There is talk about teenage pregnancy in this first chapter. The phrase tin roof rusted is slang for a girl that gets pregnant by mistake.
Lucien closes the file in front of him letting out a sigh of frustration. He had made sure this was the last appointment of the day. When will these young girls understand the consequences? He gets upset for the women and their naivety but angry with the young men that can go on living as if nothing happened. They do not have to carry the shame of their action or even take responsibility if they so choose.
He goes to the window where he sees Jean consoling the teen. She always makes herself scarce in the surgery when these cases arise yet when the time comes she is ready to comfort the young women. Today is no different than the other times that cases like this have come through his surgery. Jean waits, keeping busy in the front garden till the tear streaked faces emerge through the door.
He watches Jean wipe the tears from the round face with a hanky that she pulls from her apron. She smoothes a stray curl plastered to the cheek and gives the girl a hug. The teen nods in response to something that Jean says then heads out of the driveway. Did Jean just brush away a tear of her own?
Before Lucien has a chance to observe Jean longer, she squares her shoulders, turns on her heals and makes her way to the house. He is just rounding his desk when the slam of the door makes him jump causing him to pause in his tracks. "Jean?"
She doesn't turn when he calls her name, "I'll put the kettle on." She continues to the kitchen in haste, Lucien trailing behind.
"Terrible business about Joan. So young."
"Yes. I think Paul will do the right thing by her."
"Mmm. I'm sure he will." Lucien glides a hand along her hip as he he passes to help with the tea. "Shame though. He has such a bright future. I hope he doesn't throw it all away to remain working in his father's shop."
Jean faces him a storm raging in her eyes. "So does Joan. You know she is, was, planning on going to university next year."
"Of course, I didn't mean… oh hell. I just wish these girls will stop thinking that they can't get pregnant the first time. I mean really, where do they get these silly notions."
Where seconds ago there was a storm, Lucien recoils as he sees lightning strike in his beloved's steel blue eyes. "Silly notions! Are you putting the blame on these girls?"
Lucien's hands fly up in protest. "No Jean, that is not what I mean." His words fall on deaf ears, Jean too angry to hear his protest.
"Maybe if these men, that they care for, shouldn't tell them these silly notions. Maybe these men shouldn't convince these girls that everything will be alright when…argh." Jean unties her apron with fury, throwing it over a chair and heads to the sunroom.
Lucien stands, mouth open not sure what has just happened. The whistle from the kettle brings him back to the moment. He makes a slight movement to follow Jean but decides better, turning his attention to the waiting teapot.
He expects to find her working out her frustrations on some poor potted plant but instead she is sitting still, eyes focused on the gold tooth aloe. "I poured you a cuppa, extra sugar." The look on her face breaks him as she accepts his peace offering. "Darling, I am ever so sorry I upset you. I never meant to and I certainly never meant to imply it is any woman's fault. I hope you know that."
Jean sighs, motions for him to sit next to her on the settee. "I do know that Lucien. And I don't believe it is the young men's fault either, well, most of the time."
"Young love?" He laces his fingers with hers. "I suppose it is something that will never change."
"No, I don't suppose it will." She squeezes his hand reassuring him that she isn't angry with him. "But you were right about something. The course of their lives is forever changed one way or another."
"Jean? Are you alright?" Her brow raises which causes him to tread lightly. "I'm only asking because well... I know that I am a bloody arse but you seem more upset than usual with this sort of thing."
She gives a deflated sigh before choosing her words carefully. "There is something weighing heavily on my mind. Something I think you should know. It seems every time I think that it doesn't matter, something happens to make me reconsider. First Tilley, then Rose."
"Rose?"
"False alarm, anyway today with Joan it all came flooding back again." Jean looks at Lucien's confused face. She runs a hand along his beard, the coarse hairs that she can freely touch giving her strength. "We will be married in just over a month. I want to tell you something about my marriage to Christopher."
"Jean you don't have to." Given the conversation that has led them to this point, he can speculate what his Jean wants to confess though young Christopher's age does not line up with the date of a hasty wedding.
"No, Lucien I need to tell you. All of it, from the beginning." Standing she looks down at his loving eyes drinking her in. "I think I want something stronger than tea. You get the whiskey and meet me in the studio."
Lucien hands Jean a tumbler of amber liquid. She takes a long sip with the same ease as if sipping her tea. He recalls that not long ago she could barely stomach it. He tops her off before sitting next to her on the sofa. "I dare say it is too warm for a fire this afternoon, darling." He sheds his jacket before shifting close to her side.
She reaches over to loosen his tie, encouraging him to get comfortable as she wrestles with where to start. The fine soft silk under her fingers is a stark reminder of how different her life will be with Lucien compared to hers with Christopher. Where to start? Start at the beginning.
"Christopher's family lived on a farm not far from ours. He was a friend of my brother, John. Just two years older than I." Lucien nods, familiar with this bit of information. "I know you know some of this but I need to tell you all of it for you to understand, really understand where I came from. Who I was...am."
"Of course." Lucien puts an arm around Jean, pulling her close, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Tell me everything you want, my darling. We have forever."