Chapter 6

Jean sat up quickly as Lionel stood up. He looked at her and saw the worry in her eyes.

"Jean, it'll be fine. You stay where you are. I'll get the door."

Lionel went out into the hall and opened the door to see Penny and Stephen smiling at him.

"Penny, Stephen." He half smiled.

"Well are you going to invite us in or leave us out here looking like sales people."

"Sorry Penny, do come in. Hello Stephen."

"Hello old chap, how are you."

"Oh I'm doing fine, go on through."

Lionel helped Penny to remove her coat and she stepped back.

"Now Lionel, how's poor Jean doing."

"She's doing very well Penny, go on through."

Lionel's eyes went to the ceiling as he followed Penny and Stephen through. Jean looked up from her position on the sofa and went to stand. Stephen noticed her wince in pain and went to help her stand.

"Oh thank you Stephen."

"Quite alright. Have you been in the wars." He asked, kissing her on the cheek.

"I twisted my ankle yesterday."

"You should have called. We could have come another day."

"Oh well I…"

"Stephen, don't be foolish, Jean wouldn't think of putting us off. Now Jean let me look at you." Penny spoke up.

Stephen sat down on the chair opposite and Penny came over and gave Jean a kiss on the cheek also before looking her over with her detective eyes.

"Oh Jean, you do look rather drawn."

"Penny I'm fine, really."

"Poor Jean. Shall we sit down."

Jean sat back down with Lionel's help and felt him rubbing circles on the small of her back, calming her down as he could see she was getting anxious already.

"Now Jean, how on earth did you manage this." Penny asked, pointing to Jean's ankle.

"I fell over."

"Fell over, well that was a bit foolish to do Jean."

"If you must know I fell whilst trying to get the place ready for you coming."

"Oh, I see. Well still of you Jean."

"Penny I…"

"Hello Aunt Penny." Judy said, walking in with Sandy and Alister.

"Hello you two, don't you both look pretty."

"Thank you Uncle Stephen."

"Don't they look pretty Pen."

"STEPHEN." Penny warned.

"It's very nice of you to say Stephen." Sandy said.

"Well can I get anyone a drink. Steve, Pen drink." Alister asked, trying to cut the tension.

"Gin and tonic please." Penny said.

"Scotch for me, please." Stephen added.

"Drinks are on the way. Li, lovely lady, same again."

"Oh please Alister." Jean smiled.

"Should you be drinking." Penny asked.

"What, why shouldn't I."

"Well you've hurt your ankle."

"Penny I'm on any medication or anything. It's just a sprain for god sake."

"Well excuse me for showing concern."

"Gin and Tonic Penny." Alister said, passing her drink.

He poured Stephen's and handed it to him and went on to make everyone elses. Judy glanced at her Mother and could see she was getting upset. How could one woman make a strong woman crumble in minutes.

"So Stephen, how's life as a Dentist." Lionel asked.

"Well in all honesty, I'd be quite happy to never have to look at anyones teeth ever again. They lose their appeal after a while."

"Stephen, I thought we weren't discussing this now."

"Discussing what Penny." Jean asked.

"I'm thinking of retiring."

"You're retiring, Stephen's retiring." Jean said.

"I did hear him." Lionel smiled.

"Man's a fool."

"Penny, wouldn't you like to spend more time with him doing things."

"Doing things." She asked, looking oddly at Jean.

"Yes, well I mean things like trips away together, romantic evenings. Sharing one another's interests.

"Stephen's only interests are teeth and golf, and I have no interest in either. What do you and Lionel do."

"Sorry."

"Well you're retired…"

"Semi."

"Whatever."

"Well we go for walks, we talk. We have evenings out, we just like to spend time with one another."

"Well, we'll see. You and David never did those things."

"Yes I know that."

"Why."

"We were busy working and we had Judy to look after."

"Didn't you make time."

"When you have a small child it's hard to find time."

"Do you regret not spending more time with him."

"Ofcourse I do, look Penny, we're not talking about David and I, we're talking about you and Stephen."

"I'm sure we could think of something Pen."

Well it's not for definite yet anyway. So Judy how are you and Alister here, getting on."

"We've fine Aunt Penny."

"We're taking in a film later, if you'd care to join us." Alister beamed.

"No I don't like going to the cinema in the afternoons." Stephen said.

"How are you and that young traffic warden Sandy."

"He's a Police Officer and his name is Harry and we're fine thank you. I'm meeting him for coffee later on before he goes on night duty."

"I see and poor Jean, aside from spraining your ankle what have you been up to."

"Well as a matter of fact I have a part-time job."

"Doing what?"

"I work in the Help The Aged shop in the high street."

"That must be ghastly."

"Actually it can be very rewarding."

"Working with the public, I could never do it."

"I don't know what you're so worried about Pen, you've never done a days work in your life."

The entire room went quiet and Jean sat with her lips pressed tight trying very hard not to laugh. Stephen was a good man but he did have a habit of putting his foot in it, rather a lot of the time. Judy and Sandy had gone back through to see how lunch was going as the others chatted.

"She's never gives up does she." Sandy said.

"She always has to get at Mum and she always brings up Dad, which I know upsets Mum, although she'd never say. I do love Aunt Penny but she's so annoying."

"At least they're only staying for lunch."

"Thank god." Sandy laughed.

"Right everyone, lunch is served. Now we can talk about anything you like but I do not want to hear the words "poor Jean" from you lips Aunt Penny, got it."

"I don't know what you mean."

Penny, Stephen and Alister went through and Lionel helped Jean to stand up.

"It'll be over soon, then we can have the evening to ourselves." Lionel said, kissing her.

"I know. I just when she refers to David in front of you."

"It's alright."

"You're a good chap Lionel. I don't know what I'd do without you."

To Be Continued…