"Mum and I are gonna go for a walk on the beach, try and get some of her energy back up. Do you wanna come and bring Ruby too?" Brax asked late that morning
"I would but Bianca's coming over for a catch up" I informed him "besides, it'll be nice for you and your Mum to have some time alone"
"Have I told you you're the best wife ever?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow
"Not today you haven't, but I do know" I replied, smiling lightly
"Well just for the record, you're the best wife ever. And I love you" he stated
"I love you too, you goof. Now go and spend some time with your Mum" I proclaimed
He nodded and kissed me softly before kissing Ruby too, smiling at me as he walked out of the room…
"So, what's been going on with you?" I asked Bianca as we sat outside, enjoying the lunchtime sunshine, watching Ruby playing in her paddling pool
"Nothing much. Work and Heath. What about with you? How's Cheryl been?" she enquired
"She's been on her best behaviour and it's starting to worry me" I admitted "I think Brax may have said something to her though"
"Why do you think that?" she questioned, taking a sip of her iced tea
"She hasn't been rude. She hasn't been aggressive. She's been as nice as pie" I informed her "and you know Cheryl Braxton as well as I do. It's not in her nature"
"Maybe Brax did say something then" she replied "but that's a good thing, right?"
"Yeah, of course. It shows how much he cares for us all, and how he wants things to be as calm and peaceful as they can be" I stated
"You've got a good man there Charlie Braxton. God, it feels weird not calling you Buckton" she admitted
"It does? Still? B, Brax and I have been married for nearly two years" I chuckled, taking a sip of my drink
"I know, but it still feels weird" she sighed "so, how is married life?"
"Fantastic" I proclaimed, smiling widely "I'm as happy now as the day we got married"
"You know something, on the day of your wedding when you told me you and Brax were for keeps. I didn't believe you, but now, seeing you in your own place, with Ruby, having Heath and Casey too, I really do believe it" she informed me
I smiled widely and pulled her in for a hug, hugging her tightly as she hugged me back just as tight. Later on that evening as I was about to start cooking dinner I saw a note on the table, my name on the envelope in Brax's writing. I smiled and opened it…
"Charlie, I hope that tonight you'll accept my dinner invitation. I know things have been tough for us recently what with my Mum and everything but tonight, it's just gonna be about me and you. Irene has said she'll have Ruby if you drop her off before coming to meet me at Angelo's and Mum, Heath and Casey are otherwise engaged. You have nothing and no one to worry about, only yourself, and making yourself look more beautiful than you already are. I'll see you at Angelo's at 7:30 I hope. Love, Brax x"
I smiled and shut the letter, glancing at the clock on the wall, seeing it was just before seven. Dashing into mine and Brax's bedroom I packed Ruby an overnight bag and changed into an electric blue dress before straightening my hair and adding minimal make up, slipping into my gold heels before taking Ruby from her cot and carrying her and her overnight bag to the car, strapping her into her car seat and placing the bag at her feet. I climbed into the driver's seat and drove out of the driveway, driving down to Irene's…
"Hello darl, I see you're taking Brax up on his offer? Good for you" Irene proclaimed as she answered the door
"I am, and thank you for this Irene. It means a lot" I replied "is Heath with Bianca?"
"He is. They're in her room and he's staying tonight. Go and have fun girlie" she stated
"I will. Thank you Irene" I sighed, hugging her tightly before making my way back to the car
I arrived at Angelo's ten minutes later, climbing out of the car and locking it, making my way through the surf club and up the steps to Angelo's, it only been lit by candlelight…
"You've not closed the restaurant just for us have you?" I asked as I stood in the doorway
"Wow. You look, wow" Brax sighed as he looked up from the accounts he was doing
"I think you should put them away, don't you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow
He swallowed and nodded, shutting the book before standing up and placing it on the bar, making his way over to me as I made my way over to him…
"You didn't have to shut the restaurant just for us" I informed him "I would've been more than happy to dine with the other paying customers"
"I know you would've, but then I wouldn't have been able to greet you like this would I?" he asked, swooping me into his arms, kissing me passionately, his lips trailing down my neck
"No, I guess not. So, what's on the menu?" I enquired, raising an eyebrow
"Apart from you?" he questioned, smirking
"Cheeky" I chuckled, following him to the table where I noticed an ice bucket of champagne sitting
He smiled and popped the cork, pouring us two glasses, handing me one before clinking our glasses together…
"Take a seat. I'll go and get our starters" he informed me
I did as he said and he made his way into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with two plates of cheese and crackers…
"You remembered" I sighed as he placed mine down in front of me as I smiled widely, happy that he'd remembered the cheese and cracker plate I'd devoured on our first official date
"I remember everything, Charlie" he admitted
"So I see" I replied, beginning to tuck in
After our starters Brax brought out two large pizzas and for dessert, chocolate fudge cake…
"You didn't have to do all of this for me you know" I sighed as I sat on his knee, snuggled into him
"We've had so much to deal with lately, and sometimes we seem older than we are because of Ruby, and now Heath and Casey, but I just wanted to let you know I wouldn't change us for the world" he informed me
"Neither would I" I replied, smiling widely as I looked down at him, pressing my lips against his softly
As I was about to pull away, Brax pulled me back into him, his tongue sliding into my mouth, deepening the kiss as he held my waist tightly as he moved my body so I was straddling him, our night continuing…