Just Reminiscing
As I watched Tony pack his bags my mind wandered back to the conversation we'd had with the girls when he'd told us of his plans.
Annabelle had been rather hurt but in typical Annabelle fashion displayed that hurt in feigned annoyance. "I hate your job, Dad." she said as we walked back into the room after putting the boys to bed.
I would have disagreed but found I couldn't until Tony said, "My job allows us to live, remember. Besides, this isn't about my work, this is family related."
"We're your family." Sarah said.
"Just as you and your siblings are family", Tony explained patiently, "so are mine and me."
"She's worse, isn't she." I'd said, my words a statement, not a question.
"Who?" Rebecca said, "Who's worse and worse than what?"
"Aunty Rita, that's who you mean, isn't it Dad." Sarah said her voice barely above a whisper.
"When were you going to tell us Dad?" Annabelle asked angrily. "When?"
"It is Aunty Rita, but she's not worse." Tony said, "she just wants me to go over and help her with some things. She wants to buy my, I mean our share of the bach."
I smiled then as I recalled him saying that, he always referred to it as 'the bach' when in actual fact it was more like a beach house and was far more impressive than many people's homes.
I didn't realise he'd stopped packing and was watching me until I heard him say, "What's so amusing? You have a cute grin on your face."
"Just reminiscing." I said.
"Well reminisce all you like", he said, "I just hope I'm in there."
"You are." I said as he dropped a kiss onto my forehead before turning to leave.
"Where are you..."
"Relax, I just need to talk to the guys before I go." he said, "I'll be back before you know it."
I watched him walk out and hoped the same could be said of his trip back to New Zealand a thought which quite naturally took me back to that night.
"You can't sell it!" Annabelle and I had both said.
"Why not, Belle? We're not using it."
"But we might...one day...oh Dad you just can't. All my, all our childhood memories are weaved into that place. You have to think of us, Dad."
"I know and I do", Tony had said and I wondered if the girls realised how close to tears he was. "but I have to think of my sister, too. Who knows how long this remission will last? She and your uncle need some form of security. The bach will give them that."
Annabelle looked resigned, "I suppose so", she said, "but Mum doesn't want you to sell it either, it's not just me."
"You're right in one sense, Annabelle." I'd said, "I don't think we should sell it."
"You don't?" Tony had said looking hurt until I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.
"We can't..." I said, "Not to family, not to a sister who's always done so much for us. We have to give it to them, we can do that, can't we?"
Even now, days later my stomach did little flip flops at the memory that smile produced. Tony had looked like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders as he said, "I think so but I'll find out for sure while I'm there."
I didn't notice how long I'd been sitting there until I heard his voice again, "Still reminiscing?" he said.
"I think I will be every moment until you get back." I said.
"You're beautiful." he said.
"I hope you still think so when we Skype." I said, "Remember cameras aren't exactly friendly towards me."
"I was thinking more about the inside but you know, you always look beautiful on the outside to me, too."
"I wouldn't put myself in front of a camera for just anyone." I said.
"I know", he said, "that's why it feels so special."
This time I did say it aloud, "Hurry back, my darling." I said.
He smiled and I knew for him the trip and the reason for it were bittersweet, "Sweetheart", he said, "I'm already counting the hours."
Annabelle had been rather hurt but in typical Annabelle fashion displayed that hurt in feigned annoyance. "I hate your job, Dad." she said as we walked back into the room after putting the boys to bed.
I would have disagreed but found I couldn't until Tony said, "My job allows us to live, remember. Besides, this isn't about my work, this is family related."
"We're your family." Sarah said.
"Just as you and your siblings are family", Tony explained patiently, "so are mine and me."
"She's worse, isn't she." I'd said, my words a statement, not a question.
"Who?" Rebecca said, "Who's worse and worse than what?"
"Aunty Rita, that's who you mean, isn't it Dad." Sarah said her voice barely above a whisper.
"When were you going to tell us Dad?" Annabelle asked angrily. "When?"
"It is Aunty Rita, but she's not worse." Tony said, "she just wants me to go over and help her with some things. She wants to buy my, I mean our share of the bach."
I smiled then as I recalled him saying that, he always referred to it as 'the bach' when in actual fact it was more like a beach house and was far more impressive than many people's homes.
I didn't realise he'd stopped packing and was watching me until I heard him say, "What's so amusing? You have a cute grin on your face."
"Just reminiscing." I said.
"Well reminisce all you like", he said, "I just hope I'm in there."
"You are." I said as he dropped a kiss onto my forehead before turning to leave.
"Where are you..."
"Relax, I just need to talk to the guys before I go." he said, "I'll be back before you know it."
I watched him walk out and hoped the same could be said of his trip back to New Zealand a thought which quite naturally took me back to that night.
"You can't sell it!" Annabelle and I had both said.
"Why not, Belle? We're not using it."
"But we might...one day...oh Dad you just can't. All my, all our childhood memories are weaved into that place. You have to think of us, Dad."
"I know and I do", Tony had said and I wondered if the girls realised how close to tears he was. "but I have to think of my sister, too. Who knows how long this remission will last? She and your uncle need some form of security. The bach will give them that."
Annabelle looked resigned, "I suppose so", she said, "but Mum doesn't want you to sell it either, it's not just me."
"You're right in one sense, Annabelle." I'd said, "I don't think we should sell it."
"You don't?" Tony had said looking hurt until I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.
"We can't..." I said, "Not to family, not to a sister who's always done so much for us. We have to give it to them, we can do that, can't we?"
Even now, days later my stomach did little flip flops at the memory that smile produced. Tony had looked like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders as he said, "I think so but I'll find out for sure while I'm there."
I didn't notice how long I'd been sitting there until I heard his voice again, "Still reminiscing?" he said.
"I think I will be every moment until you get back." I said.
"You're beautiful." he said.
"I hope you still think so when we Skype." I said, "Remember cameras aren't exactly friendly towards me."
"I was thinking more about the inside but you know, you always look beautiful on the outside to me, too."
"I wouldn't put myself in front of a camera for just anyone." I said.
"I know", he said, "that's why it feels so special."
This time I did say it aloud, "Hurry back, my darling." I said.
He smiled and I knew for him the trip and the reason for it were bittersweet, "Sweetheart", he said, "I'm already counting the hours."