back after a brief break since my boss decided to wring two more weeks out of me on top of everything else I have to do before the move. I do have plenty of chapters written ahead and hopefully, I'll be able to continue in a timely manner of posting them, but who knows with moving and internet set up in the new place, thanks for the patience, y'all! - Dee


Isurava, New Guinea

31 August 1942

My Alice,

Miss Spitfire is moping. She doesn't like the rainforest so stays back at camp while we're out… I'm starting to wonder if I should send her home, but I've no clue how to get her back there in the first place - let alone guarantee that she'd make it there. For now, she copes by trying to smother me in sleep, as each time I leave and come back she makes it well known that I was missed (and she was pissed); it was cute when she was just a little thing, but our Adelaide is quite the grown kitty and might actually smother me at some point in the dead of night.

I'm still uneasy, especially with how our time here has gone, but I know that I can still write those fears down - to you or in my journal, but at least they're on paper and a bit easier to face in the long run. Some of the things I'm scared of are out of my control - how the enemy will act, how men will react in the heat of battle… but at least I can rely on my training and choose how I act. Knowing I have you and Mum and Vera and little Rose (though not so little now) to get back to helps me keep my head throughout all of this.

It is good to hear it more than once, thank you, sweetheart.

Cheeky girl, here you are teasing me about a clear vision of the future and yet offer to look for jobs for me as well… I'd like that, certainly, we'd just have to figure out what to do with the house if we don't end up in Ballarat. I'd love to tell Ashby what for without worrying about my job, but I guess it'll depend on where the jobs are for both of us after the war.

Have you gone to Ballarat with Miss Fisher? Is the town still standing? I kid, I'm sure that old mining town could withstand both of them being in the same place - maybe a little weary once they meet, but still standing.

Uh… yeah, Mum's stubborn as hell, sweetheart, and… yeah I might have taken after her in that regard. Thank you so much for doing this for her, though, she huffs and puffs a lot but I know she appreciates someone looking out for her and I appreciate you doing it. But, yes, I suppose she's training for dealing with me, sweetheart, and you'll be the prettiest saint there ever was.

(Is that blasphemous? Maybe, but it's true.)

I'm giving the doctors and nurses plenty of slack, sweetheart, as they've got their work cut out for them this campaign; I don't know if it's because we're years into this war and weary from it all or that a rainforest brings new trials and tribulations to their work, but it's been so much worse than when we were in Lebanon… The humidity is absolute hell, wounds can't dry out as quickly, and God, the bugs are everywhere… we're trying the best we can, but it's absolute hell here.

A baby! That's wonderful news! The boys were lifted up by it when I told them the news - any happy occasion is welcomed by us here and news of a precious new life joining the world is absolutely wonderful. I'm sure that baby would appreciate anything you made them, sweetheart; it's the thought that counts, not the quality, remember? A washcloth would be appreciated by Clara and Eric anyways, toddlers drool quite a bit. (Teething) And I'm glad Miss Fisher's been steered towards practical gifts - though that baby is going to be spoiled by her nonetheless, I think it's her way of showing affection.

I'm sure your presence in the delivery room will be a welcome balm for her, sweetheart. If you still have doubts, I'm sure Vera could tell you about Rose's birth, or Jean with her boys, just so you have more first-hand knowledge of what delivering a baby is like? Medical books can only tell you so much, I think, and Clara might just want to hold your hand and know she's got someone in her corner since Eric's not allowed in the room with her.

It's not a bad thing to have people help you, sweetheart; I know your past is not good and left you with many… lessons that are hard to forget, but look how far you've come from there! You've got Jack and Miss Fisher, Mac, Hugh and Dot, and now the entire Lawson clan (Jean's included in this since she's an honorary little sister). I'm glad you're staying safe, sweetheart, I wish we could say the same here, but… that's war, innit?

You were a little short, that's true, but I understand why, Alice because I feel the same. I'm surrounded by war and it just feels like we're accomplishing nothing… what little ground we gain, we're soon losing in another few days… it's absolute hell, sweetheart, and I don't wish it on anyone. When things get rough over here, I just think about our first date on the pier (I know, I know, we weren't dating then, but it kind of felt like a date) and the vision of your smile keeps me going… I've gotten lots of mileage out of your smile and all the times I saw it on my last leave and your letters just add to that, sweetheart.

It's not childish, not in the least; I'm here for you just like you're there for me, and that includes being there for you while you vent about everything. I'm not here to judge, I'm here to listen and to offer advice when you want it, sweetheart. Life isn't always fun and cheerful, so don't feel like you have to be happy every time you write to me. I don't want you to hold back, I want you to feel safe to be yourself around me. And that means taking the good and the bad, sweetheart. You don't have to hide that from me.

I miss you too, Alice, and I wish I was home with you - Miss Addy playing on the floor as we snuggle in your favorite window seat and I read Persuasion over your shoulder - occasionally pressing kisses to your cheek just to hear you giggle. We just need to be patient, however hard it is to wait.

Think Rufus would share that record with me? I can see it now - you're very formidable when you choose to be, sweetheart. But you'll be glad to know we're not really dealing with the Americans where we are, but Christopher is, I just got a letter from him today and he's less than patient with them it seems (I told him to be careful, it wouldn't do him any good to be written up for insubordination or starting a fight, we'll see if he takes my advice).

Nothing from censorship, but the boys like the ones with the walnuts in it - the chocolate and walnut? Those were a big hit with all of us, but the chocolate was a little melted (another reason to hate the rainforest), not any more melted than they were when you set them to us in Lebanon. If you could include some shortbread for the little mopey miss to enjoy, that would be very nice and thank you so much for them all. I know rationing has hit from Mum and Vera's letters, so thank you.

I look forward to meeting Dr. Harvey, and I know you'll reap the benefits of your hard work soon enough. Hopefully, the boys and I can reap the benefits of our own hard work unless this is all for nothing.

Mum definitely doesn't take no for an answer when it comes to home goods, but she means well and doesn't push if it's unwanted. Mule-headed is definitely the word to describe her, but I know you'll enjoy the jumper (and any other future goods) because Mum puts love into every stitch.

(Who knows, maybe you can return the favor in the future with a jumper of her own? Mum's not gotten one in a long time, not since our nan passed, so I'm sure she'd be especially touched by anything you made her. This, of course, is only a suggestion, sweetheart, you don't have to make her something.)

It's definitely warm here, uncomfortably warm with the humidity. It's awful, feels like nothing ever dries out, so you're just stuck sitting in your own sweat and there's barely any breeze; so it's just stagnant, heavy, and the bugs, I'll be open to living anywhere but Queensland in the future, sweetheart, since that's where the rainforest is in Australia. Please, anywhere but there.

I'm glad you've got your nightly cocoa, makes me wish I had some as muggy as it is here. (Heh, a mug of cocoa in muggy weather… I think the heat's getting to me.) Hugh's holding up, but I'll tell him to be more honest in his letters home if you tell Dot the same. The days and weeks trudge on, but we're holding in there for you back home.

I await the day I can rest my feet by your fire, sweetheart. I'll follow your beacon home in time.

Yours, Weary,

Matthew

[below his signature Matthew has sketched Adelaide curled up in between his feet in what looks to be a hammock.]