March Stephenson

Chapter 16

March Stephenson

Maxieplus

The nurses were fussing around me and clearing away the machines, then they checked my bandages and left me in peace. March was leaning on the side of the bed staring into my eyes. He said.

"Don't ever leave me Nicky."

"I won't baby, I had no choice this time, and I am sorry I bought this crap into your peaceful life."

"No Nicky, you don't say that, everybody has a past and you did nothing wrong. I shouldn't have gone to work, it could have waited."

"I hate the snow." I then started shivering violently, he got on the bed beside me and held me while I slept.

Every time I woke up I saw March's face and every time I saw it, I fell in love with him, and I still shivered. I managed on the second day, I think, to stroke his face with the tips of my fingers, the bandages had been reduced and I had feeling in my hands and legs again. I think I had spoken to the detective at length the night before, and now it's just a waiting game. There was no explanation for my shivers only they may be a leftover reaction from my night in the cold.

Mum and dad with May and Rose, were there every day, tears were shed and I joined in. Between those four they managed to get March to go and eat and try to get some rest, but he would only buy a sandwich and eat it by my bed. He managed to rest when I did, so he said, but I doubted he got much sleep. May was another concern, she is not used to this kind of abuse and although she smiled, she was in shock. Rose was a god send she kept everyone including me upbeat and positive, but I still saw the pain in her eyes. I had been so scared I would die and not be found until spring. The colour had come back in my fingers and I was told I was very lucky to be alive. Seven days later I was discharged, my family fussed as March carried me from the car to the sofa in front of the fire. Blankets and hot soup were produced and I slipped in and out of sleep, I was so cosy. It had started to snow again and I asked dad to close the blinds, I couldn't watch it anymore its beauty had changed forever, in my mind. I then pulled the blankets up around my neck and shivered again.

He sent everyone home after dinner because he has a menu he wants to try out on me tonight, in his mind sex fix's everything. I think he was just checking if everything still worked as it did in the past. I was so horny my legs immediately grabbed his waist and I pulled him in. The kisses and licks were so welcomed and I cried because I didn't think I would ever experience my March Stephenson again, and I still shivered.

My first nights sleep wasn't too sound. I kept waking up and feeling cold, it took some time for that feeling to leave me, even though I was kept as warm as toast.

March didn't want to get up in the morning, he wanted to stay in bed all day, but he had to cook me breakfast and I was hungry. I grabbed my crutches and headed for the bathroom, the hot shower was awesome as I lifted my leg and knelt onto a stool to keep my foot from getting wet. He didn't join me but he looked in several times. I know he's concerned for me, and yes, he wanted to practice his voyeurism. I had received dozens of bunches of flowers and cards, the local page was all lit up with concerns and offers. I did announce that I was okay and I will update them all as soon as I get my strength back. The offers consisted of reading to me or taking me for a drive, cooking meals, and cleaning the house, there were many friends out there wanting to help us, I thanked them all and said.

`I have March onto those jobs, he's been a rock star these past days.'

"Nicky I heard what you were saying to the police so I don't want to put you through that again. I wanted to tell you I looked all over for you, I even had most the town looking between here and the city turn off but we couldn't find you."

"It's okay now baby, he did come for money, he also knew about our special river, and he meant for me to die. You know how the story went after that March. I wouldn't have been found until spring like Mr. Westland in the gully." I smiled, and finally, I got a small giggle along with a blush from him. That morning as we snuggled up, he cried so much all I could do was hold him. He had been so strong and scared for me, now was his time to get it all out and let it go.

Before lunch, we had a visit from two detectives who told us Matt and his offsider have been formally charged with attempted murder, robbery, and kidnapping. He told us the trial will be in about two to three months away, and if I wasn't feeling up to it they can get it postponed, because he had broken his parole again he will remain in jail until the trial. I had told them that I saw Matt and the other guy at the door and it was them that attacked me, but I couldn't add anything to that. They already had dads solicitor's letters and our complaint we made to the local police, they said they had enough evidence to hang them out to dry.

When they left I had to get warm again, so I spent the rest of the day in March's arms, naturally, we had to be naked to do that, he sobbed his heart out again and this has been very hard on him. He doesn't know that some people are so cruel, he only has ever known love. I cursed the day I bought this on him, and I cursed Matt even more. Mum and dad had left us alone for the first day, but after that they were constantly at our house, sometimes staying overnight. May was so distraught on the second day, March banned her from the house so I could get some rest. But after I posted on the local page again, she deemed it okay to call in. I had chastised March for being so mean to her. She had placed pies and pasties in our freezer and then she sat on the sofa with me and cried. She has had a big scare too and no amount of talking softly from me helped, she just had to get it all out.

I realised that if she was feeling this bad March would be feeling it worse. That was confirmed later in the day.

"I know exactly how she feels Nicky because I feel the same."

"Well, we will have to get you feeling happy again big boy, because when you do, she will be happy."

"Do you know what will make me happy Nicky?"

"You just had a serving of Nicky's wares, so it must be something else."

"When that mongrel is locked away permanently, then I will be happy."

"Me too March."

I snuggled in and started thinking I am going to get fat just laying around all day. I think he can take me to the gym tomorrow, I can restart my running on the machines, just light walking for the moment. The bandages came off and I saw the extent of my night in the open. One toe was missing and there was a dark red scab where it had been, I talked to the doctor about it he said I didn't need it for balance, and it will become unnoticeable overtime. I had already been doing some exercises at home but nothing excited me more than to be let out of this house.

"Now don't overdo it Nicky, just a half-mile walk on slow please."

"Yes March, Jason has given me a routine and I aim to stick to it."

This is a rundown of my first day, we made love, and then we showered and dressed very warmly. I opened the front door and more food had been left for us, I took the pots inside March was delaying the trip but I yelled at him.

"Come on slow poke."

"Yes sir."

He bundled me into the truck, turning the heating up to full blast, then he carefully drove me to the garage. He almost carried me into the gym and just about everyone in town was using it today. They all stopped what they were doing and looked at me.

"Okay, you lazy layabouts. I'm back, so get back to making some awesome bodies." They laughed and I got quite a few hugs then I grabbed one of the walking machines. I started my routine and felt very confident, I turned it up a notch and was back to gently jogging once more.

I then got onto the rowing machine and it felt wonderful to stretch my muscles. I know I will suffer tomorrow, but today I tried to stretch every muscle I could.

That beast of a man I live with put a stop to all my fun when he arrived and turned my machine off.

"Come with me, Nicky."

He lead me over to the massage table and got me to take my top off. He then made me lay face down on it. He was giving me a massage, how he learned to do it is beyond me, but it also felt wonderful. He finished my back and got me to turn over, we had onlookers so he said to them.

"You can look but no touching, and no, it won't be a massage complete today."

They moaned because I think they thought they may be in for a live show.

I giggled at March's childlike way of thinking, he is so good at this gay thing. He slapped my ass and said I would get that and the legs attended to when I get back home, but for now, it's morning tea time, and he was hungry.

He placed his arm around my waist and walked me across the road, it had started snowing again but lightly. Rose hugged me and gave my ass a squeeze she welcomed me back with a tear in her eye. I didnt know much about Rose, but in the past she seemed happy but today she was down a bit.

"Now what can I get you baby?"

"Soup and a buttered bread roll thank you Rose, and Rose?" "Yes Nick?"

"I am ok now, I live in the present not in the past." She gave me a smile then went to get my order.

The overhead heaters were on and May looked a lot happier now I am out and about, when I looked at March he was smiling for real and shoving a pie into his face.

"What's the soup of the day?" He asked.

"Mushroom March." May smiled.

"Can I have some sis?"

"Coming up dear brother."

Mum was making a lunch order, and she has taken to delivering lunch to the cold folks that won't venture outside, only to the business workers, not the homes. She walked a basket up five shops and went in.

"I hope she's rugged up enough May."

"She is Nicky there's plenty of good old Australian wool under that overcoat."

Dad arrived and got himself some soup and a buttered roll, mum came back and she also had one, then March had to have two rolls.

"So, any news son?"

"No dad, we sit and wait I'm afraid, but at least I'm exercising again my muscles were so locked up, but thanks to March they have loosened again."

"He should offer that service to your clients." Dad grinned, and I glared at him, he went pink.

"Sorry son, I was meaning a legitimate massage."

March started laughing and he lifted his eyebrows at me.

"Do it, and you are a dead man." I said. May laughed again, I was so happy for her.

"Jason does them all the time he said it can sometimes get embarrassing."

"There you go March, go help Jason out you can do the extras," Mum said.

We all glared at her, so she shut up.

My outing has bought smiles to everyone's faces today, and the biggest smile was March's when he massaged my legs and ass back at home. We didn't talk too much more about the assault, he knew what I was feeling and he didn't want to bring any bad memories back for me, or himself. I had told him at the hospital all I felt was cold, but mostly I was out to it. He, on the other hand, needed to talk about his panic when he couldn't find me, so I let him talk for ages, in the end, he was just going around in circles until he exhausted himself. This went on for a week or more, he talked about the same things and I couldn't offer him any more information than I could remember.

My exercises turned into me running up and down the main street, complete with horns honking as cars passed by. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere else except one day I slipped up and headed to our river. It looked so sad and unloved as I sat on that big rock, then it hit me all at once. I cried my eyes out and I felt so scared, my shivering panic was back. His arm went about me and he pulled me in, he couldn't do anything except lightly kiss me while I got it all out, he had warmed me up with his breath and light kisses.

"I am going to get you out of here for a while Nicky, it's not so cold in the city."

"I'm sorry March, I was drawn to come back here and finish what had been started. I feel much better now, there is no need for us to leave, it's just I had to face it head on somehow."

"I know Nicky I have been doing that for a few weeks and now it's time to stop."

"Where are we going?" I smiled.

"To an amazing place I have hired for a weekend, we will have our meals cooked for us and be nice and warm for a change."

"We are going back to that hotel aren't we?" He giggled.

"Yes Nicky, it's our home away from home, and they have good food there. I might even get in some holiday shopping while we are there."

We both started laughing and he stood me up, my muscles ached as he walked me back to his truck. He didn't take me home he took me to the cafe where I could be surrounded by friends and family again. I had some hot soup and then the sun came out, it had finally found a break in the low clouds. My nonexistent toe gave me no bother at all, sometimes I think I can feel it but I knew that was a common occurrence in a lot of people who had lost limbs.

On the weekend March took me back to our hotel, he ate it up all weekend and we had many spas in the room, we even managed a walk around the city streets he had to stop at every shop to look in it. I held his bags as he bought up big. Most of the clothes and trinkets were for me and May, he needed his holiday presents.

He hadn't told me until we were leaving that the detectives wanted to speak to me, he didn't know why but he had made the appointment for Monday morning as we were leaving the city.

They gave me a court date and then I had to write a victims report and send it along to them.

He was smiling when he drove me home, we had to stop at a lookout and the sun was out again. I gave him a big thank-you kiss, and then he wanted some extras. I made love to that dick for ages, I didn't want it to stop, and neither did he as he held my head firmly, now where did he learn that manoeuvre?

We had to go straight to the cafe and pass out the presents, and May was laughing again, she was excited to get some at long last.

Thankfully spring was just around the corner, the birds were slowly coming back and the sun was shining in between some light showers, I was thankful I had seen the snow but now I know it can also be so dangerous like the bushfires. We sometimes sat by our river and it had started flowing again, thank god it's coming back. He talked for ages about our future and I felt more loved than I had ever been before.

He massaged me just about every night, even doing my feet and as he did he kissed each toe gently.

We tried to move on and after I had a good talk with him he let me run on my own again. It was liberating I could do a circuit of the town once more. I answered everyone's questions as truthfully as I could, I guess this is the most exciting thing that's happened around here in years. The Spring sun didn't last long and it got cold again, but not cold enough for snow. We started using the tub and were back to something almost close to normal.

The gym was getting busier and I spent most of my days answering questions about my health, but I put a stop to people seeing my toes. I had a thought while I was sitting there one day, so I walked across the road and talked to mum and May. They came up with some pretty good ideas, the best was a sausage sizzle.

I had decided to repay the community for their unselfish help with food and looking out for the gym, their genuine concerns, and the support we got was well above any expectations. I will have a barbeque outside the gym on a Saturday so everyone can come. I got March involved because it was for him also, he organised tables and chairs and I made the big announcement on the local page. Our local butcher gave us a discount on steaks, chops, and sausages and we got the bread and rolls from Mays bakery two towns over. There was plenty of tomato sauce for March and dad and the onions were diced up by us all, there were tears. Mum donated three large pots of soup and May had free (instant) coffee or tea at the cafe, she also provided soft drinks for the kids.

With dad, March, Jason, and me manning the barbeque the initial line went up the street. I have no idea how many people came but there was a party in town, and everyone that came was fed. We had to shut it down at three, the line had only dribs and drabs of stragglers by then. The many hugs we both had received bought me to tears, even the kids joined in as I tried to stay calm. I wasn't doing a good job of it, a few times during the day I would be found in March's office with tissues in my hand. I started cleaning up, and March and dad helped by having the last of the sausages. It didn't take us long to put everything away, and after the last of the well-wishers had left we all sat outside Mays cafe and I ate a pie.

"It will be good weather next week Nicky maybe we should try and go to the river," March said.

"It will still be cold March, we need the sun."

"Well according to the weather bureau, it's going to be sunny. The water is always cold there anyway."

"Can we hold off until I see what it's really going to be like?"

"Sure baby." He grinned.

The barbeque was a big hit and Brenda announced on the page that it will be a yearly town occurrence and the council will pay for it, she was looking for volunteers for next year. I did thinkthat we could do it every year but she has just hijacked that idea.

The weather was nice on the weekend and by Monday I had resurrected my shorts, March was losing his windcheaters and we set a time to meet or go together to the river. Tuesday was the big day I still had my doubts about swimming again but that's what he wanted to do. I guess he knows the area and wouldn't make me go in if it was still cold.

He left before I did and I drove there alone, the table was set and the food was awesome, two chairs candles, and a man almost in the nude sat at it. I dropped my shorts and tank top and joined him. There was no wine only juices, and there would be no swimming today. We didn't talk much just smiled at each other because we knew where this was leading. I ogled him he ogled me, he licked his lips I nervously moved around in my seat. He pushed me over the big rock and I almost screamed with want. We ate some more and then cleared the table. I helped him put the chairs back into the truck and he drove home. When inside I lost everything and enticed him onto the couch where he got a nice extra slow thank you body wash.

"That was nice Nicky, thank you."

"No thank you, March Stephenson, you have chased all my fears away today, and given me the best sex I have had in a long time." I gave him the answer he had wanted. I knew he was trying to chase my ghosts away and attempting to get us back on the same page. I didn't tell him I still felt cold and quite isolated still at the river.

"There's plenty more where that came from." He grinned.

"Well you rest, we still have tonight."

He moaned.

"But it's Chinese tonight at your folk's place."

"I canceled it." I grinned.

"They will get mad."

"They will cope, and tonight you are all mine."

"Are we still having Chinese?"

"Of course we are, plenty."

"Good."

It was a great night we took our meal out to the tub and ate there, it was warm and cozy as we sat next to other, he finished up all the food then we laid on the couch and made love again. Dad had his sour face showing the next day, and I told him to get over it, it won't happen again, but it did happen again. I think March has worked out he can eat more when dad isn't around.

The next week it was different, the sun was still out and the ground was drying up. My snowman had long gone, I had found his nose and threw it in the bin.

"Until next year my friend, and then maybe I will bring you back."

The gardens were cleaned up and we attempted to do some meditation, but you know who got the giggles and started annoying me for sex.

He still got letters from the lady he had helped to escape her abusive husband and he smiled when he read them, each time a fifty-dollar note was attached, he placed that in the emergency money tin. I didn't want to read them because I thought it would be disturbing his privacy but he would tell me about the kids. How they were doing at school, who is the most talented, and who got a new dress. Mum's life was so much better she even had scored a good job at the mines in Queensland, just driving trucks and she also told March when she is set up again she will pay her debt off. They hire the ladies to drive their million-dollar trucks in the mines because they are more cautious than the guys who seem to think they are sports cars. The money is awesome, but the living standards and rent is quite expensive.

"How old are the kids March?"

"One just turned sixteen the other two are twins they are five years old."

"Big gap."

"Well I don't think she was planning to have the younger ones, she's attempted to leave on several occasions but always went back."

"For the sake of the kids I bet."

"Yes Nicky, it was tough on her, so I offered to give her some cash so she could get set up in another state."

"What happened to the husband?"

"He hung around town for a while, and the last I heard he had moved to the city for work."

"Do you ever think of having kids March?"

"I used to Nicky, I always thought I would get married and have kids one day, but that all changed when I left school. It's not that I don't want them now. I just don't want to have to go through the process of creating one."

"So you want kids but you don't want to create one?"

"I can't explain it Nicky I have forgotten all those ideas, and you can't have any and I am very content to be with you."

"We can adopt nowadays March, or get a surrogate."

"I know baby, but then we have the dilemma of who is going to father it, I don't want either of us missing out."

"Then we will have two."

He smiled, it all sounded so hard in the end. Like most gay couples it's placed in the to hard basket. I agreed with March, I wanted kids but not the missus. I forgot all about it after we delved a little deeper, it was possible but very stressful for everyone, including the children.

We talked about May and Jason having one, he thought she may not, she hasn't shown much interest but we agreed she was single for some time and probably didn't expect to raise a family. I assumed that Jason wasn't interested because being straight that would probably have been top of his list.

The days went by and our happy existence in our town, and it was our town, was made up of some wonderful people we called friends. I was getting to know most of them by name and would still often wave as I ran around the circuit.

I started helping out again and would take off for an hour or two to help clean up someone's front yard or do the gutters, fallen trees were not my thing I left them to the guys with chainsaws to clean up. It was mainly the elderly that needed that extra help which I gladly did with the help of others. I was asked by a lot of them how I was coping and offers of help were never too far away. I rejected all of them because I didn't know whether they were offers for me or for March. He was coping with it all, maybe being a little overprotective but he managed to keep it all real. The picnic at the river was his attempt to give me back my old memories and to make new ones and it had worked. I was confident enough to do my own thing and my running helped because, like others, I did my deep thinking when I ran.

Faith and Ethan had called in one day and she wouldn't take no for an answer, so I relented and let her make us dinner the following night. She didn't want me to travel so she and he delivered it to the house. We sat and she fussed in the kitchen, mum, and dad had been invited and we all ate a wonderful roast leg of lamb with all the trimmings. Mum talked to her and March talked to Ethan. The boys wanted to come but they said it would be too much for me, I felt a little mean because although Jimmy and Hank had called in they weren't here that long, just to drop some flowers off and see how I was. I wasn't a very good friend to them, but to be fair they were always working and from what Ethan was saying to March it looks like we will be at the farm next week, he has some work for him to do.

Faith was a wonderful woman she knows her way around a farmhouse kitchen and the vegetable gardens, she was a typical country cook. The meal was awesome and there was plenty left over for March's breakfast and lunch tomorrow. I will eat some of the scones in the container she bought with her, I like them also. They talked about the boys and said they were keeping their eyes on them, they saw no trouble in their lives and yes Ethan will be doing the calendar again next year, and I told them we would be doing a father-son shoot, dad went very quiet so I nudged him and said.

"Aren't we dad?"

"Umm yes, son." I sprung that one on him and will mention it again a few times in passing because I want him to get used to the idea.

I think my dad will give Ethan a run for his money, but he did say that he might get Jimmy to come along with him.

"He pinched your idea son." Dad laughed.

"Nothing original Ethan, you should have all your sons in the shoot."

"That's a good idea Nicky, I will ask Brenda next time I see her." Ethan grinned, and I laughed.

We had a wonderful night and it was late when they left, mum and dad also departed and we sat and talked for a while.

"Nicky, do you think we are ignoring our friends like we have shut them out of our lives?"

"Some March, but we have had a good excuse. I would like to incorporate Jimmy and Hank some more but I don't know how. It's difficult for you to have the owners of your farm as close friends especially when they give you work."

"I know what you mean, I like Jimmy and Hank, but I don't want to share our lives with them. From what I see Hank has got it all worked out, and if I was honest they don't want us in their lives either."

"And you know this how?"

"Well they have only called twice, once at the river and once here, and all Hank wants to talk about is the farm machinery, and Jimmy doesn't say much at all like he doesn't want to be around us. Faith and Ethan are different they are wonderful people and they always have been good to me. That's work though Nicky, but they do like you a lot."

"You reckon?" I was being a tad sarcastic.

"I reckon, now can we go to bed? I have a big day tomorrow."

"How many cars?"

"One." He giggled.

His business is picking up now the big thaw is here, and my gym is a lot busier on the nice days. I locked up and we went to bed, he complained to me we had missed out on our hot tub and I turned into him kissed his sweet lips then went to sleep.

The winter was an awesome experience, warm nights by the fire, long hot showers, and the hot tub was used most every day, apart from me nearly dying, I enjoyed these things. Spring will bring back our river and the trees will look less bare, native flowers will bloom again and the birds will sing, it will also bring on the summer and threats of bushfires. There's never a dull moment up in these hills, there's always something going on whether it's nature or attempted murder.

He dragged his feet this morning he had his roast for breakfast and the other one was tucked away in his truck. I don't mind if he has them I like mum's soup, and sometimes a pie from May is just the thing. He did his weights this morning and I sat and stared at him, now and then he would smile at me, he knows I love his body and he does look after himself. I heard a horn blasting and he put the barbells down and came over and said.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

"Immensely thank you March." I kissed him and he went to meet his first client. I looked around and saw Kevin and asked him to watch the gym. I then went for a coffee. Mum was surprisingly sprightly today, last night's lateness hadn't affected her, I made coffee and May was late again.

"Has she rung?"

"No Nicky, she will arrive when she's ready."

"Did you enjoy last night?" I asked her.

"They are a lovely couple Nicky, Faith was telling me that the whole family loves it here."

"I know they were from New South Wales, but I didn't hear why they all moved down to Victoria, March said they paid almost full price for the farm."

"Jimmy darling, it was Jimmy that urged them to move."

"Jimmy, do tell mum?"

"He had a boyfriend at school, the boyfriend's father found out about it and beat the living daylights out of Jimmy one day in the street. Faith and Ethan had him charged and Jimmy was a mess for months after. The sons had their farms and they all decided to move too, they did it for Jimmy, son. They are wonderful people and didn't want to deal with any repercussions."

"But isn't that running away from the problem."

"The father was a member of the police force, his career was over the second he touched Jim. The whole court case unfolded the corruption of the local police, and more people came forward to make complaints, so they thought they had better leave for all their sakes. Faith has loads of family in this district so it was decided they start a new life here."

"That's just bloody awful mum."

"Well not so awful son, Hank teamed up with Jimmy almost straight away, he walked onto the property looking for work and Ethan saw them both staring at each other, so he hired him. He's a very perceptive man that Ethan."

I felt a little sad they had to move miles away to protect their son.

"They had already seen the Stephenson place was up for sale and bought it sight unseen, it was big enough for them to divvy up into three separate areas, each one growing or breeding something different."

"And you got all that out of Faith last night?"

"Yes son, see you don't ask the right questions when you see them, that was the first one I asked last night, but you were watching March talking to Ethan. You should be listening to my conversations."

I giggled because she was right.

"Well, hopefully, everything is okay with the family now."

"Yes Nicky, the police that were involved have all been jailed or sacked, and the move was all about Jim not being ostracised in the small town they had lived in."

"He is happy now, I think Hank loves him a lot." I said.

"He does, Faith said he protects her son, and that's all she can wish for. She also said Jimmy is very wary of other gays, because his trouble started over a boy he once loved. He sees Hank as his protector and is a little clingy, but Hank is trying to get him to trust people again." I think she just solved the problem of Jimmys aloofness, which I felt saddened about.

May drove into the driveway and as soon as she arrived she was all smiles.

"How did last night go?"

"Good May, they are wonderful people."

"It's all over the page Nicky, Faith gave it a ten and talked the night up. Did she bring the food?" She giggled.

"Yes, they sort of invited themselves over and bought dinner with them."

"Well, she talked the night up beautifully, why don't I see what a great host you are?'

"Because you are looking at Jason, and not listening to me." I looked at mum and screamed laughing.

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