Drover' Run... Skinny Jim's...
"So you'll help Jodes?" Kate asks.
"Yeah its sounds like great fun especially as Nick and Alex will be back it'll be a nice get together for all of us." Jodi replies as they push the mob towards home.
"Well at least this time we won't have to worry about Matt."Kate chuckles.
Jodi grins at her and says. "No we won't. We should invite Nona though!"
...
"Oh ha ha." Kate says pretending to be cross.
"Hey Kate!" Jodi says.
"What?"Kate asks looking at the concern on Jodi's face.
"What's going on over there?" Jodi voices pointing towards the fence.
"Riley and Marcus are fencing that's all."Kate observes.
"No come on."Jodi says as she leaves the mob and rides towards them.
...
"Need a hand guys?" Jodi asks.
Looking up both men walk towards them.
"We're just waiting on Stevie she went back to the house to try and get onto Alex."Marcus offers.
"What's wrong?" Kate asks.
"Dam's leaking." Riley answers.
...
"Here's Stevie now." Kate observes.
Stevie pulls the Kilarney Ute to a halt and climbs out.
"Did you get him?" Marcus calls.
"No he was off with one of the farm hands but I spoke to Nick. He said this is one of the original dams on the property so he has no ideas who made it." Stevie states as she walks towards them.
"Well that doesn't help us really need to find out about the construction of it."Riley replies.
...
The satellite phone rings and Stevie moves to answer it.
"Well hello I wasn't expecting you!" She laughs.
"Alex.' Jodi muses.
"Really? Ok! I guess it's worth a try. Ok we will. I love you too." She says then giggles as she hangs up.
She stands smiling to herself.
...
"Today would be helpful Stevie." Riley quips grinning at her.
Still smiling she turns and walks back over to them.
"That was Alex." She begins.
"Really! We would never have guessed." Marcus says smiling at her.
She laughs and says. "Anyway he said the same as Nick but he remembers when he was little that Harry had trouble with it and put some type of clay into it but he can't remember the name of the clay."
"Bentonite clay." Kate states.
They all look at her and she explains what little she knows about it.
...
Argentina...The following day...
Nick and Alex arrive for their meeting with Strauss.
Carrying their overnight bags into the motel.
Nick walks to the reception desk with Alex close behind him.
A conversation ensures and Alex understands by Nick's tone that he is not happy.
...
"What's wrong mate?" Alex asks.
"They've only booked one room for us. They thought because we have the same surname that we were a couple."Nick grumbles...
"Well have they got another room?" Alex asks.
"No all booked out." Nick retorts.
"Great!"Alex comments.
...
Drover's Run Saturday morning...
Tess can hardly contain her excitement as she waits to open her emails.
Scrolling down she sees an email from Nick.
Clicking she waits for it to open.
Quietly she reads and then clapping her hands says. "Yes they got it."
...
Kilarney... Saturday Morning...
Riley, Marcus and Stevie are in the office discussing the clay for the dam.
As the phone rings Marcus is explaining to Stevie what they plan to do.
"Riley could you get that please." Stevie asks.
"Kilarney ...Riley speaking... Oh G'day mate or should I say Hola!"
Instantly Stevie is distracted.
...
"Yes we have. Kate knew a little about it and Marcus did a bit of research so that's what we'll be doing today. Yeah she is. Marcus is here too."Riley grins and says. " He'll be hurt that you don't want to talk to him...Nah I'm ya friend but the friendship ends there ,you can give him a kiss yourself when you get back . Right here she is."
Handing Stevie the phone Riley sits back at the computer with Marcus.
Marcus leans away from him and asks. "You're not going to kiss me are you?"
Riley laughs and says. "Not in your life! He wanted me too though."
They both laugh.
...
"Good morning Cowboy... I miss you too...Yes I did but sadly no dreams..." She laughs.
"He's in the kitchen with Rhonda...Did you get the parcel?... Oh fantastic ! ...You didn't open it?...Good."
Placing her hand on her tummy she says. " Yes all good and no morning sickness today ...Tess will be here soon because its hot again...Yes they are doing it today...How did the meeting go?...So you were both happy with that?...Really!...That's wonderful, you must be thrilled about that... Yes hang on I'll put him on and go and get Xander..."
"Marcus! Alex needs to speak with you." Stevie says handing him the phone and moving out of the room.
...
Marcus listens as Alex speaks to him then smiling replies. "Yes no worries at all. No she's been good...Yes...Riley took her out riding and Grace and I watched the little guy...Yes it was... They're great, Grace will be over later. Yes she'll stay the night and tomorrow night too."
Marcus smiles and says. "I can hear Stevie and Xander so just email the details. Ok no worries say hi to Nick. Bye."
...
Kilarney late in the afternoon...
Tess has Claire out of the water and Stevie is drying Xander as they get ready to head to the pub for dinner then onto to Drover's Run for the night.
Jodi and Grace have spent the day with the girls as Marcus, Riley, Kate and Matt are all working.
Matt, Jodi and Finn are staying with Kate and Riley tonight as they've planned a rematch of poker.
...
Marcus and Riley arrive back at the house and are about to have a swim when Tess says. "Wait don't go in. I have to share something with you."
She runs inside and returns with her bag and rummaging around pulls out a piece of paper.
Kate and Matt wander over and join the group as they've just arrived from Drover's.
"Nick sent me an email. Sit down and I'll read it too you."Tess says grinning.
...
Email...
Good morning Wifey hope you slept well.
Yay we're half way home!
Three weeks down and counting!
Hopefully Claire is being a good girl and you're not feeling sick today.
So you're off to the pub for dinner tonight.
I'm sure you'll have as much fun with Stevie as you did last week.
Perhaps you should steer clear of Phil Rakich though.
Our parcel arrived but we haven't opened it as per your instructions.
Alex was keen to take a sneak peek.
Christmas morning he was always the first at the Christmas tree, nothing has changed.
Between you and Stevie you've provided us with some great laughs which being so far from home has been very much needed and appreciated.
So I thought I'd share this with you.
Stevie if you're embarrassed I'm sorry but this was too good not to write about.
Alex and I had to stay in a Motel overnight as we had a meeting with Dr Strauss.
Because we had the same surname they assumed we were a couple and on our arrival only one room was available.
Despite our attempts to rectify this we ended up sharing one small double bed.
Alex complained bitterly as he really didn't think it was appropriate that two grown men should share a bed.
I reminded him that we're brothers and used to share a bed from time to time when we were kids.
I would soon learn to regret that statement.
Bloody hell when he goes to sleep he's out like a light.
I can tell you I wasn't well rested when I woke in the morning.
For the entire night he spooned me, slid his arm under my neck and pulled me into to hug me or through his leg over me.
Sweet Jesus Stevie how do you sleep?
It was like being in bed with god dam octopus.
...
Tess is giggling with tears in her eyes as she reads and the others are laughing too.
"I just got a visual of that and it wasn't pretty." Riley chuckles.
"Shush guys keep reading Tess." Jodi urges wiping the tears from her face.
"Poor Nick." Stevie chuckles.
...
Tess continues...
I'd wake him up by either yelling at him or punching him.
He'd apologize each time I woke him.
Through sheer exhaustion I was oblivious to his early morning manoeuvres.
I woke with movement on my chest, it took a minute or so as my sleep deprived brain tried to register what in the hell was going on.
I was flat on my back with his right arm under my neck, his leg wrapped around both of mine and his groin pushed against my upper leg and his left hand was fondling the right side of my chest.
I assumed straight away he was dreaming and yelled at him before he decided to step things up a bit.
Was he apologetic?
No!
He was pissed off because apparently I interrupted a lovely dream he was having about Stevie.
I made the mistake of hitting him with my pillow as I flew out of the bed and a massive pillow fight ensued.
Eventually with the noise and laughter we were making management arrived.
The stitching on my pillow split sending feathers across the room just as Alex opened the door.
We paid for the damages and got out of there really fast with the staff whispering about the two men that were in their underwear with feathers all over their room.
I think they thought we were a couple!
I am never sleeping with him ever again.
Driving back Alex looked over at me grinning; he reached across and removed a feather from my hair.
We had to pull over because he laughed so much he couldn't drive.
For the rest of the day we couldn't look at each other or we'd start laughing.
Although slightly disturbing it was also very funny.
Tell Stevie she deserves a medal for putting up with his nocturnal activity.
Say Hi to everyone for me and give Claire a big kiss from Daddy.
I can't wait to see what you've sent us.
All my love Nick xxxx
...
For some strange reason they all clap when she finishes reading.
"Oh my god that was so funny." Kate chuckles.
"I got the visual too Riley." Matt remarks trying to contain his laughter.
"Me too." Marcus chortles then adds. "Wouldn't you have loved to have been a fly on the wall?'
"Is he always like that Stevie?" Jodi asks.
Stevie shrugs her shoulders and says. "I guess, he's always slept folded around me so I haven't really thought about it. Plus he's a lot bigger than me he probably drags me around in my sleep."
...
"What about his hands?" Grace smirks.
Stevie blushes.
Grace laughs loudly.
"Geez you're a bitch Kingston, shut up." Stevie chuckles.
They all laugh about it as Stevie and Tess get the children ready for dinner.
...
Argentina...Saturday Night...
Sitting down together for a meal Nick and Alex are surprised the cook has made a variety of Australian dishes.
She tells them that Mrs Ryan (Tess) had rung and asked her to please make them for tonight and had emailed the recipes through.
Both Nick and Alex are thrilled with her efforts and thank her very much for all the trouble she has gone too.
"I'm stuffed Alex that was so good." Nick states at the end of the meal.
Smiling Alex adds. "Yeah but you've got room for Pavlova haven't you?"
Nick nods and says. "Yes I do.'
...
Alex and Nick open the parcel.
"It's a camcorder Alex and three letters and a heap of chips and chocolates."Nick offers then passes a letter addressed to Alex to his brother.
Looking at it Alex reads. "This one is for after you seen the DVD and are in your own room."
Nick opens the letter addressed to both of them.
...
Nick reads...
Hi guys well while you reading this we'll be asleep.
Hope you enjoyed your meal?
All of this was initially Stevie's idea and we both added to it as we went along so what you have is a complete taste of home.
Enjoy the movie it was put together very quickly so we'd make the post but it's filled with love.
The junk food was a last minute addition so you could nibble while you watch your DVD.
We love you very much.
Twenty one days to go.
Enjoy.
Tess, Claire, Stevie and Xander xxx
Ps. the first part is footage Stevie had already filmed and then we added together.
...
Nick plugs it all in and they sit back as he presses play.
The first part is Xander in his cot and Stevie voice saying. "Good morning little man have you got smiles for Daddy."
Xander holds the side of the cot and bounces laughing and smiling.
The film cuts and the next part is Stevie with her back to the camera and Xander in her arms having a shower.
It's all tastefully done and she encourages Xander to say Dad, Dad, and Dad.
The little boy loves the water and holds his hands up and blinks and squints as the water tumbles over him.
"Yay." Stevie says and he claps his hands.
She giggles.
The film stops and starts as Stevie takes Alex through the first part of Xander's day including breakfast with Uncle Marcus, Aunty Grace and Riley.
...
There is footage of all of them on Kilarney in the pool but zeros in on the baby's.
Everyone offers up greetings and hellos.
There is footage of Kilarney and Gungellan like the truck stop and the pub.
Several locals say hello.
Alex listens to her voice and misses her more.
...
The next half an hour is footage of the drive home to Drover's Run and as its summer time it's still light so Stevie videos Drover's surroundings and the house.
Tess reads Claire a bedtime story and then they swap as Stevie puts Xander to bed.
"Bye Daddy.' She offers and Xander gives a tired little wave.
...
The final part of the movie is five questions.
Each asks the other five questions and they have to give honest answers, and you can't think about it because you're being timed.
"Ok Tess you time starts now!" Stevie says then asks.
"Favourite memory before you were married?"
"Our bubbles baths...I loved having our bubbles baths together."
"Favourite meal shared together."
"Uuuuum Fiji on our honeymoon first breakfast together as husband and wife."
"Best kiss."
"Ohhh they're all good...I'll say the first one."
"Ok Two part question, his strength? His weakness?"
"His strength would be how well he handles me. I can be difficult you know and his weakness is ...I don't think he has one." Tess laughs.
Stevie giggles and asks. "Come on you have to do better than that."
"Ok his weakness will be Claire because he's already a pushover with her."
Last one something he doesn't know about you." Stevie asks.
Tess giggles and says. "I've got naked photos of him."
"What?" Stevie questions then adds. "And we all thought you were tame! When did you take them?"
"Whenever he's asleep." Tess laughs.
They laugh for a little while and then Tess says "Ok your turn."
...
"Favourite memory before you were married?"
"When he told me he loved me and that he never wanted us to be apart ever again..."Stevie answers.
"Favourite meal shared together."
"Breakfast out on the lawn the morning after Xander was born."Stevie says smiling.
"Best kiss."
"The next one."Stevie grins.
"Ok Two part question, his strength? His weakness?"
"His strength is his loyal, loving heart and his weakness is the same and that's why he's been hurt so much in the past."Stevie states
Last one something he doesn't know about you." Tess asks.
"Ummm I always wanted to learn how to play the guitar." Stevie replies.
"Eeee. No incorrect it has to be something interesting Stevie." Tess pushes and adds. "Come on you've got twenty seconds left...fifteen ...ten..."
"Fiona knew I was in love with Alex before she married him." Stevie gushes.
"Bzzzz times' up. Stevie!"Tess says stunned.
"Shit Tess."
"Stevie! You should have told him?'Tess says placing the video on the table and moving over to her friend.
"He chose her." Stevie states then adds. "Plus she played me like Harry used too. If I really was his friend I wouldn't stand in the way of his happiness that kind of thing."
"And you knew she faked the miscarriage?" Tess asks.
"Yeah at her hen's night we played truth or dare and she took truth. I asked have you ever lied to someone you love and she said no and I could tell by her reaction that it was a lie. Regan noticed too because I'd confided in her. After everyone went to bed I went to her room and fronted her. She couldn't deny it and then I made her promise she'd tell him before they got married or I would. I said it's not fair to do that to him because he so wants to be a Father and she asked me if it was fair to break them up because I wanted him for myself." Stevie explains.
Tess puts her arm around her and says. "Oh Stevie I'm so sorry I never knew."
Stevie shrugs her shoulders and says. "In the morning she was gone and so was her dress. Alex and I had a conversation ages before about a place he thought would be lovely to get married at. I put two and two together and rode out to stop them but they'd already said I do. Tess it was just the worst thing to watch. Then Fiona faked a miscarriage and he came to tell me, he was so upset and the worst part was he felt sorry for her I wanted to go over there and bash her Tess. It was such a mess."
"Well he's yours know and that's all that matters Stevie." Tess soothes.
"Yes he is and no one will take him from me because I'll fight anyone who tries." Stevie jokes.
Tess laughs and says. "And I'll help."
They both laugh.
...
"Right how do we finish the video off?"Tess asks.
"Well even though we're both pregnant I think we should have a beer out on the bench." Stevie offers.
"Right." Tess agrees.
...
Out on the veranda the girls get comfortable and have set the video up so they're both on screen.
"Ok I'd like to propose a toast." Stevie begins then adds. "To the Ryan brother's."
"And to the women who love them." Tess chips in.
Stevie looks at her friend and says. "Yeah I'll drink to that. Cheers."
...
Nick and Alex see Stevie jump up and run forward to turn the recorder off and the screen goes blank.
"Yeah cheers. " They both say.
Nick looks at Alex.
"I don't think they realized the recorder was on Alex."Nick states.
Alex looks deep in thought and offers. "I'd guarantee they didn't."
...
"So you didn't know?" Nick asks.
Shaking his head Alex says. "Nah and that just makes me look more like an idiot than I already feel."
"Alex she never did it to make you feel stupid." Nick suggests.
"Oh I know that mate; there is no malice in Stevie. Fiona on the other hand."Alex replies.
...
"Shake it off mate they sent the DVD to cheer us up and if you dwell on the last little bit. You'll be doing the girls a disservice."Nick offers
"Two women in love with me. One breaks her own heart to try to make me happy and the other one breaks mine , Stevie's and her own with lies and deceit. I'm bloody lucky Stevie hung in there aren't I?"Alex smiles.
"Oh yeah." Nick comments.
...
"Right well I don't know about you but I'm itching to read my letter, so I might head off to bed."Nick announces.
"Yeah me too mines got photos in it."Alex says then quips. "God I hope they aren't nude shots of you!"
Nick laughs and says. "There is something so odd and yet so exciting about being photographed in your sleep. I would never have thought Tess would do something like that."
"Well there you go you've learned something new about her." Alex replies.
Nick smiles and says. "Yeah anyway I'll see you in the morning."
...
Argentina... Alex's room...
Climbing into bed Alex slides his finger along the inside of the envelope and removes the letter and two photos and another envelope.
He reads the letter.
An apology first and then we'll move on.
You will have watched the video and heard Tess and my conversation in regards to Fiona.
I'm sorry you found out that way but I didn't know how to erase it without erasing all the rest of the DVD.
My greatest wish is that I hadn't hurt you with my comments.
Please can we leave that entire saga where it belongs...In the toilet.
He chuckles at her reference to the flushing of the pearls.
Smiling he screws up the paper and throws it in the bin.
...
He looks at the photos.
One of Stevie holding Xander in the pool.
He has his hand on his Mother's face and they're smiling at each other.
Picking up the second photo Alex grins.
It's Stevie in jeans and a hat and nothing else just like the one they did for the Calender years ago.
He knows this one is updated because of the diamond rings visible on her hand and the look on her face, as she seductively looks over her shoulder, from under her hat.
She's on a slight angle and tastefully showing the fullness of the side of her breast.
Just a hint but enough to make him smile.
He turns it over and reads... My version of blue jeans and a smile ...Photography by Grace McLeod...ha ha...
...
Opening the other letter.
He reads.
We're finally alone Cowboy...
He smiles.
...
In his room Nick has laughed and gotten a little teary at the letter Tess has written to him.
She too has included photos and he loves them.
There is something so charming about the letter that he reads and re reads it several times before he turns the light of and falls into a blissful sleep.
...