Thank you for all your reviews! Hugs! x
Sorry guys; I had a bit of a nightmare updating this one. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I've been merging some of my earlier chapters together (there are now 19 chapters, instead of 24, although the content's still all there.) Anyway, because I'm useless with technology, I managed to delete a chapter completely when I meant to delete one that I'd already merged and didn't need again, so I had to put it up again, which is why it's coming up as though I updated when I haven't. Apologies for that- I've been trying to find out which chapter I deleted and how I could get it back as it wasn't in my Document folder on FF as it was one of my earliest chapters. Anyway, I found it on my laptop eventually, and it's done now. So, lesson learnt- don't accidentally delete chapters! And, in all honesty, don't bother merging chapters- it's such a faff! Please let me know if you prefer the new, longer chapters, or like shorter ones. (I don't think I can be bothered to swap it back to how it was, but if you prefer the old style, then I won't do any more merging [or accidental deleting] in the future). Also, please let me know if you think a chapter is missing! I think I'm sorted now, but after that debacle I wouldn't put it past me to have uploaded the same chapter twice, or something equally as stupid! Thanks! x
Anyway, here's my next chapter. I hope you like it! Please leave a review! And again, apologies for my technical incompetence!
I spent the rest of the afternoon in a marking frenzy. I still had a fair bit left to do, but I was well over two thirds done with it by the end of the afternoon. I seemed to get a lot more done when Monty wasn't here distracting me. Getting up, I swapped my ice packs over, putting the one I bought this afternoon on my ankle, before flopping back down on the sofa and turning on Netflix. This was probably a very bad idea; when I next looked up at the clock, the rest of the afternoon had passed me by and all I had to show for it was the fact that I'd managed to watch the first five episodes of 'Breaking Bad'. It was now about six, usually about the time I started to make my tea, but today I wasn't all that hungry. The Nando's had really filled me up, but, more to the point, I couldn't be bothered to make tea either- it was enough effort when I was able-bodied. I really couldn't face hobbling around on crutches- just going to the bathroom seemed to take a ridiculous amount of energy. Grabbing some more ibuprofen, I settled myself back on the sofa, deciding that I might as well try and watch some more of 'Breaking Bad' before bed. I'd marked more than enough spelling and maths tests for one day. I was half way through episode six when the doorbell rang. Damn! And it was just getting to the good part!
"Coming!" I yelled out, grabbing my crutches and making my way to the door to see who it was. I never usually got visitors at this time of night, apart from if it was a neighbour knocking to complain about something, but I hadn't done anything to warrant a complaint. Well, at least, I didn't think I had. The last complaint I'd had was from Mrs Johnson, a rather pretentious woman, who asked me if I could please stop ordering so many parcels, as she could hear my doorbell ringing from her bathroom. It was apparently rather distracting. Thinking about it, I was probably due for another ridiculous complaint, if such a comment could really be classified as a true complaint. I mean, if she'd managed to find fault in my parcel delivery schedule, then she'd almost certainly find fault in a topless Will wandering the corridor with me in his arms. She'd probably threaten me with public indecency. Still, if that was it, I bet the old bint enjoyed the view, even if she wouldn't admit it. I mean, who wouldn't like looking at those abs? Opening the door I prepared myself for a long, drawn out explanation as to just why I was such a horrendous, inconsiderate neighbour. Yet, instead of a lecture I was greeted by a loud cry of "Surprise!". I blinked in shock. Stood outside my door was not Mrs Johnson, but my family: Mum, Dad, Jack, and 'Van all laden down with shopping bags.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, confused. I certainly wasn't expecting them, not that it wasn't a lovely surprise.
"We've come over to make tea for you. Well, we've got enough stuff for us too, but the idea was to make tea for you." Mum said, holding up her bag. "I figured you'd need some food shopping, and then thought we might as well all come over, and have tea together. You don't mind, do you? I mean, you've not got anyone over?" She said, winking rather obviously at me, and craning her head around the door. I rolled my eyes at her antics, and hobbled back, opening the door wide for them to enter.
"There's no one here but me, Mum. Come on in, guys." I said, letting them file through, hugging each of them in turn. It was then that I saw the four legged fiend that I'd missed on my initial assessment of the group. "Monty!" I cried delighted. Dad walked in first, and handed his lead over to me.
"It's a good job he's cute, Alexis. That little tyke completely destroyed my begonias." Monty looked up at me, unapologetically.
"Sorry, Dad. I'm sure Jack can have a word with him for me, can't you Jack?" He nodded.
"Yeah, I can tell him off for you, Lex." I smiled- the perks of having a brother that could talk to animals.
"I'll replace them for you, Dad." I said, but he waved me off.
"I'll be able to fix them, I'm sure. It'll just have to be a Monty-free zone in the future." I laughed.
"That sounds like a good plan, Dad."
"Right, I'll go and put these away." He gestured to the bags of shopping, and moved to the kitchen to put them away. I turned my attention back to the other members of my family. Jack and Savannah were next through the door.
"Hey you two! How are my favourite parents to be? And how was London?" It didn't escape my notice that Jack had refused to let Savannah carry more than one bag, whilst he was holding three. In either hand.
"Good, thanks." Jack said. "Hang on, I'll go and put these away with Dad, and 'Van can fill you in."
"It was so good, Alexis! You have to come with us next time- we had so much fun!"
"I'm counting on that 'Van! Come in, put your feet up and I'll put a brew on."
"No, you won't, Alexis. Not with that ankle. I'll have a look over it in a bit. Me and your Mum thought that it might be best to double check, even though the x-ray was pretty conclusive." Another benefit of Savannah being a savant was that with her power, she could 'see' what was wrong with someone. It was why she was such a good vet.
"Okay, thanks 'Van." She smiled, and headed off to the kitchen.
Mum was the last one through the door. She'd deliberately hung back, and I knew exactly why. "No, he's definitely not here, Mum." Here face fell comically.
"Definitely not?" I shook my head. "I can't believe that Andrea met him before I did! She said he was very handsome, American, and was called Will. Is that right?" I knew Andrea wouldn't be able to keep that information to herself for very long!
"Yeah, Will lives in Denver."
"But he's not in Denver now?"
"No, he's staying in England for a while." I didn't elaborate on just why he was so intent on staying in Derby- it wasn't exactly the most beautiful place in the country.
"And he's very handsome?" I blushed. Handsome did not do him justice.
"Yeah." I agreed.
"And he's your boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend."
"But Andrea said that he said he was your boyfriend. Was he lying? Is he pressuring you into something, because I'll go and sort him out if he is!"
"Mum, relax! Look, it's complicated. And no, to answer your question, he's not forcing me into anything- he's too much of a gentlemen. You can meet him when I'm ready and not before, okay?" She nodded, practically vibrating with excitement.
"I can't wait, Alexis!" Honestly, she went on like I was going to marry the guy, and she didn't even know he was actually my soulfinder. "Right, now you go and sit down whilst we all sort everything out. I'll send Savannah in to check on you." She shooed me off into the lounge, whilst she joined the others in the kitchen. I leant down and gave Monty a cuddle, before letting him off his lead. I'd missed the little guy, even if I'd only been without him for a few hours. We all re-grouped in the lounge once the shopping was put away. Mum had banned everyone from entering the kitchen while she cooked up some spaghetti bolognese for us all. Savannah checked over my ankle whilst Mum cooked, and affirmed that it was nothing more than a nasty sprain, that needed nothing more than rest. We chatted for a while, enjoying simply catching up with one another, before we sat down for tea. Mum's meal definitely hit the spot- there was no food left on any of the plates.
"So, what did you get up to in London then, you two?" I asked Jack and 'Van.
"Shopping." Groaned Jack. "Lots and lots of shopping. This one-" he tickled 'Van, and she squealed "decided that London was the best place to go baby shopping. We went to all of the baby boutiques in London, and bought enough for a family of nine!"
"Jack, you're exaggerating! We only bought a cot, and a nappy changing table."
"And clothes, and a moses basket, and a car seat, and a rocking horse, and-" She slapped him lightly on the chest.
"We didn't buy that much, Jack! You're exaggerating?" He raised his eyebrow in response to that.
"Do you really want me to go on, sweetheart?" He took a deep breath of air in preparation.
"Okay, maybe we bought a little bit more than we should…" she admitted.
"We? Savannah, love, I think you'll find that you did most of the picking. I simply paid." She grinned up at him.
"That's why I love you."
"It's a good job I love you. We're having to have it all shipped up here- it's costing a fortune. We should have just gone to Ikea." He complained, but we could all tell that he absolutely loved it really.
"But the stuff we've got it so nice."
"I'm sure it's lovely, 'Van." I interrupted, not wanting her to feel upset. "I can't wait to see it. You'll have to let me know when it arrives, and if I'm back to normal I'll help you come and set it all know how useless Jack is when it comes to DIY." 'Van clapped her hands together excitedly, whilst Jack fervently denied my allegation.
"I am not that bad at DIY, Alexis! I'm actually very talented!" I rolled my eyes. "What? I am!"
"Oh please, Jack. You wouldn't know a screwdriver if it hit you in the face. We all know that me and 'Van are best for this job." He looked to our parents for support.
"Now, now, children, let's not fight. But, I do agree with Alexis, Jack. It's probably best to let the girls sort out the furniture. We don't need another trip to A&E." Mum said with a wink, obviously remembering Jack's earlier disastrous attempts at DIY. I sat back in my seat with a grin, gloating silently in my victory. Mum and Dad began to clear the plates away then, taking them to the kitchen and putting them in the dishwasher. I had tried to offer to help, but Mum said I must remain in my seat.
"Oh, Alexis, also, Jack and I were thinking: how about we look after Monty until you're better? We were discussing it on the way here, and we thought maybe he could stay with us while your Mum and Dad are at work. He could stay at the clinic during the day, and get walked with the other dogs that are staying there. It would beat sitting inside all day, and Brian's garden would remain intact."
"That would be great 'Van, thanks. If it's not too much trouble, that is?"
"It's no trouble at all." My brother confirmed, wrapping an arm around Savannah. "It's good training for us, isn't it, babe?" He said, tracing patterns on her now slightly rounded stomach.
"Yep. Honestly, Lex; we like having him. He can stay at the clinic during the day, and come home with us at night. We've already picked up his bed from your Mum and Dad's."
"Well thank you, you two."
"You're welcome. Think of it as payment for coming to build baby furniture with me." I laughed at that.
"It's a done deal!" We sat and chatted for a couple more hours, until it reached nine, and we called it a night. I gave Monty a kiss and a cuddle, before waving my family off, and getting ready for bed. They were the best: I was so blessed to have them.
Please leave a review! I will update again tomorrow if I hit 180! Hugs x