Christopher sat on the train and thought about his situation. All he had told his mother and the doctor was true, he was not yet ready to be a father and blamed Ruby for tricking him into it. She had denied it at the time, in fact every time he mentioned it. Said it was not fool proof. He had reconciled himself to it, and coped with her mood swings, forgetfulness and sickness, by burying himself in his work and in the garden at home. Her cooking seemed to suffer so he did a lot more of that but from what some of his mates said he got off lightly. Some of their wives had used it as an excuse to be pampered and looked after constantly.

When Amelia was born and she had suffered she had turned away from him and the baby. The doctors told him it was a reaction and she would settle down eventually. She had trouble starting to feed the baby and got irritated with herself, the midwife was hard and her friends had said it was about time she lost some weight. He should have seen her descend into complete despair.

He supposed he blamed the baby for everything, maybe he shouldn't but he did. His mother was disappointed and left to pick up the pieces. He still didn't like the idea of her marrying that drunken fool, Blake, but he needed her to look after his daughter so he couldn't fight her on that.

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The house was still a mess when he got in. He would have to tidy up and get it cleaned, ready to be handed over to the army. He would move into a flat on base.

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'Coming!' Jean tripped up the hall. It had been a week since Christopher had left her with Amelia, since Ruby had gone to Mount Clear. She and Lucien hadn't had time to go up to the cabin since, but they slept in the same bed, made love and loved each other. Mattie and Charlie made no comment and life seemed to go on as if nothing was different.

She opened the door to the postman,

'Mrs Beazley?' He had quite a large box in his hands.

'Yes?' She smiled.

'Good.' He handed the box to her, 'parcel from Adelaide.'

'Oh, thank you.' She looked at it. It was from Christopher. She brought her brows together, wondering what on earth he had sent her. It wasn't heavy so she took it into the kitchen and placed it on the table.

She cut the string and tape and opened it up. On the top was an envelope addressed to her in his distinctive print. She decided she'd read that later and put it to one side. She started to lift out the contents. They were all Amelia's things, nappies, little nightgowns and dresses Ruby must have bought in lucid moments, a little teddy bear, a shawl, the little cardigans and matinee jackets Jean had knitted when she had been told she was to be a grandmother. She wiped a tear away and smiled. The shawl brought her back to the thought that she would have to have her baptised at some point. She laughed to herself, perhaps they could combine it with their wedding.

Everything was clean and pressed so she took the clothes and put them away in the little chest in her bedroom. She had begun to sleep longer and they had put her in the little room next to Lucien's. It had been his when he was a child so seemed fitting, that, and it was close to them if she did wake.

Jean made herself some tea and took a deep breath before opening the envelope.

'Dear mum,' She read.

'Well, here I am back in Adelaide. The house was as we had left it, so glad you didn't see it! Anyway I've had to give it back to the army so I am on base now. This box is all Amelia's things. I will send Ruby's things on separately, I don't know if you want to give them to her, I'll leave that to you and Blake to decide.'

She didn't like him referring to Lucien by his surname like that.

'I know you are disappointed in me, and I have had a lot of time to think. I said things I shouldn't have said.'

He had been given hell by his mates on base and their wives for the way he treated his wife. His commanding officer had had him in the office and expressed his sorrow at Ruby's plight, then told him only a heartless monster would abandon her like he had. He had got all the details out of him, how Ruby was now being cared for in a home for people with mental difficulties, his daughter being taken care of by his mother, even how much Blake expected him to contribute towards Ruby's keep. That money was to be taken directly out of his pay and sent to Dr Blake.

'I did love Ruby,' the letter continued, 'I just don't know how to take care of her or Amelia. I still think we should have waited to have children, but I don't know if that would have made any difference, except that I would have been older and maybe a little wiser and able to look further than my own comfort. You are stronger than I am, always have been and neither of us boys have been much for you to be proud of. I abandon my wife and child and Jack gets into trouble with the police. (He's doing ok, by the way).

I think what I'm trying to say is, sorry, for everything, for leaving you to pick up the pieces, as you said, for being a complete jerk. I'd be a rotten father to Amelia.

I'd like to visit, one day, even if Ruby doesn't know me. Please keep me informed of her progress and Amelia's.

I hope that whatever you decide to do with your life, it turns out better than mine.

Love

Christopher.'

She found the last sentence the most saddening and shed tears over the whole thing. At least he seemed to be thinking straighter now. Maybe he would come to love his daughter, or was that a step too far? She would show Lucien the letter later but now, somebody wanted feeding if the noise from the pram in the garden was anything to go by.

She smiled as the baby sucked on the bottle, she was growing as expected, everyday Jean saw new things in her. She was a placid baby, nothing like her father or uncle, perhaps she was like Ruby, but she wouldn't be spoiled. She would be taught right from wrong, to pick up her toys and work hard at her studies, but more than anything she would be loved and cherished.

She heard the door go and Lucien come down the hall. He had been up at Mount Clear to see Ruby.

'Jean!' He called, then turned into the living room and smiled. 'Hello, sweethearts,' he greeted her and Amelia. 'What have we been up to so far?'

He put his finger into Amelia's palm and felt her grip it. He kissed Jean's temple.

'Oh, not much.' Jean smiled, 'usual housework, and I received a parcel, from Adelaide.'

'Oh?'

'Christopher sent Amelia's things over, clothes and a teddy bear.' She nodded in the direction of the bedroom. 'he wrote, too.'

'Did he?' Lucien looked more closely at her, maybe that was the remnant of a tear on her cheek.

'It's on the table, read it, please.' She put Amelia over her shoulder and rubbed her back gently.

Lucien picked up the letter and read through it, twice.

'Do you think he's had a good talking to.' She asked, 'you know, from his married friends, his commanding officer?'

'Probably,' he resumed his seat next to her on the couch, 'I had a call from his CO yesterday saying he would dock his pay and sent the required amount straight to me for Ruby's care.'

'Oh, right.' Jean thought about that, it almost sounded as if the CO didn't trust him. She put the thought out of her mind, it didn't matter, he was paying towards the fees and that was that. 'How's Ruby?'

'She's well and happy.' He smiled, 'she had to think a little before she remembered me, but I expected that. Well, I expected her to have forgotten me.'

'I doubt that will happen, dear.' Jean smiled, 'you're not very forgettable.'

'Well, she seems to be settling in well, still painting and drawing, and is able to follow the rules.' Lucien thought back to what Mrs Arthur had told him and what he had seen. 'She's eating properly, because she is told to, can wash up with Anna. Oh, she did leave the tap running in her washbasin the other day, but Sally caught it just before it overflowed. So there is a notice on the mirror reminding her to turn it off when she has filled it to the line Joe has painted on the basin.'

'May I go with you, next week?' Jean asked, 'with Amelia.'

'You can, but be prepared...'

'I will, you can just say I'm a friend, if that works.'

'Alright.'

'Good. Now you can entertain Amelia while I make lunch.' She passed the baby to him and went into the kitchen.

She could hear him playing the piano with Amelia on his lap, he did that more often these days, or he would take her into the garden and talk to her. They really should get on with organising a wedding, a quiet one, just them, their closest friends and Amelia. She didn't know if her boys would attend, if they would want to.

Jean called him through for lunch, and decided to tackle him about the issues on her mind.

'Lucien,' she smiled as he ate while still holding the baby, 'we need to think about her christening.' That was a good start she thought, don't start with the wedding.

'I suppose we do,' kissed Amelia's forehead, 'we also need to think about our wedding.'

'That too.' She agreed, 'maybe we could have them at the same time.'

She watched him think about this. Up to this point they hadn't decided if they were going to marry in church or in the registry office.

'Well, it would kill two birds with one stone, and that means you get the church wedding I know you would prefer.' He smiled at her.

'Well...' she reddened a little, 'it would be nice, but I know...'

'...that I don't believe. I will do what you want, my dear. I want you to be happy.'

'Thank you, Lucien,' she smiled at him, 'I suppose you want me to organise it?'

'When do you think we'd get married if I did it?' He teased.

'Somewhere around the year two thousand, if then.' She laughed. He lifted her hand and planted a kiss on the palm. 'She can go in her pram, now. You have surgery in an hour.'

'Not enough time for a little...' he winked.

'Lucien Blake! Really, I don't know what you mean!' She laughed out loud. 'Shall we clear next week and go to the cabin after seeing Ruby?'

'Mrs Beazley, what a suggestion!' He laughed back, 'let's.' He whispered, as if someone could hear.

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Jean made an appointment to see the priest where she explained the situation.

'I see,' Father Emery was very pious, 'so the baby isn't yours, by Dr Blake.'

'Heavens, no!' Jean flushed, 'she's my granddaughter, but we plan to adopt her, given my daughter in law's position. My son has signed all responsibilities for Amelia's upbringing over to myself and Lucien.' Given the choice she would rather have had another priest, she was never very sure about Father Emery, but he was the priest at Sacred Heart and she had been going there all her life.

He finally agreed they could have the double service a month from then.

'It will be a very quiet wedding, Father,' she told him, 'the witnesses will be Amelia's godparents. We have both been married before, and widowed, so we don't want a fuss.'

'As you wish,' he nodded solemnly.

Jean left the priest feeling as if she had done something wrong. And really, she thought as she pushed the pram home, would I have taken my illegitimate child to a meeting with a priest. She chose to ignore that she was sleeping with her fiancé, because that didn't feel wrong.

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They had asked Mattie and Alice to be Amelia's godparents and Charlie and Matthew would support Lucien. She could now go and tell Cec what they wanted and when.

He was more than happy to host a small gathering, in one of the rooms. Just something light, Jean said, not a sit down meal. They wanted the men from the station to join them at some point, as their shifts allowed, and others in the town, as well as Lucien's colleagues from the hospital.

When she told Lucien the date and time he started thinking. He needed to take her away, without Amelia but how was he to work it?

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Jean was out and Lucien was babysitting. Mattie wandered in, her shift over, and flopped down on the couch.

'Mattie?' Lucien smiled, 'bad day?'

'Oh, boy, are some of my patients demanding?' She sighed.

'Here, have some love therapy,' he stood up and took Amelia to her.

'Love therapy,' she laughed softly so as not to wake the sleeping child, 'I like that.'

'So, who's got your goat this time?'

'Mrs Draper.' She sat back cradling Amelia, 'she has diabetes but she won't leave off the chocolate.'

'Not good,' Lucien mused, 'do you want me to call?'

'She's Dr King's.' Mattie kissed Amelia's head. 'I've booked a house call for tomorrow and confiscated her chocolate. Well, all I could find.'

'Bravo!' He grinned. 'Tea?'

'Please,' she was considerably cheered by his positive reaction to her treatment of the woman, who was really the bane of her life.

Lucien brought a tray of tea in and they sat for a while in silence. Then Lucien spoke,

'Mattie, I have a problem,' he put his cup down, 'that I think you may be able to help me with.'

'Really?' She looked surprised and interested.

'Yes,' He took a deep breath and leant forward in his chair. 'I want to take Jean away for a short honeymoon, but...' he indicated the sleeping baby.

'You don't want a small child interrupting you.' She smiled. 'I don't blame you.'

'I love the little sweetheart but..'

'...she'll cramp your style.' Mattie grinned. 'So you want to know if I will babysit while you are away?'

'Well..?'

'Of course I will.' She smiled, 'Tell me when and I'll book some leave.'

'Mattie, you're wonderful.' He leant over and kissed her cheek. 'Of course I have to get this past Jean.'

'Get what past me?' Jean called from the kitchen, where she had arrived unseen and unheard.

'Tell you later.' He hurried into the study to finalise his arrangements.

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Mattie and Charlie washed up while Jean fed Amelia. Lucien picked that time to talk to her about a short honeymoon. He reckoned she couldn't hit him if she was feeding the baby.

'I've booked us a short honeymoon,' he waited, 'only to Melbourne. Just us.'

'And what,' she teased, 'am I supposed to do with Amelia?' Having a feeling this is what he had to get past her.

'Mattie is going to take some leave and babysit.' He smiled, but still...would she approve?

'So that is what you had to get past me?'

'Er, yes.'

'Well, I suppose that's alright then.' She smiled and reached up to kiss him, 'thank you.'

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They pulled up outside the house in Mount Clear. Jean took a deep breath and took Lucien's hand as he helped her out of the car. She reached into the bassinet basket on the back seat and lifted Amelia out.

'Dr Blake!' Mrs Arthur came out of the house, 'and Mrs Beazley, how lovely to see you.'

'Mrs Arthur,' Lucien beamed and extended his hand, 'how are you?'

'Well, doctor, very well.' She smiled and turned her attention to the baby in Jean's arms. 'She's growing, such a pretty baby.'

'Hello, Mrs Arthur,' Jean smiled.

'Come along in and we'll have our little chat, then I'll take you to see Ruby.'

In Mrs Arthur's little sitting room they sat and listened as she said how well Ruby had settled. She followed daily routine, but still needed supervising when she bathed. She seemed happy and content.

'Now, we have told her it is your day to visit Dr Blake and she seems to have some recollection of you, but I'm afraid Mrs Beazley, she doesn't seem to remember you. Perhaps when she sees you, but I didn't want you to go in and then be upset if she didn't.'

'I expected that, Mrs Arthur.' Jean smiled sadly, 'I think, really it is really for my own conscience rather than to be remembered.'

They walked over to the activity house and to the art room where Ruby spent most, but not all, of her time. She was painting the view out of the window, the ducks on the pond.

'Hello, Ruby.' Lucien went over to her and spoke quietly. She turned and smiled,

'Hello, er...' she thought, 'Dr Blake!' She looked so please with herself.

'It is.' He smiled, 'do you remember my housekeeper, Jean?'

Jean stepped forward and smiled.

'Hello, Ruby,' she said, 'how nice to see you.'

'Hello.' Ruby smiled, she smiled at most people. Jean could see she was thinking, 'I think I've met you before.'

'You have,' Jean smiled, gently, 'it was a while ago.'

'Is that your baby?' She pointed to Amelia.

'Er, yes.' Jean decided that was better than trying to explain, 'her name is Amelia.'

'She's so sweet.' Ruby stroked the baby's cheek and watched her stir. 'Can I hold her?'

'Um, alright.' Jean looked round, 'perhaps if you sit down, first.'

'Alright.'

'Why don't we go through to the sitting room?' Lucien suggested.

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Jean watched her gently hold the baby and stroke her cheek, then kiss her forehead. 'She's beautiful.' Ruby breathed, 'so small.'

'She's growing.' Lucien said quietly.

Jean took the baby back but did not look up, the tears threatened, and they hadn't for days.

'Ruby,' Lucien stood up and help out his hand, 'come on, I need to do your check up.'

'Ok.' She took his hand and went with him.

Jean watched them go and let the tears fall silently. She shouldn't have come, Ruby didn't remember her, or her daughter. She didn't notice Mrs Arthur come into the room, bearing a tray of tea. Lucien had mentioned Jean might need a friendly ear.

'It's Jean, isn't it?' The woman said softly.

'Ah ha.' Jean sniffed, and pulled her handkerchief out of her sleeve. 'Sorry. I suppose I hoped she might remember me a little better.'

'She seems stable at the moment, even though we have to remind her of the doctor's visits.' Mrs Arthur poured tea and put a cup down for Jean. 'She's happy, Jean, she has, what some may call, a sunny disposition. No trouble, always smiling, does as she is asked.'

'Thank you for looking after her, I still wish we had got on better.'

'You probably always will,' Mrs Arthur stroked Amelia's head, 'but you can't look back, only forward. You have the baby to look after, and the doctor to look after you. Don't feel obliged to come and see Ruby, not if it upsets you.'

'I'll still come, once a fortnight, with the doctor.' Jean insisted, 'I need to bring some of her things when Christopher sends them over.'

'And how is that going?'

'He's written, had time to think and probably a good drubbing down by his mates and CO. He seems sorry, in his letter, but, we shall see, I suppose.' She sipped the tea and relaxed. 'Thank you, you have been very kind to me.'

'You need to be kinder to yourself,' Mrs Arthur smiled.

Lucien entered,

'Well, she seems in fine health, Mrs Arthur.' He smiled, sitting next to Jean, 'I'm very pleased with her weight, much better. I see from her notes she still has the little absences.'

'Yes, at meal times, mainly, when it's a bit noisy.' Mrs Arthur had taken note of this peculiarity, 'I wonder if it is a way of shutting out the noise.'

'Possibly. Would you keep a record for the next week?' He sipped the tea she gave him.

'Of course.' She smiled and stood up, 'I'll leave you to talk.'

'Are you alright, Jean?' He asked after Mrs Arthur had left.

'Yes,' she leant her head on his shoulder, 'sorry. I knew it would be hard, just not how hard.'

'You don't have to come, you know.' He kissed her.

'Once a fortnight,' Jean smiled, 'she may come to remember me, she may not, but I can see her and I will know she is happy.'

'On one condition.' He pulled her close.

That would be..?'

'We go home via the cabin.'

She giggled, 'even with Amelia?'

'With Amelia.'

'As you wish, dear.'

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They left the house, waving goodbye to Mrs Arthur and headed out to the cabin. Amelia demanded to be fed so they stopped at a small cafe and while Jean gave her a bottle, Lucien ordered them a light lunch. He watched her. He could sit and watch her like this for hours, days, even. She always seemed so relaxed, soft, beautiful. Amelia looked as if she would have Jean's colouring, not the blond hair of her mother. He hoped she would have Jean's temperament, just the right amount of feisty.

Jean took the baby to change her while Lucien paid for their lunch and then they continued on their journey to the cabin. Amelia gurgled happily in the basket, meaning she would sleep while they were at the cabin, giving them their 'time' together.

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Lucien lit the stove while Jean made the bed, then he went to fill the jerry can with water. When he got back she had put more wood in the stove and was sitting on the couch. He filled the kettle and set it to heat up, for tea, or a wash or to heat a bottle. He was so glad she wanted to come here, it was so quiet, she said she felt free when she was there, freer than she ever had done.

He sat next to her and put his arm round her, letting her melt against his chest. He had taken his tie off when they left Mount Clear and he felt her fingers trace tiny circles between his collarbones. He let her, waiting to see what she did next. She moved the fingers down, and started to undo his shirt buttons.

'So that's your little game, Mrs Beazley,' he murmured, putting his finger under her chin and tipping her face up so he could kiss her, at first gently then more deeply as they started to taste each other, tongues playing and hands wandering under clothes and over flesh. She pushed away and stood up, holding out her hand to him. A brief look at Amelia she was satisfied she would sleep, she took Lucien to the bed and let him take her in his arms again. Unlike the last visit to the cabin they took their time, undressing each other and kissing usually hidden parts until Lucien pushed her down onto the bed and made love to her, taking her over the edge to bliss and then holding her as she drifted into sleep, warm and sparkling with perspiration and her unique scent. He slept peacefully, no nightmares to trouble him when he had his Jean next to him.

Amelia woke them, as she had done the last time and he went to see to her while Jean dozed again. He wondered if they could extend the cabin, enough to give Amelia her own room, there would come a time when they would not be able to do this with her around, but they could come up for the day, or even a couple of days, as a family.

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Jean woke and stretched. She could hear Lucien singing to the baby and smiled. She should get up, wash and dress. They were going to pick up fish and chips on the way home so she wasn't cooking. She wrapped herself in the sheet and went to get the kettle.

Washed and dressed she made some tea while Lucien did the same. Amelia lay in her basket, waving her little hands in the air and gurgling. Jean smiled as she watched her.

Lucien brought the bed linen through and they folded it together. She gave him his tea and started to put the things away, ready to take home.

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He locked the door and they set off.

'I think I'll look at getting someone to come and perhaps extend.' He mused as he pulled away, 'you know, another room, for Amelia, make the bathroom a bit more...'

'Oh, really?' Jean liked it as it was. Rudimentary though it may be.

'Well, as she grows,' he pursued the idea, 'we could stay for a couple of days, perhaps I could teach her to fish.'

'I suppose we could.' Jean thought about it, 'perhaps close the surgery for alternate weekends.'

'Now you've got the idea.' He grinned.

She smiled back, it was a good idea, yes, she liked it.

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I plan to take this at least as far as a wedding and christening, but not sure if it will run like Simple Times.