Lucien pushed the bedroom door open and smiled to see Ted and Julia still fast asleep. Ted had one hand flung onto the pillow and the other thrown across the covers. Jean hadn't got round to cutting his hair and the golden curls framed his face, Lucien thought he looked almost angelic, which worried him, angelic looking children often had 'interesting' character traits behind that look. Julia was in a similar state so he reckoned he and Jean could have their morning tea, as usual.
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"Lucien," Jean smiled as he came in with the tray, "good morning," she sat up and pushed her hair off her forehead. "Ooh, tea, lovely."
"Morning, beautiful," he sat on the edge of the bed, "the children are still asleep."
"Probably worn out, it was a big day for them, yesterday," she took the cup and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"... and us," he sat back on his side of the bed and sipped his tea. "Are you sure it won't be too much?"
She turned and stared at him.
"Sorry," he grinned, "don't know what I was thinking."
"We all have to learn, Lucien," she sighed, "it won't be easy, life never is, but I won't give up on Ted and Julia. Some things happen for a reason and even though I don't know why they were sent to us I do know we are the best people to care for them."
"Last night, Jean," he inhaled deeply, "I told you my fears and you told me everything will be alright. Ted is the same age Li was when I lost contact with her. I missed her growing into the young woman she is now and I suppose that's why I am, not worried, but..."
"... concerned? Every day with my boys was a new day, with new challenges, not just when they were small but as they grew. I know I didn't get it right all of the time, but for Ted, and Julia, all we need to do is honour the promises we made yesterday, no hitting, just keeping them safe." She put her cup down and took his hands, "this is as new to us as it is to them. They have never had a loving home, a drunken father who beats his wife and children is all they know, Ted has witnessed things a child should not see. I love you, Lucien, let's show him what that means."
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Jean came out of the bathroom to find Lucien sitting on the edge of the bed, obviously deep in thought. She was worried she had thrown him into a world he knew nothing about and was, to all intents and purposes, drowning.
"Lucien?" she crossed the room to stand in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders, "thinking, again?"
"Just wondering what they should call us," he smiled, "I mean Dr and Mrs Blake is a bit too formal, don't you think? Jean and Lucien too informal, perhaps?"
"How about Aunty Jean and Uncle Lucien," she suggested, "of course I don't think Matthew will approve of being Uncle Matthew, but he can sort that out himself." She moved away and finished dressing while he mulled that over. Actually he quite liked the idea of Matthew having the same title, even more 'Aunty Alice'. A broad grin spread over his face.
"What are you grinning about?" Jean could see his expression in the mirror.
"If Matthew is 'Uncle Matthew' then Alice..." he smirked.
"Goodness, Lucien, do you have a death wish!" but she grinned as well, it would be interesting to see the pathologist's reaction to that!
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While Lucien started the breakfast, Jean woke the children and got them washed and dressed, telling Ted she would definitely cut his hair afterwards.
"Can you do it like Dr Blake's?" he asked, wincing as she struggled with a particularly stubborn knot.
"Sorry, Ted," she stroked the sore part, "yes, if you like, and you can call him 'Uncle Lucien', if you'd like to; as you're living here."
Ted turned round wide eyed, "Really?"
"Really, and you can call me 'Aunty Jean', if you want," she added, "it seems a bit stuffy to keep calling us Dr and Mrs Blake."
"Wow," he breathed, he'd thought yesterday had been a dream but it seemed not.
Jean smiled, his request to have his hair styled like Lucien's confirmed to her, that Lucien had nothing to worry about, Ted hero worshipped him.
"There is someone else who lives here, too," she thought she'd better warn him about a senior police officer, "Superintendant Lawson, a police officer."
"Oh, why?"
"Well, he needed a place to stay and he's a friend, so we said he could stay here," Jean picked up Julia and started to take her to the bathroom, "now, if you go to the kitchen, Uncle Lucien is making breakfast. I'm going to get Julia washed and dressed."
"Ok," Ted smiled, "Aunty Jean," he thought he'd test it, just in case. No adverse reaction so he headed out to test the 'Uncle Lucien' bit.
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Lucien was putting a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Matthew when Ted walked through. He looked across the table and smiled,
"Good morning, Ted," he greeted him, "breakfast?"
"Yes please... Uncle Lucien," he smiled shyly back, "good morning," he added thinking this was the correct response.
"This is Superintendant Lawson, Ted," Lucien indicated the man sitting at the table. "did Aunty Jean tell you he lives here too?"
"Yes, she did..." he looked at the man, he looked stern but Aunty Jean said he was s friend so he couldn't be that bad, perhaps..."good morning, sir."
"Good morning, Ted," Matthew swallowed a mouthful of egg, 'nice to meet you. Best call me Uncle Matthew, it seems to be the order of the house, 'sir' is a bit formal."
"Ok, Uncle Matthew," Ted climbed onto his chair as Lucien put bacon and egg in front of him and poured him a glass of milk. "Thank you."
"You're most welcome, Ted," Lucien nodded and took his own plate, sitting at his usual spot at the head of the table.
Lucien had asked Matthew not to discuss Ted's father in front of him, he already had a coloured view of him, no need to blacken his name even further.
"Well, he'll be up on assault charges, for what he did to Cross," Matthew had pointed out, "if Bryan comes here in the state he was in, he's bound to notice."
"Just let's leave it until he needs to know. Jean and I will talk to him about it."
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Jean came into the kitchen with Julia on her hip. She had dressed her in a green pinafore dress over a white blouse, matching knickers and white socks. She must have rummaged in her sewing box because a matching green ribbon tied the curls at the side of her face, Lucien and Ted grinned, Matthew's mouth dropped open, she reminded him of Rose as a little one.
"Good morning, Matthew," Jean smiled, "something wrong?"
"Er, no, she reminds me of someone," he swallowed.
"Rose?"
"Yeah, just like Rose," he grinned, "you've got your hands full there."
"Who's Rose?" Ted asked, as far as he knew there was no Rose in the house.
"Rose is my niece, Ted," he told the boy, "her hair is almost the same colour as Julia's."
"Does she live here?"
"No, mate, she's in Melbourne."
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Breakfast pots cleared away, Matthew and Lucien out to the station, Jean sat Ted in the kitchen with a towel round his shoulders and started to cut his hair. Julia crawled around the floor, picking up Ted's discarded curls, turning them round in her little hands then, after deciding they weren't edible, dropped them back on the floor. Unseen by either of the children, Jean did what she had done when she had cut the first curls off Jack and Christopher, placed one on the side, ready to be tied with a piece of cotton and stored somewhere safe. A silly, sentimental act, but to Jean something to remember her first fostering by when she was in her twilight years. She wasn't sure if she would ever do the same with Julia's curls, they needed to grow first and she thought she would probably tie them up with ribbons.
After sweeping the floor, with Ted's help; she wondered if he had been expected to do chores at home; she told them both they were going into town to find a high chair, shoes for them both and some things to keep them occupied when she was busy in the surgery or around the house. Mentally she thought of perhaps some wooden blocks, puzzles, colouring books and story books appropriate to Ted's age.
Ted had to wear the broken down boots he had on when they found him, but Jean told him that he could wear the pair she bought him, as soon as she had paid for them.
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Ted held onto the stroller, he'd rarely been in town, and certainly never into the shops Jean took him into.
The shoe shop wasn't too busy. The assistant measured Ted's feet and found a selection of footwear for him to try on. All he'd ever had before were a pair of old boots passed from a neighbour that never really fit him. To be allowed to try on shoes until he found a pair that were comfortable and suitable for school was beyond anything he could ever hope for, and when Jean told him he needed gym shoes for games as well, he thought his heart would burst. They chose a pair of black lace ups; Jean said she would show him how to tie the laces, and a pair of white gym shoes. He decided to wear the proper shoes out of the shop.
Jean chose a pair of white pram shoes for Julia, mainly, she said, to stop her taking her socks off. Once she started to walk she would bring her down for proper shoes to support her little feet.
As they left the shop they bumped into Susan and Harriet Tyneman pushing the baby in the pram. Susan, as usual looked impassively at Jean, but then raised her eyebrows at the two children she had with her.
"Good morning, Susan, Harriet," Jean greeted them pleasantly, "how are you?"
"Good morning, Jean," Susan managed to squeak out, still staring at Ted and Julia, "er... fine, and you?" She so wanted to know who's children Jean had with her.
"Very well, busy." Jean smiled then decided to put her out of her misery, 'this is Ted and Julia, they are staying with the doctor and I. Say good morning to Mrs Tyneman, Ted, dear."
"Good morning, Mrs Tyneman," Ted jutted his chin out, he thought this woman wasn't being very nice to Aunty Jean, by the tone of her voice.
"Er morning, Ted," Susan muttered.
Harriet hung back, Susan did her duty by her daughter in law only because of the baby, and the fact that said child had turned out to be a boy, to carry on the Tyneman line. They had argued about the name but on that Harriet had got her way and he was named James Edward, which was what she and Edward had chosen before his untimely death.
"Well, I'm sorry, ladies," Jean got ready to push the stroller, "I must head off, so many things to get before lunch. Enjoy your day."
Harriet watched her walk off in the direction of the Op Shop across the road,
"Wonder who's kids they really are," she mused, more to herself than her mother in law. Strangely she quite liked Jean Blake nowhere near as snooty as Susan and some of the other ladies whose company she endured at times.
"Heaven knows, and I don't care," Susan huffed, "probably being horribly philanthropic, knowing her."
Harriet shook her head, she thought she was probably just being kind and open hearted.
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Knowing they were unlikely to need a high chair for too long Jean thought she'd see if the Op Shop had one in, or a seat that would sit on a dining chair to raise the child up high enough to use the dining table.
"Hello, Mrs Beazley, no, it's Blake now, isn't it?" the shop owner smiled, "what can I do for you this fine day?"
"Hello, Mr Stanley," Jean grinned, his boys had played with her boys when they were children. "I was wondering if you would have a high chair around. The doctor and I are fostering Ted here, and his little sister, and at the moment Julia sits on my knee at mealtimes."
"Well now, how lovely for you Ted," he grinned at the boy whose eyes were wandering round the shop, "if I remember rightly Mrs Blake makes a rather good apple pie."
Ted nodded enthusiastically, "She does, mister," he grinned.
"Well, now, a high chair, eh?" he scratched his head and scanned the shop, then spotted something over in a corner. He picked his way over and while they waited Ted wandered over to a box from which was sticking out a toy wooden clock.
Out of the corner of her eyes she could see him and thought that it was probably a good place to find some toys and puzzles.
"Now, Mrs Blake," Mr Stanley brought an old wooden high chair, minus it's tray over to her. "Nothing wrong with this, still quite sturdy but no tray." He wiped it over with a rag from the pocket in his overalls.
Jean looked it over and put her hand on it, moving it to see if it had any wobble in it, but it did seem as he described it.
"It will push up to the table," she mused, "so the absence of a tray is no problem."
"Built to last, things like this," Mr Stanley stood back and let her examine the chair.
"Very much so, how much do you want for it?"
"Phew, well, er," he thought for a bit, looked up at the ceiling, out of the window, over to where Ted was still digging through the box of toys, turning a car over in his hands, eyes wide. Mr Stanley had a thought, "tell you what, five pounds and I'll throw in that box of toys for them. There's all sorts in there, cars, bricks..." Jean went to have a look. She saw wooden letters, a spinning top some puzzles, which probably had pieces missing, as well as the cars and bricks, and the clock.
"Alright," she agreed, "ok with you Ted?" she addressed the boy.
"These as well, Aunty Jean?" his mouth dropped open as he realised what she was doing, "really?"
"You must share with Julia, but yes, those as well," she smiled.
Ted just whistled.
Mr Stanley said he would drive up later in the day with the chair and the box, but Ted was allowed to take two cars with him.
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Jean's final bit of shopping was some magazines for the waiting room and a couple of colouring books and some pencils and crayons for Ted.
"Best head home, Ted," she tucked everything under the stroller seat, "lunch, then Uncle Lucien has surgery this afternoon."
"Ok," he, again, held the handle of the stroller, "Julia's asleep."
"Yes, she'll wake up for lunch though," Jean nodded, "oh look, there's Sergeant Hobart."
"Another copper?" Ted wondered how many policemen she knew.
"Yes, he works with Uncle Matthew," she drew level with the officer, "and, if ever you need someone to help you, you come here;...hello Sergeant," she smiled at Bill, "this is Ted, and Julia."
"Ah, the kids you've taken in, Mrs Blake," Bill grinned, "lucky you, Ted."
Ted looked up, it didn't matter how Bill smiled, he still looked fierce. He nodded.
"Sergeant Hobart will always help you, Ted, as will any of the other police officers here," Jean reassured him, "so if you're lost, or scared and Uncle Lucien and I aren't around, come here and they will help you."
"Ok," well so far she hadn't let him down so, for now, he'd believe her.
Jean could see he wasn't convinced, perhaps it would have been better if they'd bumped into Danny, but, though Bill maybe a little handy with his fists, she knew she could rely on him and so could the children.
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Jean was just putting a sandwich out for Ted, a bowl of chopped, cooked vegetables for Julia and some slices of fruit for both of them, when Lucien arrived back from the station. He looked somewhat grim, but managed a smile for the children and a kiss for Jean.
"I'll get you a sandwich, darling," she smiled, starting to stand.
"See to Julia first," he patted her shoulder and poured himself some tea. He sat next to Ted and smiled as he realised the boy had his hair cut like his. He looked at Jean and nodded slightly in Ted's direction. She smiled back and mouthed 'hero worship', then continued spooning the vegetables into Julia's apparently, permanently open mouth. He sat back, musing on this, that he thought he had done nothing for the boy, but obviously Ted thought different. Maybe Jean was right, after all, on child rearing he would have to bow to her better judgement. "So, Ted, my lad," he stretched, "what has Aunty Jean been up to this morning?"
"Well," Ted swallowed a bite of sandwich, "she took us to the Op Shop and we found a chair for Julia and a box of toys for us. 'n we saw Sergeant Hobart and Mrs Tyne... thingy," Jean smirked at this, "she wasn't very nice; and we got shoes, two pairs," his eyebrows shot up, "Uncle Lucien, do they really play games at school?"
"They do, son, footie, cricket, running and such like," Lucien smiled, recovering his composure at the boy's attempt to remember Susan's name, "so where are these toys?"
"Mr Stanley is bringing them later," Jean supplied, "but Ted has a couple of cars for now."
"... and the colouring things, Aunty Jean, don't forget those." Ted grinned.
"Yes, Ted," she nodded, "some colouring books, pencils and crayons, I thought Ted might like them while surgery is on."
"Well, sounds like you've had a busy morning," he ruffled Ted's hair and took Julia while Jean prepared his sandwich. He could have done it himself, but Jean liked to see him interact with the boy and be a little more 'hands on' with Julia.
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Mr Stanley arrived while Jean was changing Julia so Lucien showed him where the high chair needed to go and then, after tipping and thanking the man, he helped Ted sort through the box of toys.
"Well, young man," he smiled, lining up the last of the dozen or so toy cars, "looks like Aunty Jean has done you proud."
"Oh she has," Ted's eyes were bright with tears, Lucien put his arms round him and hugged him, "nobody's ever been this nice to us, Uncle Lucien," he sniffed, "dad said we was a pain and Juli dunno what." He wiped his nose on his sleeve, "I'm sorry I nicked your milk, but I'm a bit glad too."
"Ted, I'm rather glad you nicked our milk too," Lucien smiled gently, "we are going to look after you, I promise, see you get a good education, a good start in life." He looked down on the boy, "I had a little girl, once. During the war, I couldn't find her, after a battle. I found her only a few years ago, a grown up. I missed her growing up, Ted, so, if I get it wrong sometimes it's only because I'm new to this, but I'll do my best to be a good father to you, even if I'm not... your father, that is." It was a lot to admit to a nearly six year old, but Lucien felt Ted was really quite a clever boy and one day would look back on the words and understand what he was trying to say.
"We'll be right, Uncle Lucien, you 'n me 'n Julia 'n Aunty Jean," Ted murmured, "I know we will."
Lucien was touched by the confidence in the youngster, "deal?"
"Deal."
Jean had watched all this from the surgery doorway and wiped away several tears. There was a bonding here, two boys who had fathers who struggled to understand or connect with their sons, Lucien and Thomas, Ted and whatever his name was, but maybe, with that behind them they knew what not to do. Lucien would give Ted the hugs his father had not given him, and Ted would give him the love he couldn't give his own father. Fostering, no, these children were theirs, come what may.
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So, why was Lucien so grim when he came in for lunch? How will Ted adapt to school? How will school adapt to Ted and what will Ballarat think about Jean and Lucien taking in two children from 'the wrong side of the tracks?'