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Within the hour, they had unloaded all the cars, had installed the refrigerator, washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher and microwave, and had manoeuvred the bedroom suite she'd bought from Sammy's parents into the upstairs spare bedroom. Allee felt motivated and thought that they could perhaps have everything inside, if not assembled, by that evening. With the promise of beer and pizza once they'd finished, they all agreed to keep going.
After several more hours, they were all back with an entire unit’s worth of furnishings in Beth and Mark's Patrol and trailer, Darryl's ute, Andre’s Triton, and Noah's car. Allee's car was full of crockery and cutlery, pots, pans, utensils, and other pieces she lacked. Allee still had the vouchers for Bed, Bath and Table, so had decided to use them the next day. Noah had offered to come with her when she dropped the hire car back and give her a lift home, so they agreed to go shopping afterwards.
This time, it took longer to unload. Once they were all done, it was late afternoon. Splitting into groups to tackle the assembly of the furniture, Darryl and Noah were in the office, Mark, Andre, and Sammy were in the lounge, and Beth and Allee went up to the bedroom.
Darryl and Noah worked quickly, assembling the desk and the bookcases. Mark, Andre, and Sammy had also managed to build the entertainment unit, coffee table, and side tables and agreed to stay downstairs to finish the side cabinet and dining table. At the same time, Darryl and Noah headed up the stairs to help Allee and Beth with the bedroom. Allee and Beth had started with the smaller items, assembling the two bedside units and the pair of dressers that Allee had picked out. They were still working on the second dresser when Darryl and Noah arrived, so the guys started on the bed. Before long, Allee's bedroom was assembled, and the others called out to announce they had also finished. By this time, it was just after seven, and although she had been up since early that morning, Allee was still energised, wishing this would be her first night in her new home.
“Um, hey guys, could I ask a favour?” Allee said. “I mean, another one, since you've all been so awesome this weekend.” They turned and looked at Allee, questions apparent in their faces. “I'd love to finish moving in tonight,” she continued, “I just need to collect a few bits and pieces from the apartment. I'm happy to get another slab of beer, but perhaps while I'm getting everything, you could all go home and grab a change of clothes or whatever? That way, we can have a great night and you don't have to worry about driving home. Darryl, maybe you could bring Tania over?”
“Sounds perfect,” Darryl answered with a wide grin. “We can bring sleeping bags and a couple of inflatable mattresses. That way, we won’t fight over the spare bed.”
Allee locked up behind everyone, with the agreement to meet back around half-past nine. They all drove out of the complex and to their respective homes while Allee went back to the apartment, where she quickly packed her remaining possessions. Now all that needed doing was to catch Piddle.
Turning the exterior light on to check if she'd left anything outside, she saw a movement as Piddle bolted behind the couch. Satisfied that she now knew where her cat was hiding, she picked up Piddle's food and water bowls, emptying the water down the sink, before adding them to one of the shopping bags full of items. She felt a tickle on her ankle, and looking down, saw Piddle hopefully brushing against her. She leaned down slowly, stroking the cat's head, before quickly grabbing her and bundling her into the awaiting cat-crate, and was rewarded for her actions with a disgruntled hiss and a swipe, resulting in a trio of parallel scratches on the back of her hand. It was the work of a couple of minutes until Allee could lean down, picked up the huffy cat and her handbag, and walked out the door, turning the lights off behind her.
Half an hour later, Allee was back at her new town house, unloading the car. After locking the cat in the bedroom, Allee headed downstairs, putting the food away, before moving the rest of her bags upstairs.
The video intercom buzzed. Tania was standing in front of the camera with a massive grin on her face. Pressing the button to allow them in, she watched as Tania ducked through the gates just before Beth and Mark's drove through.
Tania barrelled in, shrieking gleefully as if she hadn't seen Allee only the previous week. She gave Allee a hug, then spun around, looking for Darryl, who walked through the front door, closely followed by the others, each of them carrying a bag. Darryl had a large duffel bag, and Mark carried a rolled-up inflatable mattress, while Andre and Sammy carried sleeping bags. Noah's bag was a swag, so he would be able to unroll it wherever there was space and sleep comfortably.
Darryl put his duffel bag on the floor, and Tania pulled out a wrapped box and handing it to Allee.
“I've brought you a gift. It isn't a housewarming gift as such. It's more of a 'thank-God-you've-finished-unpacking' gift, and it's something we can all share!” Allee opened it at Tania's urging, smiling as she saw it contained a bottle of Jägermeister. She'd mentioned the previous week how she'd first tried the drink when she was in her early twenties and how she'd actually enjoyed it. She went and put the bottle in her fridge, knowing it was best served chilled.
Once everyone was inside and settled, Allee put a call to the pizza outlet, ordering a half dozen pizzas and several garlic breads, while the guys broke out the beer and started drinking. Once the pizzas arrived, they sat around chatting and laughing about the antics Mark and Sammy had got up to in IKEA. It soothed something inside of Allee, that sense of belonging and friendship, of being willingly and happily included.
Noticing they were getting low on beer, Allee headed over the road with Noah to pick up some more. They spoke quietly as they walked to the tavern, and Noah insisted on carrying the drinks back.
As they waited to cross the road, Allee asked Noah, “Do you like cats?” Noah turned to her, a question on his face. She repeated the question, and Noah slowly nodded.
“When I was young, I had this big, beautiful ginger tomcat. I called him Bo. He was massive and could take up an entire three-seat couch by himself. I got him when I was seven, and he lived for seventeen years. He died just before I met Michelle, which might account for that disgrace. I just haven't had the heart to get another cat since he died.”
Allee nodded, dreading the thought of anything happening to Piddle.
“I don't know what I'd do without my little girl. She's been there with me through a lot. In a way, she's the one who's kept me sane. I know that probably sounds a little odd like I'm a crazy cat lady or something.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. They don't really judge you, unless you haven't given them enough food or attention or something. Well, they don’t judge you other than the fact you aren’t a cat,” he laughed softly and Allee smiled, knowing exactly what he meant.
Once they were back at the house, everyone made themselves comfortable, and they talked, laughed and drank until the early hours of the morning.
The morning light warmed Allee as she lay back in her bed, remembering the night before. She had enjoyed herself in a way that she hadn't experienced for a long time. It was like the Allee from five years ago had returned, and she realised that she hadn't had so much fun since she'd met Stuart. He had repressed her naturally sunny and extroverted disposition until she was a shadow of her former self. Allee was a little self-conscious, worried that the others may have thought her drunk, but she also felt liberated. She was finding her old self again.
After untangling herself from the duvet cocoon she had wrapped herself in, she moved into her en suite, washing the grit from her eyes and looking at her reflection. Her hair was tousled but not overly untidy, and although her eyes were still sleepy, she did not look too worse for wear after such a late night. Allee pulled her robe over her pyjamas and stepped into her slippers. Piddle had moved from behind the bed to wardrobe, so Allee left her where she was, heading downstairs to see if anyone else was awake.
Darryl and Tania were still asleep in the other upstairs bedroom, Sammy and Andre had crashed out on the couch, and Beth and Mark had inflated their mattress on the lounge room floor. Noah had unrolled his swag and had bunked down in the downstairs bedroom, which Allee had designated as her office. As she walked downstairs, the house was still and quiet, with the only sounds being Allee's soft tread, and the various snores and murmurs of the others as they slept on. Allee made her way to the kitchen, filling the kettle, turning it on, and pulling several mugs out of the cupboard for when the others woke. She heard a quiet shuffling behind her and turned to see Beth groggily making her way to the kitchen.
“Coffee?” Beth mumbled, and Allee nodded.
“How do you take it?” Allee asked, and Beth gestured towards the fridge and held up a single finger. “White and one?” Allee verified, scooping the required amounts into the mug as Beth nodded. She sat down at the table as Allee carried the two full mugs over and settled down to savour her first cup of the morning.
“You know,” said Beth, “that first morning, when you gave Charlie a mouthful, we weren't sure what to expect. Mark has been hearing all the things she's been saying about you, but she's the Lead QA, so he couldn't really do much.” Beth paused to blow and then sip at her mug, a soft sigh emerging after she swallowed her mouthful. “I'm luckier; Andre thought that you fit right in, so hasn't had any issue with you at all. You seemed a little shy, but you didn't come across as snobby, which is how some of the QA team have been describing you. I'm glad we got to see this side of you, Allee, and I'm glad we were able to help you out. We need to do this kind of thing regularly.”
Allee breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried that the others would be thinking badly of her. Knowing that they didn't meant a lot.
“Well, I am planning on joining you guys at Darryl and Tania's every month. I really enjoyed myself last weekend.”
“I'm glad to hear it,” said Beth gently.
