Just Good Friends?

Chapter 28 - Family time

Cal

"So how's your parents doing Cal? And the kids? Bet you're going to miss them like crazy when you leave right?" Dennis's Holden is sitting on a chair by the window. He's a nice guy, really easy to talk to. My parents both work for his company, and he has been nothing but amazing with them.

"Everyone is good Sir. Its going to be really hard leaving them all, but if I want to be a Doctor, I have to go" I take a seat in the other chair and take a swig from my beer. Dennis has a glass of rum in his hand, it looks like he's had a tough few days and is winding down.

"Always Sir with you" he laughs. "Dennis, please. Now then Cal, I've been chatting with a friend in the hospital near Your college, he has an opportunity for a fresh face like yourself to gain some experience. Paid of course, and it won't interfer with study, only help it. Interested?" He looks pointedly at me and I just stare, like an i***t.

"Uh, yeah... yeah, OK course I'm interested! That's amazing! I've been so worried about money and houses and everything!" I blurt out uncontrollably.

"I know. I spoke to Mike the other day, he said he'd told you he was paying for you, your rent, bills and anything else needing to be paid out. I knew you wouldn't be ok with that, and he confirmed as much. My friend rang and asked if Joe and Bex had any friends going that way that might be interested in the job, and I instantly thought of you" Dennis stood up then and went to his desk drawer. He pulled out a folder and handed it over to me. "This is all the information, I'll email Ken and let him know you are looking forward to joining the team. He'll be expecting your application, and don't worry, you have the job already, that's a certainty, this is just a formality. I will also be forwarding you an advance on your wages, you can pay me back in instalments, obviously no interest" he winks and smiles at me then. I can't believe what he's doing for me, this is insane! Amazing, but insane! I say my thanks, as much as I can, then start to leave but he stops me in my tracks with what he says next.

"Your Dad also has a promotion Cal. This isn't special favours towards your family, this is me seeing how valuable people are, and to be precise, how valuable your Dad is to my company. He is a tremendous worker and an asset to my firm, I can't risk him going elsewhere. He will have shorter, more family friendly hours, and a substantial increase in pay. It will mean your mum can reduce her hours, and they will still be much better off than they are now. The promotion also includes a bonus, which your Dad has already spoken to me about, and we are working together to use it to extend the house so there is better facilities for Billy. I hope you will now rest easy on your next adventure in life, and go and enjoy college and make something of yourself" He gives me a genuine smile and sits back in his chair and takes a drink from his rum.

"This is unreal, I can't believe how much you're doing for us S... Dennis. Thank you so much for these amazing opportunities you've given to my family, I will never forget it" I walk over and hold out my hand to shake, he takes it and we shake. I leave the room totally dumbfounded, but happy, very very happy.

....

"What was all that about dude? You in trouble with Big D?" Harry laughs, knowing full well it wouldn't be anything lke that. Dennis Holden has always been good to us all. A roof over our heads every time we've needed it, bailing us out with the police, and so much more.

"You will not believe what just happened" I slump down on the sofa and just stare at nothing. Everyone is looking at me for an explanation, but I can't speak.

"Dude! Come on! It can't be bigger than what Big D just did for us all... or rather what he's about to do by buying us a freaking house!" Harry is bouncing.

"Oh you have no idea mate, no idea" and I tell them what happened, every single detail. When I finish, there's silence. Nate breaks it surprisingly.

"Dude! That is f*****g awesome!" He runs over and pulls me off the sofa in a flash and gives me a bear hug. Then Harry jumps up too and joins in. Soon enough, we're all standing in one massive hug in the middle of the room. My friends are the best.

.....

Bex

"Can you believe what Dad did for Cal? For all of us come to that?" Joe is wiping the sweat off his forehead as he walks out of the gym. After Cal told us what had happened last night with Dad, we spent an hour going through the info on the houses to find which one suited us all best. We all agreed on one, without anyone wanting a different one. It was an 8 bed house with lots of ground, swimming pool and gym. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't the largest out of them either, but it was the one that suited us the most. It was really easy to get to both colleges, shops not too far and lots of awesome places to run. But the best bit, was that it had its own private path to one of the most amazing surf beaches ever!

"I know. He really is something else. We need to do something for him, but I just don't have any idea what we could do to say thanks for everything he's done" I feel like we need to do this, but what is another question. I've been puzzling all night about it.

"Give him a call, we're all going for a surf" Joe has made his mind up and that's that. I pick up the internal phone and ring Dad's study.

"Dad, Joe has ordered the 3 of us to go for a surf, now. Meet us out front in 10"

I grab some towels out of the cupboard in the hall, and Joe heads out to the sports shed to grab all our boards. He's just passing out mine, when Dad appears next to me wearing shorts, no shoes, no t-shirt, just a towel draped around his shoulders.

"Let's go then! I'm ready for this!" Dad looks so happy. I just wish we could spend more time together, we don't get enough.

.......

Joe

Dad hasn't lost the knack of surfing one bit. Me and Bex get our love of sport from him. He's good at everything, but the sea is his first love. Bex leaves the water first, and I see her head to the cafe at the top of the stones. Me and Dad follow about 10 minutes later. When we get to the cafe, Nate is sitting with Bex, but when he sees me and Dad, he gets up to leave.

"Where you off to man?" I lean my board up against the wall of the cafe, and grab my towel that I threw down earlier on my way past.

"Just heading home, thought I'd take a walk, clear my head a bit, then saw Bex coming in here" Nate is looking a bit shifty, but I can't quite put my finger on it

"Hey Nate" Dad comes in to the Caffè behind me.

"Yo Dennis, still kicking ass out on the water I see" Nate slaps Dad on the back and heads out, looking back over his shoulder.

"What's up with Nate?" I turn to Bex. Now she's looking shifty, what the hell is going on?

"He's just going through some stuff. Anna stuff" Bex had got us all coffees, so we sat in silence drinking the for the next 5 minutes.

"I'm going to miss these spur of the moment surfs with you two. I'll be coming to stay as often as I can though, but I'll make sure I give you advance warning so you can knock the party on the head" Dad reaches over and ruffles Joe's hair like he's 10 years old again, but Joe smiles and laughs.

"Watch the hair Dadio, you pay good money for me to look this good" Joe winks at him and Dad shakes his head smiling.

We head back to the house and go off to our rooms to shower. When I get down to the kitchen, Nate is just heading out the patio doors.

"Oh, hey. I didn't hear you three get back. I'll leave you all to it, I'll give Harry a call" Nate turns as if to head towards the front door.

"Don't be stupid Nate, chill out. Think Dad is heading out to see some friends anyway. Joe will be down soon, if you can't talk to me about Anna, talk to him... you won't get as good advice mind" I try to lighten the mood a bit, but it doesn't work. Nate is feeling things with Anna aren't working. He likes her, but that's it, he feels nothing else. Anna is being a text book girl and getting all serious and clingy, and Nate is starting to lose his s**t. I know he doesn't want to talk to Joe about it, because Joe is going through his own stuff with Ems at the moment. I'm pretty sure there's something else going on too, but he's keeping quiet.

"You know I won't talk to Joe about this, so I'm stuck listening to your advice... sucks for me" He pushes me out of the patio doors, then scoops me up in his arms and jumps in to the pool with me. His way of shutting me up I think!

"Asshole!" I laugh as I wipe the water off my face and push my hair from my eyes.