CH 11

That afternoon Alan was at the station gathering his things while Tom, Grant and three coppers from St Davids were waiting outside. Alan exited the station carrying the box with his belongings. He walked down the steps then stopped where they were all waiting for him. He passes the keys to Grant.

"Good luck," Alan said as they shook hands. He put the box in the boot of the car then stepped around to the open back door just as there was a call over the radio.

"I better go, Tom," Grant said.

"Next time you're in town, drop by."

"Same to you," they shook hands again.

Grant went to his car to reply to the call. He started the car and drove away. Tom walked over to Alan.

"My career is over. The station needs a lot more than new windows, Tom. What you really need is a new station and a station house to go with it, three streets over so that it's close to the pub." Then Alan got to his car, as did the others, and they all left. Tom stood looking at the station with his hands on his hips for a few minutes before leaving himself.

That night when they all were at the pub for drinks, everyone was laughing and joking as always. "What's going to happen to Widgey Station?" Wayne asked.

"It's going to stay open," Elle said.

"Really? Who is going to move there?" Nick asked.

"Sargent Grant Towers and his wife. He spoke to his wife, and she agreed to it. She said that she would love my help getting settled in."

"What about his family?" PJ asked.

"He's got two kids, both at Victoria Uni," Elle answered.

"Well, now that is good news. Now, what about the windows?" Tom asked.

"After the new year, In the meantime, he is going to get a package tomorrow… from me," Elle said.

"What is it?"

"A large fan."

"He's going to need it," Tom said, chuckling.

"True. What happened to Sargent McCubbin?"

"He'll be facing several charges and looks like he is going to lose his pension and benefits," Tom said.

"At least Grant's wife supports her husband. It shows how much it means when a partner's willing to make sacrifices to be with the one you love, giving their support. Who knows, one day they might work alongside each other. Like you and Nel did when you both worked the watchkeepers job before you had Susan and Anna."

"That's so true, Elle."

When Elle was at the bar getting the next round, Chris's phone rang and she went to answer it, she looked upset as she look at Elle.

"Chris, what's wrong?" Elle asked.

"It's Sargent Towers; he's asking for Tom."

Elle walked around and behind the bar, "I'll take it." Chris passes her the phone.

"Hello, Grant… It's Elle, what's wrong, mate?… WHAT?" She said, shocked.

"Ok, I'll let Boss know." She hung up and turned to Chris.

"Forget about the drinks for Tom, PJ and me, Chris," as she returned to where the others are sitting.

"Boss, PJ, Grant called, Widgery Station and house are on fire."

Everyone, except for Nick, got up from the table as Nick was on duty watch.

"PJ and Maggie, you take the CI car, Wayne, you stay here as Nick's back up, Elle, you're driving since you had only orange juice."

"Alright." They all rushed from the pub and got into their cars, and sped to Widgery.

When Elle and Tom arrived, they were shocked as they saw the station up in smoke and people standing around.

"Where's the fire service?" Tom asked.

"They are dealing with the Police Watchhouse fire."

"Tom…"

He turned to Elle. "You don't think Alan had anything to do with the two fires?"

"He was the last one in both places, and he did say to me that it needed more than replacing the windows, that a new station and house was what was needed."

"This is the one thing Widgery doesn't need right now, especially with Christmas so close."

"I agree."

When Maggie and PJ arrived, they, too, were shocked by what they saw… both the station and the house on fire.

The following day, the inspectors, PJ, Maggie and Grant, were at the scenes of both fires.

Elle started checking out places that would be suitable for temporary housing for the Grants and for a station. She found an empty shop with a three-bedroom flat upstairs that would be perfect for the Grant and his family, and she contacted the owner. The owner agreed to meet with Elle and she checked the place out. While the owner waited, she called Faulkener and told him what she had found, he told her to go ahead and set it up. She met with the owner again and they talked about a rental agreement. After some negotiation, Elle agreed to an arrangement that she was sure that Faulkner would also agree to.

That night at the pub, the guys were buying Elle and Maggie their meals and drinks. Elles kids were there too and enjoyed their dinner. After dinner, Nel took the kids home with her. They would be staying with her and Tom for a couple of nights because Elle would be away.

"Any idea what is going to happen to the Widgery Station?" Wayne asked.

"You want to tell them Elle," Tom said.

"Ok… Well, I found a place for a temporary station and the station house. It's an empty store front with a three bedroom flat over it. It should work out while the new station and the house is being built next year."

"That is great news," Maggie said.

"Yes it is. And the house next door to the station, I was able to negotiate a deal with them"

"What deal?" PJ asked

"The owners move into a rented house while I have their house moved to where the police house used to be. I'll have a new roof, front porch put on it and a new garage. Then I'll sign over the papers to them, and they can move back in.

Then with their land along with the station land it'll be big enough to rebuild a new station and house with it and have plenty of parking.

I'll be getting an architect to start designing rough drawings for the new station and house, then I'll look at them, pick two for Faulkner to choose one from. Next year my company will get the contract to build both house and station"

"That sounds like a good plan," Nick said.

"There's definitely one thing that is going to be in the plans, and that is ceiling fans!" they all laugh.

Elle drove to Bendigo the following day because of the Christmas party that was that night. She enjoyed talking to the staff and their families. They all had a good time. The following day she checks on how things are going before returning back to Mount Thomas that evening.

On Monday morning, it was back to work as usual. Elle was getting last minute things sorted out for the Christmas party that she would be hosting at her house.

"Ok, since everyone is here, we're going to pick your secret Christmas gift name."

Elle has written everyone's names on slips of paper and put them in a clean rubbish bin. "Everyone, pick a name, don't tell who's name you picked. Whoever's name you pick, you have to get that person a secret gift." Elle tells them. "Remember to bring your secret Christmas gift to the party. You all have until the twenty-third. It's just the beginning of the month so, you have plenty of time."

Later that afternoon, Elle walks into PJ's office and passes him a file. "Are you ok, PJ?"

"I need your help with a gift." Elle closed the door and turned to him, "If it's a secret Christmas gift, I don't want to know."

"It's for Maggie."

Elle sat down and grinned. "I knew it."

"How?"

"Come on, PJ, Since you two met… the dinner that night and then her house warming party… and how you stayed behind to help clean up. I could tell on Monday morning just by the way you two looked at each other, the way she smiled at you as you both said good morning. I saw the spark in her eyes. I knew there and then what was going on between the two of you."

"You should become a copper."

Elle laughed. "Nah. So, you want to get her something special."

"Yes, but I don't know what."

"Well, there are several special things you can get her, like earrings, necklaces, perfume, silk clothing. If you do want to get something like that, go to Melbourne for them."

"Right. I have to go down there next week. Clothing…like what?"

"A robe or sexy lacy nightwear."

"Thanks for the help, Elle."

Elle stood and walked to the door, opened it and turned to him, "Good luck."

"Thanks." Walking out, she closed the door.

Elle was lucky to get Friday and the weekend off for the big party.

On Friday, she picked up all the presents for her staff and workers and the food for the party. She had to make four trips to the supermarket to collect it all since it's such a large order. That night she started getting the food sorted out and began cooking for the party that was the next day.

The next day Nel looked after the triplets while Elle was getting things set up for the party as a van showed up. It was Chris dropping off the drinks. "Wow, you have been busy!" Chris exclaimed.

"Yep, it's going to be a great night,"

"It looks like it."

"If you've got time, pop around for a bit."

"I would love to, but we both know how busy it has been," Chris replied.

"True. Thanks for dropping off the drinks."

"No worries." The drinks delivered, Chris returned to the pub.

Elle was finishing getting everything done when Maggie showed up. She had finished work earlier than the others.

"Elle, need any help? Wow! You've been busy!"

"Hi Maggie, sure, come inside," they walked inside and into the kitchen. Maggie was amazed at all of the food and drinks she had.

"There sure is a lot of food here."

"Yep. Here, help me carry these cans outside." Elle picked up one slap, and Maggie grabbed the other. They carry the slabs over to a glass door fridge which is under a homemade tent.

"Who made this?" Maggie asked.

"I designed it and partly made it. I got one of the guys to make the frame. It's just in case it rains overnight."

"It's cool, different." They put the beer on the table.

"Can you put the beer into the fridge? I'll bring more out."

"Sure."

Elle returned to the house and brought out more beer along with bottles of wine to put into the wine rack. There was also a place for the Coke, Fanta and lemonade cans. Maggie placed the soda cans on their side in the special rack that is in the fridge. Rolling them into the rack until it was full. Then she did the same with the bottles of wine. After she returned to the kitchen to put the plastic in the bin.

"That can thingy is a great idea. " Maggie says.

"I designed it. With it, I can add another two dozen cans into the fridge. You saw how it fits."

"Great idea."

"Thanks. Here would you open these cans and put them into these bowls? And can you add the soup mix for the dip while I'm making up my avocado dip?"

"I love avocado dips."

"That's good, so does Nick and PJ."

"I know. Are you doing up a punch?" Maggie asks.

"Yep, I'm making up two of them, a non-alcoholic one so kids can have it as well."

"Sounds good. How do you make yours?"

"There's the orange punch. It's orange juice, ginger ale, lemonade, sliced oranges and mint ice."

"Mint ice?"

"Yeah, you chop mint into pieces and place them in an ice tray, then pour hot water over it. Leave to cool for an hour, then put the tray in the freezer."

"I would have never thought of doing it that way."

"It helps to bring out the flavour. For the other punch, I use cranberry juice instead of orange juice."

"That's a great idea."

The first guests began arriving a half-hour later. Maggie and Elle started taking the punch outside and began getting the snacks set up as well.

The kids got right into enjoying the games that had been set up out for them. The guests were talking in groups while enjoying the food. Elle made sure that the fridge was full of drinks and there was plenty of food.

Once everyone had arrived, Nick and Tom took charge of the large homemade barbeque while wearing 'kiss the BBQ chef' aprons. Maggie and Nel took photos of Nick and Tom in the aprons and Santa hats. Wayne, PJ and Maggie help Elle carry the salads outside and put them on the three tables.

"Hey, Elle, any prawns this year?"

"Yes, PJ, there is." then turn to Maggie and whisptered

"He's a pawniholic," Elle said to Maggie, making her laugh.

"I agree, he is!"

They were all having a great time. Then Elle got everyone's attention.

"I would like to thank you all for coming to this year's pre - Christmas party. Over this past year, we had our good times and bad. Plus, we remember the staff that are no longer with us… James Black, Jeff Bird and Carol Kent, who passed away this year… and my late husband, Timothy Cole. After three years, their murderers have finally been caught, and justice will be served… For my…. crazy copper friends, my staff and workers" she raised her glass… "Merry Christmas to you all and your families. Hopefully, next year will be a better year. Merry Christmas!"

''Merry Christmas!" they all said as they raised their glasses then took a sip.

"Ok! The meat's cooked. Come and get it!" Tom yelled out. Elle watched as guests stepped forward, picking up a plate, and going over to get sausages, prawns, beef or chicken kebabs, veg kebabs, steaks or meat patties. Nel and Maggie look after the triplets while eating dinner.

After people got their meat, they went over to the salads helping themselves before sitting down at one of many tables set up around the lawn.

Elle checked on the drinks and filled them up. Then got herself some dinner joining her kids at a table.

After Wanye and PJ finished their plates, they took over the BBQ so Nick and Tom could get some dinner. After everyone enjoyed their dinner and was relaxing, Elle started cleaning up with Nel and Maggie's help.

That done, they brought the desserts outside. Everybody helped themselves to homemade pavlovas, cheesecakes, fruit salads, brandy snaps, homemade chocolate eclairs and ice cream. Everyone was having a great time. Half an hour later, people started getting up to dance and enjoy themselves.

Elle was busy with cleaning up as well as doing the dishes. The kids got to stay up late playing with their friends and having fun. Elle also made sure that no one gets drunk. After a while, most of the party-goers had left because of their kid's bedtime.

Nick and Tom made sure that there is a sober driver available before they left for home. It was almost midnight when the last of the guests left. Everyone had helped Elle with the cleanup. Elle didn't get to bed until after one.

A few hours later, Elle sorted out the backyard. The firm she had hired from Melbourne showed up to collect the tables and chairs.

The following day, Sunday, was spent with her kids. After all of the excitement of the party the previous night, they had an early night.

Monday morning found everything returning to normal at the station… starting with a car crash in town.

On Sunday morning, Elle showed up at the station with the kids, some food and Christmas gifts. The staff helped her get everything sorted, all the while talking and laughing.

"Everyone is here, I see, including Nel and Chris. This year has been hard on all of us with one thing or another. We welcomed Wayne and Maggie to this crazy country copper family. I bet you two never expected things to be as crazy as is."

"No." they both said.

"Well, now you know what it's like being a country copper. I've seen the change in both of you since you've been here… it's different from the city."

"Yes, it is," Maggie said.

"Well, alright, Because you are all on duty and can't be with your families today…without further ado...MERRY CHRISTMAS!" she yelled out and then they all heard…

"Merry Christmas!"

And were stunned as the front door opened and their families walked in; Susan Croydon, Helena, Pat, Wayne and Nick's parents. Elle watched as they all introduced themselves.