Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2023 05:56:36 +1000 From: max dowling Subject: March Stephenson 12 Chapter 12 March Stephenson Maxieplus We were sitting outside May's cafe just talking about things in general. She has half moved in with Jason and isn't put out she has to travel. She said mostly they leave together and he gets home later than her, so she cooks, I think mum is giving her recipes to try. March had a smile on his face and I watched him because when he's like that he's got something on his mind, it won't be sex because he's had enough of that for today. "What's up March?" "Nothing Nicky, just thinking." "Okay." I grinned. "Do you want a pie or a salad roll?" "Pie please." I went to get our lunch and mum got two customers. I leaned in and whispered. "What is March up to?" "I don't know Nick, maybe he has won the lottery." "He's up to something mum, that goofy grin is giving him away." I took our lunch out and he dumped his usual two sachets of sauce on his pie. May was looking at me and she winked, she also knows the signs. We arrived home around five-thirty today, I wanted to have a barbecue and had bought all the doings on the way. March was still quiet but I deemed him okay for now. Our home looked fully dressed, the lace work was outstanding and we had painted the house a very light grey with white trimmings, he had done the garden with low bushes and bulbs it will look like any country garden you see just about everywhere up here, and it was very low maintenance. When the bulbs bloom it will look awesome. "So what have you been smiling at all day?" "Nothing Nicky, I just had some good news that's all." "And what is the good news." He stared at me. "I don't want to tell you." "Why?" "Because it might upset you." "For God's sake tell me, otherwise I won't sleep tonight." He opened the laptop on the table and found the site he wanted. "Look." There was a photo of Matt Shore holding a number, he had been arrested on drug charges, and was being held in a Canadian lockup. I sat down and read the write-up. It said the star of the Netflix show was arrested early morning at a hotel he was staying in. The fall from grace hadn't been too kind to him, and by all accounts, he was broke and selling drugs from the mentioned hotel room. Bail has been posted but no one has come forward to help him as yet. There was talk about his rise to fame and his swift fall from the ladder of success, his partying had been out of control and the drugs had almost wiped his bank accounts out. I looked over at March. "So you have been following him on the net?" "Sometimes I look, just to see where he is, and what he's up to." "I haven't looked for ages," I answered. "That's because you live in the present Nicky, can you take your clothes off now?" I stared at him then gave him a slow strip. He was rising as I moved to take my jock off. "No, leave it on." I did what he wanted. He was naked within seconds no jock, but his very excited friend was eager for me to play with it. The tub was wonderful and so was the sex as usual, sometimes he can't help himself and we do it in the tub. "I knew he would end up in jail, he lived a very fast and reckless life." "Well, you missed the point, Nicky." "What point?" "He won't be coming back here anytime soon." He smiled. "Thank you, yes I didn't think of that." "Nicky, can I ask you something?" "Of course, you can." "The money you both paid for that house, was it fifty-fifty?" What an odd question. "Yes, my gran had passed a few years before I met him, she left me cash which dad invested. When we looked at the house and decided to buy it we went halves, neither of us paid more than the other." "Good, just tying up some loose ends." "What loose ends?" "I was thinking if he has lost all of his cash and the money from the house, and maybe he might come after you for some." "Is that why you were smiling?' "No, I was thinking all day about what I can do to him. Like rub his face in battery acid, or hang him over the pit at work and make him eat engine oil, stuff like that, but only if he came here of course Nicky." He grinned. "And that turned you on?" "Oh yes Nicky, very much so." "God your strange March Stephenson." "I am aren't I?" He laughed. "He's not going to come here March, he knows he would get nowhere with me." "Well he can't now, he's got no money and they took his passport." "His mother might send the bail money, she's as bad as him, another criminal in the making if I ever saw one." "What are we having for dinner?" He's hungry. I dried off and started the barbecue up, steak and sausages with runny eggs and chips will hit the spot. My ass was felt and rubbed as I cooked, then he whispered in my ear. "We will meditate tonight I have a few things I have to get clear from my mind." "Okay, are we going to be naked?" I was eager to do it that way. "Yes there is only one way to do it, and that is the proper way." Which I knew wasn't true he's just a pervert that's all, and so am I. The river had become the tell me your secrets place, and now the garden has become the destress place. I miss our frolics in the river but I love the garden. Sometimes we end up making love in it, we get so horny, and it's not unlike the river. He was a very happy mechanic nowadays and found fun in just about everything we did, and the meditation was his greatest joke. We sat opposite each other, I lit some incense and candles and we relaxed. I opened one eye to a slit and there he was smiling again, and he was watching me. "Cant you concentrate tonight?" "Yes Nicky but I am a bit distracted, can I move that a little to the left it's hiding your best assets." He reached over and moved my dick aside, so the foreplay has begun again. I went along with his meditation ritual, but I knew deep down this should be done alone with no distractions. If he has built up tension he can always scream at someone that always helps. After an hour he had enough and we went inside, we didn't even make it to the bedroom he took me to the couch. At the gym, I had seven guys and five women when I got there. I said good morning and went to check the toilets out, they were good to go. March was opening his garage and he already had someone wanting gas. I made us both a coffee and took it to him he smiled when he saw me. I always get that warm feeling from him it's like he is always seeing me for the first time. A few more cars pulled up and he went to serve them so I went back to work. I plugged the laptop in and checked the gym site, I had received ten new applicants overnight, this place is awesome. I had no idea how many clients the big gyms had but I was very happy with my little one. The calendar sat on a wall to the right of the reception desk and a guy I didn't know was featuring, but March told me he was the pub owner and he has his very own home gym, so we won't see him in here. He was about Ethan's age in his late forties or mid fifties, and well fit I must say. One of the ladies grabbed water and put the money in the tin, then she told me one machine wasn't working so I put an out-of-order sign on it. I will get March to check it out first before I call someone, no big deal, it was one of four the same. These little things didn't make me go into a spin, mostly March can get them going again, a bit of oil here and there or a new belt once it was a new motor, and dad rebuilt the broken one so I have plenty of spare parts in the back shed. I looked outside and May was open I could see mum standing behind her counter serving a few customers, she had started making bacon and egg rolls for breakfast. I made some this morning for us both and they are very filling. Nothing unusual happened and our day ran smoothly. Brian arrived around three thirty and I was told he will do two hours and another temp will take over from him. I placed the money in an envelope and paid Brian, he will hand more money to his mate when he gets here. I walked over to the cafe and made a coffee. May was all smiles and she said things were wonderful at the other house. She wanted to know why March was acting strange yesterday and I told her and mum. We three sat out the front, mum was officially finished and all she has to do now is put her stuff in the fridge. "God I hope his mother doesn't turn up here, I can't stand that woman," Mum said. "Nobody could mum, she was always at our place looking for handouts. I never gave her anything but Matt did." I was bothered at the time, mum and dad never asked for help, but they were made to feel unwelcome in my home, but all his mum had to do was turn up and hold her hand out. God, I hated that woman but I ended up hating Matt more for encouraging the bitch. I wasn't worried Annie might find out where I lived and if she turns up there won't be any handouts. I haven't spoken to her for a few years, she would always make me feel small and insignificant. When Matt started his crap I sort of ignored everyone in his family so we weren't the best of friends, and the rest weren't worth knowing. March saw us and came over, he was bored today but tomorrow he has to go to an outlying farm to fix something, so he will be gone for most of the day. Dad will supervise the garage, which I may say is doing very well since he doesn't have to lock up every time he gets a call out. Tonight is our Chinese night, I will order and pick it up, then take it to mum's place for dinner. I looked at May I guess she will be having the same when Jason gets home. I giggled to myself. "What's up?" "Nothing March, just something funny I thought of." "Tell me later?" "Yep." "He is being filthy again, I know what he was thinking and yes Nicky, the Chinese is delicious at my place." May giggled. "Sprung badly Nicky," Mum said. March didn't get the joke but I will tell him later, after the tub and the shafting I expect to get tonight. Later on at Mums, she was on the phone and March was almost dribbling on her floor, the food smelt wonderful as I placed it on the counter. Plates had been put out and dad pushed March aside to get to the bags. He already had his plate in his hands and waited patiently, they started talking about going fishing again and made a date. "I don't see what pleasure you get out of it, you never bring anything home." "Because we throw them back in Nicky, no one likes cleaning them it's just good to sit and fish that's all." March finally got to the food and mum returned. "He's in a lot of trouble Nicky, if Annie can't come up with two hundred grand US by next week he will go to jail, and no I didn't ring her. I was talking to someone that knows her, an old neighbour of ours." "Good." I heard March say. "She should use all that money she got from him, or sell her house I suspect he paid that off for her also," I said. "Well she's running around town looking to borrow money, she said she was told he had money but it was in his ex-fiancee account and she won't bail him out." "He must have treated her very badly mum," "There's more Nicky, brace yourself." I slumped because I'm not all that interested, but mum loves a bit of gossip. "What now?" "The money she has, she put into a trust fund for their son." She lifted her eyebrows. "His son? what the fuck he can't have a son, he's gay." "Well she's about to drop it soon and as always Matt doesn't care, he only wants the money back to buy more drugs and to bail himself out." "Are you sure you weren't on the phone with Annie?" "No son, a mutual friend who works with Annie, she doesn't even know I knew her." "Looks like we had better keep a watch out," Dad said. "Do you think she will bother you Nicky?" "I don't know, but desperate people do desperate things March." "I guess so, dad, how far ahead are you on that apartment for Nicky?" "Nearly there, he doesn't have to go see them, the agent is trustworthy and will let me know when a good one is available for sale. I looked at March and sometimes I can read his mind, he is worried that I will lend Annie the money. "What happens to him if the bail is paid, did she know?" "Yes, March, he will be deported back here, if it isn't paid he will go to jail then deported," Mum answered. That got his attention and I know he's praying Matt doesn't make bail. The containers were emptied and everyone had their fill so we sat outside and had a coffee, this house is amazing it's on plenty of land, and it's mostly flat. "Have you used the hot tub yet dad?" I asked. "Yes, son just about every day but I can't entice your mum into it." He winked. "Try it mum, you may be surprised." "I will get wet, then I have to shower again and change clothes, double the washing and I don't like them all that much." "Okay, stay unadventurous then," I smirked then looked at March again he was still deep in thought. "I have all the adventures I need son, believe me." She smirked back. My hand rested on March's leg and I said. "He won't come here and Annie certainly won't ask me for any money March, don't stress I have got this." "I'm worried you will feel sorry for her and give her the money." "I will not be giving anyone any money, I promise you I won't. He doesn't deserve to be helped, let his studio pay it, or his agent if he still has one." "Do you promise Nicky, on your heart and soul and the one-legged dog down the road?" I smiled. "I promise." I crossed my heart. We had another good night conversation and again I had to promise, he's so worried. This happened after he told me that dad told him my mum gets in the hot tub every night, she just doesn't want me gossiping to everyone about it. I was pleased she did that, they are a great way to entertain ourselves. He left early in the morning, his excuse was the sooner he starts the sooner the farmer can get on with business. He had the parts in his truck and said it will be a five-hour job, I will miss him and he did come back three times to kiss me goodbye, the third time he made it to the truck. I got to the gym around nine because I had decided to give my new bathroom a thorough scrub out, it was easy and now the other bathroom is never used. The butler's pantry had no sink, but my washer had been installed in it and the microwave. It looked nothing like the high-end ones you see in new houses today, it was more like a pantry without the butler. I parked and checked the gym then I went across the road and ordered a bacon and egg roll from mum. "I didn't want to say anything in front of March last night Nicky, he looked a bit upset about it all. She's told my friend she is going to mortgage her home to pay the bail." "Well, I was told last night that if he asks me I am to hang up. March is going to talk to dad again and get all my money tied up in a property." "He will be on to it Nicky, it may not look like it but your dad is making your investment property a priority." "You can always buy out my share of the property March and I subdivided, maybe one day someone will want some of it for a housing estate," May said. "But it's dead land, is there much of it?" "Plenty, you know March he wanted to keep as much as he could, it runs past the town nearly into the next one." "I see, you don't need the money May and I need the rental to add to my wages." "It's just a thought. I will always have the trust money." I guess she's trying to help but I need to supplement my wages, the gym does good but not that good. I can't put my money into a dead property either. Maybe I can talk to March, if I know him he deliberately kept that land to keep the loggers and the new estates from mucking up his town. He rang me three times in the morning, he missed me and I got the feeling he was just checking that no one had called me. I spoke to dad he said there was no hurry it was tucked away in an investment account we can't touch it for another six months and that made me breathe easy. It would be another three days before the begging emails would arrive. He was relentless and begged me to post bail, all I had to do was sign something at the local police station it was easy, please don't let his mum lose her home. I ignored all his mail I stopped reading all his apologetic lies and the truth be known he was already well and truly hooked on the drugs before he even left those shores. March knew something was up and he relentlessly perused his questioning. I didn't want to tell him but he got so worked up I was hiding something I told him one night in the tub. Before he went to bed he read then marked all the emails as spam and then he turned the laptop off and said to me. "Work-only emails Nicky, I will be checking." "You don't trust me do you?" "Yes I do, I don't trust him. I don't trust his mother and I know they will wear you down. If it's money he wants then I will pay it, I have the cash available now. But I much prefer not to. Nicky if you feel you have to lend the money to them then give it, but you won't see it again." "I know I won't baby. March let's settle down and bring this back to where it should be. No one gets a free ride on us, if I was going to give that much away I would give it to Ron, at least I know he would pay it back eventually. I promise I am not going to give them any money, it's all tied up anyway and I certainly don't want your money." "Good, let's stick to the plan, but I do worry Nicky, you are too kind to everyone and I know his emails are getting to you." "A little bit, but all I have to do is remember the treatment mum dad and I got from him, so no, I won't be helping him out." He didn't believe me, and I don't blame him, once said the seed is planted. If I was a betting man he is checking my mail every day, Ipad and laptop. I only used the laptop for my business, and the Ipad for a few games I got hooked on while sitting in the gym. On the fourth day a lady I knew was sitting with mum outside the cafe, Annie had arrived and she looked a little flustered. I knew mum would not be able to lend any money to her, but she wasn't here to see mum she was here to see me. I got a message from mum which read 'Nicky you had better come over she's not going to leave.' `Ok on my way' I looked into the workshop March was under a car so I washed my hands and went to say hello. She smiled through her teeth when she saw me and I greeted her nicely, then went to get a coffee. Mum had customers but May was behind her counter helping out. "You look well Nick, long time no see." "You too Annie, and yes it's been a long time, loads of changes in my life and I'm happy, the gym is doing good and keeps me busy. How is work?" "The same Nicky, I go do my work come home, eat then go to bed then it starts again tomorrow." She at least smiled. "I know what you mean." "You know why I am here Nick, I need money and I know you have it." "I have my money, yes, but dad has it all invested I am going to buy a flat in the city to generate more income." "You can't see your way to helping Matty, he was so good to you when you were together." Her first lie. "And he was so good to you also." My sarcasm is out. "I don't have any, he stopped the cheques ages ago, so all I have is my home." "The one he bought for you." "I'm his mother he should be doing stuff like that for me." "I see, so instead you want him to steal some from me then?" I sipped my coffee. "He will pay it back as soon as that bitch he hooked up with gives him his money back." "The one that's having his baby?' "That one, she's a fancy starlet who stole from my son." "And you didn't?" I was getting mad now. "I believe you did also." "I took nothing from Matt. I worked a regular job I paid my way." "He told me you didn't pay anything for the house, he did." "I have the bank statements and receipts, if you would like to follow me to my lawyer's, his office is just down the road you can see for yourself." That shut her up. Unfortunately, March had turned up, he sat with me and introduced himself to her as my boyfriend. "So you are in a relationship already Nick, congratulations." "Yes, and I am very happy." I kissed him on the lips. "March do you want a coffee?" Mum asked I think she's bailing on me. "Yes please mum, and a pastie today. Nicky, do you want something? Annie, have you eaten?" He asked. "Yes please a pastie thanks mum, Annie anything you want?" "No thank you, I will eat when I get home," She answered. She didn't go on about Matt I think March's arrival put a stop to that. "So what's happening with your son, I hear he's got himself into some bother over there?" He asked politely, but she didn't want to talk to him much. "He's doing fine, I just have to make some calls and they will let him out." Now she gets it. "Good to hear Annie, then he comes home?" "Yes, they will probably deport him back to Australia." She bristled. "Give him my best when you talk to him." He grinned. I can see that sump oil going down Matt's throat very smoothly in the future. Nothing much else was said, what can she say, my March Stephenson had been very nice to her maybe a little intimidation coming from me, but March was nice, she left in her car without not even a goodbye see you soon, just a few grunts. "Did she ask you for money?" "Yes March, she got a not happening answer." "Good." He continues to eat his pastie and smiled to himself, I knew exactly what he was thinking about too. "She wants me to convince you to give her a loan Nicky. She asked me before you arrived." Mum smiled. "She's not a nice person mum, she thinks I owe Matt for the good times when we were together, and for half of his house." I laughed. He is a good liar Nick." March said. "He certainly is and thank you for turning up March. I could see a good argument forming before you arrived," Mum said. "That's okay mum, and Nicky I have your back." "Okay kids corned beef tonight, my place?" "For sure?" March said, I heard a cry from the cafe. "Can I get mine to take away Mary?" "Yes you can, and one for your man just call in on the way home." May was smiling when she bought a big pot of coffee out, and March started in on her. "Hasn't she shown you how to make it yet?" "I can make it, but it's better if someone else does." "You should have shown me we could have had it every night." He laughed. Dad came over the road and looked at March. "I have finished that job and now I will be going March, hot tubs to sit in, and all that. May can I grab a pie?" he smirked at March who looked at me I know what he is thinking. hot tub. "I can leave early if you like, the temp will be in around four." "It can run itself, dad has finished all my work so we can go now." "I said I finished my job son, not yours, it's still waiting for its oil change." We all laughed at his disappointed face so I got up and told everyone I had toilets to clean and could not sit around gossiping all day. He escorted me across the road into his garage and through the back door to his big shed, then he showed me how he swallows my oil. I was sitting behind the desk after basking in his glorious body, I opened the laptop three more customers had paid for a yearly membership, and one very rude angry email from someone in custody. His mum was very quick at telling him I was a no-show. He had used my Gym email to get through to me, thank god the kids weren't here, sometimes they play their games on it. The language was pretty normal for Matt, he called me all the horrible names he used to call me at home when he didn't get his way. It was a well-rehearsed tirade of expletives designed to make me feel small and guilty, not to mention ugly. I read it and did feel sad, but not for me I felt sad for him because tomorrow is his court date, and he's still in the lock-up. He had to hire a lawyer which cost him whatever money he had left and he hoped I felt bad for not backing him up. Such is the result that fame brings to someone that's out of control. Someone leaned on my shoulders. "I see he's found your gym email has he?" "His mum, she must have got it off the sign out the front." He read it and looked at me. "He's wrong you know, you're the most beautiful person I know. Why didn't he take the time to see the real you?" "I don't know March some people don't see anyone around them, their career comes first and it doesn't fuss them to walk over others." "I would never do that Nicky, not to anyone, or you for that matter." "I know March that's why I'm here, you have the same feelings as me." "We float together on one soul Nicky." "Where did you read that?" "In a magazine somewhere." He started laughing then he kissed me on the lips. All eyes were on us, and I yelled. "Get back to work guys." then added. "And ladies, pump it." I heard them giggle. I like to encourage my members occasionally, and if March wasn't out of the closet before, he is now. The photos were on the local page within minutes, he fobbed it off as a small peck shared by friends, it was full on the mouth though. There is nothing I can do about Matt writing to me, but I will print them out and maybe go to the police, it is harassment. The next thing he did was join the local page, and after his filthy comment about me I got onto Brenda straight away and she blocked him. I had to write an apology and explain he was my ex-boyfriend and is a drug addict with a lot of problems. I got a lot of sympathy and love sent my way. We kept a close eye on just about all our tech stuff including mobile phones. About four days after the local page incident, we found out he had been bailed and was being deported back home. This was okay I doubt whether he would have survived in prison but it caused another problem, will he come here? He certainly is capable of disturbing my peaceful existence and if he's so desperate for money then I would be at the top of his shopping list. I wish this hadn't happened I just wanted him to go away forever, but it is what it is. Life went on and we were left undisturbed, I noticed a baseball bat had appeared under the bed, and another in the truck. He didn't let me drive I had to ride with him all the time it was getting pretty insane. I had no time to myself. Our sex life suffered because he would wait until I was safely inside then he would sit on the front porch. I put a stop to it when we had a screaming match one day, it started in the morning moved on to work and then outside the cafe, I exploded. I had let fly with a full chapter of expletives at March, he sat there stunned and I started crying because I realized I was no better than Matt. I spent the rest of the day apologizing to everyone, he had gotten to me and I didn't like it one bit. We went to see the police and they were nice and helpful but there was nothing they could do unless he did something, up to date it's just the emails but it changed us, it changed the way we lived. March was still adamant I was not to be out of his sight, I did a deal with him, he was to relax and I would be driving myself to work in my car. He agreed but had to follow me. I wasn't to stop for anyone and come straight to work. I sometimes left earlier to fix dinner or clean the house but that was not negotiable. It sent me batty, so I held off on the sex, which sent him batty. "Do you see what he's doing to us without even doing anything?" "Yes Nicky, I don't know what else to do about it." "Then don't do anything March, the chances of him coming here are very slim and anyway he would be too scared to put a foot wrong, his local police station would know all about him." "Am I being paranoid?" He rested his head on my shoulder. "No, just over-cautious, let's just put security cameras in and hopefully they will deter any unwanted visitors." "I will get onto them tomorrow. I am sorry Nicky but if anything happens to you I would surely die." "Me too March, you have to look after yourself also." We installed the cameras and he put padlocks on the front gate and driveway gate, so now we have to get out of the car to unlock it. The gym already had security cameras in it, but his garage didn't, so we covered that too. May said she didn't need them, but he insisted she does it just for his peace of mind. Mum and dad already had them they were everywhere on their property even in the trees down the backyard. I felt like I was watching the screen full time and it was just another thing to worry about, in the end, I turned the tv off and didn't put it on again, but March constantly looked at his phone. He disappeared one day and said he had to go to a supplier for some parts, I was safe in the gym, and with all those muscles around I felt safe anyway. I didn't know if they were fighters but I did have a few punching bags hanging from the ceiling which were well-used. It was after Brenda put a warning on the site I calmed down, the comments were so heartwarming and I felt so loved. She said that everyone should be vigilant and on the lookout for strangers hanging around the garage or the Wilson property. There were no details just to be vigilant, by this time the rumors were running rife around town anyway. Questions were asked and I was very honest with them all, some were sympathetic and some were pretty fired up about it. March arrived back and I was about to leave work, he shut up for the day and followed me home. Inside the house, the first thing he did was kiss me, then he told me he had hired someone to follow Matt, just to find out what he was doing with his life now. I was furious but he calmed me with his gentle kisses. "Just for a couple of weeks, I want to know what he's doing that's all." "Okay I will let you have this, but no more, please let us just get back to normal." "Good, now what was normal like again, oh yes hot tub before dinner." He grinned. "Thank god for that, I miss you so much." "I missed you too my Nicky." We didn't hear a word from him, and the investigator said he was laying low and was reporting to the police once a week. He also said he was doing some sort of university degree online. I suppose he has dried out, but I had my doubts. March started laughing again, and May was on top of the world she was a very happy lady. Mum toiled away in her small shop and said she was raking the money in, I suppose she would know. Dad and March took up their fishing again. It had thrown us all out of wack but I was keen to get everyone back on track. The first thing I did was make March take some time off, if he didn't have anything on dad would do the gas and he had to take me out for the day, just so I could get familiar with the area better. I never got the grand tour when I arrived I was too busy avoiding him but when I suggested it, he sat and planned out some places he wanted to see and said I would like them too. The first day out was a Wednesday, dad would look after the gym and the gas and by now he was accepting payments because his food bill was growing. March drove for an hour then I had to because he was missing the sights. I laughed my way through it, and surprisingly the new truck didn't get upset once. He had shown me where he went to school and where he caught the bus, things like that then he went into the unknown areas and there were more smaller towns than I thought. I was disappointed when we got back because I think he had covered just about everything, the next step is to go further away, and I thought we would almost be near the city's outer suburbs. Dad was pleased to see us, and all was well with work so we continued on home, I didn't get another email from Matt and within the next month he was all but forgotten. Donations to Nifty are very much appreciated.