To fix a broken heart.
Previously.
Joey heads for the Bay to get the family home ready for sale.
Charlie is all set to go find Joey and win her back but discovers Joey is in the bay, and not ready to forgive anything.
Chapter 6.
Joey didn't know how long she had sat crying but she felt weak, and hungry. She decided she needed fresh air, and seen, as Charlie already knew she was back, she figured she could go get some of Leah's famous lasagne, from the diner.
Joey headed along the beach towards the diner, enjoying the view, god I miss this place she thought to herself, but I could never live here again, it holds to many bad memories.
As she was nearer the diner Joey noticed a group of surfers in the water. She stopped to watch and recognised Xavier and Ruby, but didn't notice the other three with them. Deciding she wasn't ready to face Ruby yet, she carried on walking.
As she entered the diner, she noticed how much it had changed, she looked around, not spotting any familiar faces and let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. She headed towards the counter when she heard a voice behind her "God save us, if it isn't Little Joey. How are you Darl?" Irene said. "Hi Irene how are you?" Joey replied. Just then a shriek came from the kitchen, and Joey was grabbed in a tight hug. "Joey I heard you were back, how are you?" Leah said excitedly. "I'm good thanks Leah, its good to see you too, how's VJ?" "Oh we're not bad thanks, he really misses you, he hates playing cards with us because he always wins" laughed Leah. "The place looks good, I hardly recognised it" Joey said. "Thanks we had a fire and so this is our new look, well old look now it was over a year ago." "I had heard I'm sorry, but it looks really good. Do you still do your famous Lasagne?" Joey asked hopefully. "We certainly do, why don't you take a seat and I will bring it over." Leah replied. "Ok thanks, could I also have a chocolate milkshake?" Leah laughed, "Good to see you haven't changed."
Joey was sat at a table in the corner when Leah brought the order over; she sat down next to Joey and looked at her "so how are you really?" Joey looked at her and realised she was genuinely concerned, she liked Leah, Leah was like a Mum/sister to her when she stayed with them. "I'm ok, I guess Charlie told you I was here?" "Yes, I found her crying on the beach earlier" Leah replied. "I haven't come back to cause any trouble, if I had a choice I wouldn't be here at all, but we need to sell the house, and it needs sorting first. Brett lives in New Zealand now, so it was left to me." " I understand, and you have every right to be here, it's your home as well" Leah said putting a comforting hand on Joeys arm. "It stopped being my home the day I found out about Charlie and Hugo," Joey replied sadly. "Joey, I'm so sorry about that, you know I didn't take sides don't you?" Leah replied. "Yes, and I'm sorry I couldn't say a proper goodbye and thank you for everything you had done for me, I couldn't face Charlie." "I understand, you know it broke Charlie's heart when you left, she hasn't been the same since. She really did love you." "Leah please I don't want to hear it, its in the past, I have moved on, I am happy with my life. Charlie seems to of left it behind as well if the other weekend was anything to go by." Joey replied, although after seeing the questioning look Leah was giving her, she wondered if she had said too much. "The other weekend I bumped into her and …. A friend" she said, stumbling over the friend part. She gathered from what happened that weekend Brax was another of Charlie's secrets.
Just as Joey was leaving the diner Ruby walked through the door linking arms with a dark head male about the same age, Joey recognised him being one of the surfers with Xavier and Ruby earlier. "Joey, it was you" Ruby cried before letting go of the male and grabbing Joey in a tight hug. "How are you? Where have you been? Are you back for good? Has mum seen you?" Ruby fired more and more questions at Joey while her boyfriend stood watching with an amused look across his face. "Ruby, slow down and let me breathe" Joey replied. "Sorry Jo," Ruby said "its good to see you." "Its good to see you too Rubes, I have missed you. In answer to your questions, I'm good thanks. I did another long haul before settling a couple of hours along the coast in a place called Ocean View. I'm only back for a few days while I fix the old place up ready to sell, and yes I have seen Charlie, we didn't really speak and I think it's for the best I keep out of her way." Joey said sadly.
"Ruby are you going to join us, or stay gossiping all day" Came a voice from the table near them. "Alright I'm coming," said Ruby. "That's Casey, my boyfriend. Why don't you join us and I can introduce you" "I would love to Ruby, but I have a lot on, maybe next time." Joey said. "Nonsense you can stay for a drink. Hey Casey, this is Joey, Xavier you know, and then this is Indigo, and Romeo." Ruby introduced the group to Joey. "So what are you back for Joey?" asked Xavier stuffing fries into his mouth. I'm selling the family home," replied Joey "It seems a shame to leave it and me and Brett could both use the money." "So what are you doing for work?" Ruby asked, "I work for a man called Skip, He has a charter boat so I take people out, he's actually selling it and giving me first chance to buy it, Hence the need to get my share from the sale of the house." "Wow" said the girl Ruby had introduced as indigo, "that's what Romeo is trying to do here, he is using Alf's boat." "You are," said Joey to Romeo. "Yes, but so far I have only had a couple of bookings and I'm trying to get my head round the maps etc. There's more to the business than I realised." "Yes there is, but its good when you get your head around it. There's nothing better than being out on the ocean all day." "Hey I have just thought of something" Ruby squealed excitedly, "You could help Romeo while you're here." "Ruby, I would love to but I only have a few days to get the house sorted and head back home, no offence Romeo" Joey said feeling Ruby wouldn't give up that easily. "Well, maybe Romeo could help you with the house in return" Ruby replied. "I could really use your help, if you could, and I'm not bad at jobs around the house." Romeo looked at Joey. "Ok How about I meet you on the Blaxland with all your paper work say, 12.00 pm tomorrow?" Joey knew when she was beat.
Joey turned to the group and said it was lovely to meet them, but she had to get on. "Ruby maybe if its ok with your mum you could call round sometime, we could have a catch up." Before Ruby could reply Joey's phone rang, she looked at the id, it was Steph. "Rubes, I have to take this, I will catch you later" She got up moving towards the door as Ruby heard her answer the phone "Hey babe."
"Hey Babe, what's up? Joey said as she made her way from the diner in the direction of home. "Nothing, I was just missing you" came the reply. "I miss you too," Joey replied.
"The house is worse than I thought so it may take longer to fix up, which means being here longer, I'm sorry." Joey said bracing herself for Steph's response. "Is that the only reason?" Steph asked. "Yes of cause it is, Steph you don't have to worry, nothing will happen with Charlie, I will get the house sorted then be back with you as soon as I can, then we have the rest of our lives to live, with no mention of Charlie or the bay." Joey hoped Steph believed her because at this point she didn't believe a word she just spoke. She hated Charlie but she loved her all the same, will she be strong enough to keep her distance? I hope so Joey thought, I really hope so.
Ruby had shortly excused herself from her friends and decided to go and find her mum, having a feeling she may need someone. She ran through the Kitchen door shouting "Mum, where are you?" as she entered the lounge she firstly caught sight of the empty wine bottle on the floor, then Charlie curled up on the couch with a second bottle half full. Ruby approached her mum slowly noticing dried and wet tears indicating she had been crying for along time. "Mum what happened?" Ruby asked as she sat down next to Charlie wrapping her arm around her. "It was awful Rubes, she hates me, and wont even listen to an apology, and all I wanted was to say how sorry I am." Charlie sadly said before starting to cry more. "You still love her don't you?" Ruby asked. "I never stopped, I tried to move on with Angelo but I knew I could never have anything like I had with Joey." "You have never been that happy or free, before or after Joey" Ruby said. "If you really love her, you know what you have to do." "I wish I did Rubes, but there is nothing, she hates me remember." "Mum if that's your attitude then I don't blame Joey, You have to fight for her and not take no for an answer. She still has feelings for you I'm sure of it" "I wish you were right Rubes, but I think all she feels is hate. But your right I will keep trying, if she only accepts my apology. I will fight to be with her. Starting now." Charlie said determined. As she stood up she wobbled before sitting back down, "maybe starting when I'm sober," she said looking at Ruby.
Next time.
Charlie finds reasons to keep bumping into Joey, and going to her house, Will Joey give in to Charlie or stay strong for Steph.
Ruby does her best to talk Joey round.
Things are getting awkward at work for Charlie.