Gungellan …. Six months later…
A small crowd gather in the tiny church as Alex and Nick stand at the front.
"Are you sure about this Alex I mean your only twenty-two?" Nick whispers.
Alex looks cross as he replies." How stupid do you think I am Nick of course, I'm sure."
"Calm down I was just checking." Nick chuckles.
…
Outside Stevie, Claire, Rose and Jack climb from the cars.
Nervously Stevie inhales and exhales trying to calm herself down.
Claire fusses around ensuring everyone's clothing is perfect.
Jack holds out his to arm and states. "You look beautiful Stevie."
"Yeah, thanks Dad." Claire teases.
"Yes, yes you do too and I'm so glad you left your jeans at home." Jack retorts.
Claire pulls a face at him, and Stevie chuckles and offers. "You walked into that one Claire."
….
Inside the church the congregation stands as first Rose, then Claire and finally Stevie and Jack begin their walk down the aisle.
Rose is very excited and rather than gently sprinkling the rose petals from her basket as they walk, she tosses them, basket and all as she calls. "Diddy look at our pretty dresses."
Everyone laughs and watches as Alex bobs down and she rushes into his arms.
As she wraps her arms around his neck he stands and kisses her cheek.
"You look very cute Bub but what about your basket?" He chuckles.
Claire has retrieved the basket and spread the remaining petals.
Handing the basket to Rose she moves into position.
Alex places the little girl next to Claire and gets a brief glimpse of Stevie before she arrives at his side.
"Well, that didn't go as planned." Stevie jokes.
Alex stares at her.
"You, ok?" She queries.
"You're beautiful." He gushes.
With her smile on high beam, she replies. "You should dress up more often too because you look amazing Alex."
His smile widens.
….
Kilarney…later in the day...
Stevie sits reminiscing on the past few years.
So much had happened to her and around her in those times.
First, she'd met Alex and Claire and through Claire Jack.
Dear Jack, when she was down on her luck, he'd invited her to live on Drovers Run with baby Rose.
It hadn't always been easy as she could be obstinate and didn't take kindly to being told what to do.
Her sense of humour and direct approach had won Jack over quickly and he in turn had learnt a bit about girls and women.
Jack had taken the place of her own father, so it seemed natural to ask him to give her away today.
She smiles as she remembers the pride on his face when she'd asked him to walk her down the aisle.
…
Alex and his brother plus his Mum and Dad had also filled a void in her heart and life.
All of them treated Rose as if she was their niece and granddaughter through blood.
Rose adored them all and so did Stevie.
Both Jack and Harry had guided her when she'd won a large amount of money and helped her navigate her first property purchase.
Since then, she'd purchased a flat in the city and a holiday rental too.
A real estate agent handled those and together all three properties were making her a wealthy young woman.
…
Today marked the end of an era as she would move from Drovers Run to Kilarney after their honeymoon was over.
Her eyes prick with tears as she thinks about leaving Drovers.
Sensing movement beside her Stevie looks to her left as Jack sits beside her.
"Tears! What are you sad about?" Jack asks.
Leaning into him she replies. "Because I'm leaving home."
Lifting his arm around her he whispers. "That's what grownups do Stevie. Any way you can always come and visit anytime you like plus Rose is going to miss her Grumpy I think so she'll have sleepovers with us, and you can come too."
Stevie laughs and pushing back asks. "Sleepovers really!"
He nods and pulling her closer kisses the side of her head.
…..
Claire and Nick walk passed hand in hand.
"How are those two getting along?" Jack asks.
"Really well by what I've seen." Stevie replies.
"You were right about Chris Stevie and I'm so glad one of us saw through him. Cheating bastard." Jack grumbles.
"Harry saw it before I did." Stevie offers.
"What did I see?" Harry asks having joined them.
"Dr Chris." Stevie answers.
Harry angrily states. "Glad he's gone, he was a mongrel. Claire deserves better."
"What like a Ryan?" Jack questions.
"Hey, she could do a lot worse." Harry replies.
"That may be but you're not stealing another one of my girls. I'll be ready next time." Jack remarks.
Harry laughs.
Stevie feels her self-esteem soar as Jack acknowledges her as his girl.
…
Alex stands talking to Tess and Dave.
After Ruth's death they'd moved to Drovers Run and as Dave was a vet, he'd taken over the practice from the districts old vet.
Jack wasn't impressed initially but had slowly found Dave to be a good bloke.
Both Claire and Stevie liked him and through them Jack had finally given him a chance.
Jack liked the fact he got mates rates on any veterinarian fees too which was great.
Dave got along extremely well with Alex as well and the two had formed a strong friendship in a very short time.
….
Stevie, Jack and Harry have been joined by Liz and Rose.
Rose is tired and is snuggled up in Harry's arms.
"Are you sure about minding Rose for us." Stevie questions once again.
Liz smiles as she rubs the little girls back and replies. "Yes, it's fine. We're all sorted aren't we Jack?"
"Sure are, Harry and Liz have her for four days then she's coming over to Drovers for the remaining six." Jack responds.
Alex arrives and announces that it's time for them to change and then leave on their honeymoon
The young married couple move inside and quickly change into casual gear.
Alex had previously taken their bags downstairs, and they were loaded into their limousine.
"Are you ready Mrs Ryan? "
Stevie grins at him and replies. "It's going to take me awhile to get used to the name change."
Alex wraps her up and she cuddles into his chest.
"We've got all the time in the world Mrs Ryan."
…..