Chapter 112
Stevie was relaxing and drinking lemonade while Xander was out with Rufus. Her phone dinged with a text alert.
It was a text from James. He had replied to her text with his own selfie. He was sitting at a desk with a stack of papers that were marked up with highlighter, and a laptop. He replied "Looks like more fun than what I'm doing... Tell Xander I wish him good luck."
Stevie smiled.
Kate and Russell were having a great date at the fair. Kate had just finished off her second corn dog and also had a bag of kettle corn with her.
"The fair is an excellent place to be pregnant. I can't do most of the rides, but the food is perfect for me!"
"I'm glad, darling. Can I buy you a funnel cake?"
"I think I want you to win me that instead." Kate pointed to a stuffed Ironman doll. It was the prize for a basketball shooting game, "What do you reckon, Ironman?"
"Basketball eh? I've always considered myself more of a rugby guy, but for my Pepper Potts, I must try."
Russell approached the vender and bought five shots. The guy told him that if he got three in, he got the doll, but he had to shoot from behind a line that was about equal to a three pointer.
"Sorry babe, I'm probably going to embarrass myself here. I wish they had a rugby game instead. I'd have a better chance at that. Well, here goes nothing," said Russell.
Russell dribbled the basketball a few times and tossed it up. It hit the rim and bounced out. He dribbled the second ball and tossed it again. The ball hit the backboard, then the rim, and dropped in.
"One down, two to go, Ironman." cheered Kate.
Russel bounced the third ball a few times and tossed it up. It hit the rim and bounced back toward him.
"You still got this honey, just go back to back!"
"I'm glad you have faith in me, because I don't like my chances here," said Russell.
Russell dribbled and took aim. He tossed the ball. Swish! It was a perfect shot.
"Yeah Baby!"
"I can't believe I even got two of these. This is the best I have ever done in basketball. I was the shortest guy in school until about year eleven. Thankfully, I finally grew."
"You've got one more shot baby. I believe in you, Ironman."
Russell smiled at hearing his new nickname. He dribbled, and tossed the ball up. It hit the backboard, then the rim, then circled the rim, then it finally dropped in.
"Ironman! Ironman! Ironman!" cheered Kate as she jumped into Russell's arms and kissed him on the mouth. "I'm so impressed with you."
"I think it was pure love, because it certainly wasn't any actual basketball talent. I'm proud to win it for you, babe."
"Thank you. I'll carry it proudly all day, and eventually, it can go in the babies' room."
"Kate? Kate Manfredi?" A handsome man approached Kate and Russell.
"Oh My! Father Dan? I haven't seen you in ages!" said Kate. "Russell, this is the priest I told you about. Father Dan helped me after Riley died. He is the one who helped me get the job at St. Gabriel's."
"Hi Father Dan, I've heard great things about you. I'm Kate's husband, Russell." Russell shook his hand. "You really helped Kate when she needed it."
"It's actually just Dan now, I left the church a few years ago," said Dan.
"Oh. Wow. Well, I'm really glad you were there for me all those years ago. I hope everything is going well." replied Kate.
"I'm living a life truer to myself these days. I'm a social worker, so I still get to help people, which I really like." explained Dan "The last I had heard, you were living in Adelaide. I didn't expect to see you here today. I've just moved back to the district. I've taken a job in Fisher," said Dan.
"We're still living in Adelaide, but I'm in town for a Drovers Run reunion. Tess and Jodi got all of the women who have worked there over the last twenty years together as part of a tribute for their niece's eighteenth birthday. We are planning on moving back to Gungellan soon though. I just accepted a job at Higgins Agricultural University as a professor. I'll be running a cattle station for uni students to learn hands on," said Kate.
"A Drovers reunion you say? Is Grace McLeod in town? I'd love to see her. We became good mates after you left for St. Gabriels. I haven't seen her in twelve or thirteen years. Last I heard she was living in Perth with her husband. I'd love to say hello for old times sake," said Dan.
"Oh, I didn't realize you and Grace had become friends. Yeah, Grace is in town. She's here at the fair, somewhere. We are all meeting up at two at the rodeo ring to watch Xander, Stevie's son, compete."
"Wow, that's great. Kate, it was so good to see you again. If you're back in the district, I'd love to meet for coffee and catch up occasionally. You too Russell, It's great to meet you."
Grace is here. I have to at least see her. I bet she's as beautiful as ever, too bad she's married. I missed that opportunity thirteen years ago, thought Dan as he felt his heartbeat speed up.