Chapter 33.
Upstairs Jodi tried to lift Xander out of his little bed. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. 'What's up little fella?'. She looked at the little boy, reaching out his small arms to be picked up, as he stood in his crib. He didn't need to get changed so Jodi held him around his waist and carried her against her chest. Xander tugged at her blond curls immediately and seemed to relax. ' Good to know I have that mummy instinct', she grinned as she rubbed the boy's back.
But just as quick he started to shift and move impatiently and she tried to hold him tighter. ' No kicking Xan, bub doesn't like that … and me neither', she added with a sigh as it didn't help much.
'You want mommy?'
His eyes lit up and his lips repeated that last word; 'momm'.
'Fine, but she had a tough night Xan, at least I guess that', she told him as she carried him towards Stevie's room. With a soft knock on the door she opened it a second later.
Stevie lay all curled up, under her sheets, asleep. Her face was showing the remains of an unpleasant falling asleep and Jodi sighed softly, caressing Xander's soft hair as he already reached out his hand to join his mother. ' Maybe we should let mommy sleep a bit longer, hey Xan.'
***
Minutes later Jodi appeared with Xander in the Drovers kitchen, seeing two tired faces look up at her lazy; 'good morning sunshines', she grinned.
'I got no clue how you can show up at this time with a smile on your face', muttered Grace as she let her face sunk further along her hand, twirling an empty cup around on the table. Regan slammed her arm playfully on her sister's.
'It's what they call love, l.o.v.e., which we obviously lack', she whispered towards Grace, looking up at Jodi a moment later. 'I take hubby is still fast asleep'. With a big grin Jodi nodded heavy.
'Let's say he needed his bit of rest', the blond McLeod told her friend amused, remembering last night activities. It felt so good to have Matt around her again, she fall asleep in his arms, and even though she was far along in her pregnancy, she clearly didn't mind more intimacy.
'God do I even wanna know!', Grace flashed out quickly towards her.
'Tricky subject', Regan explained.
Jodi gave them a supportive smile as she sat down and couldn't hold Xander any longer, he clearly wanted to walk and crawl around the place, like a little busy bee. Quickly he moved towards the hall way door. 'No Xan!', Jodi let out, turning in her seat; 'you can't go to your mommy yet'. She heaved herself up again, with a bit of strain and got to the boy again, making sure the hallway door would be closed.
'She's here?', Regan asked.
'Stevie? Yes, she's asleep and from the look of it she really needs in, and I don't mean it in the positive way of the word', Jodi said with sad look on her face as she had closed the door and Xander just sat against it.
Regan blew out, string in front of herself for a moment. 'That can't be good, she was with Russ last night, she shouldn't suppose to be here … if it was a success.' Jodi shrugged her shoulders a bit apologetic, like she wished for whispering a little sorry. They all were concerned about Stevie's state of mind, and she knew partly it was caused by the confrontation of seeing a happy little family be reunited just right in front of her. The little family she should have formed only a year ago.
***
Regan had waited some time, telling Grace she would join her as soon as possible with checking the fences and cleaning the troughs. First she needed to know if Stevie was alright.
