Two Locked Doors
Jean heard light rapping on her bedroom door. She pulled her silky new robe more tightly together and opened immediately. She greeted him with a dazzling smile. "You came."
Lucien stood there, hands clenched at his sides. "Of course I came." He moved into the room and turned to stand facing the doorway. "The most beautiful girl in all Ballarat invited me. How could I stay away?" He shook his head slightly as he said this last. His words were soft with affection.
Jean stepped up close. "Well, this girl would like to be kissed." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He pulled back a bit. "Jean, we need to talk."
"I know, and we will. Kissing first, then talking." And she reached up on tiptoe to brush her lips against his cheek.
"Oh, Jean." And Lucien kissed her, melting into her touch and drinking in her sweetness. The kiss was long and deep and Jean felt herself leaning back. She stumbled a bit and her back thumped against the bedroom door, closing it sharply. They broke apart, breathing heavily. "Well, I guess that serves to prove my point," he said.
Jean extricated herself from between the door and the object of her affection saying, "Here, give me your jacket and I'll hang it up. You can put your shoes by the door."
"Right." Now Lucien had something to do and he sat on the end of the bed to remove his shoes.
She placed his jacket on a hangar. "You know, I was only nineteen when I married Christopher…and I was already pregnant," she said.
Lucien's head snapped up and he focused on Jean's face.
"We had a hurry-up wedding and then mid-way through the pregnancy we lost our little girl."
"Oh, Jean, I'm so sorry." His words were gentle and his eyes filled with understanding. He knew loss.
"We were just two children, really, having had to get married and then… there was no baby." She hung the hangar on the handle of her wardrobe and moved toward him, her robe swirling around her hips and legs with each step."But Christopher was a good man and he stayed. We worked hard, purchased the farm and then the boys came along. It was a good life. Hard, but good."
She sat beside Lucien on the bed. "And it would have all been fine if that damn war hadn't happened. At first Christopher took some pride in being able to feed the people—do his part. But later as the years dragged by and the war still raged on, he began to feel less than a man. I tried so hard to convince him to stay, but one day we kissed him good-bye, he got on a bus… and we never saw him again."
By this time Jean's voice was wavery with emotion and her eyes were filled with tears. "It was so hard raising two boys alone. I never felt I was giving them what they needed. Young Christopher was quiet and withdrawn while Jack was a terror. I did my best, but…" She took a breath and continued. "There was never enough money and I couldn't find workers to help me with the crops. It got so there wasn't enough for us to eat, so I had to sell the place for pennies on the dollar.
Lucien remained silent.
"That's when your father offered me the job of housekeeper. I jumped at the chance because it not only fed us, but gave me a way to hold my head up in this gossipy town." She fingered the buttons running down the front of her robe. "And later when the boys were up and gone, he asked if I'd like to room in and… here we are. I'll always be grateful to him."
Lucien reached for Jean's hand, brought it to his lips and gave it a light kiss. "The war robbed everyone of something. I'd say you did a wonderful job of raising your family. I'm so sorry you went through all of that, but you should be proud."
"I know everyone suffered. And I know I've been fortunate to make my way with very few marketable skills. Being in service was the right choice for me and your father treated me with great respect. We enjoyed one another."
Her face brightened a bit. "And then, his boisterous son came along." She shook her head and grinned. "I took one look at you and I think my heart was gone before my head had a chance to entertain one single thought."
"Well, that may have been the case, but you certainly didn't let me know. I bumbled along many long months wondering what you thought of me. And I tiptoed around trying not to break your rules and trying to stay in your good graces. If I'd known you cared for me, I could have just been the miserable drongo I am and lived in peace."
"Ha, that wouldn't have done at all. If you knew my heart pounded every time you came into a room, you would have been insufferably smug." She picked up his shoes and stood to place them near the doorway.
Lucien laughed and then the laugh left his face and he became a bit somber. "Jean, we need to talk about all of this. I know we're both walking on eggshells since Mei Lin left. You know I love you and we'll be married just as soon as we can. But I'm so afraid you'll be hurt again by all the rumors and all this waiting."
Jean was quiet. Then she placed her hand on her door. She turned the lock and it made a loud click. "I've been thinking and…well, I'm ready to move on. I know I've always said I wanted to follow the church and my conscience. But the church won't see us married no matter what happens with the divorce. And the divorce could take months, even years. I'm done waiting, Lucien. I've gone to bed cold and lonely for seventeen years. We love each other and we belong together. I want you now. Tonight." She turned slightly away and opened her robe. She let it drop to the floor and stood naked before him.
Lucien gasped. "Jean. You're so…."
She waited for more, then cocked one eyebrow and said, "Naked?"
"Beautiful," the word fell from his lips. "So beautiful. Can I,…can I touch you?"
"That is the general idea, Doctor. Get undressed and come to bed." She walked toward him and reached out, undoing his tie.
"Jean, I don't want our first time together to be something you regret. I can wait."
"Well, I can't. And do I look like I'm going to regret anything?" She said with a dangerous spark in her eyes.
"Well, no," By now Jean had his shirt off and he sat in just his vest and trousers. "But just the same if you change your mind…at any time…I'll stop."
Jean reached for his belt and undid it. "Stand up."
He stood. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Now, that's where you're wrong, Doctor, because… we're not going to stop until morning." And she unzipped his trousers and gave them a tug.
Lucien didn't need any more coaxing. He shook his legs out of the trousers and sent them into a heap. He stooped a bit and scooped Jean up in his arms. He took her around the side of the bed, laying her down gently. "All night?" he said as he nuzzled her ear.
"Mmmm," she answered, finding it hard to focus on anything but his warm breath on her neck and the weight of his body above her.
And then there was no more need for talk.
Jean plated the crispy strips of bacon and perfectly fried eggs, handing one plate to Charlie and setting the other one on the sideboard.
Lucien breezed into the kitchen with a hearty "Good morning, Charlie, Jean."
"Morning, Doc," Charlie said as he tucked into his food.
"Good morning, Lucien," Jean said as she handed him his plate. "How was your night? Did you sleep well?" She smiled a wicked smile as she said this last.
"Erm, Well, actually I had rather a restless night. Didn't get much sleep, I'm afraid." He leveled a stare at her and grinned a bit at her cheek.
"Oh, well, perhaps tonight will be better," she said and turned back to the stove.
"I rather think not," Lucien said as he found his place at the table. "Charlie, do you think I might have a section of that paper?
"Sure, Doc. I have to head out early today. Needed at the station for an early meeting. You can have it all." He handed it over as he made his way to the door.
"Don't forget your lunch," Jean called after him.
He held up the brown bag in answer and hurried out the door. "See you all tonight."
Lucien waited until Charlie was well gone before speaking. "How was my night?" He left the table and stood behind Jean who was rinsing the breakfast dishes. He placed both hands on her hips and kissed her neck. "I may never sleep again."
Jean leaned into his kiss. "It was rather wonderful, wasn't it?" she said and dried her hands on her apron before turning in his arms. "And tonight we'll sleep in your room."
"From now on that is to be known as our room although I don't know what we'll do with all your things. Not much closet space in there."
" Oh, I'll just leave everything as it is until after the wedding. I'll just slip into your room at bedtime although it won't take long for Charlie and Matthew to figure things out. I think Mattie has a hint of the truth already."
"They'll all be happy for us. They know what we've been through and they love us. And all the old biddies in Ballarat have been talking forever, so that won't matter at all."
"Well, the looks do sting a bit. Especially at church, but I suppose my time there is coming to an end, anyway. I've made my choice, Lucien, and it's you. The God I believe in doesn't have rules that would refuse to recognize our love. In fact I think He champions it."
"Good for you." He kissed her mouth. "And good for us."
And now, Mrs. Beazley, I do have a medical practice to run. I need to see to my morning appointments. Do you remember when Mrs. Standish arrives?"
Jean's voice took on a business-like tone."Oh, of course. I believe she is due at 10:30. Let me check." She hurried over by the telephone and searched the day's schedule book. "Yes, 10:30."
"Ahhh, and, let's see, the time right now is…just past 8:00. Plenty of time." He untied Jean's apron and lifted it over her head. "Come on."
"What?" She saw the determined look on his face and began to grasp his meaning. "Oh, no, Lucien, we can't."
"Oh, but we can. Everyone is out for the day and we have a lovely space of time all to ourselves."
"But the phone could ring or someone could drop by."
Lucien moved quickly to the back door and locked it. "We can ignore the phone and even if someone comes to the door they'll just assume we're out."
He returned to her side and scooped her into his arms. "Come, my darling, we seem to have unfinished business." He kissed her as he walked toward their room. "And there may even be time for a nap before the illustrious Mrs. Standish arrives to talk about her bowel problems."
"Lucien," she hissed. "Shame on you."
"On the contrary. I'm quite proud of myself," he said. And he carried her to their bed.
