Alice sighed, Jean had very kindly helped her prepare the house for her mother's visit, not that there was much to do, they didn't make much mess but Jean's previous role as a housekeeper meant that nothing was out of place.

The beds were properly made, but then they always were; there was not a speck of dust anywhere and there were fresh flowers in the living room.

'Alice,' Jean took her friend's hand, 'don't worry. This is your home and it should be as you want it. You are lucky not to have wooden toys spread over the floor and crayon on the walls.' This last was a reminder that Bobby had decided to try to decorate his room with his own pictures! Jean and Lucien had had to re-paper his bedroom, but they took Bobby with them to choose the paper!

'I know, Jean,' Alice had dropped her shoulders in resignation, 'but I don't want her to think I am incapable of running a home and working.'

She had related the conversations she had had with her mother when she and Frank visited before they went on their belated honeymoon. Jean had sympathised with her friend, obviously she still needed her mother's approval, just like any newly married girl. She had come right out and told Alice she was being silly; she wasn't an eighteen year old bride but a grown woman, with a career and a mind of her own!

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Albie helped his mother alight from the car. Alice had been able to collect them from the station; Lucien had told her to go, even though there was an ongoing case. She had promised to be back as soon as possible, to which Lucien had said,

'Don't you dare.'

Mrs Harvey surveyed the exterior of the house. It was neat, well presented with a small garden at the front.

Alice went to the front door and unlocked it, ushering her visitors inside. Albie smiled at the interior, light, bright, modern; so different from their almost Victorian dark home where lights had to be lit to shed any brightness.

'Oh, this is lovely,' he said, 'so light.'

Mrs Harvey ran her finger over the hall table, expecting to find dust, there was none. She looked around the hall, living room and kitchen, all surprisingly spacious.

Alice showed her guests to their rooms and where the bathroom was, and left them to freshen up while she put the kettle on. She had decided to start as she meant to go on, in other words, this is how we live and you are welcome to join in. As she poured the water into the teapot Albie escorted their mother downstairs.

'Do you have everything you need?' Alice asked as they appeared in the kitchen.

'The rooms are lovely,' Albie spoke before mother could give her opinion, 'Thank you.'

'I'll bring tea into the living room,' Alice said, loading up the tray.

They sat in silence, Albie and Alice waiting for their mother to speak, but suddenly there was a knock at the door. Alice wasn't expecting anyone, even Jean had said she would keep away but neither had reckoned that Bobby would want to see Auntie Alice at that moment, and he would not be dissuaded!

'Excuse me,' Alice got up from her chair and went to answer the door. As she opened it, the whirlwind that was her godson blew in shouting,

'Auntie Allie, want story!' Alice swung him into her arms with a laugh.

'You do, do you?' She hugged him close, 'can't wait 'til bedtime?'

Bobby waved a book at her, it was a Beatrix Potter, one that she had bought him back from her holiday to England.

'I'm sorry, Alice,' Jean looked really embarrassed, 'but he wouldn't be turned.'

'It's alright,' Alice whispered, 'actually it's probably for the best.'

'That's what Lucien said.' she admitted with a smile.

Then louder as if it was completely normal, 'Jean, Bobby, come on in.'

She showed her visitors into the room and introduced Jean and Bobby, inviting Jean to join them for tea.

'I'm sorry, Alice,' Jean apologised, 'but you know, Bobby!'

'Well, if it will help him settle...' and Alice took the book and sat in a chair with the child on her lap.

Mrs Harvey's eyes widened, Alice so at home with a child, so at ease. She listened as her daughter read with expression and love in her voice. For Alice it was just how she had read to her brothers, but her mother had never heard her, leaving her to deal with the boys while she wallowed in self pity; how her husband had walked out on them, leaving her to raise four children on her own.

Bobby snuggled closer to Alice looking at the book and watching Alice's finger move under the words as she read.

'Alice is such a help with the children,' Jean told Mrs Harvey, 'Bobby absolutely adores her.'

'I thought your boys were grown up, Mrs Blake,' Mrs Harvey looked at the smartly dressed woman in front of her. Surely she was a little old to have a child as young as Bobby.

'My first family are,' Jean smiled, 'Bobby is my adopted son and I have a baby girl with my second husband Doctor Blake.' Jean had an expression that said, 'doesn't everybody have this', totally innocent. Alice grinned, she'd learnt that look from Lucien!

'Does everybody get married twice in Ballarat?' Mrs Harvey was sounding quite incredulous.

'No, we're just the lucky ones.' Jean smiled sweetly. Lucien had patients like her, the ones that had been mean about her relationship with the doctor both before and after she had married him. Jean was always at her most sweet and innocent with them.

'You must come over and have dinner with us one evening,' Jean offered, 'then you can meet my husband and our lodger.'

Alice was struggling to keep a straight face, now Jean had introduced the lodger as well!

'You have a lodger?' Mrs Harvey's eyebrows disappeared into her hairline.

'Just the one at the moment, we used to have two, but now it's only Charlie; Senior Sergeant Davies.' Jean was feeling particularly mischievous this evening.

'What happened to the other one?' The older woman was struggling to keep up with the lives of Alice's friends. Albie sat listening, he had read all this in one of Alice's recent letters and although he had read it to their mother she obviously had only taken in a small amount of the information. He grinned, he liked Mrs Blake and was glad she was his sister's friend.

'Oh, Mattie? She was the district nurse, she went to study in London.' Jean stood up, Bobby's story was over and he was ready to go home. 'Say thank you to Aunty Alice, Bobby,' she took her son's hand.

''Ank you,' he said and went to plant a sloppy kiss on Alice's cheek.

'Alice, we'll sort out a suitable date for dinner,' Jean kissed her friend's cheek as they went to the front door.

'You are so wicked Jean Blake,' Alice laughed. 'I told Albie all this in a letter, she obviously didn't listen. Who's looking after Jenny?'

'Lucien, he's finished the autopsy and filed the report so Frank should be home soon.' Jean left Alice with a huge grin on her face and went home, Bobby skipping alongside her.

Alice leant against the wall in the hall, giggling to herself, she couldn't wait to tell Frank, this visit was going to be fun!

She went back into the living room, her mother looked shocked at the information she was still trying to process.

'Sorry about that, Bobby has a will of his own, bless him.' Alice went to clear away the tea things.

'Perhaps his mother should be stronger with him.' Mrs Harvey said, tartly, 'though as he's adopted it could be something to do with where he comes from.'

'He's Jean's grandson, her son and his girlfriend couldn't look after him so Jean and Lucien offered him a home.'

'So he's a ba...'

'Mother!' Alice interrupted, 'it's not Bobby's fault he's illegitimate, and he's a lovely little chap, I'm proud to be his godmother.'

'What about the girl they have?'

'Jenny is Jean and Lucien's daughter,' Alice answered, 'she was a bit of a surprise but wanted nevertheless.' She swept out with the tray.

Albie followed his sister out to the kitchen, glaring at his mother,

'Sorry, Sis,' Alice liked that he had given her this soubriquet, 'I did read the letter but she doesn't always listen.' Albie apologised, 'I hope she didn't embarrass you.'

'Don't worry, Albie, Jean can more than hold her own and she's in a particularly wicked mood this evening, I noticed' Alice smiled at her brother's concern. 'Jean had to run the gauntlet of gossip in Ballarat before she married Lucien because she was his live in housekeeper and he a single man! I don't think mother needs to know Jean was his housekeeper though, do you? She'll probably think Lucien married beneath him. Lucien usually says it's the other was round.'

'No worries,' he took the tea towel and started to dry the dishes as she washed them.

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It was three days before cases and shifts gave them a break to organise dinner. Lucien had suggested Alice take time off, or work shorter hours while her mother was with her, which had earned him a withering look.

'She is here to see that I am capable of working and running the home,' Alice had said, 'and really, Lucien, we'll only argue if we're together for whole days at a time.'

'Well, if you're sure,' he'd give so much to have been able to spend this time with his mother as an adult but had to realise that not everyone has a loving relationship with their parents. He wasn't particularly close to his father, after all.

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Alice had given Albie the keys to her car and told him to use it to take mother into town, show her the Botanic Gardens, and, as it was warm one day she suggested a picnic by Lake Wendouree.

Alice and Frank, together cooked meals, which was usual for them, so her mother had little to complain about Alice's abilities in the kitchen. Albie offered to lend a hand sometimes, an offer that was accepted. Her mother, however did not.

'Does your mother ever step into the kitchen, Albie?' Frank asked out of curiosity one evening while they were washing up.

'Well, you know how she said Alice was always a disaster in the kitchen?' Albie said, Frank nodded, 'Guess where she got it from!'

The two of then burst out laughing, 'What a cheek!' Frank coughed, choking a little.

'We kids cooked after dad left, he taught us well, but it was really because we liked being with him more than mother.' Albie looked wistful as he remembered those happier times.

'Sorry, Albie, didn't mean to pry,' Frank apologised.

'No worries, it's a long time ago.' And he returned to the dishes.

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Mrs Harvey retired earlier than everyone else and Albie went to follow not much later; excusing himself, he said he would read in his room.

'Don't go on our behalf,' said Alice, 'stay and chat.'

Albie sat back down feeling that Alice wanted to know what really happened after she left. So he told them about the rows, how mother blamed everyone else but herself for her husband's departure and Alice leaving. Alice moved over to her brother, she hugged him tightly, tears forming in her eyes. Albie looked at her,

'Don't be sad or sorry, Alice, please,' he whispered, 'You have done so well, you would probably have murdered her if you'd stayed, you did the right thing. So did Davey and Joseph.'

'That's as maybe,' retorted Alice, 'you were left to hold the fort, and none of us helped you.' She felt guilty for having left Albie to cope, he was only twelve.

'Well, we're going to make up for that, aren't we? This time we will keep in touch properly.' He grinned and kissed her cheek, 'Now I am going up.' And he left her standing there, watching one of the best people she knew stroll out of the room, hands in his pockets and a spring in his step.

Frank pulled her back to the couch and held her tight.

'He's right, you know,' he said, looking at her seriously, 'from what I have seen, you'd have been hanged for murder, and that would have been a loss to the medical profession and me!'

Alice kissed him.

Tomorrow they were dining with the Blake's and she was looking forward to it. It was certainly going to be an eye opener for her mother!

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They pulled up outside Jean and Lucien's house. Mrs Harvey wasn't sure what she was expecting, she had noticed the polished brass plaque on the wall by the gate: 'Dr Lucien Blake, Physician and Surgeon,' it read; and she was surprised to find herself somewhat impressed. As usual she took note of the outside of the house, it was tidy, the garden was well kept and the hanging basket in the porch was in full bloom.

Lucien appeared at the door, beaming. He knew Alice's mother was looking for anything to disapprove of but he wasn't going to let that change the way he and Jean entertained their friends. Bobby was wriggling in papa's arms, he was ready for bed in clean pyjamas and was looking forward to Aunty Allie reading him a story. As they went to Lucien, Alice held out her arms to her godson,

'Hello, Bobby,' she grinned, 'ready for a bedtime story?'

Bobby gave her a sloppy kiss, his usual greeting, and she introduced her mother and brother to the doctor.

'Welcome, welcome,' Lucien cried, 'come on in. Jean's just seeing to Jenny then she'll be with us.' He ushered his guests into the house, took Mrs Harvey's coat and showed her into the living room.

'I'll put Bobby to bed, shall I, Lucien?' Alice offered, knowing that was the plan. It was usual, and that was what tonight was going to be, a normal night at the Blake's: children to settle, help offered and given in the kitchen, friends together, warm and happy.

'Thanks, Alice, I think that's what he's waiting for,' Lucien grinned while offering sherry to her mother and whisky to Albie and Frank.

Charlie appeared from the kitchen,

'Evening Dr Harvey, boss,' even he had got used to calling Alice by her Christian name, but he called her 'Dr Harvey' occasionally, just to keep her on her toes.

'Evening, Charlie,' she replied with a grin as she passed on the way to Bobby's bedroom.

'Whisky, Charlie?' Lucien offered.

'Thanks, doc,' Charlie accepted cheerfully.

'Mrs Harvey,' Lucien indicated the interloper, 'this is Senior Sergeant Davies, Charlie to his friends; he's our lodger.'

'Er, good evening, Sergeant,' Mrs Harvey said, nervously, Albie just raised his glass with a smile. This was going to be an interesting evening he thought.

'Doc,' Charlie said, 'Jean says could you finish laying the table, please?'

'Sure thing, Charlie,' Lucien nodded, he was enjoying himself immensely; he loved having a house full of friends and if he had the chance to tease someone, all the better. Jean said he was such a child sometimes!

They were eating in the kitchen, well, where else. Jean hated eating in the dining room after 'that dinner', and had suggested to Lucien they could turn that room into either a separate living room or a playroom for the children. Currently they couldn't decide, so Jean used it as a sewing room.

Jean and Alice appeared at the same time.

'Bobby's asleep,' Alice informed Jean and Jean informed Alice that Jenny was the same.

Lucien passed a sherry to each of the women and kissed, first his wife on the lips and second his colleague on the cheek. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Mrs Harvey raise an eyebrow.

'How're we doing, Charlie,' Jean asked.

'All on track, Jean,' he told her as they both went into the kitchen.

'Want anything doing?' Albie and Alice asked in unison.

'Always welcome a helping hand,' Jean called over her shoulder and she was joined by them both, grinning like Cheshire cats.

Alice's mother watched the scenes play out. She could not decide if this was for her benefit or was what usually happened, after all second marriages seemed to be the norm in this corner of Ballarat, so anything was possible.

Jean had laid on one of her full spreads. A roast, various vegetables, sauces, two desserts, nothing that Alice found out of the ordinary, just a lovely family dinner.

Albie felt completely at home, why, he didn't know, but it felt so homely. Their hosts were so welcoming, open and loving to each other, he revelled in the glow.

Mrs Harvey found it a bit overwhelming, though she managed not to show it. She was beginning to relax, but somehow she wouldn't let herself do so completely. This was not how she was brought up, and not how she had tried to bring up her children.

Alice watched her struggle with her emotions. She was aware that her mother didn't understand that times and people's views changed with the passage of time, but she wished she could unbend a little.

'Now then...' Lucien stood up to carve the roast,

'Lucien!' Alice and Jean cried together,

'Now I know where the bone saw went.' Alice continued, it wasn't unusual for him to have the instrument at home and she should have known.

'Oops!' Lucien laughed, as Jean passed him a more suitable carving knife.

'I hope that isn't a critique of my cooking, Dr Blake,' Jean used his title when she was (trying to be) cross.

'Never, my love, I wouldn't dare,' and he blew her a kiss across the table.

'Ignore him, Mrs Harvey,' Jean turned to their guest, smiling, 'he will have his little joke.' But she gave her husband a look that said, 'Anymore of that and you're sleeping on the couch.'

Alice could barely keep her face straight, Frank was trying desperately hard not to laugh, Charlie and Albie just gave up and laughed out loud.

Mrs Harvey gave a weak smile, this was a mad house!

'The trouble with the medical profession is that they tend to have a rather dark sense of humour,' Frank managed to say almost soberly.

'Really,' murmured Mrs Harvey, sarcastically.

Plates filled, everyone tucked in, approving noises and compliments to the chef flew to Jean and Charlie. Everyone knew Charlie cooked quite a lot and as usual he had helped Jean with the preparation.

'Now then, Mrs Harvey, tell us what Alice was like as a child,' Lucien smiled.

Alice choked on a piece of potato, Lucien slapped her between the shoulder blades and she managed to compose herself, swallowing a mouthful of wine. She looked at her 'friend' and colleague with horror at the suggestion.

'Alice was always a good student, if a little bit of a clever clogs, when she was young.' Mrs Harvey was less biting than either Alice or Albie expected. 'More at home with her books than her chores. Nosy little madam, always asking questions instead of learning how to be a good wife.'

Alice's knuckles were turning white as she gripped her knife. Frank put his hand over hers.

'I like an enquiring mind,' countered Lucien, 'we both hope our children have that curiosity, don't we Jean?'

'I should certainly like them both to make something of themselves, Bobby has already said he wants to mend people like papa.' Jean answered, remembering a particular conversation she had had with her son. 'Even though he is only two.'

Alice watched this play out, her friends defending her against her mother. A slight noise caught her attention and she excused herself.

Moving to the old studio the noise got louder, Jenny was raising the roof, Jean must have heard but...maybe she was giving Alice the opportunity to show her mother that she was more caring than she thought. In the room she picked up the screaming baby. Jean had said she was having a difficult time, teething. She put her little finger into Jenny's mouth and felt the hard gums bite down,

'Come on little one,' she cooed, 'let's go and find that nice cold teething ring, shall we?' She knew Jean kept a couple of teethers in the fridge so she took her into the kitchen. Jean looked up as she entered.

'I thought I heard her, thank you Alice,' Jean took a cold teething ring out of the fridge and handed it to her friend.

Jenny clamped her sore gums down on to the soothing cold, and the wailing started to subside.

Jean took her daughter off Alice and excused herself, going back into the bedroom to settle Jenny back down.

Mrs Harvey watched all this strange familiarity, how her daughter went to get her friend's baby without asking, then trying to soothe her with first her finger then the teething ring. Where had she learned all this? She always had Alice down as a cold, unfeeling girl, only interested in her own career. She conveniently forgot how Alice had practically raised her three younger brothers before she finally found the courage to follow her dreams and aspirations.

'Those teeth are nearly through, Lucien,' Alice remarked as she sat down to finish her meal.

'Good, she's really had a tough time with them, and Jean doesn't get much peace either.' Lucien replied, almost sadly.

'No, I don't expect she does,' Alice commented.

Jean returned as they were clearing away the plates and putting out the desserts.

'Settled?' asked Lucien, putting his arm over her shoulders.

'Yes, she should sleep through now,' replied Jean hopefully, turning her head to kiss the hand draped over her.

'Alice wasn't good when her teeth came through.' Mrs Harvey volunteered this fact, 'Her father used to rub whisky on her gums.'

'That's where she got the taste for it, is it?' joked Lucien. This remark unfortunately brought the wrong kind of expression to Mrs Harvey's face. Alice had not drunk whisky in her mother's presence so she was unaware that it was something Alice liked.

'Alice!'

'Yes, mother?' Alice replied, sweetly.

'You don't drink whisky?' Mrs Harvey was horrified, she allowed herself a glass of wine if, and only if she ate out.

'Nightcap,' Alice replied, and went on helping Jean serve the apple pie and the mixed fruit tart, 'would you like custard with your pie, mother?'

Mrs Harvey just nodded, too astonished to say anything.

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It was quite late when they left. Alice hugged Lucien and Jean and thanked them for a lovely evening. She had really enjoyed herself, and she knew her brother had too. As for her mother, well, only time would tell. Albie shook their hands and grinned in appreciation, Alice was so very lucky with the friends she had. Lucien took Mrs Harvey's hand and kissed it,

'Thank you for coming, Mrs Harvey, it's been delightful.' He smiled his most charming smile.

She couldn't help but be flattered, 'I'm glad to have met you,' she said, quietly.

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Frank held Alice close as they lay in bed, he knew tonight had been somewhat of a 'trial'. Well maybe not a trial, but she had worried about it.

'Are you ok, love?' he asked, softly.

'Yes,' she answered, 'yes I am.'

'You seemed thoughtful when we came back.' He kissed the top of her head.

'Oh, it's nothing,' she shrugged.

'Yes it is,' Frank tipped her head so he could look into her eyes.

'I..., well I wondered how you would feel if we had a child.' she hesitated.

'You're not?' He gasped.

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And this is where I divide, one chapter, she is, the other she isn't but would like to be. You will decide, both will be published.