Kilarney….
Alex had asked Brett to stay for dinner after not only embarrassing himself but Brett as well.
Stevie had laughed so hard she cried when Alex told her about the conversation he'd had with Brett earlier.
"I'm so sorry Alex I should have told you but I was so busy with the babies it completely slipped my mind." She cackled.
Initially angry at her for the lack of information Alex eventually saw the funny side to the entire saga.
Brett enjoyed Stevie's laughter so much he'd quipped at Alex. "Mate if it makes you feel better if I had to turn gay for anyone it would be for you."
…..
"Hey!" Alex exclaimed.
Stevie stifled a giggle then made a funny snorting noise and rolled back on the couch laughing again.
Tess and Nick laughed too, thoroughly enjoying Alex's expressions and responses.
Later after the children went to bed they sat and reminisced about their years on the rodeo circuit.
Tess and Nick sat silently taking it all in.
Both learning a little more about Stevie and Alex.
…
Finally Brett had thanked them for dinner and headed back to Drover's Run.
Alex had walked him out to his car and Brett had advised him that he'd been in contact with Tracy and that he'd arranged to meet her at the pub tomorrow.
"Good luck mate I hope she takes it all well." Alex states.
"Well I would imagine she'll be relieved that she can finally get on with her life too." Brett remarks.
…
"Do you think she'll let you have access to your son?" Alex asks.
"She has too Alex. I never pushed before because I thought we'd reconcile and I didn't want to antagonise her but with a divorce it's all different isn't it?" Brett replies.
"Ask Claire she had to deal with Peter she'll have more knowledge than me about that kind of stuff." Alex advises.
Alex watches as Brett begins to drive away and hopes his friend is going to be ok.
A small part of him hopes Brett causes Tracy pain like she inflicted on Alex all those years ago.
Stevie was right Tracy could be a bitch and as he opens the back door he wonders if Brett is really up for the fight he's about to instigate.
….
Tess has made coffee and the three are sitting discussing tomorrow's branding when Alex walks back into the room.
Stevie is feeding one of the babies.
"Gee I was only outside for a moment you're moving faster Stevie." Alex quips.
She grins and replies. "Nick got him for me Alex I'd still be on my way up the stairs if I'd gone."
Alex runs his hand across the baby's head as he sits back beside his wife.
…..
"So who is helping tomorrow?" Alex asks.
"Nat, Riley, Marcus, Kate, Tess and myself." Nick replies.
"I'd forgotten Nat was back from holidays. I was going to offer a few hours if Alexander and Amelia slept when Stevie and the bubs do. But you'll have more than enough with Nat." Alex muses.
"Yeah we will plus it's one of the smaller herds and there isn't as many young ones amongst them." Tess replies.
…..
"Our delivery of the trees arrived today so we'll have to get them in as soon as possible too." Nick adds.
"They'll have to wait until next week our calendar is full until Tuesday." Tess suggests.
Nick nods.
"Is that for the house paddocks or the hillview paddock? Alex asks.
"House paddocks first and then we'll do hillview. Nick replies.
….
Alex desperately wants to ask Nick if he'd rung the doctor about his concerns with Tess's pregnancy but as he didn't know if Nick had told Tess about their conversation refrained from asking.
Both Nick and Tess appear relaxed and happy so Alex decides everything must be ok.
The monitor alerts them to the other baby being awake and Alex rises to get him.
…..
Drover's Run …The following morning…
Claire and Brett are sitting on the steps out the front discussing visitation rights.
Claire was taken aback when he'd asked to speak privately to her and then when he brought the subject of access up she'd tried to give him a woman's perspective.
She spoke honestly to him and told him how she'd struggled through the initial part of Peter's access visits with Charlotte.
Claire also cautioned him about Tracy and gave her opinion on how Tracy will react and that she'll come out swinging for him.
…..
"Thanks for listening Claire I really appreciate your time." Brett states.
"You're welcome Brett. I hope it works out for you." Claire replies.
"One more thing Claire once I get access to Israel do you think we can work the roster so I can spend time with him?" Brett asks.
"I'm sure we can work something out that will suit all of us." Claire replied.
"I'd better get going, I don't want to be late." Brett states as he stands.
Claire holds out her hand and says. "Good luck."
"Yeah thanks." Brett replies then moves over to his car.
….
Kilarney…. The holding yards….
Dave pulls up at the yards and moves towards Nick.
"Hi!" Nick calls.
"G'day! G'day!" Dave replies then asks. "Where's Tess?"
Nick points to where she is.
Nodding Dave offers. "I've just met Grace's sister Regan and she's on her way to Drover's to meet Claire and Jodi. She thought you and Tess might like to meet her too."
….
Nick responds. "What's she like?"
"She's smart and pretty plus she's got a cute smile and a nice figure." Dave replies.
"I meant is she a nice person?" Nick asks.
"Oh yeah I guess she is." Dave grins.
Nick shakes his head and calls Tess over.
….
Gungellan….Outside the pub…
"You lousy bastard! A divorce! I haven't done anything wrong and yet you have the audacity to ask me for a divorce?" Tracy screeches.
"Keep it down would ya. You're frightening the little fellow .We don't need to let everyone know our business." Brett warns.
"You think I'm going to drive Israel all the way out here for access you've got another thing coming." Tracy snarls.
"I thought I could meet you half way." He replies trying desperately to keep his voice calm.
….
"We live six hours from here if you think I'll drive for six hours out and back twice on a weekend every second weekend your stupider than I thought you were." Tracy snaps.
"You will do it because I deserve to see my son. You've kept him from me for twelve months Tracy and I've done nothing wrong. True to my word I rode the circuit for one more year and then I found regular work so we could settle down. But I've realized I don't love you anymore and it wouldn't be fair to any of us to continue." He explains.
"You abandoned us." She countered.
"I did no such thing. You left me Tracy and we both know it." Brett snarls at her finally losing his cool.
….
Kilarney…..Late in the afternoon….
Alex is sitting outside with Amelia and Alexander when Stevie joins them.
Looking up Alex smiles. "You look happy."
She grins back at him and replies. "I just bought something for you online."
"Really! Do tell?" Alex grins back at her.
"No it's a Father's Day present so you'll have to wait." She responds.
He frowns and says. "I don't like surprises."
"Tough you still have to wait." She answers trying not to smile.
…..
Amelia and Alexander chatter to Stevie and she gingerly sits on the grass with them.
"I'll go and get you a cushion Stevie." Alex offers.
"No I'm alright Alex really I am." She replies.
He sits down beside her and they enjoy watching the children play.
…..
"Car coming." Stevie states.
"It's a police car. I wonder what they want?" Alex voices.
Standing up he helps Stevie to her feet and they walk towards the drive.
…
"G'day Alex! Stevie!" Sargent Bill Morrison states.
"G'day Bill what brings you out this way?" Alex asks.
"You're both friends with Brett Higgins aren't you?" Bill asks.
They both agree.
"What's wrong?" Stevie asks.
…..
"Did you know he was married and has a child?" Bill asks.
They both reply in the positive and give Bill any information they have.
"His wife has reported he's abducted the little boy and taken off. I've got a search warrant for his room." Bill offers.
Stevie and Alex exchange glances then Alex replies. "Brett lives on Drover's Run Bill not here."
"Oh Tracy said he was here." Bill responds.
"No he was here for a couple of nights when he first arrived but he's been on Drover's for months." Stevie replies.
…..
Bill looks puzzled.
"Alex!" Moira calls.
The trio turn to her.
…
Stevie frowns and asks. "Who's this Moira?"
"I have no idea. I thought one of you could enlighten me. I heard a noise in the living room and thought you must have come back inside and when I went to investigate this little guy was playing in the toy box." Moira explains.
Pulling a photo from his pocket Bill offers it to Alex and says. "This is a recent photo of Israel Higgins."
Alex looks at the photo and passes it to Stevie who in turn hands it to Moira.
Moira looks at the little boy in her arms and says. "Hello is your name Israel?"
"Me Israel!" He replies with a big smile on his face.
….
….
