Finally chapter 4! I hope you enjoy and please leave a review because they keep me motivated! xo
The faint light from the gas station was the only thing that kept the street from being totally pitch dark. It was still rainy outside, not as bad as it had before that evening, but the rain had cooled down the area significantly and Debby who was only wearing a shirt was warming herself up by rubbing her arms with the palms of her hands as she was shivering from the cold. She was cursing at herself for not bringing a jacket and even though she was sheltered from the rain, it didn't keep her warm as she light up a cigarette just to keep herself busy.
She heard a loud noise even before she saw the headlights of a motorcycle coming her way. She inhaled deeply from her cigarette to keep her nerves down and slowly let the smoke leave her lungs through her nose as the motorcycle had stopped before her.
The motorcyclist turned off his bike and slowly removed his helmet. Debby exactly knew who the person in front of her was, as she was the one who told him to meet up here.
"Hi Debby" he said with a faint smile as he went through his thick blonde with his fingers and shook his head to get accustomed to his head not being restrained by his helmet anymore.
Debby sighed and deeply inhaled from her cigarette again, feeling the pleasant burn through her lungs and threw the bud on the ground, "HI Shane" she answered him dryly.
"I thought you'd quit-" Shane said, still holding his helmet in his arms as he looked at the still smoldering cigarette bud and back to Debby. He could see she was cold as she had goose bumps all over her arms. Debby hadn't answered him and Shane sighed "let's go somewhere inside you are clearly cold"
Debby frowned "no, no I'm fine…" she lied and leaned against the wall behind her.
"Look-" Shane said after Debby was silent again "-you called me saying something was up with my favorite cousin and her husband so please tell me… what is going on?"
Charlene was softly singing along the morning radio as she was making lunch for her husband. He told her many times she shouldn't have to, but it was something she loved doing for him and frankly it just became as much of a morning ritual as brushing her teeth.
"How are you this morning?" Scott said as he surprised her by putting his arms around her waist as he had sneaked up on her from behind and kissed her cheek before he resting his chin on her shoulder
"I am actually feeling quite amazing" she smiled as she held his arms for a second before she continued making his sandwiches.
She had been feeling great after they had a moment the night before. She finally expressed her true feelings and she and Scott had talked all night and even though they still hadn't found a solution on wanting to go back to Erinsborough she felt like they could do anything now.
Scott sat down at the kitchen table after he had poured himself a cup of coffee and just looked at her with a smile "last day at the office" he said.
Charlene nodded "I guess this will be the last time I am making you lunch, since you'll be working from home from now on" as she cut the bread and put it in a bag for him to take to the office.
Scott took a sip from his coffee "yeah kind of weird huh?" he said and paused to think for a few seconds "It is exciting though, I feel like we are starting a whole new chapter in our lives, I mean; my job, the baby…"
Whenever Scott mentioned the baby Charlene's heart would beat faster which was triggered by still feeling a bit scared, but mostly excited, about the fact they were gonna be a real family in a few months "-and hopefully moving back to Ramsay Street, even if it is only temporarily" she finished his sentence and sat next to him as she served breakfast.
Scott just nodded "how are you feeling by the way? Nauseous?" he asked concerned seeing how his wife was only nibbling on a dry piece of toast after she had served him a royal meal.
Charlene sighed "yeah…" and put her toast back on her plate "can't wait to get into the second trimester, I have been reading so many baby books and they all say things get better at 13 weeks so I am counting the days" she said with a smile
Scott frowned "I wish I could just take over some of the burdens it is not fair you have to do it on your own"
Charlene laughed, "you're a man, you wouldn't be even able to handle it for a day" she smirked "-plus you are late for work" and pointed at the clock on the kitchen wall
"Oh right, right!" Scott said as he jumped up and grabbed his lunch "not baked beans and vegemite again right?" as he bend over to kiss her.
Charlene pulled away "how long are you gonna make that joke, it has been years!" she said with a mock frown on her face but went in for a kiss anyway and pushed him out of the kitchen door
"Go get them Scoop!" she shouted at him just before he got in the car, it was a nickname for him she hadn't used in ages. Scott halted and waved at her with a big smile on his face "love you Mrs. Robinson!" he shouted back and winked before he got in.
"Sorry I am so late but I had the best night-" Charlene said expecting to see Debby as she entered the garage but as soon as she saw Shane in the workplace she stopped midsentence and a big smile formed on her face "Shane! What are you doing here?" she yelped and like a baby lamb ran towards him and into a big hug that Shane answered with no problem.
Shane had moved to Brisbane way before Charlene had and they had grown very fond of each other; having to take care of their old grandparents together and Charlene feeling quite alone as Scott still lived in Erinsborough. But when Scott had joined her, their grandparents died and things went south with his on-and-off relationship with Debby he decided to cut his losses and start somewhere fresh, with the occasional visits here and there.
Charlene let go of the hug and shook her head "what are you doing here?" she asked happy
"Can't a bloke visit his favorite cousin?" Shane answered her, trying to divert the subject, as he didn't want to lie to her.
Charlene squinted and looked at him, knowing that there was more going on "-I know there is more" she said and noticed his bike in the garage "ah you are looking for a free repair am I right?" and pointed at his vehicle.
Shane started laughing "you always think the worst of me-" and looked at his bike for a second "but it could use some new parts…"
Charlene shook her head and now looked at Debby who awkwardly was leaning against one of the cars that was due being repaired at the end of the day "sorry Debby, hadn't seen you there" as she suddenly realized how awkward it must have been for her seeing Shane as they broke up in quite a nasty way.
"So how long are you staying for?" Charlene asked as she directed her attention back to her cousin.
"Just for a short while, have to be back at my job in a few days, I am staying at the local hotel down the road" he answered her.
"Don't be silly, you're gonna stay with us from now on" Charlene said as she playfully punched him and took the hair tie that was previously around her wrist and tied up her hair "-in exchange for a little help of course"
Shane nodded "of course, and thank you I was hoping you were inviting me to stay here"
Charlene smiled "no problem… you wanna stay for dinner Debby? I will be making Daphne's famous lemon chicken"
Debby faintly smiled "I don't know who this Daphne is but I'd love to stay"
Charlene smirked and took a deep breath "well this has been lovely and all but we really need to get these fixed" and looked at all the parked cars.
"You're the boss" Debby smiled at her friend and opened the hood of one of the cars and gestured Shane to come closer as Charlene started on the other car.
"Shane-" Debby whispered as he had joined her under the hood "-we're gonna tell them tonight after dinner, alright?"
Shane nodded but had a doubtful look on his face "don't you think we need to sort our things out first before we do this?" he whispered back.
Debby rolled her eyes "let me be straight ok, there is not gonna be an 'us' we're just doing this for the people we love and that's that, just a partnership, deal?" as she stuck out her hand.
Shane sighed and shook her already dirty hand "ok deal".
"What are you guys whispering about?" Charlene yelled from the other side of the garage. Shane and Debby jumped up as Debby was looking for an answer
"-I, -I… was just trying to get Shane to tell me your secret second name you are refusing to tell me" she said, glad she could come up with an excuse that fast.
"You haven't told her right?" Charlene mockingly threatened Shane with a screw bolt that she was holding.
"No, no, no…" Shane answered his cousin awkward, trying to go along with the excuse.
Charlene just laughed and continued on the car, totally oblivious to what the pair had been planning all along.
Scott looked at the picture frames on his desk. The last day at the office felt bittersweet as he grabbed one of the frames and stared at the picture. It was a picture of Charlene and him on their wedding day and he smiled. Many colleagues had teased him on his haircut and how terribly '80s they looked but he didn't mind, that picture reminded him of the good but certainly also the bad days they had as a couple, but how they always managed to find each other and make it work, nobody at that time really believed they were gonna stay together but they did, and even though he had to admit they married young, maybe a little too young… he was glad they did.
Scott's thoughts were interrupted as suddenly a mug was put on his desk, which made a loud noise.
"Hi Scott" the voice said as he looked up and was face to face with his boss
"Oh hello Emily" he answered awkward and sat up straight, putting the frame back on his desk.
Emily smiled and sat on the corner of his desk "look, I feel kind of bad having to have fired you but I think it will work out just fine for the both of us"
Scott nodded, feeling a bit intimidated by his boss right in front of him "yes, I am just glad you gave me this opportunity to redeem myself"
Emily nodded and grabbed the picture frame Scott had just been holding and smirked at the picture "lovely" she just said and put it back and slowly moved the mug closer to him "-this is for you".
Scott took a closer look at the mug and smiled as it was a corny gift shop mug with '#1 Dad' written on it "thank you" he smiled and took it from her.
"Don't thank me, just give this new column you are gonna write for us your all… and we'll see if you are worthwhile ok" Emily answered him as she stood up "-also I don't have anything here for you to do anymore so you can go if you want to"
Scott liked the foresight of having an early day and smiled "thank you"
"Just make sure your desk is clean and empty before you go" she said and slowly walked away.
"Hi" Charlene said with a big smile as she untied her hair, making her unkempt curls bounce on her shoulders as she saw her husband leaned against the kitchen table with a smile.
Charlene was always able to hear Scott open the front door when he came back from work and that was a sign for her to finish up what she was doing and join him in the kitchen as he always did the groceries and she did the cooking, it was something they agreed on when they first started living together and it just stuck.
"Look what I got as a goodbye present" he said and took the mug from behind him and showed it to her.
Charlene almost yelped and walked closer as she took over the mug "that's terrific" she said and quickly kissed her husband and went with her thumb over the printed letters on the mug "I am certain you are gonna be exactly that" she said with a smile.
"And what might that be?" Shane suddenly asked making the couple jump as Charlene desperately tried to hide the mug behind her back.
"Oh nothing" Scott awkwardly smiled and took over the mug and quickly pushed it into one of the cabinets behind them.
Shane frowned and walked closer "what are you guys trying to hide?" he asked now with a smile and reached behind Scott.
"No, no it's nothing-nothing" Scott said trying to keep the mug behind him but it was too late and Shane grabbed it and looked at it.
Shane frowned once again as he tried to make sense of the letters on the mug and then looked at the guilty faces of Scott and Charlene as it suddenly hit him "-you guys?" he asked hesitantly.
Charlene sighed and took over the mug "well I guess you know now" as she was a little annoyed that her cousin was the first family member who knew about the big news and put the mug down.
Shane's confused frown changed into a big smile and he quickly hugged both of them "you guys are having a baby? That's terrific!"
Scott and Charlene were stunned by the sudden outburst of happiness and awkwardly smiled back at him
"You-you're happy with this right" he whispered as he looked for a confirmation in them.
Charlene laughed "yes, we are" as Scott put his arm around his tiny wife.
"Good, good…" Shane answered content and quickly turned to Debby who had been awfully quiet through all of it "that is why you thought of all this!" he exclaimed. And as she said it he knew he already said too much.
"Shane!" Debby exclaimed frustrated, knowing their plan wouldn't be longer a secret
"What is going on here?" Charlene frowned as she pointed at both her cousin and best friend "you guys have been whispering all day, you're gonna tell me or no dinner" she 'threatened' them.
Debby sighed deeply as she silently cursed Shane for ruining the surprise and forced a smile on her face "look it is a good thing, don't worry" and pointed at the kitchen seats ushering the very confused couple in front of her to sit down as she took a seat herself, followed by Shane who had a guilty look on his face.
"So let me get this straight… Shane is going to move into this house and house sit it until we come back and you guys will be running the business all by yourselves?" Charlene asked confused, trying to summarize what she just had explained to her.
Debby slowly nodded "yes, exactly, you guys can move to Erinsborough, be with your families and do your thing and Shane and I will make sure everything will continue smoothly"
"-but you guys hate each other…" Charlene answered Debby confused, still not sure about the plan.
"We don't hate each other…" Shane answered not too convincing as Debby grabbed his arm and awkwardly make it look like something friendly, which looked just really forced.
"I don't know, it doesn't seem right" Charlene said as she looked at the two in front of her that desperately tried to convince them.
"Charlene, come on, they're doing this for us, this is a great opportunity!" Scott said as he put his arm around her, trying to convince her as well.
"-but don't you have a job already?" Charlene asked Shane, but he shook his head
"My contract will expire in a few weeks, after that I am all yours" he said with a smile "-and you know I am a good mechanic, right?"
Charlene sighed "yeah, yeah it is not that… I just don't want you guys to get swamped into too much work and who will do the books and-"
"Come here-" Scott said soothing and pulled her onto his lap, which he knew would calm her down as she had been nervously walking around the kitchen "this is the best plan so far, the garage will be looked after by family, we'll have a few weeks to get things sorted and we can finally go back and come back to Brisbane when we want it"
Charlene slowly nodded as she just realized how this was the best opportunity and maybe the only chance to visit her family back in Ramsay Street "are you guys sure?" she asked carefully
"I am gonna really miss you Charlene, can't lie about that, but I- we are really sure, I promise" Debby answered smiling "but there is one thing you need to do for me"
Charlene who had tears in her eyes, simply moved by how her best friend and cousin done so much to make her and Scott happy and maybe also a bit of her hormones which made her constantly emotional nodded "anything"
A big smile formed on Debby's face "tell me your second name"
Charlene started laughing "anything but that" and hugged Scott closer, feeling as if life was finally being really good to her
Scott loaded the last of the suitcases and bags into their beloved green Mini Cooper and closed the back door of the car "so" he said and put his arm around his wife "we're officially good to go"
Charlene nodded as she looked at the house "yeah" she just answered, feeling a bit unsure.
"You're not having second thoughts right?" Scott asked afraid she had changed her mind.
"No, no, no don't worry" she said with a faint smile as Debby and Shane had walked out of the house and joined the couple on the sidewalk.
It had been weeks now and Shane finished his contract and was now able to work for the garage. That meant Scott and Charlene were finally able to do what they had wanted to do for months now, and that was to return to Ramsay Street, even though it was temporarily.
"You forgot something" Shane said as he handed the now infamous '#1 Dad' to Scott.
Scott laughed "thank you" and looked at it for a second before turning around to the car to find a place for it.
"The car is gonna explode if there was any more stuff" Debby joked to lighten the mood. She actually hated that her best friend was going to leave her, but she knew it was the right thing even though it killed her to admit it.
"I am gonna miss you guys so much" Charlene said as she embraced Debby and Shane
"Just promise me you'll be safe and bring that baby back alright?" Debby said as she let go of the hug.
Charlene swallowed her tears away "I promise" and looked over to Scott who was waiting at the driver side of the car "I guess we're gonna go now, you guys are gonna call me when something is wrong with the garage alright?"
"Yes, yes, yes" Shane answered and ushered her towards the car.
Charlene took a deep breath and got into the car "thank you so much, again"
"You're so welcome" Shane and Debby answered her simultaneously and closed the door for her.
Scott nodded at the pair "thank you" he said with a smile and got into the car himself and started the engine.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Charlene exclaimed as Scott had only barely gotten out of the parking space and stopped the car
"What is it?" he asked confused
Charlene smiled and rolled down the car window and hung out of it "It's Edna!" she yelled at Debby
Debby stood confused "what?" she yelled back
"My secret second name-" Charlene answered with a big smile "it's Edna"