It had been six weeks since Stevie had told Alex she loved him, six weeks in which they had hidden their relationship from the world. It wasn't that they didn't want to scream it from the roof tops, but the two of them had agreed that while they were overjoyed about their new romance, the locals were still coming to terms with Alex's broken marriage.
Whenever the girls asked her about it, she shrugged and told them it was none of her business and she didn't want to bring it up with Alex unless he offered. She didn't like lying to them, but she felt it wasn't the right time yet. So when Stevie started to get sick, the girls worried about her, there was always something on the news about a new flu that killed people. But Stevie was unconcerned. She refused to stay in bed and when they demanded she keep up her fluids she got annoyed.
"I'm fine," she snapped at Kate when she thrashed a bottle of water at her and demanded she drink it. "Stop bugging me!"
"We only care about you Stevie," Jodi insisted.
"I promise I'm fine. Just let me get on with the job."
"If you drop dead out there in the paddock, don't say we didn't warn you?" Kate folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
"Oh Kate, don't be so dramatic. It's a common tummy bug. I can still work. If you don't leave me alone, I will hit you!" she threatened. She was beginning to lose patience.
A moment later Regan and Moria walked into the kitchen from the laundry. "Stevie, has Alex said anything about what happened to Fiona, yet?" Regan asked.
Stevie sighed with frustration. They asked too many questions. "No. I don't care, he hasn't said anything and I don't want to know."
"Even if we found out something?" Moria inquired.
"What did you find out?" Stevie didn't bother to hide her curiosity. Whatever they knew, Stevie had known long before that. It was how much they knew that she worried about.
"I thought you said you weren't interested," Regan teased.
"Just shut up and tell me!" she demanded.
"He was seen with some bimbo red head in the pub last week. They seemed to be… cozy," Moria told her. Out of pure reaction, Stevie's hand went to her hair and she hoped they didn't figure it out too quickly.
Stevie pretended to be upset. "He's single now he can do what he likes," she shrugged.
"Are you okay?" Regan looked concerned.
"Yeah. I got some work to do," she headed straight outside. She was going to find Alex. They had to keep it low key now, or the girls would get suspicious.
When she arrived at Killarny, Alex greeted her with a kiss. "Hey beautiful," he smiled. "We still on for tonight?"
"I don't think so," she sighed with disappointment.
"Why not?"
"Because we got busted," she told him.
"What do you mean?"
"There's talk in town of you hooking up with a redhead in the pub last week. They're going to figure it out."
"So what?" he shrugged uncaringly. "It's been over a month. If you want to tell the girls about us, do it. I don't care."
"Really?" she smiled.
"Really. I love you Stevie, we're going to be together for the rest of our lives they're bound to find out eventually. Now is as good a time as any."
"Have I told you how much I love you?" she smiled kissing him softly on the cheek as her hands moved to his neck.
"Not today… but I'm never tired of hearing it," he kissed her again. "Stevie?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can I take you on a picnic tomorrow?" he sounded so casual.
"Like a date? Alex Ryan when did you suddenly turn into the romantic type?" she teased.
"I resent that. I can be romantic. I brought you chocolate and flowers when I was your décor boyfriend," he reminded her. She smiled at the memory. He had been rather cute.
"No French champagne," she teased.
"I'll remember it this time."
"Sounds all right," she agreed. She didn't want to tell him that she was overly excited about it. "Where are we going?" she asked.
"It's a surprise," he answered mysteriously.
"I don't like surprises."
"You'll like this one," he promised.
He gave no more hints. And she didn't ask anymore questions. By the end of the day, Alex dropped by Drover's to check if she was still on for the picnic. Stevie was seated at the kitchen table with the girls, as Moria prepared dinner.
"Hey beautiful," Alex announced before he saw anyone else with her. The girls looked up with confusion.
"Oh my God… you're the redhead?" Moria stated a moment later.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Regan demanded.
"We were keeping it low key. Good one Alex," she smiled standing up to greet him.
"I thought you would have told them the minute you got home," he said.
"Well my entire life doesn't revolve around me telling the world that I love you," she kissed him ignoring the presence of her friends and housemates.
"When did this happen?" Jodi asked after she got over the initial shock.
"About six weeks ago," Alex answered.
"But you and Fiona weren't…" Kate began. "Oh."
"Don't oh," Stevie snapped. "We never had an affair. He ended it with Fiona first."
"So that look I saw in the prison waiting room… it was real."
Alex nodded. "Yeah, it kind of blew up the day she left."
"So you did find her?" Jodi questioned.
"On my way out," Stevie replied. Moria was cooking roast lamb and the smell was beginning to make Stevie feel sick. She ran from the room, preparing herself to throw up. Alex ran after her.
"Maybe we should postpone the picnic," he suggested.
"No. I want to go, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" he looked deeply concerned. "Because I don't want to lose you because you're being stubborn, bed rest might do you good."
"If I still feel sick tomorrow we'll cancel, I promise."
"All right," he agreed.