Chapter 4: End of the Hols and the Start of a Life

I hope you like this part as much as the rest of the story so far.

Thanks go to all the people who take the time to read my story.

Lots of love to you all –

sarie-belle

The end of the Summer holidays were coming to a close in Australia and Lissie, her sister's and her cousins were all getting ready for going back to boarding school.

On this particular day Lissie was sitting on 'the bath at the windmill' with her sisters.

They were getting on the bus to go back to school the next day.

Of course Charlotte didn't go to boarding school now. She was at UNI in Albury studying to be a schoolteacher.

"I am going to miss you three so much." Charlotte said looking at her sisters.

"We are too, but you have Gabi and we have each other." Imogen said looking up at Charlotte.

"I guess but Gabi really doesn't tell me gossip and ask for advice and give me any does she?" Charlotte said with a laugh. The other joined in but it slowly faded out.

"No BOM, we are really going to miss you heaps." Lissie said as she hugged her oldest sibling.

"I know." Charlotte said and with that the sister hugged each other. After about 3 minutes of embracing they walked back to their home.

Claire and Alex were in the yard at the time.

Alex looked up and smiled. They really were his most favourite people in the world – including Claire.

"Our girls are so old now, Claire. There is no baby anymore." Alex told his wife.

"There will be soon though." Claire said quietly to Alex half hoping he hadn't heard her.

"What was that love?" Alex asked.

"Alex, I'm pregnant!" Claire said and ran to the house.

Alex just stood there in total shock but then he finally realised what she had said and ran into the house after Claire.

He found her in their room. She was lying on the bed crying into the pillows.

"Claire that's great!" Alex told her as he sat down next to her body.

"Wh-What?" Claire said.

"I said I think that's great. How long?" Alex asked as Claire sat up.

"Three months but I only found out this morning. I just didn't know what you would say Alex. What should we tell the girls?" Claire asked her husband.

"We should tell them the truth. You are already past three months so I guess it is safe now, isn't it?" Alex said.

"Yeah. Not yet though. Tonight at dinner we will. Everyone will be there too. I can't believe they are all in high school and now we are having another."

"Yeah, me neither."

4 hours later all the McLeod's daughters and their families were at the McLeod-Ryan house. All were gossiping, talking, looking at children's photos, holding children and babies and eating.

Just after dinner had been finished and Jodi and Luke had decided that soon they would go Alex and Claire stood up and said they had something to tell everyone.

"Well…um…Claire and I have some news. In about 6 months there is going to be another McLeod-Ryan baby on Drover's." Alex told his family.

There was a moment's silence when everyone just looked at Claire and Alex and then they all got really really loud.

The girls yelled and ran to Claire and Claire and Alex's daughters run up to there parents and hugged them.

The men at this time were talking and clapping Alex on the back.

After the announcement noise went out everyone started to go home and to bed.

As Claire went into Charlotte and Gabi's room she found Charlotte looking at the sleeping Gabi.

"I want to have a baby one day. I want to get married of course and I want to love the father. I don't want it to be like you and Peter mum. But what will happen to Gabi? She will feel different. I want her to feel like what I do. Alex is my dad not Peter. She doesn't have and mother or father to help her and tell her the truth. What am I going to tell her about her parent's mum? I don't even know her father." Charlotte told her mother as she sat down next to her.

"You will tell her the truth. Maybe you should find her father and tell him about her. You could send pictures and maybe meet him a few times. If he is no good like Peter let Gabi find that out for herself. You are a great auntie, sister and cousin. You will make a wonderful mother but please don't make the same mistake as me. And please know that you aren't a mistake. You are the only good thing that came out of that relationship with Peter." Claire said.

"I know mum. I love you and dad and the girls and the baby. Do you think it will be another girl?" Charlotte asked her mother.

Claire laughed as she siad to her daughter, "I think your father and uncle have a bet on that. I guess we will have to wait."

Charlotte started laughing too. Then she started yarning.

"Now to bed my little BOM." Claire said and she sat up and walked out the door.

"Goodnight Gabriella. I will give you the best life ever and I hope I am like my mum." Charlotte told the sleeping child.