months ago."
"And right back in uniform. It looks good on you."
Lawson brushed a speck of lint from one of his sleeves. "Thank you. What about you? Getting back into medicine, are you?"
"Most likely. I have to check on what I need to be qualified to practice here."
"You may want to check with the City Free Library on Sturt Street. They should be able to point you in the right direction."
"Thank you, Matthew, I'll do that. You should come by for a drink some evening so we can catch up."
"You're staying with your father?"
"Yes, and Mrs. Jean Beazley. These are her boys, Christopher and Jack."
"I've met Mrs. Beazley. She seems like a fine woman."
"An absolute marvel," Lucien agreed. "Good to see you."
"Before you go, I wanted to ask about an incident that was reported. People said there was a Japanese girl here with someone that was described as looking an awful lot like you."
Lucien was instantly seething. "First of all, she's half-Chinese and half-Australian, not Japanese in the least. And if she had been Japanese, is that a crime now?"
"Simmer down, Blake," said Lawson, glancing down at the boys who seemed equally upset.
"Li isn't a Jap, she's my sister!" Jack insisted, while Christopher stood behind him, nodding emphatically.
"Your daughter?" asked Lawson.
"Yes," said Lucien, his eyes shining with his agitation, "my daughter."
"I thought that might be the case. But with the war and all, people are still on edge about the Japanese, as you'd expect. I'll make sure it gets around that she isn't Japanese and she has every right to be here."
Lucien was ready to protest further, but he realized that Matthew was only doing his job, investigating a complaint. He heaved a deep sigh and said only, "Thank you, Matthew. The offer of a drink still stands."
"I'll take you up on that," said Matthew before he walked away.
Still angry that someone called the police because his daughter had the temerity to walk down the street, Lucien nevertheless put his feelings aside for the time being. He wanted to give Jean and the children a pleasant day.
"Well, now," he said to the boys, "let's go see what gentlemen look like, shall we?"
He led the way up the stairs to the club where his father had been a member for Lucien's entire lifetime. As he reached the top step, there was Cec Drury looking a little older than he remembered but essentially the same.
"A great pleasure to see you, sir," Cec said with a big smile.
Lucien extended a hand to shake with him. "Wonderful to see you, Cec. You look fit."
"Yes, sir, as do you. May I offer my condolences on the loss of your wife. Your father mentioned it."
"He told me you often asked after me. Thank you." He turned to indicate the boys. "These two fine young men are the sons of a great friend of mine. Cec, may I introduce Christopher and Jack Beazley. Gentlemen, this is Mister Drury, whom I've known since I was your age."
"How do you do," said Christopher, just as his mother had taught him.
Jack grinned. "Hello, sir."
"A pleasure, sirs," said Cec, which made Jack's grin grow even wider. "What can I get for you?"
"Thank you, Cec, but we just stopped in to say hello. We're meeting Mrs. Beazley and my daughter in just a few minutes. But while I'm here I thought I'd submit an application for membership. That way we gentlemen can come in whenever we want, right, men?" he said to the boys.
"No need, sir. Mister Patrick Tyneman has already arranged for your membership," said Cec.
"Really?" Lucien was surprised. He had treated Patrick, Susan and Edward in the camps, but Patrick had not been particularly friendly or effusive in his thanks. Maybe he felt a sense of camaraderie over their shared internment. In any case, Lucien supposed he'd better make it a point to thank the man.
"Then we'll be back soon, won't we, gentlemen?"
Cec leaned in to speak quietly. "And if you'd like to bring your daughter or Mrs. Beazley for dinner, I'd be happy to arrange a private dining room for you."
"Thank you, that's very kind of you. Isn't it about time, though, that the board voted to allow women to be guests, if not members?"
"Well, sir, as you know, it isn't my place to decide those things. Maybe you can begin a campaign for that, now that you're a full member."
"Maybe I will. Thank you, Cec. Absolutely lovely to see."
"And you, sir. Sirs."
"Very nice meeting you," Christopher said politely.
"Bye, Mister Drury," said Jack.
As they went down the stairs, Lucien thought that he might bring Jean here on one of the dates they'd agreed they should have. Just the thought made him smile.
They walked down the street toward the department store to meet up with Jean and Li. He had nearly forgotten about the earlier troubles, but when they entered the store where Jean and Li were waiting, he saw tears in his daughter's eyes and Jean was fuming. He hurried to them and swept Li up into his arms.
"What happened?" he asked Jean.
She shook her head. "An ignorant person said something rude. I put her in her place, but I'm afraid it upset Li."
"Are you all right, sweetheart?" he asked Li softly.
"Yes, Daddy," she said barely above a whisper.
"We can go back to the house if you want to," he offered.
She looked at the others. "No, I'm all right," she insisted softly.
He didn't want her to feel that running away was an appropriate solution to problems, but he was afraid that more abuse from the people of this town right now might colour her impressions of Ballarat permanently.
"You're very brave, aren't you?" he said with an encouraging smile for her.
"Very brave," Jean echoed. "And just remember that we're all here with you."
"I won't let them be mean to you any more," Jack insisted. "If they do, I'll... I'll..."
"We'll all tell them they should be ashamed of themselves," said Jean firmly, thinking that the last thing Li needed was any kind of violent confrontation. She glanced sideways at Lucien, not sure how he would react if someone said something directly to Li.
"Yes," he said, touching Jean's arm. "Absolutely right. And so they should be ashamed. Now, let me just settle up with the store and we can go have some lunch."
