As she pulled backwards away from him she fell backwards and sat down in a heap. Brax just stared at her. He felt angry just staring at her. He bent down to grab her wrist again when she hit him over the head with a rock. Brax stumbled backwards stunned. He fell forwards as he tried to right himself. As he did so he caught a glance at the tattoo on his left hand. The one he had done for Charlie. He stared at it for a moment before he got to his feet and chased after her. As he caught up with her he grabbed hold of her wrist. As he did so he had a sudden change of heart. He released her wrist and just yelled at her.
"Get away from me. You are not worth doing time for. Don't you dare come near Charlie or…" Brax stopped talking to let the threat hang in the air.
Hayley stared at him before she fled away from him. She did not care that he had left her a long way from anywhere. She just wanted to get away from him.
Brax walked back to his ute and got in and sat there thinking about what he could have done. He rubbed his hands over his face. As he did so he realised if he had done what he had wanted he would be no better than that dog Pirovic. He had made changes to his life and he a better person for it. He hoped Charlie would one day have his children and they could not do that if he was behind bars. Brax drove off back to the house. On his way there he popped into Angelo's and picked up a bottle of bourbon. Charlie had gone to see Bianca and Leah after work and she would not be home just yet. When he got home he went inside. He was glad that no one was at home. Grabbing a glass he sat down at the table and poured himself a generous slug of drink.
He drank the liquor down in one gulp. It burnt his throat and made him gasp. After what he had nearly done tonight he wanted to block it out. Brax poured himself another drink. This time it was not so large nor did he drink it down in one. He put his head in his hands and closed his eyes. He had come so close to doing something he would have regretted. But Hayley's part in Charlie being shot made him feel so angry. He suddenly felt tired so he went and flopped down on the settee. Brax leant his head back and started to go to sleep. The drink made Brax sleep soundly. He did not hear Charlie come in from her evening out.
Charlie came into the house to find Brax slumped on the settee fast asleep. On the table in front of him was half a bottle of bourbon and a glass. She put her car keys on the table by the front door along with everyone else's. She walked over and sat down next to Brax. She touched his hand to let him know she was there. He rubbed his face with his hand in an attempt to wake himself up.
"Hey Charlie." He slurred his words.
"Hi Brax. You have drunk a lot tonight. I only went to see Bianca and Leah for a drink and something to eat. Did you miss me? Is that why you have drunk so much?" Charlie grinned at Brax as she spoke to him.
"No. I did something stupid tonight. I nearly blew it Charlie." He paused. "I met up with that rat of a lawyer. I wanted to throw her off the cliff for what she did to you. You know when she got Jake Pirovic out of jail."
Charlie stared at the man she loved. He turned to face her. He spoke again. "I saw my tattoo and remembered why I had got it, because I love you. If I had done what I wanted to do it would have meant I had back to my old ways. I had changed so I could be with you. Why should I let her ruin things for us." Brax let his head fall forwards for a moment. As Charlie looked at him and could see dried blood congealed on the side of his face.
"Brax what happened to your face?"
"She hit me with a rock. That was how she got away and then I saw my tatt."
"Come on let's get you cleaned up." Charlie stood up and went into the bathroom and got some cotton wool to clean Brax up. She went back into the living room to see Brax had gone back to sleep. She sat down next to him and gently wiped the dried blood off with the damp cotton wool. When she had finished she got up and threw the cotton wool out before sitting back down next to Brax and put the television on. Brax slid closer to her with his head ending up on Charlie's shoulder and his arm wrapped around her body.
Charlie was walking along the beach towards the surf club. She had promised Brax she would help set up for the lunchtime rush. As she walked along she could see Bianca in the distance. She was stood arguing with Heath. Charlie started to walk quickly towards the arguing couple. As she got closer Heath noticed her.
"I suppose you've come to gang up on me as well Buckton." He then turned form the two women and walked away.
"Bianca, what is the matter? Why were you fighting?" Charlie asked her friend.
Bianca tried to answer her but she was trying not to cry. She took a deep breath and replied, "Liam and Me. We are finished. It is over and Heath thought it was because of him and that we would just get back together." As she said this the tears spilled from Bianca's eyes. Charlie put her arms round her friend to console her.
"Do you want to go and get a drink and we can talk?" Charlie asked Bianca.
"That would be nice. Can we go the diner? I don't want to go to the surf club."
Charlie pulled her phone from her pocket and rang Brax. She quickly explained about how upset Bianca was but not the reason and that they were going for a drink and a talk and that she would join him just as soon as she could.
Brax was just finishing the conversation when Heath walked in the restaurant. "Don't tell me that was Buckton crying to you about Bianca." He said sarcastically.
"Charlie did not say. All she said was she would be late as Bianca was upset. She did not say why. What have you done?"
Heath did not answer. Brax took his silence that he had done something wrong. Brax picked up the box of cutlery and pushed into Heaths arms. "You can help me as Charlie isn't here. You'd better start talking…."
Heath took one look at his brother and knew he had better talk or else there would be repercussions. "I was talking to Bianca. Her and Murphy have split up and I thought she would come back to me or I was the reason she broke up with him."
"I suppose you were rude to her and Charlie."
Heath did not answer. "If had just talked and behaved yourself this might not have happened. Bianca might still have her marriage and you would have seen your child."
Heath muttered something under his breath.
"What did you say?" Brax asked angrily.
Heath did not answer straight away. Then he spoke. "I said that Buckton had been behind her not wanting to see me."
Brax glared at his brother with angry blazing eyes.
"Charlie had offered to Bianca and Liam to be their go between when the baby was born so you could be part of the baby's life. She was going to help you and you say that about her. You are unbelievable Heath."
Heath stared at his brother as he said this. He had never thought that his brother's girlfriend who had arrested him more than once was prepared to do this for him. He was shocked. He didn't answer but he started to lay the tables for the lunch time opening. He knew that he had overstepped the mark with Brax. As he worked he thought maybe he should give Charlie a chance especially if she was prepared to help him.
Heath had just finished when Charlie walked in. He turned and looked at her. "Hey Buckton, I am sorry that I was rude to you earlier. Brax told me what you have been trying to do to help me with Bianca and the baby."
"I was also doing it for me. Bianca is my friend and I didn't want her to leave the bay. I thought it would be better for them if I was a go between and Liam might feel better if he was dealing with me rather than you."
"Truce Buckton."
"Ok Heath."
Brax from the bar as he watched Heath and Charlie make up. He was pleased as he knew his brothers feelings towards the police and Charlie. Brax knew that at one time Heath thought Charlie to be the worst thing that ever happened to the family. Maybe now he would change his mind.
I hope you enjoyed that. Now I have a question for you. Would you like me to get rid of that rat of a lwayer. I promise Brax won't kill her. I might just have an accident planned for her...