Charlie couldn't help but grin to herself as she walked along the beach and spotted Brax and Scarlet playing on a picnic blanket. Brax was passing Scarlet her building blocks and Scarlet was throwing them at him. Charlie giggled as one of them hit Brax on the head "OW" Brax smiled as Scarlet chuckled. Brax looked up and saw Charlie stood next to them, she crouched down "Hello beautiful" as Charlie spoke Scarlet put her arms up.
Charlie picked Scarlet up and stood with her, Brax also stood to his feet and smiled as he watched Scarlet pulling on Charlie's hair "Ow, Ow, Ow" Charlie shrieked as Scarlet pulled it harder.
"Hey baby stop your hurting Charlie" Brax said softly. Scarlet just smiled at him and continued pulling Charlie's hair.
"Scarlet stop it" Brax said sternly, causing Scarlet to drop her bottom lip and bury her head into Charlie's hair, Brax tried to reach out to Scarlet but she flapped her arm at him. So he moved round the back of Charlie and whispered over Charlie's shoulder "Daddy's sorry baby" he whispered Scarlet looked up at Brax with a frown "Do you want some ice cream?" he added. Scarlet's face lit up and her arms reached outwards for Brax, causing both Brax and Charlie to laugh.
Charlie and Brax had become closer over the last few months, they had bonded over their grandchild and Charlie had helped Brax with Scarlet on more than one occasion. Although Brax was still aching for Milly, he had to admit he did enjoy spending time with Charlie.
"Oh what a beautiful baby" a woman gasped and interrupted Brax's thoughts "She looks just like her mum" the woman added as she looked at Charlie. Brax's face dropped as the woman suggested Charlie was Scarlet's mum.
"Nah she doesn't" Brax interrupted "She's not her mum…her mums dead" Brax added as he took Scarlet and walked off up the beach towards the sea.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry" the woman gasped.
"It's not your fault she only passed away a few months ago, he's still pretty upset about it" Charlie explained with a smile.
"Of course he will be" The woman replied "Sorry again"
Charlie watched as the woman disappeared in to the distance before turning to Brax, he was now crouched down in the sea and holding Scarlet's hands so she can paddle.
Brax looked up when he saw Charlie; he picked Scarlet up and rested her on his hip "Are you alright?" she asked as she put her hand gently on his arm. Brax frowned as he felt Charlie's skin on his, he yanked his arm away
"You can't replace her, no-one can" he snapped before barging past Charlie and walking towards the Diner Car-park with Scarlet in his arms.
Charlie was a little confused by what had just happened with Brax, she didn't understand why he had reacted like that. Charlie wasn't trying to replace Milly she knew she could never do that.
-x-
Brax slammed the door as he arrived back in the house; luckily no-one was in. Brax sat Scarlet on the rug and headed into the kitchen to get himself a drink of water. He almost shot out of his skin when he heard a familiar voice behind him "You can bloody apologise for that" Brax turned round and saw Milly standing behind him, she had her hands resting on her hips.
"Hey you" Brax smiled as he walked towards her.
"Don't you hey you me" Milly frowned "Charlie didn't deserve for you to react like that, it was just a mistake"
"I know I didn't mean to lash out I just…" Brax tried to justify his harshness with Charlie, but he quickly realised Milly was right, there was no excuse for the way he reacted "Fine I'll apologise later alright" Brax sighed as he watched Milly's frown turn into a smile.
"Good" she grinned widely.
"Mama" a little voice said from behind them. As Brax and Milly turned they were both stunned to see Scarlet standing near the sofa looking up at her daddy. As she staggered across the sofa she suddenly let go and took about 5 steps towards Brax before landing on her bum "Dadda" she grinned as she looked up at Brax.
"Oh my god" Milly gasped, she had tears in her eyes. Brax quickly scooped the little girl up in his arms and kissed her head "Your so clever baby" he grinned as he kept kissing Scarlet's face. Scarlet was chuckling, Brax turned to Milly who was also laughing. Suddenly she stopped and looked at him with a more serious expression "Apologise" she frowned.
Brax turned to the door quickly when he heard a knock, Milly had gone when he turned to look at her again. Brax walked to the door and opened it. Standing there looking a little worried was Charlie "I'm so sorry If you think I am trying to replace Milly, I would never do that" she exclaimed.
"I know and I'm sorry for the way I acted, it's not your fault that she thought you were Scarlet's mum" Brax replied.
"DADDA" Scarlet whined as she tried to struggle free from Brax.
"Oh my gosh did she just say dadda" Charlie grinned.
Brax nodded "Yeah and that's not all she can do, watch this" Brax said as he walked a little bit away from Charlie and put Scarlet on her feet on the floor "Go to Charlie"
Charlie crouched down and reached her arms out, she gasped with excitement as she watched Scarlet take 7 wobbly steps towards her "You big girl" Charlie cried as she picked Scarlet up in a tight hug.
"Mamma" Scarlet giggled as she wrapped her hands in Charlie's hair.
"No sweetie my name's Charlie can you say Char-lie" Charlie smiled as she broke her name down so Scarlet could understand.
"Mamma" Scarlet said stubbornly.
"No Char-lie" Brax interrupted with a smile.
"Ar-ie" Scarlet said with such concentration causing both Brax and Charlie to laugh.
"I came over to see if you were still having Scarlet's party at Angelo's tomorrow afternoon?" Charlie asked as she handed Scarlet back to Brax. Charlie was now stood in the lounge.
"Yeah 2 o'clock" Brax replied "Mind you now she has started walking I'm not sure a place full of glasses and knives and forks is a good place for it" he frowned.
"It's ok she'll be fine, besides she'll have plenty of us to keep an eye on her" Charlie reassured him. She could see the sorrowful look on Brax's face as he talked about Scarlet's birthday party. Charlie knew how desperately Brax wanted Milly to be there, she also had an idea of how hard it must be for him not being able to share Scarlet's first words and first steps with her. Little did Charlie know that Milly was still very much a part of Brax's life.
-x-
Brax had spent the whole morning decorating Angelo's ready for Scarlet's party, he had roped in Liam and Bianca to help. Scarlet was playing in her buggy when Heath arrived "Hello beautiful" He grinned as he unstrapped Scarlet and took her out of her buggy. Scarlet's legs started kicking "Daddy tells me you can walk" he added as he put her down on the floor. Brax quickly climbed down the ladder and walked towards Scarlet and Heath before stopping just in front of them.
"Come on to Dadda" Brax smiled as he crouched down. Scarlet giggled before taking a few wobbly steps towards Brax.
Brax gave her a hug before turning her round and sending her back to Heath, who had now crouched down. Scarlet wobbled back to Heath and giggled when he showered her with kisses "Clever princess" he grinned. Heath didn't notice Bianca was watching him from behind the bar; she was smiling to herself as she watched Heath with Scarlet.
Suddenly Casey and Ruby and Baby Amelia appeared out of nowhere "Oh my gosh she's walking" Ruby cried as she walked closer to Brax, Casey was carrying Amelia in his arms; Brax frowned at the curious object Ruby was carrying. It was a large thick square wrapped in pink tissue paper "Look I know it's not really her birthday until tomorrow but I couldn't wait any longer"
Brax gently unwrapped the tissue and was stunned by what he saw Scarlet Mary Rose Braxton, was written across the front with pretty writing there was also a picture of Brax, Milly and Scarlet stuck on the front. The picture was taken when Scarlet was just a few hours old. As Brax pulled the object out of the paper he realised it was a scrap book. He turned the pages a grinned widely at the first few pictures. They were of him and Milly while they were at school. Each page Brax turned showed a different collection of memories. Brax froze when he got to his wedding day tears filled his eyes as he continued to turn the pages. The last picture was of him and Scarlet and Milly on the beach at the surf carnival. Brax ran his fingertips over Milly's face and closed the book
"It's perfect" he smiled, Ruby reached forwards and hugged him.
"I knew you'd like it, me and Casey wanted Scarlet to remember her mum, and know how amazing she was" she whispered.
Casey could see the tears in Brax's eyes and had wondered if he had done the right thing. He knew how badly Brax was still dealing with Milly's death, Casey knew what Brax showed people on the outside was a far cry from what was really going on inside.
-x-
It was about 1.30 when people started to arrive at Angelo's Cheryl arrived first, she was carrying a huge box "Where shall I put this?" she asked as she dropped it on the bar. Brax looked up and saw what his mum had brought. It was a pink trike, with a handle and sunshade.
"Oh wow mum, how could you afford this?" Brax gasped.
"Relax its not stolen…I've been picking up a few extra shifts to cover it that's all" Cheryl frowned "So where is the party girl?" Cheryl looked around Angelo's.
Cheryl laughed when she saw Scarlet toddling towards her with her arms in the air "Look at you" she gasped as she reached down to pick Scarlet up. Scarlet was wearing a white dress with big red spots and red shoes and white ankle socks. She also had a red headband with a bow on it in her hair "Don't you look pretty, did you do this?" Cheryl asked as she looked up at Brax.
"Nah mum, Charlie got her ready" Brax smiled. Cheryl sighed a breath of relief.
"Thank god for that, I thought you had gone all baby boutique on me" Cheryl teased.
"Speaking of Baby Boutique" Bianca interrupted from behind "Here's her present from us"
"Thanks" Brax smiled as he took the gift bag off Bianca and handed her and a glass of champagne and Liam a glass of Orange juice.
-x-
It wasn't long before Angelo's was full; Colleen Alf and Roo were there as well as Gina and John, Sid, Indi and Romeo.
Marilyn, Casey, Ruby, baby Amelia, Heath and most of the river boys, not to mention Harry and Lynne.
As the party got into full swing everyone was talking amongst themselves and laughing at Scarlet as she rushed from one table to another tumbling as she went. Brax couldn't take his eyes off his beautiful baby girl, but he had also found himself watching another person, Brax had also been watching Charlie.
Brax had decided it was time for a few speeches so he stood at the front of Angelo's with a microphone and started "Ok so I just want to say thanks for coming, Milly would have been pleased to see you all here" as he said Milly's name his voice saddened a little "I know the last 6 months have been hard, but it has held some happy times for me too, and this beautiful little angel is what makes things easier for me…Er I think Harry has something he would like to say" Brax added as he handed to microphone over to Harry.
"Brax is right; I don't think any of us could have gotten through these 6 months without Scarlet, she has been our light on many a dark day" Harry started "I know Amy's parents are sorry they cannot be here but they have asked me to pass on this" Harry turned to Brax and handed him an envelope. Brax frowned as he opened the envelope as he took out the paper his eyes widened.
"What is it?" Heath wondered as he looked over his brothers shoulder "SHIT" he exclaimed.
"You serious" Brax said as he looked up at Harry.
"Yes, Roberto told Amelia to check her personal account just before she died, obviously she never got round to it, so he called me and asked me to pass on this to you" Harry explained.
"What is it Brax?" Charlie wondered.
"It's Milly's bank statement for her personal account" Brax was stunned and could barely speak "Are you sure this is right?" Brax asked as he turned to Harry again.
"Yes Roberto transferred it just after you visited Italia" Harry smiled. Cheryl had now come to see what was going on.
"Let me see that" she said as she took the paper off Brax "Oh my god 6 million dollars"
The whole place fell silent at Cheryl's outburst everyone was in shock.
OK so please review and let me know what you think. Sorry it has taken me forever to update this I had so many ideas rushing around in my head I wasn't sure which way to take this, I didn't want to rush a relationship with Charlie just yet. It just wouldn't seem right.
Also big well done to Steve Peacocke on winning Most Popular New Male at the Logies. I don't think I'm alone when I say he deserves it.
Love always Nikki x x
Coming up-
Brax isn't sure what to do with this money.
Brax and Milly spend Scarlet's 1st birthday in a special place.
Heath has some harsh words for Brax when he thinks Brax is moving on with Charlie.
Coming soon in the next few chapters-
Brax and Milly say a very emotional final goodbye.
Will Brax cope with Milly gone completely?
Will Brax let Charlie in?
Heath gets caught up in something he shouldn't can Brax help or will Heath drag him down too?
