Copyright© 2009 by David Paul
Author's Note:
This is a work of fiction. Please note that the story is based in Australia and is written in Queen's English therefore my American audience will notice subtle differences in wording or phrases.
Ten Years Later
"Daddy wake up, wake up."
The twins then started jumping up and down on our bed. Molly just groaned.
"Grrrr" I said and then quickly jumped out of bed and chased them out of our room and down the stairs. The girls screamed with delight. My eight year old twin daughters Abbie and Gemma were the light of our lives but they kept us very busy. They both had red hair and green eyes like their mother and were tall for their age. It was the school holidays and Denise was coming over with her daughter Lily 9 and son Patrick 7.
Molly, Denise and the kids were going to the movies. Molly only worked part time at the hospital now three days a week but she would only work when the girls were at school. Every school holiday Molly would be home, financially it was very easy for us to do. Realistically Molly didn't even have to work but she enjoyed the contact and helping people.
I got my two little darlings their breakfast and they were busy giggling and teasing our dog Jess who was looking through the glass sliding door hoping they'd bring food out. Molly came down the stairs and into my arms.
"Thanks for letting me sleep in baby...I love you."
"Love you too darling. You looked very peaceful so I though I'd look after the twin terrors this morning."
Molly then gave me a delicious kiss and I think I groaned. She loved to tease me.
"Gross Mummy." the twins shouted out in unison.
"Oh finish your breakfast you two or no ice cream at the movies... You better get in the shower baby I don't want to make you late."
I gave Molly another kiss and made my way up the stairs for my shower and shave.
On my way out, I gave my daughters a kiss goodbye and then gave Molly another long lingering kiss. I loved Molly everyday; she was a model wife and mother. I knew I was a very lucky guy. I jumped in my Toyota Kluger and headed for the store
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The last ten years had been great for the Green family. Our wedding went off without a hitch and we had a fantastic honeymoon in Hawaii and ended up on a cruise on the 'Pride of Hawaii' doing all the islands.
For the next five years, we worked hard. Molly was practically running the rehabilitation program at the hospital and only had a break for 2 years when she had the twins. Denise didn't work so she babysat the three days a week Molly worked.
When she returned to work Molly was instrumental in getting the council to build a heated pool right next to the hospital, along with a small gym specifically aimed at patient recovery.
We toyed with the idea of her opening a private practice but in the end, she enjoyed the work at the hospital too much to leave. The hardware store was going gangbusters so much so that we ended up opening a small hardware store in Stone Ridge and got Denise's brother and our friend Justin to manage it. Paul spent his time going between both stores.
Unfortunately that meant I was office bound most days dealing with all the various jobs that running a business requires. I did get out on the floor as much as possible though. Financially both Paul and I were now very wealthy but we kept it quiet, as we weren't the type of people to flaunt our money.
The only things I did was quietly buy some of the surrounding land near our property and at the moment we owned just over 100 acres of prime land. We had added an upper storey to the house and so we now lived in a six bedroom house.
I had also built larger stables and extended the garage which now housed my gym equipment and cars. We had also brought some investment properties that we rented in town
I still did a little bit of scouting work for the Raiders but it was more for the love than the money. Paul and Denise decided to buy some land, as Lily was a keen on horses. They ended up buying a property of about 50 acres a couple of kilometres away from us.
They then built a house from scratch; it was a beautiful modern five bedroom home with a double garage, stables, pool and spa. I spent many weekends helping Paul with the fencing, landscaping and various other jobs. We often had cook outs at each others' houses on any given weekend. They were the godparents to our daughters and vice versa.
Tom and Betty Milne were both enjoying retirement. Tom had to slow down a bit as he had a TIA which was a 'mini-stroke'. He had to drastically change his lifestyle and eating habits but they were still both healthy and happy. We saw them probably six times a year and they were due to come up next week.
Tom's daughter Gail was living her dream and at thirty was an established stage and television actress living in Melbourne. She still hadn't settled down with anyone special and we saw her at least twice a year. Fame hadn't changed her at all. She was still a flirt and a tease and loved the twins. Aunt Gail was teaching them some very bad habits but thankfully I had learnt to say no.
My Mother was pretty much of a recluse these days on the other side of town. Angus Beasley was still alive, much to the chagrin of some. He was alive thanks to a bone marrow transplant but was still a very sick man. I saw my Mum at some town charity events but most of her time was spent nursing Angus. She met her grand daughters regularly and would shower them with presents. She gave them everything she denied me but I was still very cautious around her.
Amazingly Gary and Jenny Beasley were still together. They were basically running the Beasley's dwindling fortune. Behind the man was Jenny and she pulled all the strings. Jenny Beasley had actually been elected on the council as treasurer. Gary was still a drunken slob and a womaniser; thankfully we didn't have a lot to do with them.
Martin Taylor had made it as an artist and hovered between Sydney and Melbourne. We caught up occasionally. All in all it was a very good life and I'm sure my Dad would be pleased.
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I pulled the Kluger into the lot and got out and went into the store. I found Paul upstairs chatting to one of the accounts ladies.
"Hey buddy, how are you this morning and what's with the clothes?"
"Morning Paul, with you being at the store today. I'm going to work with the lads in the landscape centre."
"Ok buddy, watch your knee."
"Always do."
I had a second knee operation a few years back and with Molly's help my knee felt stronger than ever. The only problem was I was getting older and turning 38 years of age I still had to watch myself.
I went down to the landscape/gardening centre to catch up with the boys. This time of the year was our busiest planting season and there were quite a few deliveries coming in that day.
"Hey Pete, Stan I'm here to help. Where do you need me?'
"Morning Boss well the first truck pulled in, we can start unloading."
The morning went well we had a pile of trucks turn up and I spent most of the time unloading with Stan while Pete and our part timer Monica helped serve the customers. It felt good being outdoors, doing something physical. I really wasn't an office type person deep down but I tried to lead by example and I think I was respected for that.
By midday most of our deliveries had arrived and there would be only two trucks arriving this afternoon with deliveries. I decided to sweep down the driveway when my whole world stopped.
Our landscape centre backs onto the busiest footpath in town due to the main road. I saw him staggering down the street. He looked older than his 38 years he was grubby, unshaven, thin and had rags for clothes. How did I notice him? You don't hate someone for all those years without remembering everything. It was his eyes that gave him away, the rest of his body had wasted away and his face was sunken but his eyes told a story.
I turned around and handed the broom to Stan.
"I have to go, I'll be back soon."
"Ok Rob."
Stan had a bewildered look on his face but I had no time to explain and he wouldn't be the person I would explain it to anyhow. I raced back onto the footpath and jogged in the general direction he had been staggering towards.
I was still in excellent shape from my daily workouts and Molly always said I looked closer to 30 than 40. I just hoped I hadn't lost him. I nearly ran straight past him, my knee was aching but I ignored the pain. I circled back and sure enough he was in the alley, just another junkie but not to me.
I grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him round. He nearly lost his footing.
