Turbulent times ahead...
Harry Ryan hangs up the phone and walks over to the leather couch and slumps down.
"Are you alright Harry?" Sandra asks concern in her voice.
With a snarl on his face and in his voice he replies. "What a stupid question! Am I alright? My son is missing presumed dead and you ask if I'm alright?"
She recoils from his words but offers. "I understand Harry when we lost our baby..."
"You haven't got any idea how I feel Sandra it's not the same.' Harry fires at her.
Standing she holds her tears and wraps them up in anger and says " You are the meanest and most vindictive man I've ever met and if you had a heart there would be no where for it to grow because your soul is in darkness and I'm sure your blood is black."
Rage lifts him to his feet. "Get Out! Get Out! Get Out!"
As she scurries away she yells. "You'll be hearing from my lawyers Harry you picked the wrong person to mess with."
...
Fiona whines at her mother "He's been gone for almost two weeks and he's only rung me twice."
"Fi he's been busy looking for his brother I'm sure he thinks about you all of the time." Her Mother offers.
"I bet he's been ringing her all the time." Fiona states jealousy dripping from her mouth as she speaks.
"Fi I know it's unusual for a man to have a best friend that's a woman but you have to remember he chose you not her. Ok?"
Fi nods and gives a small smile to her Mother. "Yes he did. Didn't he?"
...
With his brother at his side Alex walks into the back door of Drover's Run.
Tess greets them both and thanks Alex for bringing Nick home to her.
Stevie appears in the doorway and Alex's heart shifts rhythm.
When everything settles Stevie asks. "Would you like a beer?"
Alex smiles and says "Yeah that would be nice."
Sitting outside on the bench.
Stevie grins at him and moving her beer to his says. "To true love."
He laughs and says "True Love.
Clinking bottles he sips and as she finishes he leans in and kisses her.
His heart pounds but he ends the kiss and moves back slightly to see her reaction.
Her beautiful eyes shine brightly and she grins and moves towards him.
This time the kiss is sensual, soft, and full of promise and passion.
"What in the hell?"Fiona yells.
They part and look at the doorway Fiona stands hands on hips, she is livid.
Alex wakes up.
Confused.
...
Looking at the clock Alex smiles it'll be dark on Drover's Run and all the girls will be inside for the night.
He needs to speak to Stevie, his dream unsettled him and he's decided to tell her about it and see what sort of reaction he gets.
Picking up the phone he dials.
The phone rings out.
He rings again.
Same thing.
Ringing for a third time he waits, when it doesn't answer he convinces himself the girls probably having taken Tess out to the pub to try and lift her spirits.
It rings out...
...
Fiona has tried ringing the number Alex gave her but it's engaged.
She rings again and it says busy.
She hangs up and sulks.
...
Kate runs for the phone as the other girls continue into the living room.
Stevie sits and puts her foot up on to the stool.
Tess fusses around her.
Laughing Stevie says "Will you stop it Tess I'm supposed to be looking after you."
"Well the doctor only let you come home because we said we'd look after you. So unless you want me to take you back! I'd be quiet if I was you!" Tess says in a playfully gruff voice.
Stevie laughs.
...
Kate walks back into the room.
"Who was on the phone Kate?" Tess asks.
"Fiona." Kate replies.
The girls all look at each other.
"She just wanted to know if we'd heard from Alex, because he's only rung her twice."Kate adds.
Jodi chuckles and says "Ow that must hurt. What did you say?"
"I just told her Alex rings Stevie every morning and every night."
Stevie's mouth drops open and says. "Oh Kate please tell me you're joking?"
Kate leads them on for a bit longer and then laughs loudly and answers "No I just told her we'd heard from him a few times."
They all laugh when Tess quips." Your first response was closer to the truth Kate."
...
"That's the phone again." Jodi states running to answer it.
Tess, Kate and Stevie chatter and then Kate goes off to make them all some food.
Jodi appears at the door with the cordless phone in her hand, and grinning says. "It's Alex for Stevie."
...
In his room Alex smiles broadly when he hears her voice. "Hey how are you? I rang earlier but no one answered. Why did you go there? What! When? I mean what time? ...I knew that ..." He laughs and adds "No I'm serious Stevie, I woke up and had this horrible feeling in my guts...yeah I did."
In the living room of Drover's Stevie smiles and giggles.
Tess gestures for Jodi to follow her into the kitchen.
Stevie watches them go and then whispers. "Alex have you found any clues? Really? ...have you thought about it as if he didn't actually get on the plane? ... Well you know while you're waiting to see if they find wreckage search the hospitals, hotels there can't be too many six foot tall blonde blokes wandering around over there...he'd stick out Alex."
...
In his room Alex takes in what she is saying and decides as soon as he gets off the phone that's exactly what he'll do.
He hesitates for a moment then says. "Hey Stevie...I dreamt about you last night...Yeah I did."
Slowly he explains the dream and then asks. "So what do you think Stevie?"
...
Secretly she's thrilled that he even dreamt about her let alone kissed her but she can't say that to him so she leads with.
"Gee Alex if I didn't know better I'd say you liked me." She quips.
She smiles listening to his laughter rolling down the line filling her heart with happiness.
"She what? Caught us? "She laughs and then says. "Oh I'd like to see that."
The two chatter on until Kate calls dinner.
Stevie doesn't want to hang up but reluctantly says. "Alex I'm sorry I have to go, Kate's got dinner ready...Yeah me too...just like old times...yes I miss you too." She laughs and says. "Yeah I might, mine might be a bit raunchier than yours..."
Giggling she says "Ok and if you do, I'll tell you every detail. Bye...and Alex... Stay safe..."
...
Alex hangs the phone up and has a huge smile on his face.
He feels happier than he has in a long time.
Stevie's reaction was more than he expected and he guesses he's left her with a smile on her face too.
As his phone begins to ring he prayers it isn't Fiona.
" Hello Alex Ryan...Hey Brewer good to hear from you...Yeah I just spoke to her...Yes I have. Dave what would you say if I told you I've only spoken to Fiona twice since I've been here and if I had a choice I'd rather talk to Stevie than her...Yes , yes that's what I think too...Yeah I will.."
He looks uncomfortable as he listens to Dave then says. "Yeah I will."
They chat for a further five minutes then Alex bids his friend goodbye and makes him promise he'll head over to Stevie in the morning to see if she needs anything.
Grabbing his hat Alex heads out in search of anyone who may have seen Nick.
...
