Thanks to lullabymoon for reminding me I hadn't finished this story. Hope this and the next chapter fit the bill. x
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Jean came out of the bathroom and headed into her own bedroom. Charlie and Li were still asleep, Charlie's gentle snores coming through his door She'd told Lucien that she didn't want to advertise the fact that she was sleeping with him, to Charlie or Li, so, even though it was tempting to stay where she was, she insisted on getting up at her usual time, getting breakfast ready and starting the day the way she had done for years.
Lucien sauntered into the kitchen, dressed in his suit as was his habit but with a smirk on his face.
'You can wipe that look off your face, Lucien Blake!' She warned as he kissed her forehead.
'I don't know what you mean, Jean.' He teased, noticing she was having a hard time not smiling back.
Li entered the room just in time to see her father and Jean in the middle of an embrace. It embarrassed her to see them this way, she was not used to seeing a couple being overly familiar with each other. She coughed quietly, making Jean jump and break the connection.
Jean was by the stove almost immediately, trying to appear as if everything was completely normal and that she started every morning by kissing the doctor deeply and passionately.
'Ah, good morning, Li.' Lucien smiled and held out his hands to her. She relaxed and took them, accepting the fatherly peck on the cheek.
'Good morning.' She spoke quietly.
'Morning, Li' Jean called from her position by the stove, 'bacon and eggs alright?'
'Yes, lovely, thank you. Shall I set the table?' Li asked, politely.
'Please.' Jean continued to concentrate on cooking the eggs hoping her blush would fade. Lucien went over to her,
'She'll have to get used to it, sweetheart,' he whispered in her ear, 'I don't propose to hide how I feel about you around the house. I can't show it out in town or at the club, but this is our home.'
Jean turned to him, still slightly pink but smiling.
'I know.'
'Morning all!' Charlie's cheerful voice preceded him into the kitchen. There was, he thought, a bit of an atmosphere in the room. Jean had a faint look of embarrassment about her, as did Li. Lucien was his usual cheery self.
'Morning, Senior Sergeant.' Lucien greeted him.
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Breakfast consumed, Li washed the pots, while Jean and Lucien looked over the list of patients booked in for the morning surgery. Li thought about the scene she had witnessed in the kitchen, how she had caused her father and his fiancée embarrassment. Although they had made her feel more than welcome, in fact completely at home, she worried she may be in the way. Again she would have to talk to her father about it during a time when Jean was not about, perhaps when she went shopping. Li had accompanied Jean into town once only, to be met with stares and whispers behind hands, she told Jean she wouldn't go again. Jean had tried to tell her not to bother with them, she had endured it for years and it really didn't matter. But Li was adamant. Jean had spoken to Lucien, concerned she would become a recluse. Lucien had tried to reason with his daughter, but even he could not make her see they were not to be listened to.
Several times since then Jean had been asked by shop owners where the doctor's daughter was, and each time Jean made a feeble excuse that the pregnancy made her tired. That became wearing and she began to get annoyed. They only wanted to stare at her as if she was an exhibit in a circus. Ridiculous really, there were some Chinese families locally, so they were used to seeing oriental features. She supposed it was because she was Lucien's daughter and they couldn't understand how he, a white male, of European heritage, would marry an oriental woman with her strange eastern ways.
Jean left the house, hoping to be back in time for surgery, so Li took her chance to speak to her father about being in the way.
'Daddy,' she looked round the door of the consulting room where Lucien was reading the notes of some of his patients.
'Li, come in.' He smiled at her.
'I was thinking, maybe I should not be here.' Li had learned to come straight to the point, 'I...'
'Why on earth would you think that?' Lucien dropped into Mandarin, all the better to help her understand that she was wanted.
'You and Jean...'
The penny dropped, she had been embarrassed catching her father and future step-mother embracing.
'Li, Jean and I love each other, and it's only at home we can show it. If we were to, so much as, hold hands in public the gossip would be awful. The good ladies of Ballarat have always said mean things about Jean, sharing the house with me. They never say anything to her when she is with me, only when she is alone.' Lucien held out his arms to her, 'we want you here, we are so glad you felt you could come to me.'
Li took the hug and knew she didn't need to worry about it anymore.
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Jean had finished shopping, and was loading the groceries into the car, when Agnes Clasby stopped to speak to her.
'Hello, Jean. How are you? And how is Li settling in?' Being one of Lucien's oldest friends Jean could always be frank with her.
'Well, thank you. Li is adapting to the way we live rather well. She is becoming quite helpful around the house, too.' Jean smiled, it was nice that someone would ask after Lucien's daughter, when Agnes had come for an appointment she had made a point of being kind to the girl, which Li had recognised as friendliness. 'Aren't you due for an appointment today?' Jean had seen her name on the list, but Agnes had a talent for 'forgetting' her appointments if she felt like it.
'Am I?' Agnes smiled, rumbled. 'Well, it's rather a long walk for today.'
'No matter, hop in, I'll give you a lift.' Jean opened the passenger door for her, with a twinkle in her eye.
'Oh I don't want to put you to any trouble, dear.' Agnes smiled back, she knew Jean wouldn't take no for an answer.
'No trouble.' Just as Agnes was getting into the car, resigned to her fate, two of the gossips passed, whispering rather loudly, fully intending Jean to hear them.
'Well, really,' said one, 'fancy forcing a poor old lady to go to her appointment, and when that oriental is in the house.'
Jean bridled. Gripping the top of the car door.
'Do you suppose Mrs Beazley has to cook special food for her, I don't suppose they eat the same as us.' The other remarked.
Agnes put her hand on Jean's, now for some fun, she thought.
'No, it's quite difficult getting rat to skewer and snake to boil in Ballarat,' She raised her eyebrows, so innocent, 'isn't it Jean?'
Jean bit her lip at the horrified expression on the two ladies faces and just nodded. She didn't trust herself to speak with out laughing out loud. The women stuck their noses in the air and strutted off. Jean got into the car and drove off, tears of laughter running down her face, which didn't make for particularly safe driving? Agnes just sat there with a smug, pleased expression on her face, she hadn't had so much fun for ages!
Jean got them both to the house safely, still giggling at the faces of two ladies who may now give her a little peace.
As she took the groceries into the house Li went to give her a hand and noticed she was smiling and she had Agnes with her. Li liked Agnes, she didn't treat her as if she had two heads.
'Go on through to the waiting room, Agnes, Lucien will see you now if there's no one else there.' Jean said, 'I'll put the kettle on and you can have tea after he's seen you.'
'You look happy, Jean.' Li remarked.
'Yes, Agnes put two gossips in their place, while I was putting the shopping in the car.' Jean grinned, but she wasn't going to tell Li what had been said.
'I like her,' Li admitted, 'she has always been pleasant to me.'
'Oh Agnes has seen the world,' Jean put the shopping away, 'not much bothers her, except meanness and whispering behind hands.'
'Will she come through for tea, or do you take it into the surgery?' Li was setting a tray, as she had seen Jean do if she was taking a drink into Lucien.
'Usually I take it through, but as she's first in she can join you and me.' Jean passed her some biscuits, 'your father will have his when he's seen the last patient.'
There was a knock at the door and Jean went to admit the first of the day's patients.
Surgery went well and swiftly, Agnes joined Li and Jean in the living room for tea and biscuits until Jean was able to run her home. As she pulled up outside Agnes' house she thanked the older woman for defusing the situation earlier.
'Don't mention it, my dear.' Agnes smiled, 'it's about time some people were taken down a peg or two.'
'I just wish I could get Li to come into town with me.' Jean still felt if she went in often enough the whispering would cease to be an issue.
'I know,' Agnes thought for a moment. 'Why don't the three of us go shopping one day? Li might feel better with another supporter.'
'I'll suggest it, if you don't mind shopping for baby paraphernalia?' Jean didn't think it would be much fun for the older woman.
'I'll cope.' Agnes smiled, 'we could go for a cuppa afterwards.'
'Mmm, don't know if Li will go that far, but I like your thinking.' Jean agreed it would be good, and Li should have a say in what things were bought for the baby. It was about time they looked for a layette and at least a bassinet. 'I'll tell Li you've offered your support and me and Lucien will persuade her. Would you be free sometime next week?'
'Yes, I've nothing on. Ring me when you want to go.' Agnes went into her house thinking she was actually going to enjoy a day out with Jean and Li. Baby wear notwithstanding.
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It had taken some doing but finally Lucien and Jean persuaded Li she needed to choose baby clothes, a bassinet and pram, and the things she would need for hospital. Li had begged her father to let her give birth at home but Lucien was adamant she should go into hospital. He and Jean would both be there and she wasn't to be afraid. The hospital in Ballarat was a good one, and the medical staff were kind and gentle. He even arranged a visit to the maternity ward to show her how different it was to the hospital she would have gone into in China. Where she had lived was a poor area and the hospital understaffed, and ill equipped.
Jean and Li picked up Agnes and they set off to see what they could purchase and place an order, if necessary, for the pram. Lucien had told Jean to charge everything to him, no arguments!
With the two older women to guard and guide her Li was able to relax and enjoy the shopping trip. She was surprised at the choice and began to be excited at the prospect of being a mother, especially surrounded by such love. Jean suggested she buy plain nightgowns for the baby, until they knew what sex it was ,it was silly to buy gender specific clothes. Nappies and cot and pram linen were on the list and purchased. A pram was ordered and a bassinet chosen, which would be delivered within a day or so. Li chose her nightwear for hospital under Jean's advice. She was overwhelmed at the generosity of her father. They put their purchases in the boot of the car and Agnes declared she was parched and suggested they call in at the club for a cuppa. Jean knew Cec would be only too happy to accommodate them in a quiet corner and the two steered Li up the steps into the building.
'Mrs Beazley, Miss Clasby.' Cec greeted them, 'Miss Li. How nice to see you.'
'Cec could you find us a quiet table and some tea, please?' Jean asked.
'Of course, this way ladies.' He showed them to a nice light corner and brought a tray of tea and biscuits.
Li enjoyed her tea, Jean and Agnes helped her ignore the odd look she got, but for the most part they were left to drink their tea and chat.
They dropped Agnes off, Li thanking her for her help and apologising for her having to browse baby clothes.
'I enjoyed myself, my dear.' Agnes smiled, she genuinely had, 'we must have an afternoon out again, sometime.'
'That would be lovely, Agnes.' Jean said, and she drove off.
'Thank you, too, Jean.' Li turned to her, 'I see now that I don't need to dignify the comments with replies, or even listen to them.'
'No, Li, you don't.' Jean smiled at her, 'you are a very brave young woman, worth much more than some of them.'
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They unloaded their purchases and put them in Li's room. Jean said they would have to sort out a way to get the bassinet in the room without it seeming too crowded.
Lucien was pleased to see his daughter so happy, he would have to thank Jean, later, but,
'Jean.' He picked up a tea towel to dry the dishes, 'could you, perhaps see that Agnes has some flowers? To thank her for suggesting the shopping trip. It seems to have done Li the world of good.'
'Of course, but I think it did Agnes good too.' Jean looked at him, 'she seemed to enjoy herself as much as Li. I did too.'
'I have plans to thank you, later.' He had a wicked twinkle in his eye.
Jean dried her hands and grasped the edges of his waistcoat, pulled him towards her, 'Really, doctor?' and planted a long and suggestive kiss on his lips. Lucien put his arms around her and responded in kind.
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We'll leave the doctor to reward Jean as he sees fit! The next chapter should be the last in this story.