Chapter 72 March Stephenson Maxieplus
When I woke up March wasn't there, he had gone back to work, so I dressed and checked our boy, he was playing in his room. I started dinner then I sat on the back porch with my laptop. The map I had was very old and frail so I had slipped it into a cover so it wouldn't get damaged, and then I worked from the photo I had taken. There were three or four possible sites and the only relics that would be left would be the stone floors. The homes, or should I say the log cabins are long gone. I did think I would hire Ken's plane and do a flyover to take some aerial photos. I will talk to Rose about it when we catch up soon, and tomorrow I will search on my own. I will put the treasure hunt announcement off for a while until I'm satisfied there is something to be found. Mason came out he wanted to look for more eggs but he had already got two this morning and I told him not until tomorrow morning. He was satisfied with that explanation and more than happy to chase 'sheep' around the backyard. It was around four when March came back, he grinned and sat with me then he asked what was for dinner. "I have a corned beef on the stove, do you think you would enjoy that?" I grinned. "I think I might Nicky, what have you been doing?" "Working on your land at the back of the shops, I might go for a walk tomorrow and have a look around." "I will come with you, I don't get out there that often." "I want to talk to you about this lease, if the government take it over you know they will get the rights to do what they want with the old cabins." "Yes, as I said I will have full overseeing rights to all that land, they cannot touch it without my permission. Anything to do with conservation is okay by me but anything else is not." "Well, how about I put this idea into your head. If we find any old buildings we don't say anything. That way if they do want to do something underhanded we can call in the historical people, if they don't then we shut up about it and leave it all undisturbed." "Nicky I don't think they would do anything, after all the reason for doing this is they care about conservation." "Nothing's been signed March we have time to nut it out with the appropriate people." "I have a nut for you Nicky." "Later handsome, I am far too busy with council business at the moment." "And cooking." "Are you hungry?" "I'm always hungry Nicky." "Then help me peel the potatoes." I got up to go get the spuds but he dragged me down onto his lap. "Let's have a tub first." "Mason, tub time," I yelled down the backyard. The water was warm and he turned the jets on so Mase could play in the bubbles, I sat in his lap and of course, he was as hard as a rock. I am going to be sent to hell for what I did but it was too hard to resist. I smiled at my son as March entered me, this will have to stop soon, but my god, not now. The best thing was we enjoyed ourselves, but the downside was he couldn't perform later on in bed. I didn't mind I also like to cuddle a lot. I could hear Ron in the garage, so I made him a coffee and took it out to him while my son and husband ate leftovers. "You're early, did you get kicked out of bed?" "No Nicky, if I had my way I would stay in it all day. I have the trusses arriving soon so need to be here. Is March up?" "Yes, do you need a hand?" "I would appreciate it, I need to get them into place and it's a two man job." "I'll tell him." "That was an awesome thing to do the other night, Nudge said you may have a shock for all of us." "I couldn't pass it by Ron, it's too important for the town to ignore." "Well, I hope it all works out well for us all. I'm sick of being the poor relative around this area. The bigger towns get so much more than us in funding, do you think they will make a fuss?" "Not on my watch Ron, they have nothing to back it up with." "They will find something, money talks Nicky." "Lucky we are all deaf my friend." I went back inside and March was rubbing his tummy, I looked over at the counter and yes he had attacked more of the food, I was lucky to get a sandwich. "You get into the gym today March, exercise is paramount." "I am going for a walk with my husband today, plenty of outdoor activity." "Then we will walk fast." "Have you any idea where these cabins are?" "Yes, a fair idea, but seeing is believing." I showed him my map, he looked then put it down, then started smiling. "What have you seen that I haven't?" "That oak tree is still there, it must be over two hundred years old. The cottages were to the right of it." "And that places them, where?" "Bang smack behind our shops. and one under our shed." He laughed again. "There's no way we are demolishing a shed to find some old stones March," "They are behind the shops in a line then there is a drop into the forest beyond. The shops were built closer to the road after it was established." "So it's very old then?' "Yes, as you said at the meeting, the first Victorian rural town settlement and I know exactly where it is." He was making a map of his own while I went to shower, and he did join me within moments. At work, he pulled up not long after me and Mason did. I have restarted my running and will have to hit the gym myself today, I was feeling a little flabby. We walked across the road and ordered his second breakfast. Mason had play school today and he was getting excited, so I tried to calm him down with some cuddles. While trying to distract him I looked up the road and noticed the corner barriers were being worked on again, the town was coming alive again. We sat and cuddled Rosie who giggled with every neck fart. May was quiet today maybe she had a big night. "When will Ron be finished March?" "A couple of weeks May, why?" "I want him to start on the garage and shop." "You had better talk to him about it, he's got to do dads but I don't know what Town and Country want to do." "We still have to talk to them about it, they can't change the buildings and they should be aware of that before the final contract is signed," I said. "I think they can extend, but it will have to be semi-attached not connected with the building itself. I am going to get another transportable to use as storage and maybe install a glass walkway from the back entrance to it." May knows everything. "Well you will only have thirty feet of land, the rest has old stone cottage foundations on it." "You have done your homework Nicky, but I won't need all that space." "We are going for a walk this morning to see if March is right about the positions, we will start at that old oak tree behind the old school." "I was going to have it taken down, for easy access." She was baiting her brother. "May Beth Atkins, that won't be happening, not in our lifetime." She giggled. Mum sat with us and I asked about Rose, she said she was in fine spirits and was bored at home. But she knew she had to take it easy and was doing all the right things. "She's hosting a get-together with her drag queen friends before they go to the restaurant to do their monthly show." "I would like to be a fly on the wall when that is happening." I smiled. "How is the restaurant going?" March asked her. "Excellent, the boys are rocking it now. They did very well over Christmas and the party on New Year's Eve was sold out, Hank performed and the queens." "We should have gone." "We wanted to stay home as a family, time for shows later in the year maybe." He still wants to be separated from the gay crowd and I may add his other family. He does trust them now, but he doesn't see the need to be with them all the time. His phone beeped and he laughed as he read the message. "Ethan wants to lease some land to graze his herd on." "He's pulling your leg," May said. "Yes, I know that May Beth, why are you being so awful to me." "Nicky he's picking on me again." "March, answer Ethan and leave your sister alone, you know she's not quite with it." "Nicky?" She screamed. "Come on tiger, let's get you to play school." I grabbed Mason off her and he jumped up and down then grabbed his backpack full of toys. March walked with us, he gave Mase a piggyback ride and I think they were talking about a complete rebuild of a car engine. Louise was her happy self and she talked to me about the plans we had for the town. "Nothing will be done without the town folk being consulted, it will all be completely open to discussion. The best thing is the school will get their parking spots back from the shoppers." "It was a little worrying sometimes Nicky." "Well, hopefully, a roundabout, a crossing and a few speed humps will slow them all down." "It should, and thank you both for what you're doing, this town has never been happier." "You're welcome." We left and moved across the road to walk back behind the old shops. March had his drawing and I followed him to the tree, it was old but not native to Australia, the settlers must have placed it there. I looked around and even kicked some dirt away, we found three stone floors so he was right about where they were. I ticked them off on the map then I went further and started looking for an old cemetery, it made sense there would be one around here. "It is up at the main one Nicky, I used to go there and read the old headstones." "Then we go there, does anyone look after it March?" "Yes old man Westland, he holds the registers, but I don't think the old bit is on the Find a grave site, something should be done about that." "Something else for us to do then." Back at work, he went to do some weights and I ran on the machine, he yelped because he hadn't been concentrating on what he was doing, he was watching me. He gave up and went back to work, I ran some more and laughed a lot. The guys then watched me, I felt some stamina envy coming from them. "Lunch time Nicky, coming?" I heard dad sing out. I was immersed in some more reading, but also totally hungry and needing a break. I followed him and March across the road and ordered our lunches, then sat in the sun. "What have you been doing?" March asked me. "Reading up on the history of this place, there isn't much to read and what is there is quite difficult to wade through. I think I'm going to go to the old cemetery and take some photos, just to see if I can make up some sort of timeline. Maybe the settlers are buried there." "I don't know Nicky, there are some tombstones but a lot of unmarked graves too. People didn't have much money back then and apart from wooden crosses with names on them which are long gone, from what I saw the stones were wealthy land owners but early nineteenth century." "There's got to be something, maybe there's some records in the state library." "Well, you will need a week in there to go through everything." "Your family, where did they come from?" "Ireland, England Spain I think. They have lived in this area forever." "See maybe one of your ancestors lived by the gully." "Who knows, it's a headache to even think about it." Mum came out with our food, and as usual dad and March's were the biggest. Jack slapped me on the back and yelled out. "Well done Nicky, those losers at the council have been sitting on their hands for far too long now." He sat and ordered coffee. "What's put you in a good mood today." "I'm glad you asked, Cory has been selected to try out for the Australian Open." "What! How did that happen?" He laughed at me and said. "His coach has contacts, they want to try him in the other big games, just for experience, and later this year, if he does well, they will select him to play in the series." "When does it start?" "Next month, he will play in Sydney and maybe eight or ten games throughout the country. The Open run starts in November in Sydney, then I think Perth, Adelaide then Melbourne for the finals." "That is awesome Jack, will you go with him?" "I will try, if not his mum will go. I don't want him out there on his own." "Understandable, well he's got what it takes to be a champion player. It will cost you a bomb" "Not really, he's been granted funding from the government all I have to do is find the money for airfares and accommodation for us, he is looked after." "I can help you with that," March said. "I don't want to impose on friends March, I will find the money or ask my uncle for it." "Or you can let me handle it." I looked at them both. "And how are you going to do that Mrs, Stephenson?" "The council will fund it, after all, he will be playing for this town. The tennis club gets funding from the calendars maybe there will be extra for an up-and-coming superstar tennis player in there also." "Do you think so?" "Leave it to me." I winked. Brenda won't argue over giving the club some extra money, it's good business and will promote the town and club more. He rattled on how Cory was focused on the game, and he watched many hours of past champions on TV. The coach is positive he has a champion in his small team and it will be Cory that will go on to the Open. I am spending more time at the council chambers than I thought I would, Brenda was very compliant with the extra funding and saw my point about promoting the area some more.
March just grinned and stared at me, I was doing the job he couldn't do, but now and then he would throw a comment in. It was three days later when the trucks turned up. Fourteen students and three teachers alighted and then they converged on May's cafe. Coffee, cake and rolls were served out and I knew they weren't here for breakfast they were the archeological team. I winked at March then stood up and went over to the teacher's table. "Hi guys are you here from the university?" "Yes, we have to meet Nicky Stephenson here around nine." "That would be me." I shook hands and sat with them, March watched. "So you are starting today then?" "Yes, we don't expect to find anything solid, it's been too long and many floods, but we are hopeful something survived." "I have found three stone huts and marked them with sticks, there may be more but if there are they would be buried under all that silt and bushland." "We bought our sonar and if the class do their job well, it will pick up the hidden stones. Is there a way of getting the van down to it?" "Yes a small driveway through to the back of this shop will see you in a car park, the huts aren't more than sixty feet from there." "Do we have to get permission?" "No May is allowing it, I will introduce her to you when you've finished your breakfast." "There will be portable potties arriving mid-morning is that going to be a problem?" "No, there are also plenty of facilities at the gym you can use, plus showers if needed." "Cool, Jamie, toilets in the gym if you still want to go." I looked at the table and a kid with a baseball cap turned around and stared at me. "Thank you sir," He got up and stretched I could see he looked after himself then he started walking towards the gym. "Jamie, my best student, he finds things that we would normally overlook," "Well I don't know how much is there but maybe he will sniff out something significant." I smiled. I don't know how this is going to affect March, when Jamie took his cap off his blonde locks fell to his shoulders, he was seriously gorgeous. May came over and started talking to them, and then they all cleaned up the tables and followed her down through her driveway to the back. "And don't think for one minute I didn't see that Nicky." "See what?" March has sprung me again. "That look, does he do things for you Nicky?" "No, you do, it's just I am getting a vibe off him maybe he's gay March." "Well, he is here to work Nicky, not for your fantasies." "What does he look like March, I mean what do you see?" "I dunno, blonde wavy hair, blue eyes lean but solid. The sexiest ass any guy would be proud of, a smile to melt hearts, why?" "I saw a nice looking very polite kid with a great smile, are you sure you don't fancy him?" "What! No Nicky, it's not like that, he just threw me that's all." "Like Tom did when he first came to town." "Like Tom did, wait, are you accusing me of perversion?" "Got you a beauty March Stephenson, you are so attracted to him." "I am not, he's just unusual that's all." "I see." I smiled then I opened my legs. "That's better, let's go and see what they are up to." He took my hand. They had parked behind Mays and were looking at the area, the teachers were giving them instructions and a table had been set up with all sorts of implements on it. A lawn mower type of sonar thing was being assembled and they will sweep the area when it's ready. We didn't want to get in the way so we went into May's house and watched from the big window in her living room. I accidentally touched March's crotch and yes he was quite happy, if you know what I mean. "You want to fuck him don't you?" "I want to fuck you Nicky, I don't even like his look." "Yes you do." "He is kinda cute, but so is that girl with the long brown hair he was just kissing too." "What?" "The one with the tight top on and big boobs." "Damn, I had him pegged as being gay." "Then you tried to entice me to make a fool of myself." "I did not, you clearly fancied him." "That hard-on was for you Nicky, you were standing in front of me and I was looking at you." "Umm," I guess I can be wrong sometimes. "Let's go, I need to remind you whose fucking who I think." That brought me to life and we dashed across the road and into the shed. "Why were you being so awful to me Nicky?" He kissed my neck. "It's always good to add some spice into our lives occasionally March." "I have all the spice I need, as you well know I don't like over-seasoned food, and I like my man meals just perfect like you are." I guess I was a little excited, James is a honey, but Tom is better and I guess in March's eyes I am the best. After we went for the second time I was convinced that James had lit March's flame today, he was very active, and he can have his secret fantasies. The portable potties turned up and I told them all they could use the gym showers if they felt dirty. Brenda Joel and Ron turned up and Jan and Michelle were not far behind them. the kids had already placed markers on the stones they found, and I could see a pattern or outline of a small hut appear. This is going to take weeks, if not months by the way they were working, very slowly and carefully making sure they aren't disturbing anything important. We were discussing accommodation with Brenda, and she told me they had booked into the motel that was attached to the hotel, the government is paying for that. I believe they go home on the weekends, but this dig is a big part of their education, so some may stay behind to continue with it if not all of them. There was work to be done and one excited little boy to pick up from play school. We left then walked up to the council chamber building and were greeted with kisses, hugs and a rundown of what was happening today. Louise was eager to get to the dig, she wanted to see what the excitement was all about. We walked her back and there were cars everywhere, and people were standing on every vacant advantage spot to watch it all. I took Mason into my work and he helped me put the washing on, then he had to go and help his other father with something. I cleaned the showers and kitchen up then went to find them. They were once again sitting in the back of an old car talking. I climbed in beside them and figured March had been telling him about the dig. It was nearly lunchtime and I sent May a message to reserve our table and two roast beefs. Her cafe was loaded up with locals having a day out. Another big day for our town, and when I went into Mays house I saw the students clearing away the first of the huts. The teachers and other students were watching a graph on a screen that had been set up. "They think there are six different huts Nicky, they found some in the scrub," May said. "I hope so, the more they find the better for the town." "Well, everyone is so proud of you for making this happen. I doubt the celebrations will die down anytime soon." "There will always be someone watching it May, more business for you too." I grinned. "March is looking for you." Someone said in my ear. "I better go and find him, he's not been himself since the crew arrived." I thought I would have a little dig at him because he was standing behind me I could see his reflection in the glass. "Lunchtime Nicky, and stop that." "Oh March there you are, and stop what?" "You know what, come on I'm hungry." I looked at May and we both burst out laughing. Mason was sitting on Rose's knees and while I grabbed our meals I took his veggies and gravy too. I handed it to Rose who started to feed him, but he wasn't finished telling her about his play day. Dad and Mark came over and mum found their meals and brought them out. They had been talking about stock and decorations, Barry will do the old-fashioned signs that will adorn his new business. As we ate March watched me and I blushed because the students had come up to grab hamburgers and pies, a certain one had his arm around a certain young lady, and as they waited he was kissing her. My hand went across March's crotch once again and no he hadn't got an erection. My immediate attention was on him teasing him to make one. All this is done under the nice linen tablecloths May had on her tables. dad asked about the heritage aspect of the buildings, so I told him he couldn't change anything on the outside and why would he want to change the inside it was rustic and perfect for what he wanted. Rose looked refreshed and Mason had dropped off to sleep, talking your head off will do that sometimes. One of the teachers ran up and grabbed a young lady, I overheard him say they had found a horseshoe and he wanted her to look at it. They hurried back to work and took their meals with them. May told me she would total up their account and one of the adults would put it on a card. "How's Lily Mark?" "She will be here after school, something about another ride in the fairy car." "Good done and I will drop her back at home." "To Roses Nicky, I have somewhere to be." "Oh?" He bushed. "I'm going to Bunnings to look around at the set-up, and Debbie is going to take me through the aisles." "I see, just in time for afternoon tea." "Yes, and Nicky?" "Yes Mark?" "Please don't get involved." He laughed, I heard March stifling one also. The buzz on the local page was that the horseshoe was late seventeenth century, and they had been able to date it from the shape, and few hand-made nails that they found next to it. All sorts of theories were written about and the town was so getting involved. I also noticed that Cory got a mention from Brenda, she had posted the dates he was playing, and if it was televised or not. She does a thorough job that friend of mine. By day four the dig looked like a building site, just about everything had been exposed and pegs were all over the place indicating that there were things to be looked at. I won't stop Lily from wanting a ride in my Mini, she gets such a buzz out of it and I don't mind cruising around town either. She has started decorating the inside of it and I ended up with some stars stuck on the door and a wand hanging from the rear vision mirror. Every time I drove her I dropped her off at Rose's place, and when I did she made me look at her sad driveway. "I know what we can do for Rose, March." "And what is that Nicky?" "We get her driveway done." "Good idea Nicky, I will get Ron onto it." "Is he the only man in town that can do that kind of stuff?" "No, he will find someone to do it, leave it to me." "So doing that kind of stuff doesn't confuse you, but anything else does your head in?" "Go it in one Nicky." He grinned and pulled me in while the water lapped around us. We signed the rental contracts for the shops and Town and Country were very happy to leave their big shop untouched, they will build a shed out the back for storage and a transportable for toilets and tea room. We decided to tell the professor about the other site and his excited face lit up. We needed to know where they were exactly so nothing was built over them, and one day they all moved across the road and pegged them all out. May was getting deliveries and storing stuff into her new shop and Ron was finishing up on our new beaut garage, he got sick of waiting for March to help so he grabbed a couple of guys from Nudges gang. Rose was kept busy at the cafe for half a day, she was babysitting for May while she cleaned the shop. She will get a big surprise when she gets back home, the guys are also doing her driveway and a little landscaping to tidy it all up. We gave her a nice card and she was so grateful for her baby present. "This is better than clothes and toys Nicky, I can't thank you and March enough." "It is all our pleasure Rose, now stop complaining and look after yourself." I smiled. "I am, are you sure the council didn't pay for this, I would like some sort of bragging rights with Ethan?" I nearly hit her. At the dig some broken plates were found and some sort of early tools, these will all go to the museum eventually. I am going to the cemetery when I get time, I want to see the headstones and talk to Mr. Westland. My paperwork was mounting up and many times I cleared the table at home to make space for meals. I sorted through it several times and placed it back into some order. March would pick up a few pages and read them then put them back on the pile, many times I would have to go looking for missing pages. The legal side of things was sorted out thanks to Martin and Valma the real estate agent, the leases were done and March's holdings were organised. I could have done with more help from him and I did try to get him involved, mostly with the shops side of it. I woke up one morning then threw back the blanket to go and see to our son, who was once again playing in his room. I let Sunny out and made coffee, Mase ran about the yard, he was waiting for me to check the chickens for eggs. I sat for a moment and looked at the table full of folders and it hit me full force, I am such an idiot. March didn't like to do all this kind of stuff, he has lived his life as simply as possible, relying on old school friends to do it all for him, and now he has me to do stuff. I had to admit to myself that I took on too much work, and today I will delegate all the government business to Brenda, she can get her staff to look after it all. The dig can be overseen by the museum ladies which leaves me with March's shops. Mason yelled at me and I went outside to help him find some eggs for breakfast, he found two today so I started boiling some water and to make some toast. He sat patiently in front of the TV and I made March's coffee then took it in to him. I kissed his head and told him we got two eggs today and asked him if he would like one. "No thanks Nicky leave it for his breakfast tomorrow, are you okay you look a bit strung out?" "Yeah baby, but we need to talk sometime today." "When you're ready, is it urgent?" "Not really, just a talk." He threw the sheet off and I went back to finish Masons food. I made his plate up for him and sat him in his chair then cut the top off his egg. When I went to make another coffee I heard him moan. "Whats the matter baby?" "Too hot daddy." "Then blow on it to cool it down." I turned to grab the coffee but in my haste I took the pot handle which had been hanging over the gas burner which was still alight. I screamed as the white hot pot burnt my hand. March ran out and I said. "My stupidity March, I have something in the bathroom to put on it." He took my hand and looked at it. "We had better get you to a doctor Nicky, that looks bad." "I'll be fine, you go and help Mase his egg was hot." "I see, baby is your eggs still too hot?" He asked Mase. "Yes daddy." It had all happened in a split second, I didn't even get the chance to check Mase's lips for a burn, but I did go and get the ointment for my hand. I dabbed it on and then covered it with a bandage then went to see to our son. He was good to go and his daddy (the good one) was blowing his cool breath on the egg. "Didn't you cool it down first Nicky?" "I don't remember I had other things on my mind March, he's okay." "But you aren't, how is your hand?" "It will heal, don't fuss." "That talk you wanted to have with me, can we do it now?" "If you like, I was just going to tell you that all this is starting to do my head in and I am going to delegate a lot of it to the council and museum. I am a bit sick of keeping it all in my head and the table always looks messy. Do you mind if I just look after us and your businesses?" "Our businesses, and of course not. This is precisely why I don't get involved it does my head in." "Well I thought I would never say this but it's starting to do mine in too." "Nicky, we have just had a big wake up call, your head is always in this paperwork. We either hire people to coordinate it all, or we go see Brenda and use the council's people. They should be looking after it anyway." "But the government haven't signed any contracts yet." "They will in time, and giving most of that paperwork to the council will let them become familiar with what work you have done. When the time comes they should be well versed on the changeover." "I will do that and I also will give Michelle and Mrs Nudge the historical side of it, they can oversee the digs and the changing of the town's status. They can work with the council and they do have a few volunteers to help them." "I am pleased you have come to the right decision Nicky. What took you so long?" "I was trying to do it all for you March." He sat back, took my hand and kissed it. "You try too hard to please me, I don't want that Nicky. I know you love me and I hope you know I love you. If you're trying to impress me then you already did a long time ago. Now let's work on this paperwork and sort it into stacks. One for the council, one for the museum, and one for us." "And me daddy," Mason yelled "And one for our son." My hand was starting to throb so I went to take a pain killer, it's going to hinder me a bit because it's my right hand. I sort al have an excuse now I am out of action, and I hope the people involved don't start complaining about the extra work. At work mum looked at my hand, she said it was a bad burn which I already knew, May went to get one of her potions to put on it and it did feel a lot better after she tied it up in a fresh bandage. The throbbing ceased almost instantly. Mason has play school and March was on his phone to someone when I got back from kissing Rosie. He hadn't said much more before we left, everything was back to normal after our talk. Yes the shower we had together was wonderful. Rolls were delivered and May sat to have one, March took Rosie and Mason kissed her good morning then ran off to play with 'Hank'. "I have made an appointment with the doctor, we have to be there by ten." "I don't need one March, it's okay." "At ten Nicky, eat up." I guess this is one of those times I had better shut my gob.
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