Dave and Kate drove through Gungellan and on towards the city. Kate was euphoric, she was with the man she'd loved from afar for so long. Only a few hours ago she'd been sobbing her heart out in a paddock watching him wave as he left for a new life in Kenya. She had barely beloved her eyes when he reappeared and explained he'd been blind and stupid and realised they were meant to be together always. Seeing her distracted expression Dave reached over, took her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed it. Turning she smiled and he grinned in return.
Watching the road again Dave squeezed her hand and thought over the last few hours of his life. How had he not realised? He'd known she'd had a crush on him but until the girls told him she had been in love with him since he first arrived in the district and he'd read the letter he wasn't meant to have opened yet he just hadn't understood. This woman knew him, his past and his heart better than himself it seemed. She knew him, all of him and loved him anyway. He thought back to the buttoned up, stress-head Kate he'd first met. As time went by she relaxed around him. She became his assistant whenever he was on Drover's and a really good mate. He hadn't been attracted to her but saw her differently after she danced at Nick & Tess' bucks and hens night. Wow! He'd thought at the time, Kate was hot. Since then he'd been unable to ignore her cute bum and neat figure. She'd kissed him once briefly in the pub-she'd taken him y surprise but he had remembered how her lips felt on his and the feel of her body in his arms. He'd ignored all this, I mean this was Kate, he couldn't be attracted to her. She was his mate. So he'd dated other people, but increasingly his heart hadn't been in it. He hadn't understood why but now he knew. His heart had caught on way before his mind caught up. Here they were. He'd never been so happy; on his way to a dream job in a fascinating country with the woman who was everything he hadn't known he wanted. He loved her, desperately. Pulling over suddenly he leant over, took her face in his hands, ran his fingers through her soft hair and ignoring her laughing protest that they'd miss their flight he kissed her. Deep and slow and she melted into him, arms coming around his neck, fingertips playing with the hair at his nape. Pulling her across his lap she moved and began to unbutton his shirt.
"Oh Katie, Katie" he murmured into her hair "don't start something we can't finish."
Pulling back slightly she gazed at him, pupil dark and cheeks flushed
"I want to be with you Dave" she said honestly.
"I know, me too, we will, but not in the front seat of a car in a rush" he replied leaning his forehead against hers. Flopping back in her seat she groaned with frustration.
"Soon Kate. I promise" he said ruefully and kissing her quickly pulled back onto the road.
For the rest of the journey Kate made phone calls, booking a ticket and last minute appointments at the travel clinic at Adelaide Airport to arrange some vaccinations and malaria tablets. Arriving at the airport already running late she rushed round buying essentials. Leaving Dave to order coffee and noticing a lingerie boutique she nipped inside. All she had with her were her usual practical undies, not what she wanted to be wearing in front of Dave. Cheeks heating with anticipation she bought a set in pale pink, one in a deep blue and a third in black. Zipping the purchases into her hand luggage she returned to Dave.
The flights were agony, all she wanted was to be alone with Dave, not trapped inside a tin can with a few hundred others. She slept a bit between Adelaide and Perth where they had a 4 hour layover and again between Perth and Tambo airport in Johannesburg. Body clocks completely confused by the long flights, for the last leg of their journey to Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi both napped and burned for each other. Met by a driver sent by the University they were driven through busy streets. Surprised by the bustle and sights of Kenya's capital it was as different to Gungellan and Drover's as Kate could imagine. The city was the same as any other but also very different, exotic and strange, nothing like the sanitised streets of Adelaide and people of many colours and cultures mixed freely on the pavements. They were fascinated and wide-eyed taking it all in. Finally they were delivered to a low, white, house in lush gardens surrounded by a high wall. This was home for now.
Introduced to their cook and Askari (night guard) they felt awkward, servants weren't a part of their lives in Australia but apparently everyone had people who helped in the house, a gardener and an Askari providing employment to the growing urban population.
"I need a shower, I smell of aeroplane" says Kate wrinkling her nose.
"Want to conserve water?" She asks Dave flirtatiously.
Kissing her nose Dave says "not this time babe. Our first time I want to take it nice and slow." He grins and pulls her close, "Ill use the guest bathroom. Be quick!" He grins.
She dresses in her new pink undies and sleeveless blouse, shorts and thongs. Unpacking, Dave strolls in in a shirt and shorts.
"I'm starving" he says
"Unusual" Kate teases
"I'm a growing boy" he jokes
In the kitchen a delicious soup and fresh bread are provided followed by fresh tropical fruit. It's late afternoon by the time Dave has hoovered seconds and thirds of soup while an nervy Kate picks at it, her mind on what's to come. Finally full (for now) Dave sits back with a satisfied sigh and a thanks to Jonah the cook he rises, takes Kate's hand
"I'm bushed. How about a nap" he says suggestively with a wink. Nervous now the moment is upon them Kate follows him into their room. Closing the door and lowering the blinds he takes her in his arms.
"You're very tense KitKat" he whispers
KitKat - She likes that.
"A little" She allows "I don't want to disappoint you" she admits shyly.
"You won't Kate" he says "we'll be amazing together. I love you, you're gorgeous and we have all the time in the world."
Reassured slightly Kate accepts his kiss. Warmed by his words she relaxes a little as he nuzzles her hair kissing her temples, eyelids, cheeks and soft as a butterfly's wing, her lips. Her hands on his shoulders he pulls her closer and she willingly nestles in as they kiss deeper and hotter. His fingers in her hair he angles her head and she runs her hands under his shirt and over the skin of his lower back. Sliding her hands round to his chest she quickly works the buttons of his shirt and pushes it off his shoulders.
"Mmm." She hums at the expanse of tanned skin, it's dusting of blond hair, muscles defined, honed by his physical job.
"Like what ya see?" He flirts
"Not bad" she teases
Sliding her top over her head he breathes hard
"I like what I see" he murmurs " you drive me crazy Kate. I never imagined...If I'd known we would definitely have missed our flight!"
She laughs softly
"I'm glad you approve,"
"Matching?" He enquires
"Find out! " She dares him
Later they lie breathless, tangled and drowsy. Sprawled on Dave's chest, one of his hands drifting through her hair, one of hers tracing patterns on his shoulder.
"Wow!" Dave marvels
"Mmm" she agrees "Worth the wait."
"I'm so sorry Kate, I was so blind"
"No!" she silences him with a swift kiss. I meant worth the wait since we left Gungellan. The flights, the layovers, the meal. All I wanted was you and you were definitely worth it.
"Well I am pretty hot!" he says jokingly
"Is that right Brewer?" she laughs
"You make me very happy Kate." he says seriously.
Her heart soars at his words.
"I'm happy too" she whispers and kissing his shoulder she falls asleep.
Having accepted the job offer on the church-run farm Kate pushes thoughts of Dave away but she can't forget him and 11 weeks after she last saw him she realises she never will. She will have a permanent reminder of him before very long. She needs to tell him. Their last, fraught meeting over Christmas where they'd pretended everything was fine in front of his mother had left her in this situation. He'd begged her to come back but her bruised heart couldn't face returning to the loneliness of a life where Dave more often than not was on the road with work.
How could she tell him. He was so happy, loving the work he was doing and the adventures he encountered. She couldn't, wouldn't ask him to give it up but she knew she had to tell him.
Two weeks later Stevie phoned her.
"Dave's back." She began "He came to Drovers to find you. I haven't told him where you are, I wanted to check with you first."
Kate's heart beat frantically. Here was her opportunity to speak to him, but not here
"He's staying at the pub for the moment. I said I'd pass on the message."
"Thanks Stevie" Kate said evenly. " How can I reach him?"
Writing down the pubs number and his room number she rang off. Steeling herself before she could chicken out she dialled, gave his room number and was put through.
"Dave Brewer"
Oh she'd missed his voice. So much. She heard it in her dreams but it was never enough.
"Um...it's Kate..." she said shakily
"Kate" he breathed "it's so good to hear your voice. I came to Drovers. Why did you leave? Where are you now?"
"We need to talk Dave" she says
"Yes" he agrees. "Can you meet me for a drink later?"
"6 o'clock?"
"Sure, Ill see you outside?"
"Ok. See you then. Bye." Shaking she cuts the connection. Conflicting emotions batter her heart. Excitement and a desire to see him again war with anxiety about what she has to tell him.
She walks through the pub and ordering an orange juice heads out into the garden. Spotting Dave nursing a pint she stops. The sun glints off the gold of his hair, a T-shirt is stretched across his shoulders. He looks thinner than last time she saw him. Feeling her eyes upon him he looks up. Noticing her he smiles and stands waiting for her to join him. She's shocked by how drawn he looks, the tiredness around his eyes-more than jet lag. Joining him he leans over and kisses her cheek.
"G'day Kate" he smiles ruefully, sadly.
"Dave. Hi." She says.
"How have you been?" She asks, fighting the wave of love threatening to sweep over her.
"Lonely. Missing you" he answers honestly.
Kate could have wept. No! She needed to be strong. Tell him and leave.
Sitting down she looks at the table.
"Um, last time you were here" she begins nervously "we...um..." how did people do this she wondered, "you see, well...the thing is ..." just spit it out she told herself.
"I'm pregnant" she said in a rush.
"I don't need anything, I'm not asking you for anything, I just, we'll, thought you should know."
Blushing furiously she looked at the table and waited. And waited. Nothing, this couldn't be good.
She looked up.
"You're pregnant?!"
As she nods the shock on Dave's face turns to a smile
"A baby!" He says in awe "When? How?"
"You're a vet-you know how" says Kate with a quirk if her eyebrow, "as for when, your birthday I think."
"Oh!" said Dave remembering the passion and abandon she'd shared with him that night. Oh it made his heart hurt. He loved her still, so very deeply.
"So you're due in..." mentally he counted..."September?"
"Yes. End of. I had my 1st scan last week"
"Is everything"
"It's all good" she said reassuring him
"A baby" He said again. "Our baby. Do you have a picture?"
Shocked by the 'our baby' comment Kate reaches for her wallet and pulls out an ultrasound picture.
"Oh wow!" Dave breathes "our baby Kate, it's beautiful. So beautiful"
He stares at the photo as if committing every detail to memory.
'My child' he marvels to himself. Part of him and part of Kate, proof of their love.
"Are you Ok? how have you felt? Any sickness? Cravings?"
"I'm fine apart from really nauseous every morning, the crackers & dried fruit help. I love tinned peaches and Vegemite toast but not together so nothing too weird!'
"Kate. I have to tell you something too.
" Bloody hell!" Swore Dave again as he drove towards the client who had interrupted his reunion with Kate. Well it should have been a reunion. In the weeks and months alone in Kenya he'd realised the truth of the saying "you don't know what you've got till it's gone". He missed her. The job meant he'd spent a lot of time on the roads but the knowledge that Kate was on the end of the day phone and at home in Nairobi waiting for him gave him comfort and security.
They'd married 8 weeks after they arrived in Kenya. The culture was more traditional and although they were given leeway as westerners, living together unmarried wasn't ideal in the University's eyes. Dave been desperate to marry Kate since he'd finally worked out he loved her as much as she loved him.
He'd told her in the paddock that they belonged together and he meant it. For always. She was a traditional girl and marriage was something they both wanted. It was to be Dave's third wedding and as they hadn't told anyone they took a long weekend and got married in a registry office. Kate wore a white sundress, Dave wore short sleeves. She carried white roses and purple bougainvillea - he'd insisted she have flowers, this was still her wedding though not the one she'd dreamt of. It made her sad none of her family was there, especially her Nonna who had loved Dave (or 'Davide' as she'd called him) and her best friend Jodi, but she couldn't regret marrying the man she'd loved for so long. She'd never felt so beautiful and looking into Dave's eyes she knew she was loved beyond measure. Wherever he was, she would be also - she was his and he was hers. 'Fairy tales do come true. Nonna I wish you were here, Jodes - if you could see me now!' She thought.
Two of Dave's colleagues were their witnesses and the four of them had a celebratory lunch at one of the swish restaurants in Nairobi city centre.
Their brief honeymoon was the happiest she'd ever been. Dave treated her like the precious jewel he knew he'd found and every minute was filled with love and joy.
How did it come to this he wondered? He'd managed when she'd returned for Jodi's funeral but only because he knew she'd be back. She'd come back from Australia unsettled. When they'd finally had a few days together she told him she was leaving him. Even now he felt the pain as though it were fresh. He'd begged her, pleaded with her, promised he'd change everything, anything if they could work it out. She'd told him she still loved him, but she'd gone. With her she'd taken the joy he felt in his job, his life. Throwing himself fully into his work helped not at all. He couldn't bear to be at home without her but she was all he thought about. She'd taken his heart with her and he just needed her back. He gave the university notice and moved back a few months after she'd left. He'd convinced her to fake it over his birthday and Christmas with his mother.
"Grr!" He growled with frustration. He'd thought he'd find her at Drover's. Wanted to share a beer on the steps of the shearer's quarters, take her out for dinner. take her home and tell her how much he loved her and that he was back for good. Hoped she'd understand he was back for her. He'd explain his life was empty without her and prayed she'd take him back. Shocked to find she'd left Drover's it was even more of a surprise that they wouldn't tell him where she was. Stoked when she'd called him this afternoon, he planned to have a drink, catch up a bit, hope that he hadn't hurt her too much that she'd stay and have dinner with him this evening and then in the next few days he'd explain and hopefully everything would work out. He hadn't expected this. His wife clearly wanted nothing to do with him. She'd dropped a bombshell, said she didn't need him and run away again. He didn't know where she was. He didn't know if she'd ever contact him again. They were having a baby together! 'A baby' his expression softened as he drove. He hoped it was a little girl just like Kate. She said she didn't need him, well he needed her. She didn't want anything from him she said, but he wanted her. Her and this baby, his family. He wanted it all. He would make it up to her and they would be together. Forever.
Pulling up to the swanky stables where his next patient was he tried to push Kate to the back of his mind and focus. As he worked he practised what he'd say to her in his head.
Kate's head and heart were a mess. What was she meant to do now? She was pregnant, alone and desperately lonely. The job she had now had been fun at first and she knew she was making a difference but now she ached for her friends, her old life, Drover's Run. She craved the acceptance of the girls, their unquestioning support and the wide open spaces, the huge sky and Drover's sunsets.
The following day she handed in her notice and called Drover's. Stevie answered, stuck at home with baby Xander she was trying to get on with paperwork and from the time of her voice Kate surmised things were not going well.
"Kate!" She said surprised to hear her voice.
"Hi Stevie. Um, I just wondered if maybe you had some work going?"
"Oh Kate if you know someone please send them this way, we're pretty flat out. I can't do much yet, Regan and Tayler are great and Grace does loads but with Lexie it's hard and Moira helps out but now Grace is away for the week and Tayler was only got back a few weeks back..." she broke off.
"I do know someone" Kate hedged, "would you, er, have me back?" She waited nervously.
"Are you serious?" Stevie asked. "What about your new job?"
"I handed in my notice, I've got 3 more weeks but I was stupid to leave, Stevie. I miss you all and Drover's. So much" Tears threatened, what if Stevie said no?
"Kate, are you ok?" Came Stevie's concerned voice.
"Of course we'll have you back. We've missed you too and I need my friend, not to mention the roster-Queen back."
"Oh thank you Stevie!" Kate said shakily, damn pregnancy hormones making the tears fall again.
"Kate, why don't you come over on your next day off? We'll have dinner and stay the night if you can swing it. It's still warm enough to swim in the dam."
"Dunno where my bathers are..." started Kate.
"C'mon Kate. I'll leave Alex at home, if it's just us girls, then no bathers. Tess' rule!"
"Ok. I've got Thursday and Friday off so I'll see you then."
"See ya then." Stevie said "Oh, and Kate, it'll be so good to have you back.
Kate hadn't called Dave again. She knew she hadn't been fair to Dave. She'd dropped a bombshell and then run but she just didn't know what to do next. She needed someone to tell her. She knew she had to see him again, she wanted to desperately but perversely also dreaded it and all that he made her feel. Pushing these thoughts away she packed her bag for Drovers and climbed into her car.
Dave was slowly going out of his mind. He'd played the conversation with Kate over and over in his head, he'd thought about their whole relationship. Now she was out there, pregnant with their baby and he didn't know how to reach her. He needed to tell her he was back for good, for her, he loved her for always. This was agony. He was back in the house he'd shared with Alex, Matt and Patrick. 3 hopeless bachelors, now Alex was married, Matt and Jodi were engaged somewhere and even his little brother was engaged. All of them were happy, it was only him who'd screwed up the best thing in his life. Why was he alwys so stupid where Kate was involved? So many years of not seeing her as the kind, generous, passionate woman she was. Then she became his wife and again he didn't see what he was doing to her. Now she was carrying their baby and all he wanted was to be with her but she didn't need him, didn't want him. He'd left it too late. Expected too much.
Kate arrived at Drovers in time for lunch on Thursday. It was good to be back. She couldn't wait for it to be home again. Driving along the track to the homestead she could feel the worry lift, her heart felt lighter. Regan had told her Drover's was a healing place. She felt that now and hope for the future bubbled up inside her for the first time since she saw 2 blue lines on a stick. It would be ok, she and the baby would make it.
She was showered in greetings and enveloped in hugs and felt so loved the tears flowed, again. She dismissed them as happy tears.
"They've been feeding you well Katie!" said Alex, earning him a glare and a sharp jab in the ribs from his wife.
Kate blushes as Stevie hissed "Alex!"
"Um, actually I have some news."
"Stevie said you're coming back!" said Tayler happily.
"Well yes but there's more. I'm um expecting a baby.
"What?!" Exclaimed Stevie in shock.
"I'm pregnant." Kate repeated.
"Congratulations Kate that's wonderful!" cried Regan. And she was dwelt ip in congratulations and well wishes. Then the questions started. She explained when she was due and maintained the father was a one night stand after she left Kenya. That was so un-Kate-like she wasn't sure everyone bought it but no one called her on it and the questions moved on to how she was feeling, did she want a boy or girl and so on until everyone had to go back to work.
"Most importantly" Grace said, "is it making you too sick to cook?"
Everyone laughed and Kate explained there were two of her legendary lasagnes in an esky in her car that just needed cooking for dinner.
"Fred's lasagne! You little ripper!" said Alex and he hoisted Charlotte onto his shoulders as he went to collect Kate's bags.
Once the kids were settled for naps Kate and Stevie were catching up.
"So Kate, who's the baby daddy?"
"I told you" Kate starts nervously.
"I know what you said" interrupts Stevie "but I don't believe you. You don't have one night stands, you're not that kind of girl. I also know you and Dave had an early Christmas with his Mum to coincide with some holiday he had and Jodi's fake funeral. It also coincides with you falling pregnant if your dates are right." She pubs Kate with a look.
Kate studies the horizon, finally she admits "Yes. Dave's the father."
Alex reappears, "Did I hear right?" He asks? "You're having mini-Brewer?!"
"Yes" says Kate. But I need you two to keep it quiet. I mean it, no one else can know.
Alex hugs Kate and says "Hell! Another Brewer, is the world ready?! He must be rapt!" Kissing Stevie he days he's needed at Killarney and leaves in a cloud of dust.
"Does Dave know?" Asks Stevie.
"Yes I told him, but then work called and he had to go before we talked properly. And now Im too scared to talk to him again. I don't know if he wants the baby or not, and I don't know if I can handle either way."
"You're still in love with him" states Stevie.
Kate nods sadly. "Yeah. But I can't be with him. It hurts too much. We're not good for each other.
A week later he's at Killarney sharing a beer with Marcus and Grace. After treating Baggins a few days earlier he'd seen them curled up asleep together against the wall of the stable and had wondered what was going on between the Big Fella's brother and the newest McLeod. They both deserved happiness he mused. Marcus has lost his wife, 'poor bastard' Dave thought, he knew how that felt, and Grace had had her heart broken by that bloody mongrel Heath Barrett. The dancing around each other as their friendship became more, reminded him of other Drover's girls and Kilarney men. These other relationships had (eventually) worked out, Tess and Nick we're married with baby Claire, Alex an Stevie had little Xander and Jodi and Matt were together somewhere.
Marcus has gone to check on Lexie and he was about to leave. He and Grace were in similar situations. Both in love with someone who didn't want them. Marcus was still in love with his late wife while Kate, well he didn't know what the hell she was playing at. Noticing Graces glassy eyes he hugged her before the tears could spill. Murmuring into her hair he shushed her and kissed the top of her head. She clung and then let him go. Looking up at him with a wry twist of her mouth she said
"She'll find her way back, Dave. Don't give up,"
"He's a bloody fool" Dave said "if it wasn't for Kate..."
"Yeah yeah Brewer, in ya dreams mate!" Grace quipped. "You couldn't handle this" she indicated her body, giving a little shimmy.
Laughing Dave teased "Oh I'd give it a bloody good go Kingston!"
Laughing he leant to peck her cheek. She turned at just the wrong moment and their lips met. Leaning in he kissed her giving and receiving the comfort each craved. It was a nice kiss, more friendly than sexual but ultimately in meant nothing. She wanted Marcus, he wanted Kate. A bottle skidded and fell. Springing apart at the interruption they see a seething Marcus. 'Good' thinks Dave, if he's this angry seeing Grace kiss him there's hope there, and passion. Making his excuses he leaves hoping there's a happy ending for these two and him and Kate.
Kate calls him the next day. They agree to have dinner together in Fisher where they'll be less likely to be spotted and gossiped about. They meet at the restaurant. Kate can't remember being this nervous before a date, ever. 'You're being ridiculous Manfredi. Your married to him for heavens sake, get it together!'
She arrives to find him sitting at a table already. He stands as she approaches and kisses her cheek. He's wearing a dark blue shirt, she wishes he wasn't, it's not helping. His eyes are blue enough already she thinks.
She's wearing a loose fitting green top that Dave likes very much. It's in no way revealing but skims the very tiny bump she now has.
'She's nervous' Dave thinks and tries to ease her nerves he talks about nothing much. They make small talk awkwardly until the food arrives.
Kate can't take it anymore. They're not on a date. This is a meeting to find out what he thinks and to make a plan on where to go from here.
Setting down her cutlery she pulls a list out of her bag.
"Dave." She starts, "there's a lot to talk about, can we stop the small talk?
Firstly, like I said I don't need/want or expect anything from you but I need to know if you want to be involved at all. We can organise visitation rights and I have no problem with you seeing our child."
Dave is speechless, her words 'don't want anything from you' and 'visitation rights' spin in his brain.
"I'm moving back to Drover's soon so I'll have help after the birth. I've told the girls, but not that it's yours obviously." Glancing down at her list, she looks back at him. "I think I'm having a boy, but once we know what we're having, we can discuss names if you decide you want to be involved. I've got another scan on Friday if you want to come you can but you totally don't have to. Regan said she'll be there if I want her. I think that's everything she says checking her pice of paper again."
Dave just gapes at her.
"You made a list." He says stupidly. He doesn't know why he's surprised. Kate lives by lists, but he'd hoped tonight would be romantic, his first step in winning her back, showing her how much he loves her. She obviously thought it was a meeting to iron out stuff about the baby. He's furious and devastated. He signals for the bill as Kate calmly finishes her dinner, she feels much better having said her piece.
"That is noteverything" he says, "not here. C'mon."
Outside he breathes deeply. "We need to talk privately" he says. You won't tell me where you are so it'll have to be my place."
"The pub isn't private" she replies.
"I'm back in my old place, Kate" he bites out. "Will you follow me back, this cant wait."
She nods.
Arriving at the little house he'd hoped would be theirs, together he ushers her in and makes tea.
Finally he sits across from the armchair she's chosen.
She starts to speak.
"Kate." He says, "Stop. It's my turn to talk. You need to listen." She nods ok.
"Righto."He begins. "Yes I would very much like to come to your scan on Friday. But I don't want visitation rights or access visits or any of that bullshit" he continues. Kate's face falls. 'How can he not want our baby?' She cries inside and tears gather in her eyes, and one falls slowly down her cheek.
He kneels before her and takes her hands.
"Look at me Kate." He tilts her chin
"I don't want those thing but I dowant this baby. So much. I just don't want to be a part-time Dad. I want us to raise this baby together. You, me and the littlie. A family, Kate."
She smiles and sniffs.
"You're happy about the baby?" She asks.
"I'm rapt. I've always wanted to be a dad. I imagined I'd have a houseful of little Brewers by now"
"Mini-Brewer" she says, "that's what Alex called the baby.
"Kate I'm so excited. But I want to be there for all if it."
'Oh dear.' What he's said percolates into her consciousness. 'No! This wasn't the plan. He was supposed to at most agree to see the baby at weekends or something . They were not going to go through this again. She couldn't take it. Playing house with her husband and bringing a baby into that. Just no.'
She panics. "Dave I'm really glad you want to be part of the baby's life, and I won't stop you seeing him or her as much as you want but I'm not playing house with you. I think we both know we don't work together. We just make each other too sad. I can't, I won'tbring a baby up like that."
A knock at the door stops her.
"Brewer!" Calls Alex "Brought you a slab mate." He walks in carrying the beer.
"G'day Kate." He greets.
Seeing their clothes he says "Got a hot date?"
"No." says Kate, grateful for the interruption. " I was just leaving. See ya Alex. Bye Dave."
She heads out to her car.
"Kate!" Dave calls, rushing after her, "Wait! We could make it work. Marcus and Grace do."
"They're not married, they're best mates, all you and I do is make each other miserable. No, Dave, it just wouldn't work."
With that she drives off, leaving hmm heartsore and hopeless.
She arrives back at the farm to find Regan with a parcel for her. She opens the box of junk food and finds a note that reads 'Truly disgusting'
"Jodi!" She cries.
"She called this morning. They're safe and they're coming home!" Regan tells her.
A few days later it's Lexie's birthday party and four days before she moves back to Drovers. She's avoiding Dave but enjoying the party and Charlotte has just dragged her off to show her Lexie's pony again. Alex comes searching for them and takes Charlotte off to have her dinner and a bath.
A few minutes later she's leaving the barn when a pair of arms pull her around the corner and against a very familiar chest. She puts her hands up as she stumbles and looks up at Dave Brewers grin.
"You've been avoiding me Kate."
"Yes" She admits.
"Why?" He asks bending closer.
"Why?" She echoes dreamily, dammit she can't concentrate with him this close. "Umm" She has no idea, why was she avoiding him, at this moment she had no earthly clue, surely it was madness...
He kissed her. It was everything he'd longed for, everything she had yearned for. They clung together. The rightness of having his wife back in his arms settled deep in Dave's heart and the safety she felt as she leant agains his chest soothed Kate. For both it was all they'd missed over the long months of being apart, it felt just like it had at the start when they were so in love and so happy.
Kate had one hand in his hair, the other on the bare skin at his back under his shirt
He tipped her head and kissed her neck, his hand skimmed down her back and came to rest on her stomach.
They broke for air. He leant his forehead against hers. "I've missed you" He breathed heavily.
"Me too" she finally admitted to herself. She didn't want to do this without him. He wanted the baby, they'd work something out. She loved him, he'd hurt her unthinkingly more than a few times but she'd broken his heart by leaving. Was this their second chance?
She kissed him again, putting all the hope she had for them into her kiss, he kissed her back with all the love he felt for her, Kate. Not the mother of his child but her, his wife, his love, the woman he had literally crossed oceans for.
"We'd better get back before they come looking" said Kate, kissing him again .
"You're not making that easy Mrs Brewer" Dave murmured into her hair hugging her tightly. She hugged him back then unwillingly let him go and stepped back.
"I think we maybe have even more to discuss now" she smiled up at him.
"I need to think but I'll see you at the scan yeah? 10:45 at Fisher Hospital?"
"I'll be there" he promised. "Take the time you need Kate, but next time we talk no running ok?"
"Ok" She agrees and kisses him like she'll never stop. He kisses her back until her head spins and her bones melt. Releasing her he smoothed her hair, she looks dazed and throroughtly kissed.
"Go," he says and gently turns her in the direction of the merriment. "I'll be there in a minute."
She spends the last days at the farm thinking through her options. Her mind was already made up when he kissed her. She didn't want to do this alone and it seemed she didn't have to. She realised she didn't even know if he was back for good. Was he here for her or was it cos of the baby? She had to know, had to see him. She calls him as she leaves the farm. He's at the cottage but on call. She drops her stuff at Drover's, tells Stevie she got to see Dave and drives over to the cottage.
He kisses her hello.
"I had to see you." She begins. "I've been thinking"
'I don't think I'm going to like this' he thinks to himself. Apprehensive she might be getting cold feet again.
"How long are you back for Dave?"
"Im back," he says "for good".
"But why?" Kate says "I don't want you to give up your dream. I can raise the baby on my own.,You don't need to do that Dave. You love Kenya and your job!"
"I love you more Kate."
Her eyes fill.
"When I read your letter and realised I loved you, go you remember what I said after I kissed you?" He asks
"Yeah." Kate says, voice shaky "you said we belonged together"
"And that I wanted to be with you always" Dave says gazing at her and taking her hand in his.
"That was true then, true the day I married you and it's still true now Kate Brewer. I love you. I realised my dream job wasn't worth losing you. So I left. I got my old job back, they needed a vet, and I came back to you. I want to be a family Kate. You, me and our baby. Together always."
The tears she's been trying to hold back spill down her cheeks and run onto the table. Standing Dave moves around the table and takes her in his arms.
"Don't cry Kate" He implores her
" Do you really want me or is it 'cos of the baby?" She asks tremulously
"Kate, I have wanted you back since the day you left. 'I want to be with you always' remember? The baby is just a bonus. I really want him or her but I really really want my gorgeous wife...and her extremely cute bum" he whispers the last bit.
She giggles.
"So Mrs. Brewer, how do you feel about an early night?" He waggles his eyebrows
"Aren't you going to buy me dinner first?" She teases.,
"Nope" he replies "Room service later. Right now KitKat I have plans for you !"
"Ooh Mr. Brewer you are a bad man" she purrs, tongue-in-cheek.
"It's Dr." Dave murmurs "And you have no idea!"
Grinning he leads her to his room.
She's got her scan this morning, all she can think of is that she'll see Dave again. Typically, Kate arrives with time to spare, Dave is nowhere to be seen and she's ushered in to her appointment alone. Upset he's not there, the nurse squeezes the gel onto Kate's stomach just as Dave bursts through the door.
"I'm so sorry Kate, he sats. Urgent call out, I came as quick as I could. I'm the father," he tells the radiographer.
He takes a seat and Kate's hand. The radiographer moves the probe over Kate's stomach. She double checks Kate's dates and moves the probe in wider circles.
"Is everything ok?" Kate asks worriedly.
"Everything's fine" smiles the woman. "Mr and Mrs Brewer your babies are fine."
"Thank God" Dave whispers.
"Babies?" Questions Kate. "As in more than one?"
"Twins" says the radiographer. Catching sight of Kate's face she realises, "You didn't know?"
"There's only one" Kate says.
She looks back at the notes and pictures from Kate's first scan.
"This sometimes happens, one twin is hidden behind the other. They must have moved so today we can see both." She turns the screen so Dave and Kate can see their babies.
"They're beautiful, Kate " Dave says in a voice Kate's never heard before.
"There's two of them" she says overwhelmed.
"That's usually how it works with twins" he jokes and kisses her forehead.
"This is twin A down here and to the left, would you like to hear the heartbeat?"
They both nod. It's so fast. Dave has seen hundreds of ultrasounds and conducted loads himself but seeing his unborn children is an almost spiritual experience for him. Tears track down his cheeks as he hears first one heartbeat and then the other.
Leaving the hospital Kate is in panic mode. Twins! That wasn't part of the plan. But then again getting pregnant to her estranged husband wasn't either.
"How do we do this Dave? Twins? I mean one baby is hard enough. Two, at the same time? I can't!"
He pulls her close. "You don't have to do it alone Kate. We'll manage together."
A couple of weeks later Kate is back at Drovers. Dave has flown to Queensland for a conference. She's in the yards closest to the house when she hears an unfamiliar engine. She goes to greet the visitors.
"Jodi!" She screams!
"Hey squirt" says Jodi getting out of the car.
"I've missed you so much! She throws her arms around her friend."
"Missed you too" says Jodi. "Seems I've missed quite a bit!" She says gesturing to Kate's obvious bump.
"Yeah." Says Kate. "I didn't tell you before but Dave and I got married when we were in Kenya and I'm expecting our twins in September."
"Oh wow!" says Jodi, poleaxed.
"You seem happy." She says cautiously.
"I am Jodes. I love him so much. There were some pretty major bumps on the way but things are really good now."
"What about you though? Regan said it's all over, you're safe"
"Yep. For good this time" Jodi says, "and I've got some news too. Matt and I got married and I'm pregnant too."
"Congratulations Stretch!"
"When are you due?"
"Early October. I can't wait! Matt's arriving in a few days but there's so much paperwork to sort out when you're meant to be dead. I don't even know if we're legally married cos it wasn't our real names."
"Oh Jodes, it's SO good to have you home."
"It's good to be home. I didn't think I'd miss Drover's so much.
A few months later Kate and Dave have found out they're having a boy and a girl. They're lying in bed discussing names.
"Would you mind if they had Italian names?" Kate asks him.
"What were you thinking of?"
"Well I'd like to call our little girl Sophia after my Nonna," she says. "Obviously in Australia she'd be 'Soph' for short"
"And the big Fella'd give her a nick name as soon as. I like it. Sophia Brewer. What about a middle name or two?"
"Um, not sure, I'm open to suggestions."
He thinks.
"Katherine after you?" He suggests?
"Don't you remember our vows Dave? I'm not Katherine, I'm Caterina-the Italian version."
"Oh" he blushes. "Yeah I remember. Just forgot everything except how beautiful you looked and how happy I was you'd agreed to be my wife."
"Nice save Brewer!" She says and leaning up kisses him. They forget about baby names for a while.
"Elizabeth? Joy? Louisa?" He begins to list ones he likes.
"Elizabeth for your mum?"
"Yeah"
"How would you feel about Leanne?"she asks tentatively. Dave had finally moved past the grief over losing his wife in a car accident but Kate wasn't sure she should have said anything.
"Sophia Elizabeth Leanne Brewer" He says. "I like it."
He kisses her hair and meets her eyes. "Thank you for thinking of her. I love you Kate." He holds her close for a long while.
"What about our boy? He needs names too. I'd like to include Patrick as a middle name if that's ok? I mean I know you dated so if it's too weird..."
"No, I like it. We were never serious and we've stayed friends and he is your only brother."
"And it's partly cos of him we're together."
"How did you work that out?"
"That quiz you wrote for him and Jodi, where I knew all the answers? Also when I saw you with him and thought it was him you wanted at the farmers council ball. I was jealous as hell but couldn't work our why-idiot that I was."
"Yes, idiot" she agrees. "I'd loved you from the day I saw you. And I still do, very much, even though I'm really fat and walk like a duck."
He looks at her, his hands testing on where their babies are growing.
"Kate you know I think you're gorgeous. You're even more beautiful now. You're glowing and there is something very sexy about seeing the woman I love carrying my babies."
She smiles and blushes a little, still unused to his compliments.
"I'd like to include Carlo too for my Nonno. I think it would mean a lot to my family."
"Sure, one each is fair. What about a first name? Any ideas"
I like Joseph, joey or joe for short, and James, Lucas"
"How about Lachlan? Lachie for short?"
"I love it. Lachlan Patrick Carlo Brewer."
He leans down and taps her bump gently.
"Hey Soph, how's Daddy's girl doing in there?" One of the babies moves.
"See, she already knows her name" he grins at Kate. She rolls her eyes and laughs.
He taps again. "Lachie, it's Daddy, how are you going in there son?"
There's more movement.
"He knows his daddy" Kate smiles at him.
"Soph and Lachie." Dave says in wonder. "Our babies Kate. Now just stay there for a bit longer ok?" He tells the babies. "We can't wait to meet you but not yet."
What did she do to get do lucky Kate wonders. This amazing man and two beautiful miracles on their way. Her heart has never been so full.
Soph and Lachie arrive safe and perfect only two weeks early in the hospital in Fisher. Dave was with her throughout and couldn't take his eyes off his children. Kissing an exhausted Kate he says "before you I thought Id missed my chance, that I'd never be a dad. As here I am with two. Thank you Kate. You've given me the best gift ever. I love you so much."
Katie Anna Louise McLeod arrives 3 and a half weeks after Dave and Kate's twins. Jodi and Kate know their daughters will be best friends.
"If Lachie and Katie get married we'll be sisters!" Jodi says to Kate.
"At the moment Id settle for him sleeping through the night" groans Kate. Newborn twins are bloody hard work, even with Moira and Dave's help. Tayler and Patrick have helped loads but Kate feels like a milk cow. Feeding them or expressing milk seems to be all she does all day.
Dave says she's never been more beautiful, but she feels fat, grumpy and so so incredibly tired. Grace has christened her, Jodi and Stevie 'the Hooter Sisters'!