Chapter twenty-one.
Friday morning and I wake with vigour. I'm all hyper-active and dancing around the living room singing with my ear phones on when the kids stumble out of bed.
"Morning my little angels" I sing at them. They shake their heads and plonk themselves down on the couch.
I've been up since five am and I'm dressed ready for work. I've made the kids' lunches and all they have to do is eat and get dressed in their uniforms. I'm so full of energy that I can't sit still. I don't ever remember feeling this hyped up before.
I take my earphones out when I see Lilly waving at me.
"Why are you dancing this early Mum?"
"I don't know, it's such a beautiful day, the sky is blue, the grass is green. I just feel alive today, that's all," I reply.
"What would you like for breakfast?" I ask them both.
I head to the kitchen to get their bowls of Rice Bubbles and call them to the table.
I sit down with them and ask them if they have anything happening in school today. We talk a bit about the sports carnival that's on in a few weeks. I decide I had better tell them about Andy staying tonight.
"So guys, Andy is coming over tonight and cooking us dinner. He's going to be staying the night too okay."
"Really, what's he making?" asks Max.
"Is Bradie coming too?" asks Lilly.
"I have no idea what he's cooking and no, I don't think Bradie is coming," I say to them both.
"Awww, I wanted to see him," says Lilly.
"Well you still have to give out the rest of the invitations so how about after school I take you next door and we'll see if Sarah and Tom are home. Bradie will probably be there too. You can ask him if he give Shaun, Brooke and Shannon their invitations too if you want."
"Okay" she says and finishes her breakfast.
"Go get dressed guys" I say as I get up and go wash up the dishes.
As we are going out the front door Bradie walks up the driveway to us.
"Morning guys" he calls out to us. Lilly straightens up and waves brightly at him.
"Hey Bradie, how are you?" I say.
"I'm good, how are you guys going?" he says.
"Fine thankyou" replies Lilly. Max gives him a thumbs up.
"We're just on our way to the bus stop actually, do you want to come for a walk with us?" I say.
"Yeah okay. I was going to offer to take the kids down for you actually in case you needed to get ready for work but I see you already are. You look real nice," he says to me.
"Oh thank you. I got up pretty early this morning so I've got time up my sleeve for a change."
We all head down the road and wait for the bus. Lilly asks Bradie what he's doing today and he tells her about the video he's working on and the new game he got for his Playstation.
The bus pulls in and the kids get on whilst Bradie and I wave goodbye. We turn and head back home again.
"So Elle, I was wondering when we might be able to get that coffee we talked about the other day?"
"Oh, um, well Andy's meeting me for lunch today so it might have to be next week sometime."
"He tells me that he's staying at your house tonight too. Actually he's telling anyone who'll listen really. Even Chris is wondering why Andy's having a sleep over and he's not," Bradie says laughing.
"Really? He's telling everyone? Oh God, surely he can't be that excited about it."
"Oh trust me, he is. He was up until two this morning looking through cookbooks trying to work out what to cook you guys. He's really trying to impress you I think."
"Wow. There's a first for me. I don't think anyone has tried to do that before."
"That's just plain sad Elle" Bradie says shaking his head.
We reach the driveway and I turn to him and say, "Lilly wanted to come over this afternoon to see you and your parents if you're going to be home. She was disappointed when I told her that only Andy was staying tonight."
"Yeah, I'll be there. Do you perhaps want Lilly and Max to have a sleep over tonight? I'm sure Mum and Dad wouldn't mind and Chris would love it."
"That's really nice of you to offer. I'll have a think about it and text you later on okay. I've got to get going or I'm going to be late for work."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later then, bye," says Bradie as I head inside to grab my stuff and head to work.
My morning passes quickly and I'm concentrating so hard on what I'm doing that when I walk out to the counter to ask Sandra something I don't even notice there is anyone else in the shop.
"Hey Sandra, these accounts here, are they suppose to be paid this month or are we holding them until next month?" I ask her.
"We'll do them this month," she says. "I think you have a visitor," she whispers in my ear. "There's a young man who's been wandering around in here for ten minutes now."
I look up to see Andy staring at me from across the room. I smile at him and check my watch. It's just after twelve and Sandra says "Go on, go have your lunch."
"Thankyou, I'll just put these away and head out if that's okay with you" I say.
"I'm pretty sure your man over there has been waiting long enough," she says.
I go to the back office, put the accounts away, take off my glasses and grab my handbag. When I walk out the front of the store Andy is standing talking to Sandra but looks up when I walk out.
"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting" I say.
"It's fine, I wasn't waiting long at all. Nice meeting you Sandra" he says.
"Likewise Andrew, you too."
He takes my hand and we head across the road to the deli and order lunch. "She seems very nice," he says to me.
"She's great actually."
"Since when do you wear glasses? They make you look so sexy" he says with a grin.
"Yeah right. I normally wear contacts but I forgot to put them in this morning."
We sit down at the table out the front and I ask him about what he's been doing today.
"Well, I only got up at eleven so not much but I am going to get some groceries for tonight when you go back to work" he says.
That reminds me about Bradie's offer. I had been thinking about it letting the kids have a sleep over but I don't want them to think that I'm palming them off to someone else to look after. I grab my phone out and open the messages. As I'm typing a reply to Bradie Andy asks me what I'm doing.
I explain to him about Bradie's offer and why I'm saying no this time. He seems to understand this but I can see a bit of disappointment in his eyes.
"Hey, we'll get a night together, completely alone, soon. I promise you. But whilst this is still so new I just don't want to push them aside. I don't want them to see you taking their Mum away, you know," I say to him.
"I understand," he says as he takes my free hand. I push the send button and put my phone on the table.
"Now, what are you making us for dinner or is it a surprise?" I ask him.
"Surprise. I'm going to cook it all this afternoon and just heat it up at your house," he tells me.
"Okay so you should probably know then that I promised Lilly that I'd bring her over this afternoon so she can give your parents their invitations too. Plus she wants to see Bradie again as well."
"I should be done by four so it will be fine. Mum promised she'd help me if I need it."
We eat our lunch and talk quietly but the half hour that I get is gone before we know it. "I have to head back," I say to Andy.
"I wanted to tell you some news but I'll wait until this afternoon now."
"What news?" I ask him.
"Nope, surprise now too. I'll see you when you get home okay" he says, leaning over and kissing me.
"Okay, I'll be home just before three thirty" I say.
"Bye gorgeous" he says, leaving me at the door to the shop. As I walk back in Sandra gives me a pointed look.
"Wow, he's lovely, where did you find him?" she asks me.
"He's my neighbour actually" I tell her.
"Any more of them in your street?" she asks me. I laugh at her and tell her he has a younger brother.
"Well, bring him in next time."
I laugh again and make my way out the back to put my bag away. I quickly look at my phone and see Bradie has replied.
Okay, but if you ever want them to stay, we'd love to have them over. I think Chris might have a thing for Lilly. :)
Sweet. I turn my phone off and put it back in my bag. When three o'clock comes around I pack up my gear, tidy up the office and head out to say goodbye to Sandra.
"Have a good evening" Sandra says to me as I leave.
"You too" I sing out to her. I unlock my car and start the drive home. I pull up in my drive way at quarter past three and think that maybe I was speeding home.
I dig my phone out of my bag and then hop out of the car to go inside, I have just enough time to change.
As I walk up the house I don't notice the person on the steps until I'm practically on top of them and I let out a little squeal.
"Shit!" It's only Andy.
"Oh God, you gave me a heart attack then" I say to him.
"Hey gorgeous, sorry, I thought you saw me siting here."
"Not until the last second. Have you been waiting long?"
"Only five minutes probably," he says as he stands and I open the front door.
"Come in, I'm just going to go get changed. Grab a drink if you want one" I sing out to him as I head for my bedroom. I close the door behind me and quickly change into shorts and a shirt. When I come out Andy's sitting on the couch with Coke in one hand and a diet Coke in the other.
"Hey" I say as I bend and give him a kiss.
He hands me my drink and says, "How was work?"
"Fine, it flew by" I reply. "Are you coming with me to the bus stop?" I ask him.
"Yeah, I figure I can tell you my news on the way there," he says.
"Okay, let me grab my keys and we'll get going."
I duck into the kitchen and grab them and head out the front door with Andy behind me. He pushes in the lock and pulls the front door closed for me. I open my can of drink and take a mouthful as we start the walk to the bus stop.
"So what's this news of yours?" I ask him.
"We got a phone call from our management today. They want us to shoot our next clip in Cambodia."
"Really? Wow that's great. Cambodia. That will be a bit of an eye opener for you."
"Yeah. We're going for four days next week. I think we leave on Tuesday and we're back on Friday evening. Just in time for Bradie's dinner on Saturday."
"That will be great for you guys" I say to him.
"I'm going to miss you though. Probably spend a fortune of phone calls and text messages if my phone even works over there" he says to me.
"Hey, I'll miss you too but don't waste your money on that. You'll see me when you get back, and besides, it's only four days. It won't kill us you know."
"Yeah I know."
We get to the bus stop and sit on the bench. Andy puts his arm around me and kisses my temple. When the bus pulls up we both stand and greet the kids and walk back home.
Lilly is all excited about seeing Bradie again and I decide to let him tell her about their little trip next week. Andy isn't saying much and neither is Max as I unpack their school bags and put their things away.
"Are you okay?" I ask Max and he nods quietly. Andy sees the worried look on my face and turns to Max.
"Do you want to come over and see what I've made for dinner for us? Your Mum doesn't know what it is yet and I'm a bit worried she might not like it," he says to him.
"Yeah okay" Max says and I smile at Andy.
"We'll be next door," he says to me as I watch him and Max leave.
"Can I get changed first Mum?" asks Lilly and I nod yes at her.
She runs to her room and is soon running out in a pretty dress she got for Christmas.
"Have you got the invitations?" I ask her.
"I'll just go get them" she says and runs back to her room.
When she comes back out we both walk next door and Lilly knocks. Bradie answers the door and lets us in.
"Thank you" says Lilly. I give Bradie a smile as I pass by.
"Where's Max and Andy?" I ask him.
"In the kitchen but I've been told that I'm not allowed to let you in there."
"Okay. Well, are your parents home? Lilly has some thing she wants to give them."
"Yeah they're in the lounge room, come on through," he says and we follow him down the hallway. I look to my left as I pass the kitchen and I can see Andy and Max with their heads together talking quietly.
We turn right into the lounge room and Sarah is there with Chris on the couch watching In The Night Garden. Lilly walks over to Sarah and hands her the invitation.
"What's this?" says Sarah.
"It's an invitation to our birthday dinner for you and Mr Webb" she says.
"Oh sweetie, thank you," says Sarah.
"Your welcome." Lilly turns and faces Bradie and hands him another two envelopes. "Can you please give these to Shaun and Shannon for me?" she asks him with a shy smile.
"Yeah sure thing" says Bradie. "This is going to be my best birthday ever you know" he says to her. "Did I tell you that Max and Lilly's birthday is the same as mine?" Bradie says to his Mum.
"Yes you did. How special that you all have the same birthday?" she says to Lilly.
Andy walks in behind me with Max and sits down on the couch, pulling me onto his lap. Max jumps on mine and then Lilly piles on top of us all.
"Wasn't such a great idea huh?" I ask him, laughing.
"Okay, everyone off" he says. Bradie grabs Lilly off and I hop up with Max under my arm and put him down.
"Do you have any plans tonight?" I ask Bradie.
"Shannon's coming over I think but I'm not sure if anyone else is. We're just going to have a movie night."
"Sounds nice," I say.
"Come on, lets get this brilliant dinner I've made for you back to your house hey?" says Andy standing up and putting his arm around my waist from behind.
"Okay. Let's go. Have a great night guys," I say to Sarah and Bradie.
We head into the kitchen where all the food has been packed into containers then into bags to carry. We pick them all up and head back to my house.
When we get in the kitchen I promptly get kicked out so Andy and his new little sidekick Max can heat everything up and get it served. Lilly and I retreat to the lounge and watch the Simpsons together while we wait.
"It's ready," Andy calls out to us.
We both get up and go into the dining room. They've even set the table with wine and flowers. It looks really special and I notice he's even brought some candlesticks from home.
"This looks beautiful," I say to him and walk up to him and kiss him on the cheek.
"Thank you," he says before pulling out my chair for me.
I'm feeling a little like a princess as he dishes up Spaghetti Bolognaise in front of me. Oh he picked a tough dish. I'm so particular about good old spag-bog that I fear he may flunk out.
I can feel Andy watching me as he pours some wine into my glass. He's given the kids the plastic wine glasses and filled them with lemonade.
"Here's to a beautiful woman, a loving mother, and two very special kids," he says raising his glass. I feel the heat rise to my face and I hold my glass to him.
"You forgot to mention the very special neighbour too," I say to him.
"Cheers," he says and we all repeat it and take a mouthful. The wine is nice and sweet, the way I like it. I have a taste of the meal and it's delicious. I don't know where he got the recipe from but it's so good that I may have to ask him how he made it.
I tell him that it's wonderful and he smiles at me and tucks in. The kids love the meal too and pretty soon we are all full to the brim with spaghetti.
I stand and take the dishes to the sink but he ushers me away again telling me that it's my night off. Max hops up and helps Andy with the dishes and Lilly and I go back to the living room. About ten minutes later the boys come in and Andy sits next to me. I put my head on his shoulder and thank him again for such a wonderful evening.
We watch a bit of TV before I see the kids start to yawn. I get them in the bath and brushing their teeth. By 8.30 they are both sound asleep in their beds.
Andy and I are still on the couch watching TV when I suggest to him that we grab the bottle of wine and sit out the back for a while. He agrees so we both get up and head outside.
We sit in the dark like always and we can hear the noise coming from next door. Sounds like maybe Shannon brought a couple of extra people over. Andy starts laughing and I ask him what's so funny.
"They are all going to be in there talking about us you know. I don't think any of them have ever known me to miss a Friday night session of drinking before."
"Well, technically you're still drinking. Just not with them," I reply.
"True. That's Sonny you can hear by the way. He doesn't realise how loud he gets when he drinks."
I lean back against his chest and he cuddles me from behind. Suddenly it goes quiet next door and I begin to wonder what they're up to.
We hear the back door open next door and I turn and look at Andy. He holds his finger to his lip and I nod back at him.
I watch three silhouettes walk down the fence line and Andy gets up and grabs the hose. I'm shaking my head when they put their heads over the fence and Andy turns the water on them.
A lot of noise follows and Andy yells out "You get what you deserve you perverts."
I'm laughing myself silly over the looks on their faces.
"Well I think we'll be going to bed now" Andy calls out loudly so they can hear.
I stand and head in the back door with Andy behind me. I can hear them yelling obscenities that I ignore. I put our glasses in the sink and grab Andy's hand leading him to my bedroom. I'm mentally doing a little happy dance as I close the door behind him.