Thank you as always for your patience and your kind reviews. You inspire me! My work has been ridiculous of late, but I had to get this chapter up. Hopefully the next chapter will come sooner – much of it is written. I hope you like the direction.
Chapter 13 Family Ties
Jack completely forgets to ask Dr. Wilson about the concern he thought he noticed while the doctor was examining Phryne in the hustle and bustle of his family's visit. Jack's family stays at Wardlow for two weeks which in retrospect could have lent credence to the phrase regarding fish and family; however, like Jack himself, his family is immediately Phryne's family and they got on rather famously. Their presence provides many distractions for Phryne whose frustration with her confinement grows with each passing day.
In the close quarters of everyone being together, Jane and Robert's relationship continues to grow, as if there had been no time between the wedding and this visit, and Jack, Wills and Jack's Father, Thomas, spend time with them out and about in Melbourne as they are able while Nora and Jack's mother, Iris, entertain Phryne. Robert, Jane and the others also pass time with Phryne playing the despised card games or other board games, such as Australia and Around the Commonwealth by Aeroplane, in an effort to keep her from focusing on what she isn't able to do. Phryne watches Jane and Robert together noting a twinkle in Jane's eye that she hasn't seen since Jane first met Kip at the McMaster's in Queen's Cliff.
One of the wonderful things about baby Michaela is that she provides an excellent bed mate and distraction for Phryne when others need to be elsewhere. Michaela is a good-natured baby with a head of blonde fuzz and her father's great brown eyes; her winged eyebrows are dark rather than blonde so her looks are rather arresting. Sometimes Phryne watches Michaela so Nora can take a break and spend time luxuriating in the bath or go out window shopping for a bit. During these times, Michaela often stares into Phryne's eyes as if searching out the secrets of the universe. Initially Phryne finds this unnerving, but at some point she remembers Janey doing this when she was a baby and she relaxes. She also finds that Michaela will mimic sounds and will stick her tongue out at her if Phryne sticks hers out first, and the smiles the two share are precious. Michaela quickly becomes attached to Phryne, quieting when she is put in bed with Phryne and holding Phryne's finger tightly in her tiny fist.
"I never understood the appeal of parenthood Michaela," Phryne confides to her one day as they lay on the soft sheets. "I fear I shall be terrible mother," she confesses her throat tightening. Blinking back tears she gazes into the baby's eyes wondering about the babies kicking in her womb.
"How will I cope?" she asks as Michaela stares back at her, but no answers come and her misgivings are magnified by her true lack of experience with babies and the unknown path ahead. Sighing, she squares her shoulders slightly, "We'll just have to consider it a great adventure." At these words Michaela smiles at Phryne and she finds her heart melting even more toward her niece.
Nora demonstrates how to change the baby's nappy and Phryne, though hampered by lying down is able to change it as necessary - if Dot, Mr. Butler, Jane or the others are not available. The nappy changing technique returns to her though it has been since Janey's baby days that Phryne actually changed nappies with any regularity. A few times during the war infants and toddlers came through the medical stations and Phryne changed them as necessary if a bit haphazardly. She does find the oiled wool covers Nora has for the nappies help things stay dry. Even so, Dot wisely provides additional layers of towels for Michaela to lie on when she is with Phryne…just in case. Nora also talks to Phryne about breast feeding versus having a wet nurse or using glass bottles one morning while keeping her company and needing to nurse Michaela.
A couple of days later while Nora nurses Michaela in Phryne's room, Phryne gathers her courage to ask a question that has been nagging at her since their previous discussion, "Do you think I will be able to breastfeed all of them? How does that work?"
"I suppose that is a question for Doctor Mac and Doctor Wilson. I don't know anyone with more than one baby," Nora responds thoughtfully. "I just find it so relaxing to spend the time with Michaela in our own little world – once your breasts are adjusted to nursing that is. It does take some time to figure it out and for the baby to figure it out and for your body to adjust, so it can be a bit frustrating in the beginning. And there are a couple of other things…Nora trails off a slight blush staining her cheeks.
At Phryne's questioning look, Nora blushes even more, "What are you not telling me?"
"Oh, I shouldn't have said anything, Nora's embarrassment is obvious.
Phryne's curiosity is piqued and she readjusts her position in the bed so she can see Nora better, "Tell me!"
"Well…sometimes when I nurse her, I find myself a bit," she pauses again, hesitating, searching for the right words, "I guess the word is," she drops her voice so it is barely audible, "aroused."
Phryne's eyes widen in surprise, "You mean "aroused" in the sense of, um, a sexual nature?" At Nora's shy nod, Phryne's mind races in a number of directions. This is something she has not considered – a potentially pleasant benefit to being a "milk cow" for the babies. "What else?" she prompts.
"You must promise me not a word leaves this room," Nora pleads.
"Of course," assurance rings in Phryne's voice.
"Well, um, sometimes Wills helps me, and he sometimes tastes my milk."
"What do you mean "helps you and tastes your milk", Phryne asks completely puzzled.
"He can help express milk either with his fingers or his mouth."
"He drinks breast milk? Doesn't he find that strange? What does he say it tastes like?" the questions tumble from Phryne in a rush.
"I think he did with Robert, but not now," Nora says a thoughtful frown crossing her pretty face. "He says it tastes kind of sweet. I think it tastes sweet and maybe a bit nutty."
"You've tasted it as well?"
"Certainly, I wanted to know what my baby was eating."
Phryne ponders on this wondering what Jack's response might be. He would help her certainly, and given his lack of inhibitions where the two of them are concerned, might find the experience more than a bit interesting. "Did you ever talk with your doctor about either of these things?"
"Absolutely not!" Nora's scandalized voice quivers. "I don't think he would understand. I've never told anyone else about this. I'm not sure I why I told you. Worrying her lower lip, she adds, "I do sometimes wonder if there is something wrong with us."
"Oh, Nora, I don't think there is anything wrong with you," Phryne says quickly taking Eleanor's hand in hers. "It sounds like a very intimate time of sharing and additional bonding between you and Wills. How can that be a bad thing?"
Smiling shyly at her sister-in-law Nora nods silently in agreement, pausing to burp Michaela before moving her from her left breast to the right, covering her shoulder and the baby's head and chest with a light blanket obscuring the feeding from view once again.
"May I watch?" Phryne asks now, blushing slightly herself.
"Really?" Nora asks and at Phryne's silent nod she removes the blanket and shifts to give Phryne a better view.
Phryne is fascinated at what a beautiful picture the two make with Michaela's miniature hand resting on Nora's breast as she nurses, her great brown eyes staring up at her mother before eventually closing, and she remembers the works of art she has seen in the museums in Paris and Rome. She sees why the great painters had a fascination with painting women nursing babies. Phryne notes that there isn't really a lot to see as the baby's head conceals things, but Phryne can see where a blanket for modesty would be wise. She certainly can't imagine just whipping out her breast as she remembers seeing from time to time in Collingwood as a young girl. Of course she thinks, grimacing, with multiple babies I will be stuck in this house for an eternity.
Phryne and Nora talk of other things related to pregnancy that Phryne hasn't been able to discuss with anyone very much and the two women grow close.
For a last celebration before the family leaves for their own homes, Jack organizes another day at the foreshore, and he gains Doctor Wilson's approval to have Phryne out for part of the day.
A bit of sun, fresh air and time spent watching the others frolic lull Phryne into dozing in the soft nest Dot created for her, visions of Jack in his swimming attire dancing in her head along with visions of removing Jack from said attire.
Suddenly cold water tickles her face and neck, "Jack Robinson, stop that!" but she can't stop the grin she gives him before he surreptitiously kisses her, more drops of cool water dripping from his hair onto her face. His lips are cold from his swim and they melt soothingly against her sun-warmed ones. Jack deepens the kiss, a soft groan escaping him before raising his head to the shouts of Robert and Jane to return to the water with them. "Later love," he says meaningfully before jumping up to race back into the waves.
"My brother clearly adores you Phryne," Nora says plopping a bonneted Michaela down by Phryne and moving an umbrella so that she is shaded. "I haven't seen him this openly affectionate ever."
Phryne nods, a smile gracing her lips, "I always knew his passions ran deep beneath that blue wool suit, but I certainly never thought he would become this bold."
"You are good for him. You balance his serious nature with your sense of fun."
"Thank you Nora. That is one of the sweetest compliments I could be given. Why don't you go wading for a bit? Michaela and I will be fine here. I'll keep her shaded."
Nodding Nora plods across the sand to dip her toes in the water, Wills joining her and then walking down the shore with her, their laughter floating back to Phryne.
It isn't too much longer before Jack announces that Phryne must return home. He drives Phryne, Nora and the baby back to Wardlow and gets Phryne settled prior to returning to the beach, lingering to indulge in a few additional bone meltingly long, slow, wet kisses first.
On his return to the foreshore Jack notices a grove of Jacarandas, their purple blossoms covering the ground, that he hadn't noticed before, and when they return to the house later, he stops and gathers a bouquet of the blossoms sneaking them into Phryne's room while she sleeps.
When Phryne wakes from her nap the first thing she notices are the lovely periwinkle blossoms overflowing a crystal bowl sitting on her bedside table. The flowers trigger a memory and she grabs her journal to write it down.
"Once when Janey and I were out on one of our explorations, we found a large circular grove of Jacarandas and the ground was completely carpeted with blossoms. It was like a fairy circle and Janey and I were mesmerized by it. We were oblivious to the fact that the blossoms stuck to our feet and our clothes; rather we were fascinated by the beautiful bluish-purple color of the flowers and the green of the trees' lacey leaves. We would lie in the middle of the circle and look up at the sky through the canopy of the leaves and flowers and watch the sky and clouds and the sunlight filtering through and tell each other all the things we would have when we were rich – like petits fours every day and strawberries and cream, no hand me down clothes and jewelry. Funny, I hadn't thought about that in a long time. Another memory tickles the edges of her mind. A feeling of being watched from among the trees; she can't quite pull it to the surface and she shivers as she tries to remember, but the door opens and Jack and Jane troop in to get her ready for dinner on the chaise lounge, and the shadowy memory is lost in the joy of family.
Later that night as Jack holds her close whispering how much he adores her, molding her to him his hands stroking her belly; Phryne allows his words to wash over her, soothing her, easing her sadness mixed with a bit of relief that his family is leaving. As she gets sleepier, no doubt the result of the fresh air and long day, she turns and burrows into him, snuggling into his neck, his smell comforting her; exciting her and she kisses him hungrily, "Have I mentioned that I love you Inspector?"
"I don't remember that Miss Fisher," Jack says playfully, "You'll have to tell me again," and he kisses her, "and again," his lips so warm and soft move firmly against hers, "and again until you improve on it."
"I do like a man with a plan, Jack Robinson." And with that she kisses him again murmuring her love against his lips and kissing along his jaw and down his neck and into the hollow of his throat, branding him as hers before turning onto her side again and snuggling against him, holding his arm across her and rhythmically running her fingers lightly along his strongly muscled forearm enjoying the feel of the contrasting softness of the hair she encounters. Jack nuzzles into her neck, her scent inflaming his senses and his body feeling the eruption of tiny goose bumps down her back as she reacts to his ministrations before she succumbs to her exhaustion falling into a deep dreamless sleep.
Jack lies there as her fingers cease their movement and her breathing slows aching for her, wishing he could love her as passionately as he desires in this moment, struggling to keep himself under tight control so as not to wake her; finally dreaming of when he will be able to improve on his romantic overture.