Sitting at the pier, with her feet dangling in the water, Joey is lost in thought when a little voice comes from behind her. "Why are you sad?"
Joey wipes away the tears before she turns, finding herself face-to-face with an adorable little girl. "I'm sad because I hurt someone's feelings."
"Why?"
"Because I was angry with myself. Where are your parents?"
"Daddy's just over there." Looking to where she is pointing, Joey spots Ned running towards them.
"You must be Jessie," Joey says, receiving a shy nod in reply. "Well Jessie, I'm Joey. I work with your father." Holding out her hand, Joey smiles when Jessie takes it.
"I'm pleased to meet you Joey."
"Hey Joey, I see you've met my wayward daughter." Reaching his daughter, Ned squats down, "Jessie honey, I've told you not to run off like that."
"I'm sorry daddy."
Joey stifles a laugh as she watches the little girl completely wrap her father around her little finger with her adorable pouting expression. "You know Ned, if you went running more often, you wouldn't be outrun by a five year old."
"She'd still find a way to get away," Ned says, smiling at his daughter. "Jessie, I want to talk to Joey for a moment, so why don't you run over to your friends over there."
"Bye Joey."
"Bye Jessie, it was nice to meet you."
"Are you ok Joey?"
"I'm getting a bit sick of hearing that question lately."
"People only ask because they care."
"I know that, I just don't have an answer to it most of the time." Joey offers him a smile, "Are you always this nice?"
"I wasn't always. Joey, you know how I told you I had five sisters, right?"
"Yeah."
"What I didn't tell you is that I had another sister who died about 10 years ago; she would have been about your age when she died."
"What happened to her, if you don't mind me asking?"
"She was depressed a lot, was always doubting herself and I was too busy getting into trouble at school to notice; by the time any of us did notice, it was too late, she had killed herself."
"I'm sorry."
"You remind me a lot of her, Joey. You seem so strong sometimes and yet other times, you seem incredibly vulnerable." Ned pauses as he remembers his sister. "I don't want to see you end up like Caroline."
"No offence Ned, but I don't know your sister and I have no intention of killing myself."
"Neither did Caroline, until it all got too much for her."
"I'm seeing a counsellor Ned," Joey surprises herself by telling him. "And I have Charlie by my side, I'll be fine."
"That's great Joey. I wasn't there for my sister, so if you want to talk to someone or use as a punching bag, I'd like to be there for you."
"Thanks Ned, but I think I've got enough people. Speaking of which, there's someone I owe a big apology to."
Ned watches Joey walk away, a faint smile on his face.
Walking into the diner, Ana spies a sad looking Joey sitting alone in the corner.
"You look like you could use someone to talk to."
"No offense Ana, but I don't even know you."
"Sometimes it's easier to talk to strangers. If you don't have to be home any time soon, perhaps we could talk over a coffee," Ana suggests before adding when she senses Joey's reluctance, "If you don't want to Const. Collins, that's fine, I'll just sit here and eat alone; again."
Amused by the pouting look Ana throws her way, Joey gives in. "Joey, my name is Joey. Look, I'm sorry I was so rude with you the other day, you just caught me at a bad time."
"I was worried I had offended you in some way," Ana says as she sits down opposite her.
"It wasn't anything to do with you, Ana."
"I'm glad."
Joey stares at the tabletop for a moment, "Things have been kind of stressful lately, and I let it get on top of me. Today I snapped at my girlfriend's daughter and then had words with my girlfriend."
Ana reaches across the table to place a comforting hand on Joey's arm. "Just apologise to them, I'm sure everything will be alright."
"I think things are ok with Charlie, and I was just on my way to apologise to Ruby when I needed a caffeine fix for courage. I love them both and the thought of losing them terrifies me, but at the same time, I." Joey stops, looking back down at the table.
"Joey?"
Raising her eyes up, Ana can see the fear and pain in them. "I feel like I'm suffocating," Joey confesses.
"Sounds like you might have reservations."
"It's not that, I'm right where I want to be. It's just that I've had a lot of emotional baggage in the past year and now I feel as if it's all closing in on me, making it hard to breath sometimes." Joey sighs in despair, "And now I'm taking it out on the people I care about the most and I hate that."
"Maybe you should talk to a therapist."
"I already am, but I'm afraid I don't have the best opinion of them these days. I slept with my last counsellor, who then tried to kill Charlie and I guess I'm not really feeling that confident with my new one; I'm starting to think they're all pretty much useless."
Ana chuckles at that, "Don't worry, I won't take offense."
"Oh god, you're a counsellor aren't you?"
"It's ok Joey, you weren't to know," Ana assures her.
"I'm sorry, I don't even know why I'm telling you all of this."
"You needed to talk about it. Joey, it's obvious from the way your face lights up when you talk about this Charlie of yours, that you love her, but have you thought what will happen if you continue on this way?"
"What do you mean?"
"It sounds like you need some space, to get away from things before you do something you'll regret."
Joey shakes her head vigorously at the idea. "No, I just need to be able to get a good night's sleep."
"My advice then Joey, is to go home to your family, apologise to them and tell them how much you love them and then go to bed."
"Sounds easy when you say it like that."
"Far from it, but you may be surprised at how letting them know how you're feeling will make you feel better and hopefully, allow you to get a good night's sleep.
"So counsellor, how much do I owe you for the session?" Joey says, getting some of her humour back.
"This one's on the house, a thank you for the lift the other day."
"Thanks Ana."
"If you need to talk, just knock on my door; the only charge will be a cup of coffee."
"I am surprised that you're still in town."
"I really hadn't planned to stay this long, but my friends are still dealing with a family emergency and I've found a reason to stay in Summer Bay."
"Sounds like you've met someone."
"Yes, I have."
"Well I should be heading home."
"Good luck Joey, I hope everything works out for you."
"Thanks again Ana," Joey says as she leaves the diner.
"My pleasure Joey," Ana whispers to herself.
Feeling better after having talked with Ana, Joey heads straight home, pleased when she finds Ruby in the kitchen. "Ruby."
"What," Ruby asks warily.
Taking a deep breath, Joey walks over to her. "I am so sorry about this morning, I never meant to bite your head off."
"You always told me that I could talk to you whenever I needed to."
"I know, and I am sorry. Do you still want to talk about it?"
"No. There isn't much point," Ruby admits. "You were right about nothing ever happening between Liam and me."
Joey gives her a wry smile, "I could have said it a little better."
"Yeah you could have, but then I probably wouldn't have listened anyway." Ruby drops her head. "It hurt what you said to me Joey, but I think it hurt even more that you were right."
"That's no excuse for what I said Ruby." Lifting Ruby's chin up, "You don't know how much I wish I could take back everything I said and the way I said it."
"Joey, I want to be able to talk to you about things, but you scared me. I hate seeing you like that."
"I hate being like that. Ruby, I'm trying so hard, but sometimes I'm so messed up that I don't even know where some of the things I say come from."
"If I didn't know that the person yelling at me this morning wasn't the real you, I don't know if I would be able to forgive you."
"But you will," Joey appeals to Ruby with her big, brown, mournful eyes.
"Oh no, not the kicked puppy look again," Ruby complains, "That's not fair Joey."
"I am so sorry Ruby and for the record, I don't think you're pathetic or immature."
"You left out brat."
"No I didn't, you can be quite bratty sometimes."
"What!"
"I'm kidding Ruby," Joey grins at her.
"Geez Joey, don't do that." Joey gets wary when Ruby starts looking at her with a calculating gleam. "You know Joey, if you really are sorry and want to make it up to me, you can give me back those two driving lessons you conned me out of."
Chuckling, Joey scuffs her hair, "Nice try Ruby, especially as you conned them from me in the first place."
"Damn, I thought that would work."
"Come here, you devious little brat," Joey says affectionately, as she gives Ruby a big hug. Leaving a comforting arm across Ruby's shoulder, "You know Ruby, everyone gets a crush on the wrong person at some time, it's just a part of growing up."
"Who did you get a crush on?"
"My P.E. teacher."
"Did you ever make a fool of yourself in front of her?"
"Does getting hit in the face with a ball because I was too busy staring at her in her shorts, count?"
"No way!" Ruby blurts out, giggling at the image.
"Yes way. I had a shiner for the rest of the week and I was so embarrassed that I made excuses for skipping P.E. for a month. Ruby, give it time, you'll get over him and find someone better."
"This is Summer Bay Joey, it's not like I have a big selection."
"What, there's no good looking guys about?"
"Good looking yes, but you try talking to a guy who spends half the time fussing about his hair. Maybe I should switch teams for a while," Ruby jokes.
"Don't let your mum hear you say that, she already worries about the boys, best not add girls into the mix."
"Yeah, you're right; it was just a thought."
"So, haven't you got homework to do?"
"Yes mum," Ruby grins at her.
"Don't be cheeky."
Getting a mischievous look on her face, Ruby keeps grinning. "You know Joey, if you and Charlie get married, that would make you my step-mum." Getting a kick out of the shocked look on Joey's face, Ruby continues, "So what would you like me to call you?"
Joey shakes her head in amusement at Ruby, "I've never even really thought about that, that I'd be your step-mum."
"Well you would be, that is, if you're ever allowed to get married."
"Ok, so how about you call me, Lucky."
"Lucky?"
"Yeah, lucky to have you and Charlie as my family."
Ruby throws her arms around her, "I love you Joey."
"I love you too kiddo," hugging her back.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to Charlie," Ruby says as she lets go of her. Joey smiles as she watches Ruby walk away, when a wave of dizziness has her reaching for the table to keep herself upright.
"Damn it, not again." Holding her hand up, Joey squeezes her fist tight to try to stop the shaking.
"They're still together, but there are definitely cracks appearing."
"Excellent."
"It's still not going to be easy to convince her to go back with you."
"She belongs with me; I'm not letting her go again."
"There is another problem; the girl."
"Leave her out of this; anything happens to the kid, it won't matter what I do, she will never forgive me."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Ivan, just do as I've asked you and no more; is that understood?"
"Understood sir."
