Chapter
13.
Stevie
rubbed the palm of her hand onto her eyes, yawning and stretching her
body when she entered the Drovers kitchen, seeing Jodi sit there
holding Xander. 'Cuppa?', Regan asked quickly, as she poured some
hot water into a few cups.
'Uhm yeah', Stevie answered sleepy, than looking back at Jodi. 'You do know that is my son and you don't need to constantly pick him out of bed'. She swirled a close by chair towards her and sat down.
'I don't mind', the blonde McLeod answered shortly. 'Your mommy is in a bad mood', she whispered to Xander.
'Here, take this', Regan placed a cuppa in front of Stevie, on the wooden table. Seeing how she looked up. Her head resting into her hands. Messy hair now half hid her face.
'Can you pour some rum into it', Stevie just answered cynically.
Both McLeod's looked at each other and grinned weakly. 'You know Steves. I leave you to pick up Xander every time he cries from tomorrow on', Jodi smirked. Stevie gazed aside and didn't give her friend that much of a friendly look, cause she knew what she meant. From tomorrow on Jodi would wake up next to her husband and so far Xander had been the perfect distraction. And how happy she was for her friend to have that, it sting.
'I take it you slept very badly, or you have been thinking too much about Vet Connors', Regan said, and sat down, curling her hands around her cuppa as she sat opposite of Stevie.
'Where are Grace and Jaz?', Stevie asked to ignore the comment.
Regan decided to play along for now; 'checking all fences. Wanna get into town with me? You know which supplies we need.' Stevie looked suspiciously at her for a moment. 'It'll be fun, we hardly spend time together since I've arrived'. Which was already ten days ago. Stevie sighed and straightened her back a bit more.
'Okay, it might be fun', she smiled weakly, than looked aside; 'Jodi can look after Xander for the day.'
She stuck out her tongue and moved her chair more towards them.
'Mamma', her son already let out, his arms reaching out for her.
'You like that Xander?' She lifted him up and settled onto her lap. She caressed his dark hair shortly. 'Spend some time with Auntie Jodi? Yeah?' She smiled now seeing him laugh at her. 'Yeah you do, don't you?' He made up his own language of replying and reached out his hand to catch her necklace.
Xander had always done that; reaching for her necklace with her rings, only now it was just one of her old necklaces and he seemed to notice. 'I know', she whispered and pressed her lips on the top of his head.
'Better enjoy your time with Jodi, cause she won't have much time for you the upcoming days, sweety', she finally spoke, holding her boy tightly.
'Okay, we'll leave at 9', Regan said, standing up and patting Jodi shortly on her shortly. In support for handling Stevie's fine mood.
