22 December 1942
Matthew, Please,
I beg you, please say something… this isn't like you at all and I'm so worried. Everyone's walking on eggshells around me and I hate it - I don't fault them though… work keeps me busy, but the rest of the time I feel numb.
[The letter is littered with dried tears and some of the ink has smeared.]
Please… I need to know that you're alright - that you're alive. Please, just… anything.
Yours,
Alice
24 December 1942
The house was nearly bursting with visitors and it felt nice to have everyone here, Jack mused as he sipped his tea; he sighed when he noticed one particular absence in their gathering - even before the war Alice wasn't big on parties, but Matthew's family was here, as was her friend Jean and her sons, and he knew Alice would like to see them.
"Still lurking in the corners, Jack Robinson?"
He smiled as Mac's partner came up next to him - sipping on a glass of champagne as they both watched the party; he found it funny that both of them had found similar partners to end up with after years of knowing each other.
"Where's Al? I would have thought she'd be down here with her friends."
"Upstairs," Jack cleared his throat and swirled his tea. "She hasn't come down often since… everything last month aside from work and school - and school's over until March, so…"
"Still no news of her soldier?"
"No, but Phryne and Mrs. Stanley feel good about reaching out to Mrs. MacArthur."
"Does Al know?"
"Ah… I'm not sure. Phryne might not have told her so she didn't get her hopes up."
"Oh, Jack!" she shook her head. "You are a very smart man, and so is Phryne, but good lord can you both be numbskulls."
Jack choked on his tea and looked at her - confused at why she'd say that.
"Rosie, what?"
The problem with Phryne's best friend falling for his ex-wife meant that he now had three women in his life who knew him way too well - and never hesitated to call him to carpet when they felt like it.
"Jack, you and Phryne both know what it's like to be in a war, be on the front, and I know you've been helping Alice as best you can."
"I'm sensing a 'but'."
"But," she nudged him with her elbow, "I don't think you know what it's like to be on the other end. You've had war experience, yes, but it can be a whole different world to be the one at home waiting for any piece of news - especially if a loved one gets injured."
Jack chewed his lip, "She's never been like this, Rosie… I'm worried."
With a pat to his cheek, Rosie downed the last of her champagne and moved towards the stairs - Jack trailing behind her. His ex-wife stopped Mr. B and asked for some tea to be sent up in a little bit and both of them went upstairs; Rosie knocked on Alice's door and waited for their young charge to answer before she went in.
Alice had drawn the curtains on her window and laid curled up under her covers - the brown jumper she always wore (even now as summer had arrived) wrapped around her; Jack lingered in the doorway as Rosie sat on the bed near Alice.
"Are you going to make me come downstairs?" Alice asked.
"No, I came up here to check on you."
"That's all anyone does these days."
"Can you blame them?"
Alice shifted on the bed, "Not really… I just… I can't stand the looks."
"Alice, sweetie," Rosie smoothed a hand over Alice's hair, "they aren't going to pity you… they're just worried."
"Same thing."
"Alice."
Alice shifted again and sat up - leaning her head against Rosie's shoulder like a daughter would her mother, "I… I don't want to be the center of attention with everything that's going on."
"I know you don't. You'll hear from him, Alice."
"It's been months."
"We've looked into it, and sometimes letters are held prior to battles, and maybe he's not allowed to respond - maybe he's hurt and recovering, Alice; Phryne and Mrs. Stanley have asked an American general's wife to ask about him - we'll find him."
"And if he's dead?"
"Then they'll inform Matthew's family and we'll know - with any luck we'll know before the army can get off their arses to actually tell us anything if Phryne and Mrs. Stanley's tenacious history is right."
That got a snort of laughter from Alice, "Which it is… so, I just still have to wait?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Did you go through this? During the war?"
"With Jack?"
"Yeah."
Rosie wrapped her arms around Alice and held tight, "I did. We were newlyweds when the war started and mail back then took a little longer to arrive so there were… weeks, months I went without a word from Jack - I did get letters but I think he didn't want to worry me about the war."
Jack's cheeks warmed as Rosie gave him a wink over her shoulder; it was true, he struggled to write to her without worrying her too much and that led to the disconnect between them when he later returned. Years later and many, many late-night talks between him, Phryne, Mac, and Rosie cleared the air, and while it might be awkward to some to be so close to his ex-wife after their divorce, Jack was glad they understood each other better (and were happier).
"Sounds like Jack."
He smiled at Alice's remark.
"Always the protector, isn't he? I know it feels like it's been so long with Matthew, but we're looking for him, sweetie… in the meantime, you've got friends here from Ballarat who've been looking forward to seeing you again."
"Downstairs?"
"Yeah."
Alice shifted in Rosie's hold, eventually sighing and pulling back. "Okay."
"Okay?"
She nodded, "Okay… Can… can you help me with my hair and make-up?"
"Of course."
Jack caught Rosie's eye and mouthed "Thank you" before leaving the two of them and returning to the party below; it didn't take long for Alice and Rosie to join them and Jack had to smile as the Collins children, Rose Anderson, and the two Beazley boys immediately surrounded the training doctor. Soon after the children were done, she was embraced by Jean Beazley, Charlotte Lawson, and Vera Anderson.
Whatever had happened to Matthew, whatever would happen with Alice and her soldier, she wasn't alone.
