“I need to see the cost of the University. So that I can start putting money aside to pay for things. And those text books. When do you have to pay for them?”
“Get your nose out of my department.” David looked at Amanda. She put the container down and hugged David.
“That is my department.”
“But I have to know.”
“So that you can have sleepless nights and wonder how you are going to be able to pay?” David smiled.
“That bad?”
“I have taken care of the schooling. Anything that falls in to that category is my department. I have a goal in life. Victoria has now fallen in to that little goal. The two of them are my responsibility.”
“Are you paying for Nicola as well?”
Amanda sighed.
“My folks can’t have an extended. How do we put this? They planned their lives and have two kids that they have to put through school. That almost ends and they feel as if they have almost reached the goal. They have their money which is saved for when they retire. But along comes another. So I decided that I will take care of that little person. Take the strain off of them.” David nodded.
“Tell me you can afford this.”
“Yes.” David smiled and hugged her and kissed her.
“Tree.”
“Brace yourself.”
“It can’t be all that bad.”
“You don’t know Mrs. Dudley. She thinks bigger is better.”
They walked in to the lounge and stared.
“No kidding. You need the step ladder.”
“I think you need the step ladder.” David chuckled as he walked out and fetched the step ladder.
“Where are you two?”
“Behind the bush.” Amanda chuckled as David walked in with the step ladder.
“We start at the top. Open that step ladder please David. I will put the star up. We might have to trim the tree.” Nicola roared with laughter. Victoria handed Amanda the star.
“Going up.” David chuckled as she climbed up and put the star on the trip of the tree. She walked down the step ladder.
“All done.” She turned and started to walk off. David roared with laughter and grabbed her.
“Oh no you don’t.” She chuckled as he looked at her and kissed her.
“We start with the lights.”
“And I am so glad you are here. We have four strands which have been zapped in to one box.” She grinned as she took the box and opened it. David groaned.
“Told you.”
“I am going to join these two first. Then you can start winding it around the tree. Now take that one and start winding.” Victoria was up the ladder in seconds. She worked the rope of lights through the top of the tree. David joined the two properly and the next was wound around the tree. He ended up joining them all properly.
“Switch them on let’s see.”
“No because you are going to think it is all done.” Amanda chuckled. Nicola plugged the lights in and they all stood still. There was no flickering.
“It isn’t doing the flicker thing.”
“They have to warm up. They have been packed away for a year.” Amanda smiled as she started passing baubles to Nicola.
“My arms are breaking.” She came down the ladder. Victoria was next. They worked their way around the tree. David stood and hanged all sorts of decorations on to the tree.
“Oh I do like these. I hope they are not from last year.” Amanda looked over.
“Where did you get those?”
“From the packet.”
“Mrs. Dudley has been shopping.”
“So there are new.”
“They are.” He grinned as he took a tiny little bar of chocolate and popped it in his mouth.
“Let me check that.”
“We will have one too thank you.” David roared with laughter as he gave them all a tiny little block of chocolate.
“Better hide the evidence.” David chuckled and nodded.
“Gosh they are tasty.”
Victoria chuckled and nodded.
“And there are loads!” David chuckled as he kept the box away from everyone and carried on hanging all the little packs of chocolates which looked like tiny little gifts. The tree looked beautiful. They all stood back. As David folded up the ladder all the lights started to blink.
“Oh that looks so beautiful. You all did such a good job. Thank you.” David smiled as he put his arm around Amanda.
“It really is Christmas now. But I think I have my gift.” Amanda smiled as she looked at David. She hugged him.
“This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”
Nicola’s cell phone rang.
“Nicola Rosendale speaking.” Amanda rolled her eyes and David grinned.
“Good evening Miss Rosendale.”
“Hey Mom! Guess what we just did!”
“And what did you do?”
“Mrs. Dudley had this gigantic forest of a tree put in the lounge. We have just finished decorating it. Mom it is enormous. It is bigger than big and wider than wide.” David chuckled as he took a seat on the couch. He looked at the tree and smiled.
“And do you know what we did today?”
“What did you do today?”
“We rounded up all the sheep. Tomorrow their little tails come off. And their gadgets. You know. Their gadgets.”
“I am well aware of what a gadget is.” Amanda smiled and shook her head. David grinned.
“Mom I have news. Victoria is also going to be studying with me next year. Isn’t that awesome! We got our text books today. A whole box full!”
“Oh fantastic! When did that happen?”
“Well she wasn’t sure. But they accepted her too. So now I have someone I know that will be there as well. She is also going to be a weekly boarder. How cool is that Mom!”
“Very cool love.”
Amanda shook her head.
“Get comfortable folks.” David grinned as he put his arm around Amanda.
“Mom. We had an enormous breakfast. And for lunch they did some meat on the fires and we ate that with a bun. I had two.”
“Well you are working off a lot of energy. Did Amanda have her guests over for lunch on Saturday?”
“No. Yes.”
“Is it yes or no?” Nicola chuckled.
“Yes. Uncle David and Victoria came for lunch on Saturday. But it was too late to drive. So they stayed over. Victoria is allowed to stay for the holidays.” Nicola looked at Amanda and she gave a little nod. Amanda smiled and nodded.
“Do you think there is a chance that Uncle David and Amanda hit it off?”
“Yes I think so.”
“I am glad. Do they get on well?”
“Yes. I will tell Amanda. Hey is the hamper packed in two’s? Remember. I am not there.” Claire chuckled.
“Yes the hamper arrived and is packed for two. You have company?”
“Yes.”
“Well sweetheart best you be off. All fine there?”
“Yes thanks Mom.”
“Love you sweetheart.”
“Love you Mom.” Nicola cut her call.
“That was Mom.”
“No!” Nicola gurgled with laughter.
“She says the hamper is packed for two people. They remembered.”
“Yes that man down at the butcher is very sharp.” Victoria gurgled with laughter. David chuckled.
“But other than that there is no news.”
“If you let Mom talk there would be some news.”
“Not a good thing that. Mom will tell me all about the Bingo and the book club. And never ask about the garden society.” Amanda grinned.
“Bath and bed.”
“Can we steal one teeny weeny chocolate. Mrs. Dudley will never know. I will put something in to the little elastics.” Amanda smiled and chuckled.
“I am sure we can all share the little gift.” Nicola took the little chocolates from the elastics that held them together. She handed everyone a
little chocolate.
“Hey! Nut!” She sprinted up the stairs and fetched a chocolate coated nut and ran down the stairs. She took all the little wrappers and covered it and put it back in place of the chocolates.
David roared with laughter.
“I hope it is there when we feel like nuts.”
“Oh nuts!” Amanda got up and walked to the kitchen. She walked through with an enormous bag of nuts and three bowls. She put the bowls down with the nutcracker. She emptied the bag in to the bowls.
“Now Christmas can come.” David roared with laughter.
Victoria smiled as her cell phone started to ring.
“Has to be Gran.” She smiled and answered.
“Gran!”
“And how are you doing? Has Dad got it together yet?” Victoria roared with laughter.
“Gran. We haven’t been home yet! We went home, right. Fetched our things. Dad was supposed to work at that other man’s house but he postponed to Friday night. Then today he worked the whole day. He made some mean money. Gran I have news. You are not going to believe this. Put the speakerphone on so that Granddad can hear.”
“Wait a minute.” Victoria smiled and waited. She whispered.
“Technology.”
“I heard that!” David roared with laughter.
“Granddad was in the bathroom.”
“Hey Granddad!”
“Hey sweetheart. Let us have the good news. Must we sit?”
“Yes you must sit.”
“Okay we are sitting and waiting.”
“Gran. Granddad. I have been accepted in to Varsity. I don’t have to get a job. I am going to study.”
“Tell us everything!” David wriggled and put his feet up on the coffee table.
“I am going to study as a Doctor. With Nicola. Gran we are going to be weekly boarders. Weekends we spend at home. We both got our text books today. Every single one. Gran it is amazing. I am so excited!”
“How?”
“How what?”
“How. Right. So you haven’t come home yet?”
“Nope. And tomorrow we have to chop lambs tails off. And cut out their goolies.”
“What on earth is a goolie?” They all heard Tom roar with laughter. David started to laugh.
“Gran we have UV ports and they have the wi fi antennae.”
“Oh my word!” Amanda roared with laughter and shook her head.
“I have a UV port?” David grinned and shook his head.
“They have to do that!”
“Gran yes. For the taste of the lamb.”
“Please do not go in to such gory detail.” Victoria chuckled.
“Hey Dad did a job today. He rewired a whole building.”
“Heavens!”
“Gran. Would you like a word with Dad?”
“Yes please. And put me off the walkie talkie thing.”
“Speaker phone Gran. Hold on a sec.” Victoria handed the phone to David.
“Hi Mom.”
“Still there?”
“And we will be here for the week. I don’t have anything lined up for the week. I had scheduled to do a job but I will be doing that on Friday evening. Mom we are coming through on Friday. Can you ask Dad if he can lend me a hand?”
“Friday evening?”
“Yes.”
“Dad is nodding so yes. He can help.”
“Thanks. Not so sure what we are going to be doing. But we are all coming through. We need a baby sitter for Nicola and Victoria.” They both groaned as he spoke.
David grinned.
“And then we will probably stay on Saturday.”
“Shopping.”
“Amanda says she is going to do a spot of shopping. So we will see you on Friday.”
“Sounds good. Are you keeping your wits about you? Not forgetting things?”
“No. I am aware.”
“You sound happy.”
“I am. We are.”
“You will have to explain the sudden income to afford the Varsity fees.”
“Yes we will explain.”
“Good! Now have a super week. Love to all.”
“Thanks Mom. To you too.” David cut the call and handed the phone back to Victoria.
“Love to all.” Amanda chuckled.
“Plenty of questions there.” David nodded and smiled.
“I will explain everything over the weekend. But not over the phone.” Amanda smiled and nodded.
“So we will be sleeping at your house on Friday then?”
“I think that would be nice.” Nicola nodded.
“Remember I am part of the gang. Don’t go shipping me out to strangers.” David chuckled.
“We won’t ship you out. But I think Amanda would like to do some shopping on Saturday.” Amanda nodded.
“Well while you are busy we can take Mom and your Mom with us and go and get all the goodies that we need.”
“Hoorah!”
“And then they will be wrapped and be put under the tree.”
“No need. We won’t even touch the things.”
“We shall see.”
CHAPTER 14
It was Friday. David flew in to the house.
“Sorry!” Amanda chuckled as he walked in.
“Job done?”
“Yes all done. I have a cottage to build next week. Wiring, the works.”
“Excellent.” He chuckled as he kissed Amanda.
“Let me run up there and have a shower and grab my things.”
“Don’t rush. There is plenty of time. I got a call from your mother.”
“What did she say?”
“Nicola and Victoria are going to the movies with Sydney.”
“And they are going where?”
“That is the bit she didn’t mention.” David roared with laughter.
“Oh I can only imagine!” David chuckled as he flew up the stairs to have a quick shower and change. He flew down the stairs.
David walked in to the kitchen. He walked in to the lounge and roared with laughter. They all sat with their feet up cracking nuts and eating them. Amanda smiled.
“Are you ready Mister MacGuire?”
“I am.” They all got up and took their overnight bag and walked out.
“Dad do you have your overnight bag?”
“Got it.”
“Car keys?”
“Yes.”
“House keys.”
“Got them.”
“Tool box.”
“In the van.” Amanda pulled the door closed. She walked back inside and fetched her handbag. They all chuckled.
David drove over to his house and they offloaded all their bags. Claire, Mary and Sydney drove up in Sydney’s van. Tom and Don pulled up in Tom’s van. They all stared.
“How come they are all together?” Amanda grinned.
“That was the weird bit. Your Mom phoned to tell me my brother is taking Nicola and Victoria to the movies.”
“The movies!” Victoria and Nicola were like a chorus.
“Oh didn’t I say?” David grinned.
David kissed Amanda and she hopped in the van. Claire and Mary joined her. David took his toolbox.
“Not going to work.” They hopped out of the van and climbed in to Tom’s van and Amanda drove off. They all went in their different directions.
Amanda smiled as she drove.
“Now don’t go into a complete spasm or get a hernia. The both of you.” Mary grinned.
“I have asked David and Victoria to move in with me. We are dating and we are serious. No we are not sleeping together. They each have their own bedroom. As for the University. I am paying for both Nicola and Victoria. Because I can afford it. That is my choice. If something turns sour. And it will not. David can always go back to his house. He is going to rent it out. He is going to sell off the furniture that he does not want and need. Any questions?” Claire and Mary stared at Amanda.
“Ask now or forever hold your peace.” They both roared with
laughter.
“David is being kept extremely busy. He has had a job to do every single day. The more he does the more the folk get to know him. He is doing very well. Nicola and Victoria have been kept very busy this week. And Victoria has mastered the art of riding a horse. So the family is settling in nicely. Nicola and Victoria get on like a house on fire. There are no little spats or arguments. They are kept too busy to think about an argument. And they are worked to a frazzle and normally pass out nice and early. Questions?”
Claire grinned.
“Do I sense wedding bells?”
“David and I are still getting to know each other. If he asked me to marry him tomorrow I would say yes.” Mary smiled and nodded.
“Is he pulling his weight in the house?”
“No weight to pull. I have a housekeeper which makes it much easier for all of us. But yes he does pull his weight. Last weekend he made our supper which was divine. He works extremely hard and makes sure he is there for supper. He keeps the girls in check. So yes. He does his bit.”
Claire smiled and nodded. Amanda chuckled.
“And we are here. See you much later. I sing for a while. Then have my break. Then go on for the second set. When I break I vanish. Don’t be alarmed Mary. I do this for fun. And it brings in a little more cash. Enjoy the evening and no picking up men.” They roared with laughter as they hopped out of the van. Amanda walked through and dressed for her session.
Mary stared as Amanda came on the stage.
“Claire are you sure that is your daughter?”
“She was really good in the choir.” Mary giggled.
“I wish I had shorts like those.”
“And those heels. I love that wig.” They both chuckled as they sipped at their drinks and watched Amanda.
David grinned as he chatted away to Tom while he worked. Don was chatting away to Mister Wood. They finished the job just before midnight. David packed everything away. He smiled as he was handed an envelope of cash.
“I meant to do the transfer. I hope you don’t mind cash.” David smiled.
“I prefer cash.” He smiled as he walked out. He phoned Amanda.
“We are at your folks.”
“On our way. We actually finished the job.”
“Excellent! See you in a few minutes.”
David chuckled as he drove.
“Okay. I know you have questions. I am moving in with Amanda. Victoria and I. We have our own rooms. If it doesn’t work out then we move back home. I will be renting my place out. Don I am going to marry your daughter. May I have your blessing?”
Dreams Come True Page 11
