Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland

22 February 1943

Sweetheart,

Odd that you're still missing a letter… no I don't think I said anything that would have resulted in the entire letter being plucked from existence… perhaps it just got lost in the shuffle somewhere. I promise not to make you feel like that again, sweetheart… as best as I can. No reckless behavior, I swear.

Addy's support is plenty supportive - she's a great makeshift heating pad on sore muscles after PT (though I could do without the claws in my shoulder as she makes biscuits). Edith is Edith, and I really do appreciate her help in all of this (He better! I don't normally tolerate this much sass from my patients… but I suppose I like him better than most. - E)

Addy's going to definitely milk all the attention she can get out of you and Wardlow… what are we going to do with a spoiled kitty? (Love her, of course. Miss Adelaide is a queen and should be treated as such. - E)

I'll still be here a while yet, so you're right, we'll figure out how to get her home to you (I wish I was going with her, but a man can dream, can't he?)

I'm not grumpy! I swear I'm not intentionally terrorizing them, sweetheart, I swear on Mum's knitted sweaters that I'm not doing it on purpose. (He's the grumpiest person some days… you're in love with a grumpy, grumpy man, Allie. But he's getting better about it. Haven't had to stab him in a few days. - E)

I'll eventually come home; to you, to Addy, and our own quiet place where we can read to our hearts' content and I can cook you all the meals you ever wanted to try while you teach me about pathology (though, preferably not when we're eating, still not quite over the "using a pig to test weapon marks" notes you sent me.) We do deserve it, sweetheart, and we'll find some place once this war settles down.

(I want it to end, it's gone on long enough, and yet here we are still slogging through it with no end in sight… I love you, Alice, and I'm so grateful that this war brought us together, but I hate that it keeps us apart.)

Do you know where Ed is stationed? I can reach out to Hugh and see if we can get him under one of us so Lorraine knows he's safe. I'm glad you've gotten another friend out of it all, though, she sounds very sweet and just what you need with Edith and Clara gone, and Jean up in Ballarat (how is she, by the way? I've not heard from Christopher at all since coming to the hospital).

Drina sounds like a mini-copy of Miss Fisher, and Jack will definitely have his hands full with them.

Babies are drooly, what can I say? (No worries, we'll stick to doting upon him when asked, and spoil our Miss Spitfire instead. More fur, yes, but less drool.)

Edith has mentioned Clara's wish to write her, and as far as I know, she has. (Of course, we're gossiping about the two of you, you're straight out of a romance novel, Allie. - E)

Mum is a very loving person, as you've no doubt experienced. She'll love you even if we choose not to have any kids, I promise. Mum's never been big on forcing Vera or me to do anything after everything we had to deal with regarding Dad. I think she dotes to make up for the choice in having him as her husband… I don't know.

Jean's family… that's a story for her to tell you, but I did always like her parents. Her dad was a farmer, much like Christopher, and her mum was as sweet and tenacious as Jean. They've both passed on, I believe - left Jean devastated - but she's stuck up her chin to get through it. The rest of the Randall family… she'll have to tell you, sweetheart, I think I might have already said too much.

I loved the valentine, sweetheart! It sits right next to your photo on my bedside table and serves as a constant reminder that I have you to get back home to. Edith managed to smuggle in some red paper for me and you'll be proud that I cut out the heart all on my own (my shoulder hurts like a bastard, but I wanted to do this, and Edith's proud of my progress).

I love you, Alice, and I can't wait to be with you once again.

Yours, always and always,

Matthew


an: finals are upon me, so once those are done hopefully more updates will come around my work schedule! thank you so much for your patience, y'all, and enjoy! - Dee