Chapter 3
“I thought you were just buying deck shoes!” Spike said with a grin, he could see the sea of carrier bags at the two exhausted looking ladies feet.
“Put the kettle on babe, we’re parching!”
“So how much has this little shopping trip cost me then, huh?”
Buffy, still lying back in the chair, eyes closed said casually
“Oh…about £150 or so”
Spike came into the lounge grinning with his hands on his hips
“Well then it’s lucky for me I had a phone call while you were out, from my publisher”
Buffy opened her eyes and sat up smiling
“Oh yes, what does he want?”
“She, they’ve changed, I got a she now, and she wants, or rather the company like those books on Edwardian England I did so much, they’ve commissioned me to do a second series of three”
“Oh baby, that’s WONDERFUL news – you are SO clever!”
“Is Sam here?” Willow asked looking out into the back garden
“No, he left about ten minutes after you, he said he better go and help Peggy, show a bit of willing as she’s being so good about letting him off things coz you’re here!”
“I feel guilty!”
“Don’t, honestly Red, she likes you very much, she’s happy for Sam too – well there’s the kettle, tea ladies?”
“Please”
“Please Spike. I will say this Buffy, you’ve got him well trained!” Willow and Buffy exchanged grins.
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“And then this tape, you’ve got to run it on one hour, and then there’s the latest ER from last night, okay?” Buffy put the two videotapes on top of the TV for Peggy
“Thanks love, you run along now, I’ll be fine, I’ve got everything I need!” The children were safely tucked up asleep in bed, Buffy smiled. Aunt Peggy had her flask of tea, a nip of brandy, her box of chocolates and her knitting, she eased herself into the comfy chair and picked up the TV remote control.
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……………”Only went and forgot the gear, didn’t he!” There was a roar of male laughter and Sam sauntered into the changing room from the cricket pitch, grinning
“I knew you’d tell everyone – thanks mate!” Sam said, but he was laughing
Spike was grinning too, but most of the younger lads agreed, that if they had a girlfriend who looked like Willow, they’d have ‘forgotten’ to take the fishing gear as well!
“Coming to the pub Spike, Sam?”
“Yes Steve, we’re meeting the girls there”
“Can I cadge a lift?”
“Sure”
“So, Spike, that young lad of yours, tells me he’s got a telescope and he’s been looking at the moon when I spoke to him on the phone last night”
Sam pulled onto the car park of the pub
“He has, he’s always studying something or other, got his nose in a book!”
“Huh…I wish he’d come and show my three what studying is…they’re either on the Internet or at the Xbox, my Mrs goes mad, they couldn’t pass an exam between them – okay then right, what are you having?” All three of them strode into the lounge of the pub
“Er, don’t worry Steve, we’ve got the girls, so you carry on on your own”
“Okay, if you’re sure, thanks for the lift!”
Steve carried on into the snug bar, looking for his father-in-law and a game of dominoes.
“Hey gorgeous…wanna buy me a drink?”
Spike swivelled around to see Buffy grinning behind him
“I sure do beautiful, what do you want?” Spike’s eyes danced as he looked at the new top she was wearing, very nice!
“I’m yours for half a lager!”
“Is that so?!” Buffy giggled and gave him a kiss.
“Yep, that’s so – how was practice?”
“Don’t ask…Sam’s away with the bloody fairies I think, he’s got this silly grin that’s never off his face…have you – OI – The Hill’s Have Eyes, come here!” Buffy and Willow hooted with laughter at what Spike called Sam, who came up to them trying to look indignant
“I’ll give you bloody Hill’s Have Eyes…cheeky sod!”
“Hey, love…fancy coming fishing with me…I could always leave the tackle in the back of the van?” One of the young lads asked Willow, giving her a big cheeky wink, and she immediately went blood red
“Oh my god you TOLD them!”
“Not me princess, big mouth here!” Sam poked Spike in the back
They had a great night full of cheeky banter and much laughter, and the girls trouncing them at darts too!
************************
Sam turned off the radio in the van having listened to the midnight shipping forecast and said,
“Well that’s it, tell Buffy to be ready Thursday morning, the sea will be calm, we’re off to Lundy”
“Okay then, I’ll tell her, night baby”
“One more kiss…”
“You said that about five kisses back!” Willow said smiling
“I know…but I’ll miss you…nobody to cuddle in bed”
Willow smiled and indulged him with a pretty big kiss
“And now I have to go, the lounge light has just gone off, they’ll be wanting to get to bed, and you’ve got to be up at six”
“I know, but JUST one more kiss before I go, please?” Sam asked grinning………
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“Sam said Thursday for Lundy okay?”
“’Kay Red, night”
“Night Spike” Spike locked up, through the front door glass he could see the red taillights of the van disappear down the lane.
Willow met Buffy in the hallway en route from bathroom to bedroom
“Sam said Thursday for Lundy, we just listened to the shipping forecast in the van”
“Okay, that’s fine – I’ll cook a chicken and get some ham…I’ll get some extra stuff when I give my order in at the shop tomorrow – night Will”
“Night Buffy”
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“Mommy, where’s aunty Willow?”
“Still in bed asleep poppet, she’s tired”
“Can I go I the garden and play?”
“Yes honey, but don’t make too much noise will you?” Izzie shook her head and got down from the table
“Billy, eat your toast, and what have I told you about reading at the table!”
“Sorry mom!” Billy put his book down and Buffy ruffled his hair
“I’m sorry love, I shouldn’t tell you off for reading I suppose, it’s just your breakfast has gone cold”
Billy smiled
“Don’t worry mom, I like it like that!”
Buffy homed in and rubbed noses with her son saying,
“That’s because you never eat it any other way!” She kissed him on his forehead and ruffled his hair again.
“Oh, and by the way Billy, Sam said we can go to Lundy tomorrow”
Spike came downstairs holding some papers in his hand
“Oh great – dad, did you hear that, Lundy tomorrow!”
“Yes son, I know – now while the ladies do things like get picnics ready and stuff, how would you fancy coming out with your old dad in the car, huh?”
“Where to?”
“Well, you know this I man I see about the books I write, he provides me with the photographs”
Billy nodded, Spike continued
“Well, he’s got a shop now, selling memorabilia, antiques, books, maps all sorts of stuff, just the sort of place you like”
“Oh yes! I’ll just go get dressed and clean my teeth”
“Good lad”
Spike sat down and poured himself some coffee
“That’s nice babe!”
“Oh I know he’ll love it, and Dalton won’t mind a bit he knows Billy will be careful”
Izzie came in from the garden, saw her daddy and clambered up on his lap.
“Hello Bubbles…what have you been doing?” Spike blew a ‘raspberry’ on her cheek before kissing it
“Playing in the garden, but quiet coz aunty Willow is still in bed”
Buffy had begun to ferry things into the kitchen to wash up, and she smiled indulgently at her daughter definitely a ‘daddies girl!’
“We’ll be back by lunchtime”
“Where are you going daddy, can I come?”
“To see the man about my books…do you want to come? – You can, but I think you’ll be bored”
Izzie frowned and asked
“Are there toys for me to play with?”
“Nuh uh, no toys pet” Spike said smiling
“Well…I’ll stay and wait for aunty Willow to play with me then”
“Okay poppet, you do that” Spike gave her another kiss and she got down off his lap.
Billy came down the stairs, ready to go.
Spike looked up and winked at his son and said,
“Ready?”
Billy nodded, so Spike drained his coffee cup and stood up
“We’ll be off now then pet, will you be in when we get back?”
“I should think so, I want to get things ready for tomorrow…will jeans and sweatshirts be okay do you think, it’s bound to be a bit windy”
“Fine pet”
**********************
The mobile phone on the nightstand tinkled and trilled, and willow woke from about six layers of sleep.
She groped for the phone and said sleepily,
“Hello?”
“Busy babe?” Sam asked brightly
“Er, um, wha –“ turning her head to look at the clock, she saw it was twenty past ten and sat up wide awake
“Oh, er, goodness, is that the time!”
Sam looked at his watch
“Twenty one minutes past ten I make it…are you okay kitten, you sound a bit ‘throaty’, not getting a cold are you pet?”
“Me, no, no…I um, I just woke up!” she got out of bed and went over to the window. She could see Buffy pegging out washing, and Izzie jumping up and down trying to catch butterflies…
“I’m sorry babe, I should have thought, jet-lag – I’m an idiot!”
“Hey, no – they let me sleep over that’s all…anyway, you were asking if I was busy?” Smiling Willow turned away from the window and sat on the bed again
“Well, I finish here at the shop at twelve, I wondered if you wanted to come to the sailing shop with me, there are one or two things I have to get for the boat before we sail tomorrow, then we could pick up lunch for everyone from that new pasty shop"
“Sounds great”
“Sure you’re not too tired?”
“Sure I’m sure, nothing a quick shower and a dose of caffeine won’t cure!”
“Okay baby, see you at quarter past twelve then”
“Bye “
“Bye baby”
***************
After a quick shower and getting dressed, Willow went downstairs into the kitchen she picked up the kettle and filled it, putting it on the hob, then she opened the back door. Buffy was squatting on the grass pulling weeds from the border, Izzie was playing with her doll.
“Aunty Willow!”
Izzie ran and gave her aunty a big hug like she hadn’t seen her in ages!
“Hello poppet!”
“Mommy said I was to be quiet and not to wake you so I was a good girl!”
“You were a very good girl!” Willow kissed her cheek and gave her a hug then put her down. Buffy stood squinting into the house
“Is the kettle on?”
“Yup…coffee?” Willow asked
“Love some…I’ll just go wash up, my hands are filthy…don’t know a way to keep the slugs away from my lettuce do you…tried everything...pellets, sandpaper around them…gravel…sunken pots of beer…they STILL munch away!”
**********************
The shop to Billy was like an Aladdin’s cave of treasures. Although not actually open for trade that day, Dalton let them into the shop when Spike knocked on the window.
After shaking hands with young Billy Dalton said,
“Your dad tells me you’re interested in loads of different things, right?”
“Oh yes!”
“Well, I’ve set aside some things for you to read, but feel free to wander around and look at things, I know you’ll be careful”
“Oh I will, thanks!”
“Right then, shall we crack on Spike, I’ve got those photographs, they’re mostly set in the big cities, London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, showing the ever increasing industrial revolution………” Spike winked at Billy and followed Dalton to the next floor that overlooked the ground floor via a balcony.
Billy wandered around looking at the objects, knick-knacks and antiques that were for sale before settling down with a couple of interesting books.
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“Flares?”
“Yup, as in distress flares…have to have them by law, I’ve got four...another two should do it…right…oh god I know what I meant to ask you...” Sam said pulling a face
“What’s that?”
“How tall are Izzie and Billy, I need to hire life jackets for them – again it’s a requirement by law, every person on board should have a life jacket see”
“Um, well Izzie comes up to about here…and Billy comes to here on me” Willow indicated waist and almost shoulder height
“Great – got to get one for you and Buffy too - pass me one of those please”
“The first aid box?”
“Yup…(Sam read on the outside of the box) plasters, various bandages, anti-septic cream – that’ll do…now all I want is another fresh water container, a two galloner and were all done here, then it’s onto the pasty shop…hungry?”
“Starving, I missed breakfast!”
**********************
Spike came down the stairs of the shop carrying a folder, Dalton behind him. Billy had his nose in a book, Dalton smiled
“I forgot your son was here, he’s been so quiet!”
“Hey, heads up son…what’s so interesting?”
Billy looked up and smiled
“This book on tropical plants, it’s ever so interesting”
“Hey Billy, what do you think of my latest acquisition?” Dalton loving ran his hands over a beautiful inlaid box with a sloping lid.
“It’s a secretaire, or writing box!” Billy said smiling
“That’s right!” Dalton said
“Can you open it?” Billy asked
“Sure, I’ve been messing with it this morning, got the key somewhere in one of my pockets….here!”
Dalton opened out the box, flipping the sloping bit carefully, and then opening out the sides to reveal little drawers for paper, blotting paper and envelopes. There were tiny draws for pen-nibs and such like. The whole box had been inlaid with mother-of-pearl and silver, and it was lined with velvet, but that had now faded with time, but it was still very pretty
“Have you found the secret drawer yet?” Billy asked with a grin
“Secret…no, er, I haven’t!”
Billy went over to the box, moved the inkwell out of the way, opened the bottom draw and wriggled his fingers until he found the little button, he pressed it and a small drawer shot open at the side
“There – oh, there’ something in it!”
Dalton took out two faded letters tied with red ribbon
“Oh Billy….they’re love letters………” Dalton flipped his specs down off his head and began to read
“Oh – Do you know what you’ve done?” Dalton asked with a grin
Billy shook his head
“Only just found out who this belonged to – it’ll be worth five times what I was going to ask for it too – you are a clever lad – spike son to be proud of there, you can bring him anytime!” Grinning Spike ruffled his son’s hair
“I AM very proud of my son, he’s a good boy – well come on then Billy-boy, shall we go get some lunch, I’m starving – we could go to that new pasty shop”
“Great! Er Dad, could you lend me three pounds until we get home, I want to buy that book, and I’ve only got £1.50 on me”
“Sure son”
“I wouldn’t dream of it! What is it you want Billy?”
“This…Culpeper’s herbal on tropical plants”
“Well you can have it as a gift…and um…you can have your pick from that table there too”
Dalton said grinning
“You’ll spoil him” Spike said grinning
“Nonsense…this box…royalty” Dalton said, patting the secretaire
“Really oh well done!”
“Can sell it at five times what I was going to ask, so I’m indebted to Billy, least I can do!”
Billy chose another book on plants, called ‘Wild food for free’ it showed you how to identify edible mushrooms and plants that grew in the wild. It also showed you what to avoid too, toadstools and poisonous plants.
“Can I have this one?”
Dalton nodded without looking at the title
“Course you can! Well it’s been very nice meeting you young Billy, and I mean it, you can come here anytime!”
“Thankyou!” Billy shook his hand again grinning
“Come on son, lunch – bye Dalton, and thanks!”
“Thankyou, bye!”
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“Oh – both had the same idea then did we?” Spike said, putting ANOTHER bag full of pasties on the kitchen table
“Don’t worry, they can be part of the picnic tomorrow, delicious cold as well as hot!” Buffy said
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Author's Chapter Notes:
For Midnightgirl and Cordykitten for sticking with me and actually reading this!