March Stephenson

March Stephenson

Chapter 46

Maxieplus

The days went by without a hitch, I know March was nervous about going to the funeral, and I was still in a quandary about this aunty Betty business. I had looked through the photos and found some of her so now I can put a face to the name. Barry his painter mate, worked away in the garage and I sat and watched him from the cafe with May, he was undercoating it then he will do the colour which will be white. The decorations will be done last, and I wasn't privy to what was to be printed. Amongst the photos, I had found the garage and Mays cafe but they were from years ago and the road hadn't been paved back then, the cars out the front looked old like fifties or sometime around there. The good thing about the family photos was someone had written dates and names on the back of them. A mammoth job for someone who had hours to spare. The town ones included the football oval and lake, I even found some of the clearing but it was much larger because the loggers hadn't moved in back then. The bridge being built and the supermarket when it arrived even the hotel in all its red-bricked glory, much of it has disappeared with a few renovations.

There were heaps of negatives and envelopes with photos in them, I am about to tackle them this afternoon.

"What time are we going to the funeral Nicky?" May asked.

"It starts at eleven so I guess we will arrive around ten thirty."

"We will follow you, is Mason going?"

"No mums on baby duty, he wouldn't understand anyway."

"Good thinking and March is pretty nervous?"

"Yes, it's not the funeral, it's Betty that is getting to him."

"She should buy Jayne's house from the boys and live there."

She said.

"But do they want her as a neighbor?" I smiled.

"Her home is nice she had a lot of land out the back too. That's assuming she left it to her brothers of course."

"Oh, she might have left it to someone else?" I asked her.

"Not really, I'm just being evil today." She grinned.

"This time last year you were overseas May, fat chance of having a holiday now."

"I don't mind I have good memories, and look what I get in return my very own bubs." She patted her tummy which was getting rather large.

I finished my coffee and went to find my son, I could see him and his dad sitting in the old truck talking. Before I left I had informed May on what they will be doing.

"He is teaching him how to whistle."

"He's a bit young for that."

"Yes, but he has a lot of fun trying."

I opened the passenger side door and heard my son giggling, when I sat on the seat my husband smiled at me, and the truck smelt brand new inside.

"So have you mastered the whistle yet bubs?"

"Daddy, you daddy." I wet my lips and whistled away even trying to make some bird shrills. He laughed at me but I kept trying.

"I think it's time for a nap baby, do you think you might want one?"

"No!" He shook his head from side to side, well that said it all, so I let him be because his other daddy doesn't make him nap.

"Catch you later sailor." I smiled at my man.

"Soon Nicky, the shed is open and your butt is mine."

I giggled as I walked back to the gym, the guys and girls were hard at it and the grunts were genuine pure beef. I sat and looked at my mail, there was nothing except a couple of well-wishers who wanted to give me a hundred million dollars. I grabbed a stack of envelopes and started looking through them. More photos but mostly of the old farm, I will get some blown up for Ethan and Faith for their walls.

I found three photos, it only took the three to make me sit up and take notice. The envelope was addressed to Brock's mum, Susan Stephenson, no return address but the photos revealed a lot. There were three of them in the envelope all of Aunty Betty in a hospital holding a newborn baby, obviously she had just given birth. One of the baby's beautiful face and two with her mother.

On the back was written, Jayne, five hours old, and the birth date. That was an eye-opener because Betty is March's mum's older sister, not Susan's. I put them down on the desk and then grabbed the family tree folder, sure enough, Jayne's birthdate was the same as the one in the photos. I knew Betty had been living in the city so it wasn't a local hospital. Well well well, there are more secrets in that family than I realized. She has had a kid in the city and then farmed her out to a cousin, I doubt March's mum knew about it otherwise she would have had some dirt on her older sister. I grabbed the photos and walked into the workshop, Mason was fast asleep in March's arms, I guess the shed was out because he had gone to sleep too. I told dad I was going up the street for half an hour, to let March know if he woke up. He smiled and said he would wake soon it was near lunchtime. I scooted up the street to the chemist, they do copies on the spot so I waited until they did that little job for me. Three copies of each photo, I hadn't decided whether the boys would want one or not but I had plenty of them to hand out when needed.

I then walked back to May's shop, March and bubs were sitting out the front with dad and Faith, who was feeding bubbie. I did notice she dropped a bit of food for Sunny also.

"Where have you been, I'm hungry."

"Just up the road, something personal to do baby, roast beef for lunch?"

"Perfect." I won't tell March what I found in public, and I will certainly be having a conversation with Aunty Betty.

"Faith how are things?" I winked at her and indicated with my head I needed to speak with her.

"All is well in my world Nicky, what are you up to?"

"I found some good photos of the farm and the farmhouse from when it was built years ago, we can go through them if you like and I will get a few blown up for your walls."

"Wow, yes I am definitely into looking at them, thank you."

"After lunch come on over and I will show you." I again winked.

"Now you have me very interested."

"Can I have some too Nicky?" May said.

"Of course and there are plenty of you and March when you were small and some beautiful I think wedding photos of your parents in there. May, we can go through them together and pick the ones you want I can get copies done at the chemist shop."

"Good, it is about time that brother of mine shared his family treasures with me."

"He shares them with me May, but the photos are nice."

She got my double meaning and of course big big-eared Rose was almost knocking May over to sit next to me.

"What did I miss? go." I had to explain that treasures also meant family jewels in the gay world, she cracked up laughing Faith didn't but I did see a slight grin.

March was oblivious to our dirty talk and he now has his mouth full of roast beef, my mood lifted because of the photos and now I have some blackmailing to do.

When we all had eaten and the boys went back to work, I took Mason to the gym and placed him with Sunny into the playpen, he was going to have another ten-minute nap. Faith flung the door open and came to sit with me.

"You shouldn't do that Nicky my anxiety is sky-high, what is happening?"

I handed her the photos and she looked at both sides, then I told her what I thought had happened.

"What a bitch." That was all she said.

"Yes, and now I have the tools to get her off March and May's backs."

"Well done."

I smiled, and she laughed.

I looked through the stack of photos of the farm and then handed them to her.

"Pick some for your walls, just a bit of history."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I am going to hand her back her disgusting letters with the photos, hopefully, she will get the meaning and maybe I will say, stay out of March and Mays lives."

"Sounds good to me, maybe I had better go to the funeral after all, just to watch her face."

"There's safety in numbers our friend, I will need you and Rose to keep March busy while I do it, I haven't told him or May yet let's keep it under our hats."

I winked again. She looked through more photos and I went to fix yet another breakdown. When Faith left I rang Tom, he was happy to do that little job for me tonight. I looked again in the workshop and told Keith I wouldn't be a minute to keep his eye on bubs, then I drove home to get the letters. I grabbed some note paper and by the time I got back to work, everyone was none the wiser. Bubs was waking up and I gave him a bottle of milk. I then wrapped the letters and the three copies of the photos, and then I copied the writing onto the back of them, ready for delivery. I will get Faith to take them home and Tom will get them from her, then he will deliver them to Betty

I looked up Jayne's address then wrote on the parcel. 'Stay right away from March and May Stephenson, you are not welcome in their town.' I was praying she got the message and would hightail it back to the city but you can't be sure when dealing with bullies.

Afternoon tea was ready and I placed the parcel with the address in Faith's trunk then I went to tell her what was going on before the garage crowd arrived.

At home I got a text 'Delivered' I sent Tom back a thank you and a heart. We sit and wait and if there are any repercussions I will place those photos on the local memories page.

I was laughing to myself and March was still smiling at me. He knows something is up because my mood has lifted

"It's fish and chips tonight baby, anything special you want?" I smiled.

"Do not think for one minute it escaped my notice that you have been running around all day doing something, and I also noticed the shed was forgotten, once again. So I am surmising you don't want to make love there anymore, you only want to have sex with me here at home."

"I had to go to the chemist earlier while you were sleeping in the old truck with Mason. Then I had to come home to get those letters Faith found at the farm, you were under a car. By the time I finished, it was far too late for the shed, so I thought I might give you an extra special suck tonight."

"Well don't think for one moment I didn't notice, why did you go to the chemist?"

"To buy a pregnancy test." I smiled he looked at me, and then he screamed.

"Not even I am that dumb."

"Okay sit with me I have some news for you."

"Nicky it's not possible for you to have a baby."

"I know, but I also know you like my jokes."

"Umm."

"Do you want to hear about what I found this morning?"

"Yes please."

"Okay, firstly I went to the chemist to get copies of these photos done." I handed over the three originals I had. He looked at them and his eyes widened.

"Look at the writing on the back."

He did just that, and between looking at me and then the photos his mouth opened but of once again, he had no words.

"What you are trying to ask me is, are they real? Yes they are real. I found them in an envelope, I had them copied at the chemist's shop. I came home to get the letters then I wrapped up a nice parcel for Aunty Betty. I popped the three photos in with them and wrote on the parcel, stay away from March and May Stephenson."

"I had no idea she had a baby Nicky."

"Neither did your mum, and I doubt Brock and Ben know, but I am suspicious of Jayne. Maybe she didn't maybe she did, but she had the same attitude as Betty quite different than the boys."

"So she had a kid and no one knew about it."

"Your uncle and aunty knew because they adopted Jayne."

"They were close from what I remember, but I didn't know why."

"You know now big boy." I went on.

"I had Tom deliver the parcel to her an hour ago. I don't think you will have any more trouble from that woman, but if you do, they will go straight on the local memories page."

I sat back and almost licked my paws.

He placed his shaking face in his hands and said.

"What do I do with you Nicky, I can't tell you off. I can't thank you because there aren't enough thank yous in the whole world. Nicky, I can't even make love to you because you are some sort of angel and that would be wrong. I have no words for you just absolute love at the moment." The sheer relief on March's face said it all.

"You could try and kiss me." He was onto it within seconds and I had a face full of March Stephensons perfect lips.

"The answer was in your old suitcase, after all, only God knows what else is in there."

"I have to tell May, she's worried."

"Take some photos and send them to her, she will ring you, have fun."

He stared again and said.

"I will be in the driver's seat tonight Nicholas Stephenson, and do not think for one minute you will be doing any work."

"Aww." I put a sad face on.

"Well, maybe some." He couldn't wait to do the photos and send them off, May was on the phone a minute later. They talked for half an hour and when he hung up he said.

"She's coming here, we had better order some more food, Nicky."

"Yes sir." I saluted.

The night was wonderful, my two best mates were happy again and were looking forward to the funeral, mum and dad laughed and Mason danced with Sunny. Jason was happy because May and March were, he even undid his hair bun and it flowed down his back, wow what an awesome hunk, he will be featured in Brenda's calendar this year.

The food was destroyed by the Stephenson twins and dad got his fill in. Mase had his little parcel of fish and chips to eat and one bowl to share with his mate Sunny, and we all dropped chips on the floor for him.

Whatever happens tomorrow we will all be together as a family and we will all sit together as one family.

The bubs were put to bed as soon as they left. Doors were locked and March started his lovemaking when I dropped my shorts. I can't say it was the best romp we have ever had but I can say not one inch of my body was ignored.

"Nicky, should I wear a tie?"

"Not if you don't want to March, I won't have one on."

"Okay, then I won't, jacket?"

"I'm not wearing one baby."

"Ok, so I won't either."

"Shoes and socks?"

"Yes, March they are a must."

"I will wear them then."

"Eat your breakfast and then I will fix you up so you are relaxed for the day."

The funeral will start in a couple of hours, mum will come and take Mason for the day she has some coloring books and crayons to entertain him. Sunny will go with them and after I fix my husband up we will shower and then dress. I bought a bunch of roses for the coffin and a card. I will get March to write on it and there is also a bunch from mum and dad. I had no idea how many people would turn up or if they were having a wake, but I do know we won't be going to it, mum will have some lunch ready for us. My eyes never left March Stephenson, he looked so beautiful today, his hair was shaped perfectly and his pants suggested he had a half hard-on when I ran my hands over the front of them, I was just checking everything was neat

.Arriving at the small red brick church we were greeted by May and Jason, then plenty of March's friends. They all gathered around us and they never left our side throughout the service, Faith and Rose were there also, a show of strength for May I think. The boys shook our hands and I could see Betty standing in the background she didn't look too happy today.

I did have a pang of sympathy for her, after all losing your only daughter would be tough. I placed the flowers with the others then took a couple of service books. Joel stood next to me and I once again thanked him for the great job he did on March's truck.

"It was the only thing we could think of Nicky, we all pitched in, and we all added our special touches to this one."

"Well, I am warmed by your friendships."

"You are our friend also Nicky, if there's anything you need please don't hesitate to sing out."

"I don't need much Joel, just March, and Mason, and of course our friends."

"We know, but the offer is still there."

Tom came walking up the path he looked awesome, there was no sign of Hank and he headed for Faith and Rose then he winked at me. Before we went into the little church I pulled him aside.

"Why are you here?"

"So I can stare at that woman, and if she makes one move towards March or May I will be standing with them, as a deterrent."

"I doubt she is going to do anything, but thank you once again."

"Just some cream on the cake Nicky, no big deal." We waited for everyone to be seated then we took up the second third and fourth pews. Tom sat next to March I had Rose next to me and Jason. The service wasn't long and the boys had done very well presenting their sister as a much-loved member of the community. I had no idea who the other mourners were but deemed them workmates and school friends because March said hello to some of them.

We all went to the cemetery and stood back from the grave, March and May didn't want any involvement and that Betty woman's sour look on her face didn't leave for the two-and-a-half-hour funeral. I looked for Rose I knew she wasn't there for Jayne. With extra flowers in my hand, I walked back to her son's grave and found her talking to him.

"She was one in a million son, she even tried to disrupt my morning by telling me you were a real mindless piece of work. I gave her her marching orders, and I was surprised she turned up at the cafe the day March refused to service the cars. You remember March Stephenson, that hunk that you fell in love with all those years ago, he's very happy with his Nicky, and as I told you he has a son now, called Mason."

"When you get to me, be kind," I said, she jumped and then smiled.

"This is Nicky you have met him before, he's the spitting image of you in certain lighting. One day we will come here and he can entertain you with his funny stories son."

"I have a story for you today if you want to hear it." I sat on the tombstone and related my Aunty Betty's story to him and Rose, she laughed when she found out Jayne was Betty's daughter and she cried when we said goodbye.

"It doesn't get any better Nicky, I'm sorry."

"I understand Rose, it will never leave you." I took her hands and revisited our slow dancing, there was no music today but she did weep some more. I can't fix Rose as much as I wanted to, as I said she may never be complete and that's okay, she has all of us to keep her busy.

"You didn't wait for me?" March was behind us.

"Sorry, I found a friend in need."

March took the bunch of flowers I still had in my hand and placed them on the grave, he then kissed his fingers and placed them on the grave.

"Stay safe my friend, until we meet again."

I had to get out of there, I know how Rose was feeling and I wasn't too far behind her.

"What are we doing?" I could see the crowd dispersing.

"They are having the wake at Jayne's place Nicky, I don't want to go."

"Good neither do I, lets go home I need some bubs cuddles." Rose smiled.

We picked Tom and Faith up and headed for mum's place.

Mason screamed and Sunny barked, mum welcomed her guests as May and Jason appeared behind us.

"How did it all go?"

"It was good, the boys did well." Mason took Rose's hand and started showing her his drawing, it looked like a lot of colorful scribbling to me, but she swooned over it all. Mum had been expecting a crowd for a late lunch and Faith helped her set the table out on the back porch. The barbeque was lit and March and dad manned it.

We talked about the funeral for a bit but it was too depressing.

"Did you have any trouble with that Betty woman?"

"No mum, she wasn't happy but I doubt she's ever happy. She didn't speak to us at all."

"She spoke to me, Nicky." We all looked at May.

"What did she say?"

"Hello May, good to see you again." She laughed.

"And you said?" March enquired.

"Betty, nice to see you too."

"That's all?"

"Yes, I barely acknowledged her."

"Well my sister has finally grown up, she certainly is a real woman of the world." March laughed.

Tom related his story, there wasn't much to tell, he thought she was a little put out there was a stranger on her doorstep but she took the offered parcel, the almost slammed the door in his face.

Our wake was a lot better than the boys, from what I heard the next day, we partied, but they sat around feeding their faces then most of the crowd left. I had the feeling more people were there for March and May.

I whispered to Rose later on when we took Sunny for a walk down the backyard.

"So he was in love with March?"

"He had a schoolboy crush on him, he was also a lot younger than March so no problem just a kid with a crush."

"I wish it had been a lot different for you Rose I do."

"It is what it is Nicky, thank god you came to town." She laughed again and I picked up Sunny's barkers nest (poo) with a plastic bag.

I helped to stack the dishwasher then my son had heavy eyes, so we said our good nights and Tom drove Rose home, they were going to open a bottle of wine I think. I get it, I got that Tom isn't shunning Rose, and as I found out he stayed the night because he was too tipsy to drive. Hank and him have a cool relationship I think, I doubt there is any jealousy coming from either side and life goes on as it is presented.

My husband was onto me as soon as I sat on the couch, his thank yous were plenty, and he did mention that from tomorrow it will be back to business as usual.

I looked at the local page in the morning, Brenda had done a piece on Jayne and her brothers. Some people posted photos of her coffin and the funeral. Thank God they didn't go overboard, I envisaged a catfight to occur but it didn't.

Nudge told me when I arrived in the morning that they had gone to the wake, it was pretty boring but the food was good. He overheard the aunty saying she couldn't wait to get out of the place and would be leaving this morning. I nearly tripped over Nudge to get to March to tell him, he was removing some spark plugs from a beautiful Ford Anglia and I bent over him and whispered in his ear what Nudge had just told me. His smiles were back instantly and once again he didn't have a care in the world and almost did his happy dance

"Let's go tell May."

"Good news at last March."

"Sure is." He took my hand and walked me across the road, May was once again sitting in the sunshine. He sat next to her and told her his news, her smile got larger and she looked at me and mouthed a thank you.

"So dear sister we will be away on the weekend so it's up to you to run the town while we are absent."

"Where are you going?"

"To our hotel for the entire weekend. A thank you present for my beautiful husband."

"Can we come?" May said.

"No, it is our hotel, you go and find your own."

I screamed laughing, he's so mean sometimes, of course, May and Jason can come we don't own it, although the way March talks about it we may as well.

"So you are going to put up with all the attention you get from the staff then?"

"Be on your best behaviour Nicholas Stephenson, they don't take too kindly to

randy gays."

I laughed again and Rose arrived with some coffee.

"How was your night?" I asked.

"Brilliant Nicky, Tom sure does know how to put this old lady in a good mood."

"He's very good at calming people down Rose."

"Well, he certainly put me back on track."

I told her what Nudge had heard and she was very happy for us, mum was also happy when I told her. Faith was concerned Tom didn't come home last night.

"That would be my fault Faith I got him a little tipsy. He rang Hank and said he was staying the night and all was good. Well, Hank could have come and got him but I think you have two winners there Faith, trust is a big thing in a relationship." Faith sat and smiled, she knew Hank probably went crazy but he trusted Tom, and the more he did the more Tom would love him for it.

Mum wanted to look after Mason for the weekend but March insisted he come with us because his reasoning was he loves the hotel also.

"I want to do some shopping Nicky, is that okay?"

"Of course it is, what are you buying?"

"Something." he grinned.

"What something?"

"Just something." He had no clue what he was going to buy, and he was teasing me.

"Okay big boy when your job is done, meet me in the shed."

"You can't, I'm using it for something," May said.

"For what?" March glared at her.

"Something." She cracked up and laughed on her way back inside.

"Come on Nicky." He grabbed my hand and almost ran me into the back shed. His shorts were down and he let me look after him once again, I think our world has reset itself.

I sat behind my desk and started sorting the photos out, town ones, family ones, and baby photos. I will match them up when I find out who they belong to. Many many photos of the farm and stock way back to the early stages of its existence. I had no idea who was writing on the back of them but they did a good job, the handwriting was different so there may be many authors.

Maybe that was a thing in the family to identify all the scenes and people. I looked at the local page and yes, Breda had announced the local memories page, she started it off by posting some old photos of her family, one was awesome a cart full of people parked outside what she commented was the original family home. In those days the houses were small four-roomed cottages, front and back porches, typical bush homes. Gran's home came along years later but with a similar construction.

The boys and ladies pumped away and Mason played drawing again, his new pastime, when he gets a little older he will get better at it I'm sure.

"Lunchtime." March poked his head in.

"Coming," I called back.

I grabbed the 'kids' and made my way across the road. he wanted curry today so I ordered it and sat with May. She was having a salad roll and argued with March about having Mase for the afternoon, she needed some company.

"Is Jason at the other place?"

"Yes Nicky, just sitting in and making sure everything is done right."

"Has there been any trouble?"

"No, he's just sick of sitting around here that's all."

"It will do him good to get out and you should be doing that also."

"I know but I can't help but think about mums baby problems, I don't want any scares or disruptions to my pregnancy."

"The doctors told you there was nothing passed down."

"I know, I want to be cautious which brings me to my next question, tea?"

"Yes, I don't need any at the moment but I will grab a few bags next week."

"No can you help me make some up?"

"Of course I will, when do you have in mind?"

"Probably next Monday I am running low again."

"Pencil me in, you will have to go to your suppliers won't you?"

"Yes Jase will come with me so I am set there, it's the making it up I can't do."

"No worries."

"Can I have Mason?"

"Of course you can, he will probably sleep for an hour or two anyway."

"That's okay, we can cuddle up." She looked at March, I knew he was smiling inside, but that Stephenson rivalry has to be maintained publicly.

He complained to me and banned me from making such an important decision on his behalf, I laughed so much I drew a crowd. While he ate his meal I fed Mase some veggies and a little chicken. A familiar car pulled up Brock and Ben both got out.

"Hey March, May, and Nicky, we wanted to stop by and thank you for coming yesterday."

"We wouldn't have missed it anyway Brock, have you had lunch?"

"Yes thank you, we are on our way to the solicitors settling Jaynes estate will be a pain but it has to be started."

They sat down and Ben ordered coffee. He was like his brother I didn't see much of March in them both only they were the same height.

"What are you planning, like are you selling her home?"

"And the restaurant March, we have had enough and want to move from the area and start again."

"That's a bit radical boys, isn't the restaurant doing okay?"

"It pays for itself and gives us a wage but it's not as good a money maker as it was when dad owned it, he was smart and the best cook in the area."

"That is a shame, so are you going to Betty's place or getting something on your own?"

"Never, we are going down the coast she can look after herself. Apart from a bit of arthritis, she is quite healthy."

"She told us she was nearly at death's door," May said.

"Not true May, she only wanted a free ride we told her she could buy Jayne's place but at the mention of money, she backed off on the idea. She's gone now and we don't want to deal with her again." March lifted his hand and slapped both theirs.

"Same here." He's not going to tell them what had transpired but he let them know they made a good choice.

They talked about the garage and apologized again, if they had known it was costing March so much money they wouldn't have done it to him. they let it slip that it was added to Jayne's long list of unfortunate lies.

"What if you put in a manager who knows how to cook and run a business?"

"No one would want that job March, I can see the restaurant failing badly in the next couple of months."

"You use too much salt in your food Brock, apart from that the meal I had was quite acceptable. People don't use a lot of seasoning nowadays."

"That's your professional opinion March, I only do what I know."

"Then you need someone to bring you up to date, and a good kitchen manager will do that for you, give it a try before you uproot your families."

"I don't like being told I'm wrong and a lousy cook March."

"It's about time someone told you, and who better than your closest family."

"You may be right, we will have to discuss it further before we make a final decision. The solicitor's office will tell us more, we know Jayne had a will but she never said what was in it."

"Well let me know if you need a hand."

They hugged March and May then left, I felt sorry for them they seemed to be good honest men.

"Are they married March?"

"Yes Nicky, two kids each, but there was a rumor about Ben a few years back." He smiled.

"Oh spicy news, more coffee boys?" Rose giggled, she broke the mood.

"Mum would be good doing that job, retraining Brock, getting the restaurant into shape she would love that."

"That's what I was thinking Nicky."

"She has a job right here." Mays not going to let mum go anywhere.

"Weekends, she can do weekends there, she and Faith will both get it back to where it was."

"And when are you going to tell her she's got another job?"

Mum took Mason and sat.

"It would be great for you, you know business and you know cooking I suspect Brock is using packaged ingredients for most of his meals."

"He does have a huge menu March, that's got to go, he should just offer roasts and kids meals, after all, that is what people go there for."

"True let's just see what they decide, maybe they have had enough of it. We should buy it from them." We all looked at March he giggled.

Donations are always gratefully accepted at Nifty