Chapter 9- A good Mum too

By noon that next day they were all back in London, all three of the kids had returned with Jean, Lionel, Fran and Judy. Niles and C.C. had gone somewhere or another with Yetta, and Judy didn't really care what happened to Alistair. She didn't even pay attention to where he and Max had gone off to. After all, it was no concern of hers, was it?

When they got back to the house, they were quite surprised to see Sandy sitting in the living room with a glass of wine.

"What are you doing back so soon?" Jean exclaimed.

"I was supposed to be back today."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I should've been here to pick you up. It's just that so much has happened." Jean apologized as she fell on to the couch.

"Like what?"

"A lot of things." Judy said as she came into the room. "I'm pregnant."

"Really? Let me guess. It's Alistair's isn't it?"

"See, you know me so well, that must be why you're my best friend."

"I guess so. So is everything going okay between you two?"

"No. I told him that he wasn't going to get to see the baby that much because I don't want it to be his afterthought just like I am. Upon hearing this, he got drunk and cried all day yesterday."

"I had no idea he was that sensitive."

"Neither did I."

"I did." Jean said.

"You did?" Sandy and Judy asked.

"Of course, let me ask you something. The two of you have always known that you had someone who loved you, right?" They nodded. "Alistair hasn't. I think that we're the first ones. Particularly you Judy."

"Um, excuse me..." Fran interrupted. Her nasal voice claiming the attention of the room, right a way. "I just thought I'd let you know that I'm taking the kids sight seeing."

"Can I come with you?" Sandy asked.

"You sure can." said Brighton. Fran gave him an odd look and slapped him playfully she smiled. The five of them left. Suddenly Judy and Jean were alone.

"Mum, where's Lionel?"

"He went on a walk. And you and I need to talk."

"You think it's wrong what I am doing to Alistair, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"You think he loves me?" Judy smiled.

"Very much. His face lightens up the second you enter a room, even when he's drunk."

"So, he wasn't loved until us?"

"I don't assume so, no."

"So that's why he's so determined to be a good father."

"Exactly, which he should be anyway, don't you think?"

"Yes, yes I do." She smiled.

"Good I should hope so. And, before Lionel gets home I just wanted you to know that I think you'll be a good mum too." She said, Judy smiled.

.........................

A few hours later Sandy, Fran and the kids returned from sightseeing. Fran was on the couch reading when the doorbell rang. She was used to having Niles answer it, but now there was no one there. "I'll get it!" She called as she headed for the door. To her surprise it was Niles.

"Hi Niles, having a good time?"

"I sure am, C.C. and your grandmother have been surprisingly good company?"

"C.C.? Since when have you called her C.C.?!"

"Only a couple of days, we've gotten that close."

"Good Niles, I'm glad." Fran was glad, for some reason she'd always had it in the back of her mind that Niles and C.C. would be a good couple. "Well come in."

"Oh I'd love too Miss Fine, but I'm just here to deliver this." He said handing her two small envelopes. She took them. He left. She went inside, studying both the envelopes very carefully. They were plain envelopes, but they seemed very important to Fran, as thought they held the contents of the rest of the someone's lives, or maybe the lives of several someones.