CH 7
Curious about Elle, the next morning Pat searches out where Elle lives then went around to see Nel as she was looking after the kids. Checking out her house, he was impressed with how big it is. The front and back were both impressive. Walking around to the back of the house, he saw the swimming pool and the kids play area. There was a large gazebo with table and chairs where he found Nel knitting while the kids played in a large sandpit.
"Hi, Nel."
Turning with a smile, "Pat… Tom said you were going to pop around before heading back to Melbourne."
"Yeah," he said, sitting.
"Elle has a beautiful house; it must have cost a lot to fix it up."
Nel giggled, "not fix up, build. She had it custom designed and built."
"Really."
"Yeah, from old photos. A house like this would have been built for a mayor or such in the eighteenth century. But smaller. She saw photos and had it designed but bigger."
"She must love old classic homes."
"She doesn't like the homes today. But she is happy."
"That's good. How many bedrooms is this place?"
"Six bedrooms, six bathrooms, that's just upstairs alone. There two lofts. One for storage of decorations and such and the other will be turned into a girls or boys sleepover."
"Good idea, but why six bedrooms?"
"I don't know, guest bedrooms, I guess. She uses them especially when she has Christmas parties here."
"What about the downstairs?"
"There are two more guest rooms with an en-suite. Then there is a games room, an extra toilet, laundry room, large living room, dining room, chef's kitchen and dining area all in one, an office, and a study."
"Wow, that's a lot of house!"
"That it is." Pat and Nel talk for a couple of hours talking about how things are with Susan and Anna.
When Pat left, he went to see Maggie before leaving to drive back to Melbourne. He felt good knowing that Maggie is doing okay and that she's got great friends like Elle to talk to.
A week later, the papers reported that Ken Forbes, Peter Cole, Claire Thompson, and the three men had their court appearance. It was determined that the case would be going to the High
Court in Melbourne next year.
When Glenn Richie found out that the police had him on video talking to Maggie, he pleaded guilty. He got two years' probation by agreeing to testify against Ken Forbes.
Two weeks later, Elle, Brad, her manager, and Maggie walk into the house that Elle had been working on for her. They walk through the house. "Well, Maggie, what do you think?"
"It's incredible!"
"So," passing Maggie a file. Maggie opened it and found the tenancy agreement. Excited, she took the file to the bench and looked, through it. Then she filled out the form, signed and dated it. Maggie gave the agreement to Elle, who also signed it and then gave a copy to Maggie.
"Here is your copy and keys to the house."
"Thanks, Elle, and here's a cheque for the bond," passing her the cheque.
"Thanks," handing her the receipt. "You know who to give the cheques to from now on?"
"I do."
"Good, now you can move in any time and then plan the party," Elle says with a smile.
"Thanks."
Maggie just happened to have the next day off, which worked out well. All her furniture was arriving on that day. Chris let her use the van to take her things around to the new house, and she also gave Maggie a hand. Chris was stunned when she saw the house as she helped Maggie move her stuff in.
"Wow, Maggie, I love your house!"
"Thank you, Chris. I love it too."
"You know you're only three blocks away from Tom's place."
"Yeah, I know."
"Hey, let me know the date for the party and what drinks you want to order."
"I guess that I'd better make it soon before they guys bug me about it."
"That's true. How about this Saturday? I've got deliveries coming in tomorrow."
"Why not, Saturday sounds good."
After everything was done, they returned to the pub. Maggie and Chris sat down and sorted out the drinks order for the party.
The next morning when Maggie arrived to work, she found Elle typing up some reports. After sorting out her stuff, she walked over to Elle's table.
"Morning Maggie, move-in okay yesterday?"
"Yes, thanks. It will take a while for me to get used to the new place."
"I bet, so what can I help you with?"
"That party is going to be this Saturday. You had suggested finger foods?"
"Yes, sure. How about I come around tonight after work, and we talk about it then."
"That sounds good, thanks."
Tom let both Maggie and Elle have Saturday afternoon off to get ready for that night's party. Elle used one of the work vehicles to take tables and chairs around to Maggie's place. After setting up the tables and chairs, they went shopping for the food that Elle's buying and went to pick up the drinks from the Imperial.
Back at Maggie's place, they put the drinks into the fridge then went to Elle's place to start making up the finger foods. They were talking, laughing and singing to songs on a CD player while they worked. When the food was done, they took everything along with the wine that had been dropped off, back to Maggie's.
Elle and Maggie were setting up when there was a knock on the screened back door.
"Hello!"
"Pat! You made it! Come in," he opened the door and walked.
"Wow, this place looks amazing!"
"Thanks," Elle replied. "Maggie's will be down in a minute; she's getting changed, then she can show you around."
"Great. Is that all the food there is?"
Elle laughs, "no, your nose must be on strike."
Sniffing the air, he smiles, "Pies and sausage rolls!"
Then Elle showed him to the kitchen-dining area where there were even more trays of food. "We have mini pies, sausage rolls, pigs in the blanket, homemade bacon and egg pie, three different quiches, and not to mention a couple of bowls of chips."
"Is there dip?"
"In the fridge, Dad," Maggie said, walking in. Turning to her, he gave her a hug.
"You've sure got a lot of food, Maggie."
"Yeah, and there will be more knowing Nick and PJ. They will probably bring pizzas and who knows what," Elle said grinning.
"Where're the kids?"
"At home with a babysitter."
"Ahh… So, care to show your old man around the house?"
"Love to Dad."
"Maggie, this is a wonderful house."
"Thanks, Dad. It's all Elle's doing."
When they returned, Elle had two glasses of wine and open a can of beer waiting. Passing them their drinks, "This will be the only glass I'll be having tonight," Elle said.
"Why's that?" Pat asked her.
"Because I'll be driving several drunk party-goers home later tonight. That's what this the bowl is for. Everyone leaves their keys."
"Great idea."
Ten minutes later, a couple of Maggie's friends showed up, so Elle put on the music while Maggie greeted them and got them a drink. Within a half-hour, all the twenty-five guests had arrived, and the party was in full swing.
Pat noticed that both Nick and PJ had shown up with more food as Elle had predicted. PJ had two plates of club sandwiches, and Nick came with four pizzas.
When Wayne arrived, he was alone and holding a package of sausage rolls.
"Sorry, this is all I could get on short notice," he said to Elle.
"It's okay, it's the thought that counts, and we have plenty of food. Where's Roz?"
"She's gone."
"Gone? What do you mean, gone?"
"She left a note saying she was moving back to Melbourne to get a job there," Wayne said sadly.
"What?" Elle said, shocked.
"Yeah, she said she can't get a job here after what happened to her business when she lost her license."
"She was offered two different jobs, but she turned them both down," Elle said.
Wayne looked stunned. "What jobs?"
"Well, one was taking over my job as secretary and cleaner. And I offered her a job as a secretary for my business here in Mount Thomas. I've been looking for someone because Lisa's getting married in February of next year and then moving to Melbourne to be with her husband."
"She never told me any of this. I don't believe it!"
"Same here. Someone else would jump at the chance."
"Yeah."
Elle went to the fridge and got him a drink. "Try to let it go for tonight, we're here to celebrate Maggie's new house."
"I'll try. I like the house from what I've seen so far."
"Thanks, come on," and Elle leads him over to the others.
Elle moved about removing the empty cans, refilling the chip and snack bowls. She brought the empty food trays to the kitchen and replaced them with sausage rolls, mini pies, and sandwiches. That done, she got Maggie her gift.
"Can I have everyone's attention, please!" Elle yelled after she stops the CD.
"I don't know if anyone else bought housewarming gifts, but this gift is on behalf of Tom, Nel, Nick, PJ, Roz, Wayne and myself. They all left the gift up to me to pick it out, especially because men don't know what to give a woman for a housewarming gift unless it's something sexy." Everyone laughed.
"So here is the gift, and no, they don't know what it is."
Maggie went over to her coffee table, where Elle had placed the box. She removed the paper, opened the box and saw bits of coloured foam. Putting her hand into the foam, she pulled out a "brass candle holder."
"Keep digging," Elle told her. Maggie handed the candle holder to her father and went digging again, pulling out another one.
"Keeping digging," Elle said.
Everyone was watching as Maggie pulled three, twenty-centimetre brass candlesticks, and six, one inch tall, five-centimetre round candlestick holders for pillar candles. Admiring the gift, Maggie noticed that they were all engraved with her initials.
"Wow, thank you, Elle, I love them. They will surely come in handy if there is a power cut."
"Or romantic night, or soak in a bubble bath with no lights on…"
"I would love that. Where did you get them?"
"Someone I know, he makes them as a hobby. He even does goblets and serving trays as you have seen at my place."
"This is great, now all I need to get is candles."
"That's where I come in," Pat said as he stepped forward holding a box. Maggie took the box and set it down on the table and removed the paper to open it.
"Wow! That's a lot of candles!" She picked up a small fat candle that was wrapped in plastic. She smelled it then turned it upside down, "Rose."
"Yes, and there's lavender, sweet pea, and vanilla."
"Thank you, Dad. How did you know?"
"I had asked him to pick up your gift, and He asked what I got for you," Elle said.
"Thanks, Dad," giving him a hug and kiss on the check.
"Does anyone else have a gift?"
One of Maggie's friends who came up from Melbourne passed her a gift. "Call this revenge," her friend said.
Maggie looked at her friend, confused and worried. She unwraps the gift, and she saw that it was an apron. As she unfolded it, her eyes widened.
"Oh, no!" Maggie exclaimed.
"What is it?" PJ asked, grinning.
Elle was sitting close to her, noticed what Maggie had just unwrapped, and burst out laughing. Then she took it from Maggie's hands and held it up for everyone to see.
"I'm sure glad that there are no kids here tonight." Then she turned the apron around. It was a picture of a sexy woman wearing nothing but lace underwear and fishnet stockings with the words 'kiss the sexy cook' written over it.
Pat eyes went wide, and Tom just closed his eyes while shaking his head. Wayne, Nick, PJ, and Maggie's friends were either grinning or laughing.
"Lisa, what did Maggie give you that made you get this for her?" Elle asked.
"She got me one like that, but there was a sexy barbie doll on the apron saying, 'Hello sexy, are you hungry'," Maggie laughs.
"Mark, have you seen it?" Elle asks.
"Yes, the night after we returned from our honeymoon and I asked her where she got it. She told me that it was Maggie's doing and that one day she would get her back. And I guess she did." Everyone laughs.
"Did you like it?" Elle asked.
"It was funny, but a couple mates came over, and she answered the door while wearing it," he said, laughing. "It was so embarrassing."
"I bet it would be for anyone's friends," Nel said.
"Nel, remember Tom's Christmas gift?"
Nel laughed, "Yes. Elle and her kids got Tom an apron that says, 'Kiss the BBQ Chef'. It's got a policeman at a BBQ wearing an apron and holding a pair of tongs".
"Hey, Boss! You should wear it at this year's BBQ," Wayne said, chuckling.
"No."
"Yeah, why not?" PJ said, joining in.
They all continue to talk and laugh as Maggie opened the rest of her gifts.
It was a great party, and everyone had enjoyed themselves. At the end of the night, Elle drove several of the party-goers home as they had been drinking, while others that lived close by walked.