CH 21
Hour and a half later Brett and Anna return, they saw Tom at the bar so they walk over to him "How Susan" Chris asked
"Shocked to see me, we talk for a while before she started falling asleep so we left her to get some rest" Anna said
"Would you two like a drink" tom asked
"Orange juice thanks" Anna said
"Same please" Brett said.
"Dad, Why are you here and not at home"
"Pasty, i wasn't in the mood of arguing with her, not today at least"
"I still couldn't believe the way she acted like that, I heard what she was like but my god today, now i know what sort of bitch she is"
"Anna" she let out her breath
"sorry dad you know what i was like"
"I know"
"Hey anna you will get on well with Elle"
"Pat" tom said shaking his head.
"Who is this Elle dad"
"You might remember her she the cleaner and secretary for the station"
"Ah that right, she the one who lost her husband and is pregnant"
"Yeah that her"
"she still here"
"Yeah"
"there more" chris said
"What do you mean more" Tom and Chris told Anna every thing about Elle and Tim. When they finish, Brett and Anna was shocked
"Wow that some story dad"
"It true, Elle got to take things easy cause of the twins" Chris said
"I hope she ok"
"she will be fine" Tom said
"Tell them about her and your sister Tom" Pat said
"Auntie Pasty didn't" Anna asked
"yeah, she did yesterday, I had to put a stop to it, Pasty said something i don't want to repeat and it cause Elle to blow her cool and what she said she was right. I had to stop her because I didn't like they she was looking and had her to sit down and to calm down"
"what happen" Brett said
"she start going pale which isn't a good sign and it caused her blood pressure to rise very high. Lucky April was there she took Elle pulse and manage to calm her down, I called Tim and he came and took elle home, he wasn't impress with Pasty either"
"she should know better not to argue with a pregnant woman, did she know Elle is pregnant" Brett said
"Elle almost fifteen weeks with twins and she was showing"
"I don't think I'll ever give auntie Pasty if any thing happen to Elle or the twins" Anna said
"Neither would I or the rest of the family."
Later that afternoon Tom saw who walk into the pub. "What are you doing here boss"
"Getting out of the house for a while"
"Ah ha"
"Anna, Brett, this is Elle and her husband Tim Cole"
"I remember you Anna, your hair was shorter and you didn't have a ring in your nose, i guest it must hurt every time you blow your nose" Elle said smiling as they shook hands
"some times. Thank you for the plane tickets, we will pay you back soon as we can get a job"
"No rush. You got other important things to worry about at the moment"
"thanks, so how are you feeling, dad told us about what happened yesterday"
"Good Tim took care of me"
"that good to have a guy who really cares" Chris said
"Yes it is Chris as for how I'm feeling, beer for Tim, my usual for me and packet of chips please"
"sure thing"
"Same for you four"
"Sure" they all said.
Tim got two chairs from another table and move them over to where Tom and the others are, Elle sat down while Tim went to get drinks and chips from the bar.
"How was your flight over" elle asked
"long, but it's good to be home" anna said
"that great, so what sort of work do you both do"
"I've done some plumbing, carpentry, looking for water for farmers" Brett said
"ok what about you Anna"
"work in pub, retail, supermarket, things like that"
"OK" they talk till tim return with first lot of drinks then went back for the second lot and chips.
They talk for five minutes when the coppers showed up and join them for drinks and snacks. They all decided to have dinner in the dining room so Tim went and picked up the triplets and return with them. Brett and Anna was shocked when they saw the three of them
"wow they must be handfuls" anna said
"they can be if a certain person give them one of boss favourite biscuits to them" Elle said looking at Nick
"Dad you still eating tim tams"
"Yes" they all said
"and he spoil the kids when they are at the station" tim said
"how" anna asked
"Lollies and they call him grandpa" elle said which shocked anna
"Dad" she looks at him
"I didn't mind and they did call Nel grandma and I get into trouble with her"
"What mum let them call her grandma"
"Yes"
"Tom what do you mean you get into trouble with her" Brett asked
"Kids tell her what I have for afternoon tea"
"tim tams"
"Or vanilla slice" elle said.
"Dad did always have a sweet tooth" Anna said
"We know" Elle said smiling.
They talk and told Anna and Brett some funny stories about tom which had everyone laughing. Tim and Elle took kids home and the others stayed for a while longer before leaving themselves since the funeral was in the morning.
The next morning Elle and Tim arrived at the church and manage to get a car park even though they were early. They both got out and walk over to where some of the people who they know are. They talk for ten minutes when the police and CI car showed up. Then other cars showed up that got older officers and their wives with them.
The ones from the RSL and woman group was also there. Elle and Tim walk over to the ones they know when Anna and Brett showed up with Chris. Everyone started walking in side and finding a seat then the family walk in. Anna was holding onto to tom hand with Brett behind them as they walk down the front. When the service started Elle was keeping an eye on Tom. Chris was sitting next to Elle during the service.
When it came to the eulogy Elle walk up to the front and read out Nel eulogy so everyone would know what sort of woman she was while growing up. When it came to the part where Tom bike from st davids to mount thomas on weekends to spend it with Nel, she look over to Tom
"I'm trying to picture Tom coydorn riding a bike" Having every one chuckle and Tom blushing.
"It's amazing the lengths that a guy would go for the one they love and to keep fit at the same time, aye Tom" Tom smile while shaking his head at Elle.
then she finishes reading out the rest of the Eulogy. Elle folded up the three page Eulogy. The look up to tom and every one one there.
"Nel led a full life, married a man she loved and have two beautiful daughters which was created out of love. Watch them grow up to the woman they are today. And standing by her man Tom when he joined the police force and moving here to her hometown where there two daughter grow up. She was never board, she loved every one as they loved her. She accepted every one every shape or form faults and all. She left a hole in the family and this town. She is going to be missed by everyone who knows and loves her especially her loving husband tom and their daughters anna and Susan. Tom now you won't get into trouble with Nel by being late for dinner and thoses tim tams and vanilla slices. She makes him do all the dishes wash and dry for three days in a row." Making every one chuckled
"He smiled at her and kiss her and always say to her even though she mad at him was… I love you Nel, and she replies back i love you to Tom, it doesn't mean you can get out of the dishes then hand him a tea towel and walk into the lounge saying 'After you have done them a cup of tea would be nice'… that happens about once a week and in bed every night they kiss and they say to each other i love you. They did that every night since they were married. Nel told me that after my husband return and we do that every night ourselves. It make ours and any marriage stronger and Nel also told me not to go to bed angry at the one you love cause they will be grumpy in the morning and be like a bear with a sore head. I said to her unless they got a hangover" Every one laugh.
"She told me that happen to Tom few times but he cut back cause he didn't want to get into trouble with Nel. She was an amazing woman with words of wisdom most from her mother and grandmother who pass them down to her and she passed down to her daughters. She was like a second mother to me, took me under her wing after i started working at the station. She and Tom help me out a lot and it won't be the same without her. We are going to miss you Nel, kids including" She walk down and put her hand on the coffin then she returns to her seat.
Then there was the songs, Tom broke down and Anna comfort him the best she could, she looked around and saw Elle. "Chris go to tom" Elle said.
Chris then move from her seat and went up to the front to talk to Tom and Anna. She stay next to Tom for the rest of the service and she and Anna walk with Tom as they follow the coffin out of the church. At the cemetery Chris stay by Tom side the whole time. Elle look at Pat and gave him a head nudge, Pat got her meaning and walk over and put his arm around Tom Shoulder since Anna was hugging Brett as she cried as well.
After the service, everyone walk over and spoke to Tom and anna before moving on to the pub where Chris close the pub for the day for the funeral but having the wake there at Nel request. There was food and drinks for the ones who was at the service. Chris move the table and chairs around to make more room for everyone.
When people walk in the tables was full of food and a table that got tea and coffee on it for the ones who wanted it. Chris and Len was busy behind the bar with the cold drinks for the ones who wanted one. Elle talk to Anna while Tim talk to Brett. Tom looked around at everyone who he had known for years thinking how is he going to manage with out Nel being there for him when he felt two hands on his shoulders which made him look around to see Elle and Anna on each side of him
"Are you ok dad"
"Yeah i was just thinking"
"that nothing new with you" Elle said making anna laugh
"that is so true Elle, so what were you thinking about dad"
"How am I going to coupe" Anna hug him.
"I said the very same thing to elle and she told me it takes one day at a time and things will get easier, that what your mum told me after what happened to Tim and finding out that I was pregnant. That what elle said to me"
"they both are right"
"I know I'll stay for a while, Brett leaving tomorrow to help his parents out but promised to be back and it gives us some time together and to help Susan"
"Thanks Anna"
"and Tim and I help out if you need it Tom till you are back to work"
"thanks elle" Then Tim and Brett walked over to them.
"Tom are you ok" tim asked
"Yeah i will be"
"you know we are here for you, including your crazy team" tim said making Elle laugh.
"He right" She said.
When people started leaving they talk to Tom and Anna before they left leaving the normal group Anna and Brett there talking around the table that still got plenty of food on it.
"I wonder how Adam handling sargent long talk" Maggie said making them laugh
"we will know tomorrow" Elle said
"Is he that bad" susan asked
"Yes" they all said.
"He started talking about it to me one day when Tom and Nel went away to a wedding and had a week leave. I remember saying to him 'Sargent it sounds so fascinating and all so why are you telling me this, he said to me, you are going to listen to me constable this can be very important, I said to him it not constable it mrs cole, i'm the cleaner and secetery here, The look on his face was priceless" they all laugh.
"Anna want to hear something funny about your parents"
"sure" elle grin
"when the triples were three months old, Tom was talking to TJ while changing his dirty diaper, Nel was watching from the doorway. When Tom replace the diaper, he was leaning over TJ tickling his stomach when TJ peed on Tom like a fountain. When Tom saw what happened he moved away but wasn't quick enough. Nel laugh from the doorway, when tom turn to her, she laugh so much she had an accident, she wet her self"
"that not funny, as you said it was an accident" anna said.
"Anna, the reason why she laughed so hard was that TJ peed on tom…. Crouch so it looks like he went himself" they all laugh Anna included.
"Did that happen dad"
"Yes it did and all TJ did was smile and giggle, i can't believe Nel told you what happen"
"she did and i laugh as well and ask her how many times did you and Tom had to change, she said three times. They were babysitting the kids for the day while I was at work"
"the joys of parenthood" tom said
"I agree with you there Tom" Pat said
"did Maggie do any like that to you Pat" PJ asked.
"Worse when she had diarrhea, it pick her up, no diaper on, i went to give her a bath when she pop over my arm, shirt and pants and Kathline heard me swore so she walk into Maggie bedroom and laugh at us. Maggie she cried, she was two months old when that happen" They all laugh and Maggie blush.
"I remember mum telling me about that, what worse was that dad was still in his uniform. He had to quickly change his uniform cause of a call out and mum ended up giving me a bath and clean up the mess" they all talk and laugh for the next two hours before all left.
Elle and Tim drop Tom and the leftover food at his place before going home themselves. The next day everything will return back to normal except for Tom being there since he still got family at his place.