Thank you again to everyone who has left feedback about this story. I have to admit that even I liked Angelo at this point in the show! Oh, how things change… Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Seven
Monday 14th July
21:00
The Sands Hotel
I saw Roman briefly today. He and Nicole had an argument last week and she left to see her mother. Now he's worried because he hasn't heard from her. I'm torn between understanding that he's stressed, and hurt that he hasn't had Nicole to deal with for days and yet he still hasn't been in touch. Maybe I just need to accept that he's not that into me. It's just that when I do see him, he's so sweet and it gives me false hope.
Work was pretty stressful. A local boy called Aden, who is Roman's lodger, came to the station with his girlfriend, Belle. They think that Aden's father, Larry, who is an alcoholic, was involved in the crash that killed Axel. He said that the car showed signs of damage and it fits the witness description we handed out. But when they confronted Larry about it, he burnt the car out and disappeared. So now it's up to us to find him.
I've been working since six o'clock this morning though and everything has been hectic ever since it happened so I gave in and I've come home for the night. I'll start again tomorrow. Not that this hotel feels like home. How could it? Ruby and I really need to start looking into finding a proper place to live.
Dad and Morag are getting married in two days time. I can hardly believe that it's come around so quickly. On the plus side, it means I get some time off to celebrate with them! I'm looking forward to that. The day after that, Martha is going in for treatment at the hospital. I bumped into her and wished her luck. I hope she is alright.
Tuesday 15th July
23:43
The Sands Hotel
I just got back from a lovely evening with my family. I never thought I'd write something like that again but it felt good to celebrate with them and I am really genuinely happy for my Dad. I know it's taken a fair bit of time to make things work with Morag but I do like her and I am happy for them to be together. We had drinks at Morag, Roman, Nicole and Aden's place and Dad gave Morag a gold bracelet he had bought her as a wedding present. She then presented him with tickets for three months in Europe for their honeymoon. How awesome is that? They'll have a wonderful time!
We all had a great evening and I saw Roman for a bit. Ruby was about as subtle as a brick through the window when she loudly asked in front of him if I was going back to the Sands with her or if I would be sleeping over at the house. I told her firmly that I would be going back to the hotel and Roman then caught up with me to apologise for not being around. He said he is stressing over Nicole as she still hasn't been in touch. I was nice about it but I've started not to expect anything else from him. On the way out, I whinged at Ruby for being so tactless but I know she did it on purpose and I know, in her way, she was trying to look out for me.
Wednesday 16th July
23:53
The Sands Hotel
I just got back in after a very long day! It was a good day for the most part and Dad and Morag have happily scampered off on their honeymoon. I hope they have a good time. I'm sure they will. They looked so happy as they skipped off into the sunshine together.
I was up and out early in the morning and Jack, Alf and I, with a few other people got the Surf Club ready for the ceremony and reception. Jack is trying so hard to keep things together. I feel so bad for him. Martha is having treatment tomorrow and they are both terrified. I hope everything goes well and Martha can beat this horrible disease. It was too late for Mum but it looks like the Doctors caught Martha's condition early.
After the Surf Club, I collected Ruby and we headed round to help Morag get ready. She looked lovely in a very smart, demure suit. Alf came over to take us to the wedding and he convinced a very reluctant Morag to wear Colleen's broach. I didn't realise this until now but Colleen is Alf and Morag's long lost sister or something. I guess I am still getting used to this town and its community connections. I'm getting there though and I feel like I am starting to make friends now. It feels nice, although I think I will always approach with caution. I always have, at least since what happened to me when I was a kid.
The ceremony itself was beautiful. I was so proud of Dad and he looked so happy. Ruby got all carried away and romantic. It was so sweet. The whole town turned out to celebrate with them and it was wonderful. I'm so glad that I managed to make things up with Dad and Morag. I would have hated to miss it. And I hope that Mum is up in Heaven now and happy that her husband is happy again after losing her.
The reception was really nice and I made the effort to talk to people and get to know them. Alf appears to have forgiven me for accusing him of selling underage alcohol. He's a very sweet and funny guy. I guess he's my step-uncle or something now. I'd never thought of it that way before.
Jack and Martha made the best of the day, although they have the weight of the world on their shoulders right now. Martha and Morag are particularly close so I know Martha would never have missed it. And Dad and Morag feel a little guilty about disappearing on her when she's going through so much but I doubt she would have wanted them to miss out on anything for her sake.
I didn't see much of Roman for most of it but then when I pointed this out to him, he said he'd been saving the best for last. Whether he meant it or not, it made me feel special. I told him not to wait too long or he might miss out and we had a dance together. It was really nice.
Ruby got talking to Leah and discovered that she is looking for tenants to move in with her so that she can get rent. So, Ruby and I are moving in at the weekend! Leah is really nice and I'm looking forward to getting to know her better. She always seems to be friendly and smiley and I like that about her. She's different to me! Hopefully we three and her son, VJ will get on well.
I spoke to Ric, who is the guy who got hurt when Kane committed that robbery. He seems nice enough. Tony was there. He is Jack's Dad and married to Rachel the Doctor. Then there's Miles, who is a teacher and he fosters kids like Jai. He's also taken Kirsty (Kane's wife) and her son Oliver in. And Irene works in the Diner and plays Mum to Belle, Geoff and Annie. And that's Summer Bay 101!
After the wedding, I saw Ruby back to the hotel and then went back to Roman's place. He was being really attentive and affectionate and we were just skipping up to the bedroom when he got a text message.
Apparently his ex, Natalie, (Nicole's Mum) has been on holiday and hasn't heard from Nicole. Naturally it sent Roman into a spin because he has no idea where his daughter is now. He wanted to race out in the world to try and find her but agreed when I pointed out that neither of us could drive because we'd been drinking and we didn't even know where to start.
He rang around her friends and I sent Angelo out on patrol to try and find her. Roman then began to panic and convinced himself that she was with Elliot. I knew he didn't want me to stay so I volunteered to go home and now, here I am. I had hoped that when I offered to go, he had said he wanted me to stay but he didn't. He just apologised again for messing me around. I am heading round there first thing tomorrow in cop mode in order to help him track her down.
Thursday 17th July
20:49
The Sands Hotel
Well, I had yet another disappointing day. I headed round to Roman's first thing and we had a coffee before setting off for the city to ask Elliot if he had seen Nicole. On a different day, it might have been nice to spend that amount of time with Roman but he was distracted and disinterested.
When we got to the house, Nicole answered the door. She was rude to me of course and ended up arguing with Roman. Then Elliot appeared, half naked, although Nicole insists that he had been the perfect gentleman all week.
After a lot of negotiation, she came back with us but not before Elliot announced that he was moving to the Bay. Roman was horrified but kept quiet. The journey home was a little awkward. It was kind of hard to be in a car with a guy intent on messing me around and a girl who makes it obvious that she doesn't like me.
I went back with Roman to his place and it looked like we might get close to each other again but Jack charged in and yelled at Roman for not convincing Martha to go ahead with chemotherapy despite the risks to the baby. It's such a hard thing to think about. I can understand every side. How on earth do you make a decision like that? At least by the time I realised I was pregnant, it was too late to have to make that kind of choice.
Friday 18th July
16:22
The Beach
I went back to work today and heard on the grapevine that Jack, Roman and Martha are doing the paternity test to find out once and for all who the father is. Of course, I didn't hear this from Roman. He sent me home again yesterday and I have barely seen him since. He's been too busy. I wonder if I will ever find someone who truly loves me.
Saturday 19th July
22:11
Home
I have a home again! How exciting! Ruby and I packed up and moved into Leah's place. I've got the room downstairs and Ruby is upstairs. Her room is a bit bigger because she cares more about that kind of thing than I do and quite frankly, I would do anything for her. Leah, Ruby, VJ and I had dinner together and spent time getting to know each other better. She's nice and VJ is lovely. I think we will be really happy here.
Sunday 20th July
13:07
The Diner
I'm just on a break from lunch. I'm working with Angelo again. He's becoming bearable. It's almost endearing really.
We're sure that Larry is responsible for Jai and Axel's accident but we can't find him yet. We're working on it though.
Does it sound terrible that my heart isn't breaking over Axel's death? I know the idea of someone dying so young is terrible but he was a rapist. He raped that poor girl, Melody. I looked her up on the system and she's in a mental health clinic now because she's so broken over everything that happened. I can empathise so much with her. And I just can't feel sad that the guy who abused her is dead. I wish I could. I wish I had the capacity to empathise but I don't. It won't affect my treatment of his case or anything, of course it won't, but a dead rapist is the best kind as far as I'm concerned. I sound evil, don't I?
Next time… Charlie and Roman keep this casual, Angelo scores a date with Belle and Jimmy causes trouble…
