After Christmas, the New Year went as quickly as it arrived, with Max wondering when to give Kirsty her Christmas present.  He also needed someone to talk to at the moment, what with his aunt and uncles relationship somewhat strained.  He sent her a text message to avoid others hearing him speak to her, and they arranged to meet up in Yabbie Creek on a Tuesday afternoon.  Max skipped school to meet up with her, saying that he had a dentist's appointment he couldn't get out of.  He wondered what Kirsty would look like now, after a month.  With his limited knowledge of pregnancy, he just about knew that she'd be significantly larger.  When he saw her in a Yabbie Creek diner, his thoughts were confirmed.

"Kirsty!"  His eyes lit up.  "You've changed so much."

"Have I?" said Kirsty stroking her stomach.  The change seemed to be more gradual.  They sat down at a table, and ordered a snack.  "Kane took me here once.  It's nice to be somewhere where nobody knows you."

"Tell me about it, " said Max rolling his eyes.  "I'm always getting asked about you in school.  They now think you're having twins with a serial killer."

"Far from it.  So what's the other gossip in Summer Bay, apart from me?"

"Well, we have a new deputy head, Ms Russell.  Nobody in our family seems to like her, except for Jade.  Uncle Rhys told me to go out of the room when they were talking.  It sounded pretty serious."

"Who knows what happened there?  So what else is new?  What about Dani and Jade?  Do they ever talk about me?"

"Not really.  I think everyone's in denial.  At Christmas no one even spoke about you."  Kirsty pulled a face.  Now it seemed that her parents had disowned her.

"I brought you this, " said Max.  "Sorry it's late."  Max handed her the Christmas present from himself and Shelley.

"Thanks.  I'll open them later."

A long silence followed, no one not quite knowing what to say or do.  Kirsty wanted to talk to him about Kane's aunt, but it seemed like a random thing to come out with.  Max never really expressed his feelings much, and didn't feel like changing.  Their food arrived and Kirsty slurped her milkshake nervously.  Max was no substitute for Jade.  He wouldn't understand about the backache, the morning sickness and all the feelings she was going through. 

"We'd better talk sometime, " said Max.  "I've got to be back soon."

"Yeah, it's just that I miss everyone.  Especially Jade.  We used to be close but now I don't think she'll ever talk to me again."

"She's just too stressy.  She hardly talks to me either."

"And Kane's aunt has just returned come back and she hates me.  She criticizes everything I do and say, I feel constantly on edge."

"Just talk to her.  That's what Aunty Shel would say."
"I know I should but I don't feel at ease with her.  I'm used to having people not like me, especially at the moment, but it would just mean a lot to me.  I need her to like me."

"Don't sweat over it, " said Max.  "As long as Kane loves you you've got everything."  Kirsty smiled.

"You are very wise for one so young."

"I learned from the best."

***

Later that day, Kirsty plucked up the courage to speak to Rose as she dusted the mantelpiece.  Rose had pretended not to see her.  It was only that morning when she'd pleaded with him not to propose to her.  He didn't need to nowadays and just because they were having a baby, it didn't mean that they could be lifelong partners.  Rose knew that from Kane's parents.

Kirsty coughed loudly to get Rose's attention.  Rose carried on dusting.

"Excuse me, but if you could tear yourself away from you dusting for one minute, perhaps we could talk."

"Very well, " said Rose.

"I'd like to know why you hate me so much."  There was a long pause.  Kirsty waited for Rose to snap.

"I don't hate you, in fact quite the opposite.  You remind me of myself at your age.  Headstrong.  You think you know it all.  You think you want to marry Kane, because that's what your parents did.  It doesn't work like that.  I was married once.  It was hell."

"It would never be hell with Kane, I love him.  It's none of your business."

"Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't.  I'm going to miss him.  I wanted to treat him as a son, yet I never did.  Now I want to take the chance, and he's found love somewhere else."

"You'll always have a place in his heart."

"I need him to tell me that."  Rose sighed.  She feigned a cool nature, yet was really alone.  She visited people, yet never felt at ease with them.  She could feel at ease with Kane, without him even being in the same room.  They just needed each other's presence.  Or so she thought.

"I'll try to be more forbearing, " began Rose.  "But I would strongly advise you against marriage."

"That's good enough for me, " said Kirsty.  That was the closest she'd come to reconciliation with Rose, and most likely the closest she'd ever get.