Chapter Ten: Presents

The months passed, and it was soon time for Christmas. Jean and James had welcomed Caroline with open arms – Caroline was especially close to Jean. Caroline had been adopted into Jean's "set", and she had been welcomed by Jean's girls. Jean spent a lot of time with Caroline, after they spent time with her "set", and they grew quite close. Jean had begun to think of Caroline as the daughter she never had.

Throughout the months that Caroline had lived with them, James had noticed the budding bond between Jean and Caroline. He thought that she was almost... maternal... towards Caroline, and that feeling was confirmed one night in October, when in bed, Jean confided that she wanted a child.

"I want a baby, James," she whispered to him one night in bed, two weeks before Christmas.

He looked at her in shock. "Really? You want a baby?" he asked her.

"Yes, really, James. I want to be a mother. I want us to have our own child – I do, more than anything."

"Oh, my darling," he said, stroking her cheek lightly. "I want a baby too. But are you sure?"

"Yes, James, I'm sure. I've been thinking about this for a long time now, and I want to start trying for a child," she said.

He beamed at her. "Then let's start trying," he said, kissing her lips.

She returned his smile and his kisses, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him closer to her.

"Oh, James, darling," she said. "I love you, I love you, I love you!" Her voice grew in volume as he slipped beneath the sheets, kneeling between her legs, his tongue lapping at her most sensitive and secret places. Her hands gripped the sheets tightly as he drew her closer and closer to orgasm, but he emerged from beneath the sheets before she climaxed. He pushed the covers back, kneeling on the mattress, and he raised her up, slipping a pillow beneath her hips, before encouraging her to part her legs. She obliged, and moaned as he entered her.

"Jean, Jean, Jean!" he cried out, collapsing on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him to her.

"I love you, James," she whispered.

"And I love you, Jean," he replied, holding her tightly.

Jean took Caroline Christmas shopping in Edinburgh – Caroline purchased a lovely brooch for Jean, and had knitted a thick woollen muffler for James. Jean bought Caroline several books that she wanted and a new cashmere jumper. Jean had decided to give James her late father's wristwatch, along with another gift that she would give to him in private. She had gone out shopping by herself to get James's second present – she didn't want to run the risk of anyone seeing her purchase. She was very excited about this second, private gift, and she couldn't wait to give it to him.

As Christmas drew nearer, Jean, James, and Caroline decorated the house with garlands of evergreens, wreaths on nearly every door, and a large Christmas tree for the parlour. They used the ornaments from Jean's childhood to decorate the large tree, as well as strings of popcorn that Jean and her girls had made during their Friday teas.

On Christmas morning, Jean, James, and Caroline sat by the fire in their parlour, sipping tea and opening their Christmas presents. Caroline received four new books and a cashmere jumper from Jean; James gave her a delicate silver bracelet and a diary. From Jean, James had received her late father's wristwatch; from Caroline, a navy blue woollen muffler she had knit herself. Jean received a beautiful brooch from Caroline and a pair of pearl earrings from her husband.

As they were cleaning up the wrapping paper from their presents, the doorbell rang. Caroline went to answer, but she soon returned.

"Jean, there's a big box outside with a tag saying it's for you," Caroline said. Jean and her husband both went to the door and James brought the box into the parlour, laying it flat on the carpet. Jean opened the box and gasped as the wrapping fell away, revealing a portrait of her. There was a note, which she opened with trembling fingers.

"My dearest love," it began. "I miss you terribly. Why did you have to marry HIM? I love you, Jean – I always have, and I always will. Please, my darling, I need you – I need you so much. Come back to me, Jean – please, come back. Please, my darling – please. I need you – I need you. Teddy."

Jean dropped the letter and fainted.

Later that evening, Jean woke up. She blinked her eyes slowly as the room came into focus – she was in her bedroom, lying in her bed, dressed in her nightgown. She sat up slowly, wincing as the room spun slightly. James rushed to her side, sitting next to her on the bed.

"Jean, my darling, are you all right?" he asked her. He was startled as she burst into tears.

"Why is he doing this to me, James?" she sobbed, curling up into a ball and crying. "Why?"

He gathered her into his arms. "Oh, my darling, my dearest," he said, rubbing her back. "You are such a wonderful woman – how could he not be in love with you? How could he help himself? And how could he not try to win you back? You are so wonderful, Jean – such a marvel of a woman – and I am so lucky that you agreed to be my wife. I love you, Jean. You are everything to me."

Her tears slowed a bit, and she snuggled into his embrace. "I love you, too, James," she whispered to him. Her tears abated as he rubbed her back and kissed her forehead tenderly.

"I love you so much, my darling," he said. "I love you so, so much," he continued, "more than anything. I love you."

She tilted her head up and smiled at him, kissing him lightly. "James, I have another present for you," she said, her smile growing wider.

"And I have another present for you as well," he said, returning her grin. They both went to their respective hiding places for their presents – Jean had hid hers in her lingerie drawer; James had hid his in his nightstand. They both settled on the bed again, and exchanged gifts.

"Happy Christmas, my darling," he said, handing her a wrapped box.

"Happy Christmas, my love," she replied, handing him a small bag.

She opened her present first, revealing a gorgeous white silk and lace nightgown.

"Oh, James," she breathed, fingering the silk and admiring the lace. "It's beautiful."

"I'm glad that you like it, Jean," he said, pulling her into his arms and nuzzling her neck. "And I hope that you will agree to model it for me."

"I'd like to model it for you, James, but first you have to open your present," she said. He nodded, and opened the bag, reaching in and pulling out a small, wrapped object. He unwrapped the gift, and his jaw dropped as he revealed a small, silver rattle. There was a card in the bag as well; he opened it and read it aloud: "Congratulations, Daddy!"

"You're pregnant, Jean?" he asked her, cupping her cheek in his hand. She nodded, her eyes filled with tears as she smiled at him. "Oh, my dear," he said, pulling her closer to him. "I love you; I love you." Her smile grew wider as he bent down and captured her lips gently with his, his other hand straying to her still-flat abdomen. "This has been the most marvellous Christmas ever," he whispered in her ear, and she nodded.

"I agree," she said, and tilted her face up for another kiss. He obliged, and soon the rattle and the nightgown were lying forgotten on the nightstand as Jean and James celebrated their impending parenthood.