"What are you doing here?"
"Hi Brax. I'm here for the custody case to represent Heath."
"You are not welcome here."
"Please Brax I can explain about Charlie." She tried to get out her words.
"Don't you dare mention her name. You nearly cost Charlie her life and us our future."
"Brax please…" Hayley whined. Brax pushed his way in front of her and picked up the paperwork and her briefcase that she had placed on the bar. He shoved it back into her arms and he just said,
"Get out." Hayley stared at him briefly then she walked out of the restaurant. Brax walked towards the bar and from the back shelf he picked up a bottle of bourbon and a glass. He went back and sat down and poured himself a generous slug of the drink and knocked it back in one go. The liquor burnt his throat but did not ease the anger he felt. Part of him wished he had thrown the bitch over the balcony. But if he had done so he and Charlie would be parted for sure. Before he met Charlie he would have sorted her out. Charlie had been good for him. Her being part of his life had been good. Because of her he had made changes to his life for the better.
Hayley mad her way outside to wait for Heath. She stood by the fence watching the wave's crash in along the beach. He made her jump as he suddenly appeared at the side of her.
"What are you doing out here? I thought I told you we were meeting in Angelo's." Heath said.
"Brax threw me out. Can we go somewhere else please?" She replied. She sounded upset as though she had been frightened. Heath led her towards the diner.
After the lunch time opening was over Brax headed home to change so he could go for a surf. When he got there Heath was sat down watching the television. He walked in and at the sight of Heath just sat there doing nothing was like a red rag to a bull.
Brax walked towards Heath and smacked him across the back of the head. Heath turned round and angrily jumped up.
"What the hell was that for?" He angrily demanded of his elder brother.
"For having that lawyer involved. Why the hell did you have to get her?" Brax demanded.
"I just rang the firm and asked them to send a lawyer. What's wrong with her?"
Brax stood and stared at his brother before he answered. "You were dirty on her when she couldn't keep Casey out of juvvey. You just don't get it do you." Brax turned before his brother could answer him. He went and changed so he could go for a surf. Before he left he sent Charlie a text.
Meet me on the beach when U finish work. L Brax xx
He did not want her finding out about that lawyer before he told her. He drove down to the surf club and parked his ute. He went up the restaurant and left his keys behind the bar before he headed back downstairs and picking up his board where he left it by John Palmers Gelato bar. Brax walked down to the beach and dumping his towel and shirt on the beach he headed off to the surf. Brax kept surfing until he looked up and saw Charlie sat on his towel. He finished his surf and headed towards Charlie.
He walked towards Charlie and stuck his board in the sand at the side of his towel. He bent down and kissed her. "Do you want to go for a drink at the surf club?"
"Yes please. Brax what is the matter? You seem tense."
"I'll tell you over a juice. Come on lets go."
Charlie got to her feet and picked her shoes up and her bag. Brax picked up his things and they walked up towards the club. Brax stopped and washed the sea water off him and dried himself off.
He walked across the car park and put his board in the back of his ute before he joined Charlie in the club. By the time he got in there she had bought the drinks and had sat down. Brax sat down and took a drink from his juice.
"Charlie I have got some bad news. Heath called the lawyers in to deal with the custody case with Bianca's baby. Guess who the lawyer is?" Brax paused. "It is that bitch Hayley O'Connor. The one who got Jake released from prison." Brax put his hand on Charlie's. "I won't let her hurt you. I promise you."
Charlie closed her eyes briefly. "She couldn't hurt me anymore if she tried. How did heath find her?"
"He rang the lawyers and that was who they sent. I told him to be an adult and talk to Liam and Bianca and what does he do call a lawyer. He is an idiot."
Charlie and Brax finished their drinks. Brax walked her to her car and watched her drive off back to the house. Brax went back inside and checked Angelo's and that his staff were fine for the evening and then he went home.
The following morning after Charlie had left for work Brax tackled Heath about using Hayley again.
"Buckton has made you soft. Back in the day you would have sorted it out." Heath pushed past his brother and left for his morning surf.
Later on in the day Brax was driving into the surf club car park and spied that lawyer crabbing across the car park.
"Hayley." He shouted. He watched her turn around. "Do you want to catch up?" When she seemed reluctant he pulled forward in the ute as though he was going to drive off.
"Ok. It would be good to catch up." She walked towards his ute and got in.
"I thought we could go for a drive. Is that alright?"
She nodded as Brax drove off. He drove towards Stewarts Point and the cliffs that overlooked the beaches. He got out and started to walk quickly towards the cliffs. Hayley followed behind him like a crab trying to walk forwards instead of sideways.
"Brax," She called out. "Why are we here? I thought we were going to talk."
Brax continued to walk towards the cliffs. When he got to where he wanted to be he stopped and turned around and stared at the bitch in front of him.
"Why did you do it? Why did you get that dog out of prison?" Brax asked angrily. His grey green eyes blazed with anger.
"I…I…I…" She stuttered. The look in Brax's eyes scared her. She suddenly felt very scared. Here she was on top of a cliff alone with a man. It was her actions that led him to being this angry. She took a deep breath and tried to pluck up courage to speak.
Brax cut across her stuttered speech. "You nearly ruined my life. Charlie nearly died because of him. Now why did you do it? Why did you get that dog out of prison?"
"He blackmailed me." She paused. "I had a drug habit and Jake knew it. He was my supplier. He said if I did not help him he would get me struck off."
As she finished speaking Brax grabbed her by the wrist and started dragging her towards the edge of the cliff.
"Brax…nooo..." Hayley screamed. As he pulled her towards the edge she did her best to pull herself backwards.
"Why shouldn't I. Charlie nearly died because of you. Now get here."
I hope you are enjoying the drama. There will be more to come...