Kilarney…. Evening….
Stevie and Tess sit quietly chatting in the lounge room and the conversation halts as Alex enters the room.
"Here you go ladies two hot chocolates with marshmallows and chocky biscuits too."
"Thanks Alex. Did you ring Nick for me?" Tess enquires looking equally sad and angry.
Alex nods and replies." Yeah I did he'll stop texting you now he knows you're safe.
He wanted to come over but I told him you needed some time and space."
Tess nods and looks teary again.
She'd spent the last couple of hours pouring out her heart and soul to Stevie.
Alex had taken charge of the boys and together with Xander had worn them out playing outside.
He'd bathed them, fed them and dressed them for bed.
Two stories were all he'd managed to read them before they'd drifted off to sleep.
…
"I'm sorry you had to look after the boys Alex." Tess comments.
He smiles and replies." She's right Tess I had the best afternoon with them and they had a ball too."
"Were they any trouble getting ready for bed?"
"Not at all, they were so excited to share the bath and I've put them all together on a big mattress on the floor. They were out like a light." He answers.
"Oliver isn't in a cot?" Tess asks sounding concerned.
"Don't panic Tess we've got the stair safety gate up there so even if he could get out of the room he can't access the stairs plus I put the door guard on their room. They're going nowhere until we open the gate or lift them over it."
Tess exhales deeply and nods.
….
Drovers Run….. The dining room….
Everyone is extremely quiet as they sit to eat the evening meal.
Tess's absence upper most in their thoughts.
Jodi had set a place for Tess, Harrison and had the high chair for Oliver pushed up against the table.
"Will Tess be here soon?" Grace enquires.
"No she won't'"
"When will she be home?" Jodi asks.
"None of your business."
"Nick." Jodi voiced softly.
Nick glared at her initially.
Jodi smiles and tilts her head at him inquiringly.
….
Nick inhales deeply then offers." She's staying on Kilarney for the night."
Jodi nods then asks. "Everything going to be ok?"
Nick sits with his knife and fork in hand staring at his meal for a moment.
"We had a fight about Mum." He offers quietly.
Jodi shakes her head and exclaims. "You and Alex need your heads read Nick. Honest to god that woman is nothing but trouble when she's involved in your lives."
Nick looks angry at first then answers. "That's what Tess said."
"She sounded so angry. I've never heard her that angry and then for her to run! She's never done that before." Jodi comments.
Nick looks surprised and questions. "You heard us?"
"Kind of hard to miss." Grace injects.
Nick looks stunned.
"We'd just come over the rise as Tess yelled at you and drove off." Jodi adds.
Nick nods.
…
The meal is eaten quietly as they all take in the severity of Tess's absence.
A loud knocking and a call of …. "Hello,"…. livens them all up.
"In here Alan." Jodi calls.
Alan Thompson strides into the room with a bottle of wine in his hand.
"Evening all!" Alan offers before giving Grace a quick kiss.
"Grab a seat." Grace suggests.
Alan sits beside her and offers up the wine.
"Cooee anyone home." Dave yells as he knocks happily along the wall leading to the dining room.
"In here." Jodi calls.
"Evening all" Dave offers.
Jodi smiles at him then he greets her.
"Where's Tess and the boys?" Dave asks.
"Having a sleepover on Kilarney and helping Stevie with the picnic races stuff." Jodi replies.
Dave nods suspecting nothing and the conversations continue.
Nick gains eye contact with Jodi and mouths. "Thank You."
She smiles and joins in the conversation.
….
Kilarney…
"Tess while you're here would you give me a hand with some of the picnic races stuff?" Stevie asks.
"Yeah sure. What do you need help with?"
"Just working out prizes for the winners."
Stevie hands several papers to Tess and offers. "We need first, second and third place prizes plus I really feel we should offer up a prize for best effort you know an encouragement award. What do you think about introducing an event for children." Stevie remarks.
Tess peruses the papers and replies. "That's such a lovely idea Stevie to offer encouragement. As we've got children now it would be nice to offer up an event for the younger members of the community."
"That's what I thought too."
"Ok what kind of race and are we having different age groups?"
"Hmm maybe pre-school then 6 to 10 and 11 to 17? For the littlest I think more of an obstacle course you know something simple and not speed based. What do you think?"
"Yeah that sounds great the little kids will love it and the older ones will have a chance to show the local's what they can do."
"Are you going home in the morning Tess?"
Tess looks at her friend and replies. "I think I will Stevie , I shouldn't have run."
Stevie chuckles and quips. "You're turning into me."
Tess deadpans and offers "Oh goodness me no, one Stevie Hall in the district is more than enough I think!"
Stevie grins broadly then replies. "Ryan the name is Stevie Ryan thank you very much."
Both girls laugh and the tension that permeated the air earlier slips away.