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Charlie walked out of her bedroom dressed in a white summer dress, her chocolate brown hair flowing down her back.
Honestly she couldn't wait to see Brax again, she couldn't describe what it was about him that attracted her.
Her hope for the day was that the kids would behave and Nicole might change her mind, the eighteen year old was refusing to leave her room. She had gone as far as to swear at Charlie, language Charlie had never heard from the girl.
Charlie sighed and knocked on Nicole's bedroom door. She opened it to see Nicole lying on her bed, her iPod earphones in her ears, tears running down her face as she looked through the pages of an old photo album.
"Nic, we need to talk." Charlie told the teenage girl.
"Leave. Me. The. Fuck. Alone." Nicole hissed through gritted teeth.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that." Charlie said, hurt evident in her voice. She knew why Nicole was upset, she believed that Charlie was going to replace her Dad with Brax.
"I'll talk to you however I want, this is a free country," Nicole said stubbornly. "Now leave me alone!"
"Nicole, stop. I want to talk to you," Charlie said as she approached the bed. "I understand why you are hurt but I want you to know I am not trying to replace your dad. I am only friends with Brax." Charlie tried to explain but Nicole just turned away looking back down at the photo album.
"Leave me alone Charlie, I just want you to stay away from me." Nicole said, her tone sounded defeated and Charlie hated to hear that in the once bubbly girls voice.
"You're my daughter Nic, I won't stay away." Charlie said, Nicole had aways been her daughter from the moment she meet the 3 year old.
"I'm NOT your daughter." Nicole spat.
Charlie took a step back, hurt at the girl's words. "I have raised you from when you were three years old, and you're not my daughter?"
"That's right." Nicole answered.
"Why are you still here then?" Charlie asked, the hurt coming through in her tone of voice. "If I'm not your mother, why are you still under my roof? Why Nic?"
"I have nowhere else to go!" Nicole hissed, venom in her voice. "I'm not sticking around for you, I'm sticking around for my half brothers and sisters. They're the only part of Dad I have left!"
"You and your siblings are the only part of your Dad I have left too, Nic," Charlie said. "Don't act like you're the only one affected by this."
"He was my dad!"
"He was my husband, I loved him too Nic. Now get dressed, we have a barbecue to attend."
"I'm not going and you can't make me! I won't be a part of any family you're trying to create. Now get out!" Nicole shouted, shaking her head, hurt clear in her eyes, Charlie walked out of the room slamming the door behind her, tears were clouding in her eyes but she pushed them back as Ruby came out of the bathroom.
"You okay mum?" Ruby asked with a concerned gaze.
"Uh yeah, you ready?" Charlie asked and Ruby nodded.
"Nic coming?"
"No Nicole won't be coming" Charlie said as she turned around and headed down the hall to fix up her face.
Charlie and the kids stood on Brax's front porch. Charlie and Ruby were holding massive bowls of potato salad and over one shoulder Charlie had a bag with bottles and formula for Mia because the young girl still liked to have a bottle everyday. Emily was carrying a giant bowl of garden salad and Joey had a few loaves of bread loaded into his arms. The rest of the kids had a bottle of juice or fizzy drink in their hands except for Drew, who was holding Mia's hand.
"Hey," Brax greeted. "Woah," He said, looking at all the food. "What's with all the food? I thought I told you not to bring anything."
"Well obviously I didn't listen." Charlie said, depositing the bowl of potato salad in Brax's hands as she walked inside, followed by the kids.
"Where's Nic?" Brax asked, realising that a kid was missing.
"She didn't want to come." Charlie answered as she followed Brax into the kitchen where he put the bowl down.
"There's more to it then that Charlie." Brax said with a knowing look and Charlie sighed.
"Tell you about it later." Charlie promised and Brax nodded.
"Kyle!" Mia shouted as she ran towards him as he came into the living room, Charlie chuckled. "She's so attached."
"Its a good thing" Brax said as he nodded towards the backyard. "Lets head out, come on kids."
"Daddy?" Cassie called as she saw her father coming out of the house. "Where's Uncle Kyle? Tam's gonna be late"
"Inside and tell your Uncle Casey I want his butt out here."
"Sure dad" Cassie said as she stepped into the house. "UNCLE CASEY DAD WANTS YOUR ASS OUTSIDE!"
"Cassie Rose!" Brax said as he looked at Charlie boys who were chuckling, Charlie just shrugged.
"I've got nine kids I have heard it all before trust me." Charlie said with a wink.
"Uncle Heath is in the house!"
"Uncle Heath!" Samantha shouted in excitement.
"Auntie Bi" Taylah said with a grin as they headed up the deck to hug them.
"If my brother annoys you, punch him." Brax said with a shrug and Charlie rolled her eyes. She had encountered Heath twice at Angelo's and both times he had been friendly but teased her endlessly. Charlie liked him though.
It took a while to get all the kids outside and Casey and Ruby organised a game of rugby for the kids to keep occupied while the adults tended to the barbecue.
"I'm Charlie, it's nice to meet you." Charlie told Bianca with a smile as she poured them each a glass of wine.
"It's nice to meet you too, Heath and Brax have told me a lot about you." Bianca smiled back as she accepted the glass of wine.
"They have?" Charlie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah. It seems that Brax really likes you," Bianca said. "Do you think anything will ever happen between the two of you?"
"I don't know to be honest," Charlie said as she slowly sipped her wine. "I need to move on from my husband but I don't know if its too soon."
"I'm sorry for your loss, it must've been really hard." Bianca said sympathetically.
"Thanks Bi, it is okay to call you Bi right?" Charlie asked and Bianca nodded. "So what do you do?"
"I'm the principal of Summer Bay High." Bianca answered with a smile.
"You'll be putting up with most of my lot then." Charlie said with a laugh as she looked affectionately at her children playing happily with Brax's kids. Mia was toddling along behind Drew, not really knowing the concept behind the game.
"I'm sure they're great kids," Bianca said. "It'll be a pleasure to have them at Summer Bay High," Charlie smiled. "So what do you do?"
"I'm the new police sargeant at Yabbie Creek." Charlie answered.
"A cop? Wow." Bianca said with a smile.
"Yeah a cop, everyone finds it unbelievable."
"I'm sure your great at it."
"How did you and Heath meet?" Charlie asked and Bianca blushed lightly.
"Well...its a bit embarrassing. He caught me skinny dipping at the beach, teased the hell outta me but to be fair I was a little bit tipsy. Four years later here we are, I made him chase me though I didn't come easy." Bianca said with a chuckle and Charlie opened her mouth slightly.
"Skinny dipping?"
"Don't you tease her Buckton, she looked hot." Heath said with a wide grin and Bianca blushed as he leaned down to kissed her. Charlie took that as her cue to leave them be.
She headed over to Brax, who was turning sausages on the BBQ. The heat from it had caused him to sweat profusely so he was shirtless, his blue shirt draped casually over a deck chair. Charlie felt her cheeks grow hot as her eyes roamed up and down Brax's toned and sculpted chest.
"Take a picture, it takes longer." Brax teased as Charlie jumped.
"It's not my fault you look so hot like that." Charlie retorted.
"You think I look hot?" Brax asked.
Charlie blushed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Maybe."
"Don't look so bad yourself Charlie." Brax said with a wink causing Charlie to smile.
Charlie knew it was complicated, one minute she was saying they were friends, the next minute she was thinking about ravishing his body. Charlie shuddered at the thought, the things they could do in the bedroom.
"Hello? Charlie, you still with us?" Brax asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
"Huh?" Charlie asked and Brax grinned.
"Thinking about me naked?" Charlie blushed and Brax chuckled.
"Dad! Is lunch nearly ready?" Jack shouted and Brax waved him off.
"Yeah yeah, its coming," Brax said as he took the sausages off the barbecue and on a dish. He then put meat patties on the barbecue and as they began to cook, grabbed a beer from off the table. He unscrewed the lid and took a long drink before saying, "Jack is always hungry."
"My boys eat a lot too," Charlie smiled. "They nearly eat me out of house and home."
"Yeah, well, boys will be boys."
"You got lucky, you have only two, I have five." Charlie told him, sipping her wine.
"Try living with five hormonal girls," Brax retorted. He grew serious. "What happened with Nicole anyway?"
"We had a big argument," Charlie told him in a soft voice. "She said that I'm not her mum."
"Oh Charlie I'm sure she didn't mean it, teenagers say things in the heat of the moment." Brax said but Charlie frowned.
"It's more then that, I think she hates me. I don't understand, we all miss Roman." Charlie said softly and Brax sighed.
"Sometimes it hits a certain member of the family harder. She loves you Charlie, it will just take time." Brax said softly, he saw the tear roll down her cheek and moved to wipe it away with his thumb.
"Don't cry, we are meant to be having fun." Brax said with a smile and charlie offered a smile back but it was weak.
"Geez Brax you're burning the meat!" Tamara called out as she jumped off the deck. "Hi, I'm Tamara. You must be Charlie, I've heard a lot about you" Tamara said with a grin as she nudged Brax who rolled his eyes.
"Always had a big mouth haven't ya Tam?" Brax asked, turning the barbecue off and putting the patties in the same dish as the other meat.
"I hope you heard only good things." Charlie said as she transferred the dish of meat over to the picnic table.
"Of course." Tamara said with a smile as she started to pour drinks for the younger kids.
"Juice for Mia, and only half a cup please." Charlie told Tamara.
"Sure." Tamara nodded, putting half a cup of juice aside for Mia.
"So, I take it you're Brax's sister?" Charlie asked and Tamara laughed.
"No, Kyle's girlfriend."
"Bloody close enough!"Brax shouted and Tamara poked her tonuge out.
"You love me Brax."
"Ooh look what the cat dragged in." Casey said as he and Ruby made their way to the table, Charlie noticed the away Ruby was smiling at him, there was going to be something there, she had this feeling.
"What is this pick on Tamara day?"
"Course not baby." Kyle said as he slid into the seat beside her as Chase tried to climb onto her lap.
"I love you Tam" Chase said innocently and Tamara smiled.
"Love you too bubba boy." Tamara said affectionately to the five year old.
"Pass me the potato salad!" Brax called down the long picnic table which could seat at least twenty people comfortably. It easily fit everyone.
"Here Dad!" Cassie called back as she passed the bowl down the table.
"Uh Brax we have a problem." Heath said as he glanced up from his phone.
"What now?" Brax groaned and Heath raised an eyebrow.
"You should get to Angelo's"
"Can't it wait?"
"No, just go." Heath said and Brax watched as Heath's eyes flash to Charlie. He caught the hint but he didn't understand what it had to do with her.
"Alright I'll be back." Brax said as he stood up from the table, Samantha pouted.
"Do you have to go?" Samantha asked her dad sadly.
"Yeah, I'm sorry Munchkin," Brax said. "Save me some food, yeah?"
Charlie nodded. "I'll make sure there's some left for you."
"Thanks Charls."
When Brax entered Angelo's, he knew immediately what was wrong. He spotted a blonde figure on a barstool in front of the bar, drinking what appeared to be straight vodka.
"That's enough for her," Brax told the barman. "Thanks for letting me know," The barman nodded and kept doing his rounds around the restaurant, tending to customers and cleaning tables.
"Nicole, what are you doing here?" Brax asked as he made his way around the bar.
"What do you think I'm doing here?" Nicole slurred. "I'm just having a drink."
"You're drunk, Nicole."
"I don't fucking care what you think of me, I hate you!" Nicole exclaimed, tears springing to her eyes. "Just leave me alone."
"I can't do that," Brax said as he took her glass and put it behind the bar. "Your mother is going to freak when she sees you." Brax said and Nicole glared at him.
"She's not my mother." Nicole spat and Brax shook his head.
"Get her a glass of water" Brax ordered the barman as he sat on the stool beside her. "Charlie is your mother, she raised you. There are people out there who are worse off then that Nicole" Brax said and Nic shook her head. "You miss your dad, that is understandable but Charlie she is still there for you. She loves you."
"She's trying to replace my father!" Nicole shouted and Brax grabbed her shoulder steadily pushing her back into her seat when she went to stand up.
"Charlie is doing no such thing, we are not a couple and Nicole listen to me this is really important," Brax said as he hooked a finger under he chin and turned her to face him, she tried to pull away and wipe her tears but Brax wasn't having any of that. "I am NOT trying to replace your father, do you understand Nic?" Brax asked softly but firmly.
Nicole nodded as fresh tears rolled down her face. "Nic, don't cry." Brax told her as he reached behind the bar and grabbed a tissuebox. "Listen, Charlie is really broken up about the argument, she thinks that you hate her and that you don't love her anymore and you don't want to be apart of the family."
"I don't want to be part of any family without my dad." Nicole sobbed.
Brax's heart went out to the girl. "I know, but that isn't going to happen. Are you honestly never going to let Charlie move on?"
"I don't like to think about it, my dad loved her so much." Nicole sobbed and Brax smiled softly.
"Charlie's always going to love your dad Nicole, always but there will come a time for her to move on because you don't want her to be alone forever do you?" Brax asked and Nic looked at him with sad eyes.
"No I don't, I just..."
"I understand. Your dad would want you to love the family you have left, he would want to see his little girl smile. Charlie's your mother and she loves you. She loved your father. Try talking to her Nic."
Nicole looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She took a long sip of water. "Okay." She agreed. Brax got up off the stool and offered a hand to Nicole.
"Want me to take you home?" Brax asked.
Nicole gave a small nod and took Brax's hand. Letting go of it when she got off the stool, she gave him a small smile as they walked out of the restaurant to head home to Charlie.
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