That evening, Alice stood at the door of Mycroft Avenue with Jean's present in her hand. She knocked the door and waited for Jean to answer however, it was Matthew who opened the door.
"Dr Harvey, come in. Jean is in the kitchen." Matthew walked down and into the living room and called into Jean and said, "Jean? It's Dr Harvey for you."
Jean looked up and looked at Matthew then over at Alice in wonder at Matthew being so formal with Alice.
"Alice, would you like a cuppa? I have some cake if you would like a slice?"
"That would be lovely. Thank you…Matthew mentioned that you were heading to Adelaide tomorrow, so I just wanted to drop your Christmas present off before you left." Alice handed over the gift to Jean.
"I've left yours under the tree; I thought you and Matthew would probably have Christmas here.
Alice lowered her head and Jean sat down next to her with the cake and tea.
"What's wrong Alice? You can tell me." Jean placed her hand over Alice's.
"I…Matthew asked me to go to the pictures…" she looked up at Jean.
"Well…that's lovely. You do like him, don't you? It was a date he was looking for, wasn't it?"
"Yes…it' s just…I…I turned him down. I told him we couldn't. I don't want people thinking that I got the police surgeon job because Matthew and I are…that we're…"
"Because you two are seeing each other?" Alice nodded and hung her head.
"Alice, look at me. Do you like Matthew, as in, would you like to date him?"
Alice looked over at the living room and the back of Matthew's head and nodded silently. She leaned in and whispered, "but we can't Jean. People will talk and we've both worked so hard to have the jobs that we have. I don't want to jeopardise that for us."
Jean leaned over and wiped the tear that fell from Alice's cheek.
"Don't cry Alice. People are always going to talk. They're probably already talking anyway. Why not give them something to talk about? Alice, for goodness sake, let yourself be happy…and Matthew. You both deserve it. Forget the talk; they can all go stuff themselves!"
Alice laughed nervously and asked in a whispered tone, "I turned him down Jean. How do I do something for him?"
Jean thought for a moment and said, "Alice, why don't you invite Matthew over for Christmas? Spend some time together…alone. You and Matthew could close yourselves off in that house of yours!" she winked at Alice, but Alice's face turned bright red.
"Jean!" Alice exclaimed.
Jean just smiled and said, "if I've learnt anything since Lucien disappeared, it's to grab onto whatever makes you happy; and if Matthew makes you happy then grab onto him!"
"Jean Blake, you are terrible!" Alice laughed just as Matthew walked into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
"What are you ladies whispering about?"
Jean looked over at Alice and turned back to Matthew and very cheekily said, "you Matthew; we were talking about you!" she turned to look at Alice and said, "weren't we Alice?"
Alice's face was now beetroot in colour, and she was so very embarrassed and surprised at Jean.
"Jean!" Alice looked over at Matthew, who was now blushing profusely, and asked, "Matthew, Jean mentioned that you were off on Christmas day…" Matthew looked at Alice and said, "yes. I'll probably just have a quiet one. Can't get down to Melbourne for the family as I'm working again on Boxing day."
Jean nudged Alice and she turned back to look at Matthew.
"Matthew? Would you like to come over to mine for Christmas? I'm off for a few days and you know I don't have family to visit so…"
Matthew looked over at Alice in astonishment; he wasn't sure what to say, in fact he was rather confused. She had told him they couldn't be together because of talk but now she was asking him over for Christmas?
"Alice…that's nice of you to ask but…"
Jean interrupted him, "Matthew for goodness sake; there's no point in the two of you having lonely Christmases in two empty houses. Why not join forces? You two are usually here so it's not like you haven't spent Christmas together before. Don't be an old Scrooge Matthew!"
Matthew turned sharply and said, "Jean Blake, what has got into you?"
"Matthew, Christmas is a time to be happy. Go be happy…with Alice!" Jean got up and lifted the plate and her and Alice's mugs to wash up, leaving both Alice and Matthew speechless.
Matthew was the first to open his mouth, "If I'm scrooge, I'll bring the turkey then. Do you think you could deal with the veggies, Alice?"
"Alice replied that she could and that she would get some wine too, "perhaps you could do dessert too?"
"Fine. Sounds like a plan. I'll bring the things over on Christmas eve, if that suits?"
As Jean left the kitchen, Matthew sat down next to Alice.
"I thought you didn't want people to talk? What exactly are we doing? Two friends passing the time on Christmas or…?"
Alice looked at Matthew and said, "…or…" then kissed his cheek.
"I know this is extremely forward but why don't you bring your pyjamas and a change of clothes for Christmas? You can have the spare room. Might be nice to spend Christmas morning together?"
Matthew took Alice's hand in his and said, I'll bring some bacon and eggs for breakfast."
Alice covered her other hand over Mathew's and said, "can you make pancakes? Could we have them instead please?"
"Pancakes it is. We'll make them together; I'll show you how."
When Jean returned, Matthew got up from the table and returned to the kettle asking, "would either of you ladies like another cuppa?"
Alice stood up and said, "no, thank you, I should be going. Jean, do have a lovely time in Adelaide with your family. Shall we meet up when you return?"
Jean leaned in to hug Alice and whispered, "of course, I'll be expecting to hear all about your Christmas Alice!" Alice hugged Jean back and left telling Matthew that she would see him after work on Christmas eve.