March Stephenson

Chapter 7

March Stephenson

Maxieplus

We sat and he sipped his coffee, he said he should be looking for the part, and I offered him a pie and sauce.

"Nick thank you, but I am busy as you well know."

"No your not, I have help arriving soon."

"What help?"

"Dad."

"How can he help?"

"When he was at mechanics school he was top of the class for taking things apart and you know what he got an A for?"

"No,"

"Rebuilding oil pumps, he did one in under an hour and a half, a record that still stands."

"He what?"

"You heard me, pie my lovely?" I asked again.

"Yes please."

"He hasn't done one for years so he said it may take him three hours but he hasn't forgotten how to do one."

"Does he want a job?"

"Ask him, he did take early retirement and I think he's sometimes bored."

I winked, May looked at me and smiled.

"Welcome to the family, you know where the pies are, get yourself one and I might have one today, thank you."

I stared at her and made a noise,

"So I'm working for March and you now?"

"You got it in one." She said.

I went to serve my guests, and there will be no charge today.

Dad and mum arrived and they had to have coffee and more pies so I went to do that, May showed me how to work the coffee machine thank God.

Dad and March were in talks and he did say to him if he had any trouble finding parts just ring him he has contacts.

March looked at me he was almost crying but I still have to talk to him about accepting jobs when he's busy.

They finished up and May and mum were having a lovely natter about how her tea is making her aches and pains more bearable. She also had a list of complaints from friends who wanted to see if May had any cures or helpful hints.

As May looked through the list she smiled.

"I will need to ring these women to find out what the level of their discomfort is."

"Numbers are on the back May."

"Nicky, how would you like to help me in the shop, in reality, help make up my cures?"

"Done." We shook hands, two jobs in one day, March will be pleased I don't have to be driving all over the district I will be just across the road.

Mum was enjoying her time in the hills and I told her to bring her bathers next time we can go for a swim. I also said I will be buying a new bed so they can stay a day or two with us. I will get some bedside tables out of March's storage and a set of drawers for them to use.

We walked across the road and there was dad in a pair of March's new overalls going hammer and tongs on the item. He almost had it apart and March with dropped jaw was mesmerized.

I asked him for the key to the shed I wanted to get something. He passed them over and I said.

"Mum come with me."

I opened it and she was amazed.

"Now let's look for bedside tables and a set of drawers, I will get a new bed for that room what size do you have at home mum?"

"King."

"I will get one then."

"Get two Nicky one for your room, the one you're using was grans, it's time to get rid of it."

"I will get two then."

"We will pay for them as a housewarming present Nick, just give me the price and I will get dad to transfer the money."

"You don't have to do that mum."

"I do and we have the funds, I think by the look on your father's face we will be here lots over the next year or so. He does miss it, not the car yards but the nitty gritty work like he's doing now."

"I thought he looked a bit happy mum." She giggled.

"There's some over there." She pointed.

There were two very nice old bedside tables and we found a set of drawers that matched, I put them aside so we can take them home with us.

"Anything else you will need mum?"

"I don't think so, I have plenty of linen so don't buy that."

"What about covers?"

"Plenty but you may like to choose your own Nicky."

"I will mum."

We closed up after I took the tables out, I can put them in the back of the new car easily.

March was helping now he was bent over the engine doing something, probably cleaning up the mess. I nudged him he groaned.

"I know that's not your mum."

I laughed.

She had sat with dad and they were discussing the beds, he had no problem with that at all and will pay for them.

"March do you want to test this?"

"Have you finished already?"

"Yes two and a half hours, still got it." He yelled and punched the air.

March looked it over and deemed it a good job then they both reinstalled it and reoiled the car.

It started on the first go and did I see a tear in my dad's eyes. It was perfect and they slapped hands. They ran it for some time and then March took it for a spin, then dad did, but he took longer. He pulled up at the gas pump and March filled it.

"Customer service Nicky." He said proudly.

"I hope that goes on his account."

"Why?"

"Tell me something, do you fill all your customers cars up for free?"

"Only my special ones and this guy is a special customer."

"Well, we will have to talk about that also, all that free gas adds up you know."

"Groan." He's in for it tonight.

He made up an account and gave dad two hundred dollars, he looked at it and gave it back.

"Not today son, I had so much fun there will be no charge."

March was gobsmacked, maybe because he's always doing for people and they rarely do for him, or so I thought.

"Can I at least shout you a cake and coffee then Lance?"

"Call me dad, and yes that would be welcomed."

He took his overalls off and carefully hung them behind the door, I guess they are his now.

March rang his customer and he said he will be down in half an hour.

"Good, then we can go swimming."

"What's with the swimming son?" Dad asked as we sat down.

"Our secret swimming hole, we go there a lot."

"So I have heard." Mum smiled.

We didn't go swimming because mum and dad left late, they had a beef roll with us and a coffee, then mum loaded up her purchases and they left just on dusk.

"It's too late to go now." He was down in the dumps.

"You had better look on the side porch then." They had installed the hot tub today it was my getting-together surprise for him. He tripped over his undies as he moved to get into the water, I left my jock on so he could see it better.

The hand was covering my bits in no time then he started the bubbles and the kissing.

"How did you organize this?"

"Last week they didn't have to come inside they looked at it a few days ago while you were at work. I paid extra for a quick fill we can put the heat on nearer to winter"

"Must have cost a bomb."

"It's a present for you."

"And you."

"Yes and me." I kissed him again his hand snaked inside my jock.

I have been a busy boy and the first thing we do tomorrow is to have new business cards made up and he will have to buy me a mobile phone, so I can take bookings only. From now on he doesn't answer his phone unless he knows who is on the line.

I will do all his bookings and maybe will bring some order into his life. I told him I didn't want payment because it is just answering the phone and making notes. He insisted he pays me.

"Do you think your dad will help me sometimes?"

"They are buying us beds for a present, and they will be staying often when dad has work to do." He stared at me.

"He will be working part-time with you when you are busy or you have a special job, so leave it up to me."

"But they will be here in our space."

"Knowing them they will bring their caravan with them, so they will have some privacy."

"Good up the back I think, I don't want them using my hot tub all the time."

"Mum hates them." I smiled.

"Even better." he smiled.

He made me sit on the lip while he munched away at me, my jock was stretched to the limit as he enjoyed his ride.

He is far too good at this.

I took the side tables out of the truck and placed them in the room, he told me they had been his parents at the farm, so I loved them even more. We slept very well and he had a spring in his step when he jumped out of bed. We have to talk today I have a list of things I have to do, but I need his permission to go ahead. If I don't drag him with me he will be stuck forever in that garage. Today I will get the broom out and clean up a bit. Because he specializes in collector cars he does charge a good price, but yesterday with the petrol and him trying to pay dad eats into his profit so we fix that.

He was drinking his coffee and looking out the side window at the tub, I watched as he smiled then he nodded his head I think he likes living with me.

After breakfast we had a very long very passionate goodbye, he was off to work and I was going to sit at the table and work on some things. I had the tub tucked away from the kitchen window because I knew he was going to make it bigger, the installers said it can be moved later on. I had to go to the next big town and buy an under-bench front loader and dishwasher, I wasn't concerned with a dryer and I didn't want the kitchen to look like it was full of white goods.

He did say he will get them to place matching doors to conceal them, and have them placed on the fridge door, we will see.

I have no idea when he is going to start on it but a big hint arrived an hour later, and there was a knock on the door.

"Hi Nicky, my names Ron, I think we met yesterday."

"The Holden, is everything okay with it?"

"Perfect, that man or yours is a genius and my dad's old car is purring. I regret the sale now, but the family comes first." He smiled.

"What can I do for you?" I hope it's not a head job he's not my type... although.

"March wants me to look at the wall between the kitchen and lounge, he said you wanted it out."

"Yes, it's got to go if we can, it will make the family room look so much bigger."

He went to find his ladder and I showed him in, after finding the manhole he climbed up and looked in the roof cavity. It didn't take more than ten minutes and then he was having coffee at my kitchen table.

"They built them properly back in the day Nicky, removing that wall will be easy. I can do it tomorrow but it will raise some dust."

"Don't worry about the dust, there's nothing much in this house as yet, and I can close it off."

"Even better, it will be an all-day job but I am a trusted old-school friend of March's, so if you need to get out or go naked swimming, it will be okay."

"Does everyone know about that?"

"Yes, unfortunately, it was Jimmy Wagner that sort of blabbed. He said he and Hank had run into you both at the swimming hole. Plenty of bare skin but no swimming."

"Shit March is going to go ballistic." I hadn't seen the post and if I had I would have told him to take it down.

"He did."

"What?"

"He put a reply on in capitals. Mind your own bloody business." He laughed.

"Guess I had better go talk to Jim then."

"Don't fuss Nicky, it was taken as a joke and a lot of the locals don't even know about that nice place. The ladies won't go there and of course, the kids won't, haven't done for years. It's only us older folk that remember going there."

He laughed because he and March are still in their mid to late twenties.

"Good, because March seems to think it's there just for him. Jimmy and Hank did turn up, but we had our clothes on."

"No dramas, he was the same when he discovered it, we were all banned from going there, plus he said he was friendly with the Ogres in the forest, which scared us all. Jimmy is a shit stirrer, someone should give him a clip under the ear for being stupid."

"Maybe I will talk to Hank then." I laughed.

"Nick I can do this job tomorrow, there will be finishing touches but March said he can handle that. He sometimes calls me in when he thinks the roof is going to fall or something nasty will happen. You are all good to go here, all the main load-bearing walls are the outside corner ones, and the hallway."

"He was going to put in bigger windows."

"No problem I will come and brace it before he does."

"Is that your business, building?"

"No, but like March I know a lot about a lot of things, leave it to us." He grinned.

"Okay, and thank you, what do you do Ron?"

"I am a plumber, I think you have a bathroom or two to renovate here, so this won't be the last time you will see me."

"Is he going to pay you, or do you want to invoice me?"

"No way, March is a close friend he does so much for us all this is a tiny pay-it-back moment. Don't ever think we take advantage of him and the extra gas doesn't go unnoticed either. He goes above and beyond for our beloved cars so it's my pleasure to help him, and you out."

He got up and shook my hand then he left with a big smile on his face.

"See you at eight."

Maybe I won't stop him from giving gas away now, this is so good to hear. March never talks about himself that much, and yes it's nice to hear what the locals think of him.

I put my shorts on and started my run, the longer way today I have been neglecting it, and my arm still tingles, but it's so much better than when I first arrived in town.

I sat in the small park to catch my breath, it was nice but needed some human touches. There was only one rubbish bin and a bench I guess the council didn't have a broad plan for it, to be fair it was close to the main road.

"May who does March's books?'

"I do Nicky, they are all in order, do you want to see them?"

"I didn't ask for that reason. May you know me better than that, how are his garage finances going I need to know if he's struggling?"

"He does well Nicky, he doesn't take a wage he just gets a hundred or whatever money he needs off me then I transfer from his business account into mine. It works well."

"I was just worried that he might do a lot of free stuff for the locals, I was worried yesterday he was giving out free gas. But after talking to Ron this morning it's not a bad idea. Ron will help him do the renovations."

She looked me in the eye and smiled.

"You haven't been here that long Nicky, maybe you had better get to know my brother better before you start messing with his business skills." She laughed.

"I was only going to try and streamline it May, sorry."

"Nick I love you, and I know your intentions are for March and his well being and we all want that. When Suzy needs to fill up on her off-pay week he does an account for her she pays him when she gets paid. He also gets a lot of free eggs which he gives to me to use. Ken is doing it tough at the moment, he hasn't had much work for four months now, and barely makes the rent. He keeps a big account with March for gas, he needs the car so March keeps it running. Ken is a trainee pilot instructor. He will get work and he will pay his account, but business is slack for him at the moment."

"I get it and will keep my mouth shut, thank you for telling me I just thought..."

"That people take advantage of my brother? No way in hell does he miss out and to be truthful he has a lot of wins also." She had to rub it in and she continued.

"Last year he loaned a young mother two grand to move out of an abusive relationship with her three kids. Every month a cheque for fifty dollars arrives in the mail and a letter to update him on her life and the kid's schooling. He looks forward to those letters and he has told her to stop sending the money to spend it on the kids."

"So there's another side of March I don't know about then?"

"Yes probably, but if you want to know anything just ask May she will tell you. And Nicky, I didn't tell you those stories because I was rubbing it in, you are the most important person in his life. He doesn't have to tell you these things, he just wants your love. That is not a hard thing to give but it's the most important thing to him."

"Well he has that, it's just that I didn't know those things May, thank you for wording me up."

"Well Nick, you said it before, why would anyone want to change him, he's perfect the way he is."

Everything I was going to do for March just flew out the window, and she was correct, he is perfect the way he is.

"Tell me more."

"Get me a cake and coffee first Nicky, you are now on the payroll." She giggled.

I gladly did that for her but it took me a little bit longer, I had to remember how to make coffee on her machine. I did look around for the instant jar.

He saw me sitting there and my heart jumped as he dodged the traffic (two cars, I have no idea where they come from) that smile was on his face and I got up and kissed his cheek then went to make him a coffee, and I grabbed a pie for him while I was there.

"The service is slow here May have you put a new girl on?" I slapped his arm and he giggled.

"March, Ron came by he's going to start in the morning."

"What time?"

"He said eight."

He groaned May got customers.

"Bit early Nicky, I might ring him and tell him to come at nine."

"Why, the sooner he starts the sooner he finishes?"

"Well, you never know if there is any gay stuff going on at eight, I might not be ready for visitors."

"I can assure you the gay stuff will be well and truly over by the time he arrives, and you were a bit quick this morning and you missed out."

"I know I am saving it up for the river," he smirked.

"I might come over and do you under a car."

"No fun in that, I want to watch you, and being under a car isn't that comfortable."

"The river then, what time?"

"Around two Nicky I have three cars in and have been a little slack, so I have to get stuck into it."

"Good, Ron said he will brace the outside of the house because the walls are load-bearing, do you think we will still get those big windows in?"

"Yes have confidence, Ron is the best around here, and with my help, nothing's going to go wrong."

"You're the best at a lot of things, March Stephenson," I smirked.

"Are you hanging out for it Nicky?"

"You bet I am."

"Do you want me to bring the chest of drawers home?"

"Yes, I'll give you a hand."

"I can get Pete to help me when he picks his car up, no sweat."

"Okay, then I will meet you at the river at two."

"I will pick you up, just to make sure you get to the right swimming hole."

"He did the wrong thing by posting that comment."

"I fixed him up, I also rang Hank." He laughed.

May came back and she had a pot of coffee this time, she poured ours and I asked when she wanted my help to put the tea together.

"One week Nicky and I will be low on stock, it will be done on Monday and Tuesday my least busy days."

"That's fine with me, do you do well with it?"

"Yes, it's very popular Nick. A hundred and fifty bags a week at twenty-five dollars a bag I do very well." She smirked.

"I wasn't asking for a full rundown on your or March's finances May, I was just curious."

"That's okay Nicky, I know what you meant, I was just taking the piss. Maybe March will tell you the rest when you're giving him some loving at the river."

"We won't have time for that May, he will be busy," I said.

She made a choking noise and looked at me, I can see I am going to have to control her urges to have a go at me, and I don't gag.

He went back to work and I took my stiff for a run home, I had nothing to do so I found a hammer and started poking holes in the wall, I figured if I could get the plaster off Ron won't have such a big job to do. It was difficult but I managed about a third of it. Pulling the old nails out was a pain and I ran my fingers over the framework to find any stragglers, something else I didn't need to do because it will be thrown out. The fuss he made when he came in had me dropping everything and running for the truck. There was an urgency in March's demeanor today and he almost scratched his new truck parking it.

"Hurry up."

"I'm coming," I yelled out between laughs.

He grabbed me and kissed me, while he did that my shorts were dropped and then he was on his knees. I looked around and thank God there was no one about. He was frantic to get me off because he had the devil in him today and needed to sling my legs over his shoulders.

The water was cooling me down and he was still trying to catch his breath. I left him to do his own thing but his eyes had glassed over and I knew what he was going to say next.

"Nicky I have no words."

"I know."

He settled in and moved me onto his lap, his hands were doing all sorts of things to me as he got more familiar with my body.

"I hope I didn't hurt you Nicky,"

"Never."

I kissed him and stroked his magnificent chest then sucked on his oversized nipples. He groaned and I thought better of it, I pulled off and looked him in the eyes.

"Tonight, we dance again."

"I will wear you out."

"I exercise." Then from out of the blue he started talking about money, I think May has told him to do it.

"The farm sold for millions Nicky, it wasn't worth what they paid because I had shut down most of its production, I couldn't handle all that work and it had run down some. With me doing the mechanics that bought in some cash. My dad had left us with a mortgage and accounts all over the place. I tried so hard to hang onto it but in the end, I had to stop for my body's sake and my mental state."

"You don't have to tell me March I understand." He took my hands.

"When the Wagners made their offer we took it, paid off our debts, and were left with a pile of money that we invested. We have never touched that money except to buy the garage and the cafe, May withdrew some money to pay for her renovations and I bought stock for the garage. We did a fifty-fifty deal she took what she needed, and I took the same value, but I didn't use it all."

"So the money invested is in the millions?"

"Yes Nick, I have no idea how much is in there I leave it up to May, but she did say today it was very close to four million. The business account has about forty-five thousand in it and my everyday account has about seventy-five in it."

"I am impressed Mr. Stephenson, you have both done very well."

"I am only talking to you about this because I don't want you to think I am after your property or money. What I have or have not, is not important Nicky as long as I have you I am a very happy man."

"Same here March, I don't have a lot, the deposit for the house is in the bank I get the rest in eight weeks, we got three mil for the house so I guess I am a little bit less well off than you. I don't need money March if I get along okay, that's fine with me. I have never found money a driving force in my life."

"Me neither, I would rather be poor than live without you Nick, I love you so much." He kissed me deeply and his hands, as usual, were all over me. I loved him doing that because he is genuine, not fake like some person I use to know.

"Of course, my parents sold their business for forty million."

"What?"

"They cleaned up, dad had fifteen car yards and service centers." He stared at me and then said.

"We can give them the bigger bedroom, how long do you think they will live with us, we can do room service," He started laughing.

I also laughed and started ear lobe sucking.

We had to go home eventually the water gets quite cold when you stay in it for a long time. No extra suck today just a slow ride home with a lot of hand-holding.

I was trying to figure out what to have for dinner and he was naked in the tub waiting, he said it was warm and if he sang out he was ready once, he did it twenty times.

"March what do you feel like for dinner?"

"Fish and chips, now get in."

I can do fish and chips there is a local shop here.

His orgasm wasn't as intense as earlier on but I did lap it all up, and he said I would get mine when we go to bed, but I couldn't hold on he was far too sexy.

So we came clean on our finances and I do not need to worry about his business and his bank balance. What I have to do is now find a job I have to work but I didn't want to. I will talk to May she is the financial adviser up here, she will know what I have to do.

True to his word March fixed me up nicely again before going to sleep, it wasn't a hard job I was begging for it by the time he got around to it.

He also laughed when he saw what I had done in the kitchen and said I should have left it to Ron. I was only trying to help so while I protested he shut me up by giving me his dinner order.

"Is this for one or two?"

"One, write down what you want and I will call it in."

No charge for fish n chips tonight, March had a favor to call in. I drove my car up to the shop and collected it. The guy was very pleasant and thanked me for letting March move in. I thought this was an odd thing to say but I smiled and waved him goodbye.

I thought about it on the way home and decided he was another school friend of March's that knows we are a couple.

True to his word Ron arrived at eight, I had just finished fixing March up for the day and he was languishing in bed. I was dressed and on my second coffee when he knocked.

"Good morning Nicky, how's our boy this morning?"

"Still in bed, I think he's a bit worn out."

"Things will settle down soon, once you both get into a rhythm it will be smooth sailing from there on."

He walked down the hallway and nearly screamed.

"What the hell happened here?"

"I thought I would make a start on it."

"Well, you did good, thank you."

"You know if you show me properly I could do some more."

"No need Nick, I'll have a coffee thanks."

He picked up what looked like a small crowbar and within half an hour he had the rest of it off, but only one side. I didn't say a word and he had a funny look on his face.

"Okay, it took me two hours to do that bit." I fessed up.

"Yeah you did a good job, I see you even took the nails out which I didn't."

"I know it will go to the tip anyway."

"Not this stuff Nick, it's part of my deal I get to keep the wood, It's beautiful old pine I will restore it and sell it on."

"Great idea Ron, can you estimate how old this house is?"

"Yes about seventy years, but if you look the address up on the internet it might give you a more accurate age."

"Good morning Ron, sorry I slept in."

"That's okay March as long as you feel refreshed that's the most important thing." He giggled.

"Does everyone in town know?" I looked at March Stephenson.

"Know what Nikky?"

"About us."

"You are living together, you go swimming naked and you bought a hot tub, now if I was to make an educated guess that adds up to a relationship, not a friendship." Ron smiled. I went to shower, I wasn't mad I was just flabbergasted we were so easy to read.

I could hear them laughing because Ron had sat down with March and they were talking, I suppose about me. Before I left to go for a run I told Ron I wouldn't be long but he had all the plaster off and was carefully removing the framework.

"Nicky you had better change those shorts, people will talk."

"They are my favorite ones."

"That rip is just advertising material, it says you are available when you are not."

I changed to the ones that had a small rip, he nodded and then I said my goodbyes.

When I sat down at the cafe table I double-checked if the deposit had gone into the bank and sure enough it had, Matt will get his share also sometime soon. I must get onto his site and get updates on him, it's been a while since I looked and I felt much better for not. May went to do the coffee and there was no sign of March yet, but I know he is in there somewhere.

"Are you getting out from the dust?" She appeared.

"Yes and no, I wanted to talk to you about something, and I wanted to avoid the dust." I smiled.

"Shoot."

"What business is needed here, I mean I don't think I will do the district nurse thing now, too much traveling, so I thought I could open a business."

"Umm let me think for a minute."

She sat there and smiled to herself and she took more than a minute.

"So?" I said.

"Oh sorry, Nikky I must have gone off to sleep, personal trainers the go."

"I don't know the first thing about it."

"Easy peasy, cardio exercise, running, diet you know all that stuff from nursing."

"I don't think I can do that I would be worn out within a week."

"Let me think again." She smiled.

"Okay."

"See that window at the end of the garage?"

"Yes."

"It's been painted out and there's a door next to it."

"Yes, I can see that."

"That's where March has his gym set up, it's quite big it used to be a small mini-mart, rent it off March and open a gym."

"People won't want to come here."

"There's not another one within fifty miles and they are quite expensive the closer you get to the city. All you have to do is get March to teach you how the machines work, then sell memberships. I am certain the local guys and girls will flock to it, and most of them know how to use the weights"

"Do you think he will let me use it?"

"Don't ask me, ask him." She pointed he was walking across the road, no cars today.

He walked up and kissed me, then he leaned back in the chair and checked my shorts, he looked disappointed.

"That's how everyone knows you are a couple you can't keep your hands to yourselves." May chirped up, I could hit her.

"March how big is your gym?"

"Nicky we don't call it that." He blushed.

"Stop it will you, I meant the shop at the end of your garage."

"Come on." He took my hand and walked me across the street, yes May that would be a telling sign also.

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