Alex kept her up-to-date with everything the girls were doing to get her out of there. He called her on the phone as often as he was allowed. He said nothing to Fiona about what was happening he felt she would only tell him to leave it to the authorities. But he knew better. They hadn't helped her the first time they had locked her away for a crime she didn't commit.
The day the authorities told him Stevie could go home, Alex decided to tell Fiona. "We need to talk," he announced. He was home by then, knowing that in a few short days Stevie would be home with him.
Fiona was reading a book on the couch when he sat beside her. "Sure," she smiled taking her eyes off the book and turning her attention to him.
"I haven't been on business the last month. I've been in a hotel in the City," he confessed. He was going to leave her in a day or two, but he didn't want to drop the bombshell on her until he found out what Stevie wanted.
"What?" she snapped pulling back from him when he reached out to touch her. "With her?"
"No," he replied.
"Don't lie to me, Alex. You were."
"How could I have been Fi? She's been locked up."
"But you've seen her in there, haven't you?" she accused.
"Yes," he nodded. "I've been working with the girls to find how to get her out of there."
"She killed your father, Alex. The judge said so."
"No she didn't. Sandra did. I knew she was innocent and I wasn't about to sit back and let her stay in that place. I needed her out."
"What does that mean?" she demanded. "I'm your wife, Alex. I needed you here with me. You have to understand this you are supposed to be with me not her. I'm your wife."
"I'm aware of that," he snapped. For a moment he wished he had never met her. Maybe then he would have been with Stevie without feeling guilty. He didn't love Fiona, and he wasn't sure he ever did. But it would only be cruel to say that to her, he would just tell her he didn't love her now.
"Then I want you to stop seeing her!" she ordered.
Alex rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, Fi."
"I'm not. You owe me your attention, I'm the one you agreed to spend your life with, remember that!" there was ice in her tone when she said that. A moment later she left the room.
"I'm going to pick her up now," he called. A moment later she stood in the doorway looking confused.
"What do you mean?" she seemed threatened by this.
"I mean the judge is letting her go. I'm bringing her home."
"Home?" she asked with a laugh. "How is that possible?"
He was loosing patience with her. "I told you, she didn't do it. She is being released and I'm driving back up to the city now and bringing her back." He felt like he was talking to a child.
"I'm coming too!" she announced.
He shook his head. "No, you're not. If too many people are there she might get overwhelmed," he replied.
"Since when does Stevie get overwhelmed about anything?" she shot back. "I'm sure she can handle it."
Even Alex had trouble believing that. "Fiona, I won't be long." He wanted to talk to Stevie about what she wanted he couldn't do that with her in the car.
"Alex. I'm coming."
He could see that she wasn't about to change her mind. It was going to be a long drive back if she came to. "Fi…"
"I'm not compromising," she stated. "I'm coming with you, or you can get one of the girls to do it," the girls had insisted on picking her up, but he had wanted to do it, he had begged them to let him. Not that they understood why. Now he wouldn't get the chance to have the talk with her. He would have to wait until they were home again before they could talk.
"Fine. But if you say anything to upset her…" he warned. "Whatever you believe about who killed Harry, keep it to yourself. Got it?" he demanded.
"Fine," she agreed.
The drive there was long enough, he could only imagine how long it was going to feel to both Stevie and Alex when they were together, but couldn't speak. He had had plans on how it was going to work out. He was going to hold her hand the whole way home, and talk about what she wanted from him. He would agree to anything as long as he got her. It was all he wanted now. He just prayed she hadn't changed her mind about him.
He demanded that she stay in the car when he went in, and she did. She wasn't going to push him too hard, but she was beginning to suspect they were having an affair. She was just too afraid to ask him.
When Alex came to get her, she was ready to go. She had already changed into the pants suit she had been wearing at the trial. She hugged him and when she pulled back and saw the look on his face she was afraid that he had changed his mind about her.
"What?" she asked.
"Fiona's in the car," he answered.
She sighed assuming she knew what it meant. "Okay."
"It's not okay Stevie," he said. "I did everything I could to come alone. But she wouldn't let me… I tried."
"It's okay Alex," she didn't bother hiding her disappoint-ment and it killed him to see her like that. He wanted to kiss her, but he held back. He knew that if Fiona were to walk in she would kill him, and then Stevie.
"I want to talk about us," he told her. "Can we do it when we get home? I can call you on the phone, maybe unless you've-"
She shook her head. "I haven't changed my mind. Have you?" she asked.
"No," he assured her. She looked up at him with a smile hoping that this wasn't all just a bad dream. She had been preparing herself for that since the moment the guard told her she'd be released today.
They walked out together. Stevie climbed into the back seat and Alex took the driver's side.
"Hello Stevie," Fiona greeted. Her tone was neither cold nor warm there was no feeling from her at all.
"Fiona. Thanks for picking me up," she said forcing a smile. It was hard not to hate her she was the one who had taken Alex away.
Alex looked in the rearview mirror and smiled at Stevie. She tried not to give too much away, but her body language deceived her and Fiona wasn't blind. Whatever was between them was stronger than anything either of them had known before. Even Fiona couldn't ignore it.
The ride home was as long as they assumed it would be. Stevie said nothing and Fiona chatted to Alex about starting a family, then she'd look at Stevie to see whether she was listening. It was all for her benefit. She was making sure Stevie knew who Alex belonged to.