Chapter 73
March Stephenson
Maxieplus
He drove us to the doctor's surgery, Rose will walk Mason to play school today. He couldn't hold my hand because it was damaged, and he was very quiet on the way. The doctor's office was full of genuinely sick people and I tried to cancel for another time but my protests fell on deaf ears.
"That's nasty Nicky,"
"Pot handle, I have some of May's ointment on it, it has stopped the heat and the throbbing."
"That's the best medicine for it Nicky. I use it a lot here."
"Well, it is helping."
"Okay just keep it clean and if it starts giving you any trouble just come in. I will give you some painkillers just in case."
"I don't need them."
"Take them anyway," March ordered.
"Okay."
We were in there for no more than fifteen minutes, through my training I knew there wasn't anything to be done, I have to let it heal in its own time.
He bundled me into the truck and then he drove to our deserted park.
In the car park, he kissed me then it started.
"I know why it happened Nicky and I am so sorry to dump all that on you, will you ever forgive me?"
"It's not your fault March I got too involved that's all. I am more grateful that Mason wasn't injured, my hand is nothing compared with what he would have gone through."
"He was sensible enough not to try and eat it. Now are you going to do the same and pass on those folders, today?"
"Today March, I promise I will run them in when we go pick the boy up."
"Good, now how is your hand?"
"Fine, no pain just an inconvenience."
He kissed me again and I don't think we are having sex because he then started up the truck and pointed it towards home. I tried to make light of it because somewhere in the back of my mind I felt March would find a way to make himself feel responsible. The whole story was to come out when we got back to work, we sat to have coffee and while we talked about me going to pick Mason up and seeing Brenda, Jack came out of his shop and headed our way.
"You owe me twenty bucks Stephenson, " He slapped March on the back.
"Not now Jack, please."
"What's the matter, no money on you to pay up?"
"Jack!"
"What happened to your hand Nicky?"
"My fault, I grabbed a hot pot handle, it happens to us all at some stage."
"No good, so you have given up trying to do everything then?"
"Yes Jack, I will delegate the jobs."
"Twenty dollars." He put his hand out and March opened his top pocket and gave him the money.
"Thanks Stephenson it's been a pleasure to do business with you."
He then walked off swinging that note in the air.
"I'm sorry Nicky." He dropped his head.
"March, if that's all you have to be sorry about then I am in good hands. How much did you make?"
"I didn't, I thought you wouldn't give up."
"Well, at least you had some fun." I smiled.
"I am sorry Nicky, I didn't think it would affect you to the point you hurt yourself. I feel so responsible."
"Then don't, it was my fault I grabbed the handle without looking. Every housewife and cook has done the same thing over time. I am more mad that you won't be winning any money we could have done with an extra few dollars." I smiled then I kissed his forehead. I then lifted his chin and kissed him again on the lips, mum came out and I told her what the doctor said and I would get those painkillers from the chemist they are handy to have.
Our son was again happy to see us and Louise insisted we take all his toys home, the other kids had the same idea and her room looked like a toy shop, again.
While March took him back to work I went to see Brenda, she agreed with me and was dying to look through all the work I had done. She has minions that can do stuff too, so it was not a problem in the end.
"How much did you win?"
"Twenty dollars Nicky, I am sorry it came to a head when you hurt your hand. Look after yourself, I know how those burns hurt being on the receiving end three times now."
"March blames himself."
"He shouldn't, it happens all the time."
"Not in his world it doesn't, maybe now he will see I'm not so perfect after all."
I took my wallet out and gave her the twenty, I will get it back from March at some stage.
Next, I have to go see Jan, hopefully she will be as understanding as Brenda.
I went to the cafe and hugged my boy again, he was just about ready to give 'Hank' a trot up the street, but I wanted him to have a nap. Louise said with so many new toys at play school, there wasn't time for them to have their usual ten minutes.
"I paid Brenda her twenty dollars when I was there." I smiled.
He fished through his overall pocket and gave it back to me.
"Nicky, I am sorry I pushed you into doing that job but I thought you would thrive doing it."
"And I was March, listen to me. What I did was important, the council and the museum have all the facts and paperwork, they are more skilled than me I just did the groundwork."
"But your hand."
"Nothing to do with what I was doing. I wasn't looking that's all."
"It's all over the local page Nicky, you should read some of the posts March," May said then smiled as she and Rosie came out to sit in the sun.
He picked up his phone and started reading, a lot of stories about burning and many memories and laughs were shared. The general agreement was people get distracted and after it happens they are more alert when cooking. I don't know why Brenda burnt herself three times, but she is under pressure, sometimes.
I made light of it and posted a photo of my hand with a comment.
'March Stephenson will have to do all the work by himself now' It had a double meaning and Rose was straight onto it.
'You have a mouth don't you?' The laughing and not-so-clean comments followed her lead.
March laughed and long last, and he was back.
"So how much did you lose?"
"Plenty Nicky, I was confident you would see it all through to the end."
"By the way you owe me fifty bucks brother."
"You were very confident May." I looked at her.
"I knew you would see sense and pass the work on, that's the sign of a true councillor." She laughed.
"Well, all I have to do now is the shops and guide March with the land and parking."
"I told you I don't........" He stopped and rethought his comment.
"Thank you Nicky, we can do that together."
"We certainly will baby, and don't think for one minute just because I have lost the use of my hand that I still can't use my mouth." I grinned.
He sat there for at least thirty seconds then he pushed me over the road into the shed. I had to go back and get my baby, he needs that nap.
As it unfolded May had put him on her couch and he was peacefully sleeping while I watched out her window at the dig.
The table they had set up was almost full of items they had found, and when the professor saw me he motioned for me to come outside. I walked down May's back steps and he showed me a few old tools they had found.
"This is all very interesting Jim,"
"The reason I am showing you these tools is that they are marked, in the old days the makers or owners would carve their names on them. These three items were found in the scrub behind that big fern. Look at the name." I picked a scythe up, no handle just the rusty blade.
I could just make out the name Stephenson on it.
"My God, this means March's family have been here forever."
"It could tell you that, but it merits a deeper investigation don't you think?" He smiled.
"I have photos, and some paperwork, maybe that trip to the cemetery is going to happen sooner than I thought."
"They are always the best way to go, if you find anything I would be interested in seeing it."
"Of course Jim, maybe they started here then moved to the farm at a later date."
"Correct, by the look of these tools whoever he was, he was a worker on the land. It may be helpful to see if the government or in this case the governor general made land available to these immigrants. They did that in those days to get the industry started. Many convicts received grants of free land and pardons to farm it. You could look at the shipping records also to see if they were paid passages or came out on convict ships."
"Another big adventure, I don't know if I am up to it yet."
"I know people, if you can get me information on March's ancestors I will do the rest. Can you just do the cemetery, it's worth a look and if there are any old burial records they could be very helpful. Leave the rest to me."
"Thank you Jim, this is awesome."
I walked into the bush and found the cottage, this is where March's roots started in Australia, a simple four-walled structure made out of stones, wood and bark.
I couldn't wait to tell May and March, and by the time Mason woke up it was afternoon tea time. I called a family meeting outside the cafe and as soon as I parted with my information they dashed off to see the tools and the hut.
The council trucks were packing up and the safety barriers were finished, they didn't look that bad and I noticed last week that trees and ferns had been planted behind it, they are there to make the forest look better. Something I had to cross off my list.
When they came back their grins were priceless, March had photos and May
had run inside to get her copy of the family tree. I had seen March's copy ages ago but it only went back to the farm, his parents, and grandparents then it was great-grandparents and a name but a hint of him being related, Jessy Stephenson, nothing else except the name. That takes us back maybe four generations but by my reckoning, it should be about five. Jessy may have been the first but I think there is an earlier family member.
"We could trace them through the ancestry site, maybe put a DNA sample in
and see where it takes us.
"All right I get it, for now we leave it up to Jim and see what he comes up with." I took a photo of the tree and sent it to Jim's phone.
"Now we go to the cemetery and see what old Mr Westland has in his possession, maybe search through the old grave sites while we are there."
"I'm in for that Nicky anytime you want." May was excited.
"Let me know how you go." March smiled.
"You don't want to come?" I looked at him.
"Digging up the past always brings trouble Nicky."
"Don't you want to know who Jessy Stephenson was, or who owned the tools?"
"Not really, he is long dead, I don't need to know."
"I do." May chirped up.
"Good, we will go tomorrow morning May."
"Deal." She slapped my good hand.
Mason had done all he had to do so March went back to work and I took him home so he could play with 'Sheep" and 'Chook, chook, and chook'
I opened the laptop and then made some coffee, it looks like I was on the hunt again.
I will look at the photos also some of them have names on the back maybe Jessy is in one of them.
I put the name into the search and all it came back with was Jessy Stephenson lawyer New York and plenty of bookkeepers and other mundane business owners, but nothing in Ancestry that I could match up. I checked Mason out and then went to find the old photos. I had placed them in years and one was a miscellaneous folder waiting to be matched up.
I found a really old one of a bearded man and a roughly ten-year-old boy standing next to him, it had Jessy the younger with his father Jessy written on the back. So he was named after his father is this the last Australian generation? The only hurdle I had was, that there was a question mark against the names.
I put it aside and another one that looked like a huge family photo taken by the cameraman both Jessy's were in it and the little one was being held by a woman she had her arm over his shoulder, maybe his mum, the others in the photo looked like different families.
March can have a look at them. I heard a knock on the door and went to answer it, but not before I looked out the bedroom window, old habits never die. Jan came in and I hugged her.
"They tell me you have something for me."
"Yes I was coming to see you tomorrow but we can do it now, coffee"
"Yes please, but I will make it. I see the rumour is true, you're out of action."
"Happens, the cups are in the top cupboard and coffee has just been made."
She made it then we both sat on the porch.
"Now before you ask or give me anything I assure you I am quite up to date on the dig and I am also in touch with the Heritage Council of Victoria. If you give me what you have I can make sure it's done professionally." I relaxed and said.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome Nicky, no one expects you to try and do this all on your own, believe me. Michelle and I will sort through it and make the relevant decisions but if there's anything you want to change just let us know."
"I can't thank you enough." Mason came up to see who was here and then he insisted on introducing her to his farm friends.
I got the folders together and made a note to stick on it.
'March is still thinking about what to do with the homes behind the shops, does he leave them or make them a tourist feature?" She read it when she came back and laughed.
"You will be waiting weeks for your answer Nicky, he was the same at school."
"I know, but he has to decide, I can't do that for him."
"But I can, he allows the dig to do its job and then he closes it down."
"Closes it then?"
"Yes he won't want tourists climbing all over it and neither would May. We will offer a weekly guided tour of May's sites but not March's." She picked up the two photos and I explained what had happened at the dig. She smiled then took her phone out and snapped a copy. She blew it up with her perfectly manicured fingers and said.
"That's an Oak tree behind them, a young one. They aren't native up here and there is only the one around that I know about, you can see it from just about every angle in town. It's dead smack in the middle behind March's dig."
You brilliant woman, I have no qualms about handing over all the work to her.
"I could kiss you, how old do you think that tree is?"
"Nudge wouldn't like you to kiss me Nicky, he thinks he's going to get the first one in." I blushed then leant over and kissed her on the lips.
"There now you have bragging rights." She laughed.
"I don't suppose you would guess at its age in that photo?"
"The tree isn't old, it looks like it's maybe just been planted. A few years at the most I reckon. It's not tall but I can identify it by the leaves."
I looked at it and it was really grainy but it sure as hell was an Oak tree.
She left not long after with the folders, she was going to March's dig behind the shops to have another look at the tree's position, I sat and read all about them on the net, it was a fascinating read.
March arrived home not long after she left and I explained to him what Jan had said, he still insisted we don't go ahead with finding old people. I showed him the photos and he looked at the people in them but he was still resistant.
"Nicky, this is all too much for me, can't we just lock the front door and be on our own?"
"Of course we can baby, and one other thing and then I'm done."
"What now?"
"Jan says after the dig goes through your cottages, you close it down to the public and leave it."
"That's what I wanted anyway."
"They will still do a weekly tour of the gully side but I don't see a problem in doing that. She did say that the walking path can be restored without affecting the shops."
"May will get pissed there will be people almost in her backyard."
"She will won't she, but she will see that it's going to be good for her town." My evil grin was back.
I started unwrapping my hand to let the air get to it, it looked worse than it was so I got up and washed it so I could start fresh. I know as it dries it will stiffen up but if the doctors right, there won't be any scarring.
"Mason Tub time."
"Coming."
I dropped my shorts and looked at March, he smiled at last.
"Thank god that long face of yours has gone, you are so much better looking with a smile."
"I love you Nicky."
"I love you too March Stephenson."
We hopped in the tub and he turned the jets on for Mase, Sunny waited for his friend on the verandah while my husband and I smooched.
It was just after we had dinner, March was playing with Mase on the floor, he was the horse and Mase was the rider. The doorbell went and I answered it.
"Nudge, good to see you, come in."
"Thank you Nicky, where's March?"
"On the floor playing with Mase, coffee?" We walked down to the family room.
"Thank you, but I don't have the time. Stephenson you stay right there." He pointed to a confused March, then he grabbed me and gave me a real beauty of a kiss.
"Nudge!" March screamed.
"Stay put March, I warn you." I started giggling and he did it again.
"Thank you Nicky, and March you are right, he's perfect. Make sure you post something on the local page. Jan can't get away with it. And Nicky two kisses... no three." He kissed me again then he turned to leave. I collapsed on the chair at the table and was now howling with laughter. March with his red face stood up and almost roared.
"What the fuck was that all about?"
"Bragging rights." I struggled to get out. I couldn't stop it and had to go outside to get some air back into my lungs. He followed, and in between almost crying I told him what had happened with Jan. He eventually saw the funny side of things and started doing the same.
"Silly bloody prick, God I love my friends so much Nicky."
"They certainly know how to roll March, what are we going to post?"
"Something nasty." He grinned.
"Let's have some fun." I took his hand and walked him back inside. Mase had migrated to the TV.
We kept it simple by posting.
'Final score: One for the good wife and three for Nudge. Nicky's still recovering' I made March post it. I couldn't write anything else, so kept it simple, they were all too funny.
There were a lot of questions, lots of readers didn't get it and we didn't elaborate, There was an obvious post that read.
'I will be up to see you tomorrow, pucker up sweet cheeks' That was Jan's comment.
'In your dreams, I reckon I can get in ten kisses before opening time' That was Nudge's. We left them to it because Mase had to have his bath and I was drained once again, the tiredness that comes after an adrenaline rush descended on me as I calmed down. I dressed him for bed and kissed him many times, his fairy lights were turned on and March tried to read him a story, but his eyes were closed as soon as his head hit the crisp blue pillow slip. The next half hour was spent with March teaching me how to kiss properly but even I in my highlighted state succumbed to the land of nod.
The last thing I heard was March's voice saying.
"Nicky?" Then a groan.
The page had lit up and some people got the message, but a lot still didn't. Faith asked me if I was stirring again I sent her a message to say I would ring her later on to word her up. When March came out he smiled and kissed me.
"Your all greasy Nicky."
"Vaseline March, I'm preparing for a big morning." The laughing started once again.
"I will be watching you Nicky, no more free kisses."
He then kissed me.
Three eggs today and a happy boy eating one for breakfast. If I'm lucky by next week I will have a dozen to offer mum. We showered and dressed for our day and Mase was excited because he had to play school again.
I wasn't worried about going to work, Nudge was always there when I arrive he likes to pump iron early. I walked in and suddenly I was eye to eye with him, he winked and then kept pumping.
"I am watching you Nudge, don't make any sudden moves." March stood behind me.
"What's the matter March, did you get sad when I didn't include you?" He had to say.
"Yuk, you're so gross Nudge. Nicky, with me, come on."
"Yes sir, see you later Nudgee." I waved as I was dragged out the door.
Mason wasn't hungry, his egg had filled him up, and May wanted an explanation of yesterday's post. Both she and mum screamed laughing once again and my town was happy.
I had brought the photo and the family tree with me to show Jim and after breakfast, I took a walk down to the dig. Things were progressing slowly, every inch of dirt surrounding the huts was being sifted through. I looked at the old track that led to the main street and gave it my tick of approval. In no way does this gully impede on anything May owns, it's just that it's easier for us to use her driveway.
"This is a photo of the early settlers Nicky, and I feel it's probably the whole town that was around here first. The families don't have any common looks so I recon they are all different families, around five of them."
"That's what I thought, I can name this man and that boy I think they are father and son. Jessy the younger and Jessy the older, that would be his mum holding him, but I have no name for her."
"Are they March's relatives?"
"Yes, I think so the name Jessy is prevalent in his family tree."
"This other one confirms the names and that Oak tree is still there across the road." He took copy photos and then sent them to all his students, phones beeped all around me.
"Listen up everyone, that photo is of the first settlers. Either taken here or across the road, but I will listen to your thoughts."
So that is done, and now I will take my son to play school then I might take myself up to the cemetery. March wasn't interested and May wasn't around, so I told him I would go alone and maybe catch up with old mister Westland. His cars were being worked on and he was smiling, he's happier to stay here doing them than any old graveyard. I jumped in his truck and carefully drove off with my camera by my side. At the cemetery, I spoke to Mister Westland, a stooped, weather-beaten sickly looking man who was almost overly excited to see me appear.
"I have the books ready Mr. Stephenson. I would have marked the pages but I didn't know what you were looking for."
"Firstly my name is Nick or Nicky, and I have no idea what I am looking for, but I guess I will know it when I see it." I smiled at him, and he nodded.
He took me to the old part and March was right, there were some headstones so I took photos of all the ones that were readable. Then I took some of the unmarked section. I didn't hold out much hope of finding anything worthwhile
but maybe the books will tell me some more.
"These are from the old times Nicky, there are only five of them, and whoever did them didn't add any information only the burial date, it was all hit and miss in those days nothing was added except the date and grave number."
I opened the earliest one and came face to face with the scripted writing of those days, it wasn't perfect but readable.
"Maybe the historical society will match up these names and graves and maybe place plaques on the unmarked graves."
"That would be a blessing Mr Nicky, does Nudge kiss good?"
I nearly fainted but quickly collected myself.
"He does actually, but March is awesomely better at it."
"It's been a long time for me, my partner passed away years ago and since then I have been on my own."
"That's so sad, why didn't you find someone to share your life with after that? Sorry if it's too personal for you but no one deserves to be on their own."
"He was the love of my life, there would be no other."
"I see, so you are gay?"
"Yes Nicky, but please keep this between ourselves, from what I read on the page you are one of the good guys."
"Your secret is safe with me, please don't be sad. Sometimes we only get one chance to be happy and I am pleased you at least had some in your life."
"I'm not sad just disappointed he had to leave, but I talk to him just about every time I am here cleaning up the weeds."
"Show me." He walked me over to a well-kept grave and I read the headstone. His name was Charlie and he passed over twenty-five years ago, it must have been so hard for my new friend.
"I will join him soon but I am scared to be placed in here with him, people talk you know."
"People can talk all they want Mr Westland, if you want to be buried with your true love then do it, or I will do it for you."
"Thank you son. I see you in here with Rose visiting young Daniel sometimes, you know he was gay. And call me Tinker that was Charlie's nickname for me."
"Nice to meet you Tinker, and Charlie. And yes Daniel was gay, Rose is hoping her new son will be too, she has a lot of catching up to do."
"He used to come here to talk to me sometimes, a lovely young man with a deep soul."
"Does Rose know?"
"No, he caught me off guard one day and we connected, we both knew each of us was gay. I think you young ones call it gaydar nowadays."
"That's correct, did he confide in you, and you don't have to tell me what about. I just want to know if he talked deeply with you and if he did that would make me very happy he had a confidant."
"Yes he did, we talked for hours about all his dreams to find someone, move to the city and dance the night away. His dream was like Nudges he wanted to taste a man's lips."
"So he didn't have a boyfriend?"
"Not as far as I know, it was a devastating day when his funeral came here."
"I think you should talk to Rose Tinker. She would love to hear about her son's dreams."
"She may get the wrong idea Nicky, some people don't like us old poofs."
She won't believe me. Rose has had her share of gay clubs in the city she would never treat anyone as an old poof and neither would I. Do you want me to say something to her?"
"I don't know what I can tell her, we just talked about my relationship because that's all I knew, he was all about conquering the world. A very nice young man."
"I will talk to Rose and your secret is safe. Thank you for confiding in me."
"You're welcome, I have been waiting to catch you on your own to have this chat. I may call by the cafe one day for a coffee do you mind?'
"Not at all, and I want to hear your story with Charles too. Please don't let it die with you."
"I won't. But it may take some time, the doctors have me running around the country having tests."
"Nothing too drastic I hope."
"No just regular tests." I left it at that but shouldn't have
We walked back to the old office and he handed me the books.
"Take care of them they are the only copies, maybe you can get those lovely ladies to start a database, the newer graves have been done but these old ones haven't as yet, like the residents they have been forgotten."
"I will do that Tinker and I am hoping they won't stay invisible for too much longer." I took him in my arms and gave him a big hug, maybe I made his day because he let out a relaxing big breath.
I took the books and headed for the truck. I sat there for a while, just taking what had just happened in, and I shuddered to think that one of my kind had hidden himself away from the world because people wouldn't understand. Not the people in this town. I have never heard anything bad said about the gays that live around here. I have to change Tinker's way of thinking, isolation will do that to some people, they just stop dead in their tracks and cease to live a proper existence with their neighbours, they lock themselves away.
March had been waiting for me he was hungry and mum had a roast chicken with his name on it waiting for him. I told him what I had found but not about Tinker, he will know when I talk to him tonight he's very trustworthy.
I will talk to Rose next time I catch up with her, she has been seen admiring her new driveway many times and picking up the leaves that drop on it.
We ate our lunch and then walked up to grab a kid from play school. I will go home early again there's nothing much for me to do except surf the web.
He did a dance when we got there, they had a music day and he learned some steps. On the way back I told March I was leaving early and could he get dad to drop him off. He moaned and asked many questions, the main one he wanted to ask was the last thing he said as I packed the truck up.
"What time will Nudge be leaving." I sang out.
"At four I have a lot to teach him." Laughing all the way home wasn't the best thing I did and a few times I had to check my speed. I sat on the back verandah and pulled Mase up on my knees, he settled down then he started his nap. My thoughts were with Tinker, I suppose it's too late to find someone for him now, but I did ache for him and his loss.
I read through the page and the jig was up, Jan posted the whole story online. There were a lot of laughs and digs at Nudge on there. I resisted commenting. I was going to give him a nine out of ten, you all know who is the ten in my life.
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