Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Boomer ran up to Tori and grabbed her hand. She got up smiling as he dragged her towards the front door. Tori opened it to find Merri standing there, a bunch of flowers in her hand.

“Hello, Luv. I picked these up over at the Greenhouse. What a wonderful place that is, and the owner is a delight.”

“Merri, what a lovely surprise. Come on in. The flowers are beautiful, and you must have met Joimus. She’s wonderful, and you should see her husband.”

“Behave, girl. You’ve got Tom.”

“Hey, I’m engaged, not dead,” Tori laughed in reply, leading Merri into the lounge room. “I’ll just get a vase for the flowers.”

She was soon back with a lovely crystal vase, and it didn’t take her long to make a wonderful display of the flowers.

“You’re very good at that, Tori. Every though of doing it professionally?”

“No, I’m happy with what I do, and Joimus makes wonderful arrangements for anyone who needs one. Wouldn’t want to step on her toes.”

So tell me, how’s Boomer coming along?”

“He’s fantastic! He seems to instinctively know that I can’t hear, and he began being my ‘ears’ from the start. We got him some training, and he came top of the class. I don’t know what I’d do without him now, and Tom doesn’t need to flick on lights to let me know he’s home anymore,” she smiled.

“I knew that puppy was special from the moment he came into the world. Thanks for agreeing to give him a home. I don’t think he couldn’t have found a better family to be part of.”

Boomer walked over and sat in front of Merri, resting his head on her lap and looking up at her with his big brown eyes. “I think he remembers me,” she laughed.

“Make the most of the visit, Boo. Merri won’t be here for much longer.”

“Ah, that’s one of the reasons I popped round to see you, Tori. I wanted to speak with someone before I spoke with Steven.”

“Is there something wrong, Merri?”

“No, far from it…I hope. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve fallen in love with the Glen. So much so that I think I would like to settle down in the area.”

“That’s fantastic news,” Tori beamed. She really liked Merri and would love to have her close enough to visit on a regular basis. “What about your work?”

“I’m like you in that regard, I can work where I want. Most of my clients contact me by phone, fax or email in the first instance. They then fly me to wherever they want the commission to be sighted if it’s artwork, or to their property if it’s interior design. In the case of the latter, or course I would need to be in their property for some of the time, in the former, I can do the artwork wherever I am at the time. All I need is a property that I can have a studio in.”

“Have you told Stevo yet?”

“No. I’m worried that he will feel he has to ask me to stay with him. Now that he and Jeff are an item, there’s no way I want to be a third wheel. And anyway, no man of Steven’s age wants his mum living with him.”

“So, you’re going to get yourself sorted out before telling him?”

“Thank you, Tori. That’s one of the things I was going to run past you. Do you think that’s the way to go? Also, what do you think about Jeff?”

Tori sat thinking for a moment before answering. “Okay, I think that would be the best way if you’re certain that you don’t want to be a ‘burden’ to Stevo. You need your space as well as he does. As for Jeff, he’s the nicest person I’ve ever met. He’ll do anything for anyone, always has a smile on his face, is polite, caring…and downright handsome to boot. I think he and Stevo are made for each other. I also like the way that they are taking things nice and slow.”

“In what way, Tori?”

“Well, a lot of couples these days, no matter what their orientation, seem to think that five minutes after their first date they need to set up home together, and sadly, more often than not, it all ends in tears. Our two lovebirds seem to be doing things right as far as I’ve seen. They both have their own homes…”

“Yes,” Merri interrupted. “I think Steven has been pleased about that while I’ve been staying.”

Tori grinned at that remark. “Tom says that some days Jeff comes to the firehouse with lunch for Stevo, and they sit outside on the step sharing it. He’s even caught them just sitting there holding hands. He loves it that Stevo is so happy. He said he was worried about him sometimes in Coffs as he always seemed so lonely, even though he tried to hide it.”

“You’re so right. Did I tell you that when I first met Jeff he was stripped to the waist and covered in dirt? Steven had him helping in his new veggie garden. Jeff was so embarrassed about the state he was in, but after a shower and change of clothes, he was so attentive to me while Steven cleaned himself up. He seemed so proud of the work they were doing in the garden. I didn’t expect that from someone of his age.”

Tori noticed a tear in Merri's eye. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing really, it’s just that he actually calls me ‘Mum’ now. He said he lost his mum when he was still a nipper and has missed her every day. He said I make him feel ‘whole’ again, even though he’s now lost Harry.”

“Oh, Merri. I think that seals the deal then doesn’t it. You just HAVE to stay.” Tori sat on the sofa next to Merri and gave her a bug hug.”

“Thanks, Luv. One more favour.”

“Just name it.”

“Would you help me go house hunting?”

Tori smiled and grabbed her bag.