So, how was life at the Blake's now?, we ask ourselves. I feel Jean would carry on regardless, but there may be some little hiccups. Hope you like this chapter.
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After the initial disruption of Bobby's arrival coupled with Jean's revelation that she was pregnant, life in the Blake household settled down.
Charlie's shock at returning from Melbourne after a weekend break to find an additional, albeit very small, new lodger at the house, turned to amusement as he watched Lucien play with Bobby. But he had renewed respect for Jean. She had explained why Bobby was there and also that she was expecting, but the latter was not public knowledge and she would be the one to tell. He was amazed at how she seemed to take in all in her stride; as if having your small grandson dropped on you and being pregnant in your mid-forties was an everyday occurrence.
Lucien was pleased to see that Jean did not seem to be having any problems with the pregnancy. He insisted on doing all her regular check-ups himself; blood pressure fine, blood count good, no morning sickness and no real change to her diet. She had gone off her evening sherry, but they both agreed it was no bad thing, and she had definitely gone off whisky!
She carried on running the house and his business, some of the patients said how nice it was to see a little one in the house and Agnes Clasby was always rather early for her appointments. Jean had to keep an eye on the amount of sweets and treats she gave Bobby, but she appreciated Agnes' interest in the child. In fact Bobby seemed to like her and started taking a story book to her, which she would obligingly read to him.
Lucien suggested she had some help with some of the housework and she did say she would think about it. She had , in fact, already made a mental note to ask Evelyn Toohey if she would help with the cleaning and laundry when she was approaching seven months. That would be about right, especially if she would carry on until she had recovered sufficiently from the birth to get back to a new normality. If she could run a farm with two small boys round her feet then she could run this home and Lucien's practice with a baby and toddler. At least she was going to give it a damn good try!
As her waistline grew she put her needlework skills to good use, re-modelling some dresses and skirts, putting pieces into the seams of blouses to give them a swing shape and occasionally pinching one of Lucien's shirts, but only if there were no patients and she wasn't going into Ballarat. By the end of her fifth month she could no longer hide the fact that she was pregnant. So she didn't. If anyone asked she would confirm it, but she didn't go around advertising the fact. She had told the sewing circle when she was four months, she knew they would notice but apart from them she didn't actually tell anyone. Whenever she was out she still dressed as the wife of a successful doctor and police surgeon.
Bobby was a placid child, all he needed was cuddles, feeding and loving. All most children need really. At first Jean was concerned he would realise he'd been abandoned, but as the weeks wore on he seemed happy just to be fed, kept clean and cuddled. He liked his new found Unca Cha, who joined in caring for him. Charlie even babysat occasionally if Jean and Lucien wanted to go out for the evening. He usually had Rose for company, and they both insisted it was no trouble. Initially Jean was concerned about two young people left to their own devices, but Ballarat still talked about her and Lucien and Rose said, let 'em talk, she didn't care, she set Uncle Matthew on them!
Lucien was a little concerned about Bobby's language skills, but Jean said he just needed to hear it to say it. If Sally and Jack hadn't actually talked to him his skills would be a little behind, and, she pointed out, he was getting better, Amah had become Mama and Anpa; Papa! They both found that they answered to it instinctively, they also couldn't bear to correct him!
Because Jean only had contact with Jack through Christopher she decided to ring him shortly after Bobby arrived. Christopher phoned her most weeks so he was surprised to get a call from her in between times, and thought at first something was wrong between her and Blake. He was not pleased to hear about her being landed with a toddler, so she decided to keep the rest of her news to herself for now. She did her best to placate him, but when he suggested he and Ruby add Bobby to their family she was quite offended.
'Why? Do you think I'm too old to look after a small child?' She demanded.
'No, no mum! Honestly, I just thought...' but the truth was he did think she should be settling down t a quiet life with Lucien, if that was at all possible. She was a grandmother, after all.
'When Jack gets in touch will you tell him and ask if we could have the birth certificate, please. If he has no objection Lucien and I would like to at least be appointed Bobby's legal guardians, or formally adopt him.'
'Mum!' Christopher was horrified, 'you're absolving Jack of his responsibilities to his child!'
'I'm thinking of Bobby!' Oh dear, not a row with Christopher too. 'Christopher, Lucien and I feel we can give Bobby what he needs - stability. Please, just tell Jack when you hear from him. Sally could have put Bobby in an orphanage, instead she chose to place him where she hoped he'd be loved. And he is.'
'Alright, but...'
'I know, you think I'm mad.'
She could almost see Christopher smile at that on the other end of the phone. But she absolutely, definitely was not too old to look after a child!
Christopher said he'd call as soon as he heard anything, there was no use arguing with his mum, he'd tried over the years, she always won.
She related the conversation to Lucien later, after Bobby had been put bed and they were relaxing in their customary fashion, curled up together on the couch. He laughed at her dismay over Christopher trying not to say she was too old to look after a baby, but he suggested she wait until she had had her baby before she told him that little nugget. When she raised her eyebrows at, what to her was, deceit, he said, with a twinkle in his eye,
'He probably thinks sex was invented by the young and you're too old for that too!'
Jean gave a girlish giggle and replied, 'Well, perhaps we'd better make sure I'm not,' and with a cheeky smile she stood up, took his tie in her hand and led him towards the bedroom.
Lucien had no choice but to follow, his eyes on that delicious, wiggling bottom of hers.
