7. Jamison
“What a beauty!” Jock exclaimed walking around my newest acquisition. A 1972 Ford XY GT ute.
“It needs a bit of work to restore it to original, but the body is rust free, straight and more important it has matching numbers motor and chaise.” I said proudly, looking lovingly at my new toy.
“That is rare these days,” Jock said impressed, “Old barn finds like these are hard to come by.”
“I know. Josh is letting me store it at his workshop but not until tomorrow so tonight she has to sleep outside.” Gisele’s shed was too small and too packed with crap, so I had a tarp to put over the car for one night.
One night won’t hurt her? Right?
Understanding my trepidation, Jock looked up at the sky casting a sly eye over in one direction then back. “No chance of rain tonight, Jury,” Jock said expertly assuring me. I tended to believe when Jock said something in that confident tone of his. Yes, he was scary, but his knowledge was endless. Whether it be about cars, guns, mineshafts and now apparently the weather. There was only one thing that eluded him, and that was the four Blessing women, five if you counted Miracle. With her finding her voice last week, I had a deep sinking feeling she was going to be exactly like her mother, aunties, and grandmother.
Emotional and over dramatic. Not that Gisele annoyed me in that respect, no way. It was part of her and made her who she was.
The woman I was madly, deeply obsessively in love with.
“When is the new paramedic starting?” Jock asked me abruptly, changing the subject from the weather.
“He should be here in two weeks,” I confirmed, knowing already that Jock was well aware of that information. He had eyes and ears everywhere in Blessings. Nothing happened without going through Jock first. His standing in the community was such that even though he held no position in the council any longer after retiring officially last year, he was still considered by many as the unofficial mayor of Blessings, so he was kept in the loop concerning all decisions for the town.
“You know this fella, Jury?”
Turning to look at Jock, I nodded. “I do. Gibbo is an excellent paramedic, reliable, capable and a really nice bloke. I trust him so much so that he was my only recommendation.”
“Sounds good enough to me,” Jock said, giving me a chin lift. “Let me know if you need any help with the restoration,” Jock added, tapping his hand down on the bonnet of the Ford.
“I will, Jock thank you.” I replied sincerely. I liked the older man’s company since getting to know him better after the unfortunate arrest the first day I came into town. He was a straight shooter, not a huge talker but what he did have to say usually packed a punch. More than anything I admired his loyalty, the way he loved his family. He came across like he only tolerated the theatrics his wife and daughters were prone to, but I knew better. The patriarch was really just a big old softie inside and loved being ruled by the women in his family.
Turning around Jock started walking down the driveway, then suddenly stopped, and turned back to look at me.
“Jury.”
“Yeah Jock?”
“You don’t have to worry son, you have my blessing whenever you are ready to ask my Gisele to marry you,” he said quietly, aware that Gisele was somewhere inside and quite possibly eavesdropping on our conversation.
Humbled and stunned that Jock knew what I was planning, I dipped my head in thanks.
“I promise it will be soon, and I fully intend on adopting Miracle. I love her like she is my own. Gisele is everything to me, Jock. I will do everything in my power to make sure she is happy every single day of her life.” My voice cracked with emotion like it did every time I mentioned Gisele and how much she meant to me.
“I know you will. Welcome to the family, you poor bastard.” Jock muttered then continued down the driveway, chuckling out loud when the curtain flicked closed on a window facing the drive.
“Cheeky snoop,” I chuckled, knowing that Gisele had been listening in. it didn’t matter to me if she heard anything or not. Gisele and I were getting married.
Come hell or high water, that woman is going to be all mine very soon.