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Jack always found it strange to celebrate Christmas without snow. But everything was upside down in Australia.
“Come here, Jack, I have to fix your collar,” Belle told him, and he happily complied. They were married for more than a year already and Jack could honestly say that it was the happiest time of his life. Every day with Belle was better than the previous one. He loved her so much.
“Thank you, my dearest,” he smiled at her, and she just rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know what you did before you had me,” she shrugged and kissed him on the cheek as she finished the fixing.
“I struggled desperately,” Jack said seriously, and Belle giggled.
“I am glad that now you have a wife who can fix it for you.”
“Oh, my wife does so much more,” he winked at her and tugged her into his arms.
“Really?” she hummed and let him kiss her on the neck.
“Oh yes, I could show you what I can do for my wife in exchange…”
“Jack, no, we must go. My parents are expecting us for Christmas dinner,” she pushed him slightly and he dramatically sighed.
“I am just still nervous around your mother; she will have her comments again.”
“You can do it, you always do. Don’t forget that nothing she says matters. We are married and happy. And I will hold your hand the whole evening, promise,” she smiled at him and kissed him shortly. But nervous should have been Belle because she was actually the target of the evening.
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Everything started well enough.
“I miss the hospital,” Sneed said as they finished the dinner. It has been a few months since he left the hospital and took over Gaine’s spot. Not that he was too excited about the position, but the governor proposed it to him with the expectation that Sneed would take over the governance one day.
This all was possible because they got a new doctor, doctor Frank, a young man who was eager to experiment in medicine.
“You don’t,” Belle shook her head.
“I do, I would love to be the attending doctor to my wife, but sadly my new job seems more important,” Sneed said.
“I think my sister is very happy with me being her doctor,” Belle smirked, and Fanny wisely ignored the conversation. Fanny was pregnant, she was five months along and everyone in the family was truly happy about it.
“It is what it is, but we should all move to the living room, don’t you think, Jane?” the governor asked, and Lady Fox nodded.
“Yes, there are some presents for everyone,” she smiled, and Jack was glad that she wasn’t too hostile tonight. Since Fanny announced her pregnancy, Lady Fox was happier than before.
The evening was very pleasant. The living room was decorated with Christmas ornaments and after the presents, everyone found a cozy part of the room and engaged in conversations.
Jack and Belle ended up on one of the sofas and they talked about a new article that Belle just read this morning. Jack was playing with Belle’s hand mindlessly as he listened to her.
“Dawkins! Are you going to join us?” Sneed called on him and Jack looked up in surprise.
“Join you doing what?” he asked carefully.
“Rainsford and I are going on a fox hunt next week,” the governor answered.
“Jack doesn’t like hunting,” Belle answered instinctively.
“Jack can’t talk for himself?” Sneed asked with a grin.
“It’s true, I have never understood the joy of killing living animals and I am not a good shot,” Jack answered honestly.
“But you don’t mind cutting into living people?” Fanny asked with interest.
“Only to save their lives.”
“I couldn’t do it. Anyways, when are you planning to have a child? It would be wonderful if our children were similar ages, wouldn’t it, Belle?” Fanny asked and Belle’s smile froze for a moment. The whole conversation wasn’t her favourite one, especially not in front of Lady Fox.
“That’s true, Belle. You are married longer than Fanny,” Lady Fox pointed out and Belle sighed.
“Jack and I want to wait a bit longer. I am at the beginning of my career, and I want to focus on that right now,” Belle said calmly.
“Career, what career? You aren’t a real doctor, stop with that ridiculous play. You got a husband that you so desperately wanted so I expected that you would be eager to do your wifely duties,” Lady Fox said, and everyone took a step back. No one wanted to be in the middle of their fight. Only Jack remained, and he squeezed her hand. Belle was taken aback by her mother’s words. Did she mean it all?
“My wife is a real doctor, without her the hospital couldn’t function at all,” Jack interfiled.
“You shouldn’t encourage her, Doctor Dawkins. Don’t you want to have a respectable family?” Lady Fox asked.
“I think that you have no idea how brilliant your daughter is, Lady Fox,” Jack only replied. Belle put her hand into his and smiled at him.
“Oh, we know, our daughters are our pride and joy. Nevertheless, we should talk more about this hunt, I think it could turn into a nice social outing. Ladies wait somewhere and gentlemen would go hunting,” the governor changed the conversation, and everyone was glad for that.
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“I don’t want to turn into a baby factory or leave my children with the nanny all the time,” Belle cried out as they entered their house later in the evening.
“I know,” Jack nodded and locked the door.
“Why can’t she accept my life? My decisions?” Belle asked and dramatically fell on the sofa.
“She had a prepared life for you that she thinks would be more appropriate for you. She just needs time,” Jack sighed and sat down next to her.
“She should want me to be happy, that’s all that matters, right? We will let our children make their own decisions,” Belle declared, and Jack nodded in agreement.
“Of course, Little Rupert will make his own choices and mistakes.”
“I am not naming our child Rupert!”
“Little Rupert, little is a first name and Rupert is a middle name,” Jack grinned at her.
“That’s even worse, Jack!” she laughed.
“Fine, that’s still subject for discussion,” he shrugged his arms and Belle just shook her head.
Oh, how she loved her husband.