60
They stood in the village, the house before them a bright pink and purple extravaganza.
"This house is behind the main one out on the street. We had an argument and painted them all a bit silly then we all agreed to calm down and painted them back, but a couple of the back ones got to stay silly. I liked this one. I call it Candy Floss Lane" Ton said happily, then turned and pointed "see the shop over there, across the street?"
They stepped onto the small footpath and looked past the front house to the street beyond at the little store with a large cake painted on it's windows.
"A Ton of Mel's Love" Ton said proudly, "That's my cake shop. You can find me there sometimes. If my motor is parked to there, I am inside making stuff. Come visit any time."
Then as they stared at the shop Ton pulled out keys "Right. A set for Hazel, a set for Evan, a set for Freddie and we put a set into the communal case as the Fire Station. In case of emergencies, important that we can get to one another. Spare set is always there so if you lose yours or fall and break a hip upstairs like some old people do … they can still get in with the Fire Keys." Ianto explained then placed held out the key rings "Go on then. Go look at your house. I hope you like it, I helped make it."
They accepted their keys with nervousness, still not really understating everything and Ianto watched from the sidelines with Boz, his hand still the man's desire to step in several times as he whispered "Let them find their way here. It's different here. They need their own footsteps."
"CARLTON" a voice sang and an old Biddy came from the front house's back door, waving frantically "Darling! Oh my darling boy!"
"Florence!" Ton said gleefully "Look at that blouse. So many ruffles, I must touch."
Ton racked to her and reached out, rubbing his hands on the ruffles along the front of her blouse and she giggled, stroking his cheek "Oh darling boy. I thought I heard your voice, are these the new ones? Oh goodness, look at the colour of your dress darling. Gorgeous! I LOVE colour. Come here, let Aunty Flo see you dear."
Hazel found herself engulfed and couldn't help touching the ruffles as she felt the warm arms around her, still surprised but now feeling something else as her memories of her mama came forward.
"Flo is your go girl" Ton said happily "Why there is a gate in the fence here, you can run from the back door to her back door and she will always have a cuddle or a shoulder. I come here when I need a time out sometimes. She has cats, lots of cats. Do you like cats?"
Evan started to grin.
"Yes!"
