It's a warm morning when Alex and Stevie pull up at the house gate on Drover's Run.
Nick walks out to greet them and says. "You're early we haven't even had breakfast yet! Have you been up all night fighting or making up?"
Stevie glances at Alex as he replies. "We really don't need this now Nick!"
Nicks smile fades as he asks. "What's wrong?"
Alex explains about Jodie and then they walk in to see Tess and Kate.
...
Joyce and John work together and give the Ryan boys breakfast.
Stevie has begun to wean the twins so after they have their cereal John and Joyce give them training cups of warm milk.
Joyce is surprised that it all goes so well although the boys have been drinking juice from the cups she thought as they're used to being fed by their Mother first thing in the morning it might be an issue.
Alexander has taken his puppy outside for a wee and Joyce smiles when she hears him chatting to Riley as they come back inside.
Looking up Joyce sees Riley with Alexander in one arm and Hawy under the other.
Riley grins and states. "I see we have a new member of the family."
Joyce says. "Yes this is Hawy a gift from Harry."
Riley raises an eyebrow and asks. "Is she booby trapped?"
John chuckles and replies. "We wondered the same thing but she appears to be just a beautiful little girl."
Riley smiles and asks. "You both look like you have everything under control."
"So far so good.' Joyce offers.
...
Walking into Drover's kitchen Tess smiles at Stevie and says "Where'd you get to last night?"
Tess's gaze shifts to Alex and Nick as they come in behind Stevie.
"What's wrong?" She asks concern evident in her tone.
"Everyone's well Tess its ok, but Jodie has gone away with Matt...Rob and we came to tell you.' Stevie offers.
Tess searches their faces. "Is she alright?'
Alex smiles and nods.
Tess smiles back nervously.
...
"Where's Kate?" Stevie asks.
They hear the back screen door close and Kate arrives inside.
"Morning all. You're out and about early." Kate offers as she walks into the kitchen.
"We came over to see you Kate." Alex offers.
Kate searches his face and says. "It's about Jodie isn't it?'
Alex nods and replies. "She's fine Kate but she's gone away with Matt."
"Matt? Who's Matt?" Kate asks sounding puzzled.
"Sit down Kate and I'll explain everything." Alex tells her.
...
Grace, Regan and Marcus wait in the living room as Nick has asked them to.
The fewer people that know all the details the better.
They'll just tell them she's gone away with her boyfriend travelling for now.
Dave has joined the main group because he already knows what is going on plus he's concerned for Kate, she depends on Jodie for so much.
As Alex explains all that has happened in the last twenty four hours Tess feels herself unravelling she's lost one sister through death and now the other one through circumstance.
Alex offers up the letters Jodie left Tess cries as she begins to open hers.
Nick moves closer to her and slides his arm across her shoulder.
"Kate! Jodie left this book as well for you." Alex states as he hands them over to her.
Kate throws hers across the table and storms off outside.
Alex stands to follow her but Dave says. "Let me go Alex you stay with the girls."
Dave picks up the unopened letter and the book and follows Kate.
...
Tears of anger, hurt, disappointment and abandonment stream down Kate's cheeks as she runs towards the windmill.
"NO!" She screams at the top of her lungs. "NO!"
Reaching the old bathtub she slides to the ground beside it and sobs.
Waves of sadness and anguish unleashed in a tidal wave of pain pour from her eyes and her heart.
Dave stands at the gate for a while allowing her a small amount of time alone in her sorrow and grief.
...
Tess reads her letter holding her grief inside frightened if she lets go she will be unable to stop it.
In some ways this will be worse that Claire's death because there was an end, finality.
Jodie had brought hope for Drover's Run and for Tess again.
Her bright smile and positive attitude had filled a huge void in Tess's life.
They didn't know if they'd see her again.
If she'd come back into their lives.
Tess would always have to wonder if she was happy.
If she had married, had children.
Tess would have nieces and nephews she didn't know.
She would forever wonder and wish that Jodie was back where she belonged on Drover's Run.
Leaning her head onto her arms resting on the table, Tess lets her pain go.
Like a cascading waterfall, her tears flow, mingling with her sobs and gasps of pain and loss.
Nick rests his head on her shoulder afraid that he can't help, can't offer enough love to hall her back from the depths of despair.
...
Kate lay as a human puddle beside the old bathtub.
Time passed.
Hearing footsteps she pushed herself to sit and leant back against the bath, the balls of both her palms hiding her eyes from whoever had invaded her sadness.
Someone sits down beside her as she hears the gravel scrunch under their approach.
"Need some company?" Dave's voice asks.
Surprised she looks at him.
He tilts his head to one side and says. "By the look of your face I'd say that's a yes."
Dave feels sad as her face crumbles and she leans towards him her tears tenfold and the sobs loud, wet and uncontrolled.
Pulling her into his embrace he says. "Let it go Katie, let it all go."
He rubs her back not knowing what else to do and he waits.
...
Inside Tess has taken control of her tears and asks Stevie about when Jodie left.
Stevie explains that she and Alex were fighting and she'd taken the boys and gone for a drive.
Tess says. "Come on Stevie we need to talk. You guys don't mind do you?"
Alex shakes his head and Nick says "I'll get breakfast sorted."
Tess takes Stevie's hand and leads her outside.
...
Stevie and Tess walk and talk as they go.
Stevie explains about her fight with Alex.
Tess growls at her and says. "Stevie you have to stop running. You're a grown woman and a Mother. "
Stevie looks at her and frowning asks. "How can you stand there and tell me what to do Tess? You and Nick don't even fight. You don't know how it feels to be so hurt that you feel like you just want to lay down and die."
Tess looks at her friend and says. "Yes I do! My life hasn't only been with Nick, Stevie. At some point you have to stop running and face things head on. "
Stevie looks at her and tells her what Alex said about Harry.
"What are you doing to help Nick with it all Tess?" Stevie asks.
"Nothing at all Stevie because quite frankly I'm glad he isn't in our lives. Harry tormented Alex and had him so bamboozled he didn't know which way was up half the time and when it was just the two of you he was calmer, happier more content. I would have thought you wouldn't encourage a relationship at all and I'm stunned that you've done what you have." Tess growls.
Stevie looks at her and says. "So you think I'm in the wrong?"
"I don't think it Stevie! I know it. Alex doesn't need Harry in his life at all and you should know that too and you should take your lead from him. Stop it Stevie and he'll be happy again. Alex made his choice and it was between you and Harry and he chose you."Tess scolds.
Stevie and Tess walk along together silently until Tess says. "We should go and see how Kate is."
...
Kate sits quietly beside Dave as he reads the letter to her.
Dear Squirt,
Hopefully you've cried bucket loads at my departure because then I'll know how much you love me and that our friendship means as much to you as it does to me.
Please don't be sad for too long Kate, life is too short to carry sadness around and too damn heavy as well.
I'm sorry that you were so worried about me and how I had withdrawn from you but Matt had told me about his life and he needed me to remain tight lipped which as you know isn't my strongest point.
I've left a note book for you to write to me in and hopefully one day I may be able to come back and read it.
I'll write to you every day as well and that way I'll feel like you are with me always to share all my happy moments and the sad ones as well.
I love Matt so much Kate and it wasn't a difficult decision to make to leave with him except I had to leave you Tess, Stevie and Drover's Run behind.
Every time you are with them please talk about me and every time you enjoy riding across Drover's or swimming in the dam have twice as much fun so I'll feel your happiness.
I'm glad you've got Riley now he's a great guy and I know he'll make you very happy.
Anyway I best keep going I've got a couple more letters to write.
All my love Stretch. Xxxx
Now open the book.
...
Dave lets his hand drop as he finishes the letter and hands the book to Kate.
Opening it she reads aloud.
This is a private journal for Squirts eyes only to pour out her heart and soul to her best friend Stretch.
PS You know if I can return I will and you'll know I'm back because of the huge bag of chips and chocolate left on your doorstep. Totally gross.
"Truly disgusting."Kate whispers as a smile brightens her face.
She pushes herself up to sit on the side of the bath.
Dave does the same and turns to watch as Stevie and Tess approach.
"You've got visitors.' Dave announces as he stands.
Kate rises and hugs him and says. "Thanks Dave."
"You're very welcome Kate all in a day's work really."He says grinning as he leaves her with the girls.
...
Dave walks back towards the house and Alex is standing looking up at the windmill.
"How is she Dave?"Alex asks.
"Sad but I think she'll be ok. The girls are with her now, they'll look after her."Dave replies.
Alex nods and says. "We saved some breakfast for you."
Dave nods and walks inside.
Alex glances around at the gravel crunching as someone approaches.
Nick stands beside him silently for a moment.
Both men watching the three women sitting on the old bath.
"They've been through a lot together."Nick offers.
Inhaling Alex sighs. "Yeah they have."
Nick looks at his brother and says. "Come on they could talk for hours I'll shout you a coffee."
Alex nods.
"You and Stevie alright?"Nick asks.
"She was trying to fix me and Harry because she thought she'd broken us."Alex offers.
Nick shakes his head and says. "Harry broke us long before Stevie happened along."
Alex nods.
As they walk back to the house Nick states. "Crazy how much she loves you."
"Well I'm fabulous Nick."
Nick chuckles and says. "And humble."
They both laugh.
...