Jolly Boating Weather…

"You’ll never guess what Bron and I found in one of the outhouses when we were checking them out," Ceri enthused as she grabbed Max’s hand to drag him up the grassy slope towards their home.

"Must have been good, "he replied good naturedly. "You both came back in grinning like identical Cheshire Cats." He opened the back door and stepped aside allowing Ceri to enter the kitchen, then went to put the kettle on.

"So you want to tell me over a nice cuppa, or are you bursting at the seams to enlighten me?"

"Just for that, Buster…I’m going to make you wait. I’ll be on the sofa…peel me some grapes, slave, to go with my Earl Grey."

"Cheeky wench. Watch out or I’ll make that bush tucker tea you picked up at the airport."

"Don’t you dare!! That’s to go in the Aussie hamper I’m getting up together for the folks back home."

"Well, my sweet, you’d better hurry up and get it all ready or it will be too late to send it for Christmas."

"Just make the tea and come here and kiss me."

"In which order, my love?"

"Tea, then kiss…no, kiss then tea…um…" The kettle whistling merrily on the range interrupted Ceri. "I guess that would be tea first, sexy bum."

Max made a show of trying to watch his ‘sexy bum’ as he walked back to the kitchen. He returned within a couple of minutes with a tray containing two steaming cups of tea and two of Ceri’s wonderful muffins. Placing the tray on the coffee table and sitting next to Ceri, Max gathered her up in her arms and gave her a smacker of a kiss before handing her the tea and cake.

"Okay, so tell me what got you both so excited in the shed."

"Out buildings," Ceri corrected, smiling.

"Oh, do pardon my mistake. Pray tell what you and your delightful sister found in her ‘out house’."

"Oh Max, it was the most beautiful little blue and white dinghy. It wouldn’t take too much for us to get it down to the lake"

"Okay, Love. Tell you what, if it’s not too hot later, we’ll go boating."

"Oh Max…it’s December. It’s always bloody hot this time of the year down here."

"Just remember your parasol then, gorgeous, you know how too much sun affects you."

"Hey, at least people would be able to work out which of u was me and which was Bron if I’m covered in blisters."

You know something? I’ve never understood why they can’t tell you apart. I could in a second."

"Ed’s the same, it’s because you love us, darling. Other people seem to have a problem though."

Max kissed her again and took the empty plate and cup from her, placing them back on the tray before getting up to take everything back in the kitchen.

"You know what?" he asked as he came back. "I believe this was the best idea you’ve had since agreeing to go to dinner with me."

"What, the boat ride?"

"No, silly. Coming down to Oz to be close to your cousins."

"Even if we don’t see them all that much?"

"Doesn’t matter, Ceri. They’re close, and family should be close," he replied, a wistful smile of his face.

"Oh, Max. Uncle Henry is wherever you are, because you carry him in your heart."

"Thanks, love. Now, what say we go get that boat."

"Yay! I just need to make a quick call to Bron."

"Can’t you speak to her when we get there? It’s only ten minutes walk away."

"Nope, this is important. You go ahead, I’ll catch you up."

Before Max had stepped off the porch Ceri was by his side, wrapping her arm around his waist. Dropping his arm across her shoulders, they wandered down the slope towards Bron’s place and the lake. When they arrived, they were both surprised to see that the boat was already on the lake with Bron standing on the bank, smiling at them.

"Hey, sis, Max. Isn’t this great. The sheriff just popped by to see how Ed was doing and I mentioned you were going on the lake. Before I knew what was happening, he had it out and down the grass into the water for me. He’s a strong man, despite how cute he looks."

"Ah…how much is it worth for me not to mention to him that you think he’s cute."

"Oh, hush, Max. You don’t scare me. I’ve got my action man to keep me safe…well, my inactive man right now, but just you wait and see," Bron grinned looking back to the house where Ed could be seen smiling at them from the shade of the porch. They all waved and then turned back to the boat.

"What’s that?" Max asked, pointing the something under a cloth.

"My gift to you for a pleasant ‘sail’." Bron replied.

As soon as Max had Ceri safely in the back of the boat he reached down to remove the cloth. Underneath was a wine cooler, two glasses and a fruit basket.

Max and Ceri spent the rest of the afternoon on the lake, drinking good wine and enjoying the fruit Bron had supplied, thinking what a beautiful life lay ahead for them.