Alice hadn't wanted a hen's night but when Jean promised it would just be her, Mattie and Ruth and they would have a couple of drinks and some music at home she relented.
They told stories of their lives, Ruth told of her life in Perth, her hens night which was loud and held in a local hotel, Jean pouted that she hadn't had one for either of her marriages.
"... there wasn't time for the first one, and most of the so called friends I had were laughing behind their hands that I had to get married, and the second time it was all a bit of a rush for entirely different reasons."
"Things work out though, don't they," Ruth touched her hand gently, "you made the best of your first marriage and the second one seems to be going well."
"Yes, you're right, marriage to Christopher wasn't perfect, we were really too young and we were foolish ..." she didn't want to say he wasn't a particularly good husband even if he did work hard on the farm; she became just a mother and an occasional sexual partner. "Lucien and I have a different marriage."
"He adores you, Jean," Mattie grinned, "everybody says so, even the nurses at the hospital have stopped flirting with him."
"I don't mind them flirting," she smiled, "just as long as he doesn't follow them."
"He wouldn't dare," Mattie hummed.
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Alice had a day in which to do nothing and she was dreading it. Sensing this Ruth suggested they go out for the day, just the two of them.
"Melbourne," she folded her arms and looked at her sister, "lunch and a bit of shopping."
"Go on, Alice," Jean turned round from the sink, "you don't get the chance to spend much time with Ruth, go and have a day out – without Amelia."
"I like spending my days off with Amelia," Alice pouted.
"Go and have a day out in Melbourne, Ruth's right, a little shopping and lunch."
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Jean dropped them at the station and went to do her own shopping for groceries; they had invited her to join them but she said she had things to do and surgery that afternoon and the idea was for Alice not to be spending the day with Amelia. She did think Alice may be getting broody, she was always ready to take the baby for a walk or to put her to bed, read to her and play with her when she was taking a day off. Alice, she decided, would make a good mother if she and Matthew were blessed.
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"So, I thought we'd go and shop in places we never went in when we were kids," Ruth grinned, "places we were chased out of, then lunch at the Windsor ..."
"You've planned this, haven't you?" Alice hummed.
"A bit, I did wonder what you would do with a whole day to yourself so I asked Jean. She said you usually amused Amelia unless Matthew was free on the same day, and then she didn't want to know."
Alice blushed, but in truth Jean had nothing to worry about, until Matthew had sorted out the house to his liking they hadn't really had the private time they wanted, and this last week their free days hadn't coincided.
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They had a thoroughly enjoyable morning window shopping, occasionally entering a shop and purchasing a gift for someone, Amelia, Jean, Lucien and a wedding present for Matthew – a pair of silver cufflinks shaped like flintlock pistols – as well as treats for themselves...
"Now, lunch," Ruth steered them towards the Windsor, "I have booked."
"I did wonder."
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"Your guests have arrived Mrs Amory," the maitre d' intoned, when she gave her name.
"Ruth?" Alice frowned.
"Come on, did you think you'd get away with it." She took her hand and they followed the man to a corner table where Alice gasped at the sight of Miss Fisher, Inspector Robinson and Dr Macmillan, "couldn't let you get married without this lot seeing you."
Alice found herself wrapped in three pairs of arms and hugged until she could barely breathe.
"Never mind an artist," Miss Fisher laughed, "Ruth should have been a detective. I was out of the country when she contacted the house, they passed her letter on to Mac, Mac called Jack and here we are."
"You came back, for me?" Alice sat down.
"Of course, honestly," Mac laughed, "you know you really should keep us in the loop, Alice - no mention of injuries or concerned coppers."
"I didn't think you'd be interested," she sniffed.
"You are family, Alice," Miss Fisher patted her hand, "of course we're interested."
"Perhaps Alice was worried you'd do a full background on this Lawson fellow," Mac laughed, "eh, Jack?"
"That'd be my thought," the Inspector nodded.
"He's a good man," Ruth took the offered menu from the waiter.
"I've ordered," Miss Fisher took the menu off her, "and it's my treat ..."
"Miss Fisher," Ruth gasped.
"I insist," she grinned, "I don't often get the chance to treat Alice, she never comes to see us."
They had a very enjoyable lunch, Miss Fisher insisted that they have champagne and more stories were shared of Alice's time as a Gratitude Girl and Mrs Stanley's desperate desire to see her niece married well and settled down with this ridiculous idea of being a Lady Detective behind her.
"Poor old Aunt P, she never got that wish," Miss Fisher sighed.
"I think she came to terms with you doing exactly what you wanted, Phryne," Jack smiled tenderly.
"She must have done if she managed to convince the Commissioner to look past our living arrangements and keep you on," Miss Fisher agreed.
"Given that Jack was strong enough to ignore Sanderson's instructions and stopped a white slavery trade," Mac huffed, "Jack and you living together was small beer, don'cha think?"
"Absolutely," Miss Fisher raised her glass.
As they left Alice was again wrapped in arms and kissed.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Miss Fisher patted her cheek.
"Tomorrow?" Alice bit her lip.
"Got a letter and an invitation from a Mrs Blake ..."
Alice went red, she had given Jean her list of guests but on the bottom she had crossed out Phryne, Jack and Mac thinking they wouldn't be interested.
"Alice?" Ruth looked at her.
"I gave Jean the list and she sent out the invitations, I ... I didn't think you'd be interested ..." she looked at Jack.
"So Mrs Blake said, in her letter," Miss Fisher laughed, "seems she's looking out for you."
"She's been very kind."
"This the doctor's wife who insisted you stayed with them while you recuperated from the injury?" Mac queried.
Alice nodded.
"Friends and family, Alice," Miss Fisher kissed her cheek.
"I'm still getting used to it," Alice returned the kiss.
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"Thank you, Ruth," Alice sighed as they settled down on the train.
"You're welcome," Ruth answered lightly, "when I asked Jean what you did on your free days she told me you didn't do much except keep Amelia amused and she also said Miss Fisher and friends would be coming to the wedding, but you hadn't seen them for a while ..."
"So you thought you'd ease me back into the family," she hummed, "thanks, I just, well, I was a Gratitude Girl and though Mrs Stanley sponsored me I didn't think of myself as quite as close as they seem to. Miss Fisher is so often off doing something dangerous or bothersome that she is rather hard to keep track of."
"I understand, how often do I see my daughter, eh? Not enough or I would have known about the Amelia situation – do you think Christopher really wanted to keep his mother and Lucien apart?"
"I'm not sure, I wonder if he worried Lucien would hurt her, he's a bit of a rebel, and has got into trouble meddling in cases," Alice stared out of the window, "he's better with Matthew in charge and these days he's a bit more sensible – I suppose that's Jean, he knows he has more than himself to answer to and a little one to raise too. I'm glad you don't mind Jean having Amelia, I worried you might be a bit jealous."
"No, not at all, I feel easier coming over to see her with Jean, Ruby says I am not motherly."
"Harsh," Alice frowned.
"I did my best, but as I have said, I was the disciplinarian, maybe I was too hard on her, but I don't know what makes her think Jean will be soft on Amelia, I am pretty sure there will be rules and she will have to do her fair share of the chores." Ruth sighed, "Ruby said it was my fault Dustin died."
"You never said how he died, and I didn't want to pry," Alice leant forward, "what happened, Ruth?"
"Dustin wasn't well, hadn't been for sometime but he wouldn't go to the doctors. He collapsed in the gallery one day and when they took him to the hospital they had to operate to find out why. His bowel had ruptured because of a large tumour that must have been growing for years, his heart couldn't take the strain and he died on the table. If he'd gone to the doctors when I told him he would have survived, they would have removed the tumour and given him a colostomy, but he wouldn't go and I couldn't make him. Ruby still believes if I had taken him – he was a big man and an adult, if I had tried that he would have walked away – Dustin didn't like doctors, at all."
"I can see how that would cause a rift between you," Alice reached over and took her hand, "men can be their own worst enemies, like doctors."
"Jean said you weren't an easy patient – for the nurses," Ruth gave a half laugh.
"I'm surprised Jean had the patience to deal with me, but I did try to keep mine when she did the physio on my leg, or insisted I eat or drink ..."
"I'm glad she did," Ruth smiled.
"Yeah, me too."
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Alice and Matthew's wedding was set for eleven thirty, which gave Alice plenty of time to get nervous and fidgety.
"Here you are," Jean passed her Amelia, "go play with her in the living room, and stop worrying."
Alice took the baby absent-mindedly and did as instructed, soon losing herself in building brick towers for the toddler to knock down and playing peek – a –boo with cushions. Jean gave her tea and a biscuit which Amelia helped herself to and then it was time to start getting ready.
"Ruth, you see to Alice while I sort out madam, here," Jean called into the kitchen, "her dress is hanging in the wardrobe with the jacket and shoes."
"Right!" Ruth appeared in the doorway, "come on sis," she held out her hand.
"Here," Jean passed her a small rectangular box, "Matthew's wedding present for her, she's to wear it today."
"Has Lucien remembered the cufflinks she bought Matthew?"
"Took them with him this morning, I also told him Matthew was to wear all his medals."
"Has he got many?"
Jean just nodded.
"And she still thinks Charlie is walking her down?"
"Yep!"
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"Stunning," Ruth stood back and made Alice face the mirror. She wore a fitted dress of pale gold satin with a lace yoke and sleeves. It showed off every curve of her slim body, nipped in at the waist with a narrow belt, kick pleat at the base of the back seam, and just past her knees hiding the scars from the operation. "Here, from Matthew, you are to wear these."
Alice took the box and opened it; her hand flew to her mouth as Ruth took out a double strand of pearls and a pair of pearl drop earrings and draped the necklace round her neck. She removed Alice's usual gold stud earrings and put the pearl drops in place of them. "There, perfect," she smiled.
"They're beautiful, he shouldn't have," Alice breathed.
"Why not, you bought him silver cufflinks," Ruth shrugged, "now, let's finish your make-up, the others will be waiting for you." She tucked a pretty clip into Alice's hair that she had styled in a soft French pleat and applied her lipstick.
"Done." She announced.
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Jean had chosen a dress with a fitted bodice and short sleeves, flared skirt and bolero jacket. The colour was emerald green, which Lucien always thought brought out her eyes.
"Hat or not?" she put a pill box hat on her head that finished off the outfit and lifted up Amelia who had been dressed in a simple ivory cotton dress with matching knickers. "What do you think Amelia?" The little girl raised her hand and took the hat off her 'mama' and threw it across the bedroom.
"Amelia!" Jean scolded. "Well I did ask," she muttered. "Come on, let's go and see how Auntie Alice is getting on."
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Jean smiled as she looked at Alice, "Perfect," she kissed her cheek lightly, "and Ruth, what a lovely shade of blue."
Ruth wore a light suit of duck egg blue, long-line jacket over a pencil skirt and blouse. It was chic and suited her well. She also wore a hat with a small brim.
"Watch your hat, Amelia just threw mine across the bedroom." Jean laughed.
"Little minx," Alice teased, "the dress looks lovely, Jean. And you look terrific."
"Thank you, but you are the one everyone should be looking at," Jean shifted Amelia's weight on her hip, "now, is the car here?"
"Yes," Ruth nodded, "he just turned round in the drive."
"And Charlie?" Alice reached for her cane.
"I didn't see him, but don't worry, if he's been called away I'll step in, eh?" Ruth reached for the cane but with a look from Alice she could see that it was security for her. "I'll look after it at the ceremony, shall I?"
"Hm, alright," Alice relented, but used it to get to the car.
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"I can't see Charlie," Alice whispered as she got out of the car.
"I'll nip in and send him out, probably got talking," Jean tripped into the Town Hall, she nodded imperceptibly to her left as she went in and disappeared from view.
Ruth patted her arm and led her up the steps feeling Alice's weight on her arm as she did so.
"Hm," she mused as they got to the top of the steps, "looks like Charlie got called away ..."
"... in that case," a familiar voice behind them, "may I?"
"Jack," Alice gasped.
"Alright, hands up," he raised his hands in surrender, "Senior Constable Davies is on duty today, so, by your leave, my lady ..." he offered her his arm, "would you do me the honour of allowing me to give you away?"
"You planned this?" she looked at both of them.
"Jack offered, we only allowed the ruse of Charlie walking you in to keep it a secret."
"I didn't get the chance with Jane, she married in Egypt during the war, and Phryne walked Dot down the aisle so ..."
Alice took his arm and swallowed, "Thank you, Jack, if I had been able to choose my father, I would have chosen you."
"I gladly accept the title, Alice, now let's not keep that fellow of yours waiting."
Ruth smiled and headed in to sit in her place and the music started – not the bridal march, Alice had shuddered at the mere thought - they had chosen Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World'.
All her friends were there, her families made up of Miss Fisher and Mac, Jean and Lucien, who was Matthew's best man, Amelia, Mattie as well as the few friends from the hospital and the police station. Jean had arranged for flowers to be on display to brighten up the room and there stood Matthew, full uniform and medals.
As Jack handed her over he kissed her forehead lightly, "I'd wish you luck, but I don't think you need it."
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Alice heaved a quiet sigh of relief when the registrar pronounced them man and wife and Matthew kissed her. She didn't really like being the centre of attention and although it was a small wedding she was glad this part of it was over and all those eyes wouldn't be on her and only her – well a few were on Matthew as well but she felt it more keenly.
As they left the registry office photographs were taken, of her and Matthew, of her, Matthew and the families, then of her and Matthew again. She noticed Ruth whispering to the photographer and him nodding – what was she up to?
The reception was lovely, the food perfect, Jean had instructed the chefs at the hotel in all of Alice's favourite foods, Matthew ate anything and the rest would just have to like it. Jean was however rather pleased when Miss Fisher complimented her on the choices.
"It's good to see she had friends like you, Mrs Blake," she smiled, "she still struggles with understanding how much she is loved."
"That's Alice for you," Jean laughed, "always worried someone will find fault with her."
"Well, with her background, is it any wonder?"
"No it isn't."
"At least your granddaughter isn't going to grow up with any of that kind of baggage," Miss Fisher pointed at Lucien who was tickling Amelia and blowing raspberries on her neck.
Jean rolled her eyes, "he's besotted," she sighed.
"No bad thing is it, for a grandfather?"
"No, you're right, I'm glad he's so close to her."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please, I give you Superintendant and Dr Lawson!"
Matthew stood up and offered his hand to Alice, "Come on," he smiled, "this is our dance."
Alice had been dreading this, they had practiced but she was still nervous about dancing in public with her leg. "Just like we practiced at home." He whispered in her ear.
The band struck up with 'The Man I Love', and Matthew led her onto the floor, took her in his arms and into a slow waltz round the floor. She closed her eyes and followed his body movements and pretty soon they were surrounded by the rest of the guests dancing. Towards the end of the song he guided her back to the table and offered her a glass of wine.
"Ok?"
"Yes," she whispered and sipped the champagne, "thank you."
"We can sneak off shortly," he whispered back, "back to our little house, then Perth tomorrow."
"Sounds wonderful, at least the sneaking off part, and our little house," she giggled softly.
"Hey, how about you go powder your nose and I'll follow and meet you and we can sneak out through the back door, if you want."
"Don't make it too obvious," she hissed and picked up the small clutch bag Jean had passed to her after the ceremony and the cane that Ruth had finally let her have back.
Matthew talked with Jack for a few moments, enlisting his help in their escape.
"Alice has ... er..."
"Had enough?" Jack grinned, "sure, not the kind of thing she likes much."
"She's been ok, just doesn't like being stared at, it's why she closed her eyes when we danced ..."
"Tell her she looked beautiful," Jack shook his hand.
"One day she'll believe me."
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The taxi was waiting outside and the newly married couple slipped inside and told the driver to take them home.
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"Mrs Blake?" Jack noticed she was looking around, perplexed, missing something. "Alice and Matthew have snuck off," he whispered, "she was beginning to find it a bit wearing, all eyes on her."
"Ah," Jean nodded, "I did wonder. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"I doubt she will change," he mused, "she never liked being the centre of attention."
"Too many memories?"
"I think so. She seems settled here, in Ballarat," he offered her a glass champagne but she shook her head.
"We think so, she made her mark with Lucien the first time he met her ..."
Jack laughed when she told him about Lucien thinking she was a nurse when he went into the morgue on his first day back.
"Since then they have become friends, he supports her ..."
"From what Alice said he's usually in the side of the underdog," Jack observed, "he's after the truth and where you come from should not make a difference."
"It could come from spending so much time in Singapore and Europe as a young man and surviving prison camp during the war." She offered.
"Makes sense." He nodded.
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Jean went to fetch the milk in off the doorstep and was most surprised to see a large bouquet of flowers with a note attached. She picked everything up and headed into the kitchen. It was a later start than usual, all the household were tired from the wedding the previous day, even Amelia had slept in.
"Hello, an admirer," Lucien raised his eyebrows at the flowers, "should I be jealous?"
Jean smiled and looked at the card, they were for her though she had supposed they would be for Alice.
"Oh, how lovely," she read the card, "from Alice and Matthew, a thank you for organising yesterday."
"You did a grand job, Jean," he passed Amelia some toast, "it was a lovely day. Alice looked lovely."
"Thank you," she set the flowers in the sink in some water until she could get a vase out.
"You know, we never did get round to having our own reception, did we? Perhaps we should do something when they get back from their honeymoon."
"We could, or we could wait until our first anniversary, only a couple of months away?"
"As long as you wear your wedding dress."
"If it still fits," she smiled.
Lucien didn't pick up on the subtle meaning Jean was conveying, he just thought she hadn't changed since that day, how could she gain weight, she was on the go all day?
Jean wasn't sure, which was why she hadn't said anything to Lucien, after all she had only missed one cycle, it was just that she was as regular as the moon and she didn't think she was going through the change. If she missed the next one she would ask Alice to do a blood test, she didn't want to get Lucien's hopes up. At least if she was pregnant now nobody could say she had to get married this time.
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Without Alice in the house, Jean had less and less for Mrs Toohey to do. Amelia could be left to play in the living room while she dusted and vacuumed and she toddled round the kitchen when she was cooking. Jean didn't need to sit in the waiting room with the patients, just pop in every now and again, but if she did then Amelia had found her space under the desk where she could play.
It was when Mattie announced that she would be leaving them that she knew she had to find a way to dispense with her services.
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"A letter, Mattie," Jean passed her the post but didn't mention that it was from England.
Mattie looked at it then disappeared up to her own bedroom to read it; it would be quite a leap of faith if it held the news she was hoping for.
"Dear Nurse O'Brien,
We are pleased to accept your application to work with us here at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. You will initially be assigned the female surgical ward but will also be expected to move to other wards depending on staffing levels.
Please let us know when you expect to arrive in London and we shall arrange a room in the nurse's home in the first instance.
Yours sincerely,
(Indecipherable signature)
Matron."
She sat staring at the letter, she had no idea what Jean or Lucien would say, she hadn't told them she was applying but Lucien had said so many good things about St Bart's that she thought it would be good career development. She hadn't mentioned it to her parents either, but after her father's visit when he tried to drag her back to Melbourne and a possible marriage she had wondered how much longer she could avoid that position. Now she was going thousands of miles away from home, from her country of birth and all she knew – it was ... scary.
"Goodness!" Jean gasped as she put the dinner out. Mattie had decided to wait until they were altogether, "what on earth gave you the idea?"
"Lucien," she smiled, "he always talked so fondly of his days at St Bart's and I didn't think there was anywhere for me to go, here, so when I saw they were looking for nurses all over the world I applied."
"And you have accepted?" Lucien stopped in his carving of the meat, "I mean have you written back and said yes?"
"I've written," she nodded, "I haven't posted it, yet, but if I think too hard about it I shall get cold feet."
"When do you have to leave?" Jean sat down and tried to stop the lurch in her stomach. It wasn't that she wanted to keep Mattie there, it was just that it was so sudden, a shock.
"I start in eight weeks, so I need to catch a boat in no more than two weeks time. I'm sorry, it's all a bit of a rush, I did hope I would have time to get used to the idea, but if I get there with a couple of weeks to acclimatise ..." Mattie looked from one to the other, and at Amelia, "I will miss you so much," she bit her lip ...
"It's a wonderful opportunity," Lucien reached over and squeezed her hand, "and we will miss you so very much, but we can't hold you back ..."
"There will always be a place for you here, Mattie," Jean smiled and sniffed away the tears, "always."
Charlie was stuck for words, he liked the young nurse and though they weren't dating they did go out together, to the cinema, or for a meal – he was really going to miss her. Who was he going to argue with now?
"You'll find someone," Mattie teased.
"You will write, won't you?" he gulped.
"'course I will, but I bet you won't," she grinned.
"I will," Jean stopped Amelia throwing her, empty, plate to the floor, "give you the updates on this terror – and Amelia," she looked at Lucien and laughed.
"Huh!" he blew out, "the nerve of you woman."
Conversation centred on what Lucien could tell her of the London of his youth, before he joined the army and was posted to Singapore.
"A very busy city, Mattie," he passed the plates of sliced meat, "but so much for you to see, if you like history, and of course the theatres ..."
"I'm sure I'll find plenty to do," she smiled.
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"Our gift," Lucien smiled handing her an envelope, "something to remember us by."
"Lucien!" she shrieked opening the envelope, "I booked steerage!"
"And I thought you deserved more, Mattie, so, Jean and I, and Charlie, decided you should travel in some comfort."
"But ..." she tried to hand the tickets back.
"Aha," he shook his head, "no, this is from us to you. You need to be refreshed when you arrive and you won't be if you are in steerage. And we're here now, on the docks, so you can't change it," he gave her his 'I haven't done anything smile'.
She flung her arms round his neck and told him he was the best person she knew, then she did the same to Jean even though she had Amelia in her arms and Charlie just because he had swapped a shift with Bill Hobart in order to take the trip to Melbourne and see her off.
They stood and watched the liner sail out of the harbour, then turned and walked back to the waiting taxi. Charlie had to go straight back to Ballarat as he was on duty the following morning but Jean and Lucien were going to stay overnight and do a little shopping. They had brought forward the reception party and made it into a good bye party for Mattie, a welcome back party for Matthew and Alice and the party that Jean and Lucien had been trying to have for nearly a year. Jean was quite glad, her dress was a little snug but she still hadn't said anything to Lucien, tonight, over dinner at the hotel she was going to tell him he was to be a father. Up to now only she and Alice knew, but she hoped she was going to go all the way having made three months.
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"She usually sleeps through," Jean told the receptionist.
"Well, if we hear anything over the phone we'll let you know, enjoy your dinner," the receptionist smiled.
"Are you sure?" Lucien pulled her chair out for her, "I mean what if they get busy?"
"And how else are we to have dinner in the restaurant?" Jean just smiled and lifted the menu, "now, I fancy something light ..." she perused the menu and chose her meal, light, easily digested. Lucien chose something a little more robust and ordered wine for both of them, by the glass, he wanted red and she preferred white and neither were going to drink a whole bottle.
"... and a jug of iced water, please," he passed the menus to the waiter and turned to his wife. They talked about what Mattie would find in London, how quiet it would be in the house and if they should advertise for another lodger.
"Not just yet," Jean hummed, "let's get used to not having her about, and I need to find another job for Evelyn, I really don't have enough for her."
"You sure?" he frowned, he thought she should have some help in the house.
"Yes, I could do with someone who just wants say three hours twice a week, Monday and maybe Thursdays, that's when I have the bulk of the laundry to do and the vacuuming and dusting." She sipped her wine and tipped her head in thought. "Also, someone who can cope with children, Evelyn still avoids Amelia as if she has a communicable disease. Even Alice isn't that bad."
"Alice is getting broody," Lucien mused, pausing while their starters were served, "I wouldn't be surprised if they were trying for their own baby."
"Lucien," Jean warned, "that's not for us to discuss, but if they did, she'd make a fabulous mother."
"And Matthew would make a great father."
"Yes," she nodded.
By the time they were ordering their desserts Jean thought she better tell him her news, they'd just about exhausted all topics of conversation about home, their friends and Amelia.
"I'm glad we're away from the house," she smiled and reached over the table for his hand, "I have some news."
"You do?" he grinned and waited.
"Yes, you see my dress was a little tight, you know ..."
"I didn't notice, I thought you looked wonderful."
"Hm, well, thing is Lucien you are going to be a father, again, I'm going to have a baby."
"What?!" he gasped and just missed sending the remains of his glass of red wine over the white table linen, "really, when? I mean how – how long have you known? Are you alright, do you need anything?!"
"Calm down, Lucien," she hissed, "I'm fine, and I left telling you so Mattie didn't know, she'd have done something rash like stayed in Ballarat. I've known for about three months, maybe a little less, it's just that at the moment I've been able to hide it but pretty soon I'll suddenly fill out, that's what I did with the boys; I got Alice to do the blood test, I didn't want to get your hopes up and then have to dash them if I was wrong."
"I never thought ... I didn't even consider it. After all we haven't taken precautions since we were married ... are you sure you're alright, and you are alright about a baby, now ..."
"You mean at our age?" She laughed, "I suppose after nearly a year I thought it was unlikely, but yes, I'm fine about it, and Amelia will have a sibling to play with ..."
"Do you think we should adopt her?" he chewed his lip, "only Ruby and Christopher seem no nearer to wanting her. She calls you 'mama' and me 'papa' ..."
"I don't know, I mean I don't want her taken away from us, but I do wonder if welfare will let us, given our age. If we ask then ... we are her grandparents, Ruby and Christopher asked me to have her, asked us to have her ..." she sighed, "it would be sensible, but the idea of the authorities poking around worries me."
"I get you," he nodded, and it was a reasonable worry, "shall we leave it as it is, then, though as you are her grandmother I don't see welfare would find it easy to remove her."
"Leave it, if they do start looking into things, say when she starts school I shall ask Christopher to inform them that he wants his daughter looked after by us ..."
"As a serving soldier he could be sent anywhere, a settled place is best for Amelia."
"Quite."
"Now, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Not here," she gave a little smile, "maybe ..." she rolled her eyes towards the stairs.
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"Where papa?" Amelia tipped head to one side as she watched Jean put the phone down.
"Later, sweetie," she patted her head, "dinner for you and me, then your bath."
Amelia pouted, it was rare Lucien was late for dinner and she liked that he would give her food off his plate even though she had enough on her own plate.
"Come on, you can help mama with dinner," Jean smiled, Lucien wouldn't be much longer than usual but he would make sure his patient was comfortable before leaving her at the hospital with her husband to sit with her.
They had nearly finished when Lucien was heard coming through the front door, Amelia immediately jumped down from her seat and ran up the hall. Jean, at seven months pregnant, was in no condition to chase after her.
"Hey poppet!" Lucien swung Amelia over his head, "you been good for mama?"
Amelia giggled and squealed.
"Lucien?"
He went to the kitchen and kissed Jean, "Sorry."
"No worries, you had to look after her, is she ok?"
"Alice will be fine," he huffed and sat down, pulling Amelia onto his knee, "if she ate properly," he took a mouthful of water from the glass in his place, "she wouldn't have fainted."
"Is it because she didn't eat?" Jean frowned, Alice usually ate well, Matthew was a good cook and she was learning.
"Probably, she admitted she didn't have time for breakfast this morning and we didn't get a break this morning."
"How's Matthew?"
"Worried, you know him, like an old mother hen. She'll be fine, she says she was silly, that's all."
Jean sat down and let him eat his dinner, "I'll ring him later, ask him to drop off some clothes for her in the morning and I'll go and bring her here, after you discharge her, eh?"
"Good idea, she should take a couple of days before she comes back to work."
"She could come here for lunch, and Mathew could pick her up at the end of his shift," Jean started to plan, "you'd like it if Auntie Alice came to play, wouldn't you, Amelia?"
"Yay!" she looked round, "Auntie Allie?"
"Not now, you Nelly," Jean laughed, "tomorrow, perhaps?"
Amelia nodded and grinned, she loved it when Alice was around, though lately she hadn't been as often as she would have liked.
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Lucien had smiled at Alice as she lay in the hospital with the drip running into her arm. She had insisted she would be fine, just needed to eat something but he was equally stubborn and she was to stay overnight in the hospital.
"Now, I want you to rest here tonight, we'll see what happens tomorrow. Matthew is here to sit with you, but I'll speak to him first, ok?"
"Sorry to be a nuisance," she grumbled.
"You're not a nuisance, and I'm a doctor and supposed to put up with that sort of thing. Now, are you going to be a good girl?" he teased.
"Well," she smirked, "I'll have to be, unless Matthew is going to ravish me senseless in a hospital bed."
"That's better," he smiled back, "that's the Alice I know."
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"Now," he folded his arms and stared at Matthew, "she's fine, no breakfast and no chance for a cuppa this morning ..."
Matthew glared at him, he knew the reason she hadn't had breakfast that morning and he was pretty sure Lucien had a good idea too. When he dropped Alice off at the hospital she had a satisfied grin on her face.
Lucien had noticed and he thought of Jean initiating sex at the most unlikely times – like the time Charlie nearly caught them in the kitchen when he came home late and Jean had decided she couldn't wait until they got to the bedroom and he was on the point of pulling her knickers off. Charlie's heavy footfall in the hall had her scarper to the bedroom and he stand with a tea cloth in front of him to hide his aching erection.
"Dinner's in the oven," he nodded to the stove, and ran off after Jean.
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In the bedroom Jean was standing gripping the foot board of the bed; he was behind her in an instant undoing his trousers, ripped off her knickers and thrust into her, hard. She gasped and gripped the bed tighter as he thrust over and over again, reaching around to find her sweet spot and they climaxed together swallowing screams and roars. They had collapsed onto the floor laughing and decided they had better chose their times in future.
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They sat on the couch together, Amelia was in bed and Lucien had eaten his dinner. Time for a cuddle and a drink.
"So, it's all because Alice needed Matthew for something more than a lift to work this morning," Jean smirked. Really, they didn't need to know about their friends' sex life, but there it was.
"Yeah," he sighed, "you ok?"
She nodded, "just a bit active now I'm sitting down," she rubbed the side of her bump.
"Want me to show him who's boss," he stroked her and felt a strong kick.
"And how do you plan to do that?" she smirked.
"Well, I could start like this," he tipped her face towards him and kissed her, "then maybe," he stroked his hand up her front and cupped her breast.
"Bedroom," she hummed into his mouth, "just in case Charlie comes back."
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Alice sipped the welcome cup of tea in Jean's kitchen.
"Biscuit?" Jean pushed the plate towards her, "shortbread."
"Thank you," Alice nibbled the sweet treat and passed one to Amelia who was sitting at her feet playing with the ribbon she had pulled out of her hair.
"Ta," Amelia crumbled the biscuit in her hands and stuffed it into her mouth, Jean shook her head.
"She doesn't get any better," she sighed. "So, Alice, what are we to do with you?"
"Oh, nothing," she laughed, "I just need to have at least a piece of toast in the morning, it was my own stupid fault."
"How about I leave a biscuit tin in the morgue, for you but don't let Lucien have too many, he's got a sweet tooth."
"That's kind of you, but you have enough to do, with Amelia and getting ready for the new baby," Alice looked at her baby bump and Jean thought she looked a little wistful. She decided against saying anything, Alice was a few years younger than she was so maybe they didn't want children, or it wasn't happening for her.
"I've got all I need for this one," Jean stroked her bump, "the pram is ordered as is the cot and bassinet, and I have enough clothes for the first few months."
"You must have been knitting like mad."
"They don't take long to make, matinee coats and little gowns, and I still have some of Amelia's. I was going to pass them on to another mother who needed them, I didn't think it would be me," she laughed.