Alex and Fiona pull into Drover's Run as Tess is walking across the yard from the shed.
She stops and waits for them.
"Good Morning Tess, beautiful day isn't it?" Alex beams as he slides his arm across his wife's shoulder.
Without smiling Tess replies plainly. "Morning."
...
Fiona smiles and asks. " We were wondering if you'd like to come over and have dinner with us tonight Tess."
" No thanks." Tess replies quickly.
Alex frowns and asks. "Are you alright Tess?"
She looks at Fiona and then back to Alex and says. "Nick will be home this afternoon."
Alex looks surprised and grinning says. "That's great Tess how long is he here for?"
"It would be great under better circumstances, he's home for good because we don't now how long we'll be down a worker."Tess snarls.
Alex looks at her and says."Tess am I missing something here. Have I done something wrong?"
...
"Stevie?" She states.
Fiona's smile disappears at the mention of her name.
Still frowning he shrugs his shoulders and says. "What about her?"
Tess demeanour changes and she growls. "Some best friend you are."
"What in the hell are you talking about Tess?" He snaps.
"You come over here all happy and smiling like nothing is wrong! I thought you'd come over to see how she is. You're a jerk Alex."Tess yells as she turns to walk away.
...
He begins to walk after her and Fiona grabs his arm and says. "Leave it Alex lets go home."
Removing her hand from his arm he follows Tess inside.
"Tess you can't yell at me when I have no idea what you're on about!" He calls after her.
Fiona is slowly walking in behind him.
In front Tess turns as she reaches for the back door handle.
"Stevie had her operation yesterday Alex and you never even bothered to see how she was."Tess accuses.
He searches her face. "What operation? Where is she? I don't know anything Tess."
Tess looks at Fiona and says. "Ask your wife Alex she'll tell you all about it."
Tess opens the door and moves inside.
...
Alex turns and looks at Fiona expectantly.
"Well?" He snarls.
"Alex I forgot to tell you. I'm sorry." She says.
"Tell me what Fiona? Where is she?"He pushes.
"She's in Fisher Alex; she has a tumour on her femur."She tells him.
Glaring at her, he turns and runs back towards his car.
"Alex where are you going?" She asks running after him.
"Oh where do you bloody think I'm going! " He yells as he stops and turns on her.
"Alex I'm sorry it slipped my mind I thought she would have told you." Fiona whimpers.
"More lies Fiona my entire life with you has been lies. " He yells at her.
...
Firing up she yells back at him. "I'm your wife! You should be here with me."
"She's my best friend!" He defends.
"Yes but you're married to me! And yet you always run after her!" She retaliates.
"That's what friends do for each other."
"You're more than a friend to her !" She screams at him.
Silence.
...
Swallowing hard she regrets the words said in the heat of the moment.
Alex is confused.
Staring at her he waits for her to say something, anything.
"Take me home." She demands from near the passenger side of the car.
As he's about to climb into the Ute he replies. "I'm not going that way so find your own bloody way home."
Reaching over he locks the passenger side door as she tries to open it.
Pulling the seat belt across his chest he buckles up.
With a dry mouth and his heart racing, thoughts swirl in his head.
As he places the car in gear he lifts the clutch and moves forward.
...