A Way For Avril, Evelyn J. Steward [best novels in english txt] 📗

salary. We can think about moving now.” There was a knock at the front door. Peter put his dressing gown on and went downstairs.
“Where’s your key?” he asked as Jessica’s older son stepped through the door.
“Sorry Peter,” said Andrew. “Must have left it in my other trousers.”
“Hope you didn’t drink too much,” Peter intoned.
“Nope! Was with some of the guys from Uni that are teetotal, very boring. I had a glass of wine that’s all. No hangover tomorrow.” Andrew ran up the stairs.
Peter called after him. “If we move, you will have to live on campus you know.”
Andrew stopped at the top of the staircase and looked over the railing down at Peter. “Are you moving?” he queried.
“Probably. Your grandmother needs to be looked after and we need more space. Besides, I have to live up to my new standards.”
Andrew looked pensive. “They offered you a partnership!”
“Yes!”
“You’ll have to give me time. Campus places are hard to get.” Andrew stated as he started to go around to his room.
“Oh, you’ll have plenty of time. We have to go looking yet.” Peter was talking to an empty space.
Andrew’s University was a couple of miles away right now but Peter and Jessica were planning on living much further away, taking Avril with them. Jonathon would be leaving high school, probably taking a gap year so he was sorted.
Peter trudged around the house making sure windows and doors were all locked up.

“Andrew forget his key, again.” Jessica was sitting up in bed with a book.
“If we get a nice house closer to your mum, he can stay in the Halls of Residence. See what forgetting a key does him there!” It wasn’t that Andrew and Peter did not get on, they were not a part of each other’s lives very much. It was just that they sort of got on each other’s nerves. Three years did not make him a father figure.
“Don’t be cruel Peter.”
“That lad needs to learn to stand on his own two feet. I had to when I was his age.” Peter flipped the covers on his side of the bed and wearily got in. The terms his bosses had laid out were generous but it all happened so fast, it was still new to him. He mulled them over and finally dropped off to sleep.
Jessica heard the muffled breathing that signified Peter was sound asleep. Things were going great, she thought. Now, where shall we start looking?

Life gave with one hand ……, but we are so lucky Jessica thought. It had taken almost a year to find a new house, get all the paperwork sorted. Move in and get it all ship shape. Only last week Avril had been moved into the granny flat, decorated to her liking, and now she was out getting used to all the Senior Facilities in the town. There were plenty of things for her to do and she came and went as she pleased.
Jonathon had left high school and was on a gap year in Australia staying with a cousin. Peter had settled into a new routine and was working at home more often. This made Jessica happy. She made his lunches and coffee when he wanted one. All she had to do was knock at the door and he was there. Jessica was happy about her mum and was there when Avril needed her.
As for Avril, she was not pleased to move at first but when she was taken to see the granny flat, she loved it. Jessica and Peter took to all the clubs and signed her up. Made sure she had transport to take her and bring her home again. Andrew was the only one not quite so happy with the arrangements. Campus was full when he applied so he had to share with someone he wasn’t very keen on. But that would change at the end of the year. And he got to come home every few weeks for a few days relaxation. there was a large garden and Andrew kept the dog happy playing ball and chase. He had five more years study to do before he took his degree.
Avril had been out playing Bridge. She and her partner had just beat the other couple and she was feeling pleased with herself. Jonathon would be home from Australia in a few days and Andrew was home from Uni in a month for the Christmas Holidays. She loved them both. As for being close to Jessica, that went without saying. Now she was getting more used to Peter’s ways, and he with hers. Yes, it was a good way of life and there was a new dragon book out in a few days. Life was definitely good.

Copyright Evelyn J. Steward, December, 2011

Words 2430


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Publication Date: 01-22-2012

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