March Stephenson

Chapter 22

March Stephenson

Maxieplus

I changed bubs and tried to get him to say dada again but he wasn't in the mood he was a bit unsettled, so I got him a milk just as March woke up.

"Is he okay?"

"I don't think so March, maybe he did catch a chill."

"I'll ring mum." He felt his forehead and it was fine according to him, maybe that's just the way Mason felt, a little out of sorts.

"He said dada,"

"Did he?"

"Yep, when he woke up he said it, but only once so far."

I watched our boy and my observations were correct, he had been feeling not quite right because his face squished up and he went red, we heard him emptying himself. After that happened and we wiped and changed him again, he started smiling.

"A blockage I think March, we can ask mum about it later."

"Hot tub?"

"Not now I want to watch him. And I think he has done all the swimming he can cope with today." I turned the tv on and March sat him up on the sofa, we had cushions and pillows galore so he won't hit any hard bits if he fell. I was looking through the laptop at my members list when I heard him again.

"Dada dada dada. He couldn't stop saying it as March encouraged him I took a small movie, I will put it on the local page later on. I showered and changed then threw his washing into the machine, less work for Rose to do on Tuesday.

Mum and dad arrived and they both headed for Mason, March headed for the food containers. I showed them the movie and he got heaps of cuddles and kisses, March got heaps of food. I laughed at dads face he's usually up there alongside him digging in, but he slipped up tonight. He was next to get his food and then I asked mum what she wanted.

"Just some rice and that chicken dish, is bubs feeling a little better now?"

"Just a blockage he ousted that in one nappy fill." I laughed then added.

"He hasn't stopped saying dada, I think he likes that word."

"We have been saying it to him for ages at the cafe, and I know May does all the time. Good on him, clever bubs you are." She kissed his nose. After placing him on Rose's clean floor she sat and ate with us, March was shoveling it into his mouth I told him to slow down but he kept looking at dad.

I will have to have a word with him about his eating habits, I think they are getting out of hand.

"I have some news, Nicky." I slumped.

"What is it?"

"She's on the warpath again, the money should have gone to her account so she is trying to get to it."

"It was his, not hers. But I understand why she wants it, to pay back the bail money she borrowed, she would have forfeited that."

"Yes, he is not even talking to her and the money went into his Canadian bank account, poor Annie." Mum laughed.

"Well, hopefully, your news will become less and less over time."

I uploaded the small movie and got a lot of hearts and likes, and the small one of him swimming at the river got the same. March sent May a photo of his dinner, I could almost hear the screaming from here.

"When are you going to talk to Jason March?"

"When I see him next. Hopefully May will go along with it but she could do anything."

Mum stared at him, then at me.

"We are thinking of extending the gym and renting it to Jason, May can run his business from there and you maybe will talk to her about leasing her shop."

"Will she go for it?"

"I hope so, if not she can pay you to run it." I smiled.

"I don't know if I want to Nicky, I am quite happy with the sandwich bar."

"Well it's a long way off mum, maybe we will think about it some more."

"So she's adamant she will do the wellness thing then?"

"Yes, we can't change my sister's mind once it's made up, and it's sort of in her blood. She has always been interested in that sort of stuff." March smiled.

"Good how many cars tomorrow March?"

"Five dad, business is picking up again. I have a farm to go to on Thursday but will try and get back early."

"Leave it to me, if I get into any trouble I will ring you."

"Thank you dad, is there any more food?"

"In the oven March," Mum said.

Both March and dad got up to look. In the meantime I was being entertained by a small one slapping my leg, he had pulled himself up and wanted my attention.

"Dada."

"Dada dada." He squealed at us both as we changed him for bed, then we got another serving before he went to sleep.

"He is going to be a talker Nicky."

"I can hear that, he won't shut up."

He snuggled in and said he loved me I grunted because he already knows I love him.

"Nicky?"

"I love you also March, goodnight." I threw the goodnight in for good measure.

"Dada dada dada." At five-thirty, these are not the sounds I want to hear. March was the first to jump to his aid. He bundled him up and took him to the family room. I could hear laughing and my man talking to his son while he warmed up some milk. I lay there for twenty minutes and decided that sleep will not visit me again, so I got up. Of course, bubs was now sucking on his nourishing milk, and March was resting his eyes. I kissed his forehead and went to put more coffee on.

I sat at the table and looked through the local page, I hadn't noticed it before but some posts were quite ambiguous, like.

'She was laughing today, it is good to see.'

'I think the storm is almost over'

'My heart breaks, but a smile is a smile.'

I only realised who they were talking about when I found some more, and I think they were talking about Rose.

I wanted to add something but held off, I don't want her to think I was talking about her.

March stood up and checked bubby out then he came over and kissed me good morning properly.

"You don't have to jump at his every sound March, I could have got up and fixed him."

"I like doing that Nicky, we have a standing date early in the morning, he likes to chat with me the most then." I laughed, but maybe he is serious.

Breakfast was a mammoth task and he had squished up some egg and was feeding bubs, he had also put a small amount of tomato sauce on it. I will have to watch him, no bacon allowed.

I tidied up a bit then I readied the stroller after March had checked out which shorts I was to wear today. I started running the long way and bubs was cheering me on, his little hand slapped the safety bar and car horns were heard in the distance. March had stopped following me but he does do a few circles of the track just to make sure I haven't run off the road into a ditch. The garage was open when I got there and bubs was taken across the road. I followed after I checked everything out in the gym. The shower was a little grubby today so I set about cleaning up the towels and the soap that had mysteriously dropped on the floor. They are used by the ladies and guys that are heading to work after their workouts, I did consider cameras at one stage but decided to forgo that idea when I ran it past March. I certainly got a madman's stare that day.

I finished up and threw towels into the new washer then I walked across the road. March had an egg and bacon roll in hand and bubs was with May, they were talking about Jason's new business.

"I could go you halves March, it won't cost that much." May was kissing bubs who was wanting to talk to her.

"I think Nicky is going to put in, after all, it will benefit his gym." That's the first I have heard of it.

"I was talking to Jason last night about it, he doesn't need a lot of room just enough for eight, maybe twelve people max, he will need toilets and showers maybe a tea room, but an island bench with a sink will do. I will need shelving for my herbal cures and maybe extra for his shampoos and body rub stuff. I am thinking that a transportable less than half the size of the gym and Jase can do a contemplation garden behind it. You will have to talk to him March, he knows the business more than me."

"And what will you do about the cafe?"

"I think mum has got enough to do, I will hire Rose to run it."

"But she does my cleaning." I protested.

She rolled her eyes and stared at me.

"Being a little precious dear brother-in-law."

"No, it's just that she does such a good job and she does mums too, god knows how many other homes she does."

March sat up straight and took bubs.

"She does yours too dear sister." May blushed I laughed.

"Leave it all to Jase and me, Rose can do the shop in the morning I will do it in the afternoon. I can have a few hours to nap or do my thing then open the center around four or five."

"As long as you do not make yourself sick May, then I will agree that you can do it." She is now staring at March he sat there with a satisfied grin on his face, I took bubs because he was now being ignored. Mum came out and sat, she held her arms out and bubs fell into them. She picked up some baby food and started feeding him.

"I will rent your shop if you feel you can't manage May."

"No mum I will hire Rose to run it, and I can fill in if she is not available. I know you like your little take away and I can't ask you to take on any more work."

"Well, I'm offering May, if you need me I will be here. You should talk to Jason about franchising his business out to you."

"Do you think he will go for that?" May was a bit wary.

"Of course he will, he should be franchising his business out anyway."

"I suppose that will work, I will miss my shop though."

"Then that's your problem May, you either want to grow, or stay where you are. I think you have been pretty comfortable in what you have been doing so far, and it's time to let loose and grow a little more. If it doesn't suit you then sublease the center and come back full-time."

May had a lot to think about and mum had a slight smile on her face because she and I both know May is very excited to be doing something she loves.

She sat back and fed bubs some more, and she's given May a lot to think about. Dad arrived and ordered some soup and rolls, March decided he would like that also. May went to get that for them and he said to March.

"I have been looking at your back yard son, just buy a transportable they have everything you need in them hook it up to the gym and they don't cost that much." March nodded then said.

"I will get Jason onto it." He smiled at me.

Bubs was tired and the last thing he needed was more food. I made his warm milk up and took him back to the gym when he had started to grizzle. He napped for an hour then he wanted to play with his colored balls. March followed a few minutes later, he had the devil in him now, so we walked out the back to have another look and ended up in the big shed. I hung the towels out and went back to my desk, no baby. I looked into the workshop and there he was in his high chair watching his dad work on a car. March was explaining everything to him and I accepted that the smells were not all that bad for him. I played a game or two while some guys attempted to outlift each other with the barbells, they kept adding weights to the machine.

"Don't overdo it boys, accidents happen out of the blue and can be quite nasty," I yelled.

"Thank you boss, guys we had better not add anymore today." One of the sensible ones said. My phone rang it was Jason wanting to talk.

"What's up Jase?"

"Nicky, I need your advice."

"Go with Ron and March to look at some transportable's, have it installed behind my gym. March will buy the room and will lease it to you. If you want you can place a contemplation garden behind that. Your biggest problem is May, how you handle that will confirm you have her best interests at heart."

"I will talk to March about the other, but it is May I need to talk to you about."

"Shoot."

"I don't want her to give up the shop, she has worked very hard to get it where it is. I know she will miss it terribly because she told me so. She does know my side of the business, sometimes I think she knows more than me. If I open the center she will insist on running it. What the hell do I do, she will burn herself out."

"Don't open it then, tell her you have had second thoughts because you want to start a family." I chuckled.

"Then there's that." He was worried which is a good thing, he also ignored me.

"What do I do Nicky please I am drowning here."

"Open it up, let May run it or franchise it out to her, mum will run the shop with Rose. May is really into this wellness thing it goes with her herbal cures. We will make sure she doesn't interfere with the cafe's everyday running, and in the end Jase, she will be working less hours."

"Okay I will go with that then, but I still worry."

"You will always worry about her Jason it comes with being in love, the hardest part is letting her do her own thing. I think she needs to do this. We will keep an eye on it and if it gets out of hand then I will get March to pull the plug."

"Okay so long as she has back up I won't worry, is March available to talk?"

"Not at the moment he is teaching his son to be a mechanic, give him ten minutes."

"Thank you Nicky, I didn't know what to do."

"You do now, talk to you later." I hung up feeling very proud of myself.

I walked back into the garage and grabbed bubs while telling March to have a break and meet me across the road for coffee. When we settled at a table I told him what I said to Jason and he is to expect a call soon. Mum once again was busy, it was almost lunchtime and I was peckish. I went to make coffee and get a pie for us both. March was now on the phone, I assumed it was with Jason, and bubs was hitting his face laughing. When he hung up I asked him what he had decided.

"Easy peasy Nicky, we buy the extra room and I get Ron to hook it up. Jason will put in a garden, and May runs the whole thing over there. She hires Rose or another lady of her choice and pays them to run her business as is, no leasing the cafe out to mum who is quite happy to do her sandwich thing."

"That sounds better it was getting a little complicated."

"There is a problem Nicky, and I don't know if I should tell you."

"Tell me." I slumped once again.

"She will be able to see the shed doors and there will be more people coming and going because they will use the land out the back for a car park."

"We cancel the idea then."

"We will always have the river, but there is something else."

"What?"

"She will insist on having Mason in there with her." He's worried.

"She won't start until four or five, he won't be here." I smiled because I won.

"Jason was talking two until seven, that will put him right in front of her for a couple of hours."

"That's not so bad March, after all, she is his aunt." I laughed.

"Then we are good?" He smiled.

"Very good, but the shed won't be used anymore."

"Leave it to me." He stared at me.

"She should lease out her home too, more cash for her." I offered.

"I will lease it."

"Why?"

"Daily meetings Nicky. It has a back entrance."

"So do I beautiful man."

He wiggled around in his seat and I knew he had trouble on his mind. May arrived, she had been to her suppliers and once again she needed to make up more of her tea. She took bubs because he wanted to talk to her, I made her a coffee.

"What have you decided big brother?"

"You have to promise me you will stick to the plan, no deviations May. I warn you." She giggled and looked at me and said.

"Are there many rules Nicky?"

"A few." I laughed.

"May, this is for your good, no working in the cafe at all you hear me, use casuals?"

"Yes."

"Now, Jason Ron and I will look at the transportable that are big enough for the business, we will pay for that and lease it to him. You keep the cafe going and let mum do her own thing. You hire Rose and Wendy or another lady to run your part of the shop. They can job share because Nicky needs a cleaner. You don't spend your whole day hanging around here and you only work five or six hours in the wellness center. You can have Mason in there between three and five only, but I get priority."

"Okay, sounds good to me." She smiled.

"No argument?" March squinted.

"No argument brother, I will do it then. Can I have Mason in the mornings?"

"You won't be here, you will be resting or learning more about well things."

He looked satisfied.

"Another pie baby?" I offered.

"That would be very nice thank you, Nicholas Stephenson."

"Coming up." I think I'm the designated waiter today.

Dad arrived and mum bought out some rolls for him, March looked at them but decided he had enough to eat.

"How are the cars coming along dad?"

"Three to go son, one will need a new radiator for sure and the engine on the Simca needs a complete rebuild, the seals and head gasket are gone."

"I will ring him and let him know it will be a big job."

"We can start on it tomorrow son, are we busy?"

"Yes, two Ford Capri's coming in they will need their old engines looked at."

"Love those cars." Dad sighed.

"They have been restored beautifully and now they need some speed, Mark two's." He smiled and Dad nearly jumped with joy.

"Is he selling them when they are finished?"

"I think so dad, Joel does them up and puts them in Shannon's auctions, he does very well with his cars."

"I might make him an offer." March smiled he knew dad could afford one.

"Leave it to me dad, red or blue?"

"Blue son."

"While you are at it I need a Cooper S." I thought I might throw my hand in the ring, you never know. March started laughing and took Mason off mum then he walked across the road.

"I think he's ignoring me," I said.

No one answered they just laughed.

"Do you want to come for a run out to the veggie barn with me?" Mum asked.

"Yeah, that would be nice." I smiled. I went to grab bub and tell March where we will be. He moaned but I reminded him Faith won't be happy if bub was left back at home.

"But he should be here with me."

"Mum's cooking corned beef tonight."

"Don't be long Nicky." he grinned.

Bubs talked to himself out to the barn. I have no idea what he was saying but I did answer him like everyone around him does.

The ladies were happy to see us, then he was passed around a bit but I knew by the look on his face he wanted me. Faith turned up in a lovely floral day dress and she took him, he calmed down then because he knows her well. Mum grabbed a shopping basket and started picking out the veggies she wanted.

"How did the boys go in town?"

"They didn't go Nicky. Hank said Jimmy was too nervous so they watched a movie instead." She giggled.

"No big deal, they don't have to go into the city to realize they live in the best part of the country already."

"That's what I was thinking Nick, but I didn't want to stifle them by telling them to chill at home."

"Well, they will be better off not involving themselves in the highs and lows of a gay club. If they want to dance a bit you should organise a barn dance. People around here are more accepting of us locally."

"That's a good idea Nicky, I used to go to a lot of barn dances years ago. Maybe I will talk to Ethan, he's a good dancer."

"I am not surprised Faith, I might even give him a twirl around the dance floor myself." I grinned.

"He would love that Nicky. You do know he dabbled years ago,"

"He mentioned it at the river the first time I met him, it doesn't upset you?"

"Long time ago Nicky, he chose me, and that's the most important thing, he gave me daughters and sons to love, he just dabbled nothing too serious." She giggled.

"Now what have you done to our Rose?"

"I haven't done anything my lovely. I think she has just decided to drop her barriers a little.'

"That's not what I heard, she has taken a leaf out of your book and has decided she's going to be less miserable and laugh occasionally."

"Well, I doubt whether I had anything to do with that."

"You did, and still do, keep laughing Nicholas Stephenson, you placed a lot of smiles on our little town when you arrived, your kidnapping threw everyone including Rose, if you think March was worried you should have seen her."

"How do you know all this?"

"She helps me and the girls clean once a month and we talk."

"I see, so you talk to her, mum talks to her but she doesn't talk to me. March warned me not to say anything."

"He is quite correct Nicky, leave it to Rose. She told me talking to you is like talking to her son, he had the same personality as you. She will eventually get herself to a place where she will want to have a conversation about it with you but the time is not now." She touched my arm and my heart, this woman is wonderful, no wonder Ethan chose her.

It was time to go I hugged Faith for ages and thanked her.

She asked me to help her organize the barn dance and I laughed out to mums car. She was quite chatty on the way back and we stopped at the butcher's to get some meat, the guys in there had to say hello to Mason who had gone to sleep and I was made to promise I would call in when he is awake. Why would anyone give all this up for a drunken night on the town?

Back at the cafe, March was waiting impatiently,

"Sorry, Faith arrived and wanted to talk to him."

"I see, and now he's asleep." He pouted.

"You can miss out just this once March, stop being a baby."

"If you say so." He burst out laughing.

Mum was using Mays stove to cook the corned beef, it's easier than leaving early to do it at home. She had a coffee with us and then went to attend to some customers, I had no idea where May was.

"How are the cars coming along?"

"Good Nicky, all finished."

"God it's hot today."

"Let's go."

We left bubs with mum and he drove us to the river where he immediately dropped his overalls so I could dine on him, then we swam and cuddled up for an hour or so. It was good to be back here and I didn't give one thought to my kidnapping anymore, it's in the past. My phone rang before we left and mum was taking Mason home with her, she was leaving work and dad had closed the workshop up. We had got lost in each other's eyes for some time and of course, it got away from us, so we drove home and got into the hot tub.

The food was awesome, March was all smiles as he chewed everything on his plate. He didn't go looking for more he was fully sated. Mum made up some plates for him and we sat and had our usual coffee on her verandah.

"Where was May this afternoon?"

"She went home to talk to Jason, I think about the new business."

"It's going to be good for her I think," I replied.

"It will be, I can see it being a success its the cafe that will hold her up," March commented.

"The cafe needs a good clean out, a lot of the canned goods she keeps are not necessary, they are cheaper at the supermarket anyway. The tea, drinks, and ice creams are her biggest sellers and the snack stuff but she doesn't need the grocery side of it." Mum has been busy.

"You might suggest a few changes then mum." March is on to it.

"I want to expand and all those shelves are getting in my way, who keeps two dozen jars of peanut butter anyway?" She smirked March adjusted his seat.

"Do we need anymore at home Nicky?"

"No March we haven't even started using the ones we have." I giggled.

"Oh."

"Better talk to May about it mum, she might not want to change it."

"She will." Mum smiled, she is up to something I'm sure of it.

I was bouncing bubs on my knees before I got him ready for bed and he was giggling, he wanted more but I unfortunately had to calm him down, otherwise, it will take him ages to drop off. March leaned in and took him, then he did the same.

"What do you think mums up to?"

"Maybe she's going to buy the business, I know May won't sell the freehold she loves her shop but maybe the business would be better off in mum's hands."

"Don't you think it would be better if she sees how the wellness center is going first?"

"Maybe," He got up and started changing Mase into his night clothes.

Six am this morning and I have one man still sleeping, and one baby talking to himself. One of those rare mornings I get an extra hour sleep. I kissed my man and then vacated the bed to attend to our son, he grinned when he saw me then I picked him up kissed him then took him out the back. I turned the coffee on then I proceeded to change him. He was a little smelly this morning

so I had to do the whole routine, wipe down bath powder new nappy, and jumpsuit. March kissed the back of my neck then bubs, he went to make coffee and warm up his milk. They were on the couch talking about what work they had to do today, two cars that need their engines rewired and oiled up.

"Is it a big job March?"

"Yes Nicky, we will be working on the motors for quite a few days they have to be removed completely. New seals, gaskets all sorts of gizmos a complete rebuild."

"Sounds like hard work to me."

"Hard expensive work Nicky, just the two cars will bring in quite a few thousand dollars."

"That much?"

"If you want a good thorough job Nick, yes that much."

He's the specialist, what would I know?

It was a nice sunny day today and I will be trying to entice March to go swimming. At the moment he is having a father-son talk with Mase in the workshop. I sat and played my games and now and then I would look up and make sure everyone was doing the right thing. I heard the door and mum walked in, I knew instantly something was wrong.

"He is in with his daddy."

"It's not him I'm here to see Nicky I have news, and it's all bad." She sat with me and I immediately started shaking.

"What now?"

"She told my friend she's found Mason's father and he's flying over to claim him."

"He can't he is ours, the law is on our side."

"I have to talk to your father and get him to ring the lawyers, but she is adamant he's the father and she went as far as buying him the airline ticket."

"Where would she get that sort of money from?"

"Matt, he agrees with her that this guy was involved in Mason's creation."

"Well any man can create a baby, but that doesn't necessarily mean he would be a good father."

"I agree son, leave it to the lawyers Nicky this is just a heads up in case he turns up here."

"I think it's a load of bull mum, I also think it's Annie's way to get money out of me."

"Well we don't know the circumstances baby, let's just wait and see."

"Now, how the hell do I tell March about this?"

"Gently son, but he has to be told."

"He will go ballistic."

"Maybe tell him with some family around you both."

"Good idea, maybe when we are at the cafe.

"I got to go and talk to dad now, don't stress Nicky all will be well."

She kissed my cheek and left to go and see dad. I watched them both go across the road. Mum went into the cafe and brought out coffee then she sat. After a few minutes, dad was on the phone, I put my iPad down and went across I wanted to know what the lawyer said.

I made coffee and sat with them, Rose came out and she also had coffee in hand, I can trust her so I didn't think twice about telling her.

"That's terrible Nicky, what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing Rose, except please keep this to yourself, no telling May until we have the chance to."

"You got it, but in reality Nicky he won't get Mason, and I am inclined to agree it is all about the money, things like this usually are."

"I agree my friend, it's March I am worried about. If it is money then we can handle it, if he wants to take him then he has a very expensive battle on his hands."

"He will have to do a DNA test first, that's before he even sees the boy."

Dad said.

"What did Martin say?"

"The same, he has to prove one hundred percent he is the father."

I groaned, and once again I silently apologized to March for bringing crap back into his life. We talked about it for some time then he kissed me on the head.

"You didn't wait for me." He placed Mason into Rose's arms.

"You know me March, places to go people to see. My life is full of meetings and appointments." I smiled.

Mason was being cuddled and kissed by Rose, he had the biggest grin on his face and was waiting impatiently for her to tickle him, when she did he let out a deep guttural laugh.

May arrived and she sat with a cream cake in hand, she was trying to decide what her priorities were, cake or her nephew. Rose moved over one seat, she knew May would grab for him very soon, she was making May's lunge very difficult.

He will know something is up because mum and dad were being very quiet and if I was to be honest, so was I.

"Dad is there much to do this afternoon?" I asked.

"No son, nearly finished replacing the seals why?"

"I want to go swimming, it's quite hot today."

March almost shoved the rest of his pie in his mouth, I think I just gave him an excuse to talk to me.

We packed Mason into his carry capsule, this is his second one, he has outgrown his first one. His arms were everywhere because he also knows the signs and he loves swimming. The water was cool but not freezing, March didn't drop his overalls he wanted to sit on the big flat rock. He held his son who was pointing to the river.

"Dah dah."

"Soon my little one, dah wants to talk to your other dah for a minute."

I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said.

"She has flown a man over from Canada, he says he is Mason's father. Now before you go off on a rant it's not confirmed, and I don't believe he is."

"I see," He went quiet and stood up, no wet suit today for his son, he passed him to me and stripped off. I felt so guilty and was having some evil thoughts about Annie, I wanted to kill her for making March sad.

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