Drover's Kitchen... A friendly face...
Tess is in the kitchen on Drover's when she hears the back door.
Looking up she passes a short smile to Stevie but instantly knows something is wrong.
"What's wrong?"She questions.
Stevie dissolves.
...
Half an hour later Nick arrives home.
After kissing Tess hello he sits at the table with Stevie and Tess hands him a coffee.
"You alright Stevie?" He asks.
She shakes her head too close to tears again to speak.
...
"He wanted me to bring him here to say sorry Stevie but I told him you needed space." Nick offers softly.
She nods and looks agitated and uncomfortable as tears freely flow again.
Nick places his hand on her shoulder and says. "We all know how hard this has been for the both of you. Take all the time out you need."
She folds her arms on the table and resting her head she cries.
...
Kilarney's Living Room...Helpful Harry...NOT...
Alex is unsure where in the room he is.
As the house is in silence he can't even work out where the kitchen is.
"Harry!" He calls and listens.
"Rotten old bastard."Alex mumbles to himself when there is no response from Harry even though Alex heard him walk into the office not ten minutes ago.
A door opens nearby and he asks. "Whose there?"
...
"It's me Alex, I heard you call." Rhonda states.
Alex looks a sad figure standing in the middle of the room.
His head shakes slightly and he offers. "I made her cry again Rhonda and she's gone back to Drover's."
He can hear her smile when she offers. "Just as well she loves you then isn't it Alex. She'll be back so in the meantime you can come and help me in the kitchen."
She watches as a tiny smile offers hope in him.
...
Harry finishes his paperwork in the office and walks back into the kitchen.
Alex is sitting at the bench mixing something for Rhonda.
Rhonda has just taken a casserole from the oven.
"So she's run off and hasn't come back."Harry pressures.
"She'll be back I upset her and she just needs some time out." Alex responds.
...
"Pfttt just keep telling yourself that. As soon as it gets too hard again she'll run. She always does."Harry torments.
"Just leave it Old Man." Alex retorts.
"She could have killed you today Alex! What sort of a fool takes a blind man horse riding." Harry digs.
"She's just trying to stop me feeling sorry for myself Harry! Today was my fault she only wanted me to walk and I bullied her into going faster. She isn't to blame."Alex replies through gritted teeth.
...
Drover's Run a Healing Home...
Tess and Nick encourage Stevie to stay for dinner.
They try to steer the conversation around the farm.
Kate and Jodi do too.
"Make sure you girls set your alarms for the morning I'd like to get an early start.' Nick tells them.
" Are you marking the lambs tomorrow?" Stevie asks.
Kate offers. " Yes we've got three hundred head to do."
" Do you need a hand? Stevie asks.
Nodding Tess responds. " That would be great Stevie."
Stevie nods and replies. " I'll head back soon, But will be back for breakfast."
"You're more than welcome to stay with us Stevie." Nick offers.
She nods and replies. " I know Nick thanks, but I want to go back."
" So long as you're sure.' Nick states.
" I am." She says smiling.
...
Kilarney...Locked out of home but not from his heart...
By the time Stevie arrives back on Kilarney the house is in darkness.
She tries the doors and they're locked.
Bloody Harry you old bastard she thinks to herself.
He'd be glad she was gone.
For a moment she stands deep in thought and then she acts.
...
Harry Ryan has held out hope that she'd stay gone.
When ten o'clock came around he grinned as he moved around the perimeter of the house and locked all the doors.
This had turned out better than he'd hoped she'd left him.
Tomorrow he'd begin the process of convincing Alex that he shouldn't keep her around as it was unfair for her to be attached to a blind man.
Harry knew that would be the only way Alex would let her go.
...
Drover's Run early morning...
As the alarm rings Jodi leans over and hits snooze.
Snuggling back into bed she dozes.
When it blares again she almost jumps from her bed as a second later there's a loud bang on her door.
"Come on Jode's times a wasting." Nick calls.
...
Kate is already in the kitchen when Tess joins her and Nick follows moments later.
Ten minutes later Jodi joins them.
"Nick you frightened the daylights out of me." Jodi grumbles.
He laughs and replies. "Why don't you just get out of bed instead of hitting snooze all the time it drives me crazy."
"I get more sleep." She grins.
"That maybe but we get less." He retorts.
"Oh I didn't even think about that sorry."She answers.
...
Kilarney...Alex's Room...Letting in some light...
Alex wakes and feels warmth beside him and smiling realizes Stevie is there.
Relief engulfs him.
Sliding his arm under her neck he repositions himself so he can hold her.
He grins when she snuggles into him.
Her breathing low and soft reassures him she's still asleep.
Inhaling, he drinks her in.
Then drifts back to sleep himself.
...
Sunshine is streaming into the room when he wakes again.
Blinking he squints.
He hears the shower turn off and smiles.
She's still here.
...
Opening the bathroom door she walks into the bedroom naked and he refrains from grinning then pretends to be asleep.
As he moves about in the bed she approaches and sits beside him whispering. "Alex?"
Opening his eyes he says. "Stevie! You're back! I'm so sorry about yesterday I was a jerk and a bully."
He watches as her eyes prick with tears and she replies. "I'm sorry too I shouldn't have pushed you so hard."
She leans onto his chest and he hugs her.
...
"I'm sorry I made the remark about you and marriage too Stevie."He offers.
She wipes her eyes and says. "I will marry you Alex blind or not. As soon as we do the paperwork I'll marry you on whatever day you want."
He grins and asks. "Even if I was to stay blind you'd marry me?"
"I have no choice. I love you and I don't want to be apart from you. "She replies leaning forward to kiss him.
...
"Come on we're having breakfast on Drover's Run this morning and if you don't hurry up we'll be late."She scolds him as she stands and grabs her underwear and begins to put them on.
He throws the blanket off and stands up and as he walks past her asks. "Are you going to wear the matching blue bras to those panties?"
"Yep." She answers and then spins to look at him.
He's grinning at her.
Searching his face she asks. "You can see me?"
He nods and says. "You're very blurry but clear enough to make me feel happy."
Holding out his arms she throws herself at him.
They stand together surrounded in relief, hope and love.
...