Ember Flowers (23 page)

Jean held it
carefully in her tanned hand. “It’s an egg, a honey-eater by the
looks..” She turned it over, looking at it through the light.
“..Must have been blown out of the nest.”

Her gentle eyes
returned to the toddler. “You know, if we put a little box
together, and make it warm..it might even hatch?”

Blue eyes
sparkled at her with interest. She returned the egg to the
toddler’s hand. “OK sweetie. You be real careful with that, and
I’ll find something to put it in.” A little ruffle of the blonde
hair, and Jean was heading inside.

Jo watched her
through the open French doors of the kitchen as the older woman
headed up stairs. Annabelle studied the egg in her hand as though
it might hatch in front of her at any moment. She reached out
stroking the child’s hair affectionately.

“You like her
huh?”

Her daughter
smiled back, engrossed in her discovery.

The tall woman
mused, looking down at the now dewy grass. She leant her shoulder
against the weathered wood of the verandah post. The three of them
were a good fit. It had surprised her how easily Jean had accepted
her daughter, but she supposed that made sense, the older woman
certainly doted on Alex, Scott’s young son. On their visits here
Annabelle often got treated to French toast and early morning
cartoons.

She had rarely
come across same-sex parents before, and the concept always struck
her as having something missing. It had occurred to her lately how
different she and Jean were, but how well they worked together. It
seemed between the two of them they had a lot to offer. The blonde
woman stopped herself with a chiding internal slap.
Parenting?
You’ve only known her a couple of months, are you crazy? What if
this doesn’t work out, and Annabelle gets attached? And what about
Owen?

It made her
frown.

Jean returned
from inside a short while later carrying a small square box with a
bit of pillow stuffing and rag. She sat down nearby on the outdoor
rattan, Jo’s daughter made her way over with quick excited
footsteps, cupping the small off-white egg in both hands.

Jo watched the
two of them, the brunette filled the box with the soft lining,
before holding it out to the child who deposited the fallen egg
with the utmost care. It made her smile, at least she taught her
something right.

The brunette
grinned. “OK honey, take that inside and sit it somewhere safe,
we’ll put it under the lamp when we go back in.” The child took off
inside, prompting Jo to call out to her, reminding her not to
run.

The two women
shared an amused chuckle.

“You’re good
with her.” Observed Jo, looking up at the nearby eucalypts that
swayed gently in the wind, storm clouds were clearing.

“She’s very
well behaved. No trouble at all. Besides, it’s nice to have
laughter in the house.”

The policewoman
nodded. Indeed it was, it was a scary feeling, but she was starting
to feel more at home here than her own little house in the suburbs.
It made her feel a little out of control, the rate at which she was
so easily adapting to this life. She had never felt more welcome.
Sometimes she hesitated in coming here, it got harder to leave.

“I can see you
thinking again Joanne.” Dark eyes smiled at her. A gentle touch ran
along her arm, twining their fingers.

How does she
always know?

Jo’s cell phone
chimed in her pocket. Burring with vibration as a call was
received. Jo pulled it out of her pants, looking at the caller. She
glanced at Jean, who had already turned to head back inside.

“Myers.”

A dispatch
voice confirmed her badge number and name, then spoke to her in a
businesslike manner.

Jo went inside
to find Jean in the living room, putting on a cartoon for her
daughter to watch. She stood in the doorway, watching the brunette,
her brows drawn and frowning.

“Jean?”

The older woman
turned to her, her head tilting in attention.

“I have to go.
I’ve been called in, something important.”

“Oh? OK.” She
sounded concerned.

“Can you help
me pack up her things?” Jo watched the little girl who looked up at
her, having picked up on the conversation. The blonde sighed. “I’ll
drop her off at my mother’s on the way there.”


Jean walked to
her, resting her hands on Jo’s hips. “Sure. You know, I don’t mind
keeping an eye on her?”

The blonde
considered it for a moment, she was unsure. Sure, she trusted Jean,
but it was new territory. She gave her a cautious look. “I might be
out half the night. You sure you can handle that? She can be a
handful.”

The brunette
nodded. “You don’t know handful until you’ve minded Alex. That kid
is a walking cyclone. She’s no trouble Jo, I don’t mind.”

The policewoman
had contemplated the suggestion, after a few more questions. Again
checking if it wasn’t an inconvenience. She had thought that
Annabelle might prefer to visit her grandmother, but she seemed
quite content to watch cartoons.

A puckering of
her lips before she agreed, she was about to give Jean emergency
numbers when the brunette laughed and waved her away.

The two of them
watched the policewoman get into her car. Her cheeks peppered with
her daughter’s kisses. Jo drove slowly away, Annabelle had already
been drawn to the colourful flowers by the porch.

Four p.m.
rolled around as slowly as the clouds across the sky. The rain had
stopped, leaving the fresh scent and dew behind. After exploring
outside, Annabelle was scheduled for her afternoon nap. The child
now slept quietly in Jean’s guest bed upstairs. The woman took the
opportunity to work out what to feed her later. Jo was a stickler
for nutrition. Jean rummaged through the crisper, managing to throw
something together with rice and a few other ingredients.

She sliced the
pumpkin into smaller pieces, humming to herself. A high pitched
squeal and cry from the bedroom upstairs made the bowl drop and
smash onto the floor. The brunette was scaling the stairs almost
three at a time. She ran to the guest room, intercepting the
howling child in the hall. Little hands pressed against her ear,
she was crying, terrible sobs and a strangled wail. Jean dropped to
her knees, not sure what was wrong. The child was hollering for her
mother.

“Shhh. Shhh.
Sweetie, what’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Her hands were already
checking her over, thinking she’d been bitten by something. Dark
eyes wide and worried.

Annabelle
sucked in a wet sob, pressing her hand hard against her head.
“Hurts. Hurts.” her eyes pained and teary.

She wasn’t sure
what to make of that, the child’s movements were erratic, but she
was obviously suffering.
A headache? An earache? A muscle spasm?
Spider bite?
She wasn’t sure. There was one likely thing that
might quiet her a moment. Jean slid her arms around the little
girl, hugging her gently. The blonde child rested her head on her
shoulder and muffled sobs into her neck. The little cries quieted
to sniffles, Jo’s daughter still had her little hand pressed to her
ear.

Jean looked at
the sad blue eyes, pulling back to stroke her cheek. “OK darling,
I’ll take you to the doctor, it won’t hurt anymore? OK?”

***

It had been
easier than she anticipated, bundling the girl into her ute. She
had only put up a fight sitting her in the seat. She was used to
her clip in carrier, they would just have to make do. A click of
the seat belt over her, an adjustment for her smaller size. She
would have exceeded the speed limit on the quiet road if it were
just her. But the trip would be quick enough, Jo wouldn’t want her
put in danger, between the occasional kangaroo and the winding
bends. They arrived safely, the child had quieted during the ride.
Quick sneakered steps, the automatic doors opened with a soft hiss,
Annabelle on her hip. Jean’s eyes were drawn to the friendly
receptionist behind the counter.

“Hello. New
patient?”

Jean nodded
toward the little girl. “She is. I’m not.”

Studious eyes
looked up at her, smiling. “Is this your daughter?”

Jean shook her
head and smiled, her head turning to look at the little girl. “No.
My girlfriend’s daughter, I’m baby sitting.”

“I see, should
I put you down as her guardian then?” She retrieved a clipboard and
pen. Annabelle looked around the waiting room, gripping her
shoulder. An aquarium of colourful fish caught her eye.

Jean pulled the
clipboard toward her on the counter. “Sure.”

She entered as
much information as she knew, remembering the date of the girl’s
birthday was a small win for her memory. She made a mental note, it
was only three weeks away.

Annabelle
gripped her harder, burying her head in the crook of her neck as
she grizzled. “Ouch.”


Her calloused
hand rubbed Annabelle’s back. “I know sweetie, that’s why we’re
here, to make the ow go away.”

She reached
over, accepting a fire engine red lollipop from the receptionist.
Annabelle’s power of persuasion had struck again. Jean pulled off
the wrapper, holding the treat out for the girl’s small hand.
Annabelle looked at it, before mouthing it contentedly
distracted.

They sat in
reception, it wasn’t long before they were shown through. The wait
was starting to wear on the toddler. She had started to scream
again, Jean could only rock her as they waited. Whispering
comforts, she sent Joanne a quick text, letting her know what was
going on.

She sat down
beside the Doctor’s desk with a teary Annabelle in her arms.

“Good to see
you again Jean. Been a while. You didn’t go and have a kid between
the last time we spoke did you?” His brown eyes were smiling with
curiosity. Her knew her history, she’d been coming to the same
small practise for years. Treatment for cuts here and there, work
related minor injuries. Insurance usually necessitated the
appointment. Otherwise she was usually in good health, with no
complaints.

The older woman
shook her head. “No Doctor..this is my girlfriend’s daughter. I’m
baby sitting.”

Annabelle
voiced her discomfort with a frown, her palm pressed against her
ear and a little whimper.

The scene had
the same heart melting effect as sleeping puppy. “Aww. Someone’s
ear hurts huh? Let’s take a look.”

He pulled out
his inner ear scope from his desk drawer. Unclipping it from its
sterile holster. Annabelle grabbed fistfuls of Jean’s shirt,
unsure.

Her tanned hand
rubbed over the girl’s back. She gently got her attention. “Annie
sweetie?”

The blonde head
turned back to look at her. Blue eyes fearful.
“Wont hurt sweetie,
just let the Doc have a look, and we can figure out why it’s sore,
OK?” She knew most of it the girl wouldn’t understand, but she
tried to make her voice as soothing as possible.

The Doctor
carefully moved her silvery hair to check in her ear, nodding to
himself. He checked the other one. “Hmm. Yeah. I can see why it
hurts. Just got a little infection, that’s all.”

He clipped the
equipment back together and slid it back into his desk drawer.
Annabelle jostled on her lap, moving around to look at the box of
wooden toys in the corner. Jean rested a steadying hand on her back
and belly. He took her temperature, and a stethoscope over her
heart. The cold steel made the girl flinch.

Grasping a pen
from a colourful cup full of tongue depressors, he began writing a
prescription.

***

Tired legs
trudged through the door at a little after two am. Jo let herself
in, expecting to crawl into bed with the older woman already
asleep. When she’d tried to give the key back Jean had just shaken
her head and motioned for her to keep it; just in case. She wasn’t
sure how to take that, the older woman was making a clear point of
saying she was trusted.

She closed the
door quietly behind her, walking up the hall in uniform, she was
surprised to see the living room light on, the television muted
low, and her daughter wrapped up in earthy coloured blankets on the
recliner. Jean was crouched beside her, checking Annabelle’s
forehead as she slept.

Jo shot her a
worried look.

Jean spoke
softly as Jo walked quickly over, laying her things on the floor
nearby.

“She’s fine Jo.
Little earache. I took her to the doctor earlier, gave her
children’s aspirin, and some drops for her ear. She’s just been
sleeping, but she didn’t want to be alone.”

Jo’s features
calmed visibly, she reached out and touched the girl’s forehead,
little warm but not feverish. Crouching low beside her, a knee to
the floor.

“When?”

Jean ran her
hand over Jo’s arm. “Hour or so after you left. I sent you a text,
but I thought it would be better if I just took her to my G.P.
She’s fine, just a little sore.”


Jo frowned
worriedly, holding her daughter’s small hand. “How long has she
been sleeping?” Keeping her voice hushed.

Jean glanced at
the little girl. “She’s been waking up on and off, she fell asleep
a little after ten. I was going to carry her upstairs, but she
didn’t like the idea. So she’s been out here with me.” She looked
at the girl’s sleeping face thoughtfully.

Jo nodded,
letting out a held breath. “Thanks. Had me worried for a
moment.”

“No need, she’s
fine Jo. I wouldn’t let anything happen.”

Grey eyes
glanced at her, she leant forward and gave Jean a soft kiss.

A crinkle of
movement as the blanket shifted. “Mummy?” Little arms reached for
her.

Jo slid her arm
around Annabelle’s side, it was immediately gripped by small
fingers. “Here sweetie. You feeling OK?” She reached out again with
her other hand, her palm against the toddler’s forehead. Her skin
cool all over from her car’s air conditioning.