Chapter 26 My sweet Rose

'Is there any chance you gonna sit still tonight?', Alex said teasingly. She gave him a look. Stevie felt so nervous. Tomorrow would gonna be the day she would see Rose again. 'I just can't. I don't think I will get any minute of sleep tonight either.' Once again she stood up and walked to one of the veranda posts, leaning to it and glaring at the dark sky. Alex had to smirk. 'Maybe I should keep you company than.' Stevie glared back at him, while he showed her a smile, still sitting in the chair. She softly smiled, shaking her head. Stevie looked in front of her again, sighing deeply.

'Well', Alex said, 'I think I'm gonna go home'. He stood up and walked to her, laying his hand softly on her back. 'You're gonna be all right?' Stevie looked up at him and softly smiled, nodding. 'If you want me there?' 'No it's okay', but she couldn't suppress a deep breath. He gave her a caring look. 'It's gonna be just fine.'

Her eyes followed him as she saw him walking away. It had only been a few days after the 'confession' talk, and it had worked as a touch of relief. They both hadn't quite said the words, but they both knew there was more between them than just friendship. For now it was still just friendship, but the complicated under layer was gone. It was settled for comfort. Stevie loved how Alex could just make her feel supported with just being there. She didn't really know what to expect tomorrow, but she had to do it on her own.

The next day Stevie felt tired and excited at the same time. She hardly had slept and she had hold a picture of her and Rose almost the whole night, tight, hoping it would go well. She could hear a car drive upon the property and within a sec she was outside. Stevie saw her daughter parking her car, yes she had her own car now, she had grown up so quick. And it made Stevie think of the many moments she had missed in Rose's life. She bitted her lip, looking out for her. Not really sure if she could run to the dark blue car or not.

My sweet Rose
As the two of us grow
I want you to know that nothing's quite as bad
As it seems when you're so sad
So remember my Rose, remember my Rose

Rose stepped out and Stevie immediately concluded she looked older, she was taller, more a woman. Her face had a more mature shape and her long dark blonde hair was resting playfully on her shoulders. She could look at her like this the whole day, but kinda skipped out of the thought when she saw her daughter looking at her. They greeted and walked to each other.

The two gazed and seemed a bit lost for a moment. 'You ... definitely are becoming a woman', Stevie said, looking up and down. Rose softly smiled. 'You're beautiful', Stevie said softly and she meant it with her whole heart. 'Thanks. You look good too.' 'You think?', Stevie looked at her clothes. She had been working this morning and still felt dirty, but she didn't really had the time to shape up. 'Yeah'.

'Cool car', Stevie continued the conversation and Rose seemed pleased with it. They started to talk about simple stuff and it went well. Slowly Stevie felt the weight fall of her shoulders. She helped her daughter with her luggage, showed her the room and in the end introduced her to Regan, Moira, Taylor and Riley, while they said 'hi' to Kate and Jodi.

'It's going pretty well, isn't it?' Kate said softly to Stevie, when Rose checked out the stables. Stevie nodded, she could cry of joy, but kept it in. A huge smile had covered her face.

Sometime later Rose and Stevie where in the guestroom, talking and things got a bit more serious. 'Michelle told me a lot'. Rose sat on the bed and was looking at her hands. Stevie had taken place next to her. 'I don't expect you to ever forgive me, but I hope somewhere you can understand it. I didn't want to give you away and I surely didn't want you to find it out like this.' Rose glared at her and could see the teary eyes. 'It's okay, I think I'm glad I know now. I thought a lot and ... there's this girl at school who got pregnant last year. She had such a hard time with her parents, well kinda with everything. It made me think of how it would have been for you.' Stevie blinked and softly smiled, comforting. 'As long as you know I really love you, more than anything else.' She laid her hand on Rose's shoulder and rubbed it a bit. She got a smile in return and the two carefully hugged.

My sweet Rose
I'd like to say
I'd like to say no one always gets their way
And no one always thinks the same
My Rose, remember my Rose

When the seasons change
And the sky turns grey
When the leaves turn brown
I'll be around

Stevie could have screamed it out and it had felt so amazing to have her here. Once again she tried to fight the tears, but she failed. 'Aw, don't cry', Rose said as she saw Stevie's face again. 'Well, you know me, softy.' They smiled. 'I guess that's a mum thing.' It made Stevie laugh through her tears, getting an overwhelming feeling through her body, whipping the tears away. 'I guess so too.'

Rose looked a bit away and Stevie could see she was thinking of something, but hesitated to say. 'Is there something?' Rose looked at her. 'Well ... should I call you mum now or?' Stevie gave her a comforting smile. 'That's all up to you.' 'I'm not always calling Michelle mum lately. It doesn't always feel right.' 'Probably at the moment she says you have to get home early, hey?' Stevie said as she petted her daughter's knee. Rose laughed. 'Sometimes yeah.'

My sweet Rose
As the two of us change
I want you to know that nothing stays the same
But you and I, we will remain
My Rose, remember my Rose

Alex had arrived at Drovers, too curious how things had gone and Moira had told him they were in the guestroom. He had looked at the two for a moment, a bit sneaky, but to be sure he wasn't interrupting any thing. 'Hey, how's my new jillaroo?' He walked in and Rose turned around to face him. 'You know Alex', Stevie mumbled. 'Hey Alex.' Rose didn't really know how to react; last time had been pretty heavy. 'I can see where you got your good looks from,' Alex smirked, concluding Rose was becoming a woman and looked as stunning as her mother, who proudly returned his smile.

'So you gonna get some work experience at Killarney hey. I'm a tough boss, so prepare.' Alex said it in a teasy way. 'I'm gonna do my best', Rose answered, while she sat up right. 'Good to hear that!'

While Rose was helping the girls out Alex had a short conversation with Stevie. 'So it's going well?' 'Yeah', Stevie said with a huge smile. 'I can tell, you're all shiny', he smirked. She looked at him and turned her face again to watch her daughter being busy. 'She grew so much.' Alex nodded. 'You've got a beautiful daughter. It runs in the family I guess.' He pushed her softly and she gazed at him. Stevie realized she couldn't really feel any happier. She had Rose near and the man she was falling for showed his sweetest smile saying she was beautiful.

'She's a hard worker, I see. Good to have her on the team.' 'Don't let her hang around the guys too much', Stevie all of a sudden realized Killarney was full with young men. Alex smirked. 'Don't worry I will keep an eye on her. Wouldn't let my daughter with my men alone either.' She looked up at him. 'I mean, if she was my daughter'. Stevie had to grin about the way he said it. 'Good to know that.'

Matt Costa – Sweet Rose