A Mother’s Gift

"Mum, it’s too beautiful for words. You shouldn’t have." Stevo was standing at the bottom of a short rise, looking up at a one storey, stone built house. It was well within walking distance of the fire station, and a short hop to Tom’s place, where the ambos were being kept for the time being.

"Consider it my gift to you, darling," his mum’s voice on his cell almost sang with delight. I’m sure that the guest house is a wonderful place, and I expect the accommodation at the fire house will be…adequate, but I want you to have a place you can call your own, and not something that’s tied to your job."

"You’re so certain that I’ll want to stay here even if I leave the ambo service, Mum?"

"Oh Steven, I know you will. You haven’t stopped talking about the place since you first went there with Tom. It’s time you admitted that you’re still a country boy at heart."

His mum was right. Even though he’d spent about half his life in Brisbane and Coffs, first going to university, where he left with two masters degrees, and then in the emergency services in Coffs, where he truly found his calling, at heart he yearned for a more quiet existence, just not back up the Top End. New South Wales suited him, and he was pleased that his mum was happy for him to lead his own life.

"So, tell me what it’s like."

"You mean you haven’t seen it, mum?"

"No, Luv. The fact that it was close to the firehouse and to Tom was good enough for me. I took the liberty of getting it decorated and furnished though. I hope you approve."

Stevo laughed. How could he not approve of anything his mum would do for him, after all, she was a prize winning interior designer. He knew before going up to the house that it would be rich, warm colours, and hoped that some of her original work would be on the walls.

"Well, mum. From what I can see, it’s a stone built place that goes quite well with the firehouse. I’ll just walk up the rise and look around."

"Steven," his mum cut in. "You aren’t angry with me are you?"

"Why would I be angry with you, Mum? It’s deadly! I love it already."

"That’s good, son. I want you to be comfortable and happy."

"I will be, believe me. You have to come and see it before you go back home."

"Too right I will," she laughed. Are you coming back to Coffs today?"

"Yep, I need to pack up some stuff and get that crazy pup used to his travel crate before I deliver him to Tori. I’ll see you in a couple of hours…and Mum, I love ya."

"Love you too, darling. I’ll see you later. Don’t stuff on the way back, I’m cooking."

"Ripper!" Stevo exclaimed, shutting his cell and going into his new home.