Chapter Thirty Seven

June 2012 (Age 30)

Hayley tracked Dexter down to a Diner in Summer Bay where he had lunch with a pretty, dark haired girl. She kept well out of sight but positioned herself close enough to listen in on their conversation. And she couldn't believe her luck when Charlie and Joey strolled in, although that meant she had to work harder to stay concealed. The last thing she needed was for there to be a scene. That was not part of the plan.

"I normally have a coffee," Charlie was telling Joey, as they sat down. "However, you haven't lived until you've tasted one of Ailsa's milkshakes so I think we need to at least have one of those afterwards so let's make sure we save room."

Joey grinned.

"Sounds good to me," she said. "Any particular food recommendations?"

Hayley pulled a face behind her menu, as she listened to Charlie point out the best food. She personally didn't think much of the place. And she certainly didn't think much of Charlie. She blamed her for a hell of a lot of things. Charlie Buckton had cast a shadow over her relationship with Joey from the moment it had begun. Maybe that's why we didn't function all that well, she mused. But that didn't mean that she was about to change her plan. She was utterly determined to get Joey back, no matter the cost. Nothing meant more to her than that.

"Dex, I know it's hard but you and I both have to learn not to bring our work home with us," April Scott said on the next table over.

Her boyfriend sighed and slurped the rest of his milkshake loudly. On the table on their other side, Hayley grimaced in distaste.

"I know," the dark haired boy said. "And normally I'm Nurse Jolly who leaves his troubles at the prison door but... I don't know, there's just something about this guy."

At the mention of the word 'prison', Charlie and Joey's ears pricked up. They couldn't help but listen in rather anxiously.

"He was so beat up, April," Dex fretted. "You should have seen the state of him."

Charlie and Hayley watched Joey freeze. Both knew she was panicking over who this guy, who evidently worked in a prison was talking about.

"And I can patch him up and cheer him up but the truth is that as soon as he goes back out there, the same thing is going to happen again and again," Dex continued. "If someone has a vendetta against him, his life is over."

He sighed heavily, twisting his hands tightly together until his girlfriend stopped him.

"He's up on a murder charge," he said unhappily. "Granted, he hasn't been convicted yet but he told me his representation is so bad that it may as well not exist. If whoever attacked him carries on, he's going to die behind bars."

Hayley watched Joey wince. This couldn't have worked out better if she had planned it.

"Dex, you're doing your best for… what's his name?"

"Aden," Dex whispered, aware that he had to be careful about confidentiality.

Joey closed her eyes in despair, having made a point to listen in.

"His name's Aden and he literally has nobody in the world," Dex said. "There's the girl he went to jail trying to save but he doesn't want her to know what's going on so he's all alone."

Joey got up before Charlie could stop her. Hayley kept her sneakily smiling face out of sight.

"Sorry, are you talking about Aden Jeffries?" Joey asked.

Charlie hurried to stand up behind her, urging her to be careful. Dex and April looked startled.

"Sorry?" Dex managed.

"Are you talking about Aden Jeffries?" Joey asked, aware but not caring that everyone in the Diner was staring at her.

"Um… well, I can't really talk about…"

"You just were!" Joey said loudly, her voice full of desperation. "Please! I need to know…"

Dex looked at Charlie helplessly. The police officer stepped in, putting her arm around Joey's waist.

"Dex, this is Joey Collins," she explained. "Aden's best friend, the person he was trying to protect."

Realisation and compassion dawned on the nurse. Anxiously, he gestured for the couple to join him and April at their table. They both sat down.

"Please," Joey said. "Is he okay?"

Dex and April exchanged glances. Dex knew he wasn't supposed to but he couldn't ignore her. And he hated not telling her in the first place.

"He was assaulted yesterday by another inmate," he revealed. "He's on the hospital wing and he's stable and recovering well but I'm worried about him. I guess you heard what I was saying to April…"

Joey and Charlie both nodded.

"You think he'll continue to get bullied?" Joey asked.

Dex sighed and then nodded his confirmation. Joey's heart broke. Hayley caught the look on her face. She knew she had won.

December 2008 (Age 26)

It was Christmas Day, Joey and Hayley's first as a couple officially living together. They'd had a nice morning, opening presents and enjoying a lazy day and then the plan was to cook a nice dinner for themselves, Aden, Brax, Heath, Casey and Cheryl. Joey was due to be doing most of the cooking, she suspected but Hayley was confident that they would do a good job together.

Christmas was always a sad time of year, although Joey tried not to let on too much. She tried hard to live in the present and not get stuck in the past, the past she had lived and loved with Charlie. But it had been right before Christmas that the love of her life had been snatched away from her so she knew that this time of year would always be difficult. But she was with Hayley now and Charlie was a contentious issue.

She understood how Hayley felt. She would probably feel the same if Hayley had an ex that meant so much to her. She would feel insecure. But Joey was determined to try her best, to be good enough for her. She wanted to focus on now and on the future.

It was lunch time and everything had become very hectic. Cheryl and Heath were both very drunk in the lounge already and Brax was on his way but thankfully, he was never outrageous. Casey was quiet and subdued, like he normally was. Joey had always had a bit of a soft spot for him. He was definitely the overlooked Braxton. She very much hoped he didn't turn out like his brothers. She couldn't stand either of them. They were thugs.

"What time's dinner?" Heath complained loudly. "I'm getting hungry!"

Hayley burst into the kitchen, startling Joey into burning her hand on the oven, where she had been checking on the potatoes.

"Is it nearly ready?" Hayley asked impatiently. "They're about to start a riot."

She either didn't notice or care about Joey's burn. She didn't comment on her wince or the fact that she hurried over to the sink to run her hand under the cold tap.

"Well?" she demanded.

"It'll be ready when it's ready," Joey snapped.

"Excuse me?" Hayley almost shrieked.

Joey whirled around, startled again. She hadn't quite meant to snap. They had a rather tempestuous relationship at best and she didn't want to get into an argument on Christmas Day of all days.

"Hayley, I'm struggling with cooking all these meals on my own," she said more calmly. "I've never done it before."

"You're not doing it all on your own," Hayley said. "I'm helping."

Joey hesitated. Hayley hadn't so much as peeled a carrot.

"I have been helping," she told Joey, warning in her voice.

"You have," Joey lied. "But I've been trying to manage all the timings and it's been overwhelming and…"

Hayley stepped forward. Joey stepped back. She bumped into the counter. She felt trapped.

"If you're not good enough to handle this then you should have said," Hayley sneered.

"I just…"

"And if you're unhappy with your assistant…"

"No, I…"

Joey was interrupted by Hayley taking her hand. For a moment, she thought she was being kind. Then she pressed it calmly against the hot potato pan.

June 2012 (Age 30)

Joey was subdued as she and Charlie left the Diner, having given up on the idea of lunch. Their happy moods had completely dissipated and neither of them quite knew what to do with themselves.

"Shall we try and arrange a visit with Aden?" Charlie suggested, catching hold of Joey's hand as they walked along the sandy beach together, down by the surf.

"Yes, please," Joey said.

Charlie pulled her phone out, just as it rang. It was Pippa. She took the call and smiled.

"That would be lovely," she said to her foster mother. "I'll just ask her."

She turned away from the phone and asked Joey if would be interested in a family dinner at Pippa and Michael's house the following evening. Joey smiled weakly and accepted. Charlie smiled back and returned the phone.

"We'll be there, Pip," she said. "Thank you."

Joey tried to hide her devastation at what felt like the end of her world.

Next time… Joey wangles a visit with Aden…