“Do you always come on a weekend?”
“Always. Amanda picks me up late on a Friday night. After work. And then she takes me to school on a Monday morning. That is why I have two bedrooms. At home. And here. And I also have lots of clothes here. Sometimes we go to town on a Sunday. But always early. If we need something.”
“And do we need anything?” Nicola chuckled.
“No not tomorrow.” David chuckled.
“I am going to pop Amanda in to bed. Which bedroom is hers?”
“The one at the end next to yours.”
“Night you two. Don’t be too late.”
“Night Dad.”
“Night Uncle David.” He smiled as he got up and lifted Amanda in to his arms.
He walked down the passage and walked in to her bedroom. He smiled as he looked at her bed. The cover was pulled back. He lay her on the bed and pulled the covers up. He gently kissed her on the lips.
“Night my angel. I meant every word that I said.” He put the bedside lamp off and looked up. The room was in darkness. He walked over to the window and looked up at the stars. It was a lovely evening. He closed the curtains and walked out of the bedroom.
David walked to his bedroom and took his clothes off and hopped straight in to bed. He closed his eyes and smiled. It had been the best day that he had ever had. Victoria had enjoyed every moment. And Amanda had accepted Victoria as if she was one of the family. And when he was speaking about the future she hadn’t disagreed at all. He smiled to himself. He would have to do something about his business. He needed to get out there and do more. Make even more money. He smiled as he went to sleep.
Victoria got up. Nicola turned everything off. They walked to the different bedrooms.
“See you in the morning.”
“Hey how cool. Dad never sleeps away.”
“I hope.”
“So do I.” They both chuckled and went to their bedrooms.
Victoria lay in bed and looked out the window. It was so dark outside. She heard the owl hooting and smiled. It had been such a nice day. And Amanda was so welcoming. She was nice to her and David. She made them both feel welcome and at home. She knew it was the first time David had ever fancied someone. She hoped money didn’t matter to Amanda. Because they were only just making ends meet. Every cent was welcome. It wasn’t as if David didn’t work hard. But he had to fetch her from school every day and it did make it different. And he never asked for help from anyone. She sighed. She wondered what the future held for her. She would not be going back to school. She knew she would have to get a job. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
CHAPTER 8
David woke up and looked at the cup of coffee next to the bed. He looked down at his body. He sighed a huge sigh of relief. Only his chest was open. He sat up and drank the hot coffee. He looked at the chair and saw his clothes neatly folded. He put the cup down and got up and quickly put his underpants on. He hopped back in to bed. He heard the knock.
“Come on in.”
“Hey Dad!” He chuckled.
“You have to stay in bed.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you are being spoilt with breakfast in bed.”
“I am?”
“You definitely are. Hop in Victoria. I brought yours too.” Victoria giggled as she hopped in the bed. Nicola followed with another tray. David smiled as they all sat down and had a full breakfast.
“Now this is what I call spoiling.” Nicola chuckled.
“I did the eggs.” Amanda chuckled and nodded.
“And Victoria did our little chipolata sausages.” Victoria chuckled and nodded.
“I love these sausages. We can never find them.” Amanda nodded.
“I don’t buy my meat and that kind of thing in the chain store. I have a butcher that supplies all my meat. I tell him for how many people and what I would like to see. All the different sausages. And then he packs it in to hampers.”
“How many hampers do you buy?”
“Well. I buy one for the hands. That is a real big one. And then I buy one for my Mom and Dad. And then one for Sydney. And one for myself. I get very good prices so that is why I buy so much.”
“Every month?”
“Every single month. Sometimes I eat a lot. Sometimes I eat just a little. So I do the same every month.”
Nicola shook her head.
“Why do you buy Sydney a hamper as well? Olive works. And he works.”
“Olive is my brother’s wife. Sydney is my brother.” David smiled and nodded.
“Sister in law.” Nicola nodded.
“Because I get such good prices I can afford to.” Nicola nodded.
“Does the butcher give it to you for free?” Amanda chuckled. David hid his smile.
“No. But he has excellent cuts of meat. Very good quality. And I feel better knowing everyone has a full freezer.”
“I think Olive eats all the meat.” Amanda chuckled.
“Now why do you say that?”
“Because Olive is kind of big.”
“She might be big but I don’t think she eats all the meat.”
“But Sydney is normal. He isn’t fat.”
“Well it takes big people and small people to fill the world.”
“But if everyone was small there could be more people. Space you know. Olive takes up the space of three small people.”
“Not her fault Nicola.”
“No. I think you should ration them with skinny meat.” David roared with laughter.
“Real skinny food. Like. Tell the butcher to pack the meat in packs for one. Or lots of mince.” Amanda chuckled.
“You must never judge. She might have a problem.”
“Gobble. Gobble. Gobble. See the problem?” Amanda chuckled.
“Be nice. We are lucky. We can work it off with a lot of exercise.”
“Mmmmmhhhhh.” David chuckled and Amanda rolled her eyes. They all finished their breakfast and stacked the plates and trays.
“Right folks. Roll call in fifteen minutes.” Nicola lay on the bed.
“Why the roll call?”
“To check whether you are here.” Nicola chuckled.
“We are here.”
“Go make your bed young lady. Then get dressed. I have children to feed.” Victoria chuckled. Amanda smiled as she took the trays and plates. She walked down the stairs chuckling. She walked back upstairs and quickly got dressed. She walked out of her bedroom as David walked out of his. He pulled her in to his arms and hugged her. She looked up and he gently kissed her.
“Breakfast was lovely. Thank you.” Amanda smiled and stood on her toes and kissed David.
“My pleasure.” They walked down the stairs. The girls were busy doing the dishes.
“See you shortly. Just going to check. Jessie might go home today.” David held her around the waist as they walked. She smiled as she opened the door. They walked through.
“Hello babies.” David smiled as he walked through and she opened the cages. He stroked the little pups and the dog.
“Your family should be here today.”
“Knock knock.”
“Oh come on through. Jessie is just having her breakfast.” David smiled as the family walked through.
“Aunty Amanda we brought her basket.”
“Oh Tina I am glad. Those pups are beautiful. I am going to move her inside the cage and then we can carry her in that.” Tina smiled as Amanda took the basket. Tom smiled and looked at the pups.
“Right.” He took out his wallet and paid for the few nights stay and the delivery of the pups. Amanda took the money and smiled at the dog and her pups.
“Enjoy them.” She handed Tom a new bag of dog food. He smiled as they walked out.
“Oh this is David MacGuire by the way. If you need any work done. He is a handy man. More than a handy man. He does renovations as well.” Megan nodded and looked at Tom.
“We kind of have a slight problem. Do you work with electr
icity?” David nodded.
“I do.”
“Could you please come and take a look. We have had a few people to come and see. They say we have to replace the whole board. We can’t afford that.” Tom nodded.
“What is your hourly rate?” David smiled as he gave his rate.
“Would you mind? Any time today.”
“What about now?”
“Hell that would be great.”
“I can follow you.” David hopped in his van and there was suddenly two young ladies in the vehicle. He roared with laughter. He followed Tom home. He took out his little toolbox and walked inside. Megan walked in to the kitchen and pointed.
“Now that is the box.” She walked to the plug.
“And this is the plug that is giving such problems. We will leave you while we sort out the little family.”
David smiled to himself as he started working on the board. The people were so different. The family meant the dog and her puppies. He immediately saw the fault. He made sure to put the power off and quickly cut the wire and linked it up again. He worked on the plug at the wall and did the same. He switched the power back on and tested the plug.
Tom walked through as he put the cover back on the plug.
“Tom I need a hair dryer please.”
“Sure.” Tom walked out and came with the hair dryer. David plugged it in.
“Be very careful. That thing kicks.” David turned the hair dryer on and Tom had a huge smile. He took out his wallet and handed over the hourly rate.
“Thanks David. I have a few other things. Just not right now. Have to sort the family out first. Could I have your card?” David took out his wallet and put the money in to his wallet and handed his card to Tom. Tom waved it about.
“Might have a few other customers for you. Our homes are getting rather old and these little niggles start plaguing us.”
“Sure. Whenever.” Tom smiled and shook his hand.
“So are you dating Doctor Rosendale then?” David smiled and nodded.
“I am.” Tom smiled.
“A lovely lady. She goes out of her way. If you need help she is there. And she doesn’t ask questions.” David smiled and nodded.
“She doubles up as our Doctor as well. Very kind.” David chuckled.
“You from the city?”
“I am.” David smiled at the way Tom spoke. It was as if the city was a different country.
“We don’t go to the city much. Get all our purchases from the Doc’s shop.”
“Everything?”
“Pretty much. We eat off the land most of the time but if we need things we go there. Open twenty four seven just about.” David chuckled.
“And so close. We stick together out here. Have to.” David nodded.
“Let me get those young ladies.”
“If you can draw them from the magnets.” David chuckled. He followed Tom through to their sun room. Everyone was on their knees looking at the puppies.
Victoria looked up.
“Aren’t they gorgeous Dad.” Megan smiled.
“Time for home ladies.” Victoria and Nicola got up.
“Thanks David. For taking a look.” Tom smiled.
“No sweetheart. It is fixed already.”
“Gosh! Well thank you so much. We have a few other things. Tom you need to get David’s number.”
“Got it sweetheart.” Megan smiled.
“Ladies feel free to come and look at them any time you like. Are you here for the holidays?” Nicola nodded.
“Well I am sure we will see you around.” David smiled as they walked out.
Megan walked in to the kitchen and fetched an enormous pumpkin.
“This is for you David. Thank you. That is my favorite plug.” David chuckled as he took the pumpkin.
“Thank you so much!” They hopped in the van and waved as they slowly drove off.
Victoria smiled.
“It must be so cool to live on a ranch.” Nicola nodded.
“I like my home. But this is my second home. I know all the folk around here. Uncle David you need to get used to telling them your hourly rate. They work like that. They don’t take anything for nothing. If you do a job you earn the right to take the rate. Even if it takes you five minutes. They all do the same. Even Amanda. They know it is difficult to make a living. If Uncle Tom services your van he charges the hourly rate. But you know he won’t rip you off. But if you don’t pay that is when they get cross. The ranch hands are different. They get their wages. But when you have your own company that is the first thing they ask.”
“Is it to compare with the others that do the same job?”
“No. They know exactly what the hourly rate of each person is. But they want to see value for money. If you can’t deliver the job or the goods they soon tell you that they will not be paying your hourly rate. Then the negotiations begin. And normally they halve it. The person that is doing the job bales. Then the better guy steps in.” David roared with laughter.
“Uncle David that is legit. That is how things work.” David smiled and nodded.
“Good to know.”
They pulled up at the house. They all walked in to the kitchen. Amanda smiled.
“Goodness gracious me. And how is Jessie doing?”
“She is in the sunroom. In her basket with the pups. And her water and food bowl is there. And Uncle David fixed the electricity. So now the favorite plug is working again.” Amanda chuckled and looked at David.
“Well good for you.” David grinned as he put the enormous pumpkin on the table. Amanda looked at it.
“It was a gift from Megan.”
“Well you are being spoilt. We will have to portion it for you and get it in to packets.” David chuckled.
“But right now could you take your tempting pumpkin off of that counter so that I can feed you?” David roared with laughter and took the pumpkin. Amanda chuckled.
“What on earth did they feed that pumpkin to get it so big?” David chuckled. He walked to the counter and put it down.
Nicola put the knives and forks on the table. Amanda opened the oven and David smiled. He took the oven gloves and took the dish from the oven. He smiled as he put it on the table.
“I am sure you are all starved.” Victoria chuckled and nodded.
“Can we go for a horse ride this afternoon?”
“Nicola I am sure you can. But not too long. Victoria hasn’t said anything but I am sure those legs are aching.” Victoria chuckled.
“Only when I got up this morning. But now they are fine.” David smiled and nodded.
“And how are the kittens today?”
“Gorgeous. I went to go and take a look. Sleeping peacefully.” David smiled as Amanda dished up for everyone. He took his slice of bread and started eating his lasagna.
“This is lovely. Thank you. Were we gone that long?” Amanda nodded.
“Time flies when you are having fun. I meant to ask. How did you sleep last night?” Victoria chuckled and nodded. David nodded.
“I slept very well thank you. Thank you for the coffee this morning. And breakfast in bed. Gosh that was lovely. So nice to be surrounded by three lovely young ladies the moment you open your eyes.”
Nicola chuckled.
“And guess what.” Amanda smiled.
“Uncle David got his hourly rate. For the second time this weekend.” David chuckled and nodded.
“I didn’t mean that I would charge them. The next thing I looked it was in my hand.” Amanda smiled.
“But you did sort it out.”
“I did. Whoever said they have to have the whole thing replaced is insane. I sorted the power socket out. In the wall.” Amanda nodded.
“And the main box as well. The one wire was a little worn. So they should not have any more problems. Unless it is a socket in the wall.” Amanda nodded.
“They are a lovely couple. I delivered Tina.” David chuckled.
“Yes I was told you double up as a Doctor at time
s.” Amanda smiled and nodded.
“Gossiping were you?”
“Not at all. Only good stuff. Tom asked me if we were dating. So I told him yes.” Nicola and Victoria looked at each other and grinned.
“And then he told me what a nice person you are.” Amanda chuckled.
“Well that was sweet of him.” Amanda smiled and looked at David and he winked. She smiled as she carried on eating.
“So can we go out on the horses?”
“You can. David?” David nodded.
“I don’t mind. I fancy my afternoon nap.” Amanda chuckled and nodded.
“I am going to stack the dishes and then definitely a nap.”
“We will do the dishes and then go for our ride.”
“Thank you Victoria. That would be lovely. Enjoy your ride ladies. Enjoy your nap David.” David chuckled as they both ran up the stairs. They got to the top of the staircase and David put out his hand. Amanda smiled and turned. He pulled her in to his arms and hugged her. He looked down and gently kissed her.
“Join me.” David chuckled.
“Sure?”
“Sure.”
They walked in to her bedroom and Amanda took off her shoes. She hopped on the bed and sighed. David chuckled as he lay down next to her. He took her hand in his and kissed it.
“I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect that hourly rate. And I didn’t expect to have a girlfriend. For the first time in my life.” Amanda smiled as she moved over and put her head in the crook of his arm.
“Your customer base.”
“I don’t have a customer base as such. I have two customers who use my services. They both look after complexes. So if something needs doing they call me in. But for that it is a long wait. I get called in and do the job. Then I Invoice them. Then I have to wait till the end of the month to get payment.”
“And other than that?”
“If someone calls then I go and give them a quote. And wait until it gets approved or turned down.”
“And how many jobs have you got on the go at the moment?”
“I am busy with the one at the moment. Then I have a few more little jobs to keep me busy next week. Not that many. But I have a lot of quotes out and now the wait.” Amanda smiled and nodded.
“And how does your diary look?”
“Very busy for the next three weeks. I have a young lady that works in my office from Monday to Friday. She schedules all my appointments.”
Dreams Come True Page 6
