A week later…The tennis court…. Drover's Run

"Great idea for a quick fundraiser Tess." Beth Martin announces.

"Well everyone loves a hit and giggle don't they Beth?"

"Yes I suppose they do and by doing the round robin we'll eliminate the weaker players and be left with the stronger ones for a wonderful grand final." Beth replies.

The Drover's tennis court is surrounded by spectators and about twenty market stalls.

Families move about investigating the stalls or sitting to watch the tennis.

"What do you mean you're playing?" Alex asks Stevie.

"I used to be quite good at tennis back at high school." She responds.

"This is not high school and you're pregnant!" He growls.

"No! Really! You're kidding. I did not know that." She responds trying not to grin at him.

"Stevie!"

"Alex!" She retorts.

He shakes his head and offers. "Just take it easy will ya?"

Tapping his face she replies." Come on it's you and I against Kate and Marcus."

"Hey?"

"Mixed doubles. Let's get em'" She chuckles.

Picking up his racket he follows her to the gate.

…..

Kate and Marcus are already on the court and Marcus calls. "You're not playing."

"Watch me." Stevie replies.

"Alex what if I hit her with the ball?" Marcus questions.

"Then she'll probably jump the net and hit you with her racket!" Alex yells back.

The gathered crowd laugh and cheer them all on.

….

Nick is sitting on the high seat as the umpire and calls out. "If you hit her I'll award extra points to her team."

"Hey that's nepotism!" Kate retorts.

"It's a charity match Kate and charity begins at home... Thems the rules." Nick answers.

"Unfair." Kate argues.

"15 love." Nick calls pointing at Stevie's side of the court.

"What? We haven't even started." Marcus responds.

"30 love." Nick calls.

The crowd erupts with laughter.

Marcus grins and says. "Alright I get it let's play."

…..

Turning back to Kate Marcus asks. "You ok?"

"Sure am."

"Right let's wipe the court with them." Marcus states.

Kate grins and replies. "Yes let's"

….

Off to the side of the court Tess is talking to Jodi.

"Everything seems to be alright again with Kate and Marcus." Jodi remarks.

"Yeah they're going on holidays at the end of the month he's taking her on a cruise. Did she say what their fight was about?" Tess replies.

"Not a word. When I asked her she said it was a misunderstanding and that they'd worked it all out." Jodi answers.

Tess bends to cover Harrison who is asleep in the stroller.

….

"I'm just glad they sorted it out she wasn't herself. So what's going on with you and Riley?" Tess asks.

"We're just friends Tess." Jodi answers.

"Right." Tess replies grinning at her.

Jodi smiles and offers. "He's great and at the moment we're just having fun."

Tess nods and comments. "So you've paired up for the mixed doubles?"

"Yes we play off against Grace and Dave." Jodi replies.

"Dave's won trophies for tennis."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Bugger let's hope Grace is useless then." Jodi chuckles.

Tess laughs.

….

An hour later Stevie is sitting with her feet up and a soft drink in her hand.

Marcus and Kate had beaten her and Alex but they'd had great fun and the crowd got right behind them as they fooled around and joked with each other.

With playing doubles she didn't have to run much and the shorter game suited her fine now she was tired and agreed to let Alex pamper her.

Bindi Martin had teamed up with Nat and they'd trounced the pair they'd played against.

Stevie had enjoyed watching their match.

Jodi, Riley, Dave and Grace were now playing.

Dave was impressed with Grace's prowess on the court.

They made a formidable team.

Riley and Jodi didn't stand a chance as the other pair sent the ball at lightning speed back across the net.

…..

Alex sits down beside Stevie and hands her a hot beef roll.

"Oh yum I'm starving. Thank you." Stevie offers taking the roll.

"Who's winning?"

"Dave and Grace easily. Bloody hell they're good." Stevie states.

….

"He likes her." Alex whispers leaning in close.

Stevie looks at him shocked." Dave likes Grace they're a bit of a mismatch don't you think?"

Raising an eyebrow Alex replies. "Opposites attract."

Shrugging her shoulders Stevie looks back at the court and says. "Yeah I guess. "

…..

"How are you feeling?" Alex asks.

"Tired but good. You?"

"Same. We're gunna have sore legs tomorrow."

She laughs and says. "Mine are sore now."

"I could massage them for you later if you like."

She glances at him and with a cheeky grin whispers. "Hmm sounds good."

He smiles and turns back to watch the match.

Tess walks over to Stevie and says softly. "Your Mother in law is here."

Stevie looks around and spots Liz walking around the court.

"Actually she was your Mother- in -law before mine and she's at your house so today she's all yours." Stevie replies.

Tess grins and pushes Stevie in the shoulder.

Stevie chuckles as Liz arrives beside them.

….

"Hello Mum." Alex says standing up to accept a hug.

"Hello Darling. Look at you in your sportswear. You look very athletic." Liz gushes.

Stevie and Tess greet her.

"What's going on here today I wasn't expecting this? "Liz asks.

"The tennis club need funds for new equipment and we thought a hit and giggle day would be a quick and easy way to raise funds." Tess replies.

Liz nods.

"So what brings you out here Mum?" Alex asks.

"Just a visit to see how you all are." Liz answers.

Rose arrives and says. "Hello Grandma."

Liz manages to get a hug off Rose before the young girl turns to her Mother and says. "I bought this for the baby Mum isn't it cute."

Stevie smiles at Rose as she hands her a hand knitted red jacket with a hood and replies. "It's gorgeous Rose."

Liz bristles. "Baby! What baby?"

Rose looks at her grandmother and is about to respond when Alex offers. "Stevie's pregnant Mum."

"Pregnant! Well why you didn't tell me." Liz questions.

"I just did." Alex offers sounding more than a little miffed.

"And if I hadn't come out for a visit? When were you planning on telling me?' Liz grumbles.

Rose leans close to Stevie and whispers. "Ooops sorry."

Stevie rubs her arms and smiles at her then gestures for her to make herself scarce.

…..

"What about congratulations?" Alex snaps.

"Oh yes of course congratulations." Liz offers to him without even acknowledging Stevie.

Kate walks over and innocently asks. "Have you rested that baby belly of yours long enough to have a walk around the stalls with me?"

"What even Kate knows before me?" Liz continues.

Alex looks pissed off and looking at Kate says. "She's fine Kate take her with you while I have a chat to Mum please."

Grabbing the pram Tess and Kate lead Stevie away as Alex directs his Mother away from the districts ears.

Ordinarily Stevie would be angry about his handling of the situation but today she's just glad not to have to deal with Liz.

Holding his Mother by the elbow Alex walks her closer to the house and stopping says. "How bloody dare you! You didn't even congratulate Stevie."

"I bet she told you not to tell me!" Liz argues.

"Wrong Mum she never even mentioned you. We were more concerned about her hanging onto this baby we didn't even think about you at all." Alex growls.

"That's my grandchild and I deserve to know. Look at what happened with Rose she kept her a secret too." Liz snarls back at him.

"You don't know what we've been through and if you did you would be happy for us not point scoring on who knows and who doesn't." He snaps.

"I know you lost a baby Alex, Bryce told me. You didn't even have the decency to tell me yourself" Liz states.

"We lost two babies Mum. Stevie was pregnant on our honeymoon and we lost that one too." Alex counters.

Liz stares at him. "Oh! I didn't know that. What went wrong?"

Alex shakes his head and answers sadly. "We have no idea. This time everything is perfect and we waited until she was passed the first trimester before we told anyone. Everyone that knows only found out a week or so ago. It's not public knowledge yet."

Panic hits her like a runaway train.

She put sleeping pills in Stevie's drink just before the wedding.

Could sleeping pills cause a miscarriage?

Liz touches his arm and says softly. "I'm so sorry."

He nods having no clue as to what she's apologizing for.

….

Grace is sitting chatting to Dave and enjoying a beer.

He's very good looking and smart as but his sense of humour is a bit bleh.

"Another beer?" He asks.

"Yeah why not if you're paying." She quips.

He grins and walks over to the drinks stand.

By the time he returns Stevie, Kate and Tess are talking to Grace.

"Afternoon ladies can I interest any of you in a beer?" Dave offers.

"Yes please." Tess answers.

Dave hands her his beer.

…..

"Too early in the day for me." Kate comments.

"Yep and too early in the year for me." Stevie quips.

Dave looks puzzled and asks. "The year?'

"She's up the duff Dave." Grace informs him.

His face lights up and he kisses her cheek and offers a hug and congratulations.

"That's great news Stevie well done."

"Thanks Dave we're both pretty excited about adding to our family." Stevie replies.

…..

Rose calls to her from one of the stands and Stevie walks away.

Jodi joins the group and whispers. "Liz Ryan is here does Stevie know?"

"Yeah and Liz just found out Stevie's pregnant. She's not happy that we all knew and she didn't." Tess comments.

"Oh bugger her she's given Stevie a hard time right from the beginning." Jodi grumbles.

"Yeah she has and neither Stevie nor Alex need her ruining their happiness. Stevie miscarried twice and they were so relieved she hung onto this one." Tess says.

"Two I thought there was only one." Kate questions.

Tess shakes her head and sadly replies. "No she lost one while they were in Port Douglas."

"On their honeymoon?" Dave asks.

Stevie and Rose are walking back over to the group so Tess whispers. "Yes but shh don't mention it, the first one was heartbreaking but the second one was worse."

Jodi looks over at Stevie then across the court to where Liz Ryan is talking to Alex.

The drink spiking floods her thoughts.

…..

Later in the afternoon the crew sit together as Dave and Grace play off against Bindi Martin and Nat.

With loud cheers and lots of encouragement they barrack for all of them.

Alex's phone starts to ring so Stevie answers it quickly. "Alex Ryan's phone Alex's wife speaking."

She looks puzzled and replies. "Yes it is Stevie. Oh Peter yes I remember you. How are you? …..That's great…Yes we're both well."

Dave and Grace take another point and the cheers rise up.

Placing her finger in her other ear she responds. "Hang on."

She moves away from the court.

Alex walks over to her.

She excuses herself and explains to Alex who it is and passes the phone on.

…..

"Peter! How are you? Good to hear….How can I help you? Right…"

Another loud cheer erupts.

Alex laughs and replies. "No we're at my brother's place and we're having a fundraising tennis match ….Yeah … Where are you? Gungellan! What are you doing there?...Um we're here for a few more hours so come over…Drover's Run…Yep they'll give you directions we're not hard to find….Nah not a problem…We've got a lamb on the spit and another one with pork…Yeah we like to eat well out here…No plenty of grog as well just bring yourself…..Righto I'll see you soon."

Alex hangs up and shakes his head before moving back over to Stevie and the others.

Plonking down beside Stevie he says. "He's in Gungellan he's just finished a job up country and thought he'd drop in on the way back down to Adelaide."

"What now?" Stevie asks.

Alex nods.

"Peter who." Tess asks catching a part of their conversation.

'Peter Whitcombe." Alex replies.

"You know Tess we told you about him we met him in Port Douglas." Stevie offers.

"Oh the guy who took the photos of you?"

Yes that's him." Alex answers.

"I thought you said he was going to ring and let you know when he was coming." Tess asks.

'He just did." Alex replies.

"Not much notice. That's a bit rude." Tess states.

'Too late now he's on his way. He's a nice bloke Tess so don't worry." Stevie comments.

Off to one side Marcus and Kate are happily chatting about their holiday.

"I'm so looking forward to getting away." Marcus offers.

Kate smiles and replies. "Mmm it's going to be so much fun."

Marcus grins at her and leans over and plants a kiss on her.

She giggles and softly places her hand on the side of his face. "Two entire weeks with you and no one else."

"Mmm Hmm." He murmurs and kisses her again.

A loud cheer echoes around the court as Dave grabs Grace around the waist and lifts her up and twirls around. "Victory is ours Grace! Bloody awesome game."

Wrapping her arms around his neck she laughs and hangs on.

…..

Slowly he stops and lets her feet slide back down to the ground.

She continues to hold his neck.

A look is exchanged between them before Beth Martin breaks the moment announcing their win.

Taking her hand he raise their arms and yells. "Isn't she a bloody bewdy?"

Dropping their arms back down Dave holds onto her hand.

She squeezes.

He glances at her, his smile on full beam and asks. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Love one." She replies as his hand squeeze's back.

…..