Alice could feel her legs being scratched by the bushes below her but she was running as fast as she could to get to Matthew. When she reached him, she was pulling at him to try and move him and she heard Matthew grumble something under his breath.
"Bloody Hell, Alice. I'm too old for this shit."
Alice helped him sit up, checking him from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.
"He tied you up?" she commented as she looked at the marks on his wrists and ankles. She looked at the soles of his feet and noted that they were mostly dirty.
"You didn't have to run that far, did you?" she asked pointing at his feet, "are you hurt Matthew? Did the bullet hit you? Are you feeling alright? Should we call an ambulance?"
She had started to cry through the questions, partly relief and, probably, partly hormones.
Matthew took her face in both of his hands and said, "I'm alright Alice. Bit shaken up and my gammy leg is killing me but I'm alright. Glad to see you. How did you all find me?"
Alice explained about the ammunition and it leading back to Mulgrew, "I went over to the station, Bill and Peter made some calls then we all headed over here to find you. How did you end up here?"
"I was looking at all of the evidence this morning and had a look at the local map. I noticed there was a house at the edge of the forest and came out to check it out."
Alice suddenly became angry, "you didn't think that you should bring someone with you or tell someone where you were going? Anything could have happened. Well…anything did happen and…you could have been killed Matthew!" she was becoming furious at his stupidity, "you could have left me a widow and our child without a father!" Alice was sobbing at this point and Matthew pulled her into him and held her head against his shoulder.
When Alice had calmed a little, she leaned up and looked at Matthew, "please don't be so stupid again. Promise me? Promise me that if you are going somewhere even slightly dangerous, you'll take someone with you? Please Matthew?"
Matthew kissed the top of her head and said, "only if you promise the same Doctor Lawson?" Alice nodded her head into Matthew's chest.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so gald you're ok Matthew. I love you and you…I was so scared."
As Matthew held her tight, what Alice had said suddenly made sense in his head.
"What do you mean I could have left our child without a father?"
Alice reached into her pocket and pulled out the sonogram, handing it to Matthew.
"Say hello to baby Lawson. I only found out this morning. They should be with us the end of September maybe beginning of October."
Matthew was elated and pulled Alice into a tight hug, kissing her face all over then finishing with her lips, "Alice, that's wonderful news! I love you sweetheart" he placed a hand over her stomach and said, "and our little spud!"
He looked pensive for a moment then said, "Alice…that means we could have conceived the little spud on our first go…it was Christmas day we…you know."
Alice just smiled and pulled Matthew in for another hug. She saw Peter head over in their direction, so she took the sonogram from Matthew and put it back in her pocket. She nodded her head in Peter's direction and said, "let's keep it between us just for now?" Matthew nodded his head and between the three of them, they got Matthew into the police car and back to the hospital for a check-up.
That night, with Matthew lying on the sofa and both of them washed and ready for bed, Matthew held out his hand for Alice and said, "come lie here with me sweetheart."
"Alice stopped the tidying up she had been doing and lay down between Matthew's legs, leaning her head on his chest. Matthew lay his hand over her stomach.
"Alice, I never thought I'd be this happy. I never thought I'd be someone's husband and I certainly never thought I'd be someone's dad. You did all that for me. My heart is overflowing with joy and love." She looked up at Matthew and saw a tear fall from his cheek.
Alice leaned up and wiped the tear, kissing his lips then settling back onto his chest. "I know Matthew. I'm so very happy. I know that there will be times when life is tough, but I know we can deal with it…together. You make me stronger just by being there. It's three of us now…you, me and the little spud!"
Matthew pulled Alice into a hug and kissed her again, "let's go to bed sweetheart. I'm done in." Alice helped him up from the sofa and they both headed to their bed where they fell asleep in each other's arms and one of Matthew's hands resting on Alice's stomach.
Thanks for sticking with me till the end. I'll either write part 2 of this story, or come up with something else in the new year. Do have a very Merry Christmas and very best wishes for 2021. Mimi.