Chapter 37
They managed to set up Kitty’s TV and gaming systems before they went down to dinner, and there was happy chatter while everyone ate.
“Jamie, my mechanic messaged me earlier. Apparently, the cost of repairs to your car will be more than the car is worth. He also said he found duct tape in several places,” Seth said, shaking his head.
“Yeah, the duct tape was cheaper than having someone look at it.”
“But not very safe,” Ivan pointed out.
Jamie shrugged. “It works for a bit.”
“We’ll look at buying you a new car,” Ivan said. “Especially as it will cost more to repair than it’s worth.”
“Okay, we’ll have a look. I’m sure I can find a cheap second-hand one somewhere.”
Ivan snorted rudely. “We can look at a nice shiny new one for you.”
Jamie started to protest, but Seth cut him off. “It’s a mate thing.”
Jamie looked between the two of them. “Okay, but I don’t need anything fancy or all singing, all dancing.”
Ivan grinned. “We’ll see.”
Jamie smiled and just shook his head.
“Jamie, has Ivan shown you his Lego room yet?” Olly asked.
“Lego?” Spencer asked, sitting up and smiling.
“Yeah, I love Lego. I’ve told Jamie about it but not shown him yet.”
“Can I see it as well?” Spencer asks. “I love Lego.”
Ivan nodded. “You can. I can show you after dinner.”
“Thanks, Ivan,” Spencer said happily.
“You like Lego, Spencer?” Louise asked him.
Spencer nodded. “Yeah, I love the fact that you can build pretty much anything with it. I lost my Lego set when I moved from one of the group homes.”
“We can look at buying you some then,” Stefan told him.
Spencer grinned. “Thank you.”
“The school uniforms should be delivered tomorrow. I’ll need you to try everything on, so we can make sure it fits,” Louise tells the children.
“We can do that, thanks, Louise,” Kitty said, shooting her a smile.
A phone started ringing, and Karl grimaced. “That’s mum’s ringtone.”
Jamie held his hand out. “Let me answer.”
Karl handed his phone to his brother, and Jamie answered it. “Una, what’s up?”
“Where are they?” she demanded.
“Living safely with me, well away from you and dad.”
“They are my children. Bring them back.”
“Hell will freeze over first, and just so you know, I’m going to apply for full custody of them. I’ve also contacted my mum’s solicitors about the payment dad receives, asking them to stop sending it.”
“How dare you. Put Karl or Kitty on the phone right now.”
Jamie looked at them and rolled his eyes.
“Nope, and you should know, when I hang up, I’m telling Karl to block your number.
You’re a pathetic excuse for a mother. You should have protected them; you failed.
You’re just a drunken has-been, same as that pathetic loser you married.
Don’t call again,” and with that, Jamie hung up.
“Don’t be shy, Jay, tell mum what you really think,” Kitty said with a laugh.
Jamie shrugged a shoulder. “I would have said more, but everyone is here.”
“You could have said more if you wanted,” Dave told him.
Jamie grinned. “That’s cause you want to know everything and are a gossip.”
Everyone laughed at that.
Dave pretended to look shocked. “Me?”
“Yes, you sweetheart,” David said
“You really are,” Annie agreed.
“Rude,” Dave muttered.
“But true,” Willard put in.
“I just like knowing stuff,” he protested.
“It’s a good job we love you,” Hunter says, patting his arm.
“Good, cause I’m not going to change.”
“This is amazing,” Spencer said, looking around Ivan's Lego room. A sentiment shared by all those who were there, which included Jamie, Kitty, Karl, Spencer, Dave and David.
“I was expecting a small room,” Jamie said, “not one this big.”
“You have a playroom,” Karl said, grinning.
The room was bigger than his and Ivan’s bedroom.
There were floor-to-ceiling shelves on two walls.
Bookshelves under the window, and a large square table and chairs in the middle.
The selves held completed Lego sets and anything else Ivan had built.
By the final wall, there was a Lego pit, draws and draws of building blocks, sorted by size and colour. There was also a shelf of mini-figs.
“You’re welcome to come in and build anything,” Ivan offered.
“Just don’t touch anything on the shelves that Ivan has already built,” Jamie cautioned.
“Oh, you have Rivendell,” Spencer says in awe, looking at it.
Ivan walked to his side. “It has over six thousand pieces and took me a few weeks.”
“Is there one you want to build, Spencer?” Stefan asked him, walking into the room and joining them.
“The Avengers Tower, or the Tropical Aquarium, but they’re super expensive. So, I’ve been saving for the Everybody is Awesome set.”
“Good to know,” Stefan replied.
Spencer spun around and looked at him. “No buying them for me, they’re too expensive.”
Stefan smiled at him. “We’ll see.”
“No, Stefan, you’ve given me so much already,” he protested.
Stefan touched his shoulder. “Spencer, you are my son. If I want to spoil you, give you everything you’ve never had, then I will.”
Spencer hugged Stefan. “Thank you, but just know, you don’t need to.”
David looked up from his phone. “And bought.”
Spencer looked at him quizzically. “What did you just buy?”
David grinned. “You’ll just have to wait and see. The room next door to this one is free. We could get AJ to knock that wall down and make this room bigger if you want Ivan, or we can give you your own playroom, Spencer.”
“I’m happy with either,” Spencer said.
“We can make this room bigger. It will be fun to play in here with others,” Ivan said.
“What’s your thing, Jack?” Jamie asked him.
“Drawing, I love drawing.”
“He’s really good,” Kitty said, “Jack showed us some of his artwork earlier, and it’s amazing.”
Jack blushed. “Thanks.”
“What medium do you use?” David asked.
“Pencil, but I’d like to try acrylics one day.”
“Good to know,” David said and started clicking on his phone.
“No, David,” Jack protested.
“Too late, nephew,” David said, looking up and smiling at him.
Jack walked over and hugged him. “Thank you.”
David hugged him back.
“What about you, Kitty, Karl?” Ivan asked.
“I’m not telling. You’ve literally just bought us a lot of things,” Kitty said.
“Don’t look at me, I’ll never tell,” Karl added, grinning.
The adults laugh.
“Talking of bought things, we need to set up your bits, Karl,” Jamie said.
“Thanks. Ivan, your Lego room is awesome,” Karl said.
“Thanks.”