Chapter Seven

"Of course you're not going to lose me," Joey said quickly

She and Gray turned their backs on the kissing couple and began to walk in the direction of the caravan park, holding hands.

"I love you," she said. "And I'm with you now. Charlie and I are over. You have nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?" Gray asked. "I saw the way you looked at her. And I was there while you tried to get over her."

Joey looked at her directly.

"And you saw me succeed," she said. "Charlie will always provoke strong feelings in me. After the way it all ended and after everything I was already going through at the time... it's natural, isn't it?"

Gray nodded.

"But I love you, Gray," Joey promised. "And I'm not about to walk away from this just because we happen to be back in Summer Bay."

Relieved, Gray smiled and they continued on their way.

Charlie escaped Angelo and headed home, barely greeting Ruby and Leah as she raced into the shower. Stripping off, she jumped into the cubicle and enjoyed the spray of hot water on her body. She shut her eyes on the world and wondered how she was now going to face the day. Nobody had mentioned that Joey would be returning for the wedding. She supposed it made sense that she'd come but Charlie would certainly have appreciated a little warning. She'd established her life again after the hole Joey had left behind and her reappearance was threatening to shatter everything. From the moment she'd gazed into Joey's big brown eyes, she'd known she was still in love with her. She felt like she'd been in love with her from the first moment they met. Juggling Joey, Angelo and her own conflicted feelings was going to be sheer torture. She washed her long hair thoroughly and scrubbed her body. Rinsing, she turned the water off and stepped out, enjoying the warmth of big fluffy towel she wrapped around her. It always made her smile and think of Joey. The deckhand had been horrified by how old her towels were, before they were even dating, and went out and bought her some fresh, fluffy new ones. The moment she smiled, she sighed. She pictured Joey with her new girlfriend and fought a wave of tears. She headed into her room to get dry and dressed and shut the door on the world.

"How do I look?" Joey asked.

She'd dressed in smart, black trousers and a pale blue blouse. She received a wolf whistle from Gray and blushed. Gray was wearing black trousers also and a deep purple shirt.

"Do I look okay?" she asked, wanting to make a good impression on the people Joey used to live and work with in this town.

Joey wrapped her arms around her waist and kissed her.

"You look beautiful," she said.

"You're not ashamed to have me on your arm?" Gray teased.

The reaction that had occurred between Charlie and Joey made her crave reassurance.

"I'm pretty damn proud," Joey promised.

"Then let us depart!" Gray grinned, leading Joey out of the caravan.

Charlie and Ruby greeted Ross and Morag, pleased to see them after so many weeks apart. They both tried to get to the city on as many weekends as they could. Neither wanted their father to feel neglected or rejected. But it was good to know that they would get to spend several days with him and on first impressions, he seemed to be doing pretty well.

"So, what have my darling girls been up to?" Ross asked, when the foursome sat on the couch together.

"I've been busy with school and stuff," Ruby said brightly. "I'm still with Xavier."

She opted to leave out the part where she had been considering sleeping with him and was grateful that Charlie kept her mouth shut. It was something she was still thinking about but Charlie's fears and concerns were echoing in her ears and making her consider her options more carefully.

"Charlie?"

The teenager tried not to smirk at her sister who looked a little unnerved. She swallowed. Ross and Morag looked at her expectantly. She knew that now was the perfect time to tell them about Angelo but she couldn't quite say the words, partly because she was fearful of their reaction and partly because, after months of trying desperately to forget her, her mind was full of Joey.

"Everything's been fine," she said. "I've been rushed off my feet with work and everything."

"Yes, I heard about Miles finding a hand in the sand and everything," Ross said. "Did you get to the bottom of the shark debate?"

"Not exactly," Charlie said.

The whole thing was a tedious, ongoing investigation.

"It was actually VJ who found it," Ruby chipped in. "He was pretty traumatised."

"Oh, poor boy," Morag said compassionately.

"No other news from you two?" Ross asked.

"Nope," Charlie said quickly. "Who wants coffee?"

Ruby watched her rise and escape to the kitchen. She offered to help and followed her. As soon as they were alone, she asked why Charlie hadn't mentioned Angelo yet.

"It doesn't feel like the right time," Charlie told her, busying herself with making beverages.

"They're specifically asking you about news," Ruby pointed out.

Charlie focussed on what she was doing. Ruby studied her and realised she was shaking and tearful.

"Charlie?" she asked gently. "What's wrong? You and Angelo haven't..."

"Joey's here," Charlie blurted out.

Ruby looked and felt surprised. Charlie paused her movements and looked at her little sister.

"She came for Aden's wedding. With her girlfriend."

Ruby immediately pulled her into a hug and held on tight.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Charlie shook her head.

"Seeing her again just... well, you couldn't have been more right the other night if you'd tried."

"You're still in love with her," Ruby concluded.

Charlie nodded and turned back to the drinks.

"What about Angelo?" Ruby asked.

"I need to just get on with it," Charlie told her. "Whatever I feel or don't feel, Joey's moved on and Angelo's the one who wants to be with me."

Ruby sighed, unhappy with the answer. They finished stirring coffees and headed back into the living room.