Drover's Run….The tennis court…
The crowd has thinned after the Grand Final match and the stall holders begin packing up.
Tess has left Harrison with Nick while Jodi and Kate have whisked Stevie away from Liz Ryan.
"I'll make Hot chocolate." Jodi offers and disappears in the side door.
Stevie strains her neck looking for Alex and possibly Rose.
Neither appears.
….
"You ok?" Tess asks.
"Yep." Stevie replies putting her feet upon one of the other chairs.
"I didn't know she was coming." Tess offers.
"Tess relax I'm fine and as she gets to stay with you I get to escape." Stevie offers grinning at her sister-in-law while hiding her fury .
Tess screws up her nose and exclaims.
"Damn I didn't think of that. Can I have a slumber party at your place?" Tess pleads.
Stevie laughs.
…..
Kate looks up as Jodi arrives with a tray with four mugs on it.
Standing she helps distribute them.
"So why is this photographer coming?" Jodi asks.
Stevie shrugs her shoulders and replies. "Because Alex invited him."
"What's he like?" Tess asks.
"He's a lovely guy, very good looking, maybe late thirties early forties." Stevie replies.
"Oh I thought he was really old Stevie you said he was semi -retired." Kate states.
…
The conversation ends.
Stevie looks across the veranda and smiling states. "Hello Peter welcome to Drover's Run.'
"Hello Stevie it's lovely to see you again. I'm a bit later coming through because I kept stopping to take photos. You were right it's a beautiful part of the country." Peter offers as he moves across to shake her outstretched hand.
"Peter this is my sister-in-law Tess and my friends Kate and Jodi." Stevie offers.
Peter shakes their hands and says. "Pleased to meet you. This is a fantastic house. So much character. I hope you don't mind but I've taken a few photos of it from the driveway, I'll give them to Alex to pass on."
Tess beams and says. "Thank you we all love it."
"It's even better now that the hot water system has been replaced." Jodi chuckles.
All four women enjoy the joke.
Peter smiles at their reaction.
…
"Would you like a hot chocolate?" Jodi asks.
"Um no Alex said he was going to get us both a beer." Peter replies looking around.
"Take a load off Peter. " Stevie suggests taking her feet off the chair and pushing it towards him.
Smiling he thanks her and sits down.
Alex walks out the door and hands Peter a beer.
...
"Where's your Mother?" Stevie asks softly.
Alex leans down and replies. " Handballed her to Nick."
"Clever boy." Stevie comments gently tapping his face.
He grins and nods before looking at Peter and asking. " How long are you with us for ?"
Peter looks surprised and replies. "The invitataion was just for overnight wasn't it?"
...
"If you can fend for yourself you can stay longer, tomorrow we have to bring a mob in for the sales." Alex replies.
"A mob of what?" Peter asks.
"Cattle." Stevie replies.
"I thought cattle were a herd?" Peter questions.
"Either! Either! " Stevie quips.
"So cattle can be a mob." Peter questions.
"People, sheep, cattle all a mob ." Tess answers.
Peter nods and looking back at Alex asks. "How do you round them up?"
"On Kilarney mostly with motorbikes here on Drover's they prefer horses. Tomorrow we'll be on horseback because Stevie prefers it that way and Rose will be heading off to boarding school soon and we thought she'd enjoy the ride." Alex responds.
"Rose?" Peter asks.
"Our daughter." Stevie replies.
Peter looks shocked. "Daughter? But you've just had your honeymoon."
...
Alex laughs loudly and informs Peter. " Stevie had Rose when we were teenagers Peter. She's thirteen now."
"Oh." Peter replies looking uncomfortable.
The conversation doesn't continue as Nick arrives with Liz.
"Where's Harrison?" Tess asks.
"Rose has got him she's just talking to Riley about her horse." Nick replies sitting on the window sill.
Alex stands up and offers his chair to his Mother.
...
"We might head off Stevie. Have you finished your chocolate?"
Taking a final mouthful Stevie stands and answers. " Yes all done."
"You helping tomorrow Nick?" Alex asks.
"Yes Tess is looking after Harrison so Jodi, Kate and I will be over to help you."
"What about Grace?"
"No she'll be helping Dave and Tess with the preg testing."
"Righto, see ya Mum." Alex replies bending to kiss his Mother.
Liz reaches up to touch his face. " Yes my darling it was lovely seeing you. Stevie congratulations on the baby."
"Yeah ta." Stevie responds moving inside.
Peter feels the tension and wonders what he's walked into.
...
"Ya right mate?" Alex asks.
Peter stands and replies. " Yes good timing I've finished my beer.
"Best get one for the road then. Come on." Alex remarks as he follows Stevie.
"I'll be back I'll just grab Harrison." Nick comments and follows the others.
"Right Liz a cup of tea?" Tess asks sensing trouble.
"Yes thank you I'm parched." Liz responds.
...
Rose is standing leaning against a car chatting to Riley as Harrison plays at her feet.
" We're going home Rose come on." Stevie calls her anger barely disguised.
" Riley can you take Harrison to Tess please?" Nick asks.
Riley swiftly picks the little boy up and moves off aware something isn't right.
...
" What's wrong?" Rose asks as she follows her Mother to the car.
" Just get in." Stevie snaps.
Rose baulks.
" Get in!" Stevie demands.
" Stevie ." Alex calls catching her up.
She turns back a mixture of anger and pain etched on her beautiful face.
...
He moves to hug her.
She pushes away.
"Don't!" She growls.
"Take no notice of her ."
" No notice? We lost two babies Alex. Two! And she can't even say congratulations to me. I'm carrying your child and she's still treating me like I'm something she stepped in. Just keep her away from me Alex."
"Two?" Rose questions.
"Stevie don't listen to her . You're better than that let it go." Nick offers.
" Two babies? When did you lose the other one?" Rose pushes.
Suddenly aware of Peter standing within earshot Stevie replies." I'm sorry this is not the time or place for any of this. Get in the car Rose we'll talk on the way home."
Rose does as she's told.
...
Alex looks tense as Stevie drives away.
"You alright?" Nick asks.
" My pregnant wife is upset Nick what do you reckon."
" I'll try to keep Mum here ." Nick offers.
" Don't try Nick make it happen please."
Nick nods his head .
Looking over at Peter Alex comments." Sorry about that mate, she'll have calmed down by the time she gets home. You might as well come in my car."
Peter nods and replies." No I'll follow you I've got all my gear in the back and I like to keep it close by."
" You go with Peter Alex I'll bring your Ute over tomorrow." Nick encourages.
...
The road between Drovers and Kilarney...
" You said two babies. Why didn't you tell me?" Rose asks.
" I'm sorry Rose but it was all too painful to talk about. Alex and I just dealt with our grief and moved on." Stevie replies.
" What went wrong?"
"We don't know. Just one of those things I guess. " Stevie replies before reaching over and taking Rose's hand.
" We've got you and this new Bub and we just want to focus on the positives ok?" Stevie asks.
Rose squeezes her Mother's hand and even though she's full of questions smiles and replies." Ok."
...
" I'm sorry about that Peter ." Alex offers as they drive towards Kilarney.
"Families have a way of sneaking up on you at the most inopportune moments." Peter replies.
" Hmmm." Alex responds.
Silently they travel along.
" You know us blokes always make jokes about our Mother-in-laws but in my experience it's the women who get the raw deal." Alex muses.
" I wouldn't know I've never been married." Peter replies.
" Really why is that?"
"Travelling mostly never stayed in one place long enough to let someone catch me." Peter chuckles.
" Too old now hey!" Alex quips.
Peter looks at him and grins." How old do you think I am?"
" I don't know , you're semi retired. Maybe fifty but you keep yourself in good shape." Alex replies.
Peter laughs heartily." I'm only thirty eight Alex."
"Bloody hell really? I guess that's why you're a young looking fifty." Alex remarks.
" Thanks." Peter responds.
" This is our drive coming up now." Alex directs.
" Wow." Peter remarks as they traverse the treed driveway.
" And double wow." He exclaims as the house comes into view.
...
Stevie is standing near the small wooden bridge that leads to the house path.
"Hey." Alex calls testing her mood.
"Hey." She replies.
" We ok?" He asks.
Slowly she nods and walks into his arms.
" I'm sorry Alex ?"
" Yeah I know , just as well I'm crazy about you isn't it?"
She sqeezes tight .
Stepping back she looks at Peter and offers." I'm sorry we aired all of that in front of you Peter my mother-in-law and I only just tolerate each other."
" That's fine Stevie ,honestly my job has landed me in the middle of some absolute doozies of arguments just as well I have thick skin." He replies.
She smiles at him and he smiles back.
" Ok let's start again. Welcome to Kilarney." She offers.
Peter answers." It's even better than your description was Alex, in fact I'd go as far as claiming its picture perfect."
Alex stands just little taller and his heart swells a little more with pride as he offers." Wait until you see the inside Stevie redecorated just before we got married and its bloody fantastic."
Stevie smiles up at him and adds." My tradie was the best."
Alex laughs and quips." Ya could of made a tradies calendar Stevie and sold me at the truck stop."
"Tempting but no I'll keep you to myself." She chuckles as she ushers Peter towards the house.
