Ceri’s New Venture

Max had been working late at the bank, there had been some problems with the security system following a power cut earlier in the week, so he wasn’t overly surprised to find the house in darkness as he pulled up. Ceri had been working at the ‘studio’ getting it ready; she had won the commission to photograph the Aussie cricket team before they headed to England for the summer. It had been a good way to get her up and running, she’d been talking about converting one of Bron’s outhouses into a photo studio since they moved in, but so far all she’d been doing was to take snap shots around their property.

Max opened the door and stepping into the house, going silently from room to room until he got to the bedroom. In the light from the window he saw that the bed was empty and sighed. Turning round and heading for the door again, he set off down the hill towards Bron and Ed’s place.

There was a light on in Ceri’s studio so he walked up the steps and opened the door. He found her fast asleep at her desk. Before he could move, he felt a hand on his arm.

“Oh, Max. I’m sorry, I should have checked on her earlier. I thought she’d gone home.”

“It’s not your fault, Bron. You know what your sister is like.”

“If you can lift her up and bring her into the house, I can get the guestroom ready. You know she won’t wake up now, and there’s no way I’m letting you carry her back up the hill.”

“Thanks, Love. You’re a star.”

Ed was watching from the back door and made his way into the guest room to turn down the sheets. He could do that much at least. He then went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. He smiled at Max as he came through the door, and pointed the way for him to go. “I’ve put the kettle on, Max. Be ready once you’ve settled her down.”

Ten minutes later Max was back and they all sat with their drinks chatting about how hard Ceri was working to get everything up and running. Like more and more photographers, most of her work was now done with top of the range digital equipment, but deep down, Ceri was an old fashioned girl and still loved using film, so the studio was going to be where her darkroom and printing supplies would be located.

“She’s over the moon about the cricket commission isn’t she?” Bron remarked.

“Yep, she’s talked of nothing else for days. She’s even stopped talking about her car,” Max laughed in reply.

The next morning, Ceri woke early. Something wasn’t right. She felt beside her, Max was sleeping by her side. She smiled, stretched and opened her eyes…to find herself in a strange bedroom.

“Morning, beautiful,” Max whispered in his husky morning voice.

Ceri turned to see him resting on one elbow, smiling at her.

“Where are we?”

“Bron’s guest room.”

“Why?”

“You don’t remember? You fell asleep in your studio. Bron felt sorry for me and didn’t want me to put my back out carrying you up the hill.”

Ceri threw her pillow at him. “You could have woken me.”

“Baby, if Travis’ cattle stampeded past you when you’re asleep you wouldn’t wake up. What chance would I have?”

“You’re right, of course,” Ceri laughed, getting up and heading for the en-suite bathroom, waiting to see if Max would join her.

By the time they had dried each other off and dressed, a delicious smell wafted in from the kitchen. They wandered out hand in hand to see Ed at the cooker.

“Morning, Ed. Didn’t think it could be Bron. She can’t make anything smell that nice.”

Ed smiled as Bron crept up behind Ceri and slapped her with a tea towel. “Watch it, sis, or you won’t get any.”

Ceri turned and hugged her sister. “Thanks for putting us up last night. I’m so sorry for causing any trouble.”

“It was no trouble at all, Honey,” Ed drawled from across the kitchen. “It’s what family do for each other. Now, just both of you sit down and eat.”

Bron carried the food to the table and helped Ed to his seat.

“Ed, I think Max and I are going to take you home with us. We usually only have toast and juice in the morning.”

“That’s a mighty fine offer, young lady, but I think your sister would have something to say about that. Now, do you think you’re going to be able to stay awake long enough to get home later?”

“Yes, she’s taking today off,” Max replied before Ceri could speak.

“On one condition, Max.”

“What’s that, sweetheart?”

“I need you to come into town with me to look at a unit that’s empty. I think I need to open a place in the centre for portrait work, and this place is ideal.”

“Tell you what…we’ll all take a look and then we can go into Coffs for the day.”

“Sounds like a plan,” they all replied.