Finding a Home and Making Friends

Beej & Atonia

Toni had taken Tee to school and stopped off at a village store in Nana Glen, she was just coming in the house with her packages headed for the kitchen.

Travis was in his office working when the house phone rang and he absently picked it up, “Glenridge, Travis speaking.”

"G'Day Travis, Terry Thorne here.  Is it possible to speak with Toni please?  It's regarding her empty house."

Travis shifted the phone, “Yeah, Terry I think she just came in the door, hold a minute.” Travis went down the hall to the kitchen.

“Terry Thorne’s on the phone about your house, pick up line one.” He gave her an affectionate pat on the bottom and went back to his office.

Toni set her bag down, “Hello, Terry this is Toni.”

 "G'Day, Toni.  Sorry to call out of the blue, but I thought it was better than just turning up at your door unannounced.  Ceri and Bron told me about your visit, and about your old house. I'm hoping we can arrange to have a chat about it, either at Glenridge or out at the house itself, although I guess the initial chat would be better where you are..."  Terry broke of suddenly, realizing that he had started to ramble.
 

“Either way, Terry we’re both here this morning if you’d like to ride out. You might want to take a look at it first you know, kind of get a feel for the place. I could meet you there and we could ride back to Glenridge and sort out the details. If that suits you.”

"Sounds like a plan, Luv.  I've driven passed the property, and would love to see what it's like inside.  What say we meet up over there in about thirty minutes, then I'll be happy to follow you back to Glenridge to talk turkey."  Terry hung up the phone and turned to see Ceri and Bron smiling at him.  "Looks like I've got a date to see a house, ladies.  Wish me luck."

 Toni hung up the phone and went to find Travis in his office, “Terry wants to see the house in about thirty minutes, do you want to come?”

Travis looked up from his papers, “Do I need to?” He knew how she felt about going out there alone.

“Not unless you want to. I think I can show the house. if he likes it he’ll probably come back here to work out the details.”

“All right honey, give me a buzz when you’re on the way back.” Toni gave him a kiss and went back in the kitchen to find her car keys.

She got there a little early and unlocked the doors and walked through, it had been cleaned again and smelled fresh but she left the door open to let in the air and walked through to the back door onto the terrace.

Terry pulled up behind Toni's car and sat there staring at the open front door for a while.  The sun was shining through the hall giving the place a welcome look.  He got out of his car and stretched his back.  He thought about putting his jacket on over his polo shirt, but decided against it as he didn't want to look  too formal.  Walking up to the door he knocked and stood waiting.  Getting no reply, he ventured into the house and called out, "Toni, it's Terry; are you there?"

Toni stuck her head in the back door, “Hi, Terry I’m out here.” She hadn’t actually met him before, only seen him at the Australia Day celebration with M. She waited until he walked into the kitchen.

“I’m always drawn out the back door when I’m here,” she noticed the signs of emotional stress on his face, the circles under his eyes.

“I’m glad to finally meet you, Terry,” she extended her hand.
 

 "Thanks for meeting me on such short notice, Toni.  The girls would have told you I'm staying with Max and Ceri right now, I need to give them their guestroom back. Marie and Bud offered me a place, but I need to fend for myself...I just can't go back to the house is all.  This looks really nice and welcoming, especially the terrace from what I can see of it.  Where do you think we should start the tour, shall we do upstairs first?"
 

 Toni smiled, “I can understand that, Terry. Sure, let’s go upstairs. There are four bedrooms and three baths.” She led the way up the steps and hesitated a moment before opening a door, “this is the master bedroom with an in suite bath, lots of closet space.” It was just an empty room whatever ghosts of her past life there were dispelled when Terry walked in. “There’s a tiny little Juliette balcony through these doors, nice view of the back garden. I sent the groundskeepers from Glenridge over here and they’ve tidied it up a bit.” She opened the French doors and stepped back.

Terry noticed the hesitation and when he entered, realised why.  This room held memories of her life with Richie.  "This is a beautiful room, Toni," Terry remarked as he looked round before heading to the French doors and gazing out.  "The gardens look great."  The slight smile left his face as he frowned a little.  "M used to do our garden.  If I take this place on maybe I could make use of your gardening gang."
 

 “I’d be happy to send them over, I had visions of being a manic gardener like my grandmother when we moved here and now at Glenridge I’ve managed to stake out a little plot I can satisfy my desire to dig holes and plant in. There’s a path you can see from here it leads down through the trees, there’s a stream with a wooden bridge and a bench. Good place to go and gather your thoughts,” she smiled slightly at him and moved back in the room. She’d run down there herself many times for comfort.
 

"That sounds great, Toni; a nice outdoor haven to sit in contemplation.  I love water, and a bubbling stream is more calming than the crashing waves at the beach for quiet moments." He mentally shook himself to get his mind back to the matter of the house. "I don't think I need to see all the other bedrooms right now, Toni.  Can we take a look downstairs now?  If possible I would like space to have an office down there rather than converting one of the spare bedrooms."
 

 “Well you’re in luck,” she led the way back downstairs, “this was my office and I had the woodwork painted, it was designed as a man’s study. Now if you don’t like white,” she smiled noting the look on his face, “there’s the den which has a built in desk and shelving it’s just off the kitchen.” As they passed rooms she pointed them out, “lounge room here with a big fireplace, little dining room and then the kitchen, it was always my favorite room but this is the den. It’s a man’s room as you can tell and there’s a room connected that was a weight room with a concrete floor.” She smiled to herself thinking she sounded like an estate agent. “This room is all wired up for your computer and there are built in speakers in the ceiling for your TV or music.”
 

Terry stood in the middle of the den and turned a slow 360 degree circle.  This was good, just what he needed to set up a base office.  He wasn't too sure what Dino would say when he found out Terry was staying put in the Glen and liaising from home in the future. "I like it, Toni...all of it, well perhaps not the white painted wood panels. Shall we head back to your place to talk terms?  There are a few things  want to run by you, and maybe you might like to see what Travis thinks.  I'd like to meet him too, from what I've heard I think he's my kind of bloke."
 

 “Oh, I am so glad you like it, Terry. I really hated seeing this place empty. I’ll call Travis now and let him know we’re on the way he’d like to meet you too.” Toni breathed a sigh of relief, happy that Terry had found her house to his liking. “You know,” she chatted on as they walked to the front door, “I was warned about painting the woodwork in the study white but at the time it worked for me. It can be stripped and refinished.” She had actually done it because Richie had been ignoring her, she was a little sorry about it now.
 

"That might be a plan," Terry chuckled.  "It'll be interesting to see what the natural wood is before deciding on whether to stain it or just oil it. I don't mean to be rude about the decor, Toni; I'm sure that you loved it the way it was.  Shall we take a detour through the village?  I thought I could treat us all to some of Lucy's goodies."
 

Toni grinned, “The wood was actually very nice. Hey we’re always up for some of Lucy’s goodies, I’ll tell Travis and Tomalee will have a pot of tea waiting for us.” She pulled out her phone and called Travis while waiting for Terry to back out of the drive.
 

“Hi darling, we’re on our way back by way of Lucy’s. Let Tomalee know to do some tea.”
 

“Everything go okay he like the house?” Travis asked leaning back in his chair and stretching.
 

“Yes and yes he’s ready to talk turkey. See you in a bit, I love you.” Toni folded her phone and backed out of the drive to follow Terry to Lucy’s.
 

 Pulling up out front of Lucy's bakery, Terry walked back to Toni's car and asked if she had any preference.  On being told that she could never make up her mind as everything was so good, he smiled and walked into the store. He came out shortly carrying two huge boxes.  Placing them gently onto the front passenger seat, he waved for Toni to head off, following her through the square and out of the centre.
 

When they arrived at Glenridge, Toni laughed as Terry retrieved the boxes.  "Looks like you bought the entire store, Terry."
 

"Hey, I couldn't decide what to get either, so I got one of each.  I'm sure that you have enough people to finish off what we leave."
 

Just as Toni turned towards the door it opened, and Terry came face to face with a smiling Travis McGee.
 

“G,Day, mate,” Travis held the door, “it looks like you took Toni in Lucy’s” he laughed at all the bakery boxes.
 

“Actually he went in by himself. Reminds me of someone else I know,” Toni grinned walking past Travis and poking him a little in the ribs.
 

“Terry, just keep on going you’ll end up in the kitchen,” Travis directed him down the hall. The long kitchen was in the back of the house and Tomalee had plugged in the kettle when they pulled up in the drive.
 

Travis went over and opened the back door and shooed two dogs out of the kitchen and then came back over to Terry and shook his hand, “Glad to meet ya, mate. Find a seat around this table and we’ll wait for Tomalee to notice we’re here.”
 

“I see you there” Tomalee was arranging cups, spoons, milk and sugar on a tray along with a large teapot. “You been to Lucy’s.” she grinned and brought the tray over.
 

“Tomalee is our cook but she thinks she’s our mum.” Travis teased.

Toni brought over a plate of assorted goodies from Lucy’s.
 

 Terry smiled at Tomalee as he opened up the boxes to show her what he'd bought, then turned to Travis to return the handshake.  "Nice to meet you too, mate.  Sorry we haven't been able to meet up before now. Hey, if your kitchen is anything to go by you've got one hell of a house here, not that your old place isn't great, Toni," he added quickly, hoping he hadn't put his foot right in it. He was relieved when he saw her smile.  "There's one important thing I need to get out of the way before we go any further, and it's nothing to do with the white paint," he winked at Toni.. "I want to rent your place.  After this morning's tour, it seems to be just what I'm looking for.  The big question is this...can I rent the property with an option to buy at a later date?"  He looked from Toni to Travis and back waiting for their response.
 

Travis looked at Toni, “That’s up to you, honey it’s your house.”
 

It was Toni’s house and it sat on land her grandmother had left her in her will. “I have a particular connection to that land, Terry it was left to me by my grandmother. I once said I’d never sell it and I wouldn’t put it on the market for a stranger to buy. But you’re not a stranger at least not anymore,” she smiled. “Yes, Terry lease with option to buy I can do that for you.”
 

Travis smiled, “I know what white paint you’re talking about it seems Toni got mad and painted the woodwork white, now you know we got a lotta wood in this house so I have to be careful here.”
 

“I wouldn’t paint any of this woodwork,” Toni sipped her tea, “maybe I’d take it out on the barn or the feed shed or something.” She winked at Terry.
 

 Terry laughed heartily at that, and Toni noticed a light in his eyes that hadn't been there before.  "Just make sure you don't have any cattle in there, Travis, or your Black Angus will be transformed into black and white Herefords.  Toni, that's great; I'm honoured that you don't class me as a stranger, and I hope that before long we'll all become friends.  If I do decide to buy, It'll get all the love and attention your grandmother would want it to have...that includes taking out a contract with your gardening crew to keep the outside as good as the inside.  Now, all we need to do is sort out a rental price and get the paperwork sorted out."
 

He stopped for a moment, thinking.  "Um,  my Sydney  lawyer has a branch office in Coffs.  Would you rather we get the agreement drawn up with them, or are you happy to use Richie Roberts?"
 

Travis looked at Toni, “Terry, we’ve buried the hatchet,” he said and grinned, “Roberts is fine, I’ll give him a call this arvo, he knows the house and property.
 

Toni reached in her bag she’d left on the end of the table and took out the house keys and handed them to Terry, “it’s yours now, we’ll get all the legal stuff sorted out but consider yourself housed. I am so pleased it’s you.” She leaned over and impulsively hugged him. Nothing had been mentioned all day about his loss and she wasn’t going to say anything because he was a lot lighter and smiling now.

Terry was momentarily shocked, but hugged Toni back and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, Luv.  Hopefully, when I'm up to it, you'll both come round for a housewarming dinner; I promise I won't invite the entire Glen." Terry stood and shook Travis' hand.  "Travis, thanks for getting the legal stuff sorted.  Give me a call when you have the papers ready for me to sign," he handed Travis his card.  "Just use the cell number, mate; I'll need to get new cards printed once I settle in and get the land line sorted."

 Travis looked at the card, “I’ll give you a call Terry and thank you for taking that house off Toni’s hands. Don’t be a stranger over here now you know how to get here come back anytime we don’t stand on formality here.”

“Not with dogs in the kitchen, do come back and if you have any questions, you’ve got our number just give us a call. Good luck, Terry.” Toni smiled and walked with Travis to the door.

“He seems like a good bloke,” Travis remarked.

“Yes, I think he is.” Toni answered. “Now I’m going back and pick over what’s left in Lucy’s boxes since I’m not worried about MY waistline.” She patted her baby bump.