Chapter 5: Liz's awful lie
"ALEX!!", exclaimed Claire, running after him.
"Claire!", yelled Tess and tried to follow her sister, but Nick stopped her.
"Let her go, Tess. She is the only one who can handle with him right now.", said Nick.
Claire caught up Alex before he went to his Ute. It was day after Liz's terrible secret was out.
After he kissed Claire in pub, Alex walked like crazy whole night and in dawn he came to Drovers Run. Whole house was sleeping and Alex laid on the couch in the living room.
After few minutes he heard Charlotte's crying. He went to her room and took her in his arms. Child calmed down immediately, but that's when Alex started to cry...
That's how Claire found them in the morning - fast asleep in the rocking chair.
It was at the lunch - time when Alex broke down. Claire knew why. Everybody were fussing around him too much and it made him feel miserable. Just when she wanted to get him out of the house for a walk and some conversation, Liz showed up in their house. She begged him to listen to her, but Alex just rushed from the house. Claire listened to her heart and followed him. He was always there for her - now it was her turn to be there for him. So, she caught him up before he got in the Ute.
"Let me go. Leave me alone", he said, thinking that it's Liz.
Claire put palm on his shoulder.
"Alex, it's me, Claire."
Alex fell silent. He didn't moved.
"Come on. Come with me.", she said, trying to move him, but he didn't moved.
"No. I just want to drive right now.", he shook his head.
"No way, Alex! In that state of yours you could easily kill yourself!!" , exclaimed Claire.
"Yeah, well, maybe it's for the best...", he murmured.
"ALEX!!!!!!!" , she exclaimed.
"Get out, Claire! My life is falling apart - my Mum lied to me, my Da...", he painfully closed his eyes; how could he call Harry? "He said that I am not his son anymore. Nobody wants me anymore...Nobody needs me anymore...", he broke down.
Claire's heart was breaking, but she knew that she has to be strong for Alex.
"That's not truth, Alex. Nick need you...Charlotte needs you...", she swallowed hard and slowly whispered, wiping his tears away gently with her palm "And so do I."
Alex looked to her eyes and saw concern there...but also, he saw that she is telling the truth.
"I...I feel so lost, Claire...", he said, sitting down on the ground.
Claire sat down beside him, hugged him and leaned his face on her shoulder, rocking him gently in her arms.
"It's okay, Alex, it's okay. I'm here. I won't leave you", she whispered