Part 4

Tess woke at nine to the sound of bustling feet, she looked at her clock, 'Oh no I over slept, why didn't Claire wake me?'

Grabbing her pink satin robe adorned with flowers, Tess threw it on, and emerged from her room to see what all the fuss was about. In the hall were a number of boxes and walking up the stairs was Alex, carrying another box. Rubbing her eyes, Tess stepped into the hall.

"Morning Tess, thought you would never get up," Alex teased as he placed the box with the others.

"Ha ha Ryan, what's going on?" replied Tess, looking from Alex to the boxes and back again.

"I'm moving in," he answered, with no further explanation.

"Oh…" Tess was lost for words. She wrapped her robe tighter and went to find Claire.

As Tess made her way down the old staircase she wondered whether Alex had proposed and Claire accepted. Walking out the side door and onto the veranda, she noticed Claire not far off. She was fumbling around in the back of Alex's Ute, moving boxes from the car to the ground.

"Claire, what's going on?"

At the sound of her sister's voice Claire spun around, a smile filling her face, "I asked Alex to move in sleepyhead."

"And why did you let me sleep in…" she started while Claire was still speaking. At that moment Tess realised what she had just heard, "You asked him?" she questioned.

"I sure did," beamed Claire, placing another box on the ground.

'Anyone would think she was the pregnant one, she is glowing so much,' thought Tess, 'maybe I should tell Nick about the baby.'

"I'll do it this weekend," she mumbled to herself, not wanting to steal Claire's spotlight.

"Did he propose?" asked Tess, snapped back to the situation at hand.

"No, I thought I'd beat him to it more or less."

"You proposed to him?" asked Tess, confused.

"Of course not," replied Claire, "I asked him to move in, thinking I could beat him to the punch in moving the relationship forward."

"I thought you wanted him to propose?" Tess' confusion was growing.

"Tess, listen to me," said Claire putting an arm around her sister's shoulder, "this is all part of my plan. Now Alex knows that I am ready for a bigger commitment, it will give him all the more reason to propose."

"You are reason enough, Claire," smiled Tess wrapping her arm around Claire's waist.

Claire ignored the compliment, changing the subject, "So when are you going to tell Nick, about, well you know?"

"This weekend," answered Tess, "I can't stand it any longer, he has to know I love him and that I am carrying his child." Tess placed her spare hand on her tummy, and smiled, 'you will have a father," she thought to herself.

It was lunchtime, and as the Drovers' women came in from a mornings work, they noticed Alex's Ute parked out front and upon entering the homestead a number of boxes in the hall.

"Did Alex propose?" asked Kate, eyeing the mountain of boxes in the foyer.

"Beats me," replied Stevie, as they entered the kitchen to make lunch.

"I reckon he's crazy if he hasn't," added Jodi, "he's not going to find another Claire McLeod."

As the women began making lunch Claire walked in, BOM hot on her heals.

"Congratulations!" exclaimed all the women, moving in to hug Claire.

"On what?" asked Claire, unaware the others knew Alex was moving in.

"The prop…" started Stevie as Tess walked in.

'Oh oh,' thought Tess, 'Claire doesn't know I told the others.'

"Hey BOM, why don't you and I go outside and set up for lunch?" asked Tess not wanting to be part of the scene.

"Hold it Tess, you stay here," said Claire, the tone of her voice telling Tess she better stay. "BOM sweetie, go find Alex and let him know lunch will be ready soon,"

"Yes mommy," responded Charlotte, skipping from the room in search of Alex.

"Tess were they going to say proposal?" asked Claire, eyeing her sister up and down.

"What's going on?" inquired Kate, as she looked from woman to woman.

"Tess here obviously told you she overheard Alex tell Nick he was going to propose. Am I right so far?"

"Right," replied Stevie, confusion in her voice.

"Well, that's not what is happening around here, despite popular opinion," Claire continued looking at Tess.

"What is happening then, what's with the boxes?" asked Jodi.

"I asked Alex to move in with me."

"Really, that's great," exclaimed Stevie, hugging her friend.

"Yeah, great," added Jodi.

"Good for you," smiled Kate.

At that moment Dave entered the kitchen, "It seems I always walk in when it's time to share our good news."

"Date go well I assume," asked Tess. Jodi was the only one who knew about Kate's crush on the local vet.

"Right on Tess," grinned Dave, "Diane is great, we hit it right off. Dinner was great, we talked all night, and not just about work, and when I dropped her off, she kissed me."

"She kissed you Brewer," laughed Stevie.

"Yeah, Yeah Stevie," said Dave, not caring that she was playing on his ego.

"That's great Dave, I'm happy for you," added Kate, grabbing the plate of sandwiches and heading outside.

Jodi grabbed the tray with a jug of lemonade and cups and headed outside to make sure Kate was alright, but not before adding, "Glad you had a nice night Dave."

Outside Kate was sitting on the veranda steps, head in hands. Jodi sat next to her friend and gently placed her arm around her shoulder. Kate looked up at Jodi and asked softly, "He doesn't even know I exist does he?"

"Hey Kate, don't do this to yourself, of course he knows you exist. Who does he always call for when he needs a hand? You."

"So he appreciates my help, but he has only ever seen me as a friend, a kid…"

"Hey if he doesn't see you as more then a friend that's his loss, now lets eat," said Jodi comforting her friend.

As Kate and Jodi sat at the table and started grabbing their lunch, the others emerged from the kitchen to join them. Moments later Alex ducked under the door, Charlotte on his shoulders, giggling with delight.

'Everything is working out,' thought Claire as she looked from Alex to Charlotte, to Tess, 'Soon there will be two happy McLeod-Ryan unions.'