Kilarney...
Alex switches off the engine and removes his helmet..
" Bout time you got home." Nick comments from the shed door.
"What are ya my Mother?" Alex responds grinning at his brother.
Nick laughs and replies." I've got an esky full of beers just for you and I. Rhonda made some club sandwiches for us and the little bloke is fast asleep. "
" What's the occasion?"
"Your last day as a bachelor." Nick replies.
...
Alex's smile fades .
" You alright?" Nick asks.
" Had a fight with Stevie today."
"Bloody hell Alex what did you do this time.?"
" Me?"
" Alright I'll bite what did she do?" Nick asks as they walk back towards the house.
" Nah it was my fault, I was insensitive."
...
" What about?" Nick asks as he sits at the picnic table.
Alex reaches into the esky and tosses a can to Nick and cracks the seal on his own can.
" To beautiful women who love us regardless of our baggage." Alex toasts.
"Yeah but you've got more than me so go Stevie." Nick jokes.
Alex's eyes look glassy as he smirks at his brother and replies." Yeah she's one in a million that's for sure. To Stevie."
"Yeah to Stevie." Nick comments.
...
Alex sits down and pulls the other chair closer with his foot.
Reaching forward he places his can on the table and his feet up on the chair.
" So what was the fight about?" Nick asks.
Alex loosens his shirt and reaching back undoes the necklace.
Closing the clasp he hands it to Nick." My wedding present."
" A necklace? You don't wear necklaces." Nick states as he takes the offering.
Alex picks up his beer and swills down several mouthfuls.
...
"Oh wow!" Nick exclaims handing it back to Alex.
" Ya see that's just it I didn't get it." Alex comments.
" She's acknowledging your love for Claire."
" Yeah I know that now." Alex remarks placing the item on the table.
Reaching into his pocket he hands Nick the card that came with it.
...
"A mythical bird that never dies, the Phoenix flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and distant space. It represents our capacity for vision and collecting sensory information about our environment and the events unfolding within it. The Phoenix with its great beauty creates intense excitement and deathless inspiration.
Claire is always with us Alex and even though I'm sad that she's gone I give thanks for her friendship and for her introducing me to you.
I will never forget her Alex and I don't want you to have to hide what she meant to you either . With these medallions she will be with us on our wedding day. I'm sure she will take good care of us in the years ahead.
Love you more than I can put into words Stevie xx". Nick reads out loud.
Alex sniffs and puts his hands to his face.
" Definately one in a million." Nick says softly.
...
The two brothers sit quietly until Alex regains his composure.
Picking up the medalions he fastens them around his neck and places the card back into his pocket.
" All ok now?" Nick asks.
" Yeah she can't stay angry with me for long . I'm irresistible." Alex chuckles.
" Yeah right." Nick chuckles.
...
"Saw Stefan today."
" Van Amstel?"
" Yeah he had lunch with us."
" Yeah?"
Alex nods."Stevie invited him to have lunch with us."
" She knows about all that?"
"Yeah we have no secrets, although she asked him to make me squirm after the necklace incident."
" Clever girl." Nick grins.
Alex laughs. " She knows me too well mate and she knows how to inflict pain."
Nick nods.
" She also knows how to love me." Alex muses.
Nick holds up his hand and quips ." Too much information."
" Not that." Alex laughs.
...
Alex looks around the immediate area and remarks ." The garden looks great doesn't it?"
Nick inhales and replies." Ready for a fairy tale wedding."
Alex nods." I never thought I'd find love again Nick and there she was right under my nose."
" We all saw it happening but you're a bit slow aren't you." Nick remarks grinning at his brother.
...
Alex smiles back at him and takes another sip of beer. "It can't come soon enough mate. I've wanted to be married for so long."
" So two weeks in Port Douglas should be relaxing." Nick comments.
" Yeah Stevie , bikinis, sun and fresh air definately my kind of honeymoon."
" Why did you say no to Hawaii?" Nick asks.
" I owe Bryce nothing but I figured if I let him spend too much on us he could throw it back at us later. That's how he works. Port Douglas is beautiful and less crowded than Hawaii and I paid for it myself. Bryce paid for the wedding the same as he'll do for Ashleigh and Marcus one day so I'm not indebted ya know." Alex explains.
Nick nods in understanding.
...
" What are you going to do about Mum?"
" Ignore her for now and hope she doesn't visit often."
Nick nods and changing subjects asks." So will you have more children?"
Alex grins and replies." We're working on it already."
"What you're trying? You're not even married." Nick replies.
Alex grins at him and offers." We weren't married when we had Rose. Stevie lost a bub a while back Nick so we thought we'd wait for a little while then start trying. We'd both like to have a go at parenting right from the beginning so why wait."
" It's your life Alex and I guess you've waited long enough." Nick responds.
" Yeah I have." Alex replies.
...
Drovers Run..
Stevie walks into the kitchen and finds all the girls busily preparing snacks .
" Come on Mum get your pyjamas on we're going to watch movies and pig out." Rose exclaims excitedly.
" Hey how will I fit into my dress if I pig out?" Stevie asks smiling at her daughter.
" It's a healthy pig out Stevie, fruits ,nuts you know.." Tess chuckles.
"What so no chocolate, ice cream or biscuits? No chips?" Stevie exclaims.
"No because we don't want pimples." Rose offers.
" We'll have proper pig outs after you go." Jodi suggests.
Stevie laughs.
...
" Where's Liz?" Stevie asks Tess.
" She's gone to visit the boys." Tess replies.
" Oh good I really don't think I could have coped with her tonight." Stevie comments.
" Did you have a nice day with Dad? " Rose asks.
" Yeah I did it was very relaxing but I missed you." Stevie replies touching her daughter's face.
Rose grins and moves off to help Kate and Jodi.
...
Kilarney ...
Liz Ryan walks confidently into through the kitchen to the living room.
Bryce is sitting on the couch with Ashleigh perched on the arm of the chair with her arm across his shoulder.
She has spent the last twenty minutes whining about the expense of the wedding.
Marcus is sitting in a chair nearby reading from the Weekly Times and doing his best to ignore his sister.
...
"Elizabeth!" Bryce exclaims.
Liz slows and takes in the scene.
" Hello Bryce , Marcus." She offers.
" Hi Liz." Marcus offers briefly looking up from his paper.
" Elizabeth this is my daughter Ashleigh. Ashleigh this is Elizabeth Ryan."Bryce states.
...
Liz Ryan sizes up the tall brunette and correctly sums up that she's a brat.
" Hello Ashleigh ." Liz offers deliberately leaving the pleased to meet you from her greeting.
Ashleigh remains seated and replies coolly ." Hello Elizabeth, you have a lovely home."
Hautily Liz replies ." It's not my home , hasn't been for years but the boys would be thrilled you like it."
"I doubt it!" Ashleigh says under her breath.
" I beg your pardon?" Liz quizzes.
" I said I have no doubt." Ashleigh answers.
Liz looks at her and responds." I heard you the first time if you're going to lie do it properly."
Marcus muffles a laugh and hides behind the paper.
...
Liz glances over at him and placing her hand on the top of the paper asks.'Where are Alex and Nick?"
"Outside having a quiet beer." Marcus replies.
"Didn't they invite you?" Liz questions snootily.
"They did actually but I thought I'd wait and let the two of them have some time together first."Marcus replies.
" Well I'm just going to go out and speak to them for awhile." Liz states as she moves towards the door.
...
Outside ...
Nick and Alex are having a great time when Marcus runs towards them grabs the esky and quietly says." Quickly and quietly follow me."
"Hey?" Alex questions.
"Move!" Marcus calls.
Full of beer and feeling relaxed and happy Nick and Alex laugh and follow.
...
Marcus ducks behind a small hedge.
Nick and Alex join him huffing and puffing.
" What in the hell are you doing?" Nick questions.
"Shhhh." Marcus orders then points.
The three men watch as Liz Ryan rounds the side of the house and stops at the table.
Looking at the plate of half eaten sandwiches, she looks up and searches the immediate area calling. "Alex! Nick!"
...
Nick is about to stand but Alex pulls him back down.
Nick looks at his older brother.
Alex shakes his head.
Liz walks back inside.
...
Marcus stands first and begins to walk back to the house.
" Hey where are you going?" Alex asks.
" Back inside. I thought you guys would like time on your own." Marcus replies.
Alex looks at Nick ." Plenty of beer for three brothers to have a celebratory beer Marcus."
" Yeah have a beer with us." Nick offers.
Marcus looks at the house and back to the two brothers." If you're sure?"
Nick looks at Alex then to Marcus." Yeah we are but let's take a walk to the old homestead she'll never think to look for us there."
...
As they stroll down the track Alex muses." I feel like a little kid avoiding Mum like that."
"Fun isn't it!" Marcus quips.
"Yeah it is" Nick chuckles.
"She's like Bryce sometimes ya just need to hide." Marcus states.
Alex smiles as he pats Marcus in the back and says." Thanks for that Marcus I really need to completely unwind tonight and that never happens with Mum. Don't get me wrong I love her."
"Yeah I know I'm the same with Bryce doesn't matter what he dishes out I still love him." Marcus replies.
"Thank god we didn't get both of them as our parents." Nick quips .
" Hey I did." Alex corrects.
" Yeah but Harry reared you."
...
"Oh I forgot. Stevie rang before." Marcus says.
" Why didn't you come and get me?" Alex questions.
Marcus chuckles and replies." Message received ... Don't bother him. Please tell him not to ring back I'm having a girls night. Can you tell him I love him very much and I can't wait for him to see my dress. I'll be the one in white."
Alex smiles and looking at Nick asks." Did you imagine Tess would look as gorgeous as she did?"
Nick smiles and shakes his head." Nah I couldn't breath and I had to try and hold it together I thought I'd cry."
"Really?"
"Yeah really, you wait until you see her . I dont know if it's the dress ,the nerves or what you're about to do but boy! Nerves unbelievable."
" Can't wait bring it on!" Alex comments.
Changing subjects the three men laugh as they walk onwards together.
...