Chapter 18: Gentrified

There were big changes in the pipeline for the Diarmids. Lesley had lived frugally and cautiously and had died leaving the house on Ednamary Way, a car and house lot of furniture, a savings account and some personal jewellery. The Will split the property, car and furniture 50:50 between her two sons Jethro and Luke Hans. The cash was distributed between them and her two grandchildren Curtis and Tara. Marjorie received the bulk of the jewellery with some being assigned to old friends Chantrelle Riffin and Sammie Pagan.

Tara had been dating a guy called Richard Monday. The Mondays were a sporty horsey family who lived close by the Diarmid house. The lump sum from her Grandma meant that Richard and Tara now had enough to put a deposit on a place of their own.

 Curtis, who had always been close with his sister, helped her move in. The house was a good size but was a bit run down

"Blimey this wallpaper's a bit heavy Tara, isn't it?" he commented. "Looks like the previous owners were either blind or strangely fond of a large repeating Victorian pattern. And no carpet? You'll freeze to death when winter sets in." Curtis looked sceptically at his sister. "Are you sure you can manage this place?"

"Don't fuss Curtis! I plan on decorating myself... you know how I love monochromes. I'm thinking black and white with all chrome fittings...."

She showed Curtis part of a kitchen wall that she had begun tiling. "Looks okay I guess - just make sure you don't clutter the place up with piles of furniture, you'll need plenty of room for all the parties you can now throw!" Curtis suggested.
"Ooh yes. Starting with the house warming party!" agreed Tara.

Luke had become something of a local celebrity, due to the high profile social nature of his "work". He was seen all over town at the best bars and restaurants, venue openings and invited to the most elite functions and gatherings. He began to get requests to do public appearances - local bad boy made good - opening stores, charity events. Here he is opening a new gym - Swole on Fitness.

With Lesley's will settled, Jethro offered to buy out Luke's half share of the house on Ednamary Way and took ownership of it, that evening he threw a soiree for a few close friends to celebrate his first foray into property ownership. Secretly he congratulated himself on securing such a sweet deal out of Luke, who hadn't put up any fight whatsoever against his offer.

Luke was working, so Marjorie went to the party by herself. While Jethro was sorting out the jewellery for Chantrelle, she looked around, sadly, overwhelmed by memories.

Although she and Lesley had never been close, she remembered how she had met her for the first time in this very room. It had not altered much, same decor, same furniture. That was the chair she had sat in eating the meal that Luke Hans had so zealously prepared for her when they were just teens, graduating and venturing into the world. It all seemed so long ago.

Looking around the old Diarmid house seemed to bring a change over Marjorie. She had been working very hard writing scripts and now had several offers to direct. She should be proud of what she had achieved, two great children, Luke finally seemed to be making a name for himself and there was a little extra cash in the bank. Curtis was still living with them, but she was happy to help him and Leonie out. They were fun to have around and of course she loved spending time with Cree.

She left Jethro's with a new determination and a plan.

Taking Cree out for a walk a few days later, Marjorie  was passing the Prince of Peace Church when she noticed the large two-storey ranch style house next door to it was for sale. She had never really looked closely at this property before, but now it's old world charm and sprawling proportions caught her eye.

She wheeled Cree up the front driveway to get a closer look at the property. A plaque stated the house was known as Gentrify Manor. She was impressed with the exterior, so she took the real estate agent's details and decided to arrange a viewing.

Inside it was huge. And in reasonably good condition, it had three large bedrooms and three bathrooms. She called the agent straightaway from the rear hallway of the house and made an offer.

The Diarmid's were on the move.

__ ~ __

They soon settled into the rambling Gentrify Manor. Marjorie had her own study where she could work in peace with a view out over spacious gardens.

The bedrooms were also comfortable and spacious and Marjorie bought new better quality furniture that added a touch of luxury. Everyone had plenty of space to relax and do their own thing.

Cree had a brand new nursery, which was right next door to her Grandad and Grandma's room. And to be honest Luke and Marjorie did more babysitting and taking care of Cree than her own parents. Curtis and Leonie seemed to work hard and play hard and left the welfare of Cree up to Luke and Marjorie most of the time.

Curtis and Leonie had a huge bedroom with en suite bath at the other end of the house, they couldn't believe their luck - all this and for minimal rent. They revelled in the luxury and they were far enough down the hall not to be disturbed by Cree.

Leonie was doing okay at the newspaper, although she was little more than an errand girl but Curtis worked hard as head of the music department at the school, they worked long hours. So when they got together they couldn't keep their hands off each other and this house had a hot tub! Say no more?

Of course a new house meant.....

PARTY TIME!

Marjorie decided to combine Cree's birthday with a house warming fling. There was some confusion about it being fancy dress or not fancy dress.

Marjorie - who prided herself on her party organising skills - was appalled that some people hadn't got the note that it WAS fancy dress. She had gone to a lot of trouble with her mermaid costume. So she was extremely relieved when her co-worker Babs arrived as a hot dog.

"Thank God Babs! I thought I'd messed up and I was going to be the only one walking around like I just came up in the nets of the last lobster boat. You look great...."

"Ugh - no I don't Marj! This was all they had left this morning - I left it to the last minute. This suit is hot and itchy and smells of Dettol. Not sure how long I can stand to wear it." replied Babs.
"We'll get changed before we eat...." a resigned Marjorie suggested.
 
Some people, like Tara, knew it was fancy dress but decided to ignore the fact and plead ignorant when she arrived.

"Oh here we are...Miss Tara is not in fancy dress!" crowed Luke. "You'll have to leave! You can't stay at a fancy dress party without being in fancy dress! Its the rule - right Curtis?" crowed her father.
"Ahhhh tut tut" mocked Curtis. "Unless you call that outfit sci-fi girl circa 1962?" he joked.
Tara was not to be taunted.

"And I suppose you came as Indiana Jones?" she laughed at Luke's half hearted attempt at a costume, which was basically his old cargo jacket and harness pants he once used for abseiling down the sides of and into multi-storey buildings in his robbing days.

In all the fuss of people arriving and discussing whether they should stay in fancy dress or abandon the idea, no one thought to wonder where poor Cree was. More and more often her parents just didn't factor her into their schedules.

It took the arrival of Luke's brother Jethro and his subsequent hunt for his great-niece, before she was dressed and brought down to the party. Jethro was incensed at the family's treatment of the baby Cree. He had brought a cake for her but everyone had gone outside to the BBQ or were in the hot tub, leaving her alone in the house. He made a mental note to himself that he would keep a particular eye on her from now on.

He called everyone into the dining room and held Cree in his arms as she blew out the candles on her birthday cake for the very first time. From that day onwards Cree had a very special bond with her Great Uncle Jethro.

The party raged on into the evening and it was late when the guests left and everyone went to bed.

But then in the middle of the night, a dark figure tiptoed through the house, down towards the back door. It looked like the new house and huge mortgage meant Luke Hans cat burglar was back in business!!