You Say Goodbye, and I Say Hello…

“Anyone up?” Jeff called as he stepped through the kitchen door into Stevo’s. He looked a bit tired. It was the day after Andy And Lucy’s wedding and he’d decided to take the day off.

“I’m in the lounge room, darling. Tea’s brewing, would you mind bringing me a cup?”

Jeff smiled as he poured two cups of tea. He walked through to the lounge room and sat down next to Meri, handing her a cup and kissing her on the cheek.

“Morning, mum. Did you enjoy the wedding?”

“It was beautiful, Jeff. Thank you again for inviting me.”

“Hey, you’re family now; it wouldn’t have been the same without you there.”

Meri put her tea down and hugged Jeff close. “So, I’ve not only gained a second son, but I now have two newly weds to tuck under my wing.”

“They’ll love that, mum. I’m the only family Lucy had left, now she has Andy, you and Seb too.”

“Someone taking my name in vain?” Stevo said, yawning and scratching his head as he walked slowly from his room.

“G’Day, mate,” Jeff replied, jumping up and giving Stevo a kiss as he went into the kitchen to pour out another cuppa. “I was just saying that Lucy now has a new family with you and mum.”

“Man, that was a good show wasn’t it? I swear that Andy went every colour of the rainbow. I thought he was gonna chunder his guts up at one stage.”

“I thought that his face was gonna say G’Day to the floor. Alistair did really well to speed things along without it looking too obvious.”

“I think I like that young man. I could listen to him again.”

“Mum, you thinking about becoming a Christian?”

“Darling, I follow our traditional beliefs; I’m just saying that I could listen to him again,” Meri grinned, winking at her son.

“There’s life in the old girl yet,” Stevo muttered, nudging Jeff who cleared his throat to change the subject.

“So, what are we gonna do today? I’ve decided to take the day off to recover from the reception.”

“Actually, I’m glad you’re here, Jeff; come with me for a minute would you?”

Stevo led the way into his bedroom, leaving Meri looking confused on the sofa.

“Jeff, I think that mum is gonna head out today. I’m pretty sure she only stayed for the wedding. We’ll have our brekkie and then give her our pressie.”

“Okie dokie. Bugger, but I’m gonna miss having her around. Haven’t had a mum for way too long now.”

Stevo gave Jeff a hug and a quick kiss, wiping an errant tear from his cheek. “C’mon, let’s get brekkie on the go.”

Meri insisted on laying the table as the boys got busy in the kitchen. Stevo had told her they were going to eat in the dining area instead of at the kitchen table as they normally did. She wondered what was going on, but let them get on with everything.

It was a veritable feast with cereal, scrambled egg, mushrooms and bacon, then thick buttered toast with lashings of tea.

“My word, I don’t think I can move after that lot,” Meri commented.

“Glad you enjoyed it, mum. Now, if you’d like to go park yourself on the sofa, Jeff and I have something for you.”

Meri went to sit down, a bemused expression on her face. Jeff and Stevo returned with something behind their backs.

“Mum, it’s been more of a pleasure than we can ever express to have you staying with us these past few weeks. We wanted to get you something to remember your time with us, so we got a little something for you, with love.”

They handed a beautifully wrapped package over to her. She carefully unwrapped it and gasped when she saw what it was…a beautiful picture of them both, printed on canvas, with a wonderful frame to finish it off.

“Boys, I don’t know what to say. It’s wonderful; both my boys happy and smiling,” Meri said through a haze of tears.

“We were going to sit for a portrait, but left it too long, so Ceri suggested we sit for a photo and she printed it up like that, and found that wonderful frame.”

Meri carefully placed the picture on the sofa next to her and got up to hug and kiss her two boys.

“Now I have a confession to make to you both,” she said slowly watching their expressions. I feel that I’m accepting this under false pretences.”

“What do you mean?” Jeff asked.

“I’ve been trying to find a way of telling you both this, I was worried that it wouldn’t go down too well, but I’ve been so happy here with you that I’ve decided I don’t want to leave The Glen.”

“You mean you want to stay here with me?” Stevo asked, a smile threatening to break out over his face.

“Oh, darling, I wouldn’t dream of imposing on you indefinitely. I’ve bought myself a place just over the hill; the stone house that’s just been finished.”

“Wow, the one that’s in the same style as this one.”

“Yes, darling. I loved this one when it was finished, so I though I could keep it as a family design.”

Jeff kissed her and grinned. “Our goodbye gift has become a welcome gift.”

“And I know just where I’m going to hang you both,” Meri laughed in reply.