Saturday came and the ladies had a lovely day in Melbourne and Alice found a lovely pale pink dress and jacket. She decided that, even though she had tried actual wedding dresses, she didn't like them enough to buy one. She felt comfortable in the dress and jacket and was looking forward to wearing it for Matthew. Jean offered her a loan of her pearl necklace and bracelet and Alice said she has a nice pair of shoes.
Jean said, "you've got something old, something new, something borrowed and now we need something blue."
Alice blushed profusely as she told Jean she'd bought a blue garter for under her dress; Jean smiled and said, "Matthew will be pleased!"
They had a late lunch and drove back to Ballaratt; they talked about the ongoing case, the plans Jean had for the party for Alice and Matthew's wedding and Alice talked about her excitement for the day and the life that she was about to share with Matthew as her husband.
"What's wrong Alice? You've gone awfully quiet…and you've got "that" look on your face."
"There's nothing wrong Jean…I just…I never thought I'd be someone's wife. I love Matthew with all of my being. He makes me so happy; even when we argue about things it's just stupid things and we have never gone to sleep without sorting it out. It's nothing like I ever saw from my parents."
Jean reached dover and touched Alice on her hand resting on the gear stick. "Alice, you and Matthew are not your parents: you've both had a tough upbringing…you more than anyone. Alice, you are a wonderfully funny and loving person; I've never seen you raise your voice or lift your hand to anyone, and I don't think you would, unless someone really drove you to it!"
"Thank you, Jean. I suppose it just…I…what if Matthew…"
"Alice, don't you dare finish that sentence. Matthew loves you and you know it. Never doubt it. I'm not saying he's perfect…he's far from it but he loves you. In all of the years I have known him, I've never seen him so happy and that's thanks to you Alice Harvey. I think the two of you bring out the best in each other."
Alice just looked over at Jean and noted, "yes, I think so too."
The rest of the way home, they listened to the radio and Jean filled Alice in on local gossip and things that were coming up at the Council meetings. Matthew was at Mycroft Avenue when Alice and Jean arrived back. The ladies removed their parcels from the boot of the car and Matthew met them at the door.
"Looks like it was a successful shopping trip?" pointing at the bags and boxes.
"No peeking Matthew!" Jean told Matthew then called out to him and Alice, "do you two want to stay for some dinner?"
Matthew was still stood in the hallway when Alice had dropped the parcels in the spare bedroom Jean had allocated to their wedding things. She smiled when she saw him stood there and leaned in for a hug and a kiss.
When Jena leaned her head out from the kitchen to the hall she said, "I know I'm just jealous but do you two know how to keep your hands off of each other?!"
Matthew placed his hand at the bottom of Alice's back and guided her into the kitchen.
"Jean, why would I want to keep my hands off this woman? She's wonderful…and she's agreed to be my wife. I'm a very lucky man indeed." He leaned over for a quick kiss on Alice's lips and she blushed profusely.
As Alice smiled back at Matthew, who had begun to set the table, Alice offered to help Jean with dinner. Jean leaned into Alice and whispered in her ear, "see? I told you he loves you. Never doubt that." She bumped shoulders with Alice as she placed a chicken pie in the oven.
"You peel the potatoes and I'll sort some carrots. Sound like plan?"
They all went about with their tasks and they all had a glass of wine as they sat in the living room waiting for dinner to cook. The sat in a comfortable silence until Jean got up to serve dinner.
"Come on you two, dinner's on the table!"
The ladies told Matthew about their day shopping, and all about lunch as they ate dinner. That night when Alice and Matthew went to bed, a sense of wellbeing fell over both of them and Matthew felt himself smiled, leaned over to kiss Alice in the darkness and asked, "yo had fun today, didn't you?"
"I really did Matthew and…I'm so excited. I never thought I'd say this but I'm looking forward to being your wife." Alice thought for a moment, "I'm going to be your wife Matthew…and you'll be my husband…I'm glad it's you." She leaned in for a soft kiss before settling herself in his embrace.
Matthew kissed the side of her neck and said, "I'm glad it's you."