Chapter Seventeen

In the morning, Joshua got up early to tend his growing garden while Jo lay on her bed reading

 After work Tamara asked to come home with Joshua 

 After spending some time together Joshua had to tend his garden

 So Tamara joined Jo indoors reading and chatting as they did so

 Once Joshua had finished in the garden he and Tamara spent some more time together flirting 

  The next day Jo received another promotion at work and when she'd finished for the day she gathered her courage and visited the hospital to ask about counselling 

 Over dinner that night she explained to Joshua what the doctor had told her and that she'd been offered a two day intensive residential course of counselling.  She would be leaving the next day but she knew he'd look after the house and would be able to take care of himself

The following morning the taxi arrived for Jo as Joshua was out tending the garden 

After school, Joshua headed straight for the consignment store - he had plans for while his mother was away 

 As soon as he got home, he phoned Tamara, explained his plans and asked for her help.  Tamara was only too happy to help and said she'd be over as soon as she could

 The first thing to do was to get the piles of rubble in the house cleared

When Tamara arrived, Joshua explained that he wanted to surprise Jo when she returned by completely redoing the house, he'd ordered new furniture but this evening he needed to completely clean the entire house inside and out and he needed her help

 After a lot of work the house was finally spotless and clean (with a few additional renovations)

Both inside and out 

Albeit the only new furniture that had arrived was the plumbing in the bathroom!

 He asked Tamara if she wanted to sleep over, but she said that her father would come and find her and drag her home if she wasn't home by curfew

Knowing a little about Max Fields-Vamp's reputation Joshua didn't dare argue!

With no bed, Joshua had to spend that night in a sleeping bag on the floor...

He desperately hoped the furniture he'd ordered would arrive before Jo got back 

  The next day they had a field trip to the local Theatre, Joshua and Tamara had a great time but Joshua was eager to get home and see if the furniture had arrived yet

 Fortunately when he got home from school he found that it had

So he spent the afternoon sorting and setting everything up 

 

After he finished Joshua had a little time left to weed and water his plants

Before curling up in his new bed and going to sleep 

 When Jo arrived home the next morning she was astounded, the change in the house was just unbelievable 

 She spent some time wandering round the house looking at stuff

 Before using the new kitchen to make some yummy pancakes

The dishwasher was so much easier than washing up by hand! 

Jo then went round the house collecting the laundry 

In order to use the new washing machine for the first time 

In school that day, Tamara had mentioned to Joshua that it was possible to register at City Hall to grow and sell crops so Joshua went over there as soon as school finished for the day

 From there he went on to the consignment store where he'd been told they'd sell his excess produce for good prices

 Jo had the day off following her trip and was enjoying the new TV Joshua had bought them

 When he got home Joshua tended his garden

And paid the bills

Before going in to see what Jo thought of his handiwork 

She was absolutely delighted and hugged him tight, thanking him for all the work he'd put in while she was away

"I'm so lucky, most parents come home to find their kids have had wild parties and wrecked the place, I come home to find you've spent all your time renovating the house completely, thank you so much"