"Tash, you don't understand. If Mumma Rose finds that out – that you were pregnant and you got rid of it – she'll be angry, more than angry, she'll be livid. She'll want revenge Tash, I mean it."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying your life's in danger Tash, you have to get to Mumma Rose before she gets to you."

"I'm sorry Jack. I do love you, but it's just become too hard, it's not going to work. We're over." With that she kept on walking, leaving her relationship behind and possibly a tiny bit of her heart too. Raindrops dripped off her nose and mingled with the salty tears that were beginning to bathe her frozen cheeks.

Martha rushed into Noah's and before Alf could say anything she got in first.

"I know, I know. I'm late. I'm sorry Grandad!"

"The third time this week girl, where is your head at the moment?"

"Nowhere, just disorganised. I promise from now on I'll be the model of punctuality."

"Yeah, well just get your backside into action now and worry about your promises later."

"Sorry Grandad, have you checked the float?"

"It's all set to go. I'll see you tomorrow morning, and don't wake me when you come in."

"Of course not." Martha smiled and gave her Grandad an affectionate peck on the cheek.

It was five p.m. on a gorgeous summer evening in the bay. The sun was setting a deep shade of orange over the swell from the South Pacific and the seagulls were screeching for their scraps from the lovers, friends and families sharing salty fish and chips on the beach. People would soon start milling into the bar and before she knew it Martha would be run off her feet. She didn't mind though; she preferred working the busy evening shifts. When she had so much to deal with there was no time to think of anything else. Anybody else.

Kim chucked the towel in the wash locker and switched off the lights to the gym. He locked the door and walked over to Martha hard at it behind the bar.

"Hey Mac, looks like it'll be a busy one."

"Yeah when it's a scorcher people always want to drink don't they?" Martha joked. "What about you, looking to drown your sorrows?"

"How'd you guess? A beer thanks."

"Coming up." As Martha pulled the beer she looked at Kim slumped over the bar and tried to cheer him up.

"So you've decided to join the desperate and dateless club have you? Welcome, membership is restricted to a privileged elite." Kim glanced up at Martha and offered a weak smile. "A lot sure has changed in a small amount of time huh?" Martha looked at Kim and slowly nodded her head.

She thought back to that moment two months ago when she had left Jack on that cold day and everything had changed. Since that day they had barely spoken; both trying to avoid the other. If they bumped into each other at the diner it was a quick smile and a rush to move out of the other's way. Jack rarely came into the bar these days, trying to avoid Martha she was sure. He must really hate her if he was forgoing beer she thought grimly. When she did see him he was often with Kate – hanging out, chatting, laughing. Well if he could continue a friendship with her after all she had done then fine. It was best to move on – what was done was done. It was no use moping. She just wanted to be happy again and she could do that without Jack. She didn't need a guy to complete her.

She pushed Jack to the back of her mind and handed the beer to Kim. "On the house" she said - taking pity on the sorrowful figure he cut. Kim and Rachel had broken up only a couple of days ago as their relationship – like so many others – hadn't quite worked out. Both had tried hard but the age gap had begun to grate as both realised they led different lifestyles and wanted different things. A mutual break-up still hurt however and right now Kim felt miserable she was sure. At that moment Robbie and Tasha walked into the bar. They were one of the few couples who did work Marthathought. Slowly but surely they had moved on from the business with Jonah and were now closer and more in love than ever. They were her best friends and had been so good to her over these past couple of months. She didn't know what she would do without both of them.

While the four of them were chatting happily – Robbie cracking bad jokes in an attempt to cheer Kim up and Martha and Tash both trying to gag him – one pair whom she hadn't expected to see approached the bar. As everyone noticed Jack and Kate the joking stopped and an awkward silence ensued. "Hey mate," Robbie said rather too cheerfully to Jack, trying to relieve the tension. "How's it hanging?"

"Yeah, can't complain," Jack responded, before shifting his gaze to Martha. They both smiled at each other and Martha felt Kate's eyes boring in on her. "What can I get you two?" she said lightly. "A beer for me," said Jack before glancing at Kate, "and a white wine thanks," said Kate. Martha fetched the drinks as quickly as possible while the others made small talk. Drinks in hand Jack and Kate soon went to sit on the couch. It was just too awkward for the six of them to chat like nothing had happened. It may have been two months but nothing was the same and nothing was easy.

As Jack placed his drink on the table in front of him he sighed inwardly. Since the break-up his relationship with Martha had descended into stiff, polite greetings. It was so strange how you could be so close to someone and then within a few weeks barely acknowledge each other. And even though Robbie and Tasha hadn't taken sides Tash was Martha's best friend so in an effort to avoid any more uncomfortable moments he had kept his distance from the young couple. He had been so lonely at times but Kate had been there for him. Sometimes he felt like she was his only friend. They had hung out a lot and she had made him laugh when he needed it the most. She had blamed herself initially for his break-up with Martha but Jack had told her it wasn't her fault. Martha's jealously had got in the way and she had given up on them. That had hurt – how easily she had thrown away what they had. But it was time to move on. If Martha could walk away from their relationship so easily then he certainly wasn't going to pine for her. It was time to start having some fun again. Yes, in a perfect world they would all have sat together and chatted like mates but life wasn't perfect and the reality was more complicated. Love – in all its shapes and forms: forgotten, past, present, denied, dwindled – was complicated. Life was most definitely complicated of that he was sure.