A biscuit tin appeared in the morgue, discretely set in the corner of the counter, refilled weekly by Jean via Dr Blake. Alice had no further fainting episodes, Matthew made sure she had breakfast each day, even if one or both of them were running late; it wasn't unusual for them to eat a slice of toast in the car. Her days off were spent helping Jean with Amelia and in return Jean gave her some cooking lessons, especially if Matthew was going to collect her and therefore they would both be stayin for dinner. Lucien was grateful, it gave Jean time to sit down and just direct operations in the kitchen and amuse Amelia who was now into everything.
"How's the new cleaner?" Alice asked one afternoon.
"She's lovely, she gets on well with Amelia, works hard and doesn't come into rooms without being invited," she laughed, reminding Alice of the times Mrs Toohey had knocked and not waited for an answer.
"What happened to Mrs T?"
"Oh, when she found out I was pregnant she offered her resignation saying she didn't think two babies in the house would be something she could cope with and she had found another priest who needed a housekeeper." Jean smiled, "you need to toss those potatoes in the fat if you want crispy roasts."
Alice did as directed, "Do you think that was really the reason?"
"I think it was the idea that Lucien and I have sex," she laughed loudly, "right den of iniquity, this place. And, with Charlie bringing a girlfriend back once or twice I think she thought I was running a bordello."
Alice howled with laughter and burnt her finger on the pan. "Ow!"
"Cold tap," Jean nodded towards the sink and held Amelia out of her way. "Sorry, I shouldn't make you laugh when you are handling hot pans."
"It's ok, I should watch what I'm doing," Alice held her finger under the cold running water.
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Dinner was a success; Matthew complimented his wife on her cooking and suggested he hang up his oven gloves.
"In that case, Superintendant," Alice huffed, "you can take over the ironing."
"Ah, no, you do it so much better than me," he shook his head.
"Huh!" she shrugged.
"More, Auntie Allie!" Amelia held her hand out, "'tatoes."
"Magic word, Amelia," Jean frowned.
"Peas," she tipped her head and looked at Alice.
"One more," Alice put a small potato on her plate. "She has a good appetite, Jean."
"And eats anything on her plate," Lucien nodded, "not at all fussy, is she?"
Jean shook her head, "Nothing like her father."
The mention of Christopher surprised Alice, he and Ruby were rarely mentioned, though Jean and Lucien would have long discussions about them whenever she tried to contact them. It was almost as if they had severed all ties with Jean and Ruth didn't have any success, either.
"Well, let's hope the baby isn't fussy when he's on solids, then," Alice smiled, "I can just see her pinching anything he doesn't eat."
"Yes we shall have to watch that." Jean agreed.
Once the washing up had been seen to and Amelia put to bed, Alice and Matthew left them and headed home.
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"How long's Jean got?" Matthew asked as they pulled onto their drive.
"About six weeks, I think," Alice allowed him to help her out of the car, "maybe less, but not much more."
"Will you be round there, as much?"
"I said I'd help with Amelia, if I could, if she wanted me to," Alice unlocked the front door and they stepped inside, "the new cleaner is good with her though, but yes, I will still go round, maybe help with the cooking."
"You're doing well, that dinner was lovely," he wrapped his arms round her, "I think you deserve a reward."
"And what would that be, husband?" she hummed against his chest.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom then dropped her unceremoniously onto the bed, "Come here, woman," he groaned, "I have something for you."
Alice giggled seeing the bulge in his trousers and knew exactly what he had for her.
They were naked in no time, kissing and sucking at each other, he suckled at her breasts, kissed down her front, dipped into her belly button, ran his tongue over her folds and she bucked and groaned, twisted and called his name and then he entered her, slowly, almost tortuously. She dug her nails into his shoulders as she lifted her hips to him and begged him for more, to go harder until she screamed through her climax and he grunted as he spilled into her. She held him for as long as she could, through the after-shocks then as he softened and slipped from her she rolled into him and snuggled close.
"Love you," he mumbled from somewhere around her right ear.
"Love you too," came the answer from his side.
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He awoke two, maybe three hours later to the sound of the toilet flushing and a groan from Alice.
"Huh?" he blinked as he registered her standing in the doorway, her arm across her stomach and the other holding her up against the door frame. "Alice? Hey," he leapt out of bed, "what's the matter? Here, come back to bed."
"Sorry, just awful stomach cramps, think it's ...you know."
Alice's irregular cycle varied between painful but bearable to hardly noticeable, but never had her up in the night, pale and sweating.
"Hot water bottle?"
"Ok," she gasped. "It might work." The hot water bottle treatment had been known to work in the past so she let him run into the kitchen and flick the electric kettle on.
It didn't work, she tried Bex, but that didn't touch the pain that by the early hours had her crying in pain and doubled up on the bed.
"I'm calling Blake," Matthew kissed her temple, "you trust him." She had already refused an ambulance saying it didn't feel like appendicitis should feel like, it was just severe cramps. "He might have some pain relief that will work."
She could only nod.
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"Alright, Matthew, I'll be right there," Lucien spoke calmly down the phone, "don't panic."
"Lucien," Jean stood in the doorway.
"Alice, sever stomach cramps, not appendicitis ... self diagnosing ... but nothing seems to be helping. I'll ring you when I know what's happening." He finished pulling on enough clothes for decency's sake and took the bag she offered him.
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By the time Matthew returned from calling Lucien Alice was sobbing and trying to take the linen off the bed.
"Hey, stop," he took her hands, "what's this for?"
She pointed, embarrassed at a wet patch on the sheet. As soon as it had happened she had leapt out of bed and dragged the sheet off to save the mattress.
"Alright, you clean up, I'll see to this," he kissed her and watched her limp, bent double to the bathroom to wash herself down. He threw the sheet in the corner of the room but as he went to the bottom drawer of the chest Alice screamed.
"Matthew!" she was on her knees in the bathroom, "What's happening?"
He looked down to her bottom, to the space between her legs and gasped, there was something hanging down; he knelt on the floor and placed his hands underneath just in time to catch his daughter as she slipped from her mother.
He swore.
Lucien called from the front door.
"Bathroom, Blake, quick!" he didn't dare move, Alice was still on her knees, gasping and crying, hands on the edge of the bath.
"Bloody hell!" Lucien pulled up short. He threw his jacket on the floor, decided he had enough time to wash his hands then got to work, on his knees beside Matthew he eased the baby girl, screaming louder than her mother, to the front so Alice could see her, then laid her on a towel in Matthew's hands while he cut and tied the cord.
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Alice felt as if it was happening to someone else; a baby was wrapped in a towel and shown to her, she was placed on the floor and Lucien helped her deliver the placenta.
"Matthew," he checked everything was there, "I want you to ring for an ambulance, tell them what happens and get something to keep Alice warm."
"Lucien?" Alice groaned.
"You had no idea?" He stroked her forehead.
"None," she shook her head, "none of the usual pointers, my cycle's irregular but still happened, I didn't gain weight, the only thing that happened was that I fainted that once."
"Not uncommon, but not common either," he hummed, "Can you sit up?"
"Uh huh," she shifted and allowed him to help her up, "is the baby alright?"
"From first look, yes, a girl," he smiled, "ok?"
"I thought we would never have children," she shivered, from the cold, "I ..."
"You got close to Amelia, I noticed, so Jean must have too. You got broody, didn't you?"
"I suppose I did," she hummed, "I thought it would be nice, complete our family and as we never took precautions I began to think it was one of us, probably me – with the way my cycle is."
Matthew reappeared with her robe and a blanket. "Ambos are on the way, do you need anything else?"
"Um," she blushed, she didn't hide the workings of her body but she didn't shout about it either, still Matthew knew where she kept everything. "knickers, and ... from the bathroom cabinet?" She hoped he got the message.
"Er, right," he frowned, "here," he handed her the baby, "you want to hold her?" She held her arms out for the baby and cradled her in her arms.
"Tiny," she murmured, "hello little one."
"She'll be weighed and properly checked in the hospital, I think she's perhaps early, but not enough for an incubator, she has a good pair of lungs," Lucien smiled.
"We have nothing for a baby," she sighed, still gazing at her daughter's huge violet eyes that seemed too big for her tiny face.
"Well, you will be in hospital for a few days, ordinarily it would be a week, but as you gave birth at home I'm inclined to let you come home early. Matthew will have to go shopping while you are confined to Ballarat General," Lucien grinned, knowing Alice's opinion of staying in hospital. "Jean will give him a list."
"Nappies and gowns," Alice smiled, "blankets, a bassinet, order a cot and a pram ..."
"Hang on," Matthew gasped, "how much is immediately needed and how much can wait until you can come with me?"
"I'll come with you to order the pram ..."
"Talk to Jean, who I must ring, if you don't mind."
"Go ahead," Matthew nodded, still trying to process what had happened in the last half hour or so.
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Jean grabbed the receiver from the cradle, knowing it would be Lucien.
"She what?!" she shrieked, "a baby?! Bloody hell!"
"Jean!" Lucien half laughed and was half shocked, Jean never swore.
"Sorry, is she alright, is the baby alright?"
"Yes and yes, a little girl," he smiled, "look the ambos have arrived, I'm going to follow with Matthew in the car and once they're settled I'll bring Matthew home for breakfast. He needs a list of things they will have to get."
"Right," she put the phone down and thought she may as well get up, bathe and sort Amelia out. Not for the first time she wished she had kept the pram she brought Amelia home in, but thinking they wouldn't need it again she had given it away to a young mother who couldn't afford one, she could have lent it to Alice while she waited for hers to arrive. The stroller was no good to put a new baby in.
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When Lucien and Matthew arrived she had bacon, eggs and toast on the go, Amelia helped by putting cutlery on the table and they sat down to eat. Jean smiled at Matthew, his hair was sticking up, he was wearing an old pair of trousers and jumper and shoes without socks. Amelia sat on his knee and smoothed his hair down, then asked where Auntie Allie was.
"Er," he blinked, "she's er ..."
"Auntie Allie has just had a baby, sweetheart," Jean told her, "she's got to stay in hospital for a few days."
"Baba," Amelia turned and patted Jean's belly.
"This one's mine, Auntie Allie has her own," Jean laughed, but she could understand her confusion, Alice hadn't shown a pregnancy, at all.
"I'll come into town with you, Matthew," she turned to the new father, who still had a bemused look on his face, "help you get what you need for the immediate weeks."
"Thanks, Jean," he hummed, "I wouldn't know where to start."
"Not a problem," she smiled, "happy to help. How is Alice?"
"Um, I think she's in shock, we had no idea," he sipped a cup of tea, "she's happy though, she never thought we'd have a kid, I didn't know it mattered to her, she didn't say. I just thought she was happy to take Amelia off your hands then give her back at the end of the day."
"I wondered, on occasion," Jean admitted, "but no, she didn't say anything to me, either. So, no idea what to call her?"
"Alice is thinking Elizabeth," he hummed, they'd had a brief conversation before the nurses chivvied him out of her room. "She considered naming her after Mrs Stanley ..."
Jean raised an eyebrow and waited.
"... Prudence, but we think it's a little old fashioned. Elizabeth is nice, it's not strange or a target for bullying."
"Thinking ahead, eh?" Lucien smiled, "I hated my name when I was at Ballarat West, McAvoy insisted on calling me 'Lucy'."
"McAvoy was a prick," Matthew snorted, "a bully, a thug."
"He was, but we hear nothing of him, these days."
"I warned him if I heard one word of complaint against him ..." he left the sentence hanging but Lucien was in no doubt McAvoy would not terrorise any students again.
"I think Elizabeth Lawson is a lovely name, it sits nicely," Jean smiled, "but you could add Prudence as a middle name."
"Do you want to ring Ruth?" Lucien suddenly remembered that Alice had mentioned Ruth may be coming over for a few days.
"Oh god! I better had," Matthew put Amelia on her own chair and reached for the phone by the hatch. "D'ye mind?"
"Not at all," Lucien nodded.
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"Jean," Alice shifted up the bed, "you shouldn't let Matthew drag you round town."
"I didn't, I dragged him," Jean laughed, "honestly, Alice, do you think he would be able to buy everything you need, Lucien has had contact with a baby before, and I wouldn't trust him to get what's needed. Now, how are you?"
"Stunned," Alice smiled, "but happy. I had hoped, but it didn't seem to be happening so I was resigned to helping you with Amelia and the new baby."
"And I would have been grateful for the help," Jean smiled, "but you can still come over with your little one, we can support each other, eh?"
"I'd like that, and it's Elizabeth ..."
"Matthew said that was the way you were going, he said you'd considered Prudence ..."
"I did, but it's old fashioned and while I wasn't looking for something ultra modern ... Elizabeth is a nice name, I've always liked it."
"Isn't it Dr Macmillan's first name?"
"It is, d'you think Phryne would make a good middle name – it unfortunately means 'toad'?" Alice pouted. "She was supposed to be called Psyche, but her father was drunk when he registered her birth."
"That's up to you," Jean smiled, "I think it's a lovely name, unusual, but you're right, if it means toad it's a bit of a shame – not that anyone needs to know."
"True," Alice tipped her head, "well, I suppose you want to meet her?"
"It would be nice, is she in the nursery?"
Alice frowned, "yes. I wanted her with me, but they insist she has to be kept in the nursery and brought to me to be fed." She reached for the bell, "makes me feel like a prize cow."
"How did it go – feeding?"
"Not good, I don't think there's much for her, just yet. I've been told it will come in soon, until then they will give her formula."
"You're not happy about that are you?" Jean remembered how hard it was the first time, with Christopher, how he didn't take to feeding from her after being given a bottle in the nursery.
"No, I don't know why, but it seems not quite right. I know Amelia did well on formula, but you are not her biological mother so you couldn't be expected to feed yourself. I'm Elizabeth's mother and I want what's best for her, and I think that's me. So, unless there's some medical reason for me not to feed her I want ... oh god I'm rambling." She ran her hands through her hair.
"I understand," Jean patted her hand, "ramble away."
"Dr Lawson," a nurse poked her nose round the door.
"Could you bring my baby up, please," Alice smiled as sweetly as she could.
"Do you wish to try feeding her again?"
Alice didn't think they'd bring the baby to her unless she gave this as a reason to have her so she agreed this was it.
"I'm afraid Mrs Blake will have to leave, then," the nurse folded her arms as if daring either of them to disagree.
"I think I'm best placed to say who will and who will not see me feed my baby," Alice snapped, "Mrs Blake is welcome to stay with me if she so wishes."
The nurse huffed but left to get the baby.
"You will stay, won't you, she's not much help."
"Of course, if that's what you want." Jean smiled. She had images of Alice strapping baby Elizabeth to her back and climbing out of the window one night.
When Alice opened her robe there was a damp patch on her nightdress.
"That's a good sign," Jean smiled, "now all you have to do is get her to latch on properly."
"That's the bit that hurt," Alice scowled, "all nurse did was blame me, but she was no actual help."
"Hm," Jean drew her brows together, "let's see how you go this time, then if you want my advice ... as a mother ... I shall happily help."
"Thanks, Jean, I'd appreciate that."
Elizabeth was heard before she was seen, Jean looked towards the door and smiled as the nurse came in. Tight as the baby was swaddled she was wriggling as if she was trying to escape.
Alice took her in her arms and immediately unwrapped her to let her wave her arms and kick her little feet.
"There you go, you don't like that do you," she soothed. "Hungry? Well, here goes ..." she undid the buttons of her nightdress and exposed her breast. "Ouch!" she jumped, it felt like a thousand needles being stuck into her tender flesh.
"Hey," Jean stood up, "here, let me help ..." she showed Alice how to angle the baby's head and lift the nipple into the right position and soon the new mother was relaxed against the pillows and Elizabeth was suckling greedily.
"Thanks, Jean, that's much better."
"That's alright, I had my mother to help me at first," Jean sat back down and smiled at the sight, "now, when she's drained that side finish her off on the other and you start the opposite next time, you'll get into the rhythm."
"Sounds reasonable," Alice nodded. "How's Matthew, I barely got to say anything to him above what I thought we should call her? The midwife whisked him away and said something about him not being needed. Pah! I need him, even if they don't, so does Elizabeth."
"Of course you do, but the nurses are all single women, they think they know best. I've told Lucien he's not getting me anywhere near this place when I start, home is where this one will be born." Jean set her shoulders straight and Alice knew she meant what she said.
"I wish I could have stayed at home," she sighed.
"If it had been expected then you would, but it wasn't and Lucien only wanted to know you were both well, I bet he'll let you home fairly quickly, especially if you tick off the nurses," she whispered.
Alice laughed and Elizabeth's little arm flexed then her tiny hand settled across the breast.
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True to form, Alice found hospital stifling and boring and the nurses annoying. Matthew spent as much time as he could with her, but in between setting up a bassinet in the bedroom with Jean's help and sorting out a space for the baby's things and being on duty it was only visiting times he was there. His plan was to take some time off when she was allowed home, just so she wasn't on her own, though, he confided in Jean, what help he would be he had no idea.
"Tea boy," she teased, "laundress, cook, bottle washer ..."
"She's breastfed," he scowled.
"You know what I mean," she laughed, "and is Ruth still coming over?"
"Yeah, we reckon it would be nice for Alice and she to bond over the baby and while Elizabeth is in our room the other one is free. It'll be the baby's room when she doesn't need feeding at night."
"Excellent plans," Jean patted his shoulder. "Now, when is Alice coming home?"
"Tomorrow, she threatened to walk out on her own if Lucien didn't discharge her; another row with the nurse." He sighed. "She's a hard one, keeps telling Alice off for letting the babe kick and wave her arms about."
"I'm on Alice's side," Jean started to wash the tea things, "the poor little thing's been cooped up in a tiny space for nine months, how would you like it if brass kept you tied to a desk for nearly a year?"
"I'd be stir crazy," he admitted, making her sit down so he could do the dishes, "so, yeah, I get it, but the nurse says she'll grow up bandy legged."
"Twaddle," Jean huffed.
"That's something like what Alice said," he smirked remembering Alice barely holding in a curse when the nurse wrapped Elizabeth tightly after a feed one time. "She won't let her go down to the nursery now. Gotta get her out of there."
"Jailbreak?" Jean raised an eyebrow.
"Something like that," he grinned. "She said you've told Lucien you're not going anywhere near the hospital, when you give birth."
"No way! I had Jack at home I shall have this one at home, with my own personal physician on hand."
"You go girl," he laughed, "anyway, I'd best get you home, before Blake sends out a search party."
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Because Jean was a little too close to her confinement, Ruth was more than happy to come and help. She arrived the day after Alice was discharged from Hospital and found her sister relaxing on the couch with the bassinet beside her.
Matthew put his finger to his lips and smirked.
"Ah," Ruth nodded and whispered, "napping with the baby, which of course she absolutely does not do."
"Thanks for coming, Ruth," he showed her the room she would sleep in, "it makes me happier if I get called out. She of course says she does not need help but I think she needs the company."
"It's my pleasure Matthew, I couldn't believe it when you phoned that morning." She smiled and placed her case on the bed. "Now, how are you, because no one asks after the father?"
"Hey, I'm fine," he grinned, "luckiest bloke in Ballarat. Got a bit of ribbin' at the station and I'm sure I'll get used to the lack of sleep. It's Alice that has the work to do."
Ruth frowned at him.
"Oh, don't worry, I do my fair share, even changed a couple of nappies, but don't tell the lads, eh? Now, tea?"
"Lovely."
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"Good men, Matthew has," Ruth observed as Bill collected the boss from his house for a case later that week. "Means we can go and see Jean later as we have the car."
"And I'm sure Amelia will be happy to see you, Ruth, and she can finally meet Elizabeth," Alice looked up from the bed where she was changing the baby into a suitable outfit for visiting. "Now, Ruth, before we go, I've been meaning to ask you, I still call you Ruth, after all I've always known you as that, and so does Jean, but you changed your name to Amelia ..."
"You can call me Ruth," she smiled, "I don't mind, it was a long time ago, and I'll be Auntie Ruth to this little one," she tickled Elizabeth's foot. "I told Ruby she now has a little cousin, younger than her own daughter ..."
"I suppose she wasn't impressed," Alice pouted, "Elizabeth, that's enough," she grabbed a waving hand and pulled the sleeve of her little cardigan over it.
"Proper little wriggler, isn't she?" Ruth laughed.
"You can put her socks on, if you like," Alice gave a wicked grin.
"Is that a challenge, Dr Lawson?" Ruth raised an eyebrow.
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Jean was glad she was to have visitors that day. She missed seeing Alice though she understood she didn't want to bother her, close as she was, but the only way Alice could get to her was by car, and she still didn't drive, also she had to get used to being a mum by herself, but as Lucien didn't like Jean straying too far from the house she was beginning to feel like Alice did when she was confined to the hospital. The cleaner had vacuumed and dusted to Jean's standards, let Amelia 'help' her with the vacuum cleaner and left a tea tray already for the guests when they arrived.
Alice let herself into the Blake's house, as Jean insisted she did, being part of the family and because she really couldn't run up the hall these days.
"Jean?"
"Living room!" Jean called back, and looked up to the front door, it had taken her that long to heave herself up from the couch. "Hey, Amelia, look who's come to call."
"Yay!" a bundle of dark curls, ribbons and dungarees barrelled up to the visitors to be caught by Ruth before she bowled Alice over. "Gran'ma, Auntie Allie!"
"Well, hello there, you little monkey," Ruth laughed, "how are you?"
"Ooh," the toddler peered at the baby in Alice's arms, "baba."
"She's called, Elizabeth, Amelia," Alice bent forward and kissed her, "can you say that?"
"Iz-beff," she poked her finger in Elizabeth's tummy, "hey, Iz-beff!"
"No poking," Ruth poked Amelia's tummy and she giggled. "Too little."
Amelia pouted and wriggled to get down, "Mama here," she pointed to the living room. "Come see." She grabbed Ruth's hand and dragged her down to the living room.
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Jean made tea, insisting she was perfectly able to make a tray of tea.
"Charlie has been a dear and done some more cooking lately and Dora does a little extra if I ask her to, she will bake with Amelia which gives me time to put my feet up."
"I had hoped to help you, Jean," Alice let Amelia touch Elizabeth gently, "I'm sorry I got a bit sidetracked."
"I think I can forgive you," Jean laughed, "and how are you Ruth? How do you find your niece?"
"A little wriggler, but she's beautiful, though I must say it was the biggest surprise of my life when Matthew rang that morning." Ruth smiled and let Amelia eat her biscuit.
"It was a big surprise to me and Matthew too," Alice smiled.
"You have taken to motherhood very well, though Alice, you should be proud of yourself," Jean stroked Elizabeth's head.
"I'm more proud of Matthew changing nappies," she laughed.
"Oh now, I'm going to get Lucien doing that," Jean clapped her hands, "and if he doesn't want to I shall use Matthew as an example, if I may."
"Please do," Alice agreed.
"So, what have you been up to since I last saw you?"
"Well, I went and ordered the pram and the cot," Alice shrugged, "that's about as exciting as it gets at the moment."
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They spent a pleasant morning chatting about this and that, amusing Amelia and, in Alice's case feeding Elizabeth who was placed in Jean's bassinet Ruth brought into the living room.
Jean made them a light lunch, with Alice's help while Ruth played with Amelia and it did not go unnoticed that Jean occasionally rubbed her belly. Alice raised her eyebrows but both she and Ruth said nothing. When Jean nipped off to the loo they had a quick conversation and decided they would stay until Lucien got home, Alice could make dinner depending on what Jean had decided on.
"Ok?" Alice looked up from her seat on the floor.
"Fine," Jean smiled.
"If you want to go and have a snooze we can take care of Amelia, and prepare dinner ..." she smiled, "you look tired, Jean. I expect you do too much when Lucien's out."
Jean grimaced but she was right, she'd forgotten how tiring it was, running a home and now a business, looking after an active toddler and being pregnant.
"It seems rather rude," she sighed.
"Nonsense," Ruth held out her hand, "come on, let's get you settled and we'll take the girls into the garden."
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Ruth spread a blanket on the grass and Elizabeth was laid in the shade and with a few toys to play with Amelia was content.
"I've checked the refrigerator," Alice came out with a jug of squash and some glasses, "there's the remains of a roast chicken and some salad, that will do for dinner, I'll cook off some potatoes, they can be eaten cold with a dressing and some chives ..."
"Quite domesticated aren't we?" Ruth teased.
"Huh, you know me and Matthew share the chores."
"Just how it should be," she agreed, "what will Amelia eat?"
"Anything we do," Alice sat on a chair her leg ached if she sat on the floor too much, "thankfully. Hopefully Elizabeth will be as unfussy. What was Ruby like?"
"Fussy, didn't like getting her fingers sticky so finger food was out for a while, as far as I know she still is."
"As children we were just grateful to get anything, it makes you appreciate every mouthful." Alice observed.
Ruth thought for a moment, "Alice?"
"Hm?"
"D'you think Jean has started her labour?"
Alice nodded, "early stages, but she's already had two babies so this one may be quicker. What are you thinking?"
"That Amelia comes to stay with us, tonight, she can share with me; or I stay here and look after her. I'm sure Lucien's is going to be too busy to worry about a toddler and if Amelia sees Jean in pain it might frighten her."
"You're right," Alice hummed, "well, Lucien will have Charlie, if he's not on duty or on a date, but I expect he would be better with someone who can follow his direction ... how are you in an emergency?"
"You mean if he needs help, or an ambo?"
"Or just the kettle boiling ...?"
"I'm ok, I didn't panic when Ruby decided to come early and I was on my own, let's face it, Alice, we grew up looking after ourselves." Ruth smiled, "I'll stay here ..."
"The guest room will be available, it is usually ready for me and Matthew if we are involved in a case - you know, if we are working something out until the small hours."
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Jean woke from her afternoon nap with a familiar feeling, a tightening across her belly and an aching back and a need to go to the bathroom. She could hear voices out in the garden and surmised that Alice and Ruth had taken the babies outside. She attended to her needs and headed to the kitchen, she would have to see to dinner while she could.
Looking at the clock she knew Lucien would be back soon so she wouldn't bother phoning him, she wasn't alone.
"And what do you think you're doing?" A hand reached round her and took the plate from her hand that she had just removed from the fridge. "I know exactly how you are, Jean Blake," Alice put her arm round her, "come on, at least sit down."
"Hello, Alice, I just need to sort out dinner," she groaned as a pain washed round her.
"No you don't, Ruth and I can sort that out, and you don't want to frighten Amelia, do you?" Alice led her to a chair. "I'll make you some tea, if I do some sandwiches and salad then you can pick if you want to, Amelia will eat those, won't she?"
"Thank you, Alice, but how did you know?"
"Earlier, you were rubbing your bump and even in this stage of your pregnancy I wouldn't expect you to slow down unless ... now Ruth is going to stay overnight, keep an eye on Amelia and help Lucien; you know, with keeping the kettle on the boil and anything else he wants." The door opened and closed, "and here he is, right on time." Alice hugged her and went to greet Lucien and alert him to the situation.
"Thank you, Alice, I've brought your husband back with me."
"Thank you," she looked at Matthew over his shoulder, "Ruth needs to get her night things she's going to be your midwife tonight, and keep an eye on Amelia."
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Even with Alice having to take a couple of breaks to feed Elizabeth, dinner of sandwiches and salad, biscuits and cakes went down well. Jean stayed for as long as she could, explaining to Amelia that she was perfectly fine but she was going to be in bed for a while as the baby was on its way.
"You be good for Grandma and Auntie Alice," she kissed her after Ruth had settled her in bed, "and in the morning you can meet the baby."
"Love you, mama," Amelia yawned, the afternoon in the garden had worn her out.
"I love you too, darling, very much."
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Wandering around, directing Ruth and Lucien to put a rubber sheet on the bed and an old sheet on top with some towels as well, and checking the bassinet was ready kept Jean going for a while.
"Ruth, I know Elizabeth wasn't sick in the bassinet but ..."
"Clean linen? Of course, Jean," Ruth smiled and rubbed her back as she passed, "now," as she began to replace the linen in the bassinet, "have you thought of names for your little one, at least you've had time to think."
"I like William, for a boy," Jean took a deep breath, "or Jennifer for a girl."
"Lovely names, William Blake, he was an artist you know, painter and poet ..."
"So Lucien said, he showed me some pictures, they are lovely," she groaned again. "He'll probably be known as Will, or Billy."
"And William when he's in trouble?"
"Which, as he is Lucien's son will be often I have no doubt, but so will it be if it's a girl."
"And with Amelia to lead him, or her, you are going to have your hands full," Ruth laughed.
Lucien came back into the bedroom to say he had left everything in the kitchen, instruments in a bowl on the table.
"The kettle's on low," he smiled and started to put a surgeon's gown on, "when it's time I shall need it on full boil for the instruments."
"And here's me thinking we would be having tea," Ruth smiled, "no worries Lucien just give me the nod."
"Thanks, Ruth, and thanks for staying we both appreciate it," he smiled, "now, Jean I need to examine you to see how far on you are." He passed Ruth a gown and together they helped Jean onto the bed where Ruth held her hand as Lucien did his examination.
"A little way off, yet, love," he smiled, "do you want to keep wandering about?"
"Please," Jean let Ruth help her off the bed, "I'll just ..." she pointed to the bathroom.
"She'll be alright, Lucien," Ruth noticed the concern on his face, "she's done this before and she has you."
"I know, she hasn't had any problems so far, but it's always worrying, so much can go wrong during a birth."
"Alice says she's not doing it again," Ruth laughed.
"She didn't know she was doing it the first time," Lucien smirked, "but that's probably for the best, Alice has a tendency to over-think things."
"I get you, shall I get Jean a jug of iced water, d'ye think?"
"That's a lovely idea, Ruth, thank you."
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Things progressed calmly for some time until Jean said she now felt she needed to push.
"Lucien," she sighed and looked at the bed, "do I have to lie flat? Only Alice said she was on her knees and she thinks it made it easier, even if she didn't know what was happening at the time."
He hummed and then decided whatever way she was comfortable would be fine.
"You're doing the hard work, love, as long as I can see what's going on you do as you want."
Jean knelt on the bed and while childbirth was, she considered, most undignified, presenting your arse to your husband in the company of another woman was probably even more so. Neither seemed bothered. Ruth was positioned to support her with smiles, comforting back rubs and sips of water if she needed it.
"Ruth, would you go and tip boiling water over those instruments please, and bring the bowl through."
"Right away, doctor," she walked quickly out of the room and ran to the kitchen.
When she returned the head was born and the rest of William Blake followed quickly after. Jean looked between her legs and gasped, it was an odd view but with Christopher and Jack she hadn't seen the cord quite so clearly, it was 'interesting' she thought.
"He's perfect," Lucien smiled, "a healthy little boy, Jean – well done. Now, let's get you tidied up and you can see if he wants to nurse, eh?"
He handed his new born son to Ruth who wiped his little face and wrapped him in a towel ready for Jean to see.
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Bathed, clean nightwear and a clean bed, Jean held her baby and stroked his little cheek.
"Well, William," she hummed, "shall we see if you want a little something, eh?"
She offered him her breast and he seemed to know precisely what to do.
"Just like you father," she murmured.
Ruth tidied the bedroom, Lucien threw the gowns into the laundry to be boiled with the first set of nappies, and sat next to his wife.
"I'll leave you to it," Ruth whispered, "congratulations to you both."
"Ruth," Jean reached out to her with her free hand, "thank you, for everything, now get some sleep, there will be someone who needs you later and she's an early riser."
"I'll see to her, and bring her in to meet her brother when she's had her breakfast and is washed and dressed, shall I?"
"That would be lovely," Jean smiled, "and thank you, again."
"No worries, I was glad to help. Goodnight."