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Date Posted: 06:48:39 07/21/13 Sun
Author: Nettie
Subject: Life Goes On (Lily Series) Chapter 32

Disclaimer: All the usual...
Thanks to the few sticking with it, much appreciated xxx

Moving On 4/5

A week before Christmas and there was a happy buzz around the farm. Though winter had hit hard and early and there was snow on the ground, the place was still a hive of activity with festive preparations in full swing. Presents were already wrapped, labelled and hidden in Trish and Frank’s home lest any inquisitive youngsters searched the farmhouse. Trees and decorations adorned all three homes and there was even one at the M.O.M counter. M.O.M had been a busy place too recently with Christmas adding to the financial pressures of local families who were, with the rest of the country, already experiencing economic hardship.

Just in the last week, three mothers and a father had come in trying to find items suitable for ‘Santa’ gifts for their children. With most of the items on hand being second-hand, it was a search to find something appropriate on Santa’s behalf. Having succeeded with the first few families, Frank couldn’t find anything for the last family.

It was a young mother with two daughters aged 5 and 7. Her husband had left them during the summer and it had been a tough six months. Now unemployed, thanks to her factory closing, she was desperate to find something for the children while they were in school. Finding clothes but no suitable toys, the mother was visibly upset when Frank realised they had nothing more.
“I’m so sorry,” he said sympathetically, “It’s been a busy time here.”
“Oh, I understand,” she replied, wiping a tear away. “Lots of people are doing it hard this year. I am grateful for the clothes, thank you.”
“If you’d like to leave your name and a contact number I can call you if we get a donation in the next few days,” Frank said, pushing a note pad across the counter.
“That’s very kind of you,” she said and scribbled her details down.

Taking the pad back, Frank stared at the name, Beth Richards. Beth, the name of his late daughter.
“Something wrong?” the young woman asked. “Can’t you read it? My handwriting isn’t really the best.”
“Oh, your writing’s fine,” he said, coughing to clear the lump in his throat. “I was just thinking I may have something in the office that you can have...I won’t be a minute.”

Quickly, Frank disappeared into the small office in the hangar and grabbed his personal cheque book that he had stashed in the bottom drawer. Harm had cautioned him before about giving out his own money as they didn’t want M.O.M to be abused. However, Frank felt that this case was different and he rapidly filled in the details.
“Here you go, Ms Richards,” he said handing over the folded paper. “If you hurry you can get it cashed this afternoon.”
Beth unfolded the paper and gasped. “Oh, no, this is too much!” she said looking between the cheque and the man in front of her. “I can’t accept it.” She tried to hand it back to Frank.
“It is not too much,” he said. “Think of it as your Christmas miracle. Use some of it now and put some aside. You said it yourself, it’s tough out there. This is just something small to help you remember that there are brighter days ahead for you and your girls.”

Moving around the counter, Beth hugged Frank tightly. “You have no idea just how much this means,” she cried. “I can’t thank you enough...there aren’t the words to express...I...I...oh, thank you. I promise to put it to good use and to, hopefully, be able to pay you back.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to pay me back,” Frank said, as he bundled up the clothes she had selected earlier into bags. “But I do ask two things...”
“Certainly, what are they?” Beth said quickly.
“Firstly, this remains our secret,” he said as another customer came in and started to browse. “It’s not something we can do for everyone.”
“Oh, definitely,” she said. “I won’t tell a soul.”
“And the other thing is, that if you are ever in a position to do so, you pay it forward,” he said quietly, after all the whole concept of M.O.M was paying forward the generosity the community had shown Murphys.

Two days before Christmas, Harm found himself in the kitchen baking with his mother, the weather too cold for any work with Rabb Runways. Looking out the kitchen window he saw the postman hand the daily mail to his wife and continued to watch as she scanned through the pile, sorting it between the three families as she walked back to the farmhouse.
Spying the official letter she had been waiting on, Mac placed the rest on the post on the back porch. Opening it, Mac smiled broadly and then re-read the letter again.

Not wanting to wait for his wife to come in, Harm went out to the porch, shivering instantly.
“What’s the good news?” he asked, crossing over to her.
“This!” She handed him the letter. “We have our court date. January 11th.”
“January 11th” he repeated “20 days.”
“20 days and they are officially ours,” Mac said grinning before embracing her husband. “Oh, you’re so cold. Why are you just wearing a shirt?”
“A shirt and an apron,” he corrected. “I saw you through the window...wanted to know what had you smiling.”
“Well, let’s get you inside and all warmed up and then we’ll tell the kids,” she said, leading him to the back door.
“Do you mind not telling them today?” Harm asked and Mac stopped. “Just thinking it would make a really good present on Christmas Day.”
“Oooh, yeah, that’s a much better idea,” she said kissing his cheek. “I knew I didn’t just marry you for your good looks.”
---
“Santa’s been! Santa’s been!” came a screamed chorus from the living room and soon the sounds of toddler footsteps scampering down the stairs were heard.
“Guess that’s our cue to get up,” Harm yawned, rolling over to find he was there alone. “Mac?”

Climbing out of bed and pulling his robe on, Harm stopped by the bathroom before checking the bedrooms for his wife. Moving downstairs he checked the kitchen before heading into the growing chaos in the living room.
“What’s with all the noise?” he asked scanning the room, his wife wasn’t there either.
“Sorry, dad, but Santa’s been...Look!” Jessie said pointing at the piles and piles of presents.
“Oh, so he has,” Harm said, kissing her head. “But no touching until everyone is here. Understood?”
“Oh, dad,” came muttered replies from around the room. No one impressed by this torture he was inflicting on them. “Understood?” he repeated and waited for the ‘yeses’ he knew were coming. “Now, where’s your mother?”
“Don’t know, dad,” said Lily. “I haven’t seen her yet.”

Harm’s brow furrowed, now he was concerned. Turning towards the incoming noise, Harm spied his parents and moved to greet them before asking if they knew where Mac was; they didn’t. As his parents went to supervise the living room crowd, Harm pulled on his coat over his robe and pushed his feet into his boots.

Three steps from the back porch, he caught sight of Mattie, Colin, Aidan and Kenzie making their way over.
“Pappy!” Kenzie squealed running over to Harm.
“Merry Christmas, little man,” Harm said scooping the boy up and kissing him. “Pappy loves you lots!”
“Love pappy,” Kenzie said, squeezing him tightly.
Settling Kenzie on his hip, Harm turned to the boy’s parents. “Have you seen Mac this morning?”
“No,” Colin replied. “Something wrong?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Can’t find her anywhere and no one has seen her.”
“When did you last see her?” Mattie asked, taking her son back.
“Got to bed about three after doing all the presents,” he said. “We both fell asleep quickly.”
“Well, it’s just gone six, so given she would have slept for a while, and her car’s still here so she can’t have gone far,” Colin said, “Want some help looking for her.”
“Where do I start?” he said shaking his head.
“The barn?” Colin suggested and while Mattie and Aidan took Kenzie inside, Harm and Colin headed towards the barn.

Scanning the area quickly, Harm sighed. “Not here either.”
“Want to take a closer look?” Colin said with a growing smile.
“What do you mean?” Harm asked before following Colin’s finger.
“I think that’s your wife over there,” he said before heading into the house.

Jogging across the barn, Harm found his wife curled up on some hay bales, her coat pulled tightly around her.
“Mac,” he said gently shaking her. “Wake up, gorgeous!”
“Few more minutes,” she mumbled before clarity struck. “Harm!”
“What on earth are you doing sleeping out here?” he asked, helping her stand.
“Your present,” she said yawning. “I came out here to see to your present and I was so tired, so I sat down for just a minute. Guess I fell asleep. Sorry to have worried you.”

Wrapping her arms around her husband, Mac relished the warmth he provided. “Merry Christmas,” she added belatedly.
“Merry Christmas to you too, gorgeous,” he replied, leaning down to kiss her now that he was confident that all was well. “So,” he continued when Mac pulled back. “You were saying something about my present?”
“You know the rules about presents before church,” she said, trying to turn him around.
“C’mon, Mac,” Harm chided. “I promise I won’t tell anyone...” He fluttered his eyes and pouted. “Pretty please.”
“Oh, okay,” she said, taking his hand once more. “Now, you were saying you wanted to get a range of aeronautical paraphernalia for the office and hangars, right? So, I found some for your present and had it shipped from the UK. It was supposed to be here weeks ago but only arrived two days ago so I came out to check if it was all that I ordered and then when I opened the cases, it wasn’t that clean so I figured I’d try and polish it up a bit and...”
“Mac, why are you talking so fast?” he asked, pulling her back to him.
“Because I don’t know whether you’ll like it and ...” she started before Harm kissed her.
“I’ll love it,” he said, rubbing his nose against hers. “And what else?”
“It’s sooo cold out here and I’m freezing,” she said pulling the tarpaulin off a large crate. “Ta...da!” she announced.
Scanning the area, Harm grinned.
“This one is a Watt’s propeller,” she explained waving at the item closest. “It was used on the very early spitfire prototype, Mk1 and the Hurricane Mk1. And that...” she continued, “Is a rotol prop blade from a Vickers Wellington...and well, there are a dozen things all together and there’s an inventory with all the details and I hope you like it!”
“Like it,” Harm replied, still grinning. “I love it! All of it. And I really, truly love you!” He kissed her quickly. “Now, let’s get you inside and warmed up before we get put on the missing list.”

Once in the house Mac scurried upstairs for a quick hot shower and change of clothes while Harm headed to the kitchen where all the adults were assembled.
“Everything alright?” Trish asked, looking up from the plate of toast she was buttering.
“Yeah, all good, mom,” Harm replied with a grin. “Mac was just polishing my propeller. What?” he asked when he heard snickering behind him.
“Polishing your propeller?” Frank said with a laugh. “Is that what the young people are calling it these days?”
“Dad!” Harm exclaimed as a flush came to his face.
“Not the young people, grandpa,” Mattie continued, “Maybe the middle-aged are.”
“Matilda!” Harm exclaimed and everyone laughed.
“In my day,” Trish added, taking delight in her son’s embarrassment. “We called it pitching woo.”
“Now days...” Colin piped in. “It’s really just called ‘getting some’. Isn’t that right, Harm?”
“We...I...she...” Harm tried to interject but the words wouldn’t come. As bright red as the dishcloth in his hand, he could do nothing else but shake his head and make a hasty retreat.

Deciding the company of his children was preferable to being in the kitchen, Harm headed to the living room and smiled at the scene. Scattered around in an array of night clothes were seven youngsters all very eager to get to the gift part of Christmas Day.
“Do we have to stick to the one present before church rule?” Lily asked when she spied him.
“Yes, Lily, we do,” he replied, scooping up Kenzie who was trying to commando crawl past him. “And just where do you think you are going, little man?”
“Pappy!” Kenzie squealed, squeezing him tightly.
“Merry Christmas, Kenz,” he said, kissing the child’s head before taking a deep breath. He would never tire of seeing the joy of Christmas in the faces of children; his children, his beautiful, special and incredibly amazing children. “Well, maybe this year you can do two.”

After church, and the opening of the rest of the presents, the living room was awash in discarded paper and boxes.
“Just how many trees do you think we killed here today?” Mac whispered to Harm as she wrapped her arm around him.
“None,” he replied, snaking his arm around her. “Santa made sure all wrapping paper was made of recycled paper.”
“Santa is a good boy,” she replied, kissing his cheek.
“Yes, he is,” Harm agreed pulling her a little closer.

For a while they watched the chaotic scene in front of them as the children played with their new acquisitions.
“Is it just me or have you noticed that Lily has been getting bossier lately?” Harm whispered as he watched said daughter,
“I’ve noticed it too,” Mac said, her eyes on Lily as well. “The twins aren’t taking much notice but it seems to be affecting Jess.”
“Should we say something to Lily about it?” he asked, moving aside for his mother to access the room.
“No,” she replied. “I think we talk to Jessie about it.”
“Why Jessie?” he asked, watching as the young girl moved to the sofa.
“Lily can be over the top at times, not to mention persistent,” Mac said quietly. “Jess needs to learn how to stand her ground, so to speak.”
“So, do we speak to her now?” he asked, not too sure how to address the issue.
“No, we just wait for the right opportunity to come along,” Mac said before turning her attention elsewhere.

When Frank announced it was nearly time for lunch, the children went charging from the room to wash up. Harm and Mac looked on as Jessie sighed sadly and struggled to get into her walker.
“You don’t seem very happy there, honey,” Mac said, holding the frame still for her.
“I am,” she replied but her smile wasn’t genuine.
“But...” offered Harm trying to help her out.
“But I just got back to playing with my doll and now it’s lunch time,” she said with another sigh.
“You didn’t want to play those five games of Connect 4 with Lily, did you, Jessie?” Harm asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
“Well, no but it’s alright,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mind.”
“I know you didn’t mind,” he said gently. “But what you really wanted was to do was to play with the doll Mattie and Colin gave you. Isn’t that right?”
“Yeah but Lily wanted to play and well...” she said before stopping,
“Well what?” asked Mac standing between Jessie and the doorway.
“Well, when Lily wants to do something that’s usually what we do,” she said with a resigned air.
“Then next time,” Harm said, ruffling her hair. “You just say no. Tell her you’re sorry but you’re busy and you’ll play later.”
“I couldn’t do that!” Jessie exclaimed, looking from one to the other.
“And why not?” asked Mac, caressing her panicked face.
“Because...well, because...” she said not finding the words to continue.
“Because....” Harm repeated and Jessie shrugged.
“Because ...well... this is Lily’s house and I don’t want to upset her and have to move out,” she said with another shrug.
“Is that what you think will happen?” Mac asked and Jessie shrugged again before nodding.
“Yeah, I guess,” she finally said. “I mean you guys are her parents and ...”
“And we’re you’re parents too,” Harm reminded her.
“Yeah,” she acknowledged. “But you’re really hers and I figured you’d take her side.”
“We are really yours too and we won’t be taking sides in any matter,” Mac said, before helping Jessie find a path through the myriad of presents.

Taking her parents’ words on board, Jessie decided to exercise her independence straight away as Lily was determining where everyone was sitting at the big table and Jessie didn’t like the seat Lily was pointing too.
“I’m going to sit here,” Jessie said, pointing to the chair next to the one Harm had already claimed.
“But no,” Lily protested. “I’m going to sit there and you’re going to sit here...next to grandma.”
“I’m fine right here. Aren’t I, dad?” she said looking to Harm for some support in the matter.
“You are, Jessie,” he said, before making a show of pulling out her chair. “Now, you sit and I’ll move the walker into the laundry so it’s out of the way,” he added.

Lily was not impressed by the new arrangement but soon with a feast before her and Christmas Crackers to pull, her attention was diverted and she settled for happy chatter with Trish.

Once everyone had declared they were full and the dessert dishes had been cleared, Harm felt it was a good opportunity to announce the family’s upcoming court date. However, Miss Lily seemed to be making announcements of her own.
“Now we can get back to playing with the toys and Jessie and I can...” she started but Mac interrupted.
“Maybe Jessie would like to make her own mind up,” she said looking at Lily. “After all, it is her Christmas Day too.”
“Yeah, but some of my things need two people to play and ...” she went to protest but Mac shook her head.
“Lily,” she said firmly and the child gave an exaggerated sigh.
“Fine!” she said in a huff. “But it’s my Christmas Day too.”
“Maybe we can play Scrabble,” Jessie suggested and Mac nodded.
“I hate Scrabble,” Lily declared, “I never win.”
Annoyed with her sister, Jessie pushed herself up and stood at the table. “And you only want to play Connect 4 with me because I never win!” she declared.
“That’s right!” Lily said before she could stop herself.
‘Arghhhh!” Jessie growled in frustration before throwing her arms up and marching off.

Suddenly, she was aware that everything had fallen silent, even the little kids weren’t making a sound. It took her a second to realise why.
“Oh wow! Jessie!” Lily exclaimed jumping up and running around the table to her. “You’re walking! You’re walking!”
“I’m walking,” she said looking down at her own legs in disbelief.
Harm stood and stepped closer to her. “How are you feeling, Jessie?” he asked, watching for any sign she might tumble.
“Um...okay, I think,” she said. “I...ah...I might just...” She wasn’t too sure what she should do.
“Maybe you should walk over to the bureau,” Harm suggested. “There’s a letter there that relates to you and Aidan.”

Under the intense gaze of all present and with Harm and Lily hovering nearby, Jessie took another four teetering steps before reaching out to the bureau for support.
“You did it! You did it!” Lily cried before hugging her best friend and sister. “That was amazing, Jessie. Amazing!”

Quickly, Harm wrapped his arm around the star of the moment as Lily’s hug left her unsteady. Reaching out, Jessie picked up the envelope before turning to Harm.
“Is this it?” she asked shaking it in her hand.
“It is,” he replied with a grin. “Now, I think you should sit down before you read it...”
“I’m alright, dad,” she replied. “I can stand for a bit longer.”
“I know you can, kiddo,” he replied. “But this is exciting news.”

Soon, Jessie was seated back at the table as Lily hovered nearby. Only Harm and Mac knew the contents of this particular letter, although the other adults had a fair idea. Quickly, Jessie opened the envelope before unfolding the paper.
“Read it, read it,” Aidan said eagerly, hoping this was what he thought it would be.
“Dear Mr and Mrs MacKenzie Rabb,” she started before looking to Harm. “This letter is for you guys not Aidan and me.”
“Keep reading,” Mac encouraged as she rounded the table. “Go on.”
“This is to inform you that your application for the adoption of Aidan Cormac Murphy and Jessie Anne Murphy will be heard on January 11th at 11:00am in Courtroom C,” she read before realising what it meant. “It’s official? It’s real?”
“It will be on the 11th of January,” Harm said, smiling broadly.
“And the name change and all?” Aidan asked, coming around the table to the rest of them.
“Everything will be done by close of business, January 11th,” Mac confirmed, wrapping her arm around Aidan’s shoulders.
“This is the best present ever!” said Jessie getting to her feet once more. “It’s exactly what I wanted for Christmas!”
“Me too,” Aidan agreed, tears filling his eyes.
“In that case,” Mattie said, “All those presents can be given away, right?” she joked and to her surprise both children nodded.
“And mine too!” Lily added. “I know I asked for the games and iPad and stuff but what I really wanted was the adoption to happen so me and Jessie can be real sisters...oh, and Aidan too...well, not Aidan being a sister but being brothers...oh, you know what I mean...”

There were hugs and kisses all around as well as praise and congratulations to Jessie for her efforts walking.

“I don’t know how it happened,” she said to Mac as she was being readied for bed. “One minute I’m really annoyed at Lily and the next I’ve walked halfway across the dining room.”
“Sometimes we do better at things when we don’t think about them too much,” Mac said adjusting the covers. “Do you remember Donna telling you that you were thinking too much about walking and to try and let it come naturally?”
“Yeah,” she replied with a yawn. “But it was still a big surprise.”
“I bet it was,” Mac said with a smile.
“You know what, Aunty Mac,” she said quietly as footsteps neared. “Last Christmas, mom said I’d be running a marathon and I said I’d run one with her...maybe for next Christmas you and I can run one for her...do you think we could?”
“Of course we can, sweetheart,” Mac said, tearfully kissing the child’s head. “We can talk to Donna about it next week and make some plans.”
“You’re the best, Aunty Mac,” she said sitting up once more and hugging her. “And I love you lots.”
“I love you too, Jessie,” Mac said, kissing her once more.
“And, Aunty Mac, one more thing,” she added as Mac headed to the door. “I can’t wait until January 11 when you officially become my new mom.”
“I can’t wait for that either.”

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Replies:

[> Aw another awesome chapter Nettie -- Bev uk, 10:03:47 07/21/13 Sun [1]


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[> Powerful, what a wonderful family you have created Nettie, always look forward to another chapter. -- JoyZ, 10:17:56 07/21/13 Sun [1]


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[> Amazing as always with your stories Nettie. So love this family you have created. -- Beth, 12:49:25 07/21/13 Sun [1]


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[> Another fantastic chapter. So glad that Mac was able to polish Harm's propeller! LOL -- Shazam, 20:08:16 07/21/13 Sun [1]


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