History Repeated Part 6: You Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone
Alex was about to head out to muster when Nick arrived. He commanded Blaze to halt.
"Mind if I stay here for a few days?" Nick asked, looking up at his older brother.
"I guess you told her then?" Alex didn't know why he bothered asking. The long look on Nick's face was all the confirmation he needed.
"She found out before I could," Nick corrected him.
Alex was surprised. How on earth had Sally found out? Had his brother been stupid enough to leave some sort of evidence lying around? What kind of evidence was there anyway? He had no idea. He had to ask. "Well how did that happen, Nick?"
Nick cringed, "She saw the scratch marks on my back."
"Bloody hell, Nick," Alex exclaimed in horror. "Have you got rocks for brains or something?"
"You should've seen the look on her face when I told her," Nick sighed. "She was devastated."
"Yeah, I'll bet," Alex sighed. "I gotta hand it to you, mate, you're really good at turning something good into something sour."
"Alex what happened with Tess was a mistake," Nick stated. "I'm not going to let it stuff up my life with Sal and the kids."
"I thought you were head over heals-"
"I've always been head over heals in love with Tess, Alex. It's never stopped me from being happy with Sally and the kids before, and it won't in the future," Nick said firmly.
"I gotta say you're a loyal bugger, Nick," Said Alex. "Just make sure you are making the right choice… what happens in a few months when you decide its Tess you want and not Sally?"
"That won't happen," Nick said, turning to walk away. "Sally's my wife Alex. Till death do us part."
"Tess," Charlotte ran into Tess' room, waving what looked like a calendar at her aunty. "Did you realise that there are only five weeks til school breaks up for the year?"
"Yep," Said Tess, looking up from her bookwork that she had brought home from the café.
"Well maybe we should organise something? Maybe we could go on a holiday or something?"
"I dunno BOM…. I think Alex wants you over at Drovers," Tess told her niece.
Charlotte flopped down on the bed, "Well why don't you come too?"
Tess shook her head at the thought. After the recent happenings with Nick, Drovers was the last place she wanted to be. She couldn't bear to walk the rooms of that house, or ride the open fields, knowing that Nick had once been part of all the beauty too.
The fact that Nick Ryan was only a stones throw away was another deterrent. She wouldn't be able to handle bumping into him, let alone Sally.
"I don't think so. I can't really get the time off BOM. You'll be right on your own, won't you?" Tess asked, patting her niece on the hand.
"But you haven't come to Drovers with me in months… don't you miss it?"
"Of course I do," Tess admitted. She just didn't miss the memories that came with it. "Alright I'll see what I can do, okay?"
"Cool!" Exclaimed Charlotte as she threw her arms around her aunty. "Oh and if it's Uncle Nick you're worried about, then don't. You can do what you always do and avoid him like the plague."
But could she do it? Could she avoid him? Physically she knew she could, but mentally? She didn't think it was possible. Her brain just wouldn't let her forget him. Everyday spent at Drovers Run was a new day of memories, a new day of reliving the past.
Sometimes Tess wished she had never fallen in love with Nick Ryan. Maybe it would've made life easier. But would it have been better? She didn't know the answer to that. But if she hadn't fallen for him, she wouldn't know what she was missing out on. As the saying goes "You don't know what you've got til it's gone."
Nick and Alex sat on the veranda gazing out at the sunset. In a way it was nice, just the two of them… it seemed a bit like old times. Alex had missed the quality time shared between he and Nick, it was almost non-existent now that he had Sally and the kids. They were Nick's life.
The kids, Alex thought, what beautiful little souls they were. He was close to both of them. Sometimes he even thought life wouldn't be worth living without them
Harrison was a determined little bugger, wanted to be just like his old man. And he would be too -the kid wasn't exactly short on brain cells. And Elizabeth - named after the great Elizabeth Ryan, herself - sweet little Libby, quiet, gentle and generous like her mother.
He could see why Nick wanted to work things out with Sally. Everything he did was for his kids. He usually put himself last, and his family first.
All it had taken was one slip up, one moment of blind passion. Now everything was on the line.
"I might go ring Sal," Nick said as he stood up. "I can't just sit here twiddling my thumbs, wondering if I'll lose her."
Alex caught his brother by the arm as he was about to pass him, "She'll ring if she wants to talk, mate. She's probably still trying to get her head around things."
Nick sighed. Alex was right. When did his brother become so wise? He remembered a time when their rolls were reversed. It was a time when he would be the one pointing out the blindingly obvious facts. Alex had finally grown up.
"You're right," Nick resumed his position in his seat.
Alex let out a slight chuckle, "Of course I am. Big brothers always know best, Nick."