After the rodeo, Drover's and Killarney managed to stay on their side on the boundaries until one evening.
"Harry!' Terry called as he approached them. "We've got a missing ram. I think he may have pushed through the fences towards Drover's. Want me to go have a look?"
"I'll go," Alex was quick to offer. "Claire can tell me if she's seen him."
"Nah, you've got enough on your plate today. You too, Terry," Harry said anticipating the next question. "I'll send Jen. She's not busy right now." He walked towards the house missing both of the disappointed looks from the men behind him.
KL
The woman of Drover's run were sitting on the porch after a hard day having a beer. The red ute pulled up in the driveway and Claire expected Nick, but was surprised to see Jen emerge from the driver's side.
"What are you doing here?" Claire asked as the other woman approached the porch.
Jen leaned against the porch post. "We lost our ram. I offered to come over and see if he ended up here. Did he?"
"Haven't seen him. Meg?" Claire asked, looking at the other woman.
"I think the sheep would've let us know if there was a ram about." Meg says with a soft smile. She stood up. "I'm headed to bed. Night." She said before leaving the porch.
"Me too." Becky said. She motioned with her bottle. "Thanks for the beer."
"Night." Claire told them as Becky gave a wave and walked off to the shearers shed. Claire turned to Jen. "Beer?" She offered holding one out.
"Ta." Jen said with a smile. She came over and took the beer from Claire's hand. She settled into Meg's vacated seat and cracked open the beer before taking a drink. "This is nice." She observed, glancing around the porch.
"Yeah. Been a while since you've been here." Claire said.
"I thought neighbors didn't vists each other in the country." Tess said.
"Well we don't do the pop over, but we've had a few beers over the years." Jen told her with secret smile toward Claire.
"A few forbidden beers." Claire snorted in laughter.
"Underage drinking? This I got to see." Tess commented.
"Alex started it." Jen told her.
"But you didn't stop him!" Claire shot back. "You're his sister!"
"Yeah but he listens better to you." Jen admitted, taking another drink.
Claire settled back in her chair. "Yeah, you're right." She grinned as they shared another secret smile and giggled.
"How are you adjusting to country life, Tess? Has Claire gotten you on a horse yet?" Jen asked.
"Yeah, right." Tess took a drink. She realized they were still looking at her. "I fell off." She said in embarrassment. "When I was trying to open the gate. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"It happens to everyone." Jen told her. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Well, that does make me feel slightly better." Tess replied, crossing her arms. "Has Claire ever fallen off?"
Jen glanced at Claire. "Heaps actually."
"But not anymore!" Claire was quick to point out. "I've been fall free for over a decade now."
"Unless you trying to ride a wild one like your dad's devil horse."
"He's what?" Tess asked.
Claire held up a hand. "He's a little temperamental, I'll admit. But Dad was putting it on when he called him a devil horse," She turned to Tess. "If you want tips for what not to do, you can talk to Jen. She was such a bad rider as a kid, Dad banned her from coming over here on a horse." She chuckled.
"I could give some pointers." Jen told Tess. "If you're up for it?"
"Yeah. That would be great." Tess told her. "How about Saturday?"
"It's a deal." Jen told her. They clinked bottles and drank in silence for a while.
KL
Claire raised her eyebrows at Nick and Alex as they also get out of their car parked behind the vet's ute. "Geez. I only asked for the vet, not all the Ryan siblings in one day," She told them.
"Uh, we just wanted to see if you're okay," Alex said.
Claire grinned. "Sure you did. Tess and Jen are down there." She pointed over her shoulder.
"Jen? I thought she was in town today? What's she doing here?" Alex asked. He looked at Nick who just shrugged.
"Ask Tess." Claire told him as Alex left to find Tess and Jen.
"This is a change, Claire." Greg, the vet said. "Tight as your old man, aren't you?"
"Well, if you came here more often, Greg, people would talk." Claire told him with a smile.
Greg grinned. "They like to talk about me anyway. Shall we?" He motioned to the barn.
"What's wrong with your horse?" Nick asked as all three of them walked into the barn.
"Probably nothing. Just has the hots for Greg that's all." Claire quipped getting a grin from the other two men.
KL
"This is ridiculous!" Tess said in exasperation, hopping on one foot after Oscar moved away from her. She put her foot down. "Why won't he let me ride?"
"I think you're actually preventing yourself from riding." Jen said to her. "Try to relax."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Tess muttered angrily.
"Just spend some more time getting to know him," Jen suggested.
Tess mocked her silently turning to Oscar. She tried to mount again, but didn't even move her foot before the horse walked away from her.
"Tess, I can't teach you to ride if you can't mount," Jen said with a sigh, taking off her hat.
"I know. I know." Tess growled. She took the reins from Jen and stroked Oscar's neck before talking in a low tone to him. Jen stepped away to give them a little bit of space.
"It's just a saying you know. You don't actually have to whisper."
Both woman turned to see Alex standing at the gate, watching them.
"I know that." Tess called to him.
"What are you doing here?" Jen asks walking towards the gate.
"I could ask you the same question." Alex said. "But I came to see Tess' great repertoire with animals."
Tess made a face at him. "Very funny. Do you mind? We're quite busy actually."
"Doing what?" Alex chuckled. "Have you even gotten to teaching her the riding bit yet?" He asked Jen.
"Well we're getting to know each other a bit better." Tess said, defending Jen's technique.
"I have much better way of doing that." Alex told her. "No whispering involved."
"Really? You? An expert?" Tess asked in mild disbelief.
"Well, I haven't had any complaints so far."
"Oh god." Jen exclaimed quietly, rolling her eyes behind Alex's back. "It's like a bad movie."
Alex ignored his sister. "Mount up." He told Tess, taking the reins from her. "I'll hold him."
Encouraged by Alex's presence, Tess managed to do just that. Alex handed her the reins and then checked the stirrup by yanking on it.
"Ow!" Tess exclaimed.
"Now. The whole idea is to relax." Alex told her.
"I am relaxed." Tess muttered at him between gritted teeth.
Jen shook her head, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
"You gotta show him whose boss. Remember you're in charge, not him."
"Be bossy, be friendly, what's a girl supposed to do?" Tess quipped, referring to her earlier conversation with both Claire and Jen.
"Yeah, well some people think that the horse gets to be the boss." Alex said.
"That's not what it means." Jen told him from a few feet away. She shook her head again. They'd been having this argument ever since they'd both learned to ride.
Alex swung onto Oscar and sat behind Tess, just behind the saddle.
"Hey. What are you doing?" Tess exclaimed, not expecting that.
"Relax, remember? Now I'm just going to check out your seat." His hands groped lower and lower.
"Alex!" Jen squeaked, hiding her eyes.
Tess stopped his hands before anything happened. "Alex, that is not my seat." She told him, a lot quieter then Jen had been. She adjusted her seat. "Anyways. My seat is fine."
Alex slapped the rump of Oscar. "Hey!" Tess yelled as they take off across the paddock at a full gallop.
"Typical bloody bloke," Jen muttered. Turning around, she left the paddock, deciding to search for Nick and Claire. She found them in the barn, just as Greg was leaving.
"Is everything alright?" She asked. "Claire?"
"Sorocco is sick." Nick tells her as Claire continues to walk the horse in a circle, up and down. "He's off his feed. Greg was just here and he said to walk him until… he… uh…"
"Ah." Jen nodded in agreement. "I got it."
"Where's Alex?" Nick asked.
"How's Tess doing?" Claire managed to ask, pulling her mind off the horse for a second.
"Tess is fine. Alex is with her." Jen told them. "Just focus on Sorocco, Claire. You sister will be fine." Even as she said it, she knew that Claire was already not paying attention.
"I'm going to stay." Nick told her as Claire walked away from them, leading the horse.
"You sure?" Jen asked him.
"Yeah." Nick nodded again.
"Alright." Jen squeezed his arm. "I'll wait a while for Alex to come back before taking his ute home."
"Good idea." Nick told her. "That way he can't yell at me for you leaving him behind. Tell Mum I won't be home for dinner."
"Ok." Jen left the barn, but looked back as she watched Nick and Claire together. She knew that her dad and Jack has talked about those two marrying once upon a time, but now things might just be getting serious.
KL
Instead of waiting outside with the ute, Jen went into the house in search of Meg and a cup of tea. She always knew that the housekeeper would have something waiting around for visitors. "Mm. Thanks, Meg." She exclaimed setting down the mug of hot chocolate. "This is delicious."
"I always keep some on hand in case we have some little visitors around here." Meg confided in her. "Not that it's likely, but one like to be prepared."
"Well, since I hate coffee, this is the next best thing." Jen told her, taking a drink.
"Would you mind doing me a favor?" Meg asked quietly.
Jen nodded, having just taken another sip from her mug.
Meg took out a watch from her apron pocket. "This belongs to Terry. He left if here when he came searching for that wayward bull. Can you give it back to him?"
"Sure." Jen agreed, taking it from her. "It's the least I can do for this." She held up the mug indicating it's contents.
The phone in the corner of the room rang, but Meg didn't get up to answer it.
"Shouldn't you get that?" Jen asked in confusion.
"It's Harry, your father." Meg admitted. "He keeps calling for Alex. He's called about three times already."
A commotion comes from the yard. "Sounds like he is back finally." Jen said, finishing up her hot chocolate quickly. She got up and put the mug on the table. "Ta." She waved as she headed out the back door. She came into the yard just in time to hear the end of Alex and Tess's conversation.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Alex was asking her.
"Don't know. Whatever act of tortue Claire can come up with next." She smiled back at him.
"About time, Alex." Jen told him with a frown. "Apparently Dad's called three times looking for you."
"Hmm. Someone's in trouble." Tess teased as Alex slid off the back of the horse.
"Nah. Can't manage without me, that's all." Alex quipped. "What's that?"
Jen looks down to see that she had been idly playing with the watch Meg had given to her. "Oh. Meg asked me to give it back to Terry. Apparently he took it off when he came looking for that bull the other day."
"Bull?" Alex asked, confused.
Jen gave him a meaningful look.
"Ah, yeah. I always take my watch off when I'm looking for bulls." Alex said trying to hide a grin. Meg and Terry wasn't a great secret to the adults, but they tried to respect them by keeping it quiet.
They all look over to see Jodi and Becky come back in the ute.
"Geez, Beck! What happened to you?" Alex exclaimed. "Who cut your hair? The Council?"
Jen gasped quietly. Some days her brother was a real sensitive dude.
"Bite your bum, Alex." Becky shot back just as quickly as the two girls walked over to the trio.
"Wouldn't get a date in the park with hairdo like that." Alex teased.
Jen slapped Alex on the arm. "Shut up, mate."
Becky ignored her. "That's the only place you get one, Stumpy." She wiggled her little finger.
This time it, Tess and Jen who are a little shocked by the force of the comeback. They all look at Alex.
"Oh, it doesn't mean what you think." Alex tries to reassure them, scoffing at the prospect.
"It means she knocked you back." Tess giggled.
"Oh get away." Alex replied. He quickly changes the subject, looking at Jen. "Uh, where's Nick?"
"Helping Claire." Jen replied. Alex left for the barn. "If you're not back in ten minutes, I'm leaving without you!" Jen hollered after him. "You can walk back!"
Tess chuckled at that remark.
Jodi turned to Becky. "They say size doesn't matter, right?" She asked quietly.
"That's what men like to think!" Becky replied with a grin.
KL
It wasn't too long before Alex came back out of the barn and headed for the car. Jen was already waiting inside, anticipating the quick get away. Alex slide into the driver's seat and closed the door. "He's staying the night,"
"Yep," Jen replied, not looking up from the book in her hand.
He turned to face her, leather seat squeaking under his weight. "Well how do you think Dad's going to react?"
"Badly,"
"Yeah, so what are we going to do about it?" Alex asked.
Jen sighed and put the book down on her lap, finger marking the spot. "Alex. Just drive home. Please?"
Alex studied her for a moment before asking his final question. "What's he doing?"
"Taking care of a friend," She turned back to her book. "If you don't like it, maybe you shouldn't have been off playing handsome knight to Tess."
Alex turned away and started the car. "I'm still going to cop it," he muttered under his breath before backing down the driveway.
KL
Nick was grateful for the ride that Tess gave him back to Killarney after the long day of being with Claire and the horse. He wasn't upset at how the day had gone, but he knew that if Claire lost her dad's horse, she was going to have a rough time.
"Penny for your thoughts," Tess said jerking him out of his musings.
"Sorry?"
"You're staring out the window," Tess told him. "Do you think the horse is going to be alright?"
"I hope so," Nick replied, returning his gaze to the window as they drove up the Killarney driveway.
"Night!" Tess waved from inside her car as she drove off down the driveway.
"Night." Nick said lifting a hand. He turned to go inside the house, but stopped as Jen came out, dressed warmly in a sweater and clutching a blanket around her shoulders. "How's the horse?" She asked.
"Claire is still walking him," Nick admitted. "It doesn't look good."
"That's too bad," Jen said quietly. "You should know that Dad's fit to blow. You've missed a whole day worth of work."
"Yeah, I know," Nick said, walking towards the house. "I'll deal with it." He turned back to look at her. "You'd think he'd at least be happy that Claire and I are spending time together."
Jen snorted. "Yeah, right. The only thing that makes Dad happy is if he's in charge of it. If he didn't come up with the plan, it doesn't matter." She followed him up the porch stairs and into the house, closing the door behind them.
KL
A few days later, Harry quietly pulled the paper away from his face and sneaked a glance in at his wife. They were sitting together on the outdoor porch drinking the coffee and reading the newspaper. It was an afternoon ritual for the two of them when things were going well.
Lately things were going alright and he was grateful for it. He smiled as Liz caught his eye, put folded the paper away as he heard the motorbike pull into the yard. It was Alex covered in mud, and he couldn't quite see who the girl was.
"Good heavens." Liz muttered under her breath at the sight of them, but it's apparently by their laughter that everything is fine. It's just a bit of mud. The woman turned and Harry realizes that he's looking at Tess, Claire's half sister.
Alex guides Tess over to the porch and Harry got to his feet. "Hey! Welcome to Killarney," he said, greeting Tess.
"Thanks. How are you?" She asked with a smile.
"All the better for seeing you, Tess," he replied.
"Tess?" Liz said in surprise. "The famous Tess. You're Claire's sister."
"Uh, sorry, Mum," Alex apologies for bungling the introductions. "Tess Sliverman. This is my mum, Liz."
"Hi!" Tess stuck out her hand, all covered in mud. "Oh." She wiped it off, but not enough for Liz to take her hand. "I didn't know places like this existed anymore. I think I might have to use to servant's entrance."
"Oh, no," Harry laughed.
"Yes, I've been hearing a lot about you. But I was under the impression that you're only here on a short stay?" Liz asked.
Harry didn't miss the look at Tess gave Alex.
"Really depends on how long Claire and I can go before killing each other," Tess replied.
"Yeah. I can imagine that."
"Hey, Mum?" Jen came bounding into the outdoor porch, dressed up from coming back from Fisher.
It caused Harry some concern. She was going out a lot lately. He might have to ask Liz if there was a boy on the horizon. She'd had boyfriends in the past, but nothing serious, schoolgirl crushes. No one good enough for her yet.
Jen stopped when she saw her brother. "Oh. Whatever happened to you two? Mud wrestling championship? Any winners?" She grinned. Alex coughed quietly, indicating something that Harry wouldn't quite catch. He wondered when his children had started speaking in code around them.
"So where's this spa bath you've been talking me about, Alex?" Tess asked in the silence that pervaded.
"Oh! Right this way." Alex grinned and bowed like a butler as he pointed her towards the house.
They left rather quickly, leaving Liz behind to catch up. Harry could tell that she wasn't too pleased at not being asked.
He realized he was frowning when his daughter's grin faded when she looked up at him. While she may had inherited Nick's sandy hair and eyes, Nick was significantly taller then his sister.
"You put Nick's ute back where you found it?" He asked, giving her a smile to let her know he was just teasing.
The smile came back to her face. "Yeah. He asked me to give the keys to you, so he can find them again."
Harry chuckled. "He still giving you a hard time about losing them?"
Jen wrinkled her nose as she handed Harry the keys. "Yes."
"You're not going to live that one down," he told her. Something caught his attention and he took her hand instead. "What's this? Blood?"
Jen looked down and took her hand back. "Oh, uh. Nothing. I must have gotten a paper cut earlier in the day, didn't notice."
"Make sure your mum cleans that up for you." Harry told her. "Don't need it getting infected."
"Ok." Jen assured him. "I assume Tess is staying for dinner?"
"Yes. And it would be good for you to be here," he told her pointedly.
"I'll be there," she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then ran off towards the house.
Harry smiled and shook his head as she left. It was good to see her happy again. Even if it was because of a boy. He clutched the keys in his hand. On second thought, maybe it was for the best that she lose the keys to Nick's ute. Just until he found out what was going on.
KL
Liz stopped Jen as she was about to go up the stairs. "Genevieve? Will you run this up to Tess in the bathroom? She'll need something to wear while her clothes are in the wash."
"Sure." Jen said. Her mum handed Jen the dress and went off towards the kitchen.
Jen held the clothing up to the light. "Ugh." She whispered. "No thanks." She headed up the stairs only to pass Nick on his way down. The smirk on his face made her do a double take. "What's wrong with your face?" She asked.
"Nothing." Nick replied, managing to wipe the smirk off his face and continuing down the stairs.
"Right." Jen said unconvinced. She continued up the stairs and knocked on the bathroom door.
"Just get a life already." Tess says teasingly, through the door.
"Uh, the one I have suits me just fine. Especially after today." Jen replied, confused.
Tess opened the door quickly. Her hair was wet and she was wearing one of her mum's bathrobes.
"Oh, sorry," she grinned. "I thought you were one of the boys again."
Jen's eyebrows went up. "Uh, yeah… Mum wanted me to bring you something to wear. It's just a dress she was going to give away, but…" She bundled the dress in her hands under one arm. "You can just choose something out my closet instead. I think we're about the same size."
"Sounds great." Tess says. "Lead the way!"
Jen showed her to her bedroom. "Take a look at what you'd like. I have to get into the bathroom to wash for dinner."
"Alright," Tess says.
Jen went into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She let out a deep breath and went to the sink. She washed her hands, making sure to scrub the blood off the underside of her palm. It wasn't the first time, she'd lied to her dad about something, but this time it felt different. Granted, it was bigger then anything she'd ever done before. She quickly cleaned herself up and went back into her room.
Tess was rehanging a dress into the closet.
"Find anything you like?" Jen asked.
"You have some cute clothes." Tess said, taking out a pair of pants. She held it against her waist. The legs engulfed her. "But I think I'm a little too short to wear any of it." She giggled.
Jen threw herself down on the bed, making the metal frame squeak. "Well. That is a problem then."
"I should have figured that was going to happen." Tess said, joining Jen on the bed. "I mean you and your brother are both quite.. um…"
"Skinny," Jen agreed. "And at least I didn't get his flat arse."
Tess laughed.
"Why don't you try this on?" Jen suggested. She held up the dress her mother gave her. "I think it's your size at least."
Tess took it from her and slipped it on. She looked at herself in the mirror. "Hmm. With a few modifications." She ripped some of the lace off and tightened it around the waist, giving her chest and waist definition.
"I'm impressed." Jen complimented her.
"Years of raiding the rag bin." Tess confided in her.
Jen bounced off the bed and took down her favorite dress. "I just have to throw this on and then I'm ready if you are."
Tess took the moment to walk over to the bookshelf and look at what there was there. She picked up a medical textbook hidden amongst the papers on the desk. "Are you training to become a doctor?" She asked, turning to face Jen.
Seeing the sudden look of panic on Jen's face, she tried to back track. "I mean, it was just sitting there…"
"It's alright." Jen assured her. She pulled down her shirt and walked over to Tess, taking the book. "It's leftover from uni. I was studying medicine, but it didn't work out."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. I bet you would have been good at it."
Jen smiled. "Thanks, Tess." She motioned to the door. "Shall we? I'm sure the boys can keep us occupied until dinnertime."
"Yes," Tess returned the smile. "We shall."
As she walked towards the door, Jen took a moment to shove the textbook under her bed before running after her.
KL
Jen took another deep breath as she and Tess walked into the living room. Her father and Nick were on the computer at the small breakfast table. They all looked up as they walked into the room. Jen can see it on all their faces, they didn't expect Tess to look quite so good all cleaned up. Jen wondered if her mother had a ulterior motive for giving that certain dress to Tess.
"Well you did say you were giving it away." Tess said to Liz. "What's this?" She asked about the computer Harry and Nick were leaning over.
"It's a program we've been using to get track of stock." Nick explained.
"It was Nick's idea," Jen told Tess. "But somehow he roped me into it and I've been stuck behind the computer screen for most of this week."
"Yeah, by choice," Nick scoffed.
"Oh, well does it check the fences for you?" Tess asked.
The satellite phone rings and Harry picks it up off the table, getting to his feet. "Yeah?" Harry left the table and computer behind. Nick took the seat that his father just vacated.
"How come you get reception?" Tess asked.
"Satellite." Nick responded. "It's quite helpful."
"I'll bet." Tess said. "I can't get a signal to save my life out at Drovers."
Alex cames into the room. "Ah, there you are!" He said to Tess. "Could I interest you in a tour of this fine estate?"
Jen and Nick could barely contain a snort at Alex's antics with Tess. They gave each other a look and then a grin. It had been a while since Jen felt this close with her brother. There had been a gap growing since they got back from uni.
"Yes, thank you." Tess said. She gave Jen and Nick a side glance. "You two coming?" She asked.
'"If you want us too." Nick replied to the invitation to the mild irritation of Alex.
"Yeah. It'll fun," Tess said with a grin.
KL
An hour later, and the four of them came through the back doors and into the dining room.
"I can't believe you have video monitors to see if your animals are having a drink." Tess exclaimed as she came through the doorway.
"Ah, there you are!" Liz said as they all brushed their feet off at the door. "We almost started without you!"
"Hello Mum, Dad." Alex greeted them. Tess stopped and took stock of the dining room. Alex continued further into the room and over to the beverage table. "What can I get you?" He asked, looking up at her.
"Ah, let me." Tess said, taking the shaker from him. "I can finally put my degree in hospitality to use. I make a killer cocktail," she looked up. "Can I offer anyone a martini? Cosmo? Long Island Tea? Or maybe a Screaming Orgasm?"
"No thanks, love, but I think we should have a drink first." Harry quipped coming over to the table.
Everyone laughed except Liz. "Good grief she's like a virus," she mumbled under her breath. Jen heard and looked at her with a confused look. What was going on with her mother?
"If you want to make me something, I'll try it." Jen tells Tess. "I've always wanted to try a fancier drink."
"Fancier like a Screaming… oof!" Alex cut off as Jen elbowed him in the ribs.
"Like you know what that is." Nick ribbed his brother quietly. Alex glared at him but couldn't reply with everyone else in the room.
"Mrs. Ryan? Anything?" Tess asked.
Liz raised her glass. "I'm fine with my plain old drink, thank you."
"Let's sit down." Harry said, moving everyone towards the table. "Rhonda should have the dinner ready soon."
Once everyone was settled at the table, Harry turned to their guest. "So Tess, how are you finding Meg's cooking over at Drovers?"
"I've heard she makes a mean apricot chicken." Alex chimed in.
"Apricots are great and I mean apart from the whole hormone thing, chicken is great too, but what I want to know if who thought up the great idea to put them together?"
"So we can assume it's not one of your favorites? You do seem to be quite passionate on the subject," Liz said.
"Oh, I've got nothing against Meg. It's just three times a week and you can get quite sick of it."
"Oh in that case I should just pop back into the kitchen and make you something else," Liz said.
Everyone at the table slowed down, sensing that there is something wrong. Jen looked towards her father before looking at her mother. Harry didn't seem to want to make any comment about it.
"Oh, there's no need of that really." Tess replied, subdued. "I'll eat anything."
Liz sat back down in her chair. "Actually, we're having lamb." She tells Tess quietly with a small grin.
Tess sighed in relief, not quite understanding what just happened.
"You should have seen the look on your face." Alex said with a grin.
Everyone laughed. A moment later, Jen joined in.
For a moment, it felt like it had when she was a teenager. The food was brought out and the family started eating. There was a general tone of unease amongst the laughing and conversation. Jen could feel it and she could tell that Tess was feeling it too. The conversation turns to Tess's latest project to bring the city to the country which lead to her and Alex covered with mud.
"Well, don't you think it would be better to get an electrician in and retire the whole house instead of a patch job?" She asked Harry.
Harry just shrugged.
"Rewire the whole house? That would be a costly job," Liz said.
"Look, I know it won't be cheap…" Tess started to explain. "I just think.."
"Well, I supposed when you've a huge overdraft then just adding more well it just becomes academic," Liz commented.
Tess stopped talking.
"Mum!" Jen whispered. She was sitting the closest to her and no one else could hear her chastise her mother except for Tess.
"Well who doesn't have a overdraft in the country?" Harry said trying to diffuse the landmine that had just ben set off. "Sounds like a lot of trouble to go to for a cup of coffee, love. Might be cheaper just to kick the habit." He chuckled at his own joke.
Alex is the next to laugh, followed by Nick and then Liz. Jen can't laugh at the joke, even though it's a good one. She can't believe that her mother, the one who drilled acting proper into her is acting like this again. It hasn't been this bad since Nick's accident.
KL
"Come on. I'll drive you home." Alex said after dessert has been served and the conversation has come to a lull. He got up from the table. "Great dinner, Mum."
"Yes, thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Ryan. Really. It was great," Tess said.
Liz nodded as she finished up the last bite of her pie.
"It was great to have you," Harry replied. "Well have to have you and Claire over again sometime."
"Come on." Alex said, motioning to her. Tess stood to her feet.
"Oh, let Jen do it. You've been working all day, darling." Liz said to Alex.
"It's alright. It's only down the way," Alex told her.
"If Jen doesn't mind. Alex, I have some things we have to go over for tomorrow." Harry said.
"I wouldn't mind getting out for a drive. It'll give Tess and me a chance to chat." Jen agreed.
"Great." Harry said. "It's decided. Jen will drive you," he told Tess.
"Tess, I put your clothes on the chair outside," her mother told their guest. "Don't forget to take them home."
"I won't. Thanks, Mrs. Ryan." Tess replied with a small smile.
"I'll walk you out." Alex told Tess as his parents got up from the table and left the dining room. He gave Jen an angry glare behind his parent's backs. Jen gave him one back, equally angry with him for trying to call her out.
Nick wanted to ask what's going on, but decided against it. "Night, Tess," He told her.
"Let's get out of here," Alex said and propelled Tess through the doorway, towards the front door. As soon as they were out of earshot of the others, he turned to his sister. "Genevive Adele."
"Alexander Meredith." She glared at him, knowing how he hated to be called that, but he also knew that she doesn't like him using all her names either.
"Ah. Here they are." Tess said spying the package of clothes in the hallway chair. She picked it up. "I can drive myself honestly if it's too much trouble," she said.
"It's not too much trouble." Alex said, still glaring at Jen.
"God, Alex! You're being dense!" Jen told him. "I just need you to drop me off at the end of the drive and that was the only way I was getting out of here tonight."
His anger vanished quickly as he realized that Jen was just using the drive as an excuse to get out of the house. They all had been playing this game since they were teenagers. "Oh, right. Got a hot date do you?" He teased.
"I don't have to tell you that." Jen teased him. "Just drop me off at the end of the drive, alright?"
"Sure. Come on, Tess," Alex opened the front door. "Let's get you home. Claire will be wondering where you are by now."
KL
Jen heard the car long before she saw it. She got off the fence she'd been sitting on as she waited. The dark car pulls up at the end of the driveway and the lights shut off. The car door opened and a dark haired man got out, carrying several books.
Jen came to meet him and he handed the large textbooks to her.
"You sure you want to do this?" He asked with a teasing glint in his blue eyes. "There are easier ways of earning a living, a lost less bloody too."
"Yes." Jen told him, hugging the books to her chest as a cold breeze blew over both of them. "I've waited too long already. I should have done this last year already."
"It's never too late to start." He told her. "Seriously. You're going to be great at this."
"Thanks for bringing these by," she said. "I know that this isn't exactly high on your list of priorities."
"It's not a problem," he told her. "And this makes us even for all those late night study sessions at uni, alright? I don't owe you anymore," he smiled.
Jen returned his grin. "Thanks, Paul."
He nodded towards the house in the distance. "How's the family doing? Nick alright?"
Jen looked towards the main house and thought for a moment. "Some days," she told him quietly. "Other days, I don't know."
"That was quiet honest coming from you," he said, coming to lean on the fence beside her. "What happened to the famous Ryan deflection?"
"Rough night," she told him. "Seriously, thank you. I appreciate this. I can't believe you came here to the hospital after uni. What happened to getting out and seeing the world?"
"Well I did," he replied. "But this this is where the family is. France never agreed with me, even though my mother just keeps telling me that it's because Paris isn't France," he grinned. "After the few years, I spent there, I'm inclined to agree with her."
Jen laughed. "Well, she should know, coming from the countryside."
They fell silent. He straightened up. "Well, I should get back. I have an early morning drive back to the city tomorrow."
"Thanks for coming out here," Jen told him.
Paul leaned in and kissed her cheek. He drew back to look at her face. "For you, it's no problem," he smiled and turned away, walking towards the car.
Jen waved as he drove away. She hugged the books to her chest as she started the long walk up the driveway. Now she just needed to get the medical books hidden away before anyone saw them. She wasn't ready to talk about it, not yet anyways.
KL
The silence in the car on the ride home began to bother Tess after a few kilometers. "So your mother seems to think that we've got a massive overdraft. Exactly how massive are we talking about?" She asked Alex.
"I don't know. But if you're prepared to be bored ridged by my brother, he'd tell you that you haven't been using your money wisely at Drovers."
"I'll think about that when I buy another thing I don't need," Tess muttered under her breath. She took a look at the package on her lap. "My jeans have been ironed," she said in shock. She sniffed them. "And starched."
"Well that's Mum for you. Put her in the laundry, she goes crazy. She even irons undies." Alex joked.
"She needs to get out more," Tess said quietly, putting the clothes back into the bag as they once again lapsed into silence.