Jean could not help but notice the scowl on Mattie's face. She hoped that she and Charlie hadn't fallen out, she believed they were made for each other.

'Hello,' Lucien remarked, noticing the same, 'looks like trouble, has Charlie put his foot in it?'

'If he has I'll bury the rest of him,' Jean said, tersely. She got out of the car and went to the younger woman who threw her arms round her and buried her head in Jean's shoulder.

'Mattie,' she pulled back, 'whatever's the matter.'

'Dad.' she huffed, 'he and mum are coming to Ballarat and wanted to take you up on the offer you made ages ago.'

'Oh,' Jean instantly cottoned on, 'well, dear, it's a bit difficult. Lucien is so busy and we have less room than before, with Amelia taking one of the rooms.'

Lucien appeared at her shoulder with Amelia, just catching the end of the conversation.

'Problem?'

'Mattie's parents are coming to town and wondered if they could stay,' Jean took the baby, 'I did offer last time the minister was here.'

'Jean,' Lucien looked at her seriously, 'you do too much as it is, and in your current condition...' he turned to Mattie, 'I'm sure we could have them to dinner, but do you think they'd mind staying at the Royal?'

Lucien's reason had nothing to do with the bedroom antics of the young couple, he really didn't want Jean to have any more work to do than she already had. It didn't occur to him that Mattie wouldn't want them there because she was sleeping with Charlie, which Lucien and Jean, of course, knew nothing about!

'I'll suggest it.' Mattie brightened, 'oh, when I spoke to Charlie about this, because I was cross that dad seems to think two days notice is enough, I did mention about your baby.' She stood and looked apologetic.

'That's alright, Mattie,' Jean smiled, 'I don't mind him knowing, after all he does live here. Just, if you don't mind, don't tell your parents.'

'No way!' Mattie hugged her again and went to help Lucien unload the car while Jean took Amelia into the house.

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Martin O'Brien was surprised to find that they couldn't stay with the Blake's, but accepted an invitation to dine one evening. Mattie could sense his disappointment but assured him that it was only because the doctor and his wife had a lot of catching up to do after the case, and, again there was a baby to add to the mix these days, her mother would understand, maybe.

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Lucien went through the post in the study while Jean set about sorting out the laundry and Amelia. There was little of note, some results for blood tests for Agnes Clasby, nothing that surprised him, a letter from Li, which he set aside to be read when he had dealt with the business post, and a request for him to give a lecture in forensic medicine at Melbourne University. He'd think about it.

Jean brought him some tea as he was reading Li's letter. He was leaning back in his chair with his feet on the desk, but hastily removed them when she went in.

'Sorry, love.' He waved the letter, 'from Li.'

'How is she?'

'Well,' he looked down for some snippet on news he could give her, 'the farm is doing well, good year.'

'I'm glad, it's not an easy living.' She observed, 'Alice wants to come and see you, if that's ok.'

'Of course, now?'

'Yes,' Jean turned to go, 'she sounded very un-Alice.'

'Oh, un-Alice eh?' He folded the letter up and put it back in the envelope. He kept all Li's letters in a box on top of the patient filing cabinet and stood up to put it there. 'Sounds interesting.'

'I'll give her a quick call back, she's at Matthew's.' She added with raised eyebrows.

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'Lawson!' Matthew answered the phone quickly stepping carefully over Paul who was pushing an old toy car along the hall floor. 'Oh, Jean. Thanks for ringing back.' He listened, 'good, we'll pop over.' He put the phone down and went to find Alice who was reading through all the paperwork for Paul. It was long and involved and did not look good for them.

'Alice,' he bent and kissed the top of her head, 'Blake's back, we can go over.'

She sighed, heavily, 'I hope he can make some sense of all this,' she passed her hand over the documents on the desk, 'they use a lot of clever language to say nothing.'

'I suspect it is there to make potential adoptive parents spend money trying to get a legal person to sort it out for them.' He watched her tidy the pile up and slip it back into the envelope. 'Shall I get Paul's coat?'

'...and his shoes,' Alice smiled, 'I'll just freshen up.'

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Alice explained to Paul in the car, that they were going to see Dr Blake, the man who had been in the church. She told him he was a friend, but not like Matthew, who, because he was just beginning to talk again, he had taken to calling 'Phew.' At first Matthew had had to turn away so the little boy didn't see him laugh, but he got used to it remarkably quickly, though he had a feeling that Alice's emerging sense of fun would make it interesting. They pulled up on the drive, next to the Holden.

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Jean could not contain her surprise when she saw Matthew and Alice with a little boy between them, firmly gripping their hands.

'Alice,' she grinned, 'Matthew, er...is this Sid?'

'Actually he prefers Paul,' Alice swung him onto her hip, which made Jean's eyes widen even more.

'Ri i ight,' Jean stood to one side to let them through. 'Lucien is in the study.'

'Thank you,' Matthew grinned at her, it wasn't often he got the drop on Jean Blake. 'You'd better join us, if you can spare the time.'

Jean went a little pink, 'Are you implying I'm nosy Superintendent?'

'Curious, perhaps.' He kissed her cheek.

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Lucien was as surprised as Jean if not more so at the sight in front of him. He stood up to greet them,

'Alice, Matthew and Sid, I believe.'

Sid stuck his bottom lip out.

'He prefers Paul.' Alice sat down in the seat indicated by Lucien and Matthew sat next to her.

'I see.' Lucien didn't, but it was all he could think of to say at the moment. He watched the child lean into Alice as he sat on her knee. He obviously recognised the doctor because he didn't go into free fall.

Alice started to explain what they had come back to, how the orphanage had phoned as soon as she had walked through the door.

Lucien's face fell when he heard how he was bouncing off the walls and screaming.

'You did the right thing, Alice,' he agreed, 'but I'm surprised Sister Josephine even considered letting him go to a single, working woman.'

'It was her idea, Lucien.' Alice, he noticed, had her arms protectively round the boy. 'I was quite taken aback, but Matthew made me see we could do it, and I wanted him safe.'

'We need your help, Blake.' Matthew stepped in, 'we know that the situation at the moment is not going to be acceptable to Family Welfare. At the moment, if we can at least foster him that will do, but we are sure that isn't going to be easy. Aside from Alice and I not being married, we live together as if we were, rightly or wrongly.'

'You know we are engaged, Lucien,' Alice continued, 'but we have not set a date, we weren't in any rush and both of us feel this is the wrong reason to marry in haste...'

'...repent at leisure.' Lucien finished the quote. 'I agree, but how do you think I can help?'

'When I was in town, shopping with Paul, he was perfectly well behaved, silent, which I wasn't concerned about, but he didn't run off or touch anything he shouldn't. We had just come out of the children's outfitters and were putting the last parcel in the car when Father Emery passed. He headed over to speak and Paul saw him. He went into full meltdown, screaming, clinging to me, wetting himself, Lucien, he was terrified.' Alice related the incident and Lucien noticed her eyes fill with tears. 'We were hoping that you could state a case for his mental wellbeing. I know it's a lot to ask, but you may be the one with the most understanding of his needs.'

'Have you asked Sister Josephine?' Jean looked at Alice, 'she placed him with you.'

'We plan to,' Matthew nodded, 'she looked so harassed when we went over and we haven't spoken to her since. We've done rather a lot since we came back, but he seems to be quite happy, at the moment. He still doesn't say much, but he calls Alice, 'Liss' and me 'Phew.' Matthew blushed at having a nickname given to his by a child.

Jean laughed, 'I like it,' she turned to Paul, 'clever boy.' Paul looked at her and almost smiled. She left them to continue talking about proving that Paul was in the best place.

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Mattie was in the kitchen helping Charlie prepare dinner. She looked up when Jean entered.

'What's going on?' She asked quietly.

'Amelia needs dinner,' Jean tried to avoid the question, 'I'll see to it. Thank you for sorting out dinner, Charlie, I think we may have guests.'

'Plenty to go around, Jean,' he grinned, 'will the boy be joining us?'

'He will.' It was a certainty she thought.

'Right.' Mattie smiled. 'So..?'

'So nothing, Nurse O'Brien,' Jean teased, 'unless you want me to invite your parents to stay.'

'Of course,' Mattie gulped, 'silly question.'

'Indeed.' Jean winked.

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Jean waved them off after dinner. Lucien had agreed that he could set out a case for Paul remaining with them, using what Alice had told him about the boy's reaction to a priest and the state they had found him in when they had been called to the orphanage. He said he would call on Sister Josephine the following day.

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Alice was more than relieved when they got home. Paul was still awake but ready for bed and she took him upstairs and followed Jean's instructions of toileting him, telling him he was a good boy and that she loved him which, to her surprise she found she did, more than she originally thought, putting him to bed and sitting with him until he was about to fall asleep. Jean had said that, if she waited until he was asleep and he woke during the night, he would be scared, and that would be when the bed would need changing.

She joined Matthew for a drink and settled into his side on the couch. She was glad they had seen Lucien, it eased her mind, but she was worried about how their living arrangement would be perceived.

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Jean shook her head as she closed the door and went to the living room. She was still smiling when she sat on the couch next to Lucien and picked up her lemonade.

'I know,' he read her mind, 'hard to believe, isn't it?'

'Pinch me, Lucien.' She grinned, 'let me know I'm not dreaming, and Alice is actually preparing to take on a child.'

'You're not dreaming,' he kissed her and put his arm over her shoulder, 'I'll find out why Paul has wormed his way into her heart.'

'She seems to be rather pragmatic about the whole thing, maybe that's it.' Jean suggested, 'Paul sees someone who cares, but isn't in any way asking for him to love her. She feeds him, clothes him and keeps him safe. All in twenty-four hours.'

'It's been longer than that.' Lucien put his glass down, 'Paul has always accepted Alice, probably because she doesn't cover him with kisses. The first time she dealt with him she was calm, gentle but completely practical. She told him that nobody was going to hurt him, would he mind very much if she could have a look at his bump on his knee and then perhaps he would like a drink. So matter of fact. I guess that's what he needed.'

'True,' Jean yawned, 'sorry. I think I'll call it a day. So much to do tomorrow, patients to catch up on, housework, shopping...'

'Take it easy.' Lucien scolded, 'Mattie and Charlie have already done a lot of the work, the O'Brien's aren't dining 'til the end of the week.'

'I know,' she smiled, 'but I need to clean the dining room, we so rarely use it.'

'Don't you dare move any furniture, I'll do that.' He looked concerned.

'Alright, Lucien,' she was becoming irritated,' I'm not a china doll.'

'Sorry, love.' He took her hand in his, 'I know, I'm being over protective, but will you let me help?'

'Yes, you can shift furniture, but if you're going to start wrapping me in cotton wool...'

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Charlie stood nervously outside the jeweller's, he had asked Mattie the previous night, properly, if she would consent to be the next Mrs Davies. She had agreed, not daring to tell him that she nearly gave in after the call from her father, but he would have rejected that, thinking she was doing it to spite her father. They had agreed to meet at the jewellers and buy a ring, then they were going to tell Lucien and Jean. They would tell her parents that night, at dinner; or rather she would wear her ring and they could make of it what they would.

'Sorry, Charlie,' she tiptoed up to kiss him, 'old Mrs Rathbone was being difficult.'

'I was beginning to wonder, ' he blushed.

'Never, Sergeant Charlie, I said yes, and I meant it.' She kissed his cheek again.

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'About bloody time!' Lucien kissed Mattie and shook Charlie's hand as he and Jean looked at Mattie's ring, three diamonds on a yellow gold band.

'Congratulations, both of you.' Jean smiled, 'I'm so happy for you both.'

'Just got to tell dad and mum now.' Mattie bit her lip.

'I'm sure they'll be very happy for you,' Jean squeezed her hand.

'Mum'll be planning a big wedding.' She muttered.

'It's your wedding, dear,' Jean looked at her, 'you have the day you want.'

'Quiet,' they said, together, 'Registry Office, neither of us are church goers on a regular basis.'

'As I said, Mattie, it's your day. It will be special whatever you do.'

'Thank you, Jean,' Mattie smiled, 'yours was lovely, so something like that.'

Jean kissed her cheek and got up to start dinner. 'We're eating in the dining room tonight, with your parents coming,' she opened the fridge and took out a piece of pork. 'Any help will be welcome.'

Lucien smiled, at last, he thought.

'Come on, Mattie,' Charlie grinned, let's get out of our uniforms and knuckle under.'

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There was plenty of laughter and giggles as the dinner was prepared. Amelia was put in her high chair so she could see what was going on and happily gummed a stick of carrot on a tender spot.

Jean showed Mattie how to make pastry for an apple tart and then how to fill it with a layer of apple puree then slices of apples which she glazed with sieved apricot jam, when it was cooked.

'I'll make a baker out of you, yet, Nurse O'Brien,' she teased.

'She makes a pretty good cobbler,' Charlie finished podding the peas.

'Does she indeed,' Jean raised an eyebrow, 'so you didn't starve while we were away, then?'

'Nope!' They both grinned.

'Well, we'll keep that quiet, shall we?' Jean whispered.

'Please,' they both blushed.

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Jean hoped Amelia would sleep through the dinner, she was fed and bathed and tucked up, but as she had just started cutting teeth there was every chance she would wake. She checked that the teething rings were in the fridge ready and crossed her fingers.

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Jean checked her hair and makeup in the hall mirror as she went to answer the door.

'Minister, Mrs O'Brien,' She smiled in her greeting, 'how lovely to see you.' She stepped aside to allow them entry. Maureen O'Brien shook hands with her,

'So nice to meet you at last, Mrs Blake,' she smiled, 'Matilda talks about you constantly.'

'Oh, how sweet of her, I think.' Jean smiled. Maureen was very like Mattie in looks but taller, almost the height of her husband. Maureen's smile didn't reach her eyes, too many political functions, Jean thought. Martin shook her hand and said how nice it was to see her again, and congratulated her on her marriage to the doctor though he did admit he was a little late.

'Thank you, please come into the living room.' She took their coats and led them into where Lucien and Charlie were in a debate about whether or not a particular occupant of the cells should be let off with a caution or given a fine, for being monumentally drunk in the street and leering at Mrs Toohey.

'I think he deserves a medal,' Mattie chipped in.

Lucien laughed, he knew of the woman from Jean's sewing circle, she was a stern looking woman, her husband must have been a very brave man, he thought. 'Mattie...' he chided, '...there again.' They all laughed.

'Lucien,' Jean stood in the doorway, he looked towards her and smiled, easily the prettiest woman in the room, not that he was biased...

'Martin,' he strode over and held out his hand, 'good to see you again.' He turned to Maureen, 'and you must be Mattie's mother, easy to see where she gets her looks from.' He shook her hand, Jean rolled her eyes and Mattie just turned her back, Lucien was the ultimate flatterer. He turned, '...of course, Martin, you remember Sergeant Davies, Charlie.'

'Yes.' Martin looked at him, he did remember that Sergeant Davies had arrested his daughter, which led to Mattie's picture being all over the papers and he having to admit to her that he kept a watch on her. This had led to them becoming distant. Charlie extended his hand and said how nice it was to see him again, and to meet Mattie's mother. Again Maureen's smile didn't give any warmth. Mattie walked over and greeted her mother with a kiss to each cheek,

'Mum, you look well.' She murmured.

'Thank you dear.' Maureen replied, 'so do you.' Maureen had noticed Mattie had a bloom to her, one of happiness, could it have something to do with the officer, who, she couldn't deny was rather good looking. Mattie tiptoed up and kissed her father's cheek, 'dad.' 'Matilda.'

Jean watched a rather strained family, there was little motherly love from Maureen, Mattie said she was dragged around by her father and had therefore left much of Mattie's upbringing to the housekeeper. Jean found herself rather hoping Amelia would wake up, if only to break the tension.

Lucien offered sherry and whisky to the guests and Mattie offered to help Jean with the dinner.

'Thank you Mattie,' Jean headed into the kitchen, where they put vegetables into serving dishes and the roast pork on a plate ready for Lucien to carve.

'Are you alright?' She whispered as she tipped the gravy into the gravy boat.

'I'll be fine,' Mattie smiled, 'I have Charlie.'

'Good girl.'

'Jean,' Mattie stood holding a pile of plates, 'how do I tell them, about me and Charlie. I know I should have warned them, but we only really decided last night, I made him wait to ask me, after the case. I needed him to be sure.'

Tell them over dinner.' Jean picked up the meat dish, 'Lucien and I will support you, you know that.'

'Thank you.'

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Lucien managed to keep the conversation flowing until dessert. Maureen complimented Jean on the apple tart,

'Oh, that's not me,' Jean smiled, 'Mattie made that.'

'Mattie?' Martin looked at her, 'I didn't know you cooked.'

'Need to practice, dad.' She watched Charlie watch her, 'if I'm going to marry a dessert man.'

'Marry?' Martin took a gulp of wine.

'Yes,' Charlie took her hand, 'Mattie has agreed to be my wife. We would have told you sooner, but we only decided today.'

'Marvellous news, isn't it?' Lucien raised his glass.

Mattie could have kissed him.

'I didn't know you were courting, dear.' Maureen looked at her, Mattie liked to play practical jokes, was this one?

'Mother, how old fashioned,' Mattie smiled, 'these days it's known as 'dating'.'

'Whatever you call it,' her mother looked at her, 'you never said anything.'

'What did you want me to say.' Mattie sighed, 'that I'm dating, I'm in love, there's this guy I fancy..?'

'Well, something.' Martin muttered.

'If I'd said I liked a man you would have booked the cathedral, bought the dress and organised the reception.' Mattie kept a grip on Charlie's hand.

'Well, I can do that now.' Maureen sat more upright.

'Mother, I'll talk to you about that another time, or later.' Mattie's tone said the subject was closed.

Jean stood up to clear the plates,

'Need a hand, love?' Lucien offered.

'Thank you,' she nodded, then turned, a distinctive sound from the nursery had her put the pile of dishes down. 'Excuse me.' She left quickly with some relief. Maureen's lack of warmth to her daughter worried her. She expected hugs and kisses, warm words, but there was a distance that up until now she was only aware existed between Mattie and her father.

Amelia was gumming her fist in order to try and get some relief from the pain.

'Come on, sweetie,' Jean picked her up and put her against her shoulder, 'sore gums? Let's go and find a teether, eh?' She carried her through to the kitchen, murmuring soothing words and rubbing her back.

Maureen and Mattie were in the kitchen at the sink when Jean opened the fridge, for a cold ring. She ignored them, Amelia's needs were more important. She rocked from side to side as she comforted the baby,

'Hush now,' she nuzzled into the baby's neck, 'there, there.'

Amelia was beginning to relax and settle in Jean's arms, little hiccups replaced the screams of pain, and Jean started to murmur a lullaby.

Maureen turned round and watched her. She wanted to speak to Mrs Blake, about her daughter and this police officer she had got herself affianced to. She wasn't sure whether to be angry or not. Martin always said his daughter was wilful, Maureen said she took after him.

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Jean sat in the chair in the nursery, still soothing her daughter who was fighting sleep.

'She's lovely.' Maureen stood in the doorway.

'I think so, but them I'm biased.' Jean continued to stroke Amelia's face, tracing her finger down her button nose, watching the eyelids droop at each pass. Soon she would sleep, it nearly always worked.

'Teething?'

'Mm...' Jean kissed the baby's forehead.

'Matilda was bad too.' She offered as a kind of 'mothers together' moment.

'My boys kept me up most nights,' Jean's eyes never left Amelia, 'Christopher seemed able to sleep through.'

'Men, eh?'

Jean didn't answer, it was not for Mrs O'Brien to know that Lucien got up more than she did, because he could cope with broken nights.

'Jean,' Maureen took a step further into the room, 'Matilda and Charlie... how long?'

'How long what?' Jean stood up and lay Amelia back in the cot, 'they've been friends since Charlie came to live here. Cases have brought them closer, I suppose, he's always supported her, when things got tough. They help out in the house, quite often washing up together, to give me and Lucien a little time to ourselves.'

'Charlie, will he go through the ranks?'

'Maybe, I don't know, you would have to ask him.' Jean started to leave the room 'even if he doesn't he's a caring, strong, good man. She's a lucky girl.'

'It's just,' Maureen looked round to see if Mattie was near, 'Martin has always had hopes she would marry someone...' how to put this...

'From your social circle,' Jean supplied, well used to snobbery, 'not a lad from Collingwood who has made good. Charlie's father was a police officer, a well respected man, so is Charlie. Personally, I've always put happiness above the social mores.'

'Sorry.' Realising she had hit a nerve.

'Get to know him, Maureen.' Jean softened, 'I would be honoured to call him my son.'

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Nobody was more relieved than Mattie when her parents left. She had managed to drag a 'congratulations' out of them after they had engaged Charlie in conversation about his career and law enforcement in general. He had been good natured, knowing he was being assessed, said promotion would always be welcome, but sometimes working at the grass roots level was more interesting than sitting behind a desk.

'Wont' it be difficult for you?' Martin had asked, 'having a wife with communist sympathies.' He referred to the time she had been out with some university friends who had such ideals.

'I do not have communist sympathies,' Mattie snapped, 'I have friends who may have those ideas, but we had a few drinks, they did not ram their politics down my throat, and I am well able enough to make up my own mind!'

Maureen touched her husband's arm, warning him not to start another row,

'Perhaps it's time we left, dear,' she moved to stand, 'I'm sure we will see Matilda and Charlie before we leave.'

Jean wasn't sure what she felt about Maureen O'Brien above she was a typical politician's wife, or what she imagined one would be like. It was clear from their short conversation that she didn't know her daughter very well, but then, she didn't think she knew Christopher very well either.

'Thank you for a lovely meal, Jean,' Maureen turned to her hostess, 'perhaps we could meet up this week, for tea?'

'Perhaps,' Jean smiled, 'but it's Mattie you need to see.' That earned her a glare from the nurse.

'I'll see you out,' Mattie said as Martin and Lucien shook hands and her father managed to do the same to Charlie, who nodded and said he was sure they would meet again before the wedding.

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Jean wandered through the Botanical Gardens, two days after the dinner with Mattie's parents. Amelia was asleep in the pram, the two top teeth that had been disturbing her had finally broken through and she had been experimenting with them on various things, including fingers, not necessarily her own! Mattie had a full list and hadn't been able to make time to see her mother, although Jean insisted she did so.

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'Can't we just elope?' She had asked Jean the previous evening.

'Just talk to her, Mattie.' Jean put her arm round her, 'don't argue with her. You are her only child, she wants what she sees as the best for you.'

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Jean decided to sit down on her favourite bench and read for a while, the peace and quiet was lovely. She had to be back for surgery but she had time yet. She was deep in her book, 'My Cousin Rachel', and didn't notice the woman standing before her. She coughed.

'Hello, Jean.'

'Maureen!' Jean looked up and shielded her eyes from the sun, 'sorry, I don't get chance to just sit and read often. Please...' she indicated the bench.

Maureen sat for a while, looking in the pram at the sleeping child.

'How old is she?'

'Nearly seven months.' Jean put her book by Amelia's feet.

'I'm sorry if we made you feel uncomfortable the other night.' Maureen felt she should apologise, 'Matilda seems almost a stranger these days.'

'It happens, I have similar issues with my sons.' Jean sighed, not wishing to go into detail.

'She and Martin are so alike,' Maureen went on, 'he wanted her to marry a young politician, even had someone in mind. I did say that was never going to happen, Matilda is too independent for that. Charlie seems charming, I could see he loves her, very much.'

'He does, and she him.' Jean agreed.

'She said you've all had some difficult times lately, a case.'

'It was all over the papers. Suffice to say it involved children, the church and abuse.' Jean leant back against the bench. 'Really, Maureen, I'd rather not think about it, it affected everyone, Lucien, Charlie, Mattie, colleagues, friends.' She looked across the green, 'talking of which, here comes Paul.'

Paul was kicking a little blue ball to and from Alice as they walked towards them. Jean wished she had a cine camera, nobody was going to believe her at home that Dr Alice Harvey was playing football with a six year old! Alice waved when she saw Jean, it had been a long time since she had done this with her younger brother, the memories came flooding back. Escaping from the parental rows together. She was never going to subject Paul to that, if she and Matthew were going to argue, it was not going to be in front of the child.

'Hello Jean,' she smiled, a warm and sunny smile seldom seen on her face.

'Alice, well I never expected to see you today,' Jean smiled, 'and Paul, how are you?'

Paul held Alice's hand and smiled shyly, he remembered her from when he'd been taken to see Dr Blake.

'Alice, this is Mattie's mother, Maureen O'Brien.' Jean introduced the woman sitting next to her. 'Maureen, this is Dr Harvey, she is a pathologist and colleague of Lucien's.'

'Nice to meet you, Mrs O'Brien, this is Paul, he's a little shy.' Alice swung the child up, as he tried to hide behind her, 'it's ok, Paul dear.' He hid his face in the crook of her neck.

'Dr Harvey, I think Matilda has spoken about you.' Maureen smiled, 'hello Paul.' But Paul was not going to look round. Alice rubbed his back.

'Join us, Alice.' Jean patted the bench on the opposite side to Maureen, 'have you heard about Charlie and Mattie?'

'Don't tell me he's finally got round to proposing?' Alice raised her eyebrows, and smiled when Jean nodded. 'About time too.'

Jean laughed, 'Almost as bad as you and Matthew.'

'Now Jean,' Alice teased, 'I never thought I'd marry at all, much less a grumpy Superintendant of Police, and then to consider adopting a child...'

'Does he know what you think of him?' Jean looked shocked at her summing up of Matthew's character.

'He's accused me of being acidic, before now.' Alice adjusted Paul on her lap.

'What a charming pair you are.'

'Don't worry we have ways of apologising,' Alice grinned.

'Not in front of the children and Maureen.' Jean chided her.

Maureen coughed, such easy chatter between the two was something she never had with her friends. 'Is Paul not yours, then?'

'Not yet.' Alice wrapped her arms round the boy as if such comments always made her feel that someone was going to take him from her. Jean thought it was incredible to see this change in the pathologist. 'Matthew and I would like to adopt him, but we'll have to be married before they'll let us, so we're fostering him for now, at least that bit's sorted.'

'Really? Oh Alice, how did you manage to get it sorted so quickly?' Jean turned quickly.

'Sister Josephine,' Alice smiled, 'she told the bishop that the church adoption and fostering office should put aside any prejudices about us because Paul needed us, and Dr Blake said he was suffering from a kind of combat stress reaction which only a doctor and ex soldier had the experience and knowledge to deal with in one so young.'

'Gosh!' Jean gasped, 'she can be a bit of a force of nature, can Sister Josephine.'

'The prospect of him being put back into the orphanage doesn't bear thinking about, and she knows what he can be like when he has a meltdown.'

'A tantrum, you mean.' Maureen pursed her lips.

'Something totally different for Paul,' Alice huffed, 'and to that end I want him in a non faith school. Jean you know everything about Ballarat, where would you recommend?'

'Try Wendouree School.' Jean suggested, 'it's a bit progressive for my tastes but has a good reputation, and will probably take account of Paul's recent background. You need to arrange a meeting with the head, take Paul for a look around and then work out how to introduce him to the idea of being away from you during the day.'

'Thank you,' Alice smiled, but I'm afraid we'll have to go, I see Father Emery in the distance... Nice to have met you Mrs 'OBrien.' Alice put Paul on the floor, 'come on, little man, time to go home.' She took his hand and left, a little sharply for Maureen.

Jean watched them head off and shook her head.

'She's a little rude.' Maureen tutted.

'Paul will have a major panic and meltdown if he sees a priest.' Jean felt she had to explain, 'it was a priest that was about to do something disgusting to him.' She blushed, it was hard to say what she knew. 'Alice will do anything to protect that child.'

'I'm sorry, it's just...'

'As I said, it was in the papers.' Jean stood up, 'I must get back for Amelia's lunch and surgery. It was nice to see you, Maureen.'

'I wish I could catch Matilda, she seems to be avoiding me.'

Jean looked at her, Mattie really had to speak to her mother or it would all end in a huge row, and they both needed to know what the other wanted.

'Come up tomorrow,' Jean smiled, 'around half two. Mattie isn't working but Charlie is. You two need to talk, you can have the sun room and tea, and I'll keep out of the way, unless my pots get smashed.' She grinned.

'Thank you Jean, that's very kind of you.' Maureen saw a glimmer of hope, for a change.

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Jean had said nothing to Mattie or Lucien, about Maureen popping over to see her daughter. She carried on as usual, cleaning, cooking and taking care of Amelia. There would be no surgery, all the patients had been seen for the week and Lucien was at the morgue. Without Alice he was working hard, though when Matthew took an afternoon off she did slip off for some much needed work therapy.

Mattie was playing with Amelia in the living room when her mother arrived. She scowled as Jean made a tray of tea and took it into the sunroom.

'Go and talk, Mattie,' She lifted the baby, 'and don't come out until you have come to an agreement. If you ignore it, it won't go away.' As Mattie huffed and headed to greet her mother, Jean touched her arm, 'it's your wedding, your day.'

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At first they engaged in small talk, how things were in Melbourne, how nice Ballarat was, how lovely the Blake's were.

'Charlie,' Maureen sighed, 'he loves you, doesn't he, and you love him?'

'Mum, he's just so...' Mattie stood up and looked over the garden, 'Charlie's always there when I need him. He's gentle and kind. A hard worker and a damn good copper. He respects my views, may not like them, but respects them, and I respect his.'

'Does he make you laugh?' Maureen asked, causing Mattie to turn suddenly.

'Laugh?' Mattie looked open mouthed, 'I suppose he does, yes, sometimes.'

'Good,' Maureen smiled, 'then it is a good match.'

'What?'

'Believe it or not, Matilda,' her mother stood and put her hands on her daughter's shoulders, 'I fell in love with your father because he made me laugh.'

'No?!' Mattie had never seen her father as a man who could make anyone laugh, 'really?'

'Yes, really.' She kissed Mattie's forehead, 'hard to believe, isn't it?'

'Impossible.' Mattie looked at her mother, now or never, she thought, 'mum, I don't want a big wedding. We would prefer the Registry Office, quiet, with our friends.' She looked at Maureen, trying to hide the disappointment, 'I know you want me to have a big white wedding, the cathedral, a reception with dignitaries befitting a government minister's daughter, but it's my day, and I don't want that. Neither of us go to church regularly and our faith, such as it was, has been dented somewhat lately.'

'Oh Matilda,' Maureen's eyes filled with tears, 'whatever you want will be fine by me. A big wedding is a little stressful, for the bride and her mother.' She smiled, 'I'll talk to your father, and you will have the day you want, when you want it.'

'Thanks, mum' Mattie slipped into her mother's embrace, 'and between you and me, I'm not wearing white.'

At first Maureen looked shocked, then realised her daughter was a grown woman and at least she wouldn't be going down the aisle with no idea of what was expected of her, as a wife.

'Cream, pale blue?' He eyes widened in the question.

'Pale blue, I think.' Mattie grinned.

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So two weddings to be sorted, and life will go on in Ballarat. Jean will have this baby, eventually!