A Greek Odyssey - Jason Fic

CHAPTER 179

Drawing up outside her parents house, Lexi noticed their car was back in the driveway. They had disappeared around an hour or so before she'd set off to Stansted to pick up Jason. At the time she'd thought nothing of them disappearing at 8.30 in the morning, her mum calling out that they were both going to Tesco's to do the weekly shop. Now she thought about it, she could have sworn her dad had said the previous evening that they were going to visit her nanna at the same time she would be picking Jason up from the airport, so he wouldn't be able to keep her company on the journey. Now she thought about it, her parents "stories" hadn't added up.

Unlocking the front door, she called out that they were home and held the door open so Jason could lift his case into the hallway.

Anna and Joe were in the kitchen waiting for them both, as they heard the scraping sound of Lexi's key in the lock. 'Quick Joe...' Anna hissed, ushering him out of the room and in the direction of the tiled utility room where the washing machine and tumble drier were kept, to fetch Lexi's surprise which Jason had arranged for her.

Anna walked out into the hallway to greet them both, her face lighting up as she glimpsed her son-in-law who she held great affection for. 'Did your concerts in Denmark and Holland go ok?' she asked, hugging him.

'Yes thanks, Anna' he replied, setting his suitcase down by the stairs so that it wasn't in the way. 'Where's Joe?' he asked, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

Lexi looked curiously between the two of them. 'What's going on? I take it you're in on this too mum?'

Anna merely stared back at her, an innocent look of pretend confusion on her face.

'Hi Jay!' Joe's voice boomed out as he walked into the hallway, a squirming bundle of cream and beige fur in his arms. 'Ok mate?'

'Hi Joe. Yes thanks. Oh, you got him then?' he remarked, holding his hands out to take the fluffy bundle from Joe.

'Yes. He's a bit excitable,' he handed Jason a tiny fluffy puppy, an indulgent smile on his face as he saw Lexi's excited face as she glimpsed the most adorable puppy she'd ever seen - a puppy she knew she would lavish love on the moment she clapped eyes on him.

Jason's face split into a huge a grin. 'This is Monty. He's for you. I thought seeing as you've given up work you might like some company for when I'm touring or promoting. What do you think? Do you like him?' he cradled the tiny puppy in his arms.

'Like him! I love him! What breed is he?' Lexi held her hands out, cradling him to her chest as Jason dropped him into her arms.

'He's a Shi-tzu.' He turned to look at Joe and Anna. 'Thanks for going to collect him for me.'

'It's no bother, Jay.' Joe replied, giving the pup a tiny little ruffle on it's head. 'He's gorgeous and he behaved impeccably on the way here. When we drove to Saffron Walden to collect him we were dreading that you'd pass us on the M11 and wonder what we were up to Lex.' He looked at her, guilt written on his face.

'Oh, he's so beautiful!' Lexi's face took on a dreamy expression as she gazed at the little pup adoringly. 'The name suits him too. Did you pick it Jay?'

'I'd like to say I did, but the breeder's kids had named him - they said he just looked like a little Monty.

'Thank you so much. How did you find out about him? And more importantly, how did you manage to do all this without me finding out?' she shook her head with wonder and kissed the top of the little dog's head.

'Ah, Howard recommended a website which breeders advertise on. I contacted the owner and because Saffron Walden is close enough to London I sneaked out to see Monty when he was just a couple of weeks old, before you even mentioned giving up work. To be honest I fell a teeny bit in love with him myself there and then,' he looked at her, feeling slightly embarassed to say he'd fallen in love with what he knew Howard would describe as a poncey little, designer dog - certainly not what Howard would describe as a "real dog". 'He's ten weeks old now and he's had most of his jabs. I think they said he can go out for walks when he's had his last lot of shots at the vets.'