4 March 1943

Dearest,

I'm holding you to that promise, just so you're aware. These things do happen, but try not to actively walk into trouble if you can help it. Maybe one day that letter will wind up at Wardlow, but I don't really need it. You love me, that's all I needed to know, and you've definitely told me plenty of times (please don't stop).

Seems like you've got a friend in your corner in the form of Edith; good, stay in her good graces. Apparently, we've also got a champion biscuit maker in the making, it's good for you, Matthew, don't squander Miss Spitfire's love and attention. Heat on muscles is good to have, but so are massages.

Edith's right, Addy is going to be severely loved as she should be. She'll be spoiled, but not so much that she becomes impertinent or selfish.

So much is bound to happen between when you're well enough to leave, dearest, who knows what the war effort will be like. We've heard the news about several different battles ending last month, but so far into March it's been quiet on both fronts - I think it's stagnating again, much like most of 1942 where not much happened towards victory or defeat… it doesn't give me much hope that the war will be over by the time you're well enough to leave. (I wish you could come home… I'm so tired of waiting and wishing…)

Edith belays your insistence on not being grumpy… maybe you should be a little more patient? I'm sending biscuits with this letter, so hopefully, your grumpiness is more related to hunger than your general disposition in life, Matthew. Though, I think between you and me, Edith particularly enjoys stabbing you with the needles a little too much.

I think Mum has her heart set on us taking over the house once you come home, dearest… and I'll admit I'm not averse to it, we'd just have to make sure both of us have a job; Jack's offered his house (it is still his, he just "rents out a room" to keep up appearances about his and Phryne's relationship - he knows she'll never be a policeman's wife, though he has her heart.) for whenever all of this ends, so you'll have a place to live in Melbourne if you're not keen on staying with Vera (Rose will be devastated though, she adores you.)

(Yes, I promise to try not to get too excited about pathology over dinner.)

I hate that this war keeps us apart as well, but I'm grateful that each day brings us all that closer together (even if there's no actual end in sight).

Ed's actually with the Royal Australian Navy, so unfortunately I don't think you or Hugh will see much of him; his letters to her are scarce as it is, the RAN keeps a tight rein on letters in and out depending on what's happening at sea (and there's so much that probably happens that doesn't get reported in the news), but Lorraine appreciates the offer nonetheless. Lorraine's very sweet, she keeps to herself (I don't know why, she seems the type to have lots of friends, but maybe she's a bit more like me than I realized), and helps out around the house as much as she can. She's got a mind for numbers and a way of seeing right through you - almost as if she can read your thoughts, and I can't count the number of times she's knocked on my door with a cup of tea and a listening ear before I knew I wanted both.

Jean's doing alright, Christopher's letters are still coming (still not as frequently as yours, but he's alive), and the boys continue to drive her up a wall most days (mostly Jack, Christopher Jr is as stoic as ever, which I worry about). I recently visited to help her fix the tractor - something Christopher would usually do, and while Jean can fix most things around the farm, machinery was one thing she preferred Christopher to do; I don't mind, it's not that all much different from the car engine, and I like being helpful to her. (She even let me drive it, we won't talk about how skewed my plow lines were, but Jean wasn't worried, that particular field will apparently be lying fallow this next year and winter's around the corner anyway.)

Jack's been having his hands full with Drina and Miss Fisher, it's been very entertaining and I'm sorry you're missing all of it. Miss Fisher's protege has gotten herself locked up a few times - mostly so Jack can have some peace - and from what I've heard her parents aren't too happy about it, so we'll have to see if anything comes of this or not.

Apparently, cats also can drool when happy, so then we'll have to deal with fur and drool… I can't decide which might be worse… but I'm leaning towards a baby still.

Edith, stop embellishing mine and Matthew's relationship in your letters to Clara; I've seen them and you can't deny it, we're hardly that romantic compared to your favorite romance novels and I've read those too.

Mum's a very good mum, and I'm grateful I've been embraced into her family; I'm not used to being accepted by a partner's family, mostly because I never got close enough to meet them, let alone get to know them. We've talked of your father, and of my parents… there's a lot of hurt and regret, but she's a wonderful mum to have and I'm glad she raised you and Vera to be like her - we need more people like her in the world.

I finally bucked up the courage to ask Jean about her family and she's told me the story of how she and Christopher ended up married; honestly, you'd think she'd murdered someone instead of just… following her passion. I'm glad that her parents stood by her and that Christopher also stood by her as well - he could have easily washed his hands of her, but didn't… as for the rest of her family, I'd like to have some words with them, that's for certain.

She did say that Mum was a lot like her mum, so it's true that Mum adopts practically everyone as you said all those months ago.

Your valentine has joined your photo by my bed, dearest; I love it so much and I'll cherish it until I can see you once again.

Yours, always,

Alice


an: turns out working retail during the holidays is absolutely soul-sucking and now that my schedule has been fixed to fit better around school, I can plan out my time a little better lmao. thanks for sticking with me on this, my goal is to finish this fic by the end of the year! - Dee