Matthew arrived at the morgue door, just before 6 pm on the Friday. Alice was just closing the fridge door as Matthew appeared.
"You ready, Alice?"
"Yes, just let me wash my hands and get out of this lab coat. If you could grab my coat from the hanger, I'll get my bag?" Alice lifted her handbag but also a slightly larger bag; Matthew pointed at it and said, "taking work home Alice?"
"No…well you mentioned you were getting changed and I thought that it would be nice not to have to appear for dinner smelling of the lab cleaner. Would you mind if I change at your house?"
Matthew just smiled and replied, "not at all. Come on."
When they arrived at Matthew's house, he opened the door and allowed Alice to go in before him, "you can use the second room on the right-hand side to get changed; it's my spare room for when mum or Vera come to visit."
Alice turned quickly to look at Matthew and asked, "Vera?"
"Vera's my sister."
Alice blushed, wondering what Matthew must think of her; she has just found herself jealous at the mere mention of another woman's name. 'Shame on you Alice', she thought.
"The bathroom is just at the end of the hallway on the left; I'll let you nip in first while I find a change of clothes. Just let me know when you're done."
Alice looked rather shyly at Matthew and thanked him. She washed and changed quickly, letting Matthew know when she was done. While Matthew washed and changed, Alice re-applied some lipstick, pulled her fingers through her hair and sprayed some of her perfume that she had placed in the extra bag. She popped everything she had removed into her bag and waited at the door for Matthew.
When he appeared, she looked over at him and said, "I haven't seen you out of your police uniform much; you look very handsome." Alice blushed profusely, not giving much thought to what she was saying. "Sorry, I didn't mean…I'm…I just meant you…"
Matthew laughed a little at her awkwardness; he reached over for her hand and said, "Alice, it's fine. And thank you for saying so. It was a nice compliment to make." He looked over at Alice and said, "you scrub up nicely yourself! Plus, you no longer smell like the morgue disinfectant!"
Alice laughed and patted him on the arm in a playful way, "well, that was a compliment and a half. It's the best I've ever had! Now, shall we leave? I wouldn't want to be late for dinner."
Matthew picked up Alice's extra bag and said, "I'll pop this in the boot of the car; just remember to take it with you when I drop you back at yours later." Alice nodded her head as she left Matthew's house. He locked the door behind him and they both headed to the car.
Alice looked over at Matthew and said, "what should I call Mrs Beazley? Do you think I should ask if I can call her Jean or…"
Matthew leaned over and covered Alice's clasped hands with one of his. "Don't over think this Alice. Jean is always polite so I'm sure she'll call you Dr Harvey so…all you have to say is 'you can call me Alice' and politeness dictates that she'll probably ask you to call her Jean." He looked over at her and said, "don't worry about this Alice, I'll be there with you. OK?" Alice just nodded.
When they arrived at Mycroft Avenue, Matthew handed Alice the basket to return to Jean, and he lifted the bottle of wine he had brought as a gift. Jean opened the door as they walked up, and she invited them in taking their jackets and hanging them up.
"It's lovely to see you Dr Harvey" Jean said, and Matthew looked over at Alice and nodded as if to say, "now it's your turn".
"Please call me Alice…It's Alice."
Jean looked over and said, "Jean. You can call me Jean."
Jean headed down the hallway and said, "just come down to the kitchen when you're ready".
Matthew looked at Alice and thought that she looked rather pleased with herself; she leaned into Matthew and whispered, "it worked!" and Matthew replied in a whisper, "yes Alice, it worked. Now come on" he said as he motioned towards the kitchen.
As Matthew handed Jean the bottle of wine and Alice returned the basket, Alice thanked Jean again for the food, "it was really very lovely. Your cake was delicious. I wish I could cook like you."
Jean looked over as Alice hung her head and looked at her shoes, "Alice, would you like some lessons? I'd be happy to show you the basics, if you want to? We could schedule it for some of your days off?"
Alice looked at Matthew in disbelief, but he nodded in Jean's direction and Alice thanked her and said that would be lovely.
"Didn't your mother teach you anything in the kitchen, Alice?"
Alice wasn't sure how to reply: should she tell the truth, or should she change the subject, like she normally would? She decided that the three people in front of her wouldn't judge her if she told the truth.
"My mother wasn't much of a…she preferred to do things her own way. I always made a mess of things. Mother said it was just as well my head was always in a book as I'd never make a good wife." Alice huffed but tried to laugh as she explained. She looked up at Matthew, Lucien and Jean, expecting to see pity on their faces but it was something else, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Alice, you come over here any time you want to. We'll have some girl time, with no boys!" she pointed at Lucien and Matthew, "I can show you how to make some scones and we'll sort you out with a few recipes you can make yourself. How does that sound?"
Alice looked at Jean in wonder and said, "sounds lovely Jean. Truly." Alice hesitated for a moment before she turned to Jean and asked, "is the chocolate cake difficult to make? I'd like to be able to make that." Matthew, Jean and Lucien all laughed but Jean touched Alice on the elbow and said, "that's a secret recipe…but I'll share it with you. It's not too difficult to make. Cooking is just like all that chemistry you and Lucien do but, you don't lick the spoon!" Jean wrapped an arm around Alice's shoulder and said, "come on, dinner is ready to serve."
They all talked about this and that; what was happening at the station with Munro and how they were going to get rid of him, some hospital gossip and some gossip Jean had heard on her shopping trip into town. Everyone had a lovely time and at 10 pm, Matthew said, "Jean, dinner was amazing, as usual. Thank you. Alice? Are you ready to head home? It's getting late. I'll drop you on my way."
Alice stood up, thanking both Jean and Lucien for a lovely evening and made arrangements with Jean to call by for her first cooking lesson. Matthew picked up both of their jackets, held Alice's for her to put on then put on his own. They left Mycroft Avenue and Matthew headed in the direction of Alice's apartment.
"You seemed to enjoy yourself tonight Alice; did you?"
"Yes, thank you. I did."
They chatted on the drive and Matthew arrived at Alice's apartment, he leaned over and kissed her cheek: she blushed profusely, and Matthew saw this, even though it was dark in the car.
"I'm sorry Alice…I just…I shouldn't have…I didn't mean to embarrass you."
Alice placed her hand on top of his and said, "It's fine Matthew. Just something new to get used to."
In the quiet of the car, Matthew turned to Alice and said, "about your mother Alice: what happened? Do you want to tell me more or would you rather not?"
"I…what did you say about your father when he was drinking?"
"He was a mean bastard: used to come home drunk after he'd lost some money gambling. He'd take it out mum or Vera or me; he wasn't fussy, and it always had the same end. "I'm sorry" but it never meant a thing. He'd do it again next time."
"My mother was the same, but alcohol was not required for her to be a mean bastard. She was always slapping my sister or me. No reason really; "you haven't set the table properly, you didn't dust as you should, you should have cleaned the floor yesterday…" she'd sometimes just slap us round the ear, other times she'd punch and kick…but only where no one could see."
Matthew looked over at Alice and asked, "where is your sister now?"
Alice took a deep and replied, "I have no idea. We were both removed from the house when I was twelve. Marjory was six at the time. I have looked for her, but I've never found her."
Alice was silent for a few minutes then fidgeted and looked over at Matthew, "I should get going now. Thank you for driving me tonight, I did have a lovely time and…thank you for listening Matthew." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, leaned back and asked, "was that ok?"
Matthew took her hand and said, "of course Alice. Any time…well, maybe not at work, the men might talk!" he laughed and made sure Alice laughed too before going to get out of the car to open the door for her, but Alice stopped him and said, "it's fine. Thank you."
"I'll wait until you are through your door. I'll see you soon. Goodnight."
