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Life's Illusions - Book Five - Chapter 23
It was Friday night, Baz and Annie were having dinner at 'Paradise'.
Top one, the first table on the top terrace had become their reserved table whenever he was in Coolangatta.
He was nervous, he wanted to ask about Ary's wedding, but how?, on that particular dilemma he had no idea, so imagine his surprise when his fork, loaded with seared prawn starter which was heading for his mouth, stopped in mid air, his brain was screaming at him, stop, stop, ears have just heard something fantastic, his facial expressions were an absolute mess, and Annie was laughing as he said falteringly.
"You want to go, ............ with me?, ........... really?".
She was still laughing, and his fork was still in mid air.
"Yes Baz you heard right, I do want to be there, and yes, of course I want to be there with you".
He was gobsmacked, realising his fork was still hovering in mid air, he put it down, reached for her hand and leaned in to kiss her.
"I still have to keep pinching myself to believe we're back together, this is like the icing on the cake, I so don't deserve you".
She'd smiled.
"Instead of pinching ourselves, we should remember how it happened Baz, we didn't tend the relationship, you were so busy with your work, I believed my work was more important, we forgot about us being important, I remember hearing Ary in that interview they did with Oprah, when he said Bobby shouted 'Bye Bro' as he left for New York, Ary was so engrossed in his music, he didn't answer, and Bobby never came home, how that's haunted him ever since, it's how I felt about the answer I gave you, all that wasted time where I chastised myself for not just tearing you off a strip for asking me something like that, instead of trying to score a point, to hurt you because you hurt me".
He was gazing at her as he replied.
"We were both stupid, me more so on a grand scale, I built walls and hid behind them whilst letting my mind have free reign, I was lucky, if you hadn't been brave enough to smash them down it might have been a really sad outcome, I agree we need to be conscious of the balance in future, we come first, you come first, a whole lot of things come next, and work is way, way, down the list".
She asked.
"Are you okay with travelling out here each weekend Baz?, I know it's not ideal, it's a slog each week for you".
He chuckled.
"Now that question I can answer easily, yes it's a slog, but it's most definitely worth it, and if there ever comes a time when I get tired of doing it, I'll resign my post at TF and move out here permanently, I'll become a kept man, your toy boy".
She laughed.
"I don't think it will come to that buster, I've been thinking of opening a restaurant in Sydney, but not just yet, this place is still too new, I want it's reputation to really take hold, then I can hype a Sydney opening well before it happens, but it would mean I'd be back in the city, we could spend more time together".
He was just finishing his first course and he said.
"Don't rush anything, you've done an amazing job here, I don't really care about traveling back and forth, it's midweek when I miss you, but I know I have the weekend to look forward to, if Sydney happens then so be it, but for now let's leave it out there somewhere".
They both jumped as a voice from behind them said.
"And what are we leaving out where?, mind if a couple of struggling musicians join you?".
Turning, they both leapt up from their seats to greet Pil and DJ.
Hugs aside they sat and Annie beckoned the table assistant over.
"Would you ask Chef if he can delay our mains, so that we can eat together?".
Pil jumped in with.
"We'll miss starters, just order us a couple of the chicken stacks, no fries, mixed salad with a smattering of fruit in it if that's possible?".
The assistant smiled, asking.
"Have you a preference on any particular fruit in your salads sir?".
DJ answered this time.
"Wow, this is the first place that hasn't looked at us like freaks for wanting fruit in our salad, well done Annie".
Then turning back to the server he'd said.
"If you have mango, orange, kiwi, strawberry, pineapple, or peach, anything you have from that range would be great, only a small single handful of anything you have sprinkled in really, and thank you so much".
The server smiled.
"For the amount of musical pleasure you guys give me, it's an honour sir".
Pil gave him a thumbs up adding.
"It's Pil not sir and as soon as we finish eating, come over and get a pic".
They'd eaten together, with Pil explaining.
"This last tour we did was gruelling, one night in each of fifteen locations, it's never happening again, we actually bickered several times, and it was purely because we were so exhausted, the traveling was insane, so we're here at the apartment for at least a week to relax".
They'd watched and noted as DJ put his hand in Pil's at the mention of them bickering, then Pil asked again.
"So, back to the original question, what are you leaving out there?".
Annie explained about opening a restaurant in Sydney eventually, and DJ jumped in immediately.
"Wow, rope us in when you get it planned, we can put together a fantastic opening night show for you, we've no end of acts that owe us favours".
The boys posed for photographs with most of the staff and customers before leaving straight after desert, DJ had started yawning, and Pil had said lovingly.
"Come on cutie, let's have an early night, get that rest and relaxation started".
In Sydney Ahmed had been in conference with Piers, Milo, JJ, and Jem for nearly two hours, and to say they were pleased with what they'd heard would be a massive understatement.
His accountant had given a detailed briefing on how 'Remedy' had performed in the first year of trading since opening its doors, but the icing on the cake was his forecast for the second year, it was nothing short of phenomenal.
Ahmed had outlined several areas for change and upgrade, to further enhance the experience each client received, but he'd surprised them most with his final words.
"I want to thank you all again for the unbelievable opportunity you guys gave me, and I have a question to ask, I don't know how you will feel about this, but here goes, initially, when you put in place the finance for this venture, you envisioned my paying back your outlay and my becoming sole owner, I want to ask if you would consider changing that arrangement?".
They'd all been curious, and it showed, but it was Jem who'd asked.
"What did you have in mind Ahmed?".
He'd replied.
"I like having partners, I like having you, people I both respect and trust as partners, I wouldn't even have had this opportunity if it weren't for all of you encouraging me to do it, and putting the finance in place so, would you consider remaining as partners, and I will pay a one fifth share of the set up cost back to you, with interest, because it will take me a while to do it, but I'm asking if you'll stay with me?".
They'd looked at each other and nodded, so Jem answered again.
"I'd say that's a collective yes, but we need to structure this legally, our team can set it all up, but I would propose that you have the initially agreed five years to repay your one fifth share of the set up fee, and a clause is incorporated into the contract allowing you until midnight on the fifth anniversary date of the business opening its doors, to regain full ownership of the company by repaying our share of the set up costs if you so choose, would that suit everyone?".
They were all in agreement except Ahmed, who asked.
"I had thought two, maybe three years to repay my share, five years seems excessively generous, and why would you want to add in a buy back clause for a business that is growing in value all of the time?, that just doesn't seem fair to all of you".
JJ answered him.
"Because we trust and respect you too, and we aim always to operate in good faith, those will be our terms, if you feel able to repay your share of the set up cost earlier than the five years allowed, that would be your prerogative, but know there is no need my friend".
He nodded now.
"Thank you, it's a deal I can accept, knowing I have genuine friends alongside me".
He'd given them their first tour of the building whilst it was in full swing, they'd been amazed by the numbers of clients receiving treatment, but on the first floor Milo had asked.
"Did you change policy slightly, I was expecting this gym to be used by a lot of able bodied clients as well as challenged ones".
Ahmed took them aside to answer.
"Within the first few months we found the clients with lesser degrees of physical challenge, who can definitely benefit from this area, but wouldn't consider going to a normal gym, were starting to drop off, when we asked why, it became apparent, they were feeling intimidated by the stereo typical body builder types, so I took the decision, there are plenty of gyms for fully able bodied clients, this facility is only going to be for challenged clients".
Milo agreed.
"Good move, and good thinking to research what you saw happening, genuine feedback can be worth it's weight in gold".
On the second floor, if they'd been in any doubt about how the facility was being appreciated, which they weren't, they'd met a woman in her late fifties walking with great difficulty inside a set of parallel bars.
In typically friendly fashion Piers had offered encouragement, then asking.
"How are you finding 'Remedy', is it helping you?".
After struggling to the end of the bars and being helped into a wheelchair she'd answered honestly, pointing toward Ahmed.
"Are you kidding, that one there is buying me dinner in the best restaurant I can find if I walk into the place unaided after three months, and I'm going to collect believe me".
Ahmed laughed, asking.
"Can I explain that Daisy?".
She smiled warmly at him.
"Of course you can Ahmed".
He turned to the group.
"Daisy suffered a serious heart condition that needed fixing, but it meant she spent nearly six years unable to exert any physical strain on her body, she hadn't left her chair or bed throughout those six years, no one held out any hope that she would ever walk again".
She jumped back in.
"My son heard about this place and badgered me into coming, when I told Ahmed what everyone else had said he laughed, told me if I wanted to walk he'd have me up and about in a month, and if I walked into a restaurant unaided after three months, dinner for myself and eleven friends was on him, and so far he's been true to his word, you just saw that, he's an absolute miracle worker".
As they left Daisy, Ahmed told them.
"Daisy is Chairwoman of the Sydney Women's Circle, something I didn't know until around two weeks after she came to us, it wouldn't have affected my decision to help her, but you wouldn't believe how many clients have referred over to us just on her recommendation, and she's going to have her life back, of that I'm both certain and determined".
In Chicago, with less than two weeks to go, Jolly and Mel were in full swing, in an area just past the main lawns and gardens at the rear of the house, which had been mowed flat, the main large reception marquee was already in place, they were watching from the conservatory as the contractors raised the first of the open sided marquees where the ceremony would take place.
Including family there would be three hundred guests arriving for the ceremony and wedding reception meal, a further two hundred were invited from early evening until late into the night, which would culminate with a fireworks display at midnight.
Bobby Jnr, assisted by Dillon, was to be Ary's Best Man, The Gremlins (Marty, Becky, Lily, Gary, Stevie), Ary's younger siblings, were to be Bridesmaids and Pages supporting Erin, with Ary's cousin Leticia as her Chief Bridesmaid, or, Matron of Honour.
Ary's remaining immediate cousins from Thorn House, Jermain, Luke and Liam were to be Chief Ushers, charged with the task of marshalling cousins conscripted in as Ushers, from the wider family around the world.
Whilst watching the second open sided marquee go up, Mel had started laughing, much to Jolly's puzzlement, and she asked.
"Okay, what's tickling you now?".
Mel could hardly answer for laughing.
"I was just remembering the look on your face when they showed us the portable toilets".
At that both women burst into more laughter, because it had been a true 'moment'.
Jolly had been concerned about toilet facilities, with five hundred plus bodies eating and drinking their way through a veritable mountain of food, not to mention the equivalent of a lake of drinks, there was no way the Thorn House plumbing system would be able to cope.
The Weddings Planner Jolly had hired immediately put her mind at rest, they could hire in a number of portable rest rooms, which would be discreetly screened away from the main Marquee, she'd made an appointment for Jolly and Mel to view the facilities, because Jolly was concerned, they couldn't be anything shabby.
Turning up at the appointed time to, Event Equipment Hire Inc, they'd been met by what Jolly later described as, an imbecile, who'd had them trudge half way across the company's vast storage site, to be shown several single unit Dunny's, the sort found on building sites, and smelling as though someone with a serious bowel disorder had just used them.
Jolly's face had initially been an absolute picture of horror, which quickly turned to rage, egged on by Mel's inability to control her hysterical laughter.
"Are you mad, we have five hundred guests, many of whom are from the absolute elite of society, and you expect these things to be acceptable?".
Fortunately, the young man, now cowering under Jolly's blistering attack, had been saved by a woman sales executive who'd apparently chased after them in a golf buggy once she realised, who they were, and with horror, where her young colleague had taken them.
"Ladies, my apologies, I was meant to be meeting you but a telephone call overran, please, allow me to show you the correct facilities you will be choosing from".
They'd climbed into the buggy and been whisked to another area of the site, where noticeably more upmarket units were stored.
The woman had jumped from the buggy and pointed out three different models of facilities.
"The first is Standard Event Level, the second is Superior Event Level, the third is Executive Event Level".
Jolly had turned her nose up at the first, relaxed slightly at seeing the second, and given a sigh of relief at seeing the third.
The Executive Level for Females had a hand wash and make up room on entry, there were several plush seating areas, with an entrance to a separate section which held six beautifully appointed toilet cubicles.
The male equivalent had a similar hand wash area, but slightly more masculine in appearance and substantially smaller, the extra space was given over in the adjoining section to six wall mounted urinals plus the six individual toilet cubicles.
Jolly decided immediately these were the ones she wanted, but, as too how many, she hadn't a clue, and said so, being relieved to hear that it was calculated by a formula.
"With the exception of what we call peak times, initial arrival, at the end of speeches, etc. we work on an average of ten percent of guests using the facilities at any one time, so that would mean catering for a constant fifty persons, working on an even split male to female I would recommend four units for Males, but add an extra for Females, so nine units in total".
Jolly had been nodding, then added.
"Do you have anything more superior than these?".
The woman smiled, leading them to a pair of separately signed Male and Female units.
"These are the Super Lux Units, they accommodate a maximum two persons at any one time, and in ultimate luxury".
Mel watched Jolly's mind working.
"Excellent, I agree on the others, four Male units, but make it six Female units, and add two Super Lux Female, and two Super Lux Male units, we have a number of guests who will be appreciative of not having to share".
On the way back to the car Jolly's comment to Mel had her in stitches again.
"Thanks for all your help today Mel, you were about as useful as a bloody chocolate teapot".
The day of the wedding had been a gloriously sunny one, with a welcome breeze to cool the guests in the open sided Marquee.
Bobby had performed his duties perfectly, with only the occasional nudges from Dillon to keep him on track.
Soon enough they were enjoying the post ceremony luncheon and the speeches were in full swing.
Bobby's speech as Best Man had drawn everyone's attention.
"Daddy said he'd help me write a speech for you, but I told him I'd do it myself, he doesn't know what I've written, which Uncle Dillon says is probably a good thing, because I'd have been spanked by now if he did, so you've probably guessed, Uncle Dillon helped me a little with some of the big words, but mostly it's mine".
He'd paused, as Dillon had told him to, whilst they laughed.
"Anyway, I'm Best Man, Uncle Dillon said it's my duty to be a bit naughty, and I can't waste time, I have to get on with it, after all, there's obviously some sort of emergency going on, I mean, if this wedding had been arranged any quicker, it would have happened before the postman got the invite to you".
This time he couldn't do anything else but pause, the laughter was universal, with not a dry eye in the place, Ary and Erin were covering their faces, but laughing just as much.
"I'm Best Man, I had to be here, because I'm Bobby".
That one sentence stopped all sound, the marquee fell eerily silent as Bobby looked directly into his Daddies eyes.
Ary was looking back with wide open staring eyes, he knew exactly where this was coming from.
Had he bothered to look at Dillon, he would have seen the same shocked look, Dillon had read the speech a dozen times, and this wasn't in there.
"Live, love, enjoy life guys, be happy, and their names will be Aaron and Reni".
There had been a seemingly long period of silence, before Dillon leaned in and whispered to Bobby, then he jerked and said.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please raise your glasses, a toast, to the Bride and Groom, I love you, be happy".
Bobby had sat on his Daddy's lap later in the afternoon.
"Did I do okay Daddy?, I wanted to get it right for you, but I think I forgot some of the words, so I had to make it up, then everyone went quiet so I think maybe I messed up, sorry".
Erin was linked to them both listening, it was she who answered, because Ary was just too emotional.
"Mommy and Daddy are so, so, proud of you Bobby, you did a fantastic job, and the only reason everyone went quiet was because they were listening, waiting for you to do the toast, they didn't want to miss it, you were a star son".
Ary hugged him tightly, reinforcing Erin's words, he just couldn't speak.
Despite being shocked by Bobby's words, both Ary and Erin had picked up on the reference to two babies, so imagine their shock when at Erin's next checkup to hear they were having twins.
Five months after the wedding, Aarron Robert Samuel Thorn was born, three minutes before his twin sister Reni Roberta Thorn. (it's an anagram folks - Erin - Reni).
Bobby was on the way to the hospital with his Grandma Mel.
"Can't we go any faster Grandma, I need to see them, we have things to do, things to plan, we are gonna have so much fun".
Mel was past being surprised, the things that kept happening, the reruns of Ary and Bobby's younger life no longer shocked or surprised her, it was as if her long lost Bobby was telling her, let it go, immerse yourself in the beauty before you, I once was, but now I'm gone, they're the present and the future, don't waste it, love and encourage them Momma, exactly as you did for me.
Bobby had walked hand in hand with his Grandma Mel into his Mommy's room at the hospital, to be greeted by the sound of two screaming babies.
He hadn't needed to be told who was screaming, he could hear them from the hallway.
His mommy looked like she was tired, probably of the screaming.
He'd walked over to the cots where his brother and sister were flailing and screaming, and with his first words they stopped, there was a sudden silence.
"Okay guys, I'm here, now can we drop the volume, Mommy's tired, she needs to sleep, so who's first, you Reni?, okay, I'll get to you in a minute Aarron, no shouting, be patient".
He'd lifted Reni out of her cot and sat in the armchair next to his Mother, then nodded to his Daddy.
"Daddy can you bring Aarron please?".
Erin looked totally amazed, as did Ary, and everyone else in the room except Mel, they'd all tried to soothe them, but none had managed it, and yet here was a five year old, cradling his new born brother and sister, and making a success of it.
They weren't just quiet, they were cooing, visibly happy that their older brother had finally arrived.
"We are going to have so many good times, but you can't keep making all that noise, I'll always be around, there's not going to be a day when we don't have fun, I promise you that, now how about you get some sleep so Mommy can have a rest too".
Within minutes they were both asleep and Ary took them from Bobby, settling them both back into their cots side by side.
Erin asked Mel.
"Why weren't you surprised?, I was watching you, it was as if you knew what was going to happen".
Mel looked at Ary.
"I think you need to explain about Thorn children, how you and Bobby tamed Dillon, and the Gremlins".
Ary laughed.
"They're exactly like Dillon was, Bobby and I were the only ones who could control him, he was a monster, until the Gremlins were born, then he changed overnight, became a loving older brother, it's true I'm afraid, we Thorns are awful as kids, until we have siblings who need us, it makes us focus somehow".
He was cuddling Bobby on his lap now.
"I think Bobby's the exception, he's always been a good boy, except when he makes naughty speeches about Mommy and Daddy at wedding receptions".
Ary was now tickling a squirming Bobby, with Erin begging.
"Shush, please don't wake them, I need to sleep".
Surprisingly, there was a romance going on in the wider Thorn family that no one seemed to have noticed, it had started just after Ahmed had opened his business in the building next to TF's office in Sydney.
Exiting the building one afternoon he'd quite literally bumped into Gracie, in every sense, she'd just exited Guardian's building which was situated on the other side of TF's building, and he'd walked straight into her, his sheer bulk knocking her sideways into a metal street sign, which her head had bounced off painfully.
She'd been really dazed, staggering off the sidewalk into the road, until he'd grabbed her, lifting her up easily to bring her back onto the sidewalk as she'd fainted, crumbling in his arms.
When she came too Gracie was disorientated, lying on a couch in a plush office with a first aider dabbing at the side and front of her head, but Gracie being true to form she'd quickly gathered her senses, pushing the girl away.
"What the hell are you doing, get off me".
Ahmed had been standing to their side, now he came into view and her anger ramped up a notch.
"You, don't you ever look where you're going?, that bloody hurt, you idiot".
Ahmed was completely overwrought.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't concentrating, please, let the first aider look at your head, there's a cut and it needs antiseptic, you banged it quite hard".
Gracie made to get up, but she groaned and slumped back as the nausea and pain struck her.
She didn't object when the first aider returned to dabbing antiseptic on the cut to the side of her temple.
Ahmed had almost jumped to attention when the girl had barked.
"Sweet tea now".
If she hadn't felt so crap Gracie would have laughed, but she definitely didn't feel like laughing right then.
After they finished, Gracie had thanked her and she'd left, Gracie drank her tea, and Ahmed made a suggestion, the first time he'd spoken since his apology.
"Let me take you home, you can't drive in this state, it's not safe, please, I'm so sorry".
It was about then that Gracie surprised herself, he was looking so vulnerable, she actually felt sorry for him.
"Yes please, but only if you stop beating yourself up, it was an accident, now make yourself useful, help me up".
And she was more than content when he literally scooped her up into his arms.
"Relax, put your arm around my shoulder, you've had a shock, let me carry you, my car is in the underground parking".
On the drive home she'd asked.
"If your car was in the underground parking, why were you cannonballing along the street?".
He'd sighed.
"Because I'd just accepted failure, it's not something I'm used to, but I'd had to admit it".
She'd sighed, never the patient one, but somehow he intrigued her.
"Explain".
His voice told her how much this was hurting him.
"A young boy who suffered really terrible injuries in a car accident, he lost his father, I promised his mother I could get him walking again, but he's determined he won't try, this afternoon he told me he wouldn't ever walk again, it's something I can't understand, I know he's capable, he just won't try for some reason".
And that would be the moment Gracie would look back on, the moment she fell for him, big, powerful, dangerous, and yet so vulnerable.
At Gracie's insistence, he'd taken her to her Poppas house, next door to JJ and Jem's house, where he still lived in the apartment over the garage.
On the way there she'd called her Poppa Piers.
"Sorry to be a nuisance Poppa, I had a little accident and got a bit of a bump on the head, I'm okay but it's left me a little unsteady, would it be alright to stay with you tonight?, ........ I'll explain everything when I get there, we're only a couple of minutes away, Ahmed's bringing me".
Piers, Milo, and Baz were waiting out front as Ahmed's car pulled into the driveway, they had the passenger door open to help her out as soon as the car came to a stop.
They were supporting her, but they were also badgering her with questions, and as Ahmed came round from his side of the car he could see she was in pain, he'd moved them aside scooping her up again.
"Stop, she can't deal with all of the questions, she needs to rest, I'll carry her inside, then I'll fill you in".
He'd not waited for them to answer, simply turning away and marching purposefully toward the house.
Settled on a sofa in the lounge with a blanket over her, Gracie closed her eyes.
Ahmed realised they were staring at him, waiting for an explanation, and the way he blurted it out wasn't exactly the best way of telling them what had happened.
"I caused it, I ran into her on the street and knocked her into a metal post".
Piers response was even louder than previous.
"You did what?, good god man you could have killed her, leave now, we'll take care of her".
Gracie hadn't opened her eyes, but she did raise her hand, which stopped her Poppa.
"He's not going anywhere, and please stop shouting, it's like a hammer inside my head, we were both to blame, neither of us was looking where we were going, so calm down Poppa, do you think I could have some tea, Ahmed gave me some with sugar in, it helps".
Piers looked at Ahmed.
"I'm sorry, Gracie's right, I overreacted, please, make yourself comfortable, I'll get tea".
Milo and Baz watched as Ahmed sat, not on one of the armchairs, but on the edge of the sofa right next to Gracie, and they looked at each other as she reached for his hand.
He'd stayed until late, and it didn't go unnoticed, he hardly left Gracie's side.
When he did leave, he'd promised to call in next morning to check on her, and stunned everyone by kissing Gracie's forehead tenderly.
Piers had been watching Gracie's expression, and thinking to himself, 'Oh shit, she's infatuated', he'd said later to Milo.
"She has feelings for him, please god don't let this send her off the rails again, I don't think I could cope with any more drama from her".
Milo and Piers were sat drinking tea in the outside room around eight o'clock next morning when Ahmed strolled through the garden, having come around the boat dock, Piers saw him approach and signalled by waving, telling him to join them.
"I hope you don't mind that I came around from next door, I didn't want to take the chance of waking anyone by ringing the doorbell".
Milo answered.
"Of course we don't mind, that was very thoughtful of you, will you have some tea?".
He nodded.
"Yes please, I really only wanted to check on Gracie, is she okay?".
Piers smiled.
"I took tea in for her earlier, she said the banging headache has gone, but she has a lovely black eye and bruising from above her eye right down to her cheek, she must have hit that post with quite some force, she really should have been checked out at the hospital, but you know what she's like, stubborn as a mule".
Her voice made Piers jump.
"Stubborn as a mule, mmm, I'm guessing that would be me you're talking about Poppa, and good morning everyone, please try not to stare at the clown face".
As she turned the full effects of the bruising could be seen.
Ahmed gasped.
"Oh my god, I'm really sorry, does it hurt?".
She sat next to him.
"I keep telling you to stop apologising, and no, it doesn't hurt, it's just a constant ache, I called the medical practice nurse, explained what happened, she told me to take over the counter painkillers which should deal with the ache, she also said to avoid driving for a couple of days, so I'll need to get a lift into work with someone".
Piers reply was like a rocket.
"Oh no you don't, you're taking a couple of days off, your Poppa can explain when he goes in".
Gracie was about to argue, but Ahmed shushed her.
"Piers is right Gracie, a couple of days rest is the least you need, if you'd let me take you to the Emergency Room like I wanted to, they would have grounded you for a week at least".
She'd relented without argument, surprising her Poppas.
Ahmed had risen to leave, promising he'd call in when he got home from work that evening, and leaning in to kiss her forehead again.
Piers had a sudden thought.
"Ahmed, would you join us for dinner this evening?, Mrs Ferguson is making one of her fabulous beef and onion pies, which means Jez and Ferdie will turn up unannounced as well, they seem to know exactly when that pie is on the menu".
Gracie laughed.
"Mrs Ferguson sends us all a text on pie day".
Ahmed laughed with them.
"I'd love to join you, I'll pick up some beers and a couple of bottles of red".
After everyone had left, Piers sat with Gracie, and he had to smile as she said.
"Poppa, if you don't ask soon you'll either scream or burst".
He'd giggled.
"You're actually amazing me at the moment, I haven't seen this softer side of you for a long time, and yes I know where it's coming from, you have feelings for him, any fool could see that and I believe he's returning those same feelings, but I have to worry, will it last, will you go off the rails again, as much as I can be happy for you, I'm terrified at the same time".
She put an arm around his shoulders, leaning in to plant a kiss on his cheek.
"I'm sorry Poppa, I really put you guys through it didn't I?, but you can leave the worrying behind now, that stint with Paulette was exactly what I needed, in fact the Government should hire her and start up a Boot Camp for young offenders, I reckon she'd have them straightened out in no time, she's one of the nicest people you'll ever come across, and she's also one of the scariest when she's riled".
Milo arrived home later that afternoon with a huge bouquet of flowers which he handed to Gracie.
"From your pals in Control, I was ordered not to leave without them, and they said to tell you hurry up back, it's boring without you".
TBC Allan
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