Jean lay back against her pillows, at a loss for words. Her stomach had felt funny, with the grave way Lionel had said we need to talk, but what followed, well, never in a million years would she have guessed... Her mind whirled, and the memory of her meeting with Lionel's ex-wife, disconnected voices that now seemed to make a clear picture.

You were the girl in it. Yes, I was the girl in it. She still is. Always was, I suppose

I wanted to show you that I didn't remain the dull, boring wife you always thought I was

"Jean?"

His voice was shaking. Never had he seemed so fragile, so tremulous.

"I'm just surprised, Lionel. Trying to gather my thoughts."

Jean looked over at her husband. She knew him well enough to see what was troubling him.

"You feel guilty." She made it a statement, not a question.

"Should I be anything else? I should have realised, that month before. There was enough.. I should have done something"

There it was, she thought. So like Lionel, really. That sense of responsibility that she and the girls so often teased was quaint and old fashioned. She tried to think of how to answer, and in a moment, she said,

"Lionel, listen to me. Would you and Margaret ever fit together, or been happy together, baby or no?"

He eventually admitted

"No."

"And did your child find a good family?"

"She did."

"And so I'd say that everything worked out all right. There's no reason to fret about what's in the past, and what can't be changed, anyway."

"You're right. And here I thought you'd be angry at me. Or hurt."

"Lionel, you have done nothing that could make me angry, or to hurt me. I'm glad you told me. Do you know, it'll be nice.. and even a little exciting to get to know her, to get to know Cecily."

She paused and smiled mischievously.

"Are you ready for one more recruit to join the monstrous regiment of women in your life, Second Lieutenant Hardcastle?"

He did give a tiny smile at that.

"I suppose I will be, in time."

"Well that will have to do."

She met his eyes, saw there was one more thing he needed.

"Come here." she whispered, and took her husband in her arms.

**********

"Hello Mum?"

"In the kitchen."

Judy found her in the middle of a kitchen looked, to use Lionel's expression, like a hurricane had hit it, flitting around like a manic hummingbird.

"Oh Judy, it's a shambles! I've run out of vinegar to make the salad dressing with only I didn't realise, when I was shopping. And I'm sure I should have gone with my first plan.. I know she won't like what I've made."

"Mum. It's all right. I'll call Alistair, and get him to pick some up on the way here. Your cooking will be more than fine, as it always is."

Judy was regarding her with part concern, and part amusement, which Jean understood, she had to admit. After all, she'd manage to take charge when Lionel had needed her to -which was sort of odd, Lionel was the one person in their family who was never the subject of the latest crisis or main event. She had been the one to explain about the arrival of his biological daughter to every one who needed to know; Sandy, Rocky and Madge, and Judy and Alistair. And had arranged for Cecily to meet everyone, in good time. She'd even encouraged Lionel to get in touch with his ex-wife and air a twenty year old secret.

And to get through that, then fall all to pieces by the act of preparing a simple lunch, well I suppose that's me, Jean thought ruefully. With a little laugh, she t drew Judy close, feeling calmer, and also for a moment, anchored again, appreciating the warmth of the connection that encircled them both and, Jean liked to think, the life beginning to grow within her daughter as well

"Thanks, love. I'm grateful. You know, I suppose it's not about the food anyway, it's just hit me. How awfully hard this will be for her."

"Yeah, I see what you mean. Well, we'll just have to make sure she feels welcome, right?

"Right."

"Now, I'll ring Alistair. And then I'll help you clean up this mess."

Judy's eyes shone mischievously. Jean returned it with her patented glare, and Judy ducked out of the way just in time to avoid the dishcloth that went sailing her way.

Alistair soon arrived, with the vinegar, as well as a bag of groceries, things that Jean would not have thought of - after all this was Alistair.

The salad and its dressing were soon made. The kitchen and the rest of the house, for that matter, were sparkling, and Jean Judy and Alistair were free to sit down in the living room. It was just coming up to twelve thirty.

"How's my main man?" was the first thing Alistair wanted to know.

"He seems all right . He was out of bed. at..I don't when this morning. He said he was going for a walk after I got up, and he hasn't been back yet. I'm sure he will be before long."

Just then, they heard the door. He came through and Jean was glad when he greeted everyone as his usual self. He gave her a kiss, and said

"I'm sorry I was late. I guess I needed to have a think. I lost track of time."

"That's all right. Just go and get ready, she'll be here any minute."

He hurried up to his room to make himself more presentable. The doorbell rang before he was through. The shrill tone of it jangled Jean's taut nerves.

"Now, you two will remember that we're trying to put her at ease, won't you? Don't try so hard that you make her uncomfortable. Especially not you, Alistair."

He had the grace to look innocent. Judy just rolled her eyes.

"Yes, Mum." She said impatiently. "And now I think someone had better open the door."

She took a breath and did so. It was her.

"Hi. You must be Jean."

The girl's smile was sincerely friendly, if nervous, and Jean returned it.

"That's right. Come in, come in. Would you like a drink?"

"Thanks, a glass of water would be nice. It's already hot out there."

From that moment on, Jean felt as if this just might work. By the time she was serving the pudding everyone was relaxed, conversation was flowing well. Judy and Cecily were talking and she finally felt like she could really breathe a sigh of relief. They passed around the basket of fruit and the plate of baking. Cecily and Lionel bumped hands when the plate came to them, because they were both reaching for the custard tart that she'd gotten out for Lionel.

" Guess we've just found something in common, eh? Dessert preferences."

Lionel deadpanned.

"Yes, I'm afraid it's genetic. Just like knobbly knees."

Everyone laughed at that. Jean was glad to see Lionel's sense of humour show itself.

"Sorry about that, you can have it," Cecily said when she'd recovered herself.

"Are you sure? I really don't mind. There are more in the kitchen." Lionel offered.

Jean had to bite her lip to stifle another giggle at that. Lionel and his custard tarts.

"That's all right. Thanks."Cecily chose something else instead.

Just as they were about to start, the doorbell rang.

"Who could that be, I wonder?"

"I have no idea."

"I'll go," offered Alistair.

In a moment The shrill, all too familiar voice carried through to the dining room.

"Haven't seen you in an age, young man. I do hope you're looking after our Judith?"

"Oh no" Jean moaned, certain now that the day was ruined

Lionel, across the table looked quite white.

"What are they doing here?" he hissed.

Judy leaned over to Cecily, Jean could hear her whisper to the younger woman.

" My aunt-my father's sister-and her husband. Brace yourself. I love them dearly, but they are..well.. quite overwhelming."

Jean stood as Penny and Stephen came in/

"Hello, you two."

Penny kissed Jean on both cheeks.

"Poor Jean, you look rather exhausted."

"I'm fine, Penny." she replied. "How are you both?"

"Quite well."

There was a flurry of greetings between everyone. Penny soon swooped in on Cecily.

"I don't know you."

"I'm Cecily. A friend of the family."

"Well, lovely to meet you, Cecily."

"Likewise."

Jean noticed with admiration that Cecily did not retreat, as if wishing that she could sink into the ground or fade into the wall. She hoped Penny would leave it at that, but knew it was probably a fool's hope.

"What brings you to Holland Park?" Lionel asked, pointedly, and Jean shot him a warning glare.

"I had a doctor's appointment, here in the city, so we thought it would jolly to surprise you.."

"How nice," Jean said faintly, remembering that Penny's gastroentrologist was in London, and thus praying that there would be no details offered.

"Well, we were just going to have our pudding. Would you like to join us? We have coffee or tea, as well."

"Good-o" Stephen said approvingly.

Penny was sipping from her mug in the living room when she pursued the unanswered questions.

"So how do you know the family, Cecily? You're too young to be a friend of Judy's.. or at least, I assume so.. Do you work for their agency?"

"No, I.."

Cecily shot a brief glance over to Jean that said "Help!"

"She's here because I invited her." Lionel said, to Jean's surprise.

"And, since I know you'll ask, because, nineteen years ago, it just so happened that I was the one who fathered her."

***********

"Bye, now! Have a safe drive."

Jean watched Penny and Stephen drive off, then came in to the living room, where Lionel and Cecily were sitting and collapsed. It had definitely been a long few hours.

"I'm sorry Cecily, that must have been awful."

"It's all right. Penny's face was quite priceless."

"That it was."

She turned toward Lionel, serious now.

"And I'm glad you said what you did."

"I only told the truth."

"I know, but it meant a lot."

There was a few minutes of comfortable silence before Cecily said that she needed to make a move.

"Thanks for everything."

"You're very welcome. Come and see us anytime."

"I will. Bye for now. Take care."

"You too."

They watched her drive off from their porch, the late afternoon sun warm on their shoulders.

Jean leaned into Lionel, and he put his arm around her. They stood there a good few minutes after Cecily's car was out of sight, awash in the contentment of being together, and grateful that the day had gone much better than they had anticipated.