Winnie and Michael’s Family
 

Jude Stanley walked through Miss Peeg’s cottage smiling at the décor, certainly wasn’t what he expected when he and his sister Toni rang the bell. They’d come to see their father, Michael and Toni wanted him to see where he was living now.

“You don’t think they’re…you know?” he said before the door was answered.

Toni gave him a look, “His heart…you know…”

“Yeah but still…” he stopped as Miss Peeg opened the door.

“There you are, how lovely to see you both do come in he’s just in the garden…tea?”

“Oh, yes please, thank you Miss Peeg,” Toni gave her a hug as they came in.

“Well, well both my children at once,” Michael put the newspaper down and stood up to embrace his children.

“How are you, Dad?” Jude stepped back.

“Very well, have a seat.”

“It’s not what I expected,” Jude pulled out a chair and sat down.

“What the cottage? Ah well, that’s Winnie’s doing. She’s not quite what one might expect either. I don’t suppose you brought my grandson?”

“No, Dad but Travis will be by in a little while with him we’re meeting for dinner going over to Andy’s want to come, you and Miss Peeg?”

“You’re taking Cole out to dinner, isn’t he a bit young for that?”

“We’ve been on the go all day with him and he’s been a little gem. Travis is up at the Butcher’s Hook with his Dad.”

“The butcher shop seems to be a success, Winnie’s been in and bought some chops and a joint for Sunday dinner.”

“Yes, I think The Glen was ready for it.”

Toni glanced toward the door to see if Miss Peeg might be coming out with tea before she began, “Dad, the day I cleaned out your flat Richie was there. He said you leased it to him I wonder why you did that instead of selling it like we’d talked about?”

“Oh…well he was in need of a second residence…”

“Thirty minutes away?” Toni raised her brows.

“I didn’t go into details as to why he needed it, Toni. The rent is satisfactory and I shan’t be needing it any longer.”

“Well I know but…”

“Is it really any of your business, Toni?” Jude asked running a finger over his upper lip.

“No, none at all.” She sat back in her chair. “I was just curious that’s all.”

Jude smiled a little and then got up to hold the door for Miss Peeg, “I’ll take that for you.”

“Thank you, Jude.” She handed off the laden tea tray.

“Oh my, we won’t be needing dinner after this.” Toni made a face at Jude.

“We’ve been invited to Andy’s to share dinner with the family would you like to go, dear?”

“Yes,” Miss Peeg smiled, “That would be lovely.”

“Mum’s gone to Coffs with Sarah, dinner and a movie I think they said. Sarah’s been a wonder with her and they do seem to get on.” Toni accepted a cup of tea from Miss Peeg.

“Will Bill be joining us?” Michael asked.

“Yes, if Travis can drag him from the shop. He was so adamant about not working in it and he’s there every day.”

“Travis has Cole,” Michael raised a brow to Miss Peeg.”

“Does he now well a proper father tending to his young.” She smiled.

“He’s very good about that, just picks him up and goes, throws a diaper bag on his shoulder like he’s done it all his life.”

“Changes nappies?”

“That too, Dad did you ever do that?”

“Um, it’s been so long I hardly remember but I’m sure I did. Jude did.”

“Yes I did, I remember you trying to help once and got the thing all twisted around.”

“Well they didn’t have plastic nappies when you were children or if they did we didn’t use them.”

“All this talk of nappies an I’ve this nice chocolate cake,” Miss Peeg laughed.

“Do you think we might save that for later?” Toni asked.

“Of course, I didn’t know about going out to dinner when I laid this on.”

“You’ve got a really nice cottage Miss Peeg.”

“I’m glad you like it, we’ve had to do some rearranging to get Michael’s things in but it all fits.”

“Yes it does, fits very well I think,” Jude smiled and picked up his teacup. He looked over at Toni and winked.

“That will be Travis,” Toni jumped up hearing a car door slam. She came back in a minute with Travis carrying Cole.

“Looks like a tea party mind if we crash?” Travis grinned

“Not at all my boy, oh let me have him.” Michael put his napkin on the table and reached for Cole.

Travis looked at Toni, “I cleaned him up.”

“What did he do?”

Travis shook his head and grimaced.

Toni laughed.

“It wasn’t funny.” He sat down and accepted a cup of tea from Miss Peeg.

“Sorry.” Toni bit her lip, “We’ve two more for dinner.”

“Good, is that dessert?” he eyed the chocolate cake.

“It is now, I didn’t know we were going out,” Miss Peeg sat back in her chair with her teacup and looked around the table’ Michael’s family and now hers too, he’d made that perfectly clear to her. She smiled at him holding his grandson. To think after all these years she would find someone like him and then nearly lose him to a heart attack. She half listened to their friendly banter back and forth and was content.