March Stephenson

Chapter 75

March Stephenson

Maxieplus

The kids at the dig were cleaning up when I went to watch them, Jim had told me they were widening their search but it looked like the huts were concentrated in one area. They had found the Asian family one, it was a bit further into the bushland and the pots they found were consistent with their lifestyle. He will move some of the kids across the road to work on the other huts, which looked bigger, I guess their families grew with each move.

May's extra rooms won't get in their way and when she showed me the photos of it I was blown away. She had it especially clad in wood so it almost matched the old shop and would fit the style perfectly.

Dad said he would do the same and we sent a photo to Town and Country and they agreed that they will attempt to keep everything within the guidelines.

I had wondered about those guidelines and searched for the contract one morning. Yes, my husband has been busy, he had added that the buildings were heritage listed and any add-ons would have to comply with suggestions made by the owner, which is him. He also added that anything that hinders the forest's growth will be denied. How come I never see these brilliant ideas?

Cars were coming and going, and he was busy again the new year bought in a lot to be serviced and checked. My mini wasn't driven as much as I liked because Mark had found an old empty mini shell and Lily was too busy decorating it. Joel had installed seats and a table inside and it's her version of Mason's cubby house. Rose had made curtains and the seat covers were covered in fairy fabric and Mark had attached solar fairy lights to it. When we visited them to have a look, Mason and Lily had tea while we watched them from Mark's back porch.

"Have you got your head around the hardware business yet Mark?" I asked him.

"There's a lot more to it than selling a hammer Nicky, Dianne is teaching me a lot of things I didn't know, but I'm very confident I can make a go of it." I lifted my eyebrows and he blushed bright red, but didn't say anything else.

"How are your line dancing skills?"

"Nicky." March sternly said.

I spent a morning out at the farm with Faith. Hank took Mason for a long long ride and I helped her fix lunch. March will come out here to eat and he will also try and find out what we have planned for the big night. Some entertainment was listed and Ethan poked his nose in and suggested the council should be paying for it because it was for their heritage troop. I laughed and told him he had a better chance of getting his good road sealed.

She rang and booked the line dancing troop, and then Rose was to organise her drag queens to appear.

"Is Hank onboard?"

"Hank will do what I tell him to do Nicky, and if he protests I will get Tom onto it." Well, she has them both under her thumb, but they do love her.

"So that's the entertainment organised now, food?"

"Ladies bring a plate, that's traditional, but I will still do a spit roast, there will be enough for everybody son. We can get the frozen beans and peas from the supermarket there's too many to peel to bother with them."

"So I want to contribute to it all, and the council should too but don't tell Ethan. We had better work out a price."

"I have it costed Nicky we can take care of it."

"No, I have to at least put in something."

"No need we are happy to do our thing."

"So nobody wants my help at all?"

"You do help, you may not know it but you are on top of the list of people not to ask for anything Nicky."

"What list?"

"Brenda's." She smiled and handed me the peas to do.

"Enlighten me."

"She has her orders from a higher power not to place any more pressure on you or your finances, you have done so much for the town already and they expect you to contribute more in the future. Oh, the higher power is your husband by the way." She giggled.

"I see so he's behind me being shut out then?"

"I guess so, but you're not being shut out, the only thing I know about is the barn dance, and Ethan and I want to do that for the town." I sat back.

"What are you wearing?"

"An old frock I've had for years."

"Sure you are."

"By the way, I was in town the other day and spotted the Jones boys in Target looking at sexy underwear, bring your camera along will you?"

I laughed my head off, they weren't at the last dance, so I guess we are in for a big night with them being there. There's no way they are going to upstage my March Stephenson. He is going to look very sexy now Rose is at home shredding an old pair of chaps and a tank top.

"Dates, have you got a date yet?"

"I was waiting to hear back from Jimmy, I need him and his beau here. It will be on in four weeks will the students still be around?"

"Yes, I will tell the professor so they can start getting organised."

"I will post the announcement this afternoon."

"Want help writing it?" She looked down her nose so I sat back again. The smell of Faith's kitchen drove me crazy, and I was ravenous by the time March arrived. Hank and Mason had met him at the gate and March rode with him up to the farmhouse. He prattled on at seventy miles an hour telling me he had seen the cows and sheep in the fields, they called into the veggie barn and talked to the ladies and had a very good time. He was also tired so Faith turned the TV on and sat him in a beanbag for a ten-minute nap. Hank was excited about the barn dance, and he said Tom had already organised their outfits and he was hopeful he wasn't going to be naked.

"Yes, that's all I'm wearing a scarf around my neck and nothing else," Ethan said. Faith flicked him with her tea towel and said.

"Behave, and go wash your hands, March is hungry."

"Hank follow me." He got up to do her bidding and Hank looked at March.

"Why always me and not March?"

"Because, we know what March cleans up before he visits, but you hardly clean up unless you're told to," Ethan answered him.

"Fair enough." He chuckled then followed him to the bathroom.

"Tom was saying he's hired more cleaners, that business is a gold mine." Faith sat for a minute.

"He's a good worker that's for sure," I answered.

"Well he's a good boy, he always helps me around here and the girls help too. I am so blessed."

"What time is lunch?" March said, I think he's hungry again.

"Now." She got up and opened the oven.

"I will send the extras home with Nicky March, I know you have to get back to work."

"Thank you, I am looking forward to it."

"And some scones." She winked at me.

Lunch was beautiful, and I did gorge myself more than usual, so when I was on the way back to town I called into our house and stayed there.

Mason watched TV and I slept on the couch beside him.

The announcement was on the page by the time I got to look, yes, four weeks so I had better get organised.

March arrived home not long after I saw Faith's message. He had to go to the real estate agent to sign the last of the rental contracts, Town and Country will start setting up tomorrow.

It will be the second time May has stopped traffic, the first one was at the wellness centre, and the second was a long truck hauling her extra space up the road. It backed up behind the shop and dropped it straight onto the footings, we took photos and sent them to the page. I also sat outside the cafe and watched another truck with Town and Country blazoned across it, and stacks of cartons were unloaded, the town was busy today and May's cafe was even busier because the folk had to sit while they watched along with me. The conversations were all about the shops and the dance, ladies had already picked their outfits out and were not giving much away to each other.

The kids from the dig were coming up to get food and mum was flat out. I could hear her laughing at their comments, they must be asking her questions.

"You are the researchers kids, get on the net and look up barn dances."

"That's a good idea Mrs, Wilson, thank you." One student said.

When they got their food they sat at the last tables and got their phones out, they also asked the ladies what they should wear.

March came over, he had taken Mase to watch May's extra room get settled. He went to grab a pie today and my son had half a scone with gravy and a few chips, Sunny ate most of them.

"Does it look good?"

"Yes Nicky the fit is perfect and she's going to surround it with native plants to hide it some more. Dad's there checking it out, I think he's waiting for the town and country one to arrive before he decides on which one to order."

"He will need a bigger one March, toilets tea room and storage."

"He is going to use the attic for some storage but he will need loads more."

"Or he can fill the shop up with the excess." I offered my opinion.

I noticed Jack had hung some cowboy costumes outside his shop, I hope he's got plenty, the kids had started going through them. There will be no joy from the spunky one we fancied on the first day, he bought one of them, boring. Maybe he will let me tart it up a bit for him.

"You can take the mini home today, Ron's only got a few finishing touches to do."

"Good, then I can look at it all the time like dad does with his."

"I look at mine all day Nicky."

"I know you do." I grinned.

"Hank is going to drop off a few baby chickens for Mase at some stage."

"Does he need them?"

"He needs to know all about the cycle of life. They will be newly hatched chicks, he can put them in the tub and watch them swim around."

"Won't they miss their mummy?"

"Only for a week or so Nicky, then they go back home."

"Good luck with that March."

He looked at me then pulled his phone out and rang Hank.

"Cancel that request Hank, he won't want to give them back."

I smiled.

"Good decision, all we need is another tantrum." He had finished his pie and I got myself ready to move.

"What are you doing this afternoon Nicky?"

"Just some little things March I have to clean up some loose ends then I might go home, there's weeding to do before autumn hits us."

"I will be home early, the cars can wait."

"You do that." I grinned.

I walked across the road with our son and his dog, then went out the back, I could see May's new rooms and they were a perfect fit. The guys were hooking it up to power and water and she should be ready to go by tomorrow afternoon.

The next day workers arrived and trucks were unloaded, some council guys were there mapping out the zebra crossing, things are happening fast around here. I looked through Town and Country windows and some people were in there setting up racks, it was good to see Ron there doing the shelving for them. The next was May's, Barry was in there doing the signage, and she also had heaps of boxes stacked up high to one side. The hardware shop was empty, dad had better lift his game or he will miss out on the opening celebrations. The information centre already had their familiar signs up and some ladies were in it setting things up. As I walked back I talked to the council workers they had prioritised the crossing because it has now become urgent. I also found out one of the ladies who needed a job badly in town was doing her safety training to look after it. There will be flashing lights and plenty of warning signs up and down the road. I had no idea when the roundabout would be installed. March was sitting on the bench outside the gym when I got back so I worded him up on everything.

"You did so well Nicky, the town can now see the fruits of your hard work."

"It was needed March, and it wasn't hard to organise, I would do anything for the betterment of this town."

"They know it, I was just thinking that it would be nice if the water tower was included." I almost glared at him.

"What water tower?"

"About a mile out of town that way, the railway used to come through here but it was abandoned many years ago. The only thing left is the old water tower."

"Is it nice, I haven't seen it."

"You wouldn't Nicky, it's all overgrown and hidden from the road. Some kids turned it into a cubby house years ago but it's been long empty."

"We can find out who owns it March and turn it into a stunning home."

"We already have one of those Nicky."

The seed has been planted and there was very little about it on the internet when I went searching, I had better go and have a look at it and call in to see Jan and Michelle. If it's old it will come under the heritage umbrella. I imagined picnic tables railway memorabilia, another tourist attraction. I jumped in my car and went for a drive. I passed it several times because it was hard to see from the road, I parked and then waded through the bush.

It was magnificent, how could a beautiful building like this be ignored for so long? I saw the remnants of an old track but it went nowhere, I guess the scrap metal yards have been harvesting it. The cubby was still there, but very much screamed abandoned. A red brick building with an iron water tank on top, an iron staircase took me almost to the top and a window up there had a view of the tree tops, which gave me another idea.

Trains aren't as popular as they were years ago, but tree-top walks are. I have to find out who owns it and the surrounding property. This isn't part of March's land but someone will own it.

I sat on a tree stump and started making notes, restoration was needed but it wouldn't take much it was still in good nick, they built things to last in the old days. I grabbed my notebook and went back to the car, then I headed to the museum. I loved coming here it's looking so good now, the girls have done a fabulous job.

"Hi Nicky, just a visit?" Jan said smiling.

"No, I came for another kiss." Which she did immediately.

"Now that's over what can you tell me about the old water tower?"

"It's still owned by the railways as far as I know, they don't look after it and given time it will be swallowed up by the forest. I have some photos of when it was being built, it was a big deal to have the train go by the town once upon a time. Not a lot of people know about it because it's not safe for kids to play in." She found the photo album and showed me the photos they had. It was beautiful and the workmen who were leaning on shovels looked so proud of their finished product. Nothing has changed with workers they are still leaning on their shovels.

"Is there something big going to happen to it?"

"Maybe, March has me at it again. I didn't even know it existed." She laughed and then said.

"Another one of his quiet hints Nicky?"

"Yes, he planted the seed," I laughed.

"What plan have you got so far?"

"Well I climbed to the top and although the trees block the views I was thinking maybe a tree-top walk would be in order. An old train would look good too, with some tables but no barbeques, fire danger. A picnic spot and maybe a flying fox for the kids."

"Sounds about right, the tourists will love it."

"That's my idea, and for another kiss can you keep it to yourself for the moment, it may never happen but I will give it a try." She collected her kiss and of course, she noted it on the local page.

'Mrs Nudge three, Mr Nudge three. Dead heat.'

So many comments and laughing emojis were posted.

I researched the property and indeed it was still owned by the railway. I then composed an email and will send it off after I talk to March and Brenda.

"Nicky, do you want to take the mini home now, I can bring you back?"

"Good idea March, I'll follow you." I started the car and was once again like a kid in a carnival car. I watched him lift the garage door then I drove in in. I carefully covered it and walked out to his truck.

"Did you go look at the water tower"

"Yes March, as you knew I would."

"It's a beauty isn't it?"

"Yes, it sure is."

"Any ideas?"

"Nope, coffee time March."

He looked at me several times on the way back, and there was a slight smile on his face, he knew I was up to something. We checked on Mason he was just waking up, little Rosie and Jason were with him in May's place.

"Did you get any info Jase?"

"No Nicky, mum didn't have anything to show of my ancestry, so I guess I will forever wonder about those people in that photo."

"I am sure you were related at one stage or another, let's hope the students will come up with something."

"Yes they are doing a great job, how's March settling down?"

"He's good he's just put me on a wild goose chase again, it's the little things that bother him."

"Don't I know that well, when we talked he was meticulous when he told me everything down to the finest detail."

"Well, nothing has changed."

Mason came out with me and his daddy picked him up and cuddled him. I went to make the coffee and all I could hear was 'Toot Toot'

I guess he will want a train now.

I didn't go on about the tower, I made more inquiries and yes, the Victorian Heritage department was very interested, in fact they will negotiate with the transport department on our behalf. I will shoot Brenda's email off to them so they can let her know how it all went. When I told March what I had done he smiled and was pleased I had learnt all about delegating.

"It's the tree-top walk and maybe a flying fox that will need our attention."

"Parks and gardens Nicky."

"Coming up."

That self-satisfied look on his face didn't leave until he turned the lights out but before I went to sleep I said.

"Any other hidden gems around March?"

"That's all Nicky, the town is settled now. Good night."

"Good night March." I smiled and then snuggled in.

It was three days later when I got the call.

"We need you up at the chambers for an emergency meeting." Brenda was on the phone when I got to work, she sounded excited about something.

"Okay, what time?"

"Ten am."

"I'll be there."

"What's it all about Nicky, she never calls an emergency meeting."

"Stuffed if I know but it must be important May."

"Has Mason got play school?"

"Yes, you can walk up with us."

The news was good, Brenda had an email from Heritage Victoria and they have done a deal with the transport department, restorers will be sent to the tower in a few weeks to work on it and clear the entrance road.

"How the hell did they find out about it?"

"I don't have a clue Mrs Mayor," I said.

"Well they will restore and power it up, but we have to come up with something to do with it."

"Tree top walk, flying fox for the kids things like that."

"It was you again, why didn't you run it past us first?"

"Take the bull by the horns, when the opportunity is staring you in the face mayor. Too many cups of tea and cake for you I think."

I could hear March sitting just inside the door laughing.

"We knew about the tower but didn't know what to do with it because it's not ours."

"It is now," I smirked and went on.

"Is that all mayor, do we need to vote or something?"

Joel and Nudge joined in March's laughing and May was in stitches, Brenda was stunned into silence.

"Will you be able to handle it, my fine lady?" I added.

"Of course. I can handle it, and Nicky?"

"Yes?"

"Let the elections begin because you won't have a chance."

"I never said I was running for your job mayor, but if you need me too I will."

"Get out, go home and knit some booties or something this is my chair."

"If you say so mayor." I winked at her and then bowed.

"Have a nice day your honour."

"Go home."

When we arrived back at the cafe March got a call. I could tell it was Brenda on the other end because he put a very proud look on his face.

"That's not the way I wanted it to happen, he was supposed to ask the members first."

"Yes, but you know how he is, and you didn't have to do any work, Nicky did the hard yards."

"Yes, I will remind him."

"She wants me to remind you that you can't keep doing that without the council's permission."

"Is she happy about it?"

"Of course she is, she's in awe of you."

"Then we don't have to worry too much about any red tape."

He kissed me and said that was from Brenda and then once again from him.

Mum and May had been laughing in the shop, I guess she's telling her about our new acquisition. I overheard mum say.

"That's my boy."

Now I have the council organised, I will concentrate more on the charity side of things. We picked Mason up and we then went back to work, he wanted to sit in an old Wolseley, he loves the leather seats to lay on, so I indulged him until he went to sleep. I did some research on the laptop and bookmarked a few pages I wanted to read later, then I had a nap myself. March woke me up when he opened the car door.

"It's home time Nicky, Masons here with me."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"I thought you may need some sleep because it's going to be a late night."

"Eh?"

"Well the shed missed out today so I plan to take advantage of you tonight, so it will be a late one."

"I see, so you have it all planned out then?"

"I do."

"Lead the way, husband."

I gathered up my things and we headed home. The backyard was his first port of call and as I sat at the table I could hear Mason's laughter, March was giving him a 'Sheep' ride. I put the dinner on and then went to sit out the back to watch my family. March was trying to entice Mason to come up to the porch but he was now talking to his chooks. He came anyway and sat with me.

"How is your hand?" I showed him the pink mark and said.

"Really good March, no dramas are expected."

"Good."

"What are we having for dinner?"

"I put a pasta bake in the oven."

"I like that."

"It won't be long do you want to tub it before we eat?"

"Yes please." Anything that gets March closer to me he's up for.

I dropped my shorts and he went to get Mason, instead of me sitting in his lap he sat in mine, I like it this way I get to touch all of him.

"Was Brenda pissed off with me?"

"No Nicky, I think she was amazed at how quickly you arranged it, she wants to offer you a job at the chambers. I told her you wouldn't take it."

"I won't, she will pass all my work back to me."

"That's what I thought, and I don't want you to take it because I like you being around all day."

"I do too March, Brenda's just wanting to pass on work, all this new stuff means she has to do some work."

"She likes her morning teas." He grinned.

"Well the town comes first, and anyway do we benefit from her meetings?"

"I doubt it, nothing much has been done here for years. The people she has cake with are her women's club friends she needs their votes."

"I see, so she's schmoozing them?"

"Precisely."

"March do we have many residents that could use a soup kitchen?"

He paused, I missed his rubbing.

"Not that I know of, and I doubt it would be a success up here, maybe one or two families may benefit from it but that's not all the time."

"I see, so I will shelve that idea."

"Better you do because although it would be good for the town the other towns would take advantage of it too, it's up to them to look out for their residents."

I didn't go on and I will shelve that idea, there's no need for me to do everything. I only do stuff to impress March but he doesn't need me to do that either.

Mason needed to be fed and March's stomach was grumbling so I got out and started putting the food out. He was right it was a late night and if I didn't know any better he deliberately held off so he could prove his point. I guess I had better make sure that shed is used every day.

At work in the morning everything went fine as usual, we had coffee and burgers for breakfast while Mason gave 'Hank' his morning exercise. The kids were excited about something they found and were rushing towards the back of the old shops. A tin box revealed some paperwork and small items, not unlike March's secret door where he kept his precious possessions. The paperwork was a title to the land the hut was built on and the items consisted of buttons, needles and cotton, some fancy hat pins. The sort of things a lady would keep but no hint on who owned it, just the title. It would have belonged to one of the other families in the photo, one clever young lady matched the hat pins up to a woman in the photo she was the only one with a hat on. This is an exciting find, although not a box of gold it was gold in the student's eyes, they had never seen such a personal example of life in the eighteen hundreds.

Jan and Michelle had been called to assess it all and I stayed out of it.

March and dad went back to work and I sat in the gym.

"Don't even think about it Nudge, the score is even and March is still unhappy it happened.

"Sorry Nicky, we discussed it last night and decided we would behave ourselves."

"So why the look when I came in."

"I was going to congratulate you on your efforts with the water tower."

"That's okay then, it was easier for me to just get it done than call meetings. everyone is so busy around here now."

"And we have you to thank for that, I was talking to Jan last night she doesn't know of any more gems around town except the museum, although our house is federation it could do with a lick of paint."

"Don't you dare, don't you dare ask." He's trying to do an Ethan and get some free service.

"Oh, so our romance is over then."'

"Yes, and there's no free painting."

I am being hounded and anyway, he's got Barry to use if his house needs a facelift, he's the local painter.

"Give Barry some work."

"He's busy with the new shops and he has a show to do next week."

"What show?"

"He's got an event in the next town at a gallery. He's not only the local painter, signage man, he's a true artist Nicky."

"Why don't I know that."

"The leaflet has been on your notice board all week, don't you look at it?"

I got up and went to look, and there it was in all its bright colours. Gallery 54 event, showcasing Barry Bowden's amazing artworks. The date and times were added and I will be there with my husband.

"Does he sell many?"

"Yes Nicky, he does well but he only has this event once a year he's too busy with other work. We have three of his paintings on our walls at home."

"I will be there Nudge and why doesn't he have it in this town?"

"No gallery Nick, we have tried to convince him to go full-time time but he has a mortgage to pay off."

"I thought March was helping with that"

"He has, he paid the loan off at the bank and Barry pays March, no interest, like he did for Jan and myself."

"He helped you out too?"

"Yes and Joel."

"He never said, but Barry told me about his but not yours."

"He wouldn't, Joel and ours are fully paid but Barry struggles a bit."

I will go to that gallery and buy a painting, that will help a bit.

May was running back and forth to her new shop and Jason was with her she had another delivery and when I went outside her shop counters were being unloaded with quite a few bookshelves. I took a walk up to her shop to have a look, it was busy and as the shelves were put into place along one wall she was opening cartons and stacking packets of sweets on them. She had two large ice cream freezers on the other side and counters across the back. Tables and chairs were stacked up in the middle, Barry had done some old-fashioned signs that hung over the counter, plus one over the ice cream one with all the different flavours on it. I looked at it and my mouth watered, I will have to limit Mason and March's visits here.

"Give me a hand Nicky, those cartons have to be stacked on the next set of shelves."

I did her bidding and started doing the same thing she was doing.

"Prices?"

"I'll do them tonight, the ice cream will be delivered tomorrow and I should be open by the weekend."

"That quick?"

"Yes Nicky, I'm not going with the whole music and chrome, just old fashioned sweets milkshakes hot dogs and ice creams, this will do for a start and I can delete or add stock as it sells."

"Sounds good some of these sweets have been around for years."

"The company specialises in them Nicky, the ice creams are up to date. I am thinking maybe putting in some cakes, homemade stuff fresh cream stock. The tourists will love them."

"What happens when winter arrives, the ice creams won't sell fast.

"They do Nicky, I will keep ice cream cakes for kids birthdays, and some people will eat ice cream any time of the year."

"Well I guess you have done your homework, I wish you the very best."

"Don't stop there Nicky more shelves to be filled." I spent another half hour there and when Jason came to help I slipped away.

I wasn't to know, but Vic Tourism had two busloads of people coming up on the weekend to view the dig. I suppose May has the inside gossip, and I bet she does open on Saturday. Dad is way behind all the others. The lights were on at the Info centre and some ladies were standing behind their perfectly set up shop. They have tons of them all over Australia I suppose it's all done by clockwork. I had welcomed them last week so I didn't need to call in.

Town and Country was filling up, clothes had been hung on racks, and boots and shoes had their own wall space, hats, bridals, saddles and assorted riding gear along with an array of belts with the biggest buckles I have ever seen. They are almost set up and I suppose it will be Saturday for them also. They have hired temporary workers from the town their management is from the city and I heard when they train their staff, those jobs will go to the best ones, so it will be locally run.

Four stores and a very colourful exciting time for the town.

Donations are always gratefully accepted at Nifty