Well, here are Mattie's thoughts and feelings when reading Jean's letter.
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It had been a long shift for the newly promoted Sister O'Brien, her feet hurt and she needed a cup of tea. As she walked into the Nurse's Home she glanced at the pigeon holes where mail was stored. She didn't expect anything, she hadn't heard anything from Jean for a while, except a short note in her birthday card to say she and Lucien were settling down to married life and that all was well in Ballarat. She missed hearing the news but had to admit she had been remiss at writing too, so she was surprised to see a familiar air-mail envelope on her slot. Picking it up she recognised Jean's writing and noted in was quite a thick envelope.
She ran up the stairs two at a time, she could hardly wait to read all her friend's news. Pausing only briefly to make her much needed cuppa she went into her room and kicked off her shoes. Sitting on her bed she tore open the envelope and read.
First the news about Bobby. Trust Jack, he hurt Jean so much and she had tried so very hard with him; she couldn't envisage hurting her parents like that. Yes, they'd had their differences but her parents had come to respect her choices and her mother had told her that her father was really very proud of her. So Jack had deserted Bobby and his mother - well he had tried it on with her when he was last in Ballarat (with a pregnant girlfriend!) she wasn't surprised, sadly.
Mattie agreed with Jean, she was not too old to look after a little one and was glad Lucien was supporting her, but she'd give anything to see him change a nappy! She chuckled at the thought. She wasn't in the least bit surprised that they wanted to adopt Bobby, half measures weren't their style. Mattie wondered what Bobby looked like, she imagined him with dark hair like Jean's and his father's but hopefully her had inherited Jean's nature, she'd said he was placid, oh why hadn't she included a photo!
And the other news! Jean pregnant, how wonderful! She sounded so happy. Mattie knew she'd make an amazing mother, practical but loving and Lucien was bound to be indulgent. Nothing would be too good for his wife and child. She noted Lucien was Jean's GP now and knew that Jean was in safe hands but she could imagine her finding his total care a little stifling. The Jean she knew was fiercely independent, had had to be, so she could imagine a 'discussion' about where she gave birth - in the kitchen preparing a roast! There was no stopping Jean Blake! Mattie was glad she'd agreed to have help with the cleaning and laundry, even if it was Evelyn. She laughed at the thought of Bobby hiding when she was there, her severe expression would scare most children!
How lovely that Agnes had taken to Bobby and he to her, it meant Jean had another female friend. She worried that Jean had few close friends, her life revolved around the Blake household. She and Jean had built up a relationship that was almost mother and daughter but somehow more. Mattie felt tears sting, she missed them so much.
'Buck up, Sister O'Brien', she told herself, 'you gave yourself two years before you went back, and you know where home will be when you do.'
She had to admit it had been hard being so far away from those she loved, so she had immersed herself in her work, eventually specialising in paediatrics and obstetrics and was now Sister in Charge of Children's Nursing.
Mattie read the rest of Jean's letter, giggling at the thought of Lucien having to eat mints if he'd been drinking whisky and grateful to Charlie for making sure they had some time away from the house.
She hoped Jean and Christopher would maintain their bond, but she could imagine he would have something to say about his mother being pregnant, he was protective she knew, but probably thought she was past that sort of behaviour that resulted in that situation! In her work in London Mattie had come across many older mothers and they were usually the most practical and loving and she knew Jean would be too.
Mattie resolved to write back immediately. She didn't have as much news but she needed to let Jean know how happy she was to hear all hers.
