"I never expected her. Sometimes people sneak up on you and suddenly you don't know you ever lived without them." - Elle Kennedy, The Deal
Beirut, Lebanon
24 November 1941
Matthew read over the latest letter from Alice again; he'd long since memorized it all - lightly tracing over her spidery handwriting (barely legible in some parts, but it always got that way when she was excited). She'd loved his hasty birthday present, her own words told him so, but his eyes lingered over the last portion of the letter - the part that mentioned a date.
Was he jealous of some man he'd never met? Jealous that he got to be in the same place as his dear friend? Or just jealous that he was home and Matthew was not?
Or was it fear? Fear that if this date and Alice hit it off, he'd be forced to cut contact with her? Not many men understood having friends of the opposite sex - would he have Alice choose between them?
A part of him wished the date had gone horribly wrong - just so he could keep being in Alice's life, but he quashed it down; she deserved to be happy, even if it meant their letters had to end.
"Why the long face, Lawson?"
Matthew jumped a bit in surprise, but stopped trying to rise when Lieutenant Hugh Collins waved at him to sit; his former boss at City South (and now one of his higher-ups in the division), sat next to him and smiled when he saw the letter in Matthew's hands.
"Ah, a letter from home, hopefully not bad news?"
"No, sir… at least I don't think it is… I… I don't know."
"What happened? Dottie didn't mention anything in her last one."
"Clara's still getting married, Edith got into a nursing program, and… Alice is going on a date."
His superior made a noise in his throat - one that sounded like understanding, and when Matthew looked up at him, Lt. Collins had a strange sort of smile on his face.
"What, sir?"
"Is it Alice going on a date that's got you worried and down in the dumps?"
"Sir."
Lt. Collins chuckled, "Lawson, it's not hard to see you like her, and she likes you too from what Dot says in her letters. It's alright to be a little jealous."
"I'm… I'm not jealous of her going out on a date… I'm worried that if she gets serious about this date, that the date won't like me being friends with her… and our letters will have to stop."
"Lawson, I've known Alice for a while, and if there's nothing I know better it's that Alice doesn't step lightly into any decision."
Matthew nodded, his spirits sinking further; Alice was a serious woman, so she must have taken a serious risk in going out on a date.
"But," Lt. Collins nudged him to get his attention again, "once she's given her friendship, you have it, Lawson. You've been talking to her for a year and a half, do you think she'd throw that time over for a potential beau?"
"I suppose not."
"I imagine that Alice would hold on to you and your letters for dear life - once she has a routine she doesn't let go - and any potential partners you and her have are going to have to understand that. But honestly, I think the partners you're looking for are right in front of you."
"I can't ask that of her, sir, not during a war when I might not come back," Matthew shook his head. "And… I don't think she sees me that way."
That strange smile returned, but Lt. Collins didn't push further.
"Alright… keep talking to her, Lawson, Alice is a good friend to have. If you hurt her…"
"You can kick my arse all the way to the frontlines, sir. I promise."
"Good."
Beirut, Lebanon
28 November 1941
Dearest Alice,
I'm glad you enjoyed your birthday present, not bad for only having a week's notice. Next year will be better, I promise. What are your favorite flowers? I might be able to put in an order or have Mum do one next year if I'm not in Melbourne.
I might be reading too much Jane Austen lately, but the person who recommended her books to me is a very dear friend and I want to know her more - what better way than reading her favorite books?
I'm enjoying P&P - I've reached the part with Mr. Darcy's letter and the reveal of well… everything. They're in quite the pickle, aren't they? Between his proposal and her berating, it'll be interesting to see where they go from here - at least he was enough of a gentleman to give her the answers she wanted (well, demanded.)
I hope your optimism comes true - it'd be nice to be home for a bit.
Blue, you say? I'd have to agree that blue looks very good on you - and at least it's a dress you can wear again for fancy occasions. I look forward to seeing you all dolled up in it.
Congratulations to Edith! And you're a wonderful teacher - she'll thrive in that program because of you. How are her parents taking it? Do you think she'll be ready for the work?
How'd your date go? Was he a letch? Do I have to come home and talk to him?
(Only joking, I know you can fend for yourself.)
Addy's doing well, she's reached the lanky part of growth - she now drapes herself around my shoulders like a scarf; luckily the weather's a little cooler now so it's not quite so suffocating. She's still a scamp, can you believe I found her in your latest batch of biscuits? Glad it was just shortbread, I don't want to think of if she'd gotten into a batch with something she's not supposed to have. Can I implore you to… maybe send some more? I barely got any this round.
Stay safe, and I look forward to hearing more about home.
Your Friend,
Matthew
