Caloundra, Queensland
1 May 1942
My Alice,
Distracting! If you didn't want kisses for correct answers, sweetheart, then maybe you should have gotten more wrong - or are my kisses just not memorable? Maybe I shouldn't reward you with kisses, then.
I like calling you sweetheart too, though Dr. Sweetheart Harvey doesn't sound as good as Dr. Harvey. And as for me calling you sweetheart in that letter, it kind of slipped out, but luckily for me you liked it - if you hadn't, I would have stopped.
I wish you didn't have to deal with unruly customers, it seems some of them never learned any manners. I… I worry that I might have backed you into a corner that day in the diner now that you say you've dealt with flirty customers, I'm so sorry if I did, Alice, I never want to force you into anything.
I also hope you don't deal with unruliness from your patients once you're a doctor, which would be cause for concern if the dead turned out unruly.
I've taken your advice and given the boys who came back married or with their own significant others a taste of their own medicine that they subjected me to before our leave; all of them, like you said and admitted to doing, were very happy to gush about their significant others and it was good to see them so happy. I'm also glad the war pushed us together, sweetheart, even if it was hard to leave you, knowing that you're there makes it easier to work on getting back home.
I promise to stay as safe as I can, there's no full guarantee I'll come out unscratched, but no reckless behavior from me, I promise.
No saucy details yet, unless you want any, Alice. I'm glad Clara and Eric are so happy, it was a charming ceremony to attend and it's clear they're well-suited for each other. How's Edith's training going? Is she eager to get out and get experience?
I'm glad you have Dot, sweetheart. Hugh's doing alright, but you can tell he didn't want to leave his family; he talks of them often, telling me any of the developments or feats they're up to - he also mentioned that Dot says his middle kid has become attached to you? How are you doing with that? I know you were a little unsure around Rose at the dinner. Hugh doesn't like being separated from his children, he feels like he's missing out on some of the important things with the kids - the milestones, the new experiences. War disrupts everything, doesn't it?
Oh God, which embarrassing stories?
Yeah, I'd asked Vera not to pry too much - she's as dogged as her husband can be trying to find out things, but she also respects established boundaries; since I didn't know much about your past, but I knew it was a sensitive subject for you, I went ahead and asked for things to not center on that. I'm glad you and Vera are getting along, helps me breathe easier knowing that you've not only got your Wardlow family but also mine to help you out during the war.
I'll look forward to photos and I know Hugh will too; not a lot of requests for Ballarat other than maybe an updated pic of Mum.
The boys all appreciated the biscuits as usual - one of them even said they'd missed the biscuits while home on leave, so keep them coming (as long as you can since I know you mentioned rationing).
You're in my thoughts constantly, sweetheart.
Yours,
Matthew