Thanks for all the encouragement while I was away, and especially to seven dragons for the lovely story. Here is my thank you. I hope you enjoy it.
Jean looked at the two outfits hanging on the wardrobe door and pulled a face. Neither was really suitable for dinner out with Lucien, in her mind at least. The choice was between her one and only evening dress, the long green one she had worn when she went out with Richard, and the blue suit that was her funerals-and-serious-occasions outfit.
It would have to be the green dress, though she hated that it reminded her of a murderer. Still, Lucien liked it, if his reaction at the time was anything to go by. The ache in her stomach that she felt when she thought about seeing him this evening was rather disturbing.
As she got dressed she chided herself. What did it matter that her dress was an old one? Lucien had seen her in her dressing gown and hair net, in her gardening clothes and in an apron. There wasn't much mystique left between them.
She left her hair down, suspecting he preferred it that way, but spent longer than usual on her make up. She still wanted him to know she had made an effort. At last there was no more excuse to stay upstairs and she went down to the living room, feeling self conscious in front of Christopher and Ruby.
Neither of them commented on her outfit, but they didn't hide their interest either, and she knew they were curious about what was going on between her and Lucien.
Jean suddenly felt like her teenage self, excited and dressed up to go to the pictures with Christopher Snr, sitting under the scrutiny of her parents, her mother's warnings about 'not going too far' ringing in her ears. She smiled despite herself; she hoped Christopher and Ruby wouldn't be saying anything like that.
She had her coat on and the door open before Lucien could ring the doorbell, and she slipped out and shut the door behind them quickly, so she didn't have to introduce him to Ruby.
Lucien chuckled as he realised why she hadn't asked him inside. "What time did they say you have to be home by?" he asked.
"It's not up to them..." she started to answer, crossly, then realised he was teasing her and smiled. "Yes, alright, it is awkward, Lucien."
By now they had walked some yards from the house, and she had taken his hand without even thinking about it. Lucien stopped and turned to her.
"You are looking very beautiful this evening, Jean." He kissed the hand he was holding, which seemed to her rather old fashioned, but also rather lovely. She leant forward and kissed his cheek. He smelled deliciously of soap and himself.
"Thank you, Lucien. You are looking very smart yourself." He was wearing the suit he had travelled to Adelaide in, of course, but her housekeeper's eye told her the shirt and tie were new.
It still felt such a novelty to kiss him, she almost expected him to be horrified and back away. None of this felt truly real yet. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her nearer for a moment before letting go.
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The meal at the hotel was everything their normal lives were not. In Ballarat they lived in a busy household; surrounded by the lodgers, occupied with work, and focussed on the details of life. But for that evening they were uninterrupted. There was no case to discuss or washing up to be done. The phone didn't ring and no patients intruded.
It was a very rare opportunity to talk and laugh and eat - and think only about each other.
Lucien watched her over the table as she told him a story about a neighbour. Tonight she was wearing the green dress for him, and he wondered if she knew how jealous he had felt of Richard that evening nearly a year ago.
Jean however was looking ahead rather than to the past, and she was concerned about their future.
"Will we be able to make this work back home in Ballarat?" she asked him. "We're so different, Lucien."
"Of course we will," he reassured her. "We've already lived together for years, Jean. Loving each other will only make it better. What could possibly go wrong?"
She nodded slowly. He was right, of course. They knew each other so well, and she was already sure she loved him. He was beginning to sound as though he loved her back. Surely nothing stood in their way now?
They walked back to Christopher and Ruby's house arm in arm. Jean was getting used to this now, and she was rather hoping he would kiss her properly, and soon. At the end of the street Lucien slowed his pace and turned to her.
"Will you come out with me tomorrow, Jean?" He didn't like to assume she would be able to. "We could take a walk, maybe have a picnic?"
She smiled and nodded. "Could I bring the baby in her pram? It would give Ruby a break. After all, I'm supposed to be here to help her."
"Of course. Come to the hotel whenever you're ready." He took her hand, leaned towards her and kissed her cheek gently, wanting to say goodnight away from the house. Jean stared at him and frowned, just a tiny bit.
Lucien realised how much he loved that frown, even when it meant he was in trouble. He touched her cheek softly.
"Would you rather I didn't kiss you in the street?" he asked.
"I'd rather you kissed me properly," came the reply, though she blushed a bit as she said it.
He grinned in delight. "Like this?" he asked, and tried again, this time holding her closer, his hand flat on her back, and just barely kissing her on the lips. For a moment she hesitated, then he felt her relax and respond. Her hand slid up his side and even through the layers of clothing it felt tantalising.
"Mmm, like that," she agreed, and smiled.