AN: for more information on the Jean/Lucien bit from last chapter and going forward, keep an eye out for that particular fic from Olafurneal!
Huggins Road Block Area, 21st Brigade HQ, Sanananda, New Guinea
13 September 1943
Sweetheart,
I certainly married a troublemaker, I can see that clearly. Weren't you in a mood last letter. The coastal drive honeymoon sounds lovely, my darling wife; I think it'll be just what we need regardless of the season when I come home.
(Though a winter coastal drive would be a little miserable, wouldn't it? Maybe we could find a little cottage to stay in for the week instead.)
Heaven help Christopher Beazley if he pisses you off, sweetheart - he won't know what hit him. No answer from him yet, but I'll still keep an ear out for gossip about where he's stationed and keep you and Jean in the loop.
I think a lot of us forget about the Classics part of your degree, I'm sorry. I know you've explained to me before why you did that, but could you repeat it for me? I love watching your brain work even if it's through letters and not in real time.
Matty will certainly bring entertainment, just make sure you're there to comfort him when the curiosity gets the better of him - Rose had many a bump and bruise from reaching too far for things or running too fast through the yard.
I'll never stop with the praise, sweetheart, because you deserve every bit of it and more. I've gone up in the world, marrying a doctor (almost, I know I know, but the degree's all but guaranteed at this point.)
Bloody hell… we'll have to keep an eye on her when she visits in case she tries to get access to files and such at home… maybe get a desk that can lock (unless she's learned how to pick locks, then we're really in for it.)
You'll wear her down, sweetheart; it's true that we Lawsons are stubborn, but you've got the stubbornness of a Harvey and a Lawson now, I think Mum has met her match.
I'm not sure how much room we've got off the parlor… but I am going mostly off memory at the layout of the house at the moment, so I could be wrong. We'll have to take some measurements, and get an updated plan of the whole house and land; maybe the sunroom could happen along with an addition? We've definitely got room for visitors between the master bedroom, my old one, and Vera's, but if (big if at the moment) we do add on to the family (I've been toying with the idea of foster parents - give kids a chance they normally wouldn't get), we'll be limited on space… I don't know, sweetheart, I'll let you think about what I've suggested and maybe closer to the war being over we can start making concrete plans about the house.
(And you're right, Dr. Blake does need a better housekeeper, his current one is getting on in years and is not super helpful to him.)
Our Adelaide is a diva, but that's why we love her; she deserves all her spoiling and has deserved it all since we picked her up on that road in Lebanon. What say you to adding more to spoil? I'm okay with getting another cat, or maybe a dog, for the house in the future.
No replacements on the journals just yet, I've still got at least a month or so left in the one I've got now, so maybe in a letter or two. I'll let you know.
Not surprised by Mum's answer in the least about Lucien; he's an instigator and always has been. (And excuse me, I don't cluck… I'm not a hen.) Phryne and Lucien would either get on like a house on fire or loathe each other entirely - wouldn't that be a fun meeting to be at?
I would say that Jean's answer is surprising but um… it's not really. You might be mad about me not telling you, but honestly, it's Jean's past and not mine. Jean and Lucien have met before - it was years ago, probably about ten or so now; she was young, her mum wasn't doing all that well and Dr. Blake gave her a summer job. Lucien came back on one of his rare visits, this was before he went off to medical school in Scotland, and safe to say they didn't get off on the right foot, I think… Jean can give you more answers if she feels like it, but don't be surprised if she won't. I can tell you more in person next time I see you, but I don't really want to put it in writing as it's not my story to tell.
He is a persistent bugger I'll give you that; he likes to go headlong into danger as well, so hopefully he's keeping himself alive and not being stupid about it. We've got to prank him, after all, he's got to survive long enough for me to see the dumbfounded look on his face.
(Jean will definitely be a fellow collaborator in the prank, sweetheart, you've not seen her devious sneaky side just yet.)
We did hear the news about Mussolini - about damn time! We've heard more rumors about a potential civil war going on in Italy. It'll be brutal, but maybe it'll take them out of the war for a bit and give the boys in Europe a break.
Yours,
Matthew