Jodi and Kate sat in the kitchen.
"Wow" Said Jodi
"Yeah" Kate agreed "Wow."
"Did you see the look on Stevie's face when Alex blurted that out?….I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now." Jodi declared.
"Do you think he is the father?" Kate asked her.
"Maybe. Maybe that's why he broke it off with Fiona." Jodi reasoned.
"Yeah but then why is Stevie engaged to Lawrence? Maybe Lawrence is the father?" Kate proposed
"Yes that would explain the quick engagement" Jodi agreed.
"Poor Alex" Kate sighed.
Alex slapped himself in the head, how could he be so stupid.
"I cant believe I just said that Nick, I thought everyone knew, I didn't realize it was a bloody secret, and how long can you keep something like that secret anyway Nick, I mean I just don't understand girls, I thought they tell each other everything all the time……." Alex stopped and turned to Nick and asked quietly "I really put my foot in it this time didn't I?"
"Yeah you did" Nick admitted with a smile "But Stevie will get over it." Nick slapped his brother playfully on the back "Well, congratulations Alex" Nick extended his hand to shake with Alex.
"What the bloody hell are you talking about Nick?" Alex demanded
"The baby, you and Stevie……." Nick's voice trailed off as he realized he had jumped to the conclusion that Alex was the father.
"The kid isn't mine, alright Nick!" Alex yelled at his brother. "And why would you assume it was, I'm engaged to Fiona, I mean I was engaged ……..Well why would you think the kid was mine?"
"Dad called and told me you broke it off with Fiona. I can't say I was surprised…and I just thought….well you and Stevie….I mean she has had feelings for you for a long long time Alex." Nick informed his brother.
"What? What the bloody hell are you talking about now! How do you know that?" Alex asked.
"I know because I have two eyes in my head mate." Nick insisted "Everyone knows how she felt about you. Everyone except for you because you were too blind to open your eyes and see it."
"Well why the bloody hell didn't you tell me before, then I wouldn't be in this mess?" Alex asked as he knocked over the table and chairs.
Nick stood back and let Alex get his anger out. Nick understood that Alex was upset, he had feelings for Stevie too, Nick knew that. After Alex calmed down he sat on the steps. Nick sat beside him.
"So, who is the father then?" Nick asked.
Tess had known exactly where to find Stevie. She always came to the roof of the old hay shed. Tess climbed up and sat next to her friend.
"Wow." Tess said "You and Alex finally…"
Stevie interrupted "Oh, no no no Tess….there is no me and Alex." She insisted.
"But Alex said…I mean I just thought…….You told me how you felt about Alex, and now you're pregnant……." Tess stumbled to find the words.
"The baby, it isn't his." Stevie stated finally, putting Tess out of her misery.
"Oh" Tess said. For once in her life she was speechless. She was shocked to hear Alex blurt out about Stevie being pregnant. But that was nothing compared to the shock of hearing that it wasn't Alex's baby. Who else could it be? Tess wondered. She hadn't been gone THAT long in Argentina. And when she left Stevie had eyes for no one but Alex.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Tess asked putting her hand on Stevie's shoulder.
"No Tess, that's the last thing I want to do."
Tess nodded, and unable to find any suitable words of comfort Tess gave her friend a hug.
After the night she had with Alex, Stevie couldn't have imagined the day getting any worse. How could Alex do that to her? And now everyone knew, everyone would be wondering and talking and asking her questions, and she would have to come up with a story to satisfy them. Of all the times for Nick and Tess to come and visit, why did it have to be now? It was one thing to totally screw up your life, but it was another thing to have all your friends know every intimate detail about it. Still, there was no going back now. It was time to face the future, whatever it may hold.