The doorbell rang.

Tad left his packing of Dixie's things to hurry down the stairs and answer the door.

Cara was standing on the doorstep with a baby buggy.

"Hi." she said with a cheerful smile. "I have discovered the best way to get Charlie to take his afternoon nap is to take him for a walk. We were just five minutes away by the time he finally settled down so I thought I would drop by."

"Well you are more than welcome." said Tad opening the door wider and letting her in.

Cara noticed that Tad seemed distracted.

"Have I come in the middle of something?" Cara asked.

Tad sighed.

"More like the end."

Cara gave him a quizzical look.

"Dixie sent a letter asking for the rest of her clothing." said Tad despondently.

"I'm sorry." said Cara putting a comforting hand on his arm.

Tad led her to the living room and they sat side by side on the couch.

"And that's all she wrote?" asked Cara probing for more information. "That sounds so cold."

Tad pulled the letter from his pocket and unfolded it smoothing out the creases as he read Dixie's words once more.

"She makes it very clear she has chosen JR over her family here. I think she blames herself for his actions."

Tad paused a moment before handing the letter over for Cara to read.

"It was such a miracle, that she came back." said Tad sadly. "I couldn't believe it, that we would get that chance again, that she would get to see Katie grow up. We have lost and found each other again so many times but it always goes sour. This time I just hoped…"

"But why are you stopping at hope." asked Cara, "Why aren't you fighting for her? It was clear to see that Dixie is your great love, how can you give up after one pit fall?"

"It's been more than one," said Tad, "So many more than one. It seems our romance is one pit fall after another. Maybe I have just decided to listen to fate for once and accept that it won't work between us… I mean how many times can it go wrong before I get the hint?"

"And how many times can it go right before you realised you have something special?"

Tad looked at Cara and sighed.

"But we were going right." said Tad. "I sometimes wonder what would have happened between us if she never came back."

Cara smiled, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes.

"We weren't some great love, not like you and Dixie. We were great friends brought together by circumstance. We still are and I treasure that." Cara put her hand on the baby buggy and rocked it gently. "But if Dixie never returned I wouldn't have my little man here and I couldn't bear the thought of that."

Tad nodded in understanding.

"And isn't that were Dixie is coming from." added Cara. "Her son is sick and she is going to stand by him. Nothing in this letter says it's over between you. In fact I read this letter as her asking for your help. I think she needs your help to have the strength to stand by her child."

Tad took the letter from Cara's hand reading the words with new eyes.

"Why don't you do as she asks? Pack a case and go see her." suggested Cara, "Tell her how you feel. Find out how she feels. Isn't that the only way to really find out if it is over?"

"Maybe you're right." said Tad. He flicked the page in his hands with his fingers at the offending last paragraph. "But all these things about AJ. I couldn't do that to the boy. Not when he's just getting back to being settled and happy with his mom, I don't want to stir it all up again for him."

"Then don't." said Cara simply.

Tad looked at Cara.

"How are you so wise?"

"It's amazing what sleep deprivation can do to a brain. I may be talking sensibly now but in a few hours I could be sprouting nonsense and not even notice."

Tad smiled at his ex-sham-wife.

"Well as you are here, could I tempt you with a tea? Katie and Jenny will be back from school in an hour and I know they would love to see you and Charile."

"That would be wonderful." said Cara smiling back.

"And it's chilli night." Tad added.

Cara laughed.

"I don't want to impose."

"Now you are talking nonsense." said Tad," We always have way too much, even now that the Chief of Police is a regular guest; Opal always cooks enough for an army!"

"Then I would be delighted to stay." said Cara, "All I had waiting for me at home for dinner tonight was Mac and Cheese and my own company as Griffin is working the night shift."

"Then it's settled, you and the little man, stay for dinner and I'll drop you back home tonight."

"And you need to decide what you are going to do about Dixie."

"I already have." said Tad. "Her case is packed, I was going to just post it, but you are right, I need to talk to her. We've been through too much for me to give up without a fight."

"And JR?"

"I don't know what I am going to say to JR..."

…