Chapter 135

Jodi and Becky were still sitting talking. Jake had joined them.

"Okay, so you're telling me that after I left, Claire hired Stevie, a former rodeo star to replace me, then died in a tragic car accident in which Tess had to rescue her baby niece and then watch her sister fall off a cliff. Stevie steals a plane, rescues Charlotte, and gains Tess's trust. You become a firefighter with the CFS. Tess gets together with Nick, but Dave shows back up, Tess chooses Nick, but Nick gets mad anyway and starts sleeping with Sally. Tess ends up in a custody battle with Peter, but eventually gives up guardianship of Charlotte to him so she can be with her sisters. Then your mom gets a job in Melbourne and you can go with her, but you decide not to when your best friend shows up to take the open job. She is attacked and almost sexually assaulted but Tess's ex fiance stops the guy and saves your friend. Tess and Nick finally get together, get married. You start dating a bloke named Luke who's a mechanic. Then your cousin Jasmine shows up who is an elite equestrian rider to spread her father, and your uncle's ashes at Drovers Run and Tess finds out she has cousins and that her dad stole Claire's mom from his brother. Then Sally shows up and announces she is having Nick's baby, Tess not surprisingly doesn't like that, but she ends up having to take Sally to the hospital anyway when she goes into labor. Did I miss anything?

"Well that's mostly it, but that was only the first year after you left. Let me tell you about the next year."

"Hey guys, we're going to head back to Wilgul. Thanks for having us." Regan said to Jodi.

"Can you tell Tess we said goodbye? I looked around and couldn't find her." Grace said while giving Jodi a hug.

"I reckon she snuck off with Finn again," smirked Jodi.

"Ah, to be young and in love again." Matt wrapped his arm around Jodi's shoulders, leaning on her with his bad ankle.

"So what do you think of the bloke? You know him better than we do." said Jaz.

"I don't know him well either. I know he's a widower and he doesn't have any kids. He and Tess have only known each other for a little over a week. I know that the speed and intensity of Tess's feelings for him absolutely terrified her, and that she almost cut and ran completely out of fear. I could also tell she was in love with him already. I believe Finn's intentions are sincere and that he loves her. He seems like a decent bloke, and I want it to work for Tess's sake. She deserves another shot at true love." said Jodi.

"He seemed quiet, but meeting all of us could be pretty overwhelming for anyone, so I'll give him that one," observed Ben with a sleeping Kelly in his arms.

"Hey guys are you heading out? I'm glad I caught you." said Kate. She and Russell had just walked over.

"Yeah we're going." said Jaz. "If I stay any longer, Ben will have to carry me home too."

"Dylan, do you want us to pick you up for the drone session? The drone is so big we have to put it the tray of the ute," said Russell.

"Regan, Grace, you said you wanted to come too right?" asked Dylan.

"Yeah, I thought we'd give the newly engaged couple a little space for the morning." Regan winked at her sister. "Plus, it sounds pretty cool."

"Great. Meet us at the same spot Kate and I were at for the ride this morning. Let's say 10am?" Russell responded.

"Great. we'll see you then." Grace said.

"Good night guys." Jodi gave her cousins a hug.

"Nice meeting you Becky, and Jake." Grace waved.

"Okay, so let me tell you the rest, this is when things start getting really interesting..." said Jodi.

As Dylan pulled the car up to Wilgul house, they saw someone sitting on the front steps.

"Who is that?" asked Jaz "and why are they sitting on the front steps like that?"

Dylan parked the car and everyone got out. It was dark, and they couldn't make out who it was. Dylan walked up to the man.

"Can I help you with something? Why are you sitting on the front steps."

"I'm here to talk to Grace."

"Who the hell are you?" asked Dylan as the rest of the group approached the steps.

"Heath? What the fuck are you doing here?" asked Grace.

"I just want to talk to you, Grace."

"Grace, are you alright? Do you want to talk to this guy?" asked Dylan.

Ben handed Kelly over to Jaz and stood next to Grace. " We can throw him out of here if you want," offered Ben.

"It's okay guys, a thousand years ago, we were engaged. I'll talk to him for a few minutes. You guys can go inside."

"Okay Grace, but I will be just on the other side of the door if you need me," said Dylan. "Just knock or holler, and I'll be right out."

"It's okay Dylan, Heath is slimy, but I don't think he'll assault me," said Grace.

Everyone went inside and left Grace and Heath on the stoop.

"What the hell are you doing here, Heath?" asked Grace.

"Losing you was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life," said Heath. "It's been fourteen years and I still can't shake you, Grace."

"You have got to be fucking kidding me. You ripped my heart out. You made a fool of me with some floozy. I loved you and you betrayed me. You lied to me over and over again," said Grace.

"I know I did. I'm so sorry. I have regretted it every day since. Grace, you are an amazing woman. You are so beautiful and so kind and so passionate. I was an idiot to not realize how lucky I was to have you. I was a complete and utter fool. Every day, I wake up and I think about how much better my life would be if I was waking up next to you. Grace, I still love you. Is there any chance you would ever take me back? I know I don't deserve it, but Grace, the memories of you haunt me. I will spend everyday for the rest of my life trying to make it up to you. I'll always choose you, no matter what. I'll buy Kinsella's back for you, or any property you want. I'll do whatever you want me to do to make it right. I was so arrogant and dimwitted about you. I had everything and I gave it away for pointless, meaningless sex. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I have spent every day for the last ten years trying to become a better person, a person who is more worthy of you. I know I'll never be there, but I've changed. I'm a much better man than I was then. Please Grace, can you give me another chance?" begged Heath.

"Go home Heath. You have some nerve showing up here like this, interrupting my family time. No Heath, I'm not going to take you back. I loved you fourteen years ago, but I don't love you now and I never will again. Now get off my property," said Grace.

Grace walked into the house. Regan and Dylan were still sitting in the living room. Jaz and Ben were putting Kelly down.

"So what was that about?" ased Regan.

"What is with this weekend?" said Grace, clearly shaken. "First Dan, now Heath?"

"What did he say?" asked Regan

"He told me he still loves me, and that cheating on me is the worst mistake he's ever made. He said I haunt him and that he has spent the last ten years trying to become a man worthy of me. He asked if I would ever take him back. He said he will always choose me from now on. He offered to buy Kinsella's for me, or any property I want. He said he was arrogant and dimwitted with me and that he would spend everyday for the rest of our lives trying to make it up to me."

"Wow! said Regan. "So what did you say to him?"

"I told him I loved him fourteen years ago, but that I don't love him now and that I never will. I told him he betrayed my love and made a fool out of me with a floozy. Then I told him to get off my property." said Grace.

"Did he get the message?" asked Dylan "I can go see if he's gone."

"He got the message. I saw him get back in his car. I saw the lights leaving through the window just a moment ago." said Grace.

"So two of your exes in two days Grace. This is crazy."

"You're telling me. What is happening? I just wanted to be with my sisters and try to deal with my heartbreak this week."