Livvy's First Visitors

by Beej & Layne

Coming out of the kitchen with Ben at her heels, Liana found Dan holding Olivia and cooing to her. She grinned. "Dan, between you and her father, that baby's going to be so spoiled!"

Returning her grin, Dan Evans laid the infant in the bassinette that they kept in the living room. "That's what uncles are for." He laid the tip of a finger against Olivia's nose briefly, before turning to Liana and Ben. "Anything I can do to help you in the kitchen, Liana?"

"Thanks, Dan, but Ben's already helped me out in there." Liana sank down on the sofa, feeling tired now.

"You're overdoin' it, honey," Ben told her. "You shouldn'ta done this. Not yet."

"Nonsense, Ben. I didn't do anything except make a few sandwiches and some iced tea. And you helped me with that." She smiled up at him. "I want people to see Olivia. And we owe our lives to those two men who drove the ambulance, as well as to Bud White. I thought they should see her first."

She glanced at the clock. "Tom and Steve will be here any minute. They both said they were bringing their better halves, so there'll be seven of us here besides Olivia. I hope I made enough sandwiches."

Ben picked up his daughter and cradled her. Just then, the doorbell rang. He looked up quickly. Apparently, Frank Parker's men had let the ambulance drivers through the gate and up to the house.

"I'll get it." Dan headed for the door. He opened it a crack and peeked out cautiously, before opening it wider. "Come in."

Tom walked in, holding hands with a beautiful young lady. "G'Day, Mr. Wade, Mrs. Wade. This is my fiance, Tori." Tori smile shyly and held out a pink package to Liana.

Stevo followed them through the front door carrying an eski that looked really heavy. "G'Day, folks. We thought we'd bring a few goodies along from Lucy's," he said, smiling at everyone. "Can I introduce my..." He turned, realising that Jeff was nowhere in sight.

Dan looked back out of the door and burst out laughing. A giant koala bear was making its way up to the porch. It squeezed through the door and Jeff poked his head round it. "Hiya," he grinned.

Liana took the package. "Tori, it's so good to meet you. But you didn't have to do this."

"And Tom," she said, with the glint of tears in her eyes. Going quickly to him, she hugged him warmly. "We never got to meet properly, but I know if it wasn't for you and your partner, Olivia and I wouldn't be here."

Ben had gone to meet Steve with Olivia still in his arms. "We always 'preciate goodies aroun' here, don't we Dan?" he was saying.

Then he grinned at the sight of the giant koala. "Jus' look what you got here, Livvy." He held her up to see.

"Whoever heard of visiting a new arrival and not bringing a gift," Tori smiled, feeling at ease right away with Liana. "I think Tom and I have been a bit more practical with ours than Jeff has."

Tom nodded in agreement as he hugged Liana back. "I'm glad we were able to help, Mrs. Wade."

"Jeffie couldn't resist it," Stevo replied. "You should have seen him when he got back from Coffs. The darned bear was sitting up in the passenger seat all belted up and everything."

"Hey, you gotta drive safe. Wouldn't want anything to happen to Kiki here," Jeff giggled. "I'm Jeff, by the way. I don't do anything amazing like these two blokes, I'm the town plumber." He looked over at Olivia safely snuggled up to her father. "She's bonzer," he smiled as she tried to focus her baby eyes at him.

Dan was shaking hands all around and finding a place to sit for the giant bear, a big grin on his face. Liana shook hands with Jeff. When Stevo had put down the eski, she hugged him too. "I'm so grateful to both of you."

She saw Ben eying Jeff with a strange look on his face, one that said, 'His better half's a man?', and she gave him a hard, warning look with her eyes.

When everyone had found seats, Liana told her husband quickly, "Ben, let someone else hold the baby and help me bring in the sandwiches and tea."

When he'd handed Olivia off to Tori, Ben followed her into the kitchen, knowing what was coming. Before he could pick up the tray of glasses, he said, "Now, darlin', them two's a little bit of a surprise, ain't they?"

"Benjamin Wade," Liana scolded him, "if you say one word to make a guest in this house uncomfortable, I'll- I'll-!" What she came up with finally was, "I'll make you sleep on the sofa tonight!"

Ben was suppressing a grin. Liana was the only person in the world who would get away with using a scolding tone like that with him. He knew it and she knew it. "Would I do that, darlin'? Didn't say I didn't like the two of 'em now, did I? Just said they're a surprise, that's all!"

She was still giving him that scolding look, unconvinced. "Don' worry, honey," he said, leaning to give her a kiss. "I wouldn't say a word. 'Sides, Livvy likes 'em. You see her lookin' at that bear?"

Liana laughed. "She can't even focus yet, Ben!"

As they entered the living room with the trays, Tori had passed Olivia on to Jeff, who was looking at her in fascination.

"I hope sandwiches and iced tea are okay with everyone," Liana said with a smile.

Jeff couldn't take his eyes off the precious bundle in his arms. He felt tears welling up in his eyes, but did nothing to stop them fall. He reluctantly looked up at Liana and Ben. "Thanks so much for letting me hold her, it's an honour." Before he could say any more, Olivia lifted her little hand to his cheek, almost as if she was trying to wipe away the tears as they fell. Stevo walked up to his side and squeezed his shoulder. "Don't you go getting broody on me, Jeffie."

Everyone laughed and Tori turned to Jeff before speaking. "It looks like you're a hit with this little girl, Jeff. She watched his lips as he replied.

"Dad always told me I should have been a ladies man," he grinned.

They all tucked into the sandwiches Liana and Ben had provided, and Stevo asked if he could get the deserts plated up from the eski. Ben showed him the way into the kitchen with a smile.

As they took out plates and utensils, Ben couldn't resist remarking to Stevo, "You and your, uh-" He stopped, a grin on his face. "I mean- You and Jeff ever think about havin' a kid? Adoptin' one or somethin', I mean. He sure seems to love babies."

"We haven't discussed children yet, Ben...is it okay if I call you Ben? It wasn't all that long ago we nearly split up over a stupid row; we both have our own places and I couldn't understand why he wouldn't sell up and come live with me. It took an accident to bring us back together," Stevo stopped for a moment, a frown on his face. "He adores kids, but I think this is the first time he's ever held a small one. He'd make a wonderful parent."

He smiled at Ben as the older man helped him with the deserts, and Liana was pleased to see them return, Ben's arm round Stevo's shoulder as he carried in the tray.

Dan was beginning to look jealous of the attention Jeff paid to Olivia. Liana couldn't help grinning at him. Dan had been more help to her with the baby than he had been to Ben with business lately. Nearly all his attention had been on his 'niece'.

Looking over at Tori, she said. "You know, I'm beginning to think men might make better babysitters than women."

Tori was still smiling at Jeff when Liana spoke to her. Tom tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention and looked from her to Liana and back. Tori understood what he meant and spoke. "Sorry, Liana, could you repeat that please. I wasn't looking when you spoke to me."

Liana, Ben and Dan looked at Tori for a second before they realised something was a little different about her.

Liana spoke first. "Oh, I'm sorry Tori! I didn't realise-" She repeated her comment. "I said I'm beginning to think men might make better babysitters than women."

"Please, don't worry. I don't go round with a billboard telling everyone I'm deaf," Tori smiled in reply. "I keep forgetting that this is the first time we've met, so of course you wouldn't know. I totally agree with you about men making better babysitters. Perhaps you should start a list for Olivia, and make sure that Jeff and Stevo are up there with Mr. Evans."

Tom kissed her on the cheek, his favourite way of getting her attention. "They'll be on the top of ours when the time comes, darling."

"Um...is it okay if I put her in her cradle?" Jeff asked. "I'd like a sammie, but I don't want to get crumbs all over the little princess here."

Everyone laughed as Ben, Liana and Dan all walked towards Jeff at the same time.

"I'll take her," Liana said quickly, amidst the laughter. "When these two are around, I barely get to hold her!"

As she sat down, cradling Olivia, Ben looked over at Tom and Stevo. "Guess this is as good a time to bring this up as any. Is there anything that ambulance service 'a yours needs? I wanna make a donation. Show my 'preciation for what you done for Liana and Livvy here."

Tom and Stevo both stared at Ben open mouthed for a second. They weren't used to being rewarded for doing their jobs. They turned as one to each other and both said, "Heartstart!"

Tom turned again to Ben and began to explain. "That's very generous of you, Mr. Wade. The government started the project back in 2004 and we in St John Abulance started the rural community stage in 2009. We are recruiting locals in rural areas to train in the use of a PAD, which is a Public Access Defribillator, to help reduce the mortality rate in sudden cardiac arrest before being able to get the patient into hospital care.

"So far the areas we've been able to supply the PAD's to have been very successful, but each machine is around $36,000, plus the cost of training, so we're always looking for ways to raise funds. The Glen would only need one PAD the size it is now, and even with more new people moving in we think that should still be enough for any emergency."

"And with any luck, if old man Jessup ever needed it, we would be using it on someone who deserved to be saved," Jeff muttered under his breath.

Dan Evans choked back laughter, while Ben grinned broadly. "Sounds like a worthy enough cause," he drawled. "Figure out 'zactly how much you need an' call Dan here with the amount. He'll see you get a check."

"Wow, that's great, Mr. Wade," We'll let our boss know and he'll work out a figure," Tom replied.

"Can I say these sandwiches are great," Tori said, trying to get the men off talking shop for a bit. Jeff nodded in agreement as he walked round with the plate offering it to everyone, and hoping that there would be some left for him.

"Yeah, eat up folks, there are still these lovely deserts to eat as well," Stevo remarked.

"Mrs. Wade, would it be okay if I made some more iced?" Jeff asked shyly.

"Oh, I'll be happy to do that, Jeff." Liana rose and put Olivia into her bassinet. "How about coming and helping me out?"

She led Jeff out to the kitchen. "It was so kind of you to bring that giant koala," she said, as they worked. "It'll be nice to have something other than horses in Livvy's nursery. I'm afraid Ben went overboard on that!" She laughed.

"And I know Tori probably suggested it as a joke, but if you really would like to babysit for Livvy sometime..." She trailed off, watching Jeff as he filled glasses with ice.

Jeff stopped for a second, the ice melting in his hand. He looked over at Liana with a twinkle in his eyes. "That would be an honour, and don't worry about me doing anything wrong. I'll practice on Lucy and Andy's new arrival. Did you know that she's my cousin? We're the only blood rellies either of us have now, and I know I'm going to be busy helping them both out."

He continued filling the glasses as he talked. "I love kids. Harry, that's my dad, always wished that I would find a nice girl, settle down and make him a grand-dad. Oh, he knew I was gay since I was a nipper, about 14 I think. Bless his heart, he always lived in hopes though, and when I told him I'd been with girls - just to see what it was like - he got really excited. I had to let him down gently telling him that although I liked girls, they just didn't 'do it' for me like blokes do." he stopped and smiled at Liana.

"I guess I'm not the stereotype of gay bloke. I don't like flitting from conquest to conquest. No one night stands for me. I believe in a lifetime commitment. I've had two serious relationships in my life and ended up with a broken heart both times. I'm hoping I've found 'the one' now. Anyway, enough of all this, shall we take the tea in before the ice melts?"

"Good idea," she told him. "I hate weak tea!"

In the living room, people were starting on desserts. Dan and Ben were digging into some of Lucy's delicious cake. Liana looked at it longingly. "It looks wonderful, but I'd better not. Need to lose the baby weight, you know."

Tori held out a plate, grinning, "You'll lose that soon enough looking after this beautiful little one. I don't think one piece will hurt...besides, if you don't cut a slice yourself there are no calories."

"Ah, that's how it works is it," Stevo replied, waiting for Jeff to cut him a slice. "I'll just let Jeffie wait on me and I'll stay slim."

As one, they all put their desserts down and picked up glasses of tea, looking at a sleeping Olivia, they raised their glasses to toast the youngest member of the Wade family.

Livvy slept on peacefully, unaware that she was the center of attention, but Ben had a look that was bursting with pride. He put a proprietary arm around Liana and looked around him at his home, his family, his neighbors. In spite of everything, he was doing well here. It was time for his next accomplishment.