Jeff Spills the Beans

Jeff pulled up outside Ceri’s place. He was too excited to go back to the boarding house. Ceri and Bron had been so kind to him since he’d arrived, treating him like their little brother, so who better to break his news to.

He bounded onto the porch and rapped a crazy rhythm on the front door. The door opened almost immediately.

"Hey, Jeff. I thought the drum squad had come calling," Ceri laughed, motioning Jeff inside. "Come in out of the sun. I’ve got some iced tea in the fridge…or a beer if you prefer."

"Beer would be good, thanks Luv."

"Come into the study, Jeff," she led the way through to the large, comfortable room. "It’s a lot cooler in there. One day I’m going to get used to the south side of the house being cooler than the north."

Jeff smiled as he realised how different it must be for the residents from the northern hemisphere, Christmas in summer, winter in July, the more northerly you got the hotter it got. He was glad they seemed to be settling in. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere other than God’s own country.

"So, what’s got you so excited, young Jeffrey?"

Well, damn…I was hoping that I looked cool, calm and collected," Jeff grinned before breaking out into the most wonderful giggle Ceri had heard coming from a man.

"I just got back from Coffs. Everything went well at the bank and I got treated like royalty. It’s a shame that I’ll be transferring everything once the bank here is open, but for a while I think I’m the flavour of the month."

"Why’s that, Jeff…if you don’t mind my asking?"

"Well, you know I have the solicitor’s letter about dad’s estate. I didn’t tell you just how much I’ve got now the house has been sold."

"No, hon. It’s none of anyone’s business except yours."

"Ceri, the short time I’ve been here, you and Bron have taken me under your wings and treated me like family. You’re like the sisters I never had. Family shares things, and I’m so excited that I’ll burst if I don’t tell someone about my day."

Just then the back door opened and Bron came bouncing in, a dab of Vermillion paint on her cheek. "Hey, sis. Hi gorgeous!" She hugged Ceri and gave Jeff a kiss on the cheek.

"You been painting, Luv?" Jeff asked playfully.

"Why yes, Sherlock. How’d you know?"

"I think the red paint on your face is a bit of a giveaway, little sis," Ceri remarked.

"You crack me up when you say that," Jeff said, wiping the paint from Bron’s face as she sat next to him.

"Good job I decided to work in acrylic today then, or you’d have to attack me with white spirit," Bron grinned back.

"Jeff was about to tell me about his day. Is it okay for Bron to be here, love?"

"Too right it is, both my new ‘sisters’ together. Who could ask for more."

Ceri brought Bron a glass of iced tea, and they all settled on the comfy sofa.

"Okay, here’s how my day went. I decided to take the scenic route to the bank and went through some of the small townships along the way. There was the most beautiful house in the second place I went through…and it was for sale. On the way back from Coffs I got to look around with the agent. It was even better inside than out, but I want to settle here in The Glen."

"And we all want you with us as well, Jeff."

"Anyway, I went back to the agent’s office and told him what I was thinking. I thought he’d laugh me out of the office, but he sat and listened, then said he thought it could be done."

"What, Jeff," both girls asked in unison.

"I asked him that if I bought the property, would it be possible to transport it here to the plot of land you and Bridgid said I could build on, Ceri."

"He said yes?"

"Well, I think the fact that I offered to pay cash for the place kinda helped."

"Oh, Jeff. I’m not prying, but can you afford to do that? I’d hate to see you struggling for cash until you can get your business up and running."

"No worries, I didn’t get to that part yet, did I. The house in Sydney sold for a bit more than I thought it would at auction…actually a LOT more." Jeff stopped to take a letter out of his back pocket. "Take a look at the letter I got from Sydney."

Ceri took the letter and opened it. She and Bron both read it together, then stared at Jeff in amazement.

"Is this for real?" they asked.

"That’s what I asked when I first opened the letter. It seems that it’s right. With the life insurance Harry had and his savings, plus the sale of the old house, I seem to be in the fortunate position to have a few dollars to my name."

"Oh Jeff, a few dollars…you have $953,475.00. With the right investment you’re set for life."

"I guess," Jeff looked pensive. "Do ya think people will look at me in a different light now?"

"Oh, honey, don’t worry. You’ve touched the heart of everyone you’ve met so far, no-one is going to change. Anyway, how are they going to know unless you tell them?" Ceri smiled, getting up to fetch Jeff another beer. "Here you go, you look like you need it."

Jeff spent the rest of the afternoon telling the twins all about the house and how he was going to fix up the plumbing to his liking once it was rebuilt in the Glen. He left to get back to the boarding house in time to shower and change ready for an early dinner.

Over the next few weeks it was a hive on industry on Jeff's plot of land, and before too long, his dream house was up, and he’d even had it landscaped by Joimus. All that needed now was to interior, and Jeff was going to enjoy doing that. He had a new kitchen on order, and he was fitting out the bathroom himself, to the highest standard.

As he stood at his front gate looking over his new home he smiled, looked up in the sky and smiled. "Well Harry, you old bastard, what d’ya think, the perfect colour for your ‘cheerful’ son? I miss you, dad. Hope you and mum are happy."