Memories of Elizabeth Ryan….
Nick and Marcus help Alex into the wheelchair and Marcus pushes him over to the grave site.
Stevie has fed Xander earlier and has left him back at the house with a sitter.
Alex's nerves are taught and except for the medication he is taking he'd be a mess.
….
Nick is in a worse state and Tess is afraid he'll melt down completely.
Alex had at least mended his bridges with his Mother prior to her death.
Nick had not.
The guilt was gnawing away at him by the minute.
…..
The district had turned out in force not because Liz Ryan was well liked but because her sons were.
Old friends had made the long trip to Kilarney as the boys decided their Mother should be buried here.
Not with Harry but beside him.
….
As the service begins Tess takes the time to scan the crowd and is thrilled and pissed off in equal measure at the gathered crowd.
Jake and Becky Harrison are there and Dave Brewer has made the trip back.
Tess is stunned that not only is Tracy Morrison in amongst the mourner's but Alex's ex-wife Fiona as well.
This can't be good.
….
Tess shifts her footing and leaning over to Stevie cautions.
"Fiona's here."
"Yep and Tracy, Felicity, the other Fiona and a couple of others. Just as well I'm not the jealous kind." Stevie replies.
"Hmmm could be trouble." Tess whispers.
"Only if I choose to rip her heart out publically." Stevie responds through gritted teeth.
….
"Your Mother and Father came." Tess murmurs a few minutes later.
"Yeah bit of a surprise they don't even know Liz." Stevie answers.
"Support." Tess replies.
"Hmmm maybe…." Stevie responds.
"Michelle isn't here." Tess observes.
"No." Stevie concurs.
The two girls quieten down and listen to the remainder of the service.
…..
Nick delivers a eulogy that is sweet, heart-warming and truthful which brings laughter from the gathered crowd.
He doesn't gloss over anything about their Mother or her stubborn and ruthless way of getting what she wanted.
As he finishes he asks everyone to fill in the guest book back at the house and if they have time to also write in the book provided telling a story about Liz.
Whether it's sad, funny, mean or informative they just want a picture of Elizabeth Ryan.
…..
Marcus steps forward and wheels Alex to the grave.
Stevie hands him a red Kilarney rose and he throws it onto the coffin.
His sobs come in great waves of pain and many cry with him not because they'll miss Liz Ryan but simply in sympathy with her son.
Nick doesn't shed a tear or even look like he's about too.
Stevie and Tess exchange glances both knowing it's not a good thing to hold grief too closely as it has a way of exploding in your face some time down the track.
…..
Half an hour later back at the house….
Everyone sadly stands quietly chatting for the first fifteen minutes or so and then gradually the mood lifts as always happens after a funeral.
Old friendships are renewed and stories are told.
Alex graciously receives condolences from an array of ex -girlfriends and Stevie quietly holds her tongue.
As Fiona approaches, Alex whispers. "I know you don't like her but please don't do or say anything that will tarnish Mum's day Stevie."
….
'Hello Stevie." Fiona says.
"Fiona." Stevie answers.
Leaning down Fiona kisses Alex's cheek and says. "I'm sorry."
Stevie wants to rip her head off.
How dare she kiss him after all she did to him?
Alex smiles at Fiona and replies. "Thank you Fiona and thank you for coming it took a lot of guts to turn up here."
….
Fiona smiles at him and offers. "I'll never forgive myself for how I treated you Alex . Your Mother was lovely to me and she thought I'd give her gorgeous grandchildren and I'm sorry I disappointed her."
Alex smiles and trying to be nice offers. "We're both responsible for a lot of pain and hurt Fiona. I'm sorry too."
Stevie lets out a sigh that smacks of distain and disgust. "Oh spare me!"
"Stevie!" Alex warns.
…..
Stevie shakes her head and storms off.
"Doesn't look like she's brought you anymore happiness than I did. This isn't good." Fiona says touching the wheel chair.
"This wasn't her fault a bough came down on me a few weeks back. I'll be up and about again soon." He replies.
She nods and asks. "So what have you been up too?"
"I've been overseas again and haven't been back long. What about yourself?" He asks wishing she'd go away but trying to be polite.
…
"So are you with her or not?" Fiona asks.
Alex smiles and replies. "Stevie? She's my wife Fiona."
"Oh so there was an affair?" Fiona states.
Alex inhales and replies. 'No there was no affair Fiona just one kiss after Sandra's confession but that was all." He answers.
"You expect me to believe that?" She asks frowning at him.
"I don't care what you think or expect Fiona it's the truth I have no reason to lie to you now." He answers more than a little annoyed.
….
Stevie arrives back and places Xander into Alex's lap.
Fiona looks at the baby then to Stevie.
The baby grizzles wanting to be fed and Alex tries to calm him.
Stevie moves forward and with her face close to Fiona's spits her words. "I have no idea why in the hell you're here. Alex asked me not to say anything to you out of respect for his Mother."
Fiona smirks at her and states. "Liz hated you."
….
Stevie smiles and in a voice laced with pride and revenge replies. "Yes she did and I hated her almost as much as I hate you. The baby in Alex's arms is ours and just before his Grandmother died she opened a bank account for him with an initial deposit of one hundred thousand dollars. Now Liz wasn't one of my favourite people but just for Alex I will refrain from grabbing you by the hair and dragging your lying, pitiful arse to the boundary gate. Don't you ever set foot on this property ever again, I'm Mrs Alex Ryan now and I intend on remaining his wife until death us do part and I also plan on giving him half a dozen children. You're welcome to stay for a cup of tea but if you so much as touch his wheelchair I will gladly rip your head clean of your shoulders. Do you understand?"
…..
Fiona is speechless.
Alex bites his lip.
Stevie picks up the baby, kisses Alex and says. "If you need anything Cowboy, call Tess I'm just going to feed your son."
"Stevie!" Alex calls after her.
She stops and turns back.
"I'll miss you." He offers.
'Course ya will." She replies and walks towards the house.
Alex tries not to smirk as he asks. "So Fiona what have you been up to?"
…..
Tess is standing talking to Becky and Jake Harrison.
"Oh it's so good to see you both again. Thank you so much for coming." Tess says.
"It's good to be back Tess. We've always said we'd come back but with the children and the farm it just never happened. I'm sorry we missed Harry's funeral, by the time we heard about his death he was already buried." Jake offers.
"Yeah it was all very messy. We were in Argentina and never made it back either." Tess replies.
….
"Where's Jodi?" Becky asks.
Tess looks shocked.
"Jodi passed away in a car explosion last year." Tess remarks.
"Oh god." Becky exclaims as tears flow down her cheeks.
"We never heard that Tess. We knew about Claire." Jake states sounding shocked.
"Yes we received the card and flowers thank you." Tess remarks then asks. "Can you excuse me for a moment I'll be back?"
"Yes of course." Jake replies as he pulls Becky in to hug her.
…
"Dave what are you doing?" Tess asks.
"Eating mostly, why?" Dave replies grinning at her.
"Can you go and rescue Alex please?" Tess enquires.
Placing a piece of chicken in his mouth Dave follows Tess's gaze. "Oh shit! Yeah onto it Tess."
Dave grabs a bowl of chips and heads over to Alex and Fiona.
…..
