Christopher set the phone back on its cradle. At last, his mother was on her way and though it was later than he and Ruby had hoped he understood. He had spoken to Dr Blake a few times since his initial call and was assured that his mother was fully recovered from her bruises and the case was resolved.
"Sorry it's taken so long, Christopher," Lucien sighed, "but she is feeling up to the journey, now."
"It's good of you to drive her, doctor," he cleared his throat, "and thank you for looking after her - it can't have been easy, she's … er … she's rather independent."
"Stubborn, you mean," there was a smile in the doctor's voice. "She had some nightmares which she told me was unusual, but after realising it could have been her in the explosion, she has found sleep hard." He decided against telling Christopher the way they had conquered Jean's nightmares and bad dreams.
"I think I would too."
"I intend to take a few days before I drive back, do you think you could find a small hotel near the base and book me a room? And do you mind if I treat your mother to dinner one evening?"
"I'll do that, there is one within walking distance and no, mum deserves a treat." Christopher thought it was rather like being asked permission for a man to court his mother.
"She does, well, we'll see you day after tomorrow," Lucien signed off.
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Ruby had set the baby in the pram in the garden and hung a line of nappies out to dry, but now she was exhausted. She was always tired, which was why they had asked Jean to come and stay for a while. Christopher had told her that Dr Blake would be driving her over and she wondered if she could talk to him, her own doctor had gone on holiday and his locum was worse than usual – she thought. He dismissed her worries and said she should expect to be tired after a long labour and difficult birth, the health visitor just checked the baby and agreed that she was growing well and she herself would recover in time.
She sat on the couch and decided she could perhaps have a short nap before Amelia woke for her next feed.
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Someone was shaking her shoulder.
"Mrs Beazley, Mrs Beazley," an urgent voice.
"Hm?" she blinked, "wha'?"
"Good, you're awake," it was her neighbour, "your baby is bringing the house down, I think she's hungry."
"Oh," she sat up suddenly and the room span.
"Whoa there," the woman soothed, "breast or bottle?"
"Bottle," she gasped.
"You lie down, love, I can deal with that."
The neighbour was worried at Ruby's pallor and her skin was cold and clammy to the touch. She sat in the small living room and fed Amelia, all the while watching the new mother lying on the couch. Something was not right.
"Hey, Mrs Beazley," she stroked her forehead. "Have you seen a doctor lately?"
"Um, he says it was a difficult birth …"
"How old is your baby?"
"Nearly six weeks."
Something was definitely not right.
"I'm going to call a doctor …"
"Oh, he won't help, he never does," she started to cry.
"Right, then, an ambulance it is."
"My mother-in-law is coming tomorrow, she'll help. She's bringing a friend, a doctor, a good doctor."
The neighbour looked at her, she wasn't sure she'd make another twenty-four hours, but she couldn't force her to go to hospital.
"Would you like me to stay, at least until your husband gets home?"
"Oh, I couldn't impose …"
"No imposition, dear, I have nothing pressing this afternoon. How about I make a cup of tea, and perhaps something for you to eat?"
Really Ruby was too tired to do anything so let the woman see to Amelia, make her some tea and a sandwich. She was quietly efficient, much like she thought Jean would be.
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Christopher could hear things happening in the kitchen but when he looked in there it wasn't Ruby.
"Lieutenant," she smiled politely, "your wife is not very well."
"Oh, you live next door," he stepped in.
"Dorcas Fitch," she looked at her floury hands and grinned. "She's in the living room. The baby has been fed and they are having a cuddle on the couch."
"How long have you been here?"
"Just today," she shrugged, "your baby has a good set of lungs. Go say hello to your wife, Lieutenant, dinner will be ready soon; I hope you like chicken pie."
He didn't answer, he just went into the living room to see his wife and daughter.
"Rube?"
"Oh, hello Christopher," Ruby gave a small smile. "Here's daddy, sweetheart."
She looked even paler than she had that morning.
"Sweetheart? What happened? Why is Mrs Fitch making dinner?"
"I fell asleep, Amelia made so much noise …" she sighed, "Christopher, I feel dreadful, if I try to get up too fast, I go so dizzy. Mrs Fitch has been so kind, but she wanted me to go to hospital …"
"Then you should have gone."
"No, they have been useless so far, treat me like a whining woman. Dr Blake will be here tomorrow; you said he's a good doctor?"
"He is," that much Christopher knew, but he also knew that Blake liked a drink though his mother said he was calmer these days. "But promise me that if you get worse you go into hospital, and I'll send the doctor to you as soon as they arrive?"
"If you think I should."
"I think you should have gone when Mrs Fitch suggested it," he wrapped his arms round her. "I love you, Ruby."
"I love you too, Christopher," she snuggled against him and felt him take the baby off her as she slipped into unconsciousness.
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Lucien had booked himself and Jean into a small hotel in Bordertown, one room, dinner, and breakfast. They planned to leave early in the morning – hoping to arrive at Christopher and Ruby's house after lunch.
"What do you expect to find?" he asked as they started their meal.
"Not sure," she speared a vegetable with her fork and thought, "Christopher said she wasn't coping, so maybe a pile of laundry, empty cupboards, dust …" she ate, "and a screaming baby."
"Does she have friends on base, you know, other mothers?"
"I don't know," Jean sighed, "she's not easy to get to know; I was surprised to be asked, we're not on the best of terms. Christopher says I intimidate her."
"Bah!" he scoffed, "you're not intimidating …"
"You're a man, Lucien, you're not supposed to be intimidated by a mere woman."
"You are not a 'mere woman', you are Jean Beazley, the woman who is there for all of us. You are strong, capable, you get on with things. But then, I suppose you've had to …"
"… or I would have sunk."
"Probably." He twirled his wine glass between his fingers, "but you didn't and maybe we can all learn from that."
"You are silly, Lucien," she smiled.
They decided to take a short stroll in the park after dinner as it was still light and warm. Jean slipped her hand into the crook of Lucien's elbow and looked up at him smiling down on her. For the first time in such a long time she felt loved. Her husband had said he loved her, but he didn't show it; he was rough when he loved her, rarely treated her to even a bunch of flowers and when she lost the baby girl she had to marry him over, he hadn't comforted her. She didn't think he knew how to. But Lucien was different. He was gentle and kind, he needed to give her as much pleasure in their lovemaking as he got from it.
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Jean woke early, as usual. They had made love and giggled like teenagers at being in a hotel as lovers and not husband and wife. They had both drifted off to sleep, content in each other's arms and Jean had not had a nightmare.
They were to have an early breakfast, ring Christopher to say they were leaving Bordertown and give him an idea of when to expect them.
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"I'll bring the cases down while you ring Christopher," Lucien paid the bill, "tell him we should be there just after lunch."
"Christopher … no!" she gasped as he interrupted her greeting to tell her what had happened the previous day.
"She's in hospital, mum," he swallowed, "they're running tests, but she hasn't come round yet."
"Oh god," she put her hand over her mouth. "Amelia?"
"She's with me, Mrs Fitch, next door, has been so helpful, she says I only have to ask."
"She sounds like a very good neighbour."
"Yeah, look, mum, I want to get sorted, see Ruby and sort Amelia out for the day. If I'm at the hospital, I'll leave a key with next door."
"Right, we're setting off now. We'll be as quick as possible."
"You drive carefully," he warned.
"I will."
She told Lucien what her son had said as they drove out of Bordertown.
"Sounds like some kind of post-partum infection," he hummed, "but it should have been picked up by now."
"I gather she had little faith in her doctor, and he's gone on holiday – the locum's useless, apparently."
"Right, am I allowed ...?"
"I think it's expected doctor." She touched his arm.
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Lucien was not normally a fast driver, unless it was an emergency, but this day he put his foot down and drove up to and occasionally above the speed limit, stopping briefly to buy a sandwich and a bottle of lemonade for each of them to eat as they travelled. Jean took her turn at the wheel to give Lucien a break, he had done all the driving the previous day, and it was early afternoon when they pulled up at the little base house.
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"Hospital visiting is usually at two in the afternoon," Lucien hummed as a woman from next door came trotting up the path. She was carrying a baby.
"You must be Dr Blake and Jean Beazley?" she smiled, "I'm Dorcas Fitch," she held out the baby, "this is Amelia."
Jean took the baby and kissed her, "hello, little one," she smiled tenderly. "Do you know how Ruby is?"
"Lieutenant … er … your son left early this morning, I said I'd look after Amelia; I don't doubt he's harassing the medical staff at the base hospital."
"Right," Lucien straightened his shoulders, "we'll book in at the hotel, Jean, then get over to the hospital."
"Oh, yes, I suppose that's best," she blinked.
"I'll get you Amelia's things, I expect you would like to have her now?"
"I can't thank you enough for looking after them," Jean touched her arm.
"We were all there once, Mrs Beazley, maybe not as bad as Ruby, but we've all been out of our depth at some time – let me know if there's anything else I can do."
"Thank you, again."
Dorcas trotted off down the path and soon returned with Amelia's pram under which was stowed clean nappies, fresh bottles and a couple of dresses and matinee coats she had put through with her own wash.
"You take care now." And she was off.
"Right, I'm guessing the hotel Christopher mentioned is the one we passed," Lucien put his arm round her shoulders, "let's get going, then we can go and see Ruby and see what needs doing, eh?"
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Not sure if Jean would stay at the house or in the hotel, he booked a room for the both of them. Nobody knew them in Adelaide, either, except for Christopher and Ruby and now Mrs Fitch, but he didn't think Jean would care. And as far as he was concerned, she needed looking after as well, and he was jolly well going to do that, if it was all he could do.
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Lucien used his veteran's card and his army ID to get them onto the base and up to the hospital where they found Christopher at Ruby's bedside.
"Christopher?" Jean swallowed.
"Mum!" he stood up quickly, "you're here; and Dr Blake."
"Christopher," Lucien approached the bed, "what have the medics said?"
"They think she has an infection."
"That would be my first thought," he picked up her wrist and measured her pulse, then went to the end of the bed and checked her charts. "High temp, rapid pulse, low blood pressure. Hm. Any tests?"
"I guess so, they won't tell me anything, except she's very sick."
"Right, I need to see her notes and her consultant," he poked his nose out of the door to be met by a nursing sister about to remind the Lieutenant that it was two visitors only. She didn't get the chance. "Mrs Beazley's notes, please, Sister," Lucien barked, "and get her consultant here."
"Er …" she scowled.
"This is Dr Lucien Blake, sister," Christopher appeared at Blake's shoulder, "I have asked him to oversee my wife's treatment."
"Well …" she huffed.
"Come on, Sister, I don't think Mrs Beazley has the time to worry about your procedures." Lucien was usually quite polite to the nursing staff, but he could see if he was too kind he would have a battle on his hands – he'd deal with Matron later, no doubt in his mind that she would be called.
"It's still only two visitors," she grumbled.
"Mrs Beazley has two visitors," he held up his army ID card, "I'm here on official business."
"Oh, er Major Blake, right, sir …" she bustled off.
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The consultant arrived with the notes. He was not happy that his work was called into question; the patient had an infection, he had started her on antibiotics – there were two possible outcomes …
"Last examination?" Lucien flicked through the notes trying to find the report of such. "Not done?" he waved the folder in the consultant's face.
Jean didn't even try to get him to calm down, this was why he had so many patients, he would move heaven and earth to see they made it through whatever illness had befallen them and he took it as a personal slight if they did not survive.
"Well, antibiotics … y'know …"
"But if you don't know what is causing the infection … gloves! And get me a gown!" He turned to Jean and Christopher.
"Outside, please, while I do a proper examination." He smiled gently at Jean.
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Lucien threw his gloves in the bin and glared at Sister and the consultant. "Prep a theatre, possible hysterectomy. She has a huge abscess in there, likely due to some of the placenta being left – I doubt a D and C will be enough. I'll talk to the family."
"But …" the consultant stammered.
"If you had done an examination, you would have seen the discharge was not right." He took the charts and wrote down all he would need for Ruby's operation and continuing treatment. He hoped the theatre team were competent.
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"… so, you see, Christopher, I am sure with this she will survive, but there will be no more children."
"Just save my wife, Dr Blake," he rubbed his face.
Blake patted his shoulder. "I'll be sometime. Why don't you go back to the house with your mother, I'll ring when we've done, eh?"
"I ought to stay."
"Your staying will not affect the outcome, son," he sighed, "go on." He looked up at Jean who nodded.
Christopher didn't see Lucien kiss Jean as he started down the corridor.
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Jean made tea, busied herself with dusting and vacuuming, gave her son the task of feeding his daughter and helping her move some of the heavier furniture.
"Mum, you don't have to do this," he pushed the sideboard back against the living room wall.
"Ruby won't be up to much physical activity when she gets home," Jean set the pictures and ornaments on the shelf, "best have it nice and clean for her, then a swift vacuum and dust will be all she needs to do. You can do some as well." She folded her arms. "Now, let's see what I can do for dinner, Lucien will be hungry, and you need to eat."
"Lucien, is it?"
"Huh? oh, we've been on first name terms for ages," she had to good grace to blush and headed for the kitchen before he asked any more questions.
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Lucien closed his incision in Ruby's abdomen, covered it with a neat dressing and sent her to recovery.
"What a bloody mess," he grumbled, "and totally unnecessary."
"Doctor?"
"Well, nurse, the infection should have been spotted in the first week, heaven knows what the poor girl has been suffering all this time."
"Quite, what do you want me to do with the organ?"
"Let me have a proper look," he stepped across to the trolley where Ruby's womb lay. "Hm, several abscesses, this one is on the site of the placenta which was not completely removed – hence the infection. Poor midwifery after-care. Have it sent to the path lab for me, please, I'll do a formal report from there."
"Yes, sir."
He pulled off his gloves and gown and went to ring Christopher, tell him Ruby would be fine but that there would be no more children. He also wondered if they would sue for medical negligence, but that was not for now, later perhaps he would discuss it with the young father. Meanwhile, after he had spoken to Christopher and Jean, he was going to tell the consultant just what he thought of him.
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"Thanks, doc," Christopher breathed a sigh of relief. "We have Amelia, and we love her. Can I come over and see Ruby?"
"She'll be sedated for the night," Lucien told him, "But if you want to come and hold her hand, me and your mother can babysit."
"I'll do that, and, again, thank you, for everything."
"If you ever need me, Christopher, you only have to call."
"Yeah." He put the phone down and leant against the hall wall.
"Christopher?" His mother appeared at his side, holding his daughter.
"She's going to be alright, but Dr Blake had to take her womb away."
"I'm sorry," she wasn't really sure what to say.
"We'll be alright, we have this little madam to keep us on our toes. The important thing is I still have Ruby and Amelia still has her mother."
"Are you going over? I heard you ask Lucien."
"Yeah, she's sedated but I can hold her hand for a while. He says you and him can babysit."
"He does, does he?" she laughed softly.
"Yeah. You will, won't you?"
"Don't be silly, of course we will."
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Christopher and Lucien passed each other in the hospital. Lucien had done a quick examination of the womb and written a short report. He told Christopher to be gentle with his wife, she would take it hard.
"Alright," he frowned.
"Mood swings, that kind of thing. She'll see it as taking away her right to bear more children, a decision she should have made herself if she had to."
"I see, I think." He hummed. "I should have brought her some flowers."
"I think she'll forgive you, just this once." Lucien smiled.
"Mum's got some dinner keeping warm for you, there's scotch in the sideboard, help yourself."
"Thanks."
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Lucien explained what he had found while he ate his dinner; Jean was glad she had eaten with Christopher. She poured them both a whisky and they sat together in the living room, Amelia in her bassinet in her room and thought about what they should do next.
"There isn't room for me here," she sighed, "that's why I was going to rent a place, but Amelia will need seeing to during the night."
"Could we take her to the hotel? You know, put the bassinet in the pram and the extra things she needs." He slipped his arm round her shoulders.
"What did you book?"
"Same as Bordertown," he smiled, "I wasn't sure what your plans were, but I thought if I booked a double room …" he looked sheepish.
"I don't know," she chewed her bottom lip.
"Nobody knows us here. I just said we'd come to visit family to help out after the birth of a baby. I didn't say whose family or refer to you as my housekeeper."
"And if we turn up with a baby?"
"Tell them the truth, her mother is in hospital, her father is a serving soldier … we can look for a flat or a cottage for you tomorrow. Ruby won't be able to do much for a month, at least. How would Christopher be with night feeds?"
"I have no idea," she shrugged. "I did tell him he would have to pull his weight with the housework, though."
"That's a start, but for tonight I suggest we have Amelia, he'll be exhausted and worrying about Ruby."
"Alright, but let's check with him first, she is his daughter after all."
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Christopher wondered about his mother and the doctor staying in the hotel. Jean had just said that because of the lack of room at the house Lucien had taken the precaution of booking them both into the hotel for the night.
"We'll look for a flat or a cottage tomorrow, dear," she smiled.
"You need to get a good night's sleep, young man," Lucien smiled, "if your mother has Amelia for the night, you won't be disturbed. She assures me she can cope with a broken night. We'll be over first thing; I shall want to check in on Ruby, anyway. We can bring her round and see how she is."
"If you're sure?"
"We are." Jean touched his arm. "Things'll look better in the morning, Christopher – they always do."
He watched them push the pram down the path, closed the door and headed up to bed. She was right, he was shattered and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
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The hotel accepted the explanation that Lucien gave with his customary charm.
"I don't suppose we would be able to have an electric kettle and jug in the room, to warm the baby's bottles, could we?" Jean gave a disarming smile.
The concierge scratched her head and decided on balance they didn't seem like the type to have kidnapped a baby and agreed she could look for one and bring it up to the room.
By the time the kettle was delivered Jean had set the bassinet on a blanket box at the end of the bed and Lucien had started to run a bath for her.
"Thank you," she reached into her purse for a tip, "sorry to be a bother, we didn't quite know how poorly Ruby was until we got here."
"I hope she gets better soon."
"So do I, the doctor has to get back to his practice in Ballarat."
"Of course."
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The morning dawned cool and overcast. Jean's sleep had been disturbed twice by her granddaughter demanding food and clean clothing. Lucien had woken with her and heated the bottle while she made her more comfortable and then he let her lean against his chest while she fed her. It all felt strangely normal, but it wasn't. She had to get up, bath the baby and feed her, wash, and dress …
"Hey," Lucien kissed her head, "stop thinking. What do you want me to do?"
"If I bath her and get her dressed, can you heat up her bottle?"
"You know I can, and I'll feed her while you sort yourself out, shall I?"
"Thank you."
They managed to wash and dress and amuse the baby before heading down to breakfast.
"Any messages, from the hospital?" Lucien asked as he perused the menu.
"No."
"Good." He nodded, that meant Ruby had survived the night. "I'll have bacon and egg, tomatoes and mushrooms, tea, and toast. Jean?"
"Oh, just bacon and egg, please, and tea."
"And some toast," Lucien passed the menu back, "you need to keep your strength up, no doubt you want to do a lot at Christopher's."
"I want the house easy for Ruby to look after when she leaves hospital," she agreed.
"And we must look for some place for you to stay. I will stay for a while, of course, see you settled and Ruby well on her way to recovery, but …" he sighed.
"… you can't leave Alice for too long; it was only supposed to be a couple of days." She fiddled with her napkin, he put his hand over hers.
"I wish I could stay longer, or even until you are able to come home. You will come home, won't you?"
"Of course I will, if you want me to."
"It isn't home without you," he stopped speaking and let the waitress set out their order, "but Christopher asked for your help, and they need it." He continued when she was out of earshot, "I love you Jean, please know that I want you with me, at our home."
"As soon as Ruby can cope, I'll come home." She smiled, "I love you too, Lucien."
He knew they would have to talk about what they were to each other. He knew at home there was gossip about their relationship and he hoped nobody knew the truth, not even Mattie. But it would ruin Jean if anyone found out they now shared a bed, and he wouldn't have that, not for anything.
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"A comfortable night, doctor," the ward sister handed him the charts. "The wound looks clean and there is no sign of inflammation."
"Thank you, sister," he flicked through the report, "I shall check her then see about bringing her round."
"As you wish," she hummed.
Lucien had left Jean and Amelia with Christopher. As he had said, it was not visiting time and much as he would like to allow Christopher to spend unlimited time with Ruby the hospital would not allow it.
"I'll ring you once I have seen her. I hope to wake her up and see how she feels."
"Rotten, I expect," Jean muttered.
"Probably, but I need to see how much pain relief she needs, and I don't like leaving post-op patients unconscious for long."
"Thank you, doctor," Christopher sighed, "I expect mum has got some jobs for me here, anyway."
"Undoubtedly," Lucien nodded.
And so, he was there on his own, doing what he did best – caring for a very sick young woman determined to have her make a full recovery.
He checked her vital signs then asked the nurse to uncover the incision site he had made the previous day. He was pleased, it was clean there was no sign of swelling anywhere, and further examination showed nothing untoward. He decided to withdraw her sedation and let her wake up.
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Christopher took a deep breath and smoothed down his jacket. He had flowers, some cordial that his mother had suggested Ruby might like instead of just plain water. Jean stood by him, cradling his daughter but she was going to let him go in alone, first.
Lucien had spent some considerable time talking to Ruby, explaining what had happened and what he had done to save her life, though he didn't quite put it like that. He had let her weep for the children she would never have, the siblings Amelia would never know.
"I'm truly sorry, Ruby," he held her hand.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, doctor," she sniffed, "you did what you had to do … I do feel better than I have done for weeks, if sore."
"You will be sore for a while, my dear, but you can have some pain relief for that."
"Thank you."
"Christopher is on his way; I'm going to take Jean to find somewhere to stay for a while, a flat or a cottage on a short rent." He smiled, "she will help you with the house and that adorable baby of yours …"
"Adorable?"
"She's a sweetie, Ruby, a lovely healthy baby. But until you are truly back on your feet Jean is here to help you."
"It is good of her, even if we haven't always seen eye to eye. How long do you think it will take me to recover?"
"I'm going to say a month to six weeks but even after that you will have to take it easy. Don't rush, it won't do you any favours."
"I'll do that."
"Do as much as you feel you can, when you can, but you'll be in hospital for at least two weeks. I'd like the stitches out before you go home."
"Surely you can't stay for that long?"
"No. I'll go back to Ballarat in a couple of days and come back to take your stitches out in ten days from now, but I shall be in daily contact with the hospital. I can be here in about three hours if I fly."
"You've done so much."
"As of yesterday, Ruby, you are my patient, I will continue to care for you until I don't need to." He stood up, "now, your husband and daughter are here to say hello … ready?"
"Ready," she nodded and smoothed the bedsheets around her.
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"I think this one will do," Jean looked around the small flat. "It's close enough to the base and there are a few shops I can use to keep the cupboards stocked."
"And with it being on the ground floor the pram won't be a problem."
"Yes, Christopher and I have agreed I will have Amelia until Ruby is out of hospital, but I will do the laundry there."
"And eat with him?"
"I'll spend most of the day there, I think, visit Ruby in the afternoon and take Amelia with me – thank you for clearing that with sister."
"I think it is important for Ruby and Amelia, to help them bond. All Ruby has known since she was born was pain and misery." He leant against the doorframe. "I'll book into the hotel when I come to remove her stitches and assess her for discharge."
"Why?" she frowned up at him.
"Why what?"
"Why would you book into the hotel?"
"Well … I mean …" he blushed, he hadn't wanted to assume he would be staying with her, there was only one bedroom.
"For goodness' sake, Lucien," she huffed, "we've shared a bed since before we left Ballarat, why would we stop now? Only Christopher knows me here, and he has no right to say anything – he's my son, not my father."
"Does he know?"
"I have no idea, but I'm not going to tell him." She folded her arms. "Now, before I pick up Amelia from Christopher I need some linen, the bassinet bringing over and the rest of our things. Feeling strong?" she grinned. His answer was to pick her up and fling her over his shoulder.
"Lucien Blake!" she shrieked, "put me down."
"You did ask," he laughed.
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Using the pram to carry Amelia's things, Jean was able to get everything over to her flat in one journey; Lucien paid the hotel bill and brought their luggage over from the hotel in the car.
"Right," she put her things away, "now linen. There's a shop not far that should have what I need, but if you're coming back in ten days perhaps you could bring some things from home for me, to save the expense."
"Give me a list and I'll do that for you." He kissed her head, "you're a marvel, Jean Beazley, you know that don't you?"
She shrugged, "come on, or sister will have thrown Christopher and Amelia out on the street."
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"… it would be a good idea," Jean was saying as they entered Ruby's room.
"What would be?" Christopher stood when he heard her voice.
"Oh, Lucien is going to leave the car with me and fly between Ballarat and here."
"Won't you need it, doctor?" Ruby frowned.
"I can borrow the nurse's car, or if it's a police surgeon thing, one of the officers can collect me. It's not forever." He smiled. "How have you been?"
"Fine, I've had some pain relief, some tea to drink and a little food." She smiled, ignoring the idea Jean would be going back to Ballarat in time. She didn't expect her to stay forever, but she wondered how long Dr Blake could do without a car.
"Excellent," he checked her charts. "Just as I would like."
"I've manged to hold Amelia, here on the bed," she looked pleased with herself, "well, she lay next to me really."
"That's good, but no lifting her until I've taken the stitches out."
"Have you found somewhere, mum?" Christopher watched their ease with each other.
"A flat, not far from the base, and we've transferred everything over for now. It's small but there's room for the bassinet and as it's on the ground floor I can use the pram."
"We really are grateful, Jean, for what you're doing. I know you have a life in Ballarat, and I'm sure the doctor needs you …"
"I'll cope," Lucien shrugged, "I will have to. Perhaps you can come and stay, when you're up to a long journey, I'm sure Jean would like that, wouldn't you?" he turned to her.
"I think that would be lovely," Jean smiled happily, "if Christopher can get the leave, of course."
"We'll get Amelia sleeping through the night, first," Ruby nodded, "we don't want the whole household woken with her screaming."
"Oh, that won't bother us, we're used to the phone going all times of the day and night," Lucien laughed, "but it is kind of you to think of that."
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Jean drove Lucien to the airport in good time for a long goodbye. Amelia slept through in the bassinet on the back seat.
"Right," he straightened his tie, she patted her curls back into place and fastened her blouse. "I'll ring, often …"
"I know you will," she put her head on his shoulder, "but I won't be upset if you forget."
"I won't forget. You look after yourself, don't work too hard. The house is tidy and clean. Enjoy your time with Amelia."
"I will, you be careful, eat properly, perhaps have Matthew or Alice over for dinner, Charlie's a good cook."
"I'll be back soon," he gave her final kiss and got out of the car.
She sat and watched the plane disappear out of sight then turned the car round and headed for her flat.