Chapter 15
March Stephenson
Maxieplus.
While Jason slept I did the veggies, mum, and dad turned up and received their gifts, they were mainly tourist gifts but some nice t-shirts were amongst them. Mum got a nice blouse and dad a loud shirt. My living room was full of bright things and March's stack was the biggest. I liked the cotton pants he got with an embroidered dragon down one leg, he had better not wear them to work.
"Have a good play March, and all I bought you has now been given, so no going through my suitcases. I need to nap, sorry long flight." She smiled.
"We will make up some food for you May and leave it in the oven," Mum said.
She kissed everyone and the jet lag appeared in her eyes. We were very quiet when she left and mum organized our dinners, it was too cold to sit outside so March with all his toys sat at the table. Thai salt and pepper shakers, dancers, and the three wise monkeys with assorted toys from other countries, fridge magnets that will be placed on the door when he's finished looking at them. A cd of Cambodian music May had loved, we had a great night and the town relaxed because May and Jason were back safely.
They were up the next morning having their dinner, March joined them.
"You should have gone longer sis, it seems like you were only away a week or two."
"Next year brother around the world experience." He went quiet again.
He has sandwiches for morning tea and one made-up roast for lunch. I just had sandwiches.
"What are your plans for today?"
"I need to go to work and check everything is all right, then I may go home for another nap," May said.
"We will go home soon and sleep all day, the cafe is in good hands," Jason said.
"I feel like I could sleep for a week." She answered him.
"Then do it May, mums got it all covered," March said.
"Thank you brother I did miss you." She smiled and then stroked his cheek.
They hugged while I helped Jason place the suitcases in my car, I will get March to drive me over some time to pick it up.
When they left I was on all fours in front of the fire, I was collecting a present from him and when I moaned very loud, he had to turn me around to look into my eyes, that's better.
"The driveway has turned to slush."
"That's because it snowed last night."
"It did, why didn't you wake me?"
"There wasn't enough to get excited about Nicky, but it's coming."
I was disappointed but then he explained to me that it turned to water quickly, hence the slush. We got to work a little late, but there were only three guys in the gym and March had two cars to do, they were so cute.
"What are those?" I knew what they were but feigned ignorance.
"Isetta, fifty-four models and no you can't drive them." He laughed as dad went ape shit over them.
"They are here for an oil change and a brake check, but no driving they are too fragile."
"Fragile, bulldust March Stephenson you must think I came down in the last shower, now give me a drive and stop being so precious."
He grinned and said.
"A little drive to the end of the workshop and back, then I will take them around the block."
I crossed my arms and tapped my foot.
"Looks like your in the dog house tonight and it's going to snow."
"Nicky please don't be so awful to me, you can drive them but no speeding and watch the sludge on the road."
"That's better, dad I will give you a race." I laughed at his face I know these cars are very sought after and are quite expensive.
I opened the front door and sat in the seat while March showed me the clutch and brake pedals, just sitting in one was awesome. In reality, they were just small shopping carts, but the mini was more powerful, but these were cute also.
I was only playing with March there is no way I would drive one of these cars, I don't do stick shift very well so I would be crunching gears all up the street. He can take me for a ride, I'm sure I would fit in it. I went for a coffee and to talk to mum, she was busy making sandwiches so I got behind the machine.
"Let me do that Nicky you go and sit down," Rose said.
"Thank you Rose and I will have a piece of that carrot cake also."
"Coming up sunshine." She smiled.
I took myself out the front and sat under the overhead heaters, the clouds were very low and grey.
"It will snow soon Nicky, those are snow clouds." Rose was behind me.
"When do you think Rose, tonight?"
"For sure it will tonight, but I reckon in about four seconds."
"What?"
I looked up and saw the small flakes coming down, it wasn't heavy but what would I know, this is my first sighting.
I stood up and it got a little heavier, then I raced into the street and spun around screaming at the top of my lungs. I have seen beauty before but never this kind, and I loved it.
March grabbed me and wanted to know what happened.
"It's snowing March," I grabbed his face and kissed him as the flakes dropped around us.
"We had better get off the road Nicky it's dangerous." I looked up and down the street there wasn't a car in sight.
"Yeah real dangerous." I swanned up and down the street and was covered in white frozen drops. I guess everyone had the same reaction when they see snow for the first time.
He got me off the road and hugged me.
"This is so fucking awesome March, when do we make snowmen?"
"Not yet Nick, the snow has to be a lot deeper."
"What, I have to wait that long?'
"I told you we could take a run up the mountain."
"Let's go we can take the shopping carts."
He laughed very loudly then he steered me back towards the cafe.
"Thank you Rose,"
"My pleasure Nicky, hopefully, there will be more on the way, the kids love it." She grinned.
"And you don't?"
"It's a bit messy for me, mostly it turns to slush but I have a feeling it's going to snow all night seeing you are here, you seem to have brought plenty of good luck with you."
"I'm not a lucky person Rose, I have never won a prize."
"You didn't have to Nicky, you already won the main prize, March Stephenson, you helped May become a woman of the world, and you brought smiles and jobs to this little town of ours, especially to my face. So it will snow all night so the kids can build snowmen tomorrow, that is luck Nicky, not some useless raffle prize." I looked at her and then I hugged her.
"Go on March, hug Rose." I winked at her. He was shy all of a sudden but he did hug her, and she grabbed his ass in the process. He yelped and I laughed again. I stood back from the verandah and faced the falling drops licking my lips as I smiled.
There was some traffic around lunchtime May came up the street in my car followed by Jason.
"Come on May let's build a snowman,"
"Nicky there is no snow, it's breaking up on the road."
"We can collect a bucket full then."
"Take a picture, it will last longer." She laughed and went inside, Rose came out again with more coffee. March left the cars with dad, who I was sure will be doing a fine job.
May and mum came to sit with us the overhead heating was warming the tables so we were joined by some shoppers at another table. March suddenly jumped up and went to his truck, he had forgotten his lunch. He stuck it in the microwave and my mouth was watering as he grinned and ate his big meal.
Dad came over and said the jobs were done, the oil had been changed and the water topped up, brakes are fine.
He looked at me and I nodded. We raced across the road and got in the red one. He was a good driver my father and very careful as March hurried to finish his meal. We were up the road and around the corner by the time he left the garage, and he didn't catch up with us. We laughed so much that dad crunched the gears and I yelled out.
"Whoops."
What an awesome day it was, I watched out the window all afternoon, small drops were still falling but nothing significant and May was right it was turning the road into more slush.
"Mum it's fish and chips tonight our place or yours?"
"Yours Nicky, I don't think March has stopped playing with his gifts." She laughed.
Jason had gone to do some weights and May was checking the finances and stock, she wasn't worried that someone would take stuff, she just catching up with work again.
"Did you have any trouble with the pies mum?"
"Not at all May, they were more than happy to deliver them here."
"I never thought of that." She giggled. Well miss perfect, you're not so perfect after all. I guess mum has streamlined a lot of things in that shop, May will be happy I'm sure of it.
It lightly snowed again during the afternoon and then it rained, my sad face was appearing.
The cars were picked up by a transport truck and I waved them goodbye, I then searched them on the web and found a few for sale, but they were all in the UK or USA, then I looked at classic Minis. We got home just after five, it was freezing, but not inside. He put more logs in the fire and turned the fan onto full blast. I was looking out the back door all I could see were our trees and bushes, but no snow.
Mum and dad arrived and March went to get our orders, she had a look at his flimsy cotton pants May had bought him and said she could transfer the dragon onto his overalls if I liked. I had a closer look at them they were pretty snazzy. I also thought he wouldn't wear them there's no place around here for fancy clothes except the hotel, but he could put them on to meditate. I had put all his trinkets on the side table, he looked at them a few times and even picked them up, they will eventually end up in a cupboard and over time forgotten.
They hogged the big parcel when it arrived and to her credit mum shooed them away.
"Nicky, get your dinner first or there will be nothing left." She had her plate in hand and watched the two men, they had hopeful looks on their faces.
We grabbed what we wanted then sat and the men looked at her.
"Yes, we are finished." It was a full-on feeding frenzy. Dad was talking about the little cars and March said they were from a private collection. He also said he had been to see it and was amazed, the car collection was stacked up in a big hangar outside of Melbourne. The owner had a transport company and was hooked on old cars. The truck that picked them up was specially made to cart the cars around to car shows and events. Mum and I talked about Mays cafe, she thought she would keep Rose on part-time and May might get more involved with Jason's business, March again went quiet.
"She is in love March, and quite frankly she's kind of babysat you all your life, isn't it about time she had a life of her own?" I said this while we had a hot tub after mum and dad had left.
"I know Nicky but I don't have to like it. For a long time, it was just May and me."
"You have me now baby, I can look after you well." I grinned.
"But she needs me,"
"I need you also."
The flakes started to fall just as we climbed onto the big sofa, he wrapped a blanket around us and we watched through the windows.
"Still slush baby."
"Okay, can you take me skiing on the weekend?"
"No, I don't ski."
"Then we make a snowman and bring him home." He laughed then turned into me and went to sleep. I didn't think that was an unusual request, we could collect buckets of it and make one here.
"It melts very quickly Nicky, there has to be a lot of it to keep it frozen."
"Oh." Well, maybe I don't know everything.
The next day I was sitting at my desk at work when I got an official-looking email. It was from the parole board of Victoria.
My name has been mentioned in one of their interviews with Matthew Shore. He had implied that I would be responsible for him if they released him from the rehabilitation facility. They were confirming that this was correct and would I advise them if this is not the case.
I went to look for dad, he will know how to answer this email. March was bent over a car so I slapped his butt as I walked by.
"Dad, can you come and have a look at this email I just got?"
"Give me three minutes son." He had a wheel in his hands and was just about to put it back on the car he was working on.
"In your own time dad." I smiled and walked back to the gym. Someone who we won't mention slapped my butt as I walked by him.
"Thanks mister," I said.
It was pretty boring at work, yes my men and women came in to train but they all had warm clothes on and so did March and myself. No shorts for Nicky but still overalls with March. The sad thing was he had a woolen jumper on underneath and his track pants, it gets pretty cold in the workshop, and he had told me he worries about shrinkage. It took dad more than three minutes to come to see me and he had that special friend of mine with him. I showed him the email and he laughed.
"I think the solicitor should answer this for you son. What do you want to say?"
"That under no circumstances will I be responsible for him, and if he comes within fifty meters of me I will take out an AVO against him."
"I think you had better get one anyway Nicky," March said.
"What now?"
"Not right now, I meant in the next week or two."
"Could be a good plan son, I will call the solicitor then send on the email."
"I have no idea why he would mention me, dad. I want nothing to do with him."
"Have you told him that Nicky?" My man asked.
"Well no I suppose not, but his mum knows I don't want him hanging around."
"We will request an AVO then. I will call my lawyers office in a minute. But first I need coffee."
"Me too," March said.
"Me three." I followed them across the road and we ordered morning tea.
May was there and so were Rose and mum, it will take May a few days to settle back in. She sat with us because mum had a crowd to feed, the soup was delicious as I help myself to one and a buttered bread roll. March put his sad face on when I sat down.
"You ordered a pastie March."
"But I forgot about the soup, can I have some?"
May got up and my man ended up with a pastie and soup. His grin was priceless, with my buttered roll I wasn't going to match his meal, but it was filling. We talked a little about Matt's request but I won't allow it, he can go back to his mum's place and after his post about me on the local page he has done his dash for good.
The rain pelted down and I looked at Rose, she shrugged her shoulders and I expected a big apology from her. But she was right about one thing I had won the first prize with March Stephenson. The shed was out now its too cold, and the toilets were not very convenient with guys in the gym. I had heating installed and when March and dad weren't busy they would sit with me and stay warm.
When we got back dad rang the solicitor and then emailed the inquiry to them. They can handle the response.
We had featured on the local page driving the Isetta's around, most people wanted to know what they were but a lot called them go-carts. They will have to wait for the Minis to come back, then they will see a race to remember.
As soon as we got in I took the roast beef out of the slow cooker. I did the veggies and put them in the oven. March showered and then sat on the end of the sofa in the nude, he was playing pin-up boy, I could have jumped him the second he had his track pants off but I wanted a show from him, and I got a great one. With all my annoying jobs out of the way, we snuggled on the sofa and made love. It had been a long day and he was ready for any scraps I threw his way. I looked out the back and there was light snow, so I went about making up some plates. There is just March and I tonight and he had been sitting at the table looking very pleased with himself.
"What's up?"
"No work tomorrow or the day after Nick I can sit in with you, what will we do for the day?"
"I don't know, maybe play cards?"
"You should shut and we can go up the mountains, the nearest snowfield is twenty k's away."
"Can't do that March, the boys have exams during the day."
"We can play cards then." He smiled then I placed his big plate on the table, he did wait for me to sit down and again he smiled.
"You have one for later and one for breakfast, and one for lunch, I have sandwiches." I laughed.
"Well done Nicky, this is perfect."
"Just like you." I kissed his gravy-covered lips.
I hadn't noticed it until I looked up then my eyes went to the backyard, it was snowing heavily.
He looked and said.
"It will be like that all night Nicky, please don't stay up looking at it."
"I won't baby, hurry up let's get into the tub and watch it."
He didn't hurry he was savouring every bite, I didn't take as much as he did so I finished and was naked within minutes. I jumped in the tub and watched it snow, the ground was slowly turning white and I enjoyed the view, and I got some good photos. He jumped in beside me and I held him as we talked about things as they were. He didn't want me to have any contact with Matt and once again I promised I wouldn't at any stage. I was happy dad had a good solicitor who is a no-nonsense kind of guy. March asked me why he would even mention me. I told him because he's an addict maybe his brain is scrambled, he did do a lot of party drugs when I was with him.
During the night I woke several times to look out the windows I could see the whiteness covering the tree branches, but by morning it was raining again and it all disappeared. I wasn't sad about it I was grateful I had seen it at long last, now my next item on my wish list is to beat March at playing poker.
Dad took the day off and was going to go and look at Jason's business I think. I had suggested I go with him but March pouted so I will stay with him.
Rose nudged me and I told her I had a wonderful night watching the snowfall.
"Just wait until it gets colder Nicky, then you will know snow." She winked.
I had no idea at the time what Rose said would be fact. The temperature dropped and for the next few weeks we were below zero, the snow fell relentlessly and I managed to build my snowman. He sat proudly in the backyard March had stuck a carrot in his face for a nose poor thing he looked a little lopsided. Mum told me after I had built him that she had heard from her friend and Matt was out of rehab, he had found someone else to speak for him. By now his name wasn't mentioned in the tabloids at all, and his fan page had been closed down. I had read that his ex also had problems of her own, and I felt so sad for his little boy.
The phone call was unexpected and it took me by surprise. Matt was ringing me to con some money, I say con because I know his sleazy side and could pick a con man a mile off. He said his mum was very ill and he needed money for the operation.
"Matt please don't ring me here."
"Nick, I have a job but it doesn't pay much can you help mum out?"
"No, and don't contact me again." I hung up I should have said more but I was too furious to even think of excuses. March had heard me and came to sit for a while, he didn't say anything so I knew he was after an explanation. When I calmed down I told him, then he kissed my mouth and went back to his workshop. I told mum and dad what happened and she confirmed that Annie was in good health, so her neighbour had told her.
The cold got to me and my feet always felt it first. I took to wearing wool-lined boots and two pairs of socks, March had taken me to another town and bought me the boots, they weren't very fashionable but they were the best we could get. His winter gear didn't allow for any sexiness but I have to tell you it didn't diminish my eagerness to strip him as soon as we got in the door. Thankfully the heater in this cottage is tops.
"I have to go to the Prendergast farm tomorrow Nicky, they want their tractors serviced."
"Can't you put it off until the weather improves?"
"Yes, but they hold them up in the big barn it's warm in there so I don't mind."
"What's the urgency?"
"They will need them soon and they have a lot of work to do."
"All right baby, but rug up and make sure you have blankets and extra dry clothes in the truck."
"I do Nicky, this year has been particularly bad. I haven't seen so much snow here, plenty of frosts but not snow."
"Well, it is awesome to look at, and that's something else I will cross off my bucket list."
He snuggled into me and the fire did its job and warmed the cottage.
I was a bit put out that he was going and I had planned to take the day off myself. The guys that use the gym will look after it for me they all have keys, and there are not many that come by only the die-hards.
Dad didn't have any work and if petrol was needed, May or mum would run across the road to do it.
I cooked him a big boy's breakfast and made sure he will get something to eat while he is there, he told me its a given especially on a farm, they have morning tea and lunch provided. I did slip a couple of sweets into his pocket just in case.
I did some washing and hung it out on the clotheshorse we kept in the home office, it will dry by the morning. I sat and looked at the laptop then I started thinking about making something special for dinner.
I then looked out the window, my snow had started falling again and as I watched my snowman being covered up I heard a knock on the door.
When I opened it my jaw dropped, then I felt pain and dropped to the floor. Matt had arrived with his mate.
Unbeknown to me at the time they ransacked the house, they took everything they thought was valuable, even the emergency money I kept in a tin in the kitchen, my wallet was left but my cards and cash were gone.
When I came to, I was laying in the mud along with some snow somewhere out in the open. My head throbbed and my arms and legs were numb. I opened my eyes and saw nothing that was familiar. Cold, it was so cold and I started shaking. Left with just a windcheater and track pants on, there was no insulation from the wet ground and the cold. My head ached and thumped more when I started trying to move around, it took me ages to lift it, and when I did there was a vision of the familiar rocks and iced-over river. I blacked out again, for how long I didn't know, but it was night time before I would come to again. It was still snowing, and I was covered in it. I shook so badly I nearly screamed with hurt, the cold hurt, the snow hurt, and my head hurt so badly.
I couldn't fathom why Matt and his mate had bought me here, maybe because he read about it on the page. He would know no one comes here in winter, he is trying to kill me, I knew that for sure. I shook uncontrollably I had to take some deep breaths to try and calm my body down. I hoped I still had my phone on me, it was buried deep in one of the sweat pant pockets. I guess Matt didn't go looking for it, every now and then I would hear it ping but my brain was telling me I was imagining it. I actually thought I had a stroke again, my limbs were non compliant I was freezing to death and literally could not move
I looked up at the sky, the snow fell relentlessly, I was being buried alive and I will die tonight, I was very sure of that. My shaking had reached a fever pitch and I nearly dislocated my arm trying to get to the phone. I managed to pull my wet muddy track pants up as far as I could, I couldn't feel my hands or feet but I exhausted every possibility until some time before dawn, and after a few more blackouts, I managed to get the pocket closer to my mouth. The next time I came too I made a final effort to unzip it with my teeth, it took me ages and I nearly died of hurt. I finally managed to squeeze the phone out and it sat there silently in the mud. I cried because I felt so helpless, and I regretted not saying goodbye to March as my body was slowly shutting down.
In my desperate attempt to use the dead looking phone, I picked up a small twig from the ground with my mouth then I lifted my knees and pushed the phone upwards towards my upper body. I remembered that the signal was rubbish here sometimes, so I didn't hold out any hope of it working properly. The shaking started again and I couldn't hold onto my stick my lips were too numb. Waking again it was dawn I had survived my night in the open. I had no energy and was half buried in snow which was now falling heavily again, with no coverings I will surely die today, the temperature was well below zero. I felt like I was destined to shiver forever and no amount of deep breathing would make it calm down. There was no feeling in my body at all and I watched my phone, it started to ping a lot as it lit up, and messages were coming through fast, then it rang and rang so I manage to get that stick in my mouth after a lot of struggling and stabbed at it hoping I would eventually get lucky. I succeeded to stab at the SOS button, then I tried the answer button again and had some success. I could hear a very desperate person on the line but no words, it was too far away from my throbbing head.
"Mmmmmmmm," My mouth didn't work, and whoever it was had stopped.
"Coooollllldd." I shook violently.
"Cooollldd hheeelllp mmeee."
I collapsed again, leaving whoever it was on the other end now screaming down the phone, the shaking took over again and I blacked out.
When I woke I was somehow a bit warmer, but the shaking began again. I could feel warm breath on my face and when I managed to open my eye's a little I could see March's face.
"It will be okay Nicky, I have you, the ambulance will be here soon. Don't speak and I will hold you until they come, March is here baby hang on." He blew warm air over me again, and for some unknown reason, we were both naked. I was told later on that it's the quickest way of warming someone up in cold situations, I had concussion and hypothermia.
As we lay there March Stephenson talked to me, he was keeping me awake and telling me how much he loved me, we both had tears and I wasn't quite listening, I was so scared. Dad and mum arrived before the ambulance and they had more blankets, I was cocooned in them as mum tried to calm me. I still shook even though I was warm and you can add in the total panic attack I had in front of them. I babbled on about leaving them and how much I loved them and even apologised for my death. The ambulance finally arrived after manoeuvring around the mountain road, having to contend with snow drifts and slippery roads, it had to come from the next town, I heard a lot of talking and then I was wrapped up properly and carried back to the van. I screamed because I hurt, I had been in that one position all night and it felt like every bone in my body was frozen, brittle and breaking.
I looked at March he was sitting in the ambulance wrapping a blanket around himself, and I managed to say.
"How?" I said.
"The satellite was out all night, it came on again this morning and I started pinging you." He didn't smile, I didn't think I would ever see my March's smile ever again.
There are no recollections after that last glance, at the hospital the doctors worked on me for ages, they were debating whether they should amputate some of my toes and in the end, they took my middle toe away. My fingers were bad but will come good they decided, thank God.
When I woke up my hands and feet were wrapped up in thick bandages, I looked to my side and saw March. After having a coughing fit I managed.
"How bad am I?"
"Nicky, not too bad, try and get some rest."
"Did you catch them?'
"Catch who?"
"Matt and his mate, they took me there to die March."
He jumped off the chair and looked at someone.
"I told you it was him in that footage."
I looked over and standing there was a detective, who took his phone out and I heard him say.
"We have confirmation hold them until I get there."
He then came over to the bed and I told him all I knew which wasn't much. He told me that they had picked them up after March had gone to the local police station with the security camera footage of me being carried out to their car. Unfortunately, it didn't show him where they took me, or their faces. He had reported the robbery also and Matt and his friend were picked up going into the city. They got our stuff back, but there was no sign of me and they had denied everything.
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