“Hmmm… I guess. I seem to forget how old and independent all my kids are. How does that happen? How do they get so wise beyond their years?”
Tessy chuckled, “You’ve done a fine job, Dr. Tayse, ye have. Come let’s get ready to go out for dinner.”
They walked arm in arm into the house and upstairs to get changed. Tessy insisted that for Dotty and Bert’s last meal in Ladyslipper, Dotty was not going to be anywhere near a stove! They made reservations at the Inner Peace Bistro for a lovely evening out and to thank them for all their help.
When they arrived, Dawn greeted them, and they chatted with her at the front desk for a few minutes before being seated. She had reserved the very same table Marshall and Tessy had on their first date almost a year to the day! She also brought over a complimentary bottle of their favourite wine, number 16. The one they had ordered that night. Tessy and Marshall were so touched.
“What a sweet thing to do, Dawn, dear. Thank ye kindly. And to have remembered which wine. My, ye are a gift, to be sure!”
“Oh, you are very welcome. I’ll send your server right over. Please enjoy your evening,” Dawn smiled as she stepped away. The young girl arrived, poured them each a glass of wine, announced the specials and said she would return in a few minutes.
Marshall raised his glass, “Dotty, Bert, there’s no way I could begin to thank you for all you do for me. I am, however, happy to thank you, from both of us,” as he looked at Tessy, “for staying at Ashling Manor and taking care of everything here while we were away. I know it was a great relief for Tessy so, therefore, for me as well. To Dotty and Bert!” They all tapped glasses and took a sip.
Then Bert spoke up, “Well, it was our pleasure. We enjoyed every minute. Ummm… Dotty and I have a little announcement of our own. I was going to wait until later but I think now is the time. Ummm… Dotty and I have done a great deal of thinking and talking over your proposal and, well, we’d like to give it a shot if you’re still asking.”
Both Marshall and Tessy let out a gleeful yelp. “That’s wonderful news. We couldn’t be happier,” Marshall exclaimed. “Here’s to our new B&B,” and he picked up his glass. After they toasted he looked at Tessy, “Well, honey, I think you should be the one to tell them the name you’ve come up with.” Dotty and Bert looked at Tessy in anticipation.
Tessy laughed, “The Doctor’s Inn.”
The table erupted with laughter.
28
Turning of Future Tides
The next morning, after a long tearful goodbye, Dotty and Bert were on their way back to Winnipeg. This was Marshall’s last full day before he returned, as well. He had slipped into the library to make a quick phone call to his colleague and Tessy found herself alone in the kitchen. It felt strange. She hadn’t realized it before now, but it had been almost three months since she had actually been on her own. First, Keenan came over for Aunt Shannon’s funeral, next everyone was here for the wedding and then they left on their honeymoon. Marshall appeared from around the corner and interrupted her thoughts. “So honey, what would you like to do today?”
Tessy hadn’t given the day much thought, “I’m not sure, love. I hadn’t much planned other than maybe popping in to the pharmacy to see what stock I’m out of and then possibly picking up a few supplies and groceries. Oh, and a couple of nice fresh raw beef or bison bones for my pups if the butcher has any. But I suppose I could do that tomorrow.”
“No, that sounds fine. It would be kinda’ nice just hanging out and doing some normal husband and wife stuff.” Marshall placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
Tessy laughed, “All right, love, normal it is. Don’t forget that Penny has invited us over for supper so we’ll have to be back in plenty of time to get ready.”
Tessy was sure there wouldn’t be anything too heavy for them to carry so they decided to walk down town. They wandered and chatted with friends and neighbours. It felt good to be back! Tessy showed Marshall where Penny’s new shop was and they peeked in the windows. “I guess this will look a little different the next time I’m back,” Marshall said as he peered through the glass.
At the pharmacy Tessy made a list of all the products she was out of and the supplies she would need to replenish her stock. They whisked Jim away for a quick lunch at Sheree’s Sidewalk Café before carrying on. They were about done so decided to stop by the Healing Sage to say hi. Sarah was working the reception desk.
“Grandpa, Tessy, hi! What are you two up to?”
“Oh, just out picking up a few things. How is your day going?”
“Great! Busy!”
Sage was just finishing up with a client and came out from the back. “Hey!” she smiled. “What brings you two in?”
“Oh, just on our way home, love, and thought we’d pop by.”
Just then the client came out from the back. It was Mrs. Wright. There was a moment of awkwardness as she stood at the desk. Tessy smiled and greeted her, “Hello, Vivian. How nice to see you. How is your summer going? Are you feeling better?” Tessy knew that Mrs. Wright had been having trouble with her hip for years.
“Hello, Tessy. Welcome home. I’m doing very well, thank you, and yes, feeling much better. Thanks to this young lady.” She smiled and patted Sage’s hand.
Sage smiled back, “I’m just so glad we’ve been able to make such amazing progress.”
Mrs. Wright finished up, confirmed her next appointment and left.
Surprised, Marshall smiled at his wife, “Well, darling, you’ve made great strides with her!”
“Aye, much to Mrs. Chamberlain’s dismay, I’m sure. However, it is Sage’s magick working this time, not mine!” she chuckled.
They chatted for a few minutes before another client came in. Marshall and Tessy said goodbye to Sage before she disappeared into the back and told Sarah they would see her later at the house and left. They stepped out and ran smack dab in to Mrs. Chamberlain coming out of her husband’s insurance agency next door.
“Humph!! Oh, it’s you! I see you are back from your trip,” she puffed.
“Hello, Mrs. Chamberlain. Yes, we had a marvellous time in Ireland. Have ye ever been?” Tessy greeted.
“Heaven’s NO! When Donald and I travel abroad we go to someplace more refined like France.”
Marshall piped up, “My first wife and I use to go to France.”
“Well, obviously your first wife had a little more class.”
Tessy could feel Marshall’s arm tense up as he spoke, “What I was about to say, Mrs. Chamberlain, is Ireland is just as refined as France or anywhere else for that matter. And, Tessy has more class in her little finger than most people will ever acquire in their entire lives!”
Mrs. Chamberlain let out another, “Humph!”
Tessy gently pulled at Marshall’s arm and they stepped away before the battle got any worse. She remained quiet for a few minutes and waited for Marshall to calm down.
“I don’t know how you have stood that woman for all these years!” he huffed. “I thought that horrible Mrs. Hainsworth over in Ireland was far worse than her. But I’m ready to rethink that!”
Tessy chuckled, “Marshall, love, I truly appreciate your kind words for me, but this is my challenge. The only ones people like that hurt with all the venom they spew, are themselves. Over the years, I have tried time and again to figure out where all that pent-up anger and hatred comes from and, who knows, maybe someday I will. But for now, just let it go and don’t get pulled into the drama.”
“Well, I don’t know how you do it! I think you should put a hex or something on her,” he huffed again.
Tessy laughed, “I’m not about to do any bibbity-bobbity-boo on her. And you know darn well that is not the kind of Craft I conform to! Now come, my love. Let’s go home.”
By the time they got back to Ashling Manor, Marshall had calmed down. They were putting groceries away and, Marshall, not knowing exactly where things were to go, was getting somewhat under foot.
Tessy chuckled, “Marshall, love, thank ye for your help, but I can finish this.”
“Yah, guess I am just getting in the way. I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself when I’m retired and here full time.”
“Well, maybe ye could take up a hobby. What is it you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet?”
“Hmmm… I love to golf. I was planning on spending a bit more time doing that. Maybe join a men’s league. Do they have one in Ladyslipper?”
“Aye, love, they do. That sounds grand, but I think they only meet Thursdays.”
“Yah, I guess. Well, if you’re okay putting the rest of this away, I’m just going out to sit on the porch for a while.” He sauntered down the hall and out the front door.
***
Tessy felt terrible. She didn’t want him to feel like he was ever going to be in the way or that he wasn’t going to have a purpose once he truly retired. After she finished in the kitchen she set out to find him. He wasn’t on the porch. She went around to the back of the house and there he was wandering about the yard out behind the garage. She called out to him, “What are ye up to, love?”
“I’ve got it!” he shouted.
“What in St. Paddy’s name are ye talking about?”
Marshall hurried over to Tessy and pulled her to a couple of wooden chairs close to the fire pit to sit down. Tessy smiled. She hadn’t seen this kind of boyish excitement from him since the Irish Derby.
“Darling, I know what I’ve always wanted to do. I’d like to find an old classic car and fix her up! Being a doctor, I think it would be like diagnosing, operating and curing her,” he laughed.
Tessy chuckled, “Aye, I guess it would. That sounds grand.”
“Well, there’s a little catch.”
“Aye, and that is… ?”
Marshall got a sad, sheepish look, “Your garage.”
“My garage! What’s wrong with my garage?”
“Well, you see, it’s small, very old and has your car in it.”
Tessy laughed, “Well, it ‘twas built about the same time as the house, so aye, ‘tis old. So what do ye have in mind?”
His look turned apprehensive, “You have that large area out behind the old garage that I’ve noticed hasn’t got any gardens and only a few shrubs. It’s mostly just a grassed area. Well… I was wondering what you would think about us building a new, large shop/garage back there. It would be mostly hidden behind the old garage and the trees that are already there so it wouldn’t be an eye sore from the road. And there’s plenty of room between the house and garage for the lane to go around to the back where we could add a cement pad outside the new shop.” He thought he had better be quiet to see if Tessy had any kind of rebuttal.
Tessy was quiet for a moment. “Well love, this is going to be your home, too. And, if that’s what you would like to do then I think ‘tis a fine idea.”
Marshall gathered Tessy up and swung her around. “Oh, how did I get so lucky! This is going to be so awesome.” He put her down and pulled her toward the grassed area to show her exactly what he had in mind. As they wandered he thought out loud, “Maybe Matt and his friends would like to come over and help out. I kind of missed out on stuff like that with my own boys.”
“Or the girls!” Tessy exclaimed, eyebrows lifted.
“Yes, of course, or the girls, if they would like,” Marshall quickly corrected himself.
Tessy laughed, “That’s better. And, ye have a mechanic living right across the road that I’m sure would love to come and give ye a hand from time to time.”
“That’s right! Tommy! This just keeps getting better and better.”
Tessy left Marshall to wander about and plan in the back yard while she went in to get ready to go to Penny and Jim’s. Just as she passed the phone it rang. She picked it up on the first ring.
“Hello. May I speak to Tessy, please?” was the greeting.
“Aye. Speaking.”
“Hi Tessy. This is Sandy.”
Sandy? Sandy? Tessy’s mind was silently reeling.
“From Australia. We met in Ireland a few weeks ago.”
“Sandy!” Tessy excitedly exclaimed. “How are ye, dear? Where are ye?”
“We’re in Toronto. We’ve been staying in a hostel here for about a week now. Some of us are heading west tomorrow and some east. I’m going west. We’re not sure how far along we’ll get, but I wanted to call and see if you were home yet.”
“Aye dear, I’m here, as ye can see. So, yer planning on stopping here then?”
“Yes. If that’s still okay?”
“Aye dear. I would love for ye to drop by. How many of ye are travelling this way?”
“There are four of us.”
“Well, ye must come and spend a night or two here with me at Ashling Manor.”
“Are you sure that’s not too much trouble?”
“Not at all, dear. My niece and my grand-daughter and her friends would love to have a visit, I’m sure. They are all close to your age and I’d be bettin’ you’d have lots to chat about.”
“Great! Thanks, Tessy. It will probably be at least a couple of weeks but we’ll keep you posted as to our progress.”
“Grand, dear. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from ye. Bye, for now. Safe travels.”
“Bye, Tessy. Thanks again.”
Marshall had come in to the kitchen just in time to catch the last part of the conversation.
“So, who was that? Who is coming for a visit?”
Tessy chuckled as she explained the conversation.
“Wow! Really? I honestly didn’t think we’d ever hear from them.” Marshall shook his head and went to wash up before heading out.
When they arrived at Penny and Jim’s for supper that evening Marshall was still elated with his new-found pursuit. The guys joined in his excitement a little more so than the ladies. Penny sent Jim, Matt, Kyle and her father out to the deck to enjoy their drinks, watch the barbeque and talk about cars. The girls hadn’t showed up yet, Emma was at Becky’s and Sarah was to pick her up after she was off work. Penny and Tessy were in the kitchen making salads. When they were finally alone Penny curiously asked, “That wasn’t the big news you wanted to share, was it?”
Tessy grinned, “No dear. Our news is a little more than that, but I really must wait for your father to announce it.”
“Rats!” Penny frowned. “Well, I’m pretty sure you’re not pregnant!” she chuckled.
Tessy almost let out a yelp with her hearty laughter. “No! Definitely not, my dear!”
Marshall popped his head in the patio doors, “And what is so funny, you two?”
“Oh, nothing you’d care to hear, I’m sure!” Tessy truthfully answered him.
Marshall smiled, “Okay, I’ll take your word for it.”
Just then Sarah and Emma came bounding around the corner, “Hey, everyone!”
“Hey, you two,” their mother greeted.
“Oh good. Now that everyone is here, there is something Tessy and I would like to share with you. Ladies, pour yourselves a wine, girls get a pop and join us out on the deck, please.”
Everyone got seated and Marshall took Tessy’s hand. He explained what they had in mind for the B&B and that Dotty and Bert would manage it for them. He also expressed that all the kids would always be welcome and have a place to stay. As expected, it was quite a surprise. After the initial shock and some questions Penny brightened, “Well Dad, Tessy, it is your house to do with as you please and I think it’s a pretty cool idea. I guess we’re all in store for a few new changes in our lives,” she smiled looking at her brother and her father. She held up her glass and everyone toasted.
“I sure hope the other kids feel the same,” sighed Marshall.
“Ooooh… good luck breaking the news to Kellie!” Penny flinched. “You know how much she hates any kind of change. She’ll throw a fit!”
“Oh yah! Can I please be there when you tell her, Dad?” Kyle begged. “I would love to s
ee those fireworks!”
Everyone laughed.
They had a wonderful evening. The kids challenged Kyle and Grandpa to a rip-roaring game of bocce ball before it got dark and they roasted marshmallows over the fire.
It was late when Tessy and Marshall made their way back to Ashling Manor. They had had plenty of fresh air and exercise, so were exhausted when they finally fell into bed. They cuddled and told each other how much they’d miss the other and fell asleep in each another’s arms.
29
A Cleansing and a Fright!
Marshall was in no hurry to get away the next morning. He had a six-hour drive ahead of him. The day was sunny and calm and as long as he was in Winnipeg for the supper that Dotty would, undoubtedly, have on the table, that was good.
As Tessy and Marshall waited for the last load of his laundry to dry, they enjoyed a lovely breakfast, then took their coffee out to the veranda. They knew this sad day would arrive and had accepted it. Being married, it seemed different now. Comfortable was the word, Tess thought as she smiled at her husband.
“What?” Marshall smiled back.
“Oh, ‘tis nothing, love. It’s just that I am going to miss ye, but I know we’re going to be fine.”
“Ditto on that,” Marshall picked up her hand and tenderly kissed it.
Just then the kids came tearing up the lane on their bikes. Tessy laughed, oh how they fill the air with such joy and excitement. They stayed for almost an hour when Marshall heard the buzzer go off on the dryer. He announced he’d have to finish packing and get away. The kids gave their grandpa his last kisses and hugs, then hopped on their bikes bound for the beach.
Tessy headed into the house and pulled the clothes out of the dryer and into a basket. Marshall came in and carried it up to their room. The suitcase lay open on the bed waiting for those last few items. They each took a pile, neatly folded them and placed them in. Marshall doubled over the case and pushed on it to get it closed. He glanced at Tessy and smiled, “That suitcase has seen a lot of miles in the last month.” They both chuckled and looked at the case that seemed a little worse for wear. Marshall lugged it down the stairs and placed it in the foyer. Tessy was right beside him. He pulled her close and they held to one another. He kissed the top of her head before she drew away enough for him to lean down and give her a real kiss.
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