Enjoying the morning didn't quite eventuate the way Charlie had hoped, with both women sleeping in to well past 10 but Charlie wasn't complaining, not even about sleeping so late which was unusual for her. Waking up with Joey spooning her was something she'd happily look forward to for the rest of her life and with Joey moving in, she'd get her wish. It really was amazing how quickly her life had turned around. One day she was moping over the end of a memorable one-night stand, then she was forced to watch the woman she'd fallen in love with play wife to her boss and now, she grinned. Now, she was the one who got to play happy families and she was looking forward to every minute of it.
"Off with the fairies, are we?" Joey said lightly as she wrapped her arms around her from behind.
Charlie leant back into her. "Just thinking of how my life has changed lately."
"In a good way, I hope," Joey teased.
Turning, she circled her own arms around Joey's waist. "In an absolutely amazing way."
"Oh please, it's the kitchen," muttered Ruby as she strode into the room.
"Shouldn't you be at school?" Charlie asked, not moving her arms from where they were.
"I have a study period and I had to pick up some homework I'd forgotten."
"Well now that you're here, I'd like to talk to you about something."
"Sounds serious," Ruby said, giving her sister her full attention. "So what is it?"
It had been just her and Ruby for a while now and though her sister had been fine with Joey staying here while she got better, moving in was another matter and now faced with telling her little sister, Charlie was a bit hesitant. Sensing her hesitation, Joey rubbed her hand encouragingly along Charlie's back. "Joey's moving in with us," she finally blurted out.
"Oh, is that all. I figured that was going to happen anyway." She moved over to them as the couple stepped apart. "Welcome to the family," Ruby greeted Joey with a warm hug. "And thank you for making my sister so happy," she whispered softly.
"My pleasure," Joey whispered back.
"Please don't mention pleasure when it's about my sister." Chuckling, Joey stepped back from Ruby. "And I'm not going to ask why there was a mop in the bathroom, along with an empty jar of chocolate sauce," Ruby said, causing her sister to blush furiously at having forgotten to put them away. "I better get my homework and get back to school."
Once they were alone, Charlie gathered her girlfriend into her arms again. "Well, that was easy."
"I don't know why you were worried about telling her."
"I've been both mum and sister to her for some time now and I guess I was a bit worried she'd be jealous of you moving in. I guess it was kind of stupid to think that."
"Maybe a little, though I can understand where you're coming from, but at the end of the day, Ruby just wants you to be happy."
"And you definitely make me happy." She brushes her lips over Joey's. "Are you sure you don't want me going to the hotel with you?"
"I'll be fine Charlie and you really need to be getting to work."
"I'm only a phone call away if you need me."
"I know that but even if I run into my father, I can handle it."
"I wish you didn't have to handle anything."
"Until he accepts my marriage is over and my future is with you, then I'm going to have to handle him, but I don't think it will be in person for much longer. He has a wife and business to get home to. Now, you really need to get a move on or you'll be late." She cocks her head when Charlie makes no attempt to move. "What?"
"I'm weighing up the options of chucking a sickie to spend with my gorgeous girlfriend or going to the station and spending time with the most irritating man I've ever met."
"My, haven't I been a bad influence on you," joked Joey. "I'd love for you to stay, but you can't skip work for me and you only have to put up with Robertson for a short time longer."
"With any luck, he'll be gone by today or tomorrow at the latest, since he's only sticking around to help tie up some things while Aden is out of action."
"Then why don't you help him with whatever needs to be done, to ensure he does leave as quickly as possible," suggested Joey.
"Great idea." Still, Charlie remained where she was.
"Am I going to have to push you out the door?"
"You just might need to," Charlie answered with a grin before she finally stepped away. "Having you here is definitely going to make coming home all the more welcome."
"If you can get out the door to begin with," Joey said, giving her a gentle nudge.
"Sure I can't give you a lift to the hotel?"
"Then you'll never get to work, now, shoo."
"Yes boss," Charlie said, ducking in for a kiss before rushing away.
"We made the front page," Robertson said, holding the paper up for Charlie to see.
Taking the paper from him, Charlie noted the name of the author. "Belle must be happy, front page already," she said to her cousin.
"Not as happy as I thought she'd be when I saw her on the way to work," she replied without her usual snappishness at Charlie. Truth was, she was too damn tired to be angry at her today, plus, she was too busy being angry at Brax for what he had said to Martha. She was just grateful that Martha never brought into it, but Brax was damn lucky he was in jail or she'd do more than punch him in the nose like her sister had. As much as she would have preferred her sister to have kept her fists to herself, she was proud of the way she'd stood up for her.
"As nice as this little family chat is," Robertson interrupted, "We have a few things to discuss before Graves and I are on our way."
"You're leaving today?" Watson said.
Robertson smiled at her over enthusiasm at the news. "Yes, my good little Constable. The drugs squad is taking over the investigation now that our part is over and this station is more than capable of handling anything that comes up, so there's little reason to stay." He turned his attention to Charlie. "Oh, and congratulations, by the way," Robertson said, holding his hand out for Charlie to shake.
"For what?" Charlie replied in confusion as she shook his hand.
"Insp. Joyce called earlier and wanted me to let you know that the promotion board has approved your promotion from acting Sergeant to full Sergeant. It seems your success with this case hurried along the promotions board and they met yesterday evening to approve it. You'll receive official notification in a day or two, but David wanted you to know."
"Wow, that's um, ah," Charlie stumbled over her words. "That's great, I just wasn't expecting it so soon." Everything really was falling into place.
"Playing a part in breaking a case like this is a good way to motivate a change of mind for any on the promotions board who may have held some doubts. Now, should we have that discussion to tie up a few matters so you can have your station back, Sgt?"
"Of course."
"Congratulations on the promotion, Charlie," Watson said as Charlie walked past.
"Thanks Georgie." She was about to suggest they celebrate that night but her cousin had already turned her back on her. Ok, so everything wasn't quite falling into place just yet, but she had more hope where her cousin was concerned now as she followed after Robertson.
Before heading to the hotel to grab the rest of her things and check out, Joey decided to stop by the diner first. "Hey Joey, what can I get you?" asked Leah.
"A latte thanks." Joey groaned when she saw Angelo heading her way. "Shit," she muttered. "Just the person I didn't want to see."
Leah turned to see what Joey was muttering about and nearly groaned along with her. Going by Angelo's determined look, she had a feeling this could end up quite the scene.
"Morning Joey," he greeted her warmly. "Feels like forever since I saw my charming wife."
"Please don't call me that."
"For the next year, you are my wife Joey."
"By legal definition only, but in every other way, I'm not your wife Angelo, I'm even taking back my maiden name."
His eyes flared dangerously before he got control of his emotions. "I can't believe this is happening. I thought we were good together Joey."
"It was all a lie Angelo."
"My feelings for you were never a lie," he stated. "It's all because of her, isn't it?"
"No."
"Don't lie Joey," he snapped.
"It's not all because of Charlie. I loved you but I've never been in love with you Angelo and it just wasn't enough anymore."
"And you are in love with her?"
"Very much so."
"If we hadn't moved here, we'd still be together."
"Maybe, but I still would have felt as though something was missing. Angelo, we married for all the wrong reasons and it was never going to work in the long run."
"I have a year before you can get a divorce to prove you wrong Joey."
"You're wasting your time. We're over Angelo, I'm moving on with Charlie and you need to move on as well."
"Not without you."
"Everything ok here?" asked Leah, setting Joey's latte down on the counter.
"Butt out lady," growled Angelo.
"Don't talk to her like that Angelo," Joey jumped in.
"I'm sick of people interfering in my life and making it go to shit," he said, his voice getting louder with each word. "You're my wife Joey and if it wasn't for that two-faced slut, you still would be."
"You're not helping yourself Angelo," Joey said, feeling her anger growing.
Realising he had an audience didn't deter Angelo, instead, it spurred him on. "That bitch Buckton was supposed to be working for me, yet all she was doing was working on getting her fingers into my wife. She's a lying, cheating whore and I wonder if that loser cousin of hers is the only corrupt cop in that family."
"I'd be very careful with what you are saying about police officers, if I were you," Gina said from a nearby table she was sharing with Shandi. She wondered how much longer her husband was going to be and wasn't sure if she wanted him to arrive before or after all this was over, because she was half fearful of what might happen if he came in the middle of Angelo's rant.
"I have proof that cripple is corrupt," he all but shouted. "Harris left me a file to warn me about her. He never trusted her, suspected her of being corrupt and involved with the River Boys and now, it makes me wonder if she's gotten away with it for so long, because her cousin has been covering for her."
"And where is this file?" Gina challenged him.
"I shredded it," he said. He actually couldn't remember where he put the fucking thing.
"Just like your poor ego has been shredded by losing your wife to a woman."
"Fuck you bitch!"
"No thank you," Gina said calmly. "I have a feeling you'd be a big disappointment." Joey smiled in admiration at the way Gina was handling him. She was horrified by Angelo's behaviour, having thought his reaction at the station was bad that day, but that was nothing on today's shameful performance. "And if this file was proof against Georgie, why would you shred it?" asked Gina in a manner she reserved for petulant students.
"You're all as bad as each other," Angelo shouted in response, now completely out of control. "You're all whores and the worst is that bitch who stole my wife and her cousin isn't much better," he raged. "Those whores have made my life hell and it's not fair. They just take what they want, do what they want, I even heard that little crippled cunt killed her mother."
At a tap on his shoulder, Angelo turned and found himself face-to-face with a very furious John Palmer, who grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him close. "No one here is interested in listening to your shit," he said in a low and menacing voice.
"What business of this is yours?" Angelo sneered at him. "Or are you fucking one or perhaps, both of those slut cousins?"
"The only slut here, is the snivelling little bastard I'm about to beat to a pulp if he doesn't shut his pathetic mouth." Angelo scurried backward when John released him. "And if I ever hear you talking about my daughter like that again, they'll be scraping you off my boot like the piece of dog shit you are," John threatened, oblivious to the shocked gasps his words caused from those around them.
"You can't threaten me," Angelo squeaked.
"I'm not threatening you, I'm making a promise."
"Well everyone heard you threatening me," he said, trying to regain an even footing, "So if anything happens, then I'll have witnesses."
"If you don't get the hell out of here, then there will be witnesses to me picking you up by your scrawny little neck and throwing you out."
Angelo backed up even further, not even the drugs he was on making him dumb enough to test John at his word. "You've made a big mistake today," he warned in a less than convincing manner, before running away.