by Roo

Part Three - Chapter Eight

Our friends settle in at Quilpie

Editing by Bronwen

Previously:

We spent about four hours at the markets. The girls went off by themselves and came back to a designated spot every half an hour to show me what they had bought, I looked for some clothes for my sister Jenny and her little boy Josh, and also for Chrissie and Sandy. Rita was too hard to buy for those days so I didn’t bother, When four hours were up I decide to round Jamie and Jenny up to have something to eat and make our way back home. I had bought something for everyone even the men, and some fluffy toys for the twins. Jamie and Jenny were happy with their purchases and did not object to calling it a day. I think they were worn out. So home we went to show the men and the little ones what was bought, and the rest of the day was spent relaxing and getting things ready for Monday and the flight home.

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18/2/74

It was 5am and the twins were still fast asleep, so my beautiful and randy husband blew in my ear. That was too much for me so guess what, my ever present sister got into the act and said, “It's about time you two!!! The girls will stay asleep so do what you will.”

I whispered “Thanks sis.”

The girls stayed asleep until we had a shower and got dressed and then we got them up to have their bath. John had breakfast all prepared, so Jamie and Jenny decided to have a bath with Donna and Jean so the adults could have breakfast and talk about what the plans for today would be.

Once Jamie, Jenny and the little ones were fed and dressed it was time to get going, so we cleaned up the apartment and packed all the things into the car. By the time we got going it was nine thirty and the morning traffic was as per usual heavy, but that’s city life and it is always a good feeling to be on our way back home where time seems to slow down.

When we arrived at Archerfield, our staff at the hanger had the chopper all fuelled up and flight ready; the car was parked in the hanger and all the luggage and items that we'd bought at the markets were loaded and secured. Ricky had a few things to sort out with the staff at the hanger and workshops and then it was time to take to the air. I let Ricky do the flying with John sitting in the co-pilot seat. John was really impressed with our set up at the hanger so Ricky kept the head phones on and chatted about guy things.

Jamie and Jenny were singing nursery rhymes with the little ones. I just let my mind drift while Jean took me back in time to when I first got my pilots licence. I love flying and it has been part of my life, and of course the remoteness of where I grew up is something that is almost spiritual.

I was brought out of my daydream when Jamie shook me and said, “Aunty Carla, are you alright?”

“Yes darling, the humming of the engine sort of made me go into a dream state”

“It worked for Donna and Jean too, they are fast asleep,” said Jamie over the noise of the engine. I looked at my watch and out onto the countryside about two thousand feet below, and we were nearing familiar territory so I tapped Ricky on the shoulder and said, “How long darling?”

He replied, “Fifteen minutes. Wake up the girls so they can be alert when Mum and Dad are there to greet us on the ground.” Jamie was already softly touching them on their cheeks to wake them.

Ricky circled the airport once and proceeded to touch down and taxi to on the landing apron in front of the Croft hanger. It was just after one pm. Mum, Dad and Sandy are there to welcome us and the Americans home.

Once Ricky shut down the chopper it was time to get out and stretch our legs. Mum and Dad gave myself and Ricky a hug and picked up Donna and Jean, who were speaking twenty to the dozen and really excited to see their grandparents. Ricky's parents were also walking over from our office and of course the twins had to be hugged by them as well.

Sandy then gave Jamie a hug and said “This must be Jenny and her Dad,” and proceeded to hug them both saying, “Welcome to Quilpie and the outback.”

I don’t think John was quite used to being hugged by a stranger, but then I think bush people are more open and trusting than city folk.

We all ended up at our place and had a late lunch that Mum and Ricky's Mum Helen had prepared for us.

Jamie said, “Aunty Carla, will Jenny be able to come stay with me or does she have to stay here?”

I replied, “Sweetheart you had better ask your Mum about that because your not going to school till next week, you were staying here remember?”

“Oh yeah, but can I sleep here as well till then?” Jamie is very out there and does not hold back, and when she wants something she does not beat around the bush and comes straight out and says what she wants. She's 'my kind of person', well it always worked for me!!!!

Sandy said, “Carla, we're not going to keep Jamie and Jenny apart, so if it's ok with you I have not got a problem with Jamie staying here, but come next week when she starts school again we will have to have a rethink.”

I replied, “No worries, as long as Mum and Dad can handle four girls while we're at work!”

Mum said, “They'll be fine, besides the twins won't let them stray too far.”

Jenny and Jamie both replied, “Yeees.” That set off the little ones twirling around like little princesses saying, “We too we too.”

Sandy said, “I'll never get used to these two with their double speak.”

Dad replied,”Give it time luv. Wait till they go to school, that'll be interesting.”

Things settled down. Jamie and Jenny took the twins for a walk down to the park to let them play on the swings. Sandy invited John to go down and have a look at her house, I winked at her and got a wink back, Oh dear !! It looked like Sandy was interested in our American friend.

Helen and Barry decided to go home and asked Ricky to drive them because they needed to discuss some things. Ricky didn’t see them often enough so I encouraged him to also go and see Rita and Peter. Rita was still having trouble with morning sickness. I decided to go and see her in the next couple of days and see if Jean could do something for her from the spirit world.

Ricky stayed at Rita's place which was their home at the back of the restaurant and had dinner there.

Sandy phoned me and said almost in a whisper, “Carla, I'm going to cook John a meal so he will be back later, is that ok with you?”

I replied, “Sandy girl you go for it but take it slowly.”

Her reply was “Carla, do you think Jamie would accept another man in my life or even her life?”

I said “Sandy, Jamie still misses her Dad and so do you, but I think it might be time to move on and give your new life a chance don't you?”

“Thanks Carla I needed to hear that.”

Later the phone rang and I had a fair idea what it was about. It was John.

”Umm Carla, could I speak with my daughter for a moment please?”

I replied, “Yes John, but before I call her I just want you to know that I am right behind you with whatever you want to do in regards to Jenny and yourself and will help you any way I can, but take it slow with Sandy, she is a real nice person and I don’t want to see her hurt.”

He replied, “Carla, Sandy is still grieving the loss of her husband as I am my wife, so we have a lot in common and the friendship will grow slowly so don't worry, it'll be fine”

I called Jenny to the phone, “Hello Daddy what's wrong?” She listened and and then said, “Daddy I just want you to be happy I'll --- I'll see you in the morning.”

She looked at me with tears in her big brown eyes.

“Aunty Carla I miss Mummy so much but I want Daddy to be happy.”

I held her in a hug and softly stroked her hair, “Sweetheart we are all there for you and your Daddy and we'll have a good talk in the morning, now off you go and tell Jamie all about your Daddy and her Mummy.”

Later Ricky came home and said, “Carla honey, is there anything you can do for Rita and that morning sickness?”

“No darling but I think Jean may be able to help.”

Of course Jean is always there and started to do her usual thing in our head and said, “I'm already doing something to make things a little easier for her and her little unborn son so relax and stop worrying”

Half an hour later John came into the lounge where Ricky and I were sitting holding hands and thinking of calling it a night. John sat down in the recliner chair opposite us and rubbed his eyes looking very tired.

I said, “John you look exhausted, why don’t you turn in for the night?”

“Carla, I need to explain why I worry about Jenny so much. I really don’t know enough about what she is going through and I'm afraid I’ll fail her as a father.”

Ricky got up and said, “I'll make us a cup of tea and then let's have a talk”.

By this time Mum and Dad came into the lounge as well and joined the conversation.

Mum said, “John we are all here to support you with Jennifer. Remember I went through all this years ago with Carla. Everything will turn out fine, but if you want I'll have a talk with her in the morning.”

John replied ”That would be great Mrs Croft.”

“John please call me Donna, I think your going to be around for a while.”

“Thanks Donna.”

Needless to say it ended up being a fairly late night by the time we all got to bed but at least John was more relaxed about bringing his daughter to Quilpie and the Croft and Smith families. We will just have to wait and see what develops with him and Sandy; Jean might have to work her spiritual ways with them.

Tuesday 19/2/74

Things were going to have to go back to normal and once everyone had breakfast including the twins, Ricky and I had to head off to work so it was left to Mum and Dad to look after the twins, Jamie, Jenny and her dad John.

***Donna now speaks***

I have seen this all before so I suppose it might be best if I sort of take charge of things for a while where Jenny is concerned. I want to ease the pressure on Carla, She has done so much for other people and needs to think of herself the twins and Ricky, or she will have a breakdown.

Once Carla and Ricky left for work I asked Bill to look after the twins for a while so I could have a word with John, Jenny and of course my other little helper Jamie.

I got out a big photo album and scrapbook on Carla’s life right from when she first started to run around the sheep station with Rita. It really has been an amazing journey for all of us.

On the wide verandah with John and I sitting in a pair of squatters' chairs and the girls on the double love swing where I guess Carla and Ricky spent an awful lot of time daydreaming I said, “Ok I'm going to tell you how Carla became the woman she is today.”

There were lots of questions along the way, especially when it came to the part of the ever present twin of Carla, 'Jean' of the spirit world. Of course Jamie is excited about being able to not just communicate with but actually see her as well.

The next thing Jamie said was, “Aunty Donna, how about we see If Aunty Jean will communicate with Jenny and her Dad?”

I replied, “Ok sweetheart, we'll go into the lounge and pull all the curtains and see if Jean will talk with us.”

Once we were ready I let Jamie explain how people that have not heard Jean in their brain have to keep their eyes closed and keep holding onto her hand I also held Jamie’s hand to make sure the energy would flow from the spirit world.

Jean was there almost instantly, and Jenny and her Dad felt the slight vibration that people get when Jean starts to communicate with them. Jenny kept quiet but John asked if he could communicate with Jessie his late wife.

Jean was coming through very clearly and said, “John, Jessie is fine and sends her love to you and Jennifer and wants you to get on with your lives.”

Jennifer had tears running down her cheeks and asked if she could see her Mummy.

Jean's reply was “Sweetheart, when our communication gets stronger I will see if that can happen.”

After a while Jean said she was running low on energy and said goodbye.

Later we went for a drive to see Jenny and little Josh to let the twins have a play with their little cousin. Rita and Chrissie were already there so the day was spent catching up and planning what would happen in the next few weeks to make Jennifer and John's stay with us a pleasant one.

Carla came home early to see what our day was like and to take the twins down to Sandy's pool.

Donna and Jean

To be continued.

Next time: Jamie back to school and an interesting development with John and Sandy

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