Page 50 of Mav

I can’t stop the smile when I see he’d put me down as My Blake, and now he’s calling me beautiful, sweet cake and other silly stuff. But I love it if truth is told.

Leaving work, I double timed it home, get changed and grab the work van, as I want to catch Alf before he leaves for the evening. I walk into Alf’s office with what I know is a flushed face from racing around. Smirking at me Alf points to a seat in front of his desk.

“What can I do for you, Blake?”

“Well, I’m sorry to dash in at the last minute, but I wanted to catch you before you left for the day. First, Ed mentioned the meals have been better. Pru was impressed with a seafood thing she had. She didn’t know what it was called but she ate it all.” I grin at Alf who is showing how amused he is at that comment regarding Pru.

“I did speak to the caterers and they admitted they were not doing much of a variety, and I understand that they have more than my people but, if they wanted to keep the contract they had to do better. I’m pleased to hear that they have done that, but I will be keeping my eye on them.” Alf is one of those people who doesn’t miss a trick, and he knows I have more to discuss, so he inevitably lifts an eyebrow questioningly.

“I wanted to talk to you about the house too. I don’t want to keep a single thing that was in the place. Sell, donate, or ditch everything, I don’t care. If you sell give the money to a charity or use it to give the seniors a treat. I don’t want anything from what was in the place. Once it’s done do you think it’ll take long to sell?”

Alf leans forward and clasps his hands together as he places his forearms on his desk. “I’ve employed four workers, two men and two women. They are going through the house, and anything they can clean and keep I’ll get them to put on one side and I’ll see about selling it. But on the whole I’ll sort it, Blake, the men are doing the heavy lifting and the women are starting the clean-up. I have a decorator at the ready, and if it needs sprucing up a little then I’ll get that done. Heather said she’d ask the MC about cutting the lawn and tidying the outside of the place. Once it’s sold, and my realtor thinks it’ll sell quickly at the right price, we’ll get the mortgage gone and anything left after you’ve paid the business here, I’ll get put into your personal account. It’s made it easier that you signed over everything for me to do as your agent, so sit back, and enjoy the fact the bitch has gone.”

“Well, I hope she’s gone. Nobody has seen her that I know of, but she’s like a bad dream, she haunts you.” I mumble more to myself than Alf, but he hears me anyway and cocks his head to one side.

“If she comes back you need to speak to Bitty, she’ll get the MC to move her on for good.”

Nodding, because if she comes back I’ll let Mav deal with her. I’ve had more than enough of the terrible woman. I hope the MC dragging her out of the house is enough of a warning for her to disappear and never come back.

Walking into Ed’s house later that evening I give him a kiss on the cheek and stop myself from smiling as he follows me into the kitchen.

“What have you got in that bag?” Ed asks just like a little boy following his Momma into the kitchen after she comes back from shopping.

“Well, I made cookie dough and froze it, so I have some to put into your freezer. It’s two batches, so you take out one, remember you flatten it out and cut it, then put it onto a baking sheet. I’ve written all the instructions on a sheet, and will pop it onto the fridge. When you take out the second batch let me know and I’ll bring you some more.”

“Oh, let me see.” Ed takes the instructions, reads them and then uses a magnet to keep on the fridge door. “I can do that.”

“I know you can as you’re not helpless, PawPaw,” now I give him an innocent smile as I get started on the cleaning chores I’m here to do. But of course, he follows me from room-to-room, talking about how bored he is and what can he do with himself.

“I feel like I’ve already got one foot in the grave. I’m bored, what the hell am I going to do with myself? I’m sick to death of sitting in the chair watching people walk past.”

Oh, he’s really feeling sorry for himself tonight. Maybe I can think of something he can do, but he’s not a young man so he’s going to need to do something where he supervises rather than is physically doing…!

“Do you think you could visit the house that Yax was living in. Just pop in, see if everything is running smoothly. Maybe look at my own house’s front yard, and find me a company that would clear it all and make it presentable. I’ve not had time to do theyard and it’s looking decidedly bad.” I give Ed what I hope is my helpless look, and I blink a few times along with it.

“Oh, I can do that. I know where that house is too. I’ll go over and see what’s happening, and I’ll speak to some of my friends about a company for your yard. Do you want bushes and stuff?” Ed is looking excited now that he has something to occupy his mind.

“I’m not sure, but I think I would like you to design the front yard and surprise me. When I have the house sold, I should have enough money to pay for the company to do the work, too.”

“I have plenty of savings, Blake, I’ll get it done for you.”

“No, you will not. You are not spending your savings on me. Not ever, Ed. You may be my PawPaw now, but that doesn’t mean I’ll take what you worked hard for, oh no, not on your life.” I know he’s going to argue so I quickly change the subject, “Now, while I remember Mav is moving into my house with me today, so when you come over don’t be shocked to see him.”

“You’ve moved him into your house? You going to marry this guy?”

“I may marry him, but not yet. He’s the one for me I’m sure, PawPaw,” yeah, I shamelessly use his title. “Mav is having a house built on the land where the clubhouse is, and when we move into that I’m thinking of leasing my place rather than selling it. If I did that would you be the landlord and watch over it?”

“Of course I would. I wouldn’t allow anyone to mess up the place. I’ll keep my eye on them, no problem on that score. Now, I want to meet Mav over a meal, and make sure he’s legit, becauseif he’s not I’ll find my old revolver and shoot his pecker off for him.”

I stare at Ed who is ranting and raving about peckers being shot, liars, and cheats and if Mav is either of those things he’ll not be needing a pecker as he’ll be six feet under, and he’ll get his pals to help him dig the hole.

I’m not sure what the heck is going on here but I keep nodding and agreeing, but I’m thinking I’m going to have to warn Mav that Ed is after him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

-:- ED -:-

I may be old, but I’ve still got some life left in me. Maybe not the sexual kind, but plenty of ass kicking and talking smack to folks. Grinning, I step out of the cab that I’ve hired to check what they are doing here at the house Blake evicted Yax from. It’s a nice-looking place but I can understand why she wants to get rid of it.

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