"Jean!" Alice greeted her, as her friend enveloped her in her arms. "It's so good to see you!"
Jean smiled into Alice's hair, "It's been too long. Why do you have to stay away for so long?"
"Work I'm afraid," Alice pulled back and smiled at Jean. But at the back of her mind, she knew the real reason she wished to spend as little time as possible in the place that held too many memories. Her eyes darted around the room searching for anything that might remind her of him, and at the same time dreading finding it.
Jean saw her looking. "Matthew's at the station," she said gently.
Alice shot a sharp look at her, "What? Why do I care?" she lied.
Jean sighed. "Why don't you just talk to him. It's been years since the Johnston case."
Alice shook her head. "Jean, what's done is done. You can't change the past."
Alice remembered as if it were yesterday. A combination of not enough sleep, quick tempers and stubbornness had led to a huge blow up, right in the middle of the driveway. Alice had turned and walked away from the single most important person in her life, and Matthew hadn't come after her. She had signed the job acceptance letter that night, packed up her little flat, she didn't own much, and had moved to Melbourne by the end of the week. Since then she'd only returned to Ballarat for the occasional weekend, often barely spending a day there before heading back. She knew they had both handled things badly, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she recalled how she had behaved. 'It was for the best' she kept telling herself. She didn't need a man hanging around, making things difficult, and Matthew would be much better off with someone less complicated and messy. Alice shivered as she remembered his feather light touch, the way he used to trail his fingertips up her arms. There was no denying that she missed him. She missed the way he held her, the way he made her feel safe, the way he knew just how she took her tea. Within Melbourne general hospital she was very well respected and her expertise was often sought, but at home she was lonely, and missed the familiarity she had had with Matthew, and the little family that they had formed with Jean and Lucien.
Jean stared at her for longer than was necessary and Alice felt, not for the first time, as though Jean could see right through her, could read her soul.
Finally Jean looked away. "Right, well I was just about to head to the grocery store. You coming along, or staying here?"
Alice shrugged, I'll come with you," she was eager to see if the town had changed since she'd been away.
It was a beautiful Autumn day, the bright orange leaves covering the ground, and as they walked, they chatted easily. Alice told Jean about some of the more interesting things she'd seen in Melbourne, and Jean updated Alice on the goings on in Ballarat.
When they got to the store Jean turned to Alice. "You needn't come in, I won't be long."
Alice nodded and leant against the verandah post. If she was honest with herself, she felt slightly relieved. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy Jean's company, but after so many months of her solitary life, with limited work interactions, her social tolerance levels were low. She looked up at the huge gum trees that lined the street and watched them sway in the soft breeze, enjoying the moment of peace and quiet. Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the familiar eucalyptus scent and felt a pang of homesickness. They didn't have trees like this in the centre of Melbourne. She moved backwards to admire the tree's grandeur, and stepped right into the path of a cyclist racing past. Knocking her off balance, he gave a shout and sped off as Alice fell. Her head smacked into the pavement as the world suddenly was on an angle.
People crowded around her as Alice tried frantically to not black out. "I'm fine, Please, go back to whatever you were doing, I just need a moment," she heard herself mumble slightly incoherently. The bikes handlebar had caught her in the ribs and it hurt to breathe.
"What's going on here?" an all too familiar voice cut through the crowd. The one person Alice did not want to see. Not now, not like this, preferably not ever again. She struggled to sit upright as the crowd parted and let Superintendent Lawson through. Their eyes met and Alice saw a flash of recognition in his piercing blue eyes.
"Alright everyone, nothing to see here, bugger off." Matthews low gruff voice grumbled, and the crowd of people slowly and reluctantly dwindled away. Alice had forgotten how soothing his voice was to her and she closed her eyes and her breath hitched with pain as she tried to breathe deeply. When she opened her eyes again Matthew was staring at her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked stupidly.
"Um In case you've forgotten, I live and work here? My name is Matthew Lawson? I'm the Police Superintendent?" His voice dripped with bitter sarcasm. "Maybe it's me who should be asking you that question." He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows at her.
Alice glared. "Idiot. I meant here, here. In the main street."
"Popped out to get some smokes."
"They'll kill you you know."
"Didn't think you cared" Matthew retorted dismissively.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"What are you doing back here anyway?"
"I came to see Jean. My friend." Alice replied pointedly God, she wished he would just stop looking at her!
Matthew shrugged nonchalantly, "Want to tell me what happened here?"
"I stepped backwards into the path of a cyclist."
"Are you alright?"
"Didn't think you cared," Alice shot his own words back at him and they stared at each other awkwardly.
Matthew sighed with frustration. "You're the doctor, do I need to call an ambulance?"
"I just banged my head as I went down. And I'll have a bruised rib where the handlebar caught me." Her fingers tentatively probed the back of her head and she found a lump forming. "No lasting damage, I'm sure you'll be disappointed." It was a stupid thing to say and she wasn't sure why she said it.
Matthew crouched down and looked her in the eyes. "I know this might be hard to believe after everything that's happened but I could never wish harm on you," his low quiet voice rumbled.
God Alice had forgotten how lost she could get in his eyes. For a moment she felt that all too familiar pull towards him and had to force her eyes elsewhere. They weren't together anymore. They hadn't been for some time. And she'd been doing perfectly well without him.
She cleared her throat and began to stand.
"Are you sure you're ready to get up. You could have concussion if you hit your head" Matthew garbled as he took her arm and tried to help her up.
Alice wrenched his arm out of his hand. "I am a doctor, As you so kindly pointed out, Superintendent. I do know how things work." She pushed herself up, and gasped as pain shot up her ankle and she almost collapsed back on to the ground.
"Here, lean on me."
She shot Matthew a glance, who finally lost his temper.
"Listen, whatever you think of me right now, it's time to swallow that bloody pride of yours and accept some help!" he hissed crossly. "You've obviously twisted your ankle and you're not going to get far without help. Lucien's at the station. Let me take you to him."
Alice's mind was racing and she was just about to tell Matthew Lawson exactly what he could do with his 'help', as Jean appeared with her arms full of groceries.
"Alice? Oh My goodness, what happened?"
"I had a slight altercation with a cyclist" Alice sniffed as she held on to the verandah post for balance.
"She's twisted her ankle, banged her head, and bruised a rib. I was about to take her to see Lucien at the station," Matthew supplied.
Jean looked at Matthew and then back to Alice, who was looking anywhere but at him.
"I'm fine," Alice said through gritted teeth.
Matthew raised one eyebrow, "Doctor Harvey, I would assume you would know how to diagnose and treat a twisted ankle, a concussion and a busted rib?" he asked pointedly.
"Of course!"
"Well then, If you can tell me, in all honesty, that if you were treating yourself, that you wouldn't diagnose a twisted ankle, a concussion and a busted rib, I'll leave you be" Matthew said knowingly.
Alice ground her teeth, looked stubbornly at the sky and said nothing.
"I thought as much. Come on," Matthew held his arm out and after a moment of hesitation Alice took it reluctantly.
Jean followed behind them swallowing a smile as she listened to them bickering. It was like old times really, Maybe this was the start of a reconciliation.