Chapter 40

April 18, 1996

The next morning, Stephanie is having breakfast when Kelly enters from the living room.

"Morning." Stephanie said.

"I'm surprised you're still here, Steph." Kelly said. "I thought you'd be in Yabbie Creek waiting for a train to the city."

"I didn't feel like going with Tiegan to the city today." Stephanie responded.

Having a gut instinct, Kelly sat at the kitchen table with Stephanie.

"Are you afraid of something?" she asked her.

"Kind of." Stephanie replied.

"Louis?"

The minute Stephanie heard his name, her eyes started to well up.

"Oh, sweetie." a sympathetic Kelly said, putting her hand on Stephanie's arm.

"It's just hard." Stephanie sobbed.

"I know."

"I loved him, Kelly. I really did."

Kelly hugged Stephanie as she continued to cry.

"Let it all out, Steph." she told her foster daughter.

"I will go visit his grave one day." Stephanie said, sniffing.

"When you're ready." Kelly said.

Stephanie wiped away her tears before hugging Kelly once more.

"Thank you for that, Kelly." she said.

"That's what I'm here for." Kelly told her.

Meanwhile, Jack is watching Prime TV when Pippa is in the kitchen cleaning the breakfast bowls.

"Tiegan's gone to the city with her old friend and Shannon's gone to see Curtis with Sal. So, that leaves just me, you, Sam and Christopher." Pippa said.

"Yeah." Jack grumbled.

Pippa noticed that something was wrong.

"Jack, are you alright?" Pippa asked him.

"Fine." Jack replied curtly.

"Sweetheart, I have an idea what could be the matter." Pippa said, not buying Jack's excuse. "Are you nervous about the meeting Mrs James is holding over you and Kerri?"

"Kinda." Jack said.

"You know you can talk to me." Pippa said gently.

"I don't want to talk about it, okay!" Jack snapped before heading upstairs.

Pippa looked concerned. She just hoped Jack wasn't rebelling again.

Jack went straight to his room and closed the door. He was beginning to feel worthless and depressed. He just wished that Kerri didn't get sent to Tweed Heads and that Andrew didn't kidnap him.

Tiegan and Hillary are in the city enjoying a day out. When they are about to head into Haymarket, they are surprised to see Stephanie standing there!

"Steph!" Tiegan said.

Stephanie gave her best friend a hug.

"Surprised to see me, sister from another mister?" Stephanie asked Tiegan.

"Hillary and I didn't expect to see you here." Tiegan responded.

"We're so glad you came." Hillary said.

"How did you get here?" Tiegan asked Stephanie.

"Kelly had to go to the city to see her sister, so she dropped me off here." Stephanie replied.

"Awesome!" Tiegan said.

The three girls then head into Market City and look at the stores. After that, they walked around Darling Harbour where they ran into Steve Wiley and Con Bordino.

"Hey guys." Hillary said to them.

"Hills." Steve said, kissing Hillary on the cheek. "How've you been, girl?"

"I've been well." Hillary replied.

"Tiegan, you're looking fantastic as always." Steve said to her.

"Thanks, Stevo." Tiegan said.

"What was your name, love?" Con asked Stephanie.

"Firstly, I hate being called 'love' and secondly, I'm Stephanie Mboto."

"I like this one, Steve." Con told him as he shook Stephanie's hand. "She tells it straight."

"How's Danielle and Jodie these days?" Hillary asked Con.

"They're doing good." Con replied.

"What have you been doing with yourself, Hills?" Steve asked Hillary.

"I'm actually looking to work in the hospitality industry." Hillary replied. "I've applied for a few jobs around the Wollongong area."

"You live in Wollongong now?" Con asked.

"I've lived there since I graduated from Hartley High."

"Well, we better let you ladies go." Steve said.

"It was great seeing you." Stephanie said.

Tiegan, Stephanie and Hillary said goodbye to Steve and Con before walking towards the Queen Victoria building.

"Shall we have a look?" Stephanie asked them.

"I don't see why not." Tiegan replied.

"A little bit of culture won't hurt me." Hillary responded.

The girls entered the building with confidence.

That afternoon, Irene returns from from her shift at the Diner looking angry.

"Selina in her room?" she asked Chloe.

"No." Chloe said.

"Then where is she?!"

"I don't know." Chloe said. "I honestly don't know."

"Well, she is in BIG trouble when she gets home." Irene said angrily. "I just had Mrs Prendergast tell me that she saw Selina smoking at the bus stop!"

Irene then stormed into Selina's room.

"Selina's gone!" Irene said to Chloe. "She's done a runner!"

"Are you sure?" Chloe asked her.

"Chloe, I'm not losing my mind." Irene responded. "And I found these cigarette packets under her bed!"

"Where do you think she went?"

"I don't know. But when she returns, she's gonna wish she never came home!" Irene snapped, looking angry.

As it turned out, Selina was at the airport.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Qantas 860 flight to the Gold Coast is due to depart in five minutes. Please board the plane now." a female voice announced through the loudspeaker.

Selina grabbed her suitcases and made her way to the plane. She hoped that seeing Jerome would cheer her up.

NEXT TIME...
- Jack continues to isolate himself from everyone
- Tiegan and Stephanie discover a secret about Hillary
- While Selina enjoys life on the Gold Coast, Irene's stress begins to mount