"Here's trouble," Alf says to Martha, not even bothering to keep his voice down.
"What do you want Brax?" demands Martha. "Because if it's about buying this place, don't bother, it's still not for sale."
"Is that any way to talk to a paying customer?" he says with his usual smirk.
"If it means you turning around and leaving, then yes."
"Martha, I'm not here about the Club, I'm here to ask you a favour."
"What favour could that possibly be?"
"I need you to talk to Leah and get her to give me a chance to explain things to her."
"Why would I do that when Leah's finally wised up to you?" Word had spread quickly that Leah had kicked her husband out of the house and Martha had shouted everyone in the club at the time a free drink.
"It's all been a terrible misunderstanding which will all soon be cleared up," he says confidently.
"Go peddle your bullshit elsewhere," Alf tells him. "Because we're not interested in hearing it."
"Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?" He throws back at them.
"The only time you've ever been innocent, was when you were still in nappies," Alf fires back.
"It's a shame you think that way Alf, because I've always seen you as someone who gives people a fair go and doesn't judge."
"I give everyone a fair go, right up until they prove they're not deserving of it." He turns to Martha. "I have something to deal with in the office, but I'll be back shortly."
Martha nods to him before turning her attention back to Brax.
"I thought we were friends Martha," Brax says the moment Alf was out of earshot.
"I've merely tolerated you because you were Leah's husband and now that she's seen sense, I don't have to pretend anymore."
"I'm really no different to your girlfriend, we even come from the same place."
"Actually, Georgie was born in the Bay, you weren't."
"You know what I meant Martha," he says with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "I was talking about coming from the same kind of background."
"Where are you going with this Brax?"
"You're quick to judge me, but I'm wondering how well you know that little girlfriend of yours."
"I know her very well." She felt a growing unease and frustration with Brax's presence and she was hoping her grandfather would hurry back.
"I doubt she's told you everything about her though and."
"And there are probably things about me that Georgie doesn't know," she interrupts him. "That's part of being in a relationship, learning about each other along the way, no matter how long it takes."
"What if you ever found out something that changed your opinion of the person you've committed so much too, including trusting her to raise your precious little boy?"
"Considering Georgie's upbringing, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if there are things she did to get by but that's all in the past and unlike some people," her pointed glare telling him she was referring to him, "Georgie changed her life around and has become a woman I'm proud to have as a part of my life and as a parent to our son." Martha rests her elbows on the bar counter. "Seriously Brax, why the recent interest in the Club and this less than subtle attempt to make me doubt the woman I love?"
"The interest in the Club is purely professional and I'm just looking out for your boy," Brax says in a smooth tone. "I'd hate to see your little boy find out his step-mum wasn't the woman you all think she is."
"Even if Georgie was only half the woman she is today, I'd still see her as far above you," Martha says. "I trust Georgie with my heart and with that of my son and nothing you can say will ever make me doubt her."
"I hope you don't live to regret that."
"Is that a threat?"
"Nothing of the sort," he assures her. "As a friend, I'm merely showing my concern for a little boy who may be under the wrong influence."
"Get the hell out of here Brax," Martha nearly shouts.
"Hit a nerve, did I?" he says with a smirk. He turns away from her and clutches his nose as it explodes into sudden pain. "Fuck!"
"Now that's hitting a nerve," Belle says, proud of the punch she'd just landed, even though her hand hurt.
"Why the hell did you do that for?" Brax whined as he tried to stem the blood flow.
"Nobody disses on my sister," Belle says angrily. "And considering your future will soon consist of a small room, bars and smelly roommate, shouldn't you be out enjoying your freedom, while you still have it, instead of wasting your time here?"
"What's going on?" Charlie asks as she, Aden, Robertson and Graves walk into the Club.
"Brax was just leaving," Martha tells her. "What are you doing here?"
"Georgie called to say there was a disturbance," replies Charlie.
Martha glances at her grandfather who'd just returned. "I called Georgie and she must have passed on the message."
"Wow, that's what I call a quick response," says Belle. She grinned at Aden who grinned back while Charlie rolled her eyes at them, murmuring about young love.
"We were already on our way to have a chat with Mr Braxton, when the call came in to say he was here," Robertson informs them.
"Now that you're here, you can start by arresting that bitch," Brax says with an angry point of his bloodied finger to Belle.
"Sure, we can do that," Robertson says readily. "But I'm not sure if it's in your best interests that we do."
"What the hell are you on about?"
"Well, we are here to make an arrest, only it will be you who is being charged and do you really want to be in jail with a reputation for being hit by little girls?"
Belle thought about protesting the little girl remark, but she kind of liked the idea of Brax copping hell for it.
"Are you still interested in pressing charges?" asks Robertson. "No?" he says when Brax stays silent. "Then let's not waste any more time. Darryl Braxton, I'm arresting you on charges of fraud and money laundering and some other charges we'll go into once we get away from the prying ears of the press," he says, smiling at the scowl Belle threw his way.
"This is a load of shit," complains Brax. "I've been assaulted and now I'm being persecuted with these scurrilous allegations."
"Oh don't worry Mr Braxton, once we show you the evidence we have, you will see they're not scurrilous allegations but factual."
By now, Brax was growing worried as the cuffs snapped closed on his wrists. "I'm not saying anything without a lawyer present."
"You can call him on the way." Robertson tilts his head at Martha and Belle. "Ladies, have a good day."
While Robertson and Graves dragged a protesting Brax away, Charlie and Aden hung back.
"Did you really hit him?" Aden asks his girlfriend.
"Yeah and it bloody hurt." She holds her hand up. "It's starting to swell."
"Maybe you should get that checked out," suggests Charlie.
"I'll do it later," Belle snaps rudely at her.
"Belle," Charlie starts to say before she's cut off.
"I'm not interested in hearing anything you have to say unless it's about the case."
"We will be making an official statement once Brax has been interviewed," Charlie tells her, trying to hide her disappointment at Belle's response.
"Then I have to go call the paper and let them know." She gives Aden a quick kiss before rushing away.
Aden glances between Charlie and Martha. "It's going to take some time for Brax's lawyer to arrive, so I'm just going to wait by the car," he says, leaving the two women alone with Alf who was making himself busy behind the counter.
"Belle is so like Georgie at times," murmurs Charlie.
"You can't really blame her for her attitude. Georgie's the big sister who has always looked out for her and Belle can't stand it when people hurt her or can't see her sister the way she does."
"They're more like family than Georgie and I have ever been."
"They just understand each other more and if you ever get around to asking those questions you should have asked years ago, maybe you and Georgie will understand each other better." Charlie nods in acknowledgment. "And Belle's not the only one who has you on her shit list." Martha sighs heavily. "I know Georgie's not the easiest person to get to know and I've been guilty of misjudging her in the past as well, but once I got to know her, I came to admire her for the way she's overcome so much and grown from the troubled teen she once was, to the woman she is today. The tough smartarse is still there, which I'm thankful for, because it helped to pull her through all the shit that has been thrown at her, but there's also a vulnerable side and underneath it all, is an extremely loving and loyal person who can be trusted and relied on to always be there when needed and I just wish other people would take the time to see that." She looks at Charlie. "But now she's tired of it all Charlie, not just the problems with you, but with the way this town won't let her move on. She even told me that she probably would have left the Bay after Jack's death, if not for me and Jay, because I don't think she sees a reason to stay, other than us."
"I hate that she feels that way." She couldn't really blame her though, because this place and its people, including herself, had never really made her feel welcome.
"You hurt her so badly Charlie and I'm angry at that, but the only way for Georgie to move forward is for the two of you to finally deal with everything, so for everyone's sake, I hope that happens."
"I want that too Martha."
"Wanting it is one thing, but making it happen is another thing."
"This time, I'm serious about it."
"That barrier between you is rather large, are you sure you're up to it?"
"I want Georgie in my life and the only way that can happen now, is to knock down that barrier. I know it's not going to be easy, there's a lot that is holding that barrier up, but I'm not giving up this time until it's down."
"I hope to hell that does happen Charlie. Georgie has had to be strong to survive all she's gone through, but she can't go on like this forever and I hate seeing her so hurt and confused."
"Just bear with me on this Martha and I'll find a way."
Martha studies her intently, liking the determination she saw on Charlie's face. "Georgie knows she needs to do this as well and I'm going to support her through this, but I don't want to be the one to force this anymore than I already have. If this is to work, it needs to be because it's what you want."
"It is."
"Good," she says, finally satisfied. "So, just how much trouble is Brax in?"
"A lot," Charlie says, relieved at the change in direction.
"I still can't believe Brax thought he could actually make me doubt Georgie."
"Is that what he was doing?"
Martha nods. "I don't know what his game is but he's wasting his time."
Charlie was wondering the same thing. Brax had other worries on his mind, so what was he up to here?
"And you can tell him that when you throw the book at him."
"I'll do that," Charlie assures her. "I'll see you later."
"Charlie, don't worry too much about Belle, unlike Georgie, her bark is worse than her bite."
"Brax may argue with that," she says with a chuckle as she walks from the Club.