So, the case needs sorting before Daisy arrives, doesn't it?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew had managed to control himself and left Alice before anything happened that neither was quite ready for. He knew Alice was on the verge of losing control too, but he didn't want to take that final step with her until he was sure they were ready. She had clung to her memory of David for so long he was sure he was her first and last lover. One of the consultants at the hospital had made inappropriate overtures to her and she had shut down even more. That was when William Munro was in charge and he had made Alice feel as if she were in the wrong, that she should have taken what was on offer. He'd even said it was probably the last offer she would get. It had taken Matthew months to get her to smile, to accept his arm when they went to dinner, to just accept his friendship. He didn't want to ruin that by leaping on her and dragging her off to bed at the first opportunity.
They had spent the evening kissing and touching on the couch, like a pair of teenagers. Matthew found she had an almost musical giggle, her skin was soft and smooth. Alice found his touch gentle, warm and light. Slipping her hand under his shirt and singlet, she felt the strong muscles of his chest and stomach, and leant her head against him to hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Matthew slipped his hand inside her blouse feeling her nipple rise under her bra. She shivered as he stroked her skin and he pulled her close murmuring in her ear,
'Perhaps we should stop there, dear doctor.' He kissed her head.
'You may be right, superintendant.' She smiled into his chest not really wanting to move but move she did, with a heavy sigh.
He kissed her goodnight by the door and then slipped into the late evening, smiling to himself.
Inside, Alice smiled and blushed. It had been a long time since she had been touched so lovingly and she was surprised at how much she had enjoyed herself. She wrapped her arms around her and went upstairs to bed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In Matthew's office Alice and Lucien gathered with the superintendant to discuss how they could find Mrs Naylor's clients who may have reason to kill her; namely those she had infected with VD. Lucien knew very well who they should call in for questioning but because of patient confidentiality he couldn't say. Even when he'd asked the infected men if they had used certain services, he hadn't mentioned her name. Alice came up with the only idea,
'Why don't you put a picture up in the surgery and a message asking for anyone who knew her to come down to speak to the police about an incident.' She tipped her head to one side, 'you don't have to say she's been murdered.'
'It might work.' Matthew agreed, and as it was the only idea anyone had come up with they decided to try it. They asked Rose to take a picture of the woman, and Alice put some makeup on her to make her look reasonable, at least, not actually dead!
Lucien took the photograph back to the surgery and told Jean why it was there. He didn't want her to be upset, she had been quite distressed about the incident, after all she should feel safe in her own home.
It worked. The men were so horrified at what had happened, two of them were married. Consequently they had infected their wives too, and had been banished to the spare room until deemed 'clean' by their wives and Dr Blake. Whether their marriages would survive, well that was another concern altogether!
Each was interviewed by Matthew and Charlie, long tortuous interviews with raised voices and, in some cases, tears, mainly of remorse. All of the men, or 'clients', had an alibi, a story, but the one thing they all said was,
'She'll die anyway, why do it for her?'
Charlie and Matthew had to admit, they couldn't see any of the men killing Mrs Naylor. While they had reason to, they knew that, because she refused to take medication, the disease would eventually kill her. The ultimate punishment, they felt, was the slow decline and eventual death.
Matthew sought out Alice in the morgue. She was preparing the body for burial, again. The funeral directors had refused to handle the body, but would bury her if the laying out was already done.
'Hello.' She smiled at him. 'What can I do for you, superintendant?'
'We can't honestly get any of the men for this.' He sat on a stool and sighed.
'Maybe it was a wife.' Alice neatened off the shroud.
Matthew hit his forehead with the heel of his hand, 'Of course, it makes sense.'
'Hmm...' she wrapped a sheet round the body, 'I'd kill him first and then her.'
Matthew gulped then saw her smile as she half turned her face towards him. He smiled back,
'Dinner?' He asked, referring to later. 'I'll cook.'
'We'll both cook.' She moved to the end of the table and kissed his cheek.
'Right,' he stood up and went to the door, 'see you later.'
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'So, are you going to interview the wives, then?' Alice asked as they washed up.
'Tomorrow.' Matthew dried the plates, 'we thought it would be a good idea to let them think they weren't on our list of suspects.'
Alice emptied the bowl and dried her hands. 'Good idea.'
Matthew put the tea towel away and they went to the living room where she poured them both a whisky.
They sat together on the couch, the unwritten rule now was that cases were not a subject for conversation on the couch. Kissing and cuddling was allowed, however.
Alice sipped her drink and looked over the rim of her glass at Matthew. He watched her and smiled. She moved closer and put the glass down, placing her head on his shoulder and sighing contentedly. Matthew put his arm round her and relaxed against the back of the couch, leaning his cheek against her head and inhaling the scent of her, apple shampoo with faint overtones of morgue antiseptic. It never seemed to leave her, it was part of her and he liked it, strangely enough. She slipped her arms round him and wriggled closer. Matthew drew lazy circles on her shoulder. She felt the slight pressure through her dress and she lifted her face to look at him; his eyes were closed and he was smiling. He felt the slight movement of her head and looked down, shifting his weight he moved his head to kiss her, lightly on the lips. She looked into his clear, grey eyes, they seemed to see right into her soul. She parted her lips ever so slightly, an invitation to him to kiss her properly, an invitation he gladly accepted, tipping her down so she was lying across his legs and down on the couch. Shifting so he was lying next to her, he made sure he was not crushing her with his weight, he had to hold her tight to prevent her falling off the couch, at least that was his excuse! He ran his hands down her body and over her breasts, but the fabric of her dress was in his way, he wanted, so desperately, to feel the soft skin he had stroked the night before. Her dress was buttoned down the front so he slid his hand over and started to undo the buttons, un-buckling the thin leather belt as she undid his shirt. This time there would be no holding back, no 'perhaps'. Now her dress was open like a shirt, his hand slid down until it encountered the hem of her slip and under it her stocking top, further up, much further up, her ribs moving in time with her quickened breaths, her...why did women wear so much under their clothes?
Alice had lifted Matthew's singlet so she could feel his skin, his muscles, the light smattering of hair on his chest; he shrugged out of his shirt and let her plant sweet, light kisses on him as her hands slid over his hips pulling him close to her, feeling his desire. They weren't going to make it to the bedroom. Clothes were removed, not ripped off; no; they were adults; but those garments were removed very quickly. Matthew kissed every part of her skin as he exposed it, tickling her with his tongue, then firmer touches, leaving marks on her neat breasts. She gasped with anticipation as he slipped his hands between her legs and, finally, took her, as she later thought to herself, to the moon and back!
They lay half panting, half giggling at their behaviour.
Matthew was half right about David, he was her first and last serious lover..There had been a couple of mild diversions, not something she had enjoyed particularly, so she had stopped dating, immersing herself in her work. Matthew had awakened something in her that she had long thought lost, this was no 'mild diversion', she felt whole again.
Thank goodness they had decided to spend the evening at Alice's and not his house. The chance, no, danger, that they might have been caught by Rose was in the forefront of their minds. They would have to be careful; most of their friends knew they were close, but not how close, and believed that Alice's brighter mood was due to the re-appearance of Daisy in her life. Although they were seen together quite often, nobody had put two and two together, not even Lucien and Jean!
'This is going to be difficult when Daisy's here.' Alice murmured.
'True.' Matthew mused, kissing her forehead.
She turned on her side and looked up at him again, his hair was sticking up in all directions from when she had run her fingers through it as he had kissed her breasts and belly; suddenly her eyes filled with tears,
'Alice?' Matthew was worried, had he hurt her?
'Don't go.' She whispered, almost frightened of being alone. 'Stay with me, tonight.' It had been so long since she had felt this wanted by someone, really wanted, that she didn't want it to stop.
'You sure?' He admitted to himself that taking her on the couch then putting on his clothes and leaving would be like he had used her, not been with her because he was head over heels in love with her. Spending the night with her would be right, and if they had been at his house, he would have asked her to stay with him.
'Yes, more than anything I want to wake up next to you in the morning.' She flushed, 'does that sound forward of me?'
Matthew just smiled and kissed her. She slipped off the couch and stood up, completely unashamed of the fact that she was totally naked, so was he. She held out her hand to him and he let her pull him to his feet. He let go of her hand and slid his arm around her slender waist and they slowly went up the stairs to her bedroom.
The bed sheets were cool and she shivered as they slid between them, cuddling close to her lover for warmth. Matthew sought her mouth and kissed her deeply, running his hands down to her hips and pulling her to him letting her feel him again ready to make love to her. Alice gasped, her eyes wide with surprise, then she let him fill her with the love that was his to give to her, and only to her. She may be a doctor but that was the technical side, even doctors need to be taught, she thought, and this was a lesson she might need repeating! She arched and then groaned with pure pleasure as the final release took hold.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alice blinked as the sun streamed through the curtains, there was something warm and soft against her back and she smiled at the memory of the previous night. She stretched and yawned, knowing she would have to leave the warmth of Matthew's arms, and also realising she better not wriggle or they were not likely to get up!
Matthew slipped his arm over her and pulled her tighter against him, kissing her naked shoulder and playing with her breast.
'Matthew,' she breathed, needing him to stop, but not wanting him to.
'I know.' A final kiss on her shoulder and he loosened his hold.
Alice slipped from under the covers and, taking her robe from the back of the bedroom door, she went to bathe and prepare for the day.
Matthew lay in bed, musing on the past twelve or so hours. His relationship with Dr Harvey was more than he could have hoped, or wished, for. It had been a labour of love, he had to admit. Ever since he had first met her he saw her as a force to be reckoned with. Clever, forthright, strong and smart, and, in his eyes, beautiful. He hadn't fallen in love with her immediately, but had grown to like and admire her. She kept Blake under control, argued the point and supported him and the rest of the police in their endeavours to keep Ballarat safe. More and more he had sought out her company, asking her advice and discussing cases with her, usually with Jean and Lucien and gradually worked to make her his. Matthew loved Alice, that was all there was to it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They arrived separately at the station. Dr Harvey was to be the face of reason in the interviews while Superintendant Lawson was to be 'bad cop'. They had discussed this over breakfast, before Matthew had nipped home to change into a clean uniform, hoping the neighbours wouldn't notice, and if they did, well, he was protecting Dr Harvey from some threat!
He had sent Charlie and Bill to bring in the two wives who were affected by their husbands dalliances. They too had had to see Dr Blake as they had been infected. They had been embarrassed and horrified and very angry with their husbands. Neither of them could look Mrs Blake in the face, yet she had greeted them as she greeted all Lucien's patients, with polite cordiality.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They ladies were interviewed separately; Dr Harvey was sympathetic, telling them it was not their fault they had contracted such a disease, with Dr Blake's treatment they would recover with no lasting effects.
Matthew wanted to know if they knew the deceased. At first both women denied any knowledge of her. They had seen her picture in the surgery but did not know her.
'She was a well known figure in Ballarat,' Matthew raised his voice, 'all you ladies know each other, at least in passing. You're not telling me you didn't know who she was.'
'She wasn't in our circle.' Mrs Stephens sulked.
'Maybe not, I doubt Dr Harvey is, but you know who she is.' The superintendant reasoned.
'Well, there aren't many female doctors about.' Mrs Ryan noted.
'True,' Alice replied, 'but I don't have a practice so why would you know me?'
'Er...' neither woman wanted to tell her she was the subject of some gossip, because of what she did with the dead.
'Gossip,' Matthew supplied, 'I should imagine, doctor.'
Both women bowed their heads, blushing because he had worked that one out.
'No doubt, superintendant.' Alice raised an eyebrow. She turned back to Mrs Ryan, 'so, now we've established you DID know who she was...'
'Did you have anything to do with her death?' Matthew asked, tapping his pen on the table.
'Superintendant,' Alice feigned surprise at such a question, 'surely not, they are ladies!'
'Oh, I don't know, doctor,' he turned to her, 'murder isn't exclusive to men.'
'I know,' she continued to sound stunned, 'but surely these ladies...'
'Toffee nosed cow!' Mrs Ryan spat, 'what would you know about us?'
'Madam!' Matthew was not having Alice spoken to like that.
'So now we see the real Sylvia Ryan.' Alice sat back in her chair and folded her arms.
'The real Sylvia Ryan could tear you apart, bit by bit.' Mrs Ryan had forgotten why she was in a police interview.
'Is that what you did to Mrs Naylor?' Matthew leant on the table.
'I wasn't going to touch her. Filthy slut! No, a cricket bat was good enough.' She leant back looking rather proud of herself, then realised what she had just done.
Matthew looked at Alice, 'The injuries were inflicted with something heavy. A cricket bat would have done the damage.' Alice agreed, 'In fact Dr Blake said as much.'
Matthew got up and went to the door, he opened it and shouted down the corridor for Sergeant Hobart.
'Hobart, escort Mrs Ryan back to her cell.' Matthew instructed him, 'you can let Mrs Stephens go. Charge Mrs Ryan with the murder of Jane Naylor.'
Bill looked surprised but went to take Mrs Ryan's arm and take her away. Alice had gone to stand by the door and as Mrs Ryan passed her she shoved hard, knocking the doctor into the door frame.
Alice gasped and grabbed her shoulder.
'Dr Harvey, are you alright?' Matthew caught her as she wobbled.
'No.' Alice went pale, 'I think my shoulder's broken.'
'Here,' he sat her in a chair, 'and you can add assault to that charge!' He called after Bill.
'Boss!' Bill acknowledged.
'Are you sure?' Matthew squatted down in front of her.
'Without an x-ray? Not a hundred percent, but I heard a crack when I hit the frame, and that looks ok.' Alice winced as she turned her head..
'Right,' Matthew stood up and extended his hand to her, 'I'll run you down to the hospital, get it seen to.'
'Is there a First Aid Kit here?' She asked, not moving, 'I could do with a sling.'
'In the main office. Will you be alright while I get it?' He had moved to the door.
'I don't think the furniture is going to attack, so, yes.' She smiled weakly, and he left her sitting there, smiling at his tenderness.
Matthew returned quickly. He had found Lucien cluttering up the office so had brought him down to see Alice.
'Hello, Alice,' he grinned, 'beating up the suspects, I hear.'
She just smiled, he was good at putting his patients at ease, and she was no different to him, this time.
He put his bag on the table and gently touched her shoulder. She took a breath.
'Would you mind if I slipped your blouse down?' He didn't want to embarrass her but he could see the joint was swelling.
Alice started to undo the buttons with her good hand, which surprised Lucien as Matthew was still in the room. He stopped her. 'Shall we ask the superintendant to leave?' He asked quietly.
'No, it's alright.' She whispered back. Lucien raised his eyebrows, she was usually such a private person, but this was no time to argue, so when she had undone the buttons he helped her slip the garment down. He tried to be gentle but he could still see it was painful. She gasped as he probed the rapidly growing bruise and when he tried to move her arm she bit her lip to prevent a scream.
'Sorry, Alice.' Lucien helped her put her blouse back on and fastened the buttons for her. It was all Matthew could do to stop himself telling the doctor to take his hands off her. It was his place, he thought, to dress or undress her. 'An x-ray first,' Lucien said as he put her arm in a sling, 'then if it is broken I'm afraid it's just rest and a sling. It should mend itself. I'll give you some strong painkillers.'
'Damn!' Alice cursed, 'Daisy's coming over for the week on Monday.'
'Well, at least you'll have someone to nurse you.' Lucien suggested. 'You can stay with us for the weekend if you'd like to. Jean can help you do... whatever.' Lucien, as usual, was lost for words when it came to discussing what women did.
'I'll be fine,' she looked up at Matthew, he smiled at her behind Lucien's back. She gave a small smile back.
'Come on, Alice,' Lucien helped her up, 'I'll take you to the hospital.'
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'You're lucky.' Lucien said as he looked at her x-ray. 'It must have just popped out and back again.'
Alice heaved a sigh of relief. The painkillers he had given her had started to work and she was feeling more comfortable, if a little tired. He had warned her they may make her drowsy.
'Now, I don't know what you've done to Matthew, but he's phoned twice to find out how you are.' Lucien had a twinkle in his as he sat down next to her.
Alice just smiled, that was for her to know and him to find out.
'Anyway, he insists on taking you home. Guilt complex? You were hurt working with him.' Lucien suggested.
'Maybe.' Alice yawned. 'Those painkillers, are you sure they're not sleeping pills?'
'I told you they'd make you drowsy. So no operating heavy machinery...or superintendants.' He added cheekily.
Alice raised her eyebrows, he was fishing for information. Matthew appeared behind Lucien carrying Alice's coat and secreted underneath it, her handbag.
'Hello, Matthew.' She managed a sleepy smile. 'My coat, thank you.'
'How're you feeling?' He asked, putting the coat and bag on the chair.
'Tired, Lucien gave me some very strong painkillers.' She tipped her head up to him and looked into his eyes. 'He said you insist on taking me home.'
'I do. Are you ready to go?' He helped her out of the seat and put her coat round her shoulders.
Lucien watched them, curious as to their relationship. There had obviously been a change in the dynamics there. Maybe Jean would know something. As they walked away he noticed Matthew put his arm round Alice's waist. He smiled to himself, he'd definitely missed something!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew was on duty over the weekend but Alice had asked him to stay over anyway. At least he would be there at night and in the morning. Jean said she would take a meal over for her lunch and just to see how she was.
Alice was frustrated at being so hampered by her shoulder. She could just about dress herself, who knew how much one used both arms; she could make a cup of tea but she couldn't really cater for herself or Matthew. Fortunately he was a good cook and Jean's offerings were welcome.
She managed to sleep reasonably well if she slept on her side with the injured shoulder uppermost. This meant she had her back to Matthew but he found ways to satisfy her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Monday morning dawned bright and clear. Alice turned to lie on her back and felt Matthew's arms around her. She smiled, her shoulder was much less painful, more sore, really. She decided she'd leave her medication until she really needed it. She didn't feel she could ask Matthew to stay while Daisy was there, at least not at first. She didn't want either of them to be embarrassed, and really it was supposed to be more time with her daughter, getting to know her properly, not introducing her to her lover and expecting her to fit in with their living arrangements.
Daisy was due in the afternoon so Matthew took his things home, leaving Alice to herself. He would collect her later and take her to the station as previously arranged.
Alice couldn't settle to anything. She had made sure that Daisy's room was clean and welcoming before she hurt her shoulder, Matthew had bought her some flowers the day before and they were on display in the living room. She didn't need to shop, Jean had done that for her and brought her a casserole yesterday, it was in the fridge. Daisy would have to lift it in and out of the oven but that was all. She tried to read, but it wouldn't go in, she tried to listen to the radio, but it didn't interest her. She wondered if her unsettled demeanour was due to Daisy or Matthew. The only time she was used to being alone was at night, and that had changed now she was sleeping with Matthew. Now she was alone during the day, when she should have been working. She thought about going for a walk, maybe over to the Blake's, yes, that's what she'd do. Without a heavy dose of painkillers she was much more alert.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'Coming!' Jean called down the hall. She smiled when she saw Alice on the doorstep. 'Alice, come in.' She stepped aside. 'Is everything alright?' It was unlike Alice to pay spontaneous visits.
'Yes, fine, thank you Jean.' Alice wondered how she could tell Jean she was, well, bored. 'I find I need some company.' was all she could come up with.
'Nervous about Daisy's visit?' Jean took her down into the kitchen, she could make some tea and keep her eye on the twins, playing on the living room floor.
'Well, not really, I'm just not used to having nothing to do.' Alice flushed slightly. 'You don't mind, do you?' She was worried she had interrupted Jean in some work she was doing.
'Of course I don't mind.' Jean smiled and poured tea for them both, 'but how did you manage over the weekend?' If she was bored now, she must have been climbing the walls over the weekend, yet she had seemed calm when Jean had taken over food. True Matthew had been there when she called, but Lucien had said he thought he felt guilty over the shoulder business.
'I had company, and I slept a lot.' Alice had thought she wasn't very good company for Matthew, but he said he didn't mind. He did some gardening for her, when she was dozing.
'Matthew?' Jean looked her friend in the eye, 'that was nice of him.'
'Yes, it was.' Alice couldn't help blushing to the roots of her hair.
'Alice?' Jean's voice had that questioning tone, the one her mother used when she had returned late from a walk or date with Christopher.
'Yes Jean?' Alice tried to sound innocent, but it didn't work. Jean worked it out so fast.
'So how long has this been going on?' She teased.
'I don't...oh alright, quite some time. And before you ask, yes, he did stay the weekend.' Alice sipped her tea and tried to avoid Jean's gaze.
'I'm happy for you, for you both.' Jean was genuinely pleased that they had found each other. Matthew had been alone long enough, she had known him almost all her life and had always wondered why he hadn't married. Maybe he'd make an honest woman out of Alice, she deserved happiness too.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alice washed her plate and glass up. Matthew would be there shortly to take her to the station. She had refused Jean's invitation to stay for a bit of lunch, she had imposed enough. Her shoulder was beginning to ache but she daren't take any pain relief or she'd spend the afternoon asleep. She'd have to put up with it and take some before she went to bed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alice squeezed Matthew's hand as they stood on the platform waiting for the train bringing Daisy to Ballarat for, what she hoped would be many visits. The sound of the approaching train had them look up, Alice had already started smiling. As it drew alongside the platform, heads were appearing, looking for loved one's waiting. They both scanned along and it was Matthew that spotted her first, the younger Alice. He bent to his Alice and pointed, she waved excitedly and Daisy waved back, a huge grin on her pretty face. She jumped down off the train and, swinging her suitcase, practically ran to her mother. Alice held out her free arm and hugged her.
'Mother!' Daisy kissed her cheek, 'how are you?'
'Very well,' Alice smiled, 'but mind my arm.' Daisy was about to wrap her arms round her mother and Alice knew how strong her hugs were.
Daisy noticed the sling peeping out from under Alice's coat, elegantly draped over her shoulders.
She stood with her hands on her hips and scolded, 'What have you done?'
'Had an argument with a door frame, it won.' Alice grimaced, 'it's just badly bruised, but sore.'
Matthew had stood slightly back from Alice as she greeted her daughter, he liked the way Daisy scolded her mother, a bit like a teacher would do, or was it role reversal. Daisy looked at him,
'You must be Matthew,' she held out her hand, 'it's lovely to meet you at last, mother talks about you all the time.'
Matthew grinned and took her hand, 'It's lovely to meet you too, Daisy. I hear all about your days together. She's very proud of you.' He decided that Daisy had inherited her mother's forthright manner, he'd better be on his guard. He picked up her suitcase and the three of them went to the car.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alice unlocked the door and let Daisy enter first. It was such a change from her dull boarding house room and she smiled. Matthew let both women enter first then took Daisy's case up to the spare room, he left it on the bed and then went to join them in the kitchen. He'd promised Alice he wouldn't leave immediately but stay for a cuppa. He stood in the doorway watching the two women prepare a tray. Daisy did most of it, she might be more at home in the kitchen than Alice was, although her cooking was improving. As Alice put the cups and saucers on the tray she looked up and saw him standing there. She smiled, a warm smile, that told him she was more than happy with the way her life had taken a turn.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
'Aren't you staying?' Daisy asked, innocently, as Matthew took his leave.
'Now when am I going to get a word in edgeways?' He laughed as he saw Alice redden. 'You two ladies can talk the night away, but if it's alright with you both, how about I take you to dinner tomorrow, night?'
'Thank you, Matthew,' Alice stood up, 'that would be lovely.'
'You make sure you take some painkillers tonight, Alice.' He warned her as she went to the door with him, 'you won't sleep if that shoulder bothers you.'
'I will,' though Alice thought that sleep would not come easily without him there, either way.
Matthew was right about them talking, if one was silent the other wasn't. Daisy very quickly got her mother to admit her relationship with Matthew was not exactly platonic. Over the months, as they had got to know each other, Alice had told her daughter that she had not found anyone to take her father's place, until she met Matthew, and even then it had taken a long time for her to let him into her life. She said he had to work for her to be even civil in the early days.
Daisy noticed Alice wincing more as the evening wore on and eventually she suggested they retire. Alice took a half dose of pain relief and went to change for bed. She would have to manage by herself tonight, Matthew had helped her undress and, reluctantly, dress, since she had hurt her shoulder.
Daisy knocked on the bedroom door,
'Can I come it?'
'Yes.' Alice was in bed, trying to get comfortable. She had very quickly got used to sharing the bed with Matthew and she was finding it difficult to settle.
Daisy stood in the doorway and smiled. How could she tell her mother that it didn't bother her if her lover stayed over. Perhaps that was a step a daughter should not take, certainly if that daughter was newly arrived in one's life.
'Thanks for letting me meet Matthew.' She offered, 'he's sweet, and it's very clear he loves you.'
Alice didn't quite know how to respond to this, so she just said goodnight, and smiled.
'G'night, mother.' Daisy left her to her dreams.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I had hoped to get more of Daisy in this chapter, but the case and my obsession with detail got in the way.
The issues with Alice's shoulder-my mother managed to dislocate one shoulder last year, so she had trouble dressing and undressing, my dear sister had to help her, like Matthew helped Alice.