Chapter 45
March Stephenson
Maxieplus
The urns were what I thought. Brightly colored ginger jars, all Asian looking and I must say beautiful. May had reluctantly chosen for both of them, because neither of them wanted to do it in the end, I was chosen to separate the ashes from the broken jars into the new ones. I didn't know their parents so if I didn't think too deeply about it , it won't effect me as much as them. I found a big serving spoon and dealt the ashes out evenly picking out some broken chips on the way.
I did this when March went to service some farm implements. The extra plaque was ordered and Jason started making a small contemplation garden behind the cafe. March and I found a great space to sit it in ours, and we had a small ceremony to seal the deal, of course, we had to be naked to do that.
Mason is growing bigger every day, I am always buying new clothes for him and now some sturdy shoes for his feet were recommended by mum. I was advised to get the pull-on ones, they were like thick socks with rubber soles on them and he did love them, and so did Sunny. He destroyed one shoe in his first sitting, the second new pair was watched closely, that was after he got a stern "NO!" and a pat on the bum from me. He is walking okay and he does more of that than crawling, although he is a bit adventuresome and running mostly, but we have to watch him closely, some walls have been in his way and he doesn't like it when he bumps his head on them.
Dad and March did chase him in the workshop they said it would help him with his balance and strengthen his legs, there was plenty of room for him to run around.
After the second week March stopped going to check the gully and surrounds, and our town was once more vigilant and quiet. We didn't have a visit from the cops. They had told him that the coroner's first assessment was agreed to be fact, she had lit the fire and then fell and bumped her head on a rock, the coroner had also said she was drunk.
I filled in my days by doing some clearing for people, there was a list of things to do on the local page so I put aside a couple of hours a day to help, mainly keeping the dry grass at bay and filling water tanks that had been depleted because of the fire. As I said before, I couldn't use the chainsaw so the fallen trees were done by the emergency services. We visited Ken at home, he was in good spirits but he had lost his plane in the fire. Because he was an instructor, thankfully he had to have insurance, and Mason helped him pick out his new red plane, but he will be off work for a few months. We made sure he was okay money-wise and his cupboards were stocked, he said Rose was looking after his washing and cleaning and he let it slip she does visit to play Monopoly or cards some nights. He lost his Chinese students but was assured they would be back when he was mobile again.
The first time we visited him was the day we both went to the clearing. It was blackened but I could still see the beauty and I knew it would all recover. The water still flowed and it was too good an opportunity to take a swim, well Mase insisted. We leaned up against the bank and March held bubs and my hand.
"You okay Nicky?"
"Yes March, it's not pretty but there are plenty of things to admire about nature. If you look to the right of that rock you can see greenery poking through the ground. And over there by the tree, there is more, it's not going to take long."
"It will all be back around spring time Nicky."
The good thing is he wasn't down or flat, he was confident and after the swishing and dunking with his son, we dressed and went home to our tub where the real party would start.
I overheard some shouting in the garage the next day, Brock had turned up to talk to March. He was the kind of man that shouted at people so it wasn't hard to hear what he was saying. I moved over to the doorway, and Keith and Nudge followed me.
"We insist you help carry the coffin March, you are family."
"I won't be doing that Brock, you are on your own with this one."
"Are you even going to turn up, she's your cousin for God's sake."
"I won't be there, have a nice funeral. In fact, why don't you have her cremated then there won't be any need for pallbearers."
"I think you are taking things a bit too far March, Aunty Betty will be there and she said she needs to talk to you and May."
"I won't be talking to her either, where is she staying?"
"In at Jaynes place, we don't have the room."
"Good, rent it out to her, she has plenty of money, old family money."
I got the double meaning and I was proud of March for standing his ground with them.
"Nick, do you want us to intervene?" Nudge whispered.
"Not yet Nudge, March has to do this on his own, when he starts looking for me then we go in, that will mean he's reached his limit."
"Okay." He went back to listening and watching, I could see dad was leaning over an engine bay and I knew one eye was on March.
"March please, we know what Jayne was like, and we know about her bullying you, and believe me you weren't the only one that had to put up with it, we suffered too. Please for my and Ben's sake please at least come to her funeral, let's put all that behind us, it's history."
I watched March, he didn't lose but he didn't win either.
"For you and Ben's sake, I will be there, but I won't be a pallbearer and I won't be talking to Aunty Betty, I have my reasons not to. And certainly no talk of money that is owed. I will send you copies of the grandfather's agreement and sale contract, if there is money missing it certainly wasn't from our side cousin."
"Okay I believe you, send it to me at the restaurant and I will look at it anyway, why Jayne thought there may have been more I have no idea, maybe Betty will know, those two were as thick as thieves. And just to clear up something else that happened. She told me that you came in just about every week for a free feed. I'm always out the back so I believed her. Please don't think Ben and I have it in for you, we know what you are like and we also know what Jayne was like, but she is our sister."
"She sure had the habit of interfering in people's lives." March's head dropped.
"What did she do to you March, tell me?"
"I can't, but one day I will, because I want to be fully open to you both."
"Thank you, we will save a seat in the family pew. I was going to ask you to say something but I think I will drop that idea, friends, March?" He held his hand out and March gave him a man hug and a handshake.
Brock left and March stood watching him drive away.
"All sorted now?" I asked him.
"Nearly Nicky I will find those papers and shoot some copies off to him."
"I thought you might have had some trouble with him."
"So did I, but he's dealing with his sister's death, and he is upset. Nicky, I never had a problem with them, only Jayne and by the sounds of it they had problems with her too." He took me into his office then he held me.
"You think I am weak don't you?" My jaw dropped as I looked him in the eye.
"Weakness is sometimes seen as strength March and I see a very strong man in front of me, one that will not compromise himself or bend to others' will for the sake of their feelings. One that had parents who taught him right from wrong, to work hard, and to respect everyone. Ask anyone around this area and they will tell you that you are the most trusted wisest person in town."
"Oh well, I thought you might have thought I was weak." He blushed.
"You're not March Stephenson, far from it."
"Sometimes I think I am doing the wrong thing, I should say piss off more often, but I can't say that to anyone it sounds awful to me Nicky."
"You don't have to March, people understand your nature and they treat you appropriately, with respect."
"Maybe I had better go to the funeral then, maybe a show of strength."
"I think you should, they have to change their perception of you not what their sister said you were."
"I don't want to run into Betty, I know I will cave in."
"Leave that one to me March."
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing, I want to talk to May a bit. Nothing I can put my hand on but somethings itching at the back of my neck."
He kissed me deeply, I heard some groans and looked over his shoulder and said.
"See Nudge, that is how it's done."
"Sorry March, Nicky is everything all right now?"
"Yes Nudge, I was just telling March how handsome he was."
"Are you ready for a coffee?" He smiled.
"Of course our friend, lead the way."
I picked the 'kids' up on the way and Nudge with Keith walked us over to May's.
March was in good spirits, how much of what I said to him he understood I don't know, but he was smiling when we went for coffee and today he wanted cake. Mason wanted some also and I wanted to talk with May for a minute so I sent March in with our orders.
"May how far back does your family tree go in this area?"
"What do you mean?"
"How many years have they owned the farm, were they settlers or convicts?"
She started laughing and said.
"Settlers Nicky, around a hundred years they have owned that farm, they were immigrants from Ireland and the UK."
"Do you have a family tree?"
"Somewhere, I think March has a copy stashed in his treasure chest."
"I will look later on."
"What are you up to?"
"Killing two birds with one stone at the moment, but that could change at any stage." My ability to confuse the local population, and my family, has come into play. Unbeknown to them I have a more interesting idea running around in my brain.
May smiled at me but she still had no idea what was going on.
Mason was over playing when his small cake arrived, he sat in his high chair and shared it with Sunny by dropping bits down to him, he's learning that from his dad. He will learn a lot from him, kindness and gentleness will be his life, and I will make sure if there is any bullying done at his school he will have some brave mates to stand up for him.
My next step is to look through all of March's paperwork and get the ball rolling, I also need to talk to Brenda.
I had a sort of plan and the first problem was how to get rid of aunty Betty for good. By home time I was excited because all this detective stuff makes me randy, and that hot tub is beckoning me to fuck March Stephensons brains out.
We headed home and I will order the Chinese for pickup at six. Mason wanted to play in his cubby and I went to check it out for any nasties, it was clear, so he started making a cup of milk for him and Sunny.
"Sunny will see it first Nicky, he will alert us with his barking."
"See what?"
"Your imagined snake."
"Really?"
"Dogs are the best snake catchers, if he's barking abnormally then he is alerting us."
"I see, so I don't have to check first?"
"Yes, but have confidence that Sunny sees more than you do."
"I have a snake for you to check out, March."
"So have I, strip." I did what I was told and our clothes dropped to the floor.
The tub was wonderful and I could do with a massage tonight I was a bit achey.
I watched the cubby and now Mason was watering his garden again, I must buy him some potted flowers. March slipped into me and the party started, my orgasm was urgent and strong as I kissed his sweet lips. After we finished the two 'kids' were seen moving towards the tub, one can get in the other can only sit and watch.
March, who was exhausted, lifted bubs into the water and then swished him around a bit, then they relaxed while I did some after-sex stuff like sucking on his nipple and neck.
"For your information Nicky, I won't be going again."
"I know, but I like doing this stuff to you."
"Okay then nibble away."
"March where are your papers, the ones from the farm?"
"In the blue plastic storage box."
"Can I look through it?"
"Of course you can."
"Is your family tree in it?"
"Yes everything, why do you want to see that?"
"Just interested, that's all."
"It's all in order Nicky, don't go messing my filing system up."
"I won't. Come on let's go and eat."
He was out of the tub and in the shower within minutes, Mason was in with him and I watched Sunny. I found the blue container and put it on the kitchen table. He was right it seemed to be in order and I had better make sure our scanner was working properly because I had a lot of work to do.
We picked the food up and went to mum's place, she had all the extras ready and took Mason to feed him first. Dad and March had another race but I have noticed lately that it isn't as fast as it used to be.
Mason got his small dinner and once again father and son dropped treats for Sunny.
"I was ready to step in son, but he surprised me."
"Yes, I never had any trouble with them and Jayne did tell them a lot of lies. She was a rare girl and I often thought there was something wrong with her mentally."
"Maybe she was a little bit unhinged March, it happens," Mum said.
"Yes I thought that ages ago."
"So we are all going to the funeral then?" Dad said.
"Yes, I suppose I had better go for their sake."
"Good, we will be there with you, and will be watching your back." Dad took March's hand and squeezed it.
I had no idea what I was going to do about Betty, all my plans to get revenge on her went out the window when Brock and March made their peace, maybe she would move into Jayne's place and stay there for good.
Something Brock had said got my attention, he said that Betty and Jayne were always in touch with each other, maybe Betty's mean spirit rubbed off on Jayne, and that is why she was a bully.
I will know more when I delve into the family tree a bit.
"How many relatives do you have March?"
"Plenty Nicky, but none we had anything to do with they are scattered throughout the planet. When the bigger families were around we weren't even born, but back in the day big families were the norm."
"So what happened to them?"
"I don't know, they moved to other countries, the city, they made their way in life, who knows I may be related to Joel his family has been here a long time too."
"Or Rose she has lived her all her life." He giggled at the thought.
"I never asked Nicky, all we have is a family tree that mum and dad made up for us, one side is his the other is mums."
"I will have a look when I get time."
"I love doing family trees," Mum said.
"You have ours?"
"Of course I have, a long time ago though, I will give you a copy."
"Thanks, mum, is there anyone famous?"
"No son, we are quite dull no one special popped out." She laughed.
"I did have an uncle that was a plumber." Dad smiled, I groaned then rolled my eyes. March got some more food and he asked me if I wanted some but I said I was full. Mason was droopy-eyed he's had enough to eat, so dad took him over to the couch and they both napped.
"So tell me March how much older is Betty from your mum?"
"I can't remember exactly Nicky, a bit older maybe six or ten years. But as you know I'm not interested in her at all."
"That's a big gap, not unheard of, but big."
"It's all in the folders Nicky, I never really looked closely at them because I wasn't in the right headspace to look, or that interested."
"I will look and let you know if we have a famous person in our family." I looked at mum she laughed.
I helped clean up and both dad and March got some extra for their lunch tomorrow, he carried Mason out to the car and I had Sunny. We changed him gently and put him to bed, Sunny watched him. March and I went to have a coffee and I opened the plastic storage container.
"What are you up to Nicky?"
"I had an idea of a community page for the town."
"We have one."
"No, I thought maybe I could call it Memories of our town. Like a history of the town and people can put their old family photos on it and post their memories of living in the area."
"Sounds like a big job."
"No March it will look after itself and give the community something to learn about the town, like the lady who sat on her porch and designed the water lock. I doubt anyone knows anything about that."
"Probably not Nicky, but there are some old families around here maybe you have hit on something."
"When I was in the city there was a site for our school and plenty of ex-students posted photos and memories on it. I think it may work here."
"Talk to Brenda."
"I intend to."
"What happened to the family day?"
"Put off until after the funeral, it looks like it will be next Saturday."
"Has the town decided to be there?" He asked.
"From what I am hearing a few people are now going. That will be because of you March, the town won't let you go on your own."
"Your coming aren't you?"
"Of course I am."
"Good." He grinned.
I decided to tackle the family tree first, I have to take photos of the legal stuff from the farm sale and get them to Brock. March had the folders marked so I put aside two of them.
"Bedtime handsome." I stood up he was naked in bed before I even dropped my shorts. My son was sleeping soundly and Sunny lifted his head when I poked it into the room.
"Good boy. look after your mate." I had already bought the birds in and covered them, they slept quietly while I jumped into bed.
The next day I walked bubs and myself to the council chambers, Brenda was happy to see us and we chatted about her boys and the memories page.
"We will both be admins Nicky, I can set it up and we can monitor it. What a great idea."
"Well, I thought it would get the folks moving and talking, apart from posting everyday troubles, what they had for dinner, the mundane things."
She and I nutted out some sort of format and then she said to leave it to her. I expected a call later in the day and she will advertise it on the local page. I also thought that Brenda didn't have much to do at work, she was eager to start the new venture. Mason had fun he was handed around the council chambers while we talked. He arrived back with his arms covered in date stamps and official-looking motifs,
"It will wash off Nicky, no damage, you should see my kids when they leave it's hard to find a patch of clear skin." She laughed. After giving Mase one last cuddle she handed him back and I thanked her and then walked him back to the cafe.
May was catching some sun and Rose was sitting with her, she took one look at Mase and decided to clean him up, the screaming started about then.
"Well, maybe we had better leave it for now." She smiled.
"Daddy," Mase pointed to the garage.
"I think he wants March to see them."
"How did you go with Brenda?" May asked.
"She liked my idea and will kick start the page, she said she will announce it on the local page."
"And your ultimate game is?" May doesn't trust me.
"No game May, although I had thought I might place the Stephenson farm story on it, contracts and all so the others will read it, but it looks like they believe March now so I guess it;s just a fun local town page for people to place their family history on."
"It will be good, there are plenty of locals that have been here for years."
"There have to be photos and stories about this town, but I did think the Stephenson family was maybe the oldest."
"It is Nicky, only because they have owned that farm for a little over a hundred years," Rose said.
"And your family Rose?"
"Nothing big to report on, they came here for work, helping to build the bridge then they stayed, my great-grandfather owned the local feed store for years, then my dad took over. By the time I was born, it had disappeared and my dad worked for the country roads authority. I have some old photos somewhere, mainly of the bridge construction."
"See this is what I mean, there has to be some hidden records somewhere, dig them out Rose, and if you don't want to post them I would certainly be interested in looking at them."
"Well, the Stephenson ones are plenty Nicky, there is a suitcase full somewhere, one of my great aunties had a camera and dark room. Plenty of snaps were taken around town. Maybe March has it stored away somewhere, we were going to chuck them because apart from the writing on the back we didn't know the people in them."
"I'll ask him what happened to them."
And as if on cue I felt his kisses on the back of my neck.
"How did you go?"
"Great Brendas organising it." I smiled.
"Dah dah look." He shoved his tattooed arms into March's face.
"Wow they look great bubs, but I hope they wash off." He grinned at me.
"Soap and water will do the job, he wanted to show you that's why they are still there."
"Well they look great," They didn't, they looked awful, like he was covered in bruises.
"Where did the family photos end up, March?" May asked him.
"In our garage, why?"
"Nicky was asking, he might put a few on the memories page."
"I will drag the suitcase out when we get home Nicky, I haven't looked at them for years."
"Thank you, another project for me I think." I smiled.
There was no ulterior motive for me to look at them, I just wanted to get more comfortable with March's family history.
Faith was on board today, she had a few days off to go to the city with Ethan, they didn't stay with Jimmy but they saw a lot of him. She was telling me he cooked them a nice dinner and he looked so much better, a lot less stressed and he showed them his grades and a university tour was the highlight.
"He has lots of friends there Nicky, something I didn't even realize he had missed out on."
"So only good things have come with the move, and the break up then?"
"Oh yes, on all counts, Hank is happier, Tom is a wonderful boy and my sons are all doing well."
"That's good then Faith, has he got a boyfriend yet?"
"He doesn't want one Nick, he just wants to be on his own for a while and he is really into this agriculture thing."
"I'm happy it all turned out for the best."
"With Tom working long hours and Hank running the farm, I see no problems there, they aren't in each other's pockets all the time and it shows. Hanks even purchased a few good going-out shirts." She giggled.
I smiled, Tom would be the one behind that, he is a snappy dresser.
I had something to eat because it was close to lunchtime, March as usual couldn't make his mind up so I ordered the curry for both of us.
"Has Jason finished the garden May?"
"Yes, Nicky you can go through and see it if you like."
"After lunch." I smiled she rubbed her tummy, and so did March.
It was after dad came across and made a fuss over Mason's tattoos mum came out with a bowl of soap and warm water and then washed his arms. He whined a little then pointed up the street.
"More?"
"Not today bubs I will take you back in a few days," March said.
"I won't be a minute." Mum walked up to Jack's shop, I hadn't seen him around for days but Rose assured me that he had been busy, and people were starting to have family gatherings again. When she came back she placed her bag on the table. After taking out a stamp pad she proceeded to stamp a cow, sheep, and a dog onto Mase's now clean arms.
"There bubs, now you have a farmyard on your arms so much better."
He screamed and showed everyone, they could stay on they looked good on him.
"Thanks, mum."
"Well, they are much more kid-friendly than the official stamps."
"March, do want to come and look at Mays garden?" He jumped up and we went to find her contemplation garden. It was small but well organized Jason had added a small fountain and the jar sat proudly at the center.
Ron has finished up on March's renovations and the painter will start tomorrow on the outside, all these things take time.
So when we got back We heard a rumble coming up the street, it was March's turn to scream, he ran onto the road and watched as his brand new truck arrived. Nudge Joel and Keith were in the front seat.
March hugged it and its bright shiny blue paint was glistening in the sun.
Joel jumped out and handed the keys to March who hugged him, I could almost see the tears in his eyes.
"Nicky!" He shouted.
"What?"
"Get in."
"Okay." I laughed.
He drove us around the town and his face was covered in smiles. Joel had done an expert job on it, everything looked brand new and everything worked, even the seats had got a makeover. Three trips and then it was Dad's turn, he took Rose and mum, then March took Faith and May. All this took us into the afternoon, Joel and March talked about what he had done, there were no more hugs just talk and plenty of thank youse.
"Give me a hand dad."
They maneuvered the truck into the workshop through the big roller door and he parked it sideways next to the lift-up windows. Everyone can see it from the street now, March found the sign he had made advertising Joel's restorations and again nothing was said except maybe a thank you. It looked wonderful, the chrome glistened the paint shined as it sat proudly, and Mason sat behind the wheel and played driving.
"He did a wonderful job March, it is perfect."
"It sure is, I am so proud to call him a friend Nicky."
"Well let's hope the sign will bring in more work for him."
"Barry will be in tomorrow to sand down the front of the garage I had better throw a cover on it while that is being done."
"Good and you are going to replace the sign like still have handyman decorator and stuff on it?"
"No Nicky my friends do all that anyway, I just manage it all. I will be having Stephenson family vintage car mechanics. Something like that printed."
"Sounds good to me baby, you have done well."
"I didn't do anything, Nicky. It's my friends that are doing it and I am so happy they are my friends."
"Me too, now we have to talk about this funeral I will get Rose to iron our good shirts and pants, what jacket do you want to wear?"
"Anything Nicky, you pick."
"Okay, jock and t-shirt with a big hint of bulge."
"In your world Nicky, but in mine, a good shirt pants no tie no jacket, it is too bloody hot."
"Good, because you look good in anything."
I went back to work and found three papers about the sale of the farm years ago, I looked them over and took photos. I will find out Brock's phone number and send it to him. I found the family tree, it was big. A quick perusal of the pages and I deemed that for sure March's family had been huge. I also found his mum and dad's entries and his and May's. I looked over at the uncle's family and sure enough Brock Ben and Jaynes were there. I will add me and Mason when I get the time.
The next thing I will do is read and look at photos that are stuffed in the suitcase at home, this could take some time.
"How is my detective doing?" March smiled.
"Good March, there is a lot to go through in here."
"I never looked Nicky, it was all too much for me. Are we going to the clearing?"
"Can we just go home, it has been a big day."
"Of course we can, I need to get back on track anyway."
"What track?"
"Well the shed isn't being used lately, so I suppose the tub is the next best thing." He grinned.
"Sorry, we have been busy."
"Yes and now we can settle back into everyday life again." He grinned.
"Are you finished for the day?'
"Almost."
"I'll meet you at home." I started bundling my son's travel bag up and grabbed the two of them, I kissed March and drove home. He was ten minutes behind me, then he was behind me over the kitchen table while I watched Mase play in his cubby house.
I was cleaning out the bird cage and March was watching me.
"What's for dinner?"
"Steak March, do you want to light the barbeque, there are a couple of sausages there for Mason and Sunny too."
"Okay."
Mason was standing on a chair watching me and his birds were whistling away as I wiped the bottom of the cage. I started whistling back at them and when I looked Mason was trying to imitate me. March sat next to him and he whistled, poor Mason he couldn't do it yet, but he did try hard.
With that easy job finished I swept the porch and then I threw the sausages on. The steaks won't take too long and I wanted to feed Mase first.
The whistling was a feature tonight if March had to do it once he did it fifty times and each time Mase giggled.
After we ate we watched a bit of TV and then put him and Sunny to bed.
We sat up and talked about the new look of the garage, he raved on about the truck which is understandable it did look brand new. He also told me that brackets for Mason's car seat had been installed so he could come driving with us. He remembered something and then went to our garage to retrieve the suitcase with the family photos in it. I told him I would sort out the photos of the surrounding area and town to place on the site and assured him no personal family ones would be uploaded. Maybe a few of March and May, when they were small, will be slipped in.
"Do you want to watch a movie?"
"I would rather go to bed and cuddle."
"Me too, come on." He giggled.
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