"Aunty Jean?" Ted slid down under the sheet, "if it's Julia's birthday soon, does she have a special tea?"
"Why, yes, of course she does," Jean smoothed the bedcovers, she knew he would never stop looking out for his little sister, "though she doesn't have any friends to invite."
"Hm," Ted thought for a moment, "what about George? He's her friend as well as mine."
"Well, I suppose so, though he only comes once a week now," she tipped her head in thought, "I could ask his mother to ask him."
"Ok," he snuggled down and closed his eyes. Jean knew he would be asleep in minutes. She leant over and kissed his forehead then left, with one last look as she closed the bedroom door just enough to allow a small shaft of light in.
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"Settled?" Lucien looked up from his paper.
"Yes, he's asking about a birthday tea for Julia," she picked up her knitting and sat down.
"He'll always protect her," he folded the paper and took his whisky over to sit by her, "until she tells him not to."
"And even then, he'll look out for her," she smiled, "it's rather sweet, but heaven help her boyfriends." She laughed, softly.
"So what have you decided?"
"I'll ring Mrs Porter tomorrow and ask her if George would like to come to tea for Julia's birthday," she smiled and put her head on his shoulder.
"It seems to be working, doesn't it?" he mused, stroking her head, "having Ted and Julia."
She didn't reply, just wriggled closer to him and smiled to herself.
They sat in companionable silence, punctuated by the clicking of her knitting needles and the crackling of the fire, until Lucien decided to put some music on. He set the record on the turntable and turned to her. She was continuing to knit, and he could see it was a little cardigan for Julia, too small for Amelia. She looked up and smiled, put the knitting down and stood up, taking a step and touching his outstretched hand.
You couldn't call it dancing, really. They just swayed to the music, Lucien held her close and bent to nibble her ear and along her jawline. She pushed her hips against him and felt his growing desire. Not for the first time did she think what a good idea it had been to turn the studio into a bed sitting room for them, for the times they wanted to be alone, or were alone in the house.
The nibbles became little kisses, the kisses became deeper, more passionate as he dragged his finger tip down her spine, making her shiver. They 'danced' to the bed where he lay her down and dreamily undressed her, kissing each part he exposed. She was powerless to do anything other than lie there, moaning her need for him. She eventually mustered up the strength to start to undo his shirt buttons and push the garment off him, while he unzipped his trousers and pushed them and his shorts to the floor.
They made love slowly, tenderly, until she gasped and he spilled into her as she tightened round him, holding him with her heels.
"I love you," she hummed, "my dearest Lucien."
They shuffled under the bed clothes and held each other until sleep claimed them, Jean smiling in her slumber.
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Ted off to school; Lucien would drop him off on the way to the station; Jean set Julia to play on the bedroom floor while she vacuumed and dusted. She had a few errands to run in town later but was going to do those when she picked Ted up from school. In between times there was paperwork for the surgery to do, then she would take the baby into the garden while she did some dead heading and pruning. Julia was still very wobbly on her feet but was eager to follow her foster mother around the house, however she could. Jean always had to look behind her before she moved and wondered if it might be a good idea to put a gate on the bedroom door, for when surgery was on at least.
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She sat Julia in the high chair and gave her a cup of milk while she had some tea and went through the post. The usual bills and payments and one from Christopher. She had written to him when they had taken the children in and they were settled but hadn't heard back. She supposed it took time to get to them, and for him to get a reply back, not that he was that good at letter writing. As she read down his news, how they were settled and Amelia was loving playing with other children on the base. There was no mention of Ted and Julia so perhaps when he wrote he hadn't received her letter, but he said they were coming home, he had some leave and he wondered if they could stay with them.
"Of course, if it's not possible could you book us into the Soldier's Hill, Amelia's dying to see you."
She sat back and thought. It would mean she had a houseful, which she loved, but would Ted and Julia be alright with more strangers? Christopher and Ruby could have Charlie's old room; it had the double; Amelia could have Mattie's, they could push the bed against the wall to stop her rolling out, though, by now she should be in a proper bed.
She read further down to find out when they would be arriving and smiled, Julia would have more at her birthday tea, they were due the day before, which gave her next to no time to organise the house, talk to Lucien and the children. Christopher had told her she could send a telegram to let him know her answer.
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Lucien arrived for lunch and surgery so she put it to him that they could, or rather that she could, cope with having the family to stay.
"We have room in the house, it will be nice for Amelia to have someone to play with and for Ted and Julia to share us with her." she put a sandwich in front of him, "it will be so nice to see them, darling." She flashed him a beautiful smile and he gave in.
"As long as it won't be too much work for you, love," he took her hand, "I'll pitch in where I can but if a case comes up..."
"I'll be fine," she leant forward and kissed him, "I'll send a telegram before I pick up Ted."
"Ok, if you're sure," he was fairly sure she'd already made her mind up, anyway. He hoped Ruby wouldn't want to be waited on hand a foot.
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Jean left the post office having sent the telegram and headed to pick up Ted. He had asked if he could choose a gift for Julia, as she had given him a birthday present, he was going to ask Mrs Brown if she could help him make a card for her. With her help he was making great strides at school, absorbing knowledge like a sponge; she had remarked that he was a good student and a pleasant boy to teach. Both Jean and Lucien were very happy to hear this, Jean suggested he had the Blake genes but he just said there was a lot of nurture in there, the way she was with him, which also brought him to make a decision about telling Ted his family history.
"I want to try to explain to him," he sat one evening with his whisky, "that I am his uncle, really. I think perhaps if I tell him I didn't know I had a sister because I was away in England when she was born."
"I suppose so," Jean sipped her sherry, "as you came back when your father was dying you would not have had time to talk to him about Pat."
"Do you think I should tell him I wanted to help her?"
"I think you need him to know that you love him and Julia," she leant across and kissed him. "Then wait for his questions."
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"What would you like to get for Julia, Ted?" Jean asked as they walked past the toyshop.
"Well, Aunty Jean," he tipped his head thoughtfully, Lucien said he got that from her, "last time we looked in the window there was a dolly. You said it was a rag doll, I think she might like it."
"Funnily enough, Ted," she smiled and stopped, "I had just the same thought. Now, as she is asleep, perhaps we can go in a buy it for her?"
Ted nodded and helped, as best he could, to lift the stroller over the step. For Ted it was an Aladdin's cave and he stood looking at all the toys and games, thinking his life was too short to ever play with everything.
Jean approached the counter and spoke to the man there. He was tall and thin, but had a twinkle in his eye.
"Hello," Jean spoke quietly, not wanting to wake Julia, "the other day you had a rag doll in the window, do you still have it, or something similar?"
"Ah, yes, madam," he turned round to the boxes on the shelves behind him and opened one. "I think this is what you are looking for."
He showed her a rag doll with yellow wool hair tied in pigtails, big blue eyes and wearing a patchwork pinafore dress.
"Just the one," she turned to Ted standing patiently by the stroller and showed him the doll.
He grinned and nodded.
"Thank you and what else for a one year old?" Jean looked round, "perhaps those," a set of coloured stacking rings, one ring for each colour of the rainbow, "and..." she looked round again, "oh, yes, a pull along toy, perfect, she's just started walking."
"An excellent choice, if I may say so," the shopkeeper smiled, "the ducks wings flap as it is pulled along and it quacks, but not too loudly. Do we have a birthday coming up?"
"We do," Jean smiled, reaching for her purse. She noticed Ted fingering a little wooden racing car. She nodded over then looked back at the man. He winked and picked one from under the counter. She paid for the toys, thanked the man and they left the shop. She never had to money to treat Christopher or Jack when they were small boys, but she wasn't going to spoil Ted, or Julia. He could consider this a reward for working so hard at his studies.
"Best head home, now, Ted," she smiled as they gently bounced the stroller down the step, "reading, dinner, bath and bed."
"Ok, Aunty Jean," he held the stroller, as he always did, and they headed up the street. They passed Miss Grey, who looked Jean up and down, glared at the children and then went on her way with her nose in the air. Jean thought she better have a word with Bryan, she had a feeling the woman was planning something she wouldn't like. Ramsay had been sentenced to six months for public affray and drunkenness and Jean had been waiting for some form of visitation with regard to the children's welfare. The last time they had seen Bryan and told him of the family connection he had agreed that they had a good case for permanent placement, even adoption, though they would have to see how Pat felt about this.
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Bryan Cross was not exactly pleased to see Miss Grey had put a note on his desk asking him to put the Ramsay children on the adoption list. He knew she hadn't spoken personally to him because he was bound to argue. In fact his involvement in the case had made him stronger, more sure of what he was doing and he was no longer cowed by the woman. Every report he did on the Blake's was favourable and, he submitted it not just to her, but to the board as well. He phoned the chairman and asked if he could have a meeting.
The chairman was surprised a junior social worker would call him but admired him for his gall and agreed, and they set a time which gave him enough time to nip up to the Blake's to discuss how they wanted to move forward.
"No, really?" Jean breathed, "is she that set on us not having children, even fostered."
"I don't know," Bryan sipped the tea, "but I do know that Pat is not deemed fit to care for them, nor does she want to. Now, we can ask her if she agrees to a kinship adoption, with you."
"What if she doesn't want that," Lucien leant over the table, "what if she cares so little for them..."
"Well, it depends how we phrase it," Bryan took out the file, "from my last conversation with you over her behaviour I would think that, if I was accompanied by a police officer, Sergeant Hobart springs to mind," he grinned cheekily, "and I told her that she would not have to worry about the children anymore..."
"Absolve her of all responsibility, you mean?" Jean sighed, "perhaps. If she hasn't asked about them, at all, then maybe she'll give up easily."
"Have you got a good lawyer?"
"Yes, I have," Lucien thought of the man who had helped him limit the damage his divorce had done.
"Well, I suggest you contact him," Bryan stood up, "if you want to proceed. I'm seeing the chairman, before Miss Grey goes too far."
"Bryan," Jean stopped him, "what has she got against us? I'd never met her until she told us we were too old to adopt."
"Dunno," He smiled and shook Lucien's hand, "I'll go and try to set the ball rolling."
"Thank you, Bryan," they smiled, "but it's for the children, not us."
"Of course."
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Bryan spent a good couple of hours explaining why he thought the Blake's were the best people to look after the two children. He showed the file, told him the background, how the children now were, how Ted was doing well at school.
"Honestly, sir," he insisted, "I can't think of anyone better, and the doctor is their blood relative. Their mother is his half sister. In the absence of any other family..."
"I see," the chairman steepled his fingers, "now I have heard of Lucien Blake, well known figure in the town. Well able to provide for the children?"
"Oh yes, sir," Bryan nodded, "the first thing his wife did was to go out and get a cot, stroller and clothes for them, and not just op shop stuff either, brand new. They made sure Ted had a birthday tea and gifts, even the police superintendant who lodges there gave him a gift. They're well fed, Ted is on the infant soccer team at school and one or the other attends practice each week. The children adore them, Mrs Blake confided in me that Ted, when he gets excited, calls her 'mum' and Dr Blake, 'dad'. What more can I say?"
"Well, Cross," he mused, "I think, given what Miss Grey has said I think, for a change, I'd like to be in on the ground with this one, do a home check with you."
"Oh, right," Bryan scratched his head, "um, I did do one, when the children moved in. I even helped sort the beds out."
"Did you now?" he grinned, "well, I think we should pay them a visit, say, tomorrow afternoon?"
"I'll let them know," Bryan rose and shook his hand, he felt a little more confident now.
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Jean was surprised to get a call from Bryan telling her the chairman of the board would be paying them a visit to assess the suitability for them to adopt their half nephew and niece. She put the phone down and had a look round, the only thing they didn't have was stair gates. The children didn't need to go upstairs but now Julia was walking and exploring she was ever likely to 'explore' the stairs. Apart from that she decided she was pretty confident that there was nothing more she could do. Bryan hadn't said what time in the afternoon they would be arriving so, if she was picking Ted up from school then Lucien would have to deal with them until she got back.
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"So, when I've dropped Ted off I'll go and get them," Jean told him about the stair gates, "one for the top and one for the bottom."
"Right," he had seen them in patients homes but, like Jean he hadn't thought they would need them. "Suppose, with Amelia coming too..."
"Yes, always a good idea," she smiled, putting the dinner out and calling the children through.
They changed to subject of conversation to the visitors due the following week. Jean had said it would be a good idea to introduce the idea of her grown son and family staying with them and found a photograph of them to show Ted.
"His name is Christopher, his wife is Ruby and the little girl is Amelia," Jean pointed at each. "I don't see him often, Ted, so it's quite a treat for me."
"Ok," Ted looked at the photograph, "he looks a bit, erm, cross."
"He just doesn't smile a lot, Ted," Jean agreed, "he's just quiet."
"Amelia is a bit younger than you, Ted," Lucien told him, "and a bit older than Julia, we hope you can play together, when you're not at school."
"Doesn't she go to school?"
"Still too young, dear," Jean smoothed his hair, "but if you want to show her your books and toys I'm sure she'd like that."
She put the children to bed, read to Ted, then went to help Lucien finish the dishes.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked.
"Ted needs to see he comes first when they're here," he emptied the bowl, "I think he feels a bit..."
"...insecure? Yes I got that feeling too." She went to get the things she had bought in the toyshop. "I bought him this today," she showed the little wooden car, "he was taken with it in the shop, but didn't ask for it. I thought a reward, for doing so well at school, but, perhaps just to show I love him?"
"A lovely idea," he kissed her, "at breakfast, I think. Why did you wait?"
"Just wanted to know if you thought it a good idea, you know, as it isn't his birthday or Christmas," she sighed, "I was never able to treat the boys on a whim, like this."
"I think Ted deserves treats on a whim, darling," he wrapped his arms round her, "and yes, it is a good idea, whenever you think you should."
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Ted's eyes lit up when he saw the car in his place the next morning.
"But Aunty Jean," he wrapped his arms round her, "I've had my birthday."
"Just a treat, Ted," she brushed his hair, "for doing so well at school." She turned and started to cook his breakfast.
"Thank you...mum," he whispered, he couldn't see the warm smile spread across her face, 'oh please,' she prayed.
She put his breakfast in front of him and commanded him, softly, to eat, while she wiped the butter and toast crumbs off his messy sister. Julia really enjoyed her food and generally managed to get it all over her face and in her hair.
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Jean entered the baby supplies shop thinking that, at this rate, she'd be on first name terms with the owner. They found some wooden gates for stairs or doorways. They would need attaching to the walls with screws, everything was included.
The gates stored in the car Jean headed to the station. Lucien was not much good with drills and screwdrivers, and he was in the morgue anyway, so she decided to ask Matthew if any of his men were any good at doing such jobs around the house.
"I realise it's a cheek, Matthew," she sat opposite him with Julia on her knee, "but I'll never get anyone in time for the visit this afternoon."
Matthew smiled and looked around him. He wasn't sure if there was anyone who did such things so;
"Right you lot," he called and heads turned, "anyone here good with a drill and screwdriver?"
With Jean sitting there they knew it was something for Mrs Blake so he was sure to get an eager response.
"Er, what needs doin', boss?" Bill Hobart asked.
"Stair gates, Bill," Jean turned and flashed him a glorious smile, "we're having a visit from Family Welfare this afternoon and..."
"Got 'em?"
"Yes, they're in the car."
"Go on, Bill," Matthew nodded, "a good job, mind you."
"Need to swing by my place for my tools, Mrs Blake," he got into the car, "if you don't mind."
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"This is very good of you, Bill," Jean smiled as she turned into the drive, "Lucien..."
"Old Dr Blake wasn't much good with stuff like that, either, if I remember rightly," Bill took the gates out of the car boot, "he used to get Reg Martin, but he's long gone now."
"I remember," she unlocked the front door and placed Julia on the floor to toddle down the hall.
Jean showed Bill where she wanted the gates and went to put the kettle on, reasoning he would at least like a cuppa and maybe a slice of cake.
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"There you go, Mrs Blake," Bill sauntered into the kitchen followed by Julia who had stood watching him put the lower gate on. She had got used to his solemn, sometimes grumpy face on their walks in town or on the rare occasion Jean took her into the station to leave something for Lucien or some biscuits for the officers.
"Thanks, Bill," she smiled, "tea?"
"Er, please," he sat where she indicated and she lifted Julia into the highchair, before pouring tea and milk and pushing a piece of cake towards him. "So, gotta keep her from climbing the stairs, now?" he nodded to the child happily eating small pieces of cake. Jean usually gave her fruit for a morning snack but thought it would be unfair to give Bill cake and not her.
"Yes, and we are due a visit from Family Welfare," but she didn't tell him about the children being Lucien's relatives. She knew it would eventually get round but they had decided to keep it between them and the courts, for now, they didn't want to blacken anyone's name, least of all Thomas'.
"Hope it's not that Grey woman," Bill blew across his tea, "hard faced co...creature."
"Oh, you know her then?" Jean wondered if he had some information that would tell her why she was hell bent on stopping them having the children.
"Do I?" he snorted, "wanted to have little Andrew Cooper put in care, you know with that do over Deb and that drongo Sean McBride. It took me and the boss, and the doc, to put a stop to her little game. She was only going to put him up with the Sisters at the orphanage."
"Why would she do that?" Jean was surprised, she saw Deb Cooper around town and, although they weren't close, she could see Andrew was well cared for and growing well. "It seems so cruel."
"Yeah, well she's like that."
"Apparently it's the chairman of the board, with young Bryan Cross," she told him, "he told us she wanted him to put the children on the adoption list."
"Can't you, adopt them, that is?"
"There is a way," Jean admitted, "and we're going to try it. I don't know how it will affect Ted if he's taken from us." She blinked away tears and even Bill could see how much it meant to her, to have the children. "Officially, we're too old to be considered as adoptive parents."
Bill whistled and decided he'd drop the subject, he didn't want to get in too deep. Privately he thought any kid would be lucky to have Jean Blake for a mother. "Well," he stood up, "best get back or the boss will think you've got me doing more than putting gates up."
"Thanks again, Bill," she smiled, "shall I drive you back?"
"Nah, thanks, I'll walk," he grinned, "thanks for the cake and tea."
"Leave your tool box," she let him out of the door, "I'll have Lucien drop it off, or I will when I go to pick Ted up from school."
"Right-ho!"
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With surgery in full swing and Julia toddling round Jean looked at the clock and realised she would have to go and pick up Ted, even though Family Welfare hadn't arrived. She poked her nose into Lucien's consulting room.
"Doctor, sorry to interrupt," she smiled at the patient, "I need to go and pick up Ted, I'll take Julia." They had agreed that if this happened he would listen out for a knock at the door, but the patients weren't to know this or why.
"Right, Jean," he smiled, "drive carefully."
She smiled and would have blown him a kiss if they had been alone.
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He was still chattering on about his day when they arrived back home.
"Uncle Lucien is working, Ted," she warned as he headed to the front door, "into the kitchen and I'll get you a drink and biscuit."
"Ok," he opened the door, "then can I read to you, only I've got to an exciting part in the story?"
"That would be lovely, Ted," she smiled, closing the door, "now down to the kitchen."
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Jean had just taken Lucien a cup of tea and was heading back to the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. She supposed she was grateful they would come now, when surgery was on, the children were relaxed and happy and she was preparing the dinner. In other words, just a normal afternoon chez Blake.
"Bryan," she smiled, "please, do come in."
"Thank you, Mrs Blake," he turned to his companion, a small rotund man with a cheerful face and ruddy cheeks. "This is Mr Merchant, the Chairman."
"Lovely to meet you," she held out her hand, "tea?"
"Good to meet you too, Mrs Blake," he shook her hand firmly, "young Cross has told me much about you."
"Oh," she wasn't sure what to say, but she knew, or hoped she did, that Bryan would have been complimentary, "please, come into the kitchen the children are just having a drink."
"Hello, Ted," Bryan greeted him, smiling, "how was school today?"
"Great, Mr Cross," Ted beamed, "I got a gold star for my writing, today, and all my sums right."
"Marvellous, and the soccer?"
"We've got a match on Saturday," he grinned, "against...er..."
"St Patrick's infants, dear," Jean supplied.
"Yeah, them," he returned to his milk and biscuit.
Mr Merchant was introduced to the children as Bryan's boss and he sat down with them as Jean made a fresh pot of tea and put out some more biscuits. He looked at the two youngsters, both clean, well apart from the crumbs on Julia's dress and the piece of biscuit she had managed to get in her hair, well dressed and above all happy, they exuded happiness.
"Aunty Jean," Ted took his plate and cup to the sink, "please can I go and play with the train set."
"As long as you have nothing to do for school, yes," she smiled.
"No, I just want to read to you, but I can do that later, if you're busy," he went to hug her.
"Ted, I'm never too busy to hear you read," she wasn't going to let a little matter of a Family Welfare visit to stop her hearing him read. "Why don't you bring your book to the table and Mr Cross can hear you too."
"Ok," he did as asked and, with Jean's help with the longer, harder words, he finished the chapter he was on; not that it was long; and found out that the train in the story did get to where he was supposed to be and delivered the toys and things for the children, with a little help.
"Oh, Ted," she kissed the top of his head, "that was lovely, you read so well, and I'm glad the story has a happy ending."
Bryan and Mr Merchant watched the little boys eyes light up with pride, "I remember that story from when I was little, Ted," Bryan smiled, "I used to go around the house saying 'I think I can, I think I can,' it drove my mother mad."
Ted laughed then asked if he could go and play, and did she want him to take Julia with him.
"Alright, off you pop," she let him slide of her lap, "but perhaps give Julia the blocks."
She lifted Julia down and brushed the crumbs off her dress and retrieved the piece of biscuit from her curls, shaking her head in disbelief. Ted held his little sister's hand and slowly helped her walk to the corner where Lucien had set the train set up, permanently.
"Now, gentlemen, sorry about that," Jean started to apologise, "with us having visitors next week Ted needs to see I will not change the way things are done, especially when it comes to reading or schoolwork."
"Quite right too," Mr Merchant nodded, "now, I am sure you knew why we are here, today."
"Yes, I do," she sighed, "I don't really know what to say..." she heard Lucien show his last patient out and go to greet Ted before joining them in the kitchen, "this is my husband..."
"Dr Blake, good to meet you." Mr Merchant stood up and extended his hand, "Oliver Merchant, Chairman of the board for Family Welfare."
Lucien shook his hand, "nice to meet you." He sat next to Jean and took her hand, under the table. "Now gentlemen," he continued, "what do you need to know?"
They went through the file, how the children had come to them, what they had done so far, what had happened when the doctor had been to see Pat, and what they would do for them in the future, should they be allowed a kinship adoption.
"Well," Lucien leaned back, still holding Jean's hand, "nothing that we wouldn't do if they were our own children. See they get a good education, are fed and clothed, and loved, of course, probably the most important, set them on the right path..."
"You both have children from your first marriages, don't you?" Mr Merchant looked at them, his expression gave nothing away but Jean was sure he had looked into their backgrounds, so they would know about Jack.
"We do," she sighed, "and maybe we made mistakes, but doesn't everybody? It wasn't for want of love, though, I love my boys, I know Lucien loves his daughter. Just because they are far away the love doesn't stop."
Mr Merchant smiled, "of course," he nodded slightly, "now, their accommodation..."
"Lucien, why don't you show Mr Merchant their room, I need to just attend to dinner a moment." Jean stood up, "I think Dr Harvey is joining us tonight."
She'd asked Matthew to ask Alice, thinking it would be a good idea, if FW were still there they could see how well the children fitted into their lives, and anyway, it had been a while since Alice had dined with them.
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"Right," Lucien stood at the doorway to the children's room, "this is where they sleep, at the moment. Of course, if they are to stay with us then one of them will move to their own room as they grow."
Mr Merchant noted the cleanliness, the newness of the cot and the wooden box that contained toys.
"They use the bathroom off our suite," Lucien pointed to the door to the studio, but there is another one upstairs if that one's occupied." He showed them the living room where Ted was busy loading cars onto the flat train truck and Julia was offering him blocks to add to the pile,
"They have free run of this level, but we have installed gates on the stairs now Julia is walking, and they know, or Ted does, that they are not allowed in the consulting room during surgery." Lucien pointed out various aspects of the house as he heard Matthew announce his arrival and Ted run up the hall.
"Uncle Matthew!" he called, "I've finished that story, the train made it."
"Hello, Ted," Lucien and the guests turned the corner to see Matthew ruffle the boy's hair, "did he now? Ah, here's your little shadow." Julia came wobbling towards him, arms outstretched calling for "Maff Maff!" She held onto his stick as he limped down to the kitchen.
"Jean," he smiled at her, in her usual place, "something smells good."
"Hello, Matthew," she shut the oven door, "just a stew. Will Dr Harvey be joining us?"
"Yes, she's gone home to shower and change, tough day."
"Oh, Lucien didn't say anything." She folded the oven glove and put it on the work surface.
"No, it came in during surgery," he looked round for the voices, "visitors?"
"Family Welfare," she smiled, "we haven't told Ted, so..."
"Mum's the word," he smiled and reached over to squeeze her hand.
"I do hope so," she sighed.
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So, will Mr Merchant agree with Bryan? Why was Alice's day so tough? and how will Pat react to the news?
