It was now seven and Charlie stood in her room holding up two dresses, Ruby and Louise lay on her bed watching her.
"I think the blue one mum," Ruby said studying both dresses.
"The blue one?" Charlie asked looking back at them.
"Yeah it's elegant not trashy reveals the right amount its perfect," Louise agreed.
"So Lou, how did your surf lesson with Aden go?" Charlie asked already being filled in by Ruby.
"Yeah it was okay he built a mount in the sand and mostly did footwork on the board."
"So did you make it to the water?"
"Near the end I fell off twice, he said he'd give me a few more lessons- actually, is it okay if I go the cinema with him tomorrow night?" Louise said slowly.
Charlie whirled around "in like a date?"
"No mum… I mean Charlie, he uh asked me because Xaiver and Sasha were going too and he didn't want to feel like a third wheel," she said blushing.
"It's so a date," Ruby laughed.
"Do you think so? I didn't pick up on it," Louise said shyly.
"Honey he asked you out," Charlie laughed "he could have easily asked Casey or one of the other boys."
"Okay," she said slowly "so I am going on a date tomorrow?"
"Yes baby you are," Charlie said sitting on the bed beside them.
"Look at us we're only here a day and we've already got a date each," Ruby said happily.
Charlie laughed "that's because us Buckton girls are hot," they all giggled.
"And what about me?" Jack asked standing in the doorway.
"Hey haven't you heard of knocking? I could have been in my underwear," Charlie said.
"Like I haven't seen that before and what's this I hear about a date?" He said raising an eyebrow at Louise.
"Nothing dad it's not a date, just Aden asked me to go to a movie with him, Xaiver and Sasha."
"Hmm okay and you Ruby I hear Casey's taking you out tomorrow too?"
"Yes Uncle Jack and please don't make a big deal out of it because he's picking me up from your house," Ruby groaned.
"I won't I'm here to torment your mum so can you girls give us a few minutes." Both girls nodded and left the room.
"So what's up?" Charlie asked as he sat beside her.
Jack said nothing he looked at her bruises and stitches on her face they were now a yellowish blue, he gently touched them "do they still hurt?"
"Only when I forget and smile wide."
"So are we going to talk about what really happened that night? I know you Charlie I can read you I know there's something you're not telling me," Jack said dropping his head so he could look into her eyes.
"Now? I'm getting ready to go on a date and you wanna talk now?"
"Well you've an hour yet just tell me how you got the marks and cuts at least."
"No, it's over and done with can't we just forget it?"
"Charlie I know something else happened and it's killing me knowing you thinkk you can't trust me enough to tell me," Jack said sadly.
Charlie sighed she so wanted to tell him but he wouldn't understand, that rage that took over her that night was something she never wanted to see again "Jack it was what it was that is all, can we drop it?"
"Tell me how you got the bruises?" he asked again.
Charlie sighed he was exactly like her wouldn't give up until he was satisfied. "Fine… he punched me in the face a few times and the cut on the back of my head is from when I was on top of him- he kicked me off him and I split my head on the ground I hit it that hard."
Jack winched as she spoke "he hit you anywhere else?"
Charlie shrugged "stomach," she said quietly and lifted her shirt to reveal a fist size bruise just above her belly button.
"Son of a bitch," Jack growled. Suddenly he jumped off the bed anger boiling up in him "what's going to happen to the scumbag who did this?"
"I don't know I'm not allowed to be involved in it," she lied.
"Well I'll kill him if I ever get my hands on the bastard."
"Too late." she muttered.
"What did you say?"
"I said just leave it he'll be dealt with."
"What sort of bloke hits a woman... a cop at that?" He ranted.
"Jack, can we talk about this tomorrow? I need to get ready Brax will be here soon," she asked standing up beside him.
"Yeah sure I'm sorry I'm ranting, I pick my moments don't I?" He chuckled and pulled Charlie into a hug. "Have a great time tonight and make sure he keeps his hands to himself- love ya," he dropped a kiss on her forehead and left her to it Charlie feeling more guilty than before.
After Charlie was dressed she nervously walked down the stairs, she hadn't been on a date in over a two years her and Karl never went out they sorta just happened. Walking into the living room Ruby and Louise looked up and gasped.
"Okay who are you and what have you done with my mother… Mum you look beautiful," Ruby shrieked and jumped up.
"Yeah Charlie that dress is way better on than the blue one," Louise said joining Ruby in front of her.
Charlie turned to the mirror in the hallway "you think?" She asked looking herself up and down "I mean I love the blue dress but this one suits better and I've never worn it before," she said her eyes scanning the dress again.
"I love the way the black and pink run together and the shoes are perfect I've never seen them before are they new?" Louise asked.
"No um Mel bought them for me before she left," Charlie said sadly.
"Aww sorry Charlie I didn't mean to bring up any old feelings," Louise said rubbing her arm.
"Nah honey it's okay, she's off doing well and she's happy- I talked to her last week she's hoping to get up to see us soon."
"Great- I hope she can make it I'd love to see her and Dylan," Ruby said.
"I'm sure she'll bring him along… what are you two at tonight?"
"Well Indi invited us over to hers to watch a movie with her and a few of the others and then we're going for dinner with Jack- actually, we better go they'll have it started already have fun mum," Ruby kissed and hugged her and ran to grab her bag.
"Yeah you deserve it have fun mu-Charlie," Louise hugged and kissed her too before running off.
On the way out Ruby stopped Louise "Lou, is everything okay?"
"Yeah why wouldn't it be?" she asked with a smile.
"Well you kinda called my mum, mum twice."
"Oh it just slipped out… sorry," she said sheepishly.
"No don't be sorry, I just wanna know you're okay if you need to talk you know I'm here," Ruby replied with a worried look.
"Rubes honestly I'm fine, it's just all the talk of mum the last few days really it just slipped out," at her concerned look Louise hugged her "thanks for caring though let's go… Casey will have saved a spot for you," she said and took off.
"Lou!" Ruby shrieked and ran after her.
Jack stood in his bedroom watching them fool around he smiled to himself before Brax knocked on his door, when he looked back they were gone "yeah mate," he called.
Brax opened the door "I'm heading off now the girls will be over after the film at Indi's I've told Case to walk them back with someone and I've told them to expect you at Angelo's."
"Mate, I'm not looking for free food you go make sure my sister has fun and don't be worrying about us."
"Nah don't be silly it's on me you guys have fun too, later," he called and went down the stairs.
Charlie sat at the bench in the kitchen with a glass of wine she was lost in thought Ruby wasn't the only one to notice Louise and now she was all that was on her mind. She jumped when a voice came from behind her.
"Penny for them?" Brax asked from the back door.
"Sorry I was miles away- come in," she said standing up and walking around the bench.
"Wow Charlie you look amazing," he said looking her up and down.
"Thank you, so do you," she said looking him up and down in his black jeans and blue shirt. She went off into a daze again.
"Charlie are you okay?" Brax asked after a minute of watching her.
"Yeah sorry I'm just thinking about something," she replied smiling at him.
"That's the second time since I got here what's on your mind?"
"Nothing I'm just over thinking it's fine."
"Charlie you know you can tell me anything it might help get it off your mind."
"Okay well maybe I'm reading too much into this but Lou has called me mum twice today, she's never done it before I don't know if I should talk to her or leave her be."
"Well she's been through a lot with you being attacked and the move and all the stuff with Jack she's probably missing her mum more now you guys aren't in the city anymore- I mean she doesn't really know anyone down here I think she'll be fine once she settles in."
"Do you think I made a mistake moving her away from all the memories?" Charlie asked.
"No I think it will do you all good she'll be closer to Jack and you can get some time to yourself… like now are you ready to go have some fun?"
Charlie smiled he somehow always knew what to say "yes I am and where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there but I will say one thing… you might wanna take off the shoes when we get there," Brax replied leading her outside.
"Oh thank God, I've never worn them before and my feet are killing me already,"
Brax laughed as he held the car door open "well good thing I put some thought into this," he closed the door and walked around to his side.
Over at Indi's the girls had met Sasha, Nicole, Annie, Geoff, Jai, Xaiver and Dex who were all very nice and welcoming. The film was turned off as no-one was watching it. They were all firing questions at Ruby and Louise as were they back to them.
"So who's with who the longest?" Louise asked.
"Well me and Romeo have been together for three years with Goff and Nic a week behind us," Indi said proudly.
"That's cool so Xaiver what's your mum like as principal?" Ruby asked.
"Ah she's okay but she comes down harder on me if I'm sent to her office so I try not to or else I have to listen to her at home too," he chuckled as everyone laughed too.
"Yeah I get it more thank you and she's not even my mum," Casey laughed.
"Yeah not as much as I used to, she was down on me like a ton of bricks," Aden said.
"So Ruby, Louise your mum is the new cop in town?" Nicole asked.
Louise smiled as Ruby shot her a look "actually Charlie is my aunt she's Ruby's mum."
"So where's your mum?" Annie asked without thinking.
Ruby secretly rubbed Louise's back and gave her leg a squeeze "um my mum died three years ago."
"Oh my gosh! Louise I'm so sorry I wasn't thinking I'm sorry," Annie said rushing to her.
"It's fine I still have my dad, Charlie and Rubes," she said with a fake smile.
"So is he in the Bay too?" Jai asked.
"Yeah he's been here the last three years, after mum he couldn't stay in the city."
"So we must know him then if he's here that long," Geoff said.
"Yeah you know Jack Buckton? He's a cop too… runs in the family," Ruby answered.
"No way!" Sasha shrieked "Mr hottie cop is your dad?"
"Eww that is gross but yes he's my dad," Louise said wrinkling up her nose.
"And my very cool Uncle," Ruby laughed.
"Wow we so have to hang at your place sometime," Sasha said excitedly.
"My sister everyone," Dex spoke for the first time, everyone laughed.
"Well I hate to disappoint you but dad lives two doors away with Casey's brother," Louise said.
"Wow another hottie," Sasha laughed.
"Who's currently on a date with my mother," Ruby said sending Sasha a playful glare.
Charlie and Brax had just arrived and Brax shut off the car "where are we?" Charlie asked looking around at the deserted place.
"You'll see come on," Brax said climbing out.
Charlie climbed out and walked to where he was sitting on the bumper "did you bring me here to kill me?" she laughed then remembered 'him' her smile faded and she turned away from Brax.
He hadn't missed her face and was beginning to panic "Charlie is this okay? coz we can go back into town and grab something I just thought you'd like this."
Charlie plastered a smile on her face and turned back to him "don't be silly let's go… lead the way."
"Good, I was beginning to think I made a mistake," Brax smiled back and took her hand leading her towards the beach "shoes," he reminded her.
They walked in silence up the beach holding hands until they came to a little secluded spot "wow Brax, did you do this?" Charlie asked in amazement.
Brax smiled proudly "yep do you like it?"
"Wow it's beautiful," she replied looking at what he'd done.
He had hung little blue and green lights on the cliff walls, in the middle of the sand were a picnic blanket and a few big cushions and a hamper by the side.
"You really didn't have to go to this much trouble Brax."
"I really did in case you haven't noticed I'm trying to impress you," he said leading her over to the blanket and sitting down.
Charlie giggled "well it worked really Brax it's beautiful I love it."
"Food?" Brax asked moving to the hamper.
"Yeah what have you got?" Charlie asked peering over his shoulder.
"Nothing fancy just something I whipped up earlier," he said pulling out a few containers.
"You made this?" She asked surprised.
"Well yeah it's not a big deal," he shrugged and handed her a container.
"Thanks… oh my god Brax chicken curry, that's my favourite," she laughed looking at the food he'd given her.
"Well I kinda knew that," he laughed and sat back beside her with his own.
"Mmhh this is delicious," Charlie said after a few bites.
"I try," he replied smiling at her.
"You even got the hot curry powder, I swear I love it I have to make two separate dishes when I make it the girls don't like their sauce too hot."
"Well I'm the opposite I love hot foods."
"Oh my god I'll be stopping by your place for dinner more often this is so good," she laughed "so what else can you cook?"
Brax shrugged "not a lot but I do make my own pizzas and pasta dishes."
"I'll have to try one," Charlie said as she finished the last of her food.
"I'm sure that can be arranged, wine?" Brax asked when he was finished.
"Yeah sure why not… god I'm full," Charlie giggled.
"Well I hope you have room for desert?"
"Mr Braxton you don't know me at all," she giggled.
Brax chuckled and handed her a glass of wine "so are you looking forward to starting at Yabbie Creek."
"Yeah I can't wait I finish up tomorrow… my last nightshift in the city, god I'll be a mess," she chuckled "leaving all my friends for good… especially Dave and Steve and Kellie."
Brax gave her a smile "they can come see you and you them."
"I know… can we not talk about work I don't wanna break out in tears," she laughed.
"Yeah sure, so I found out something interesting today."
"Yeah like what?"
Brax moved closer to her "a little birdie tells me my sexy new neighbour knows how to surf."
Charlie blushed and laughed "god I haven't been on a board in years, you know I taught Ruby she loves it- she still goes, she loves the water."
"Yeah I know Case was like a little excited kid when he came over to mine earlier…. We'll have to get you back out there, I reckon you'd look great in a bikini."
Charlie laughed "I might need some persuading to get back out there."
"I think I can manage that… how about desert?" Brax asked moving to the hamper again.
He handed Charlie a small container and she grinned up at him like a child "chocolate gelato?"
"Yeah Jack told me before you only ate chocolate, me on the other hand am a strawberry man I don't know how you eat that."
"You've never tasted it!" she shrieked.
"Uh no it looks disgusting," Brax said pulling a face at it.
Charlie got up on her knees "okay open your mouth."
"No way," Brax laughed and leaned back.
"Open," she demanded.
"Nu-uh I'm fine with my own."
"Open your mouth now or I will wipe it all over your face."
"Is that a so?" Brax asked taking the lid off his own.
"Mmmhum," she said moving closer to him, she dipped her finger in and held it up "so what's it gonna be?"
Before she knew it Brax's hand shot out and he smeared his on her nose "that is what it's gonna be," he laughed.
"We'll see Daryl," she said and lunged on him, she pinned him down and climbed on top of him and smeared it all over his cheek before dipping in for more "last warning open," she said.
Brax was lost in her straddling him with that cute grin on her face "I think I'd rather stay here" he said settling the one hand he freed on her waist.
Charlie slapped him away "nu-uh not until you try it it's good I promise," she said waving her finger in his face.
Brax chuckled "fine," Charlie smiled with victory and brought her finger to his mouth- he hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth and letting her finger slip in.
Charlie's whole body tingled as he sucked it off she had to bite her lip before she moaned in pleasure- he was sending her body to another place just by sucking her finger.
Brax watched her bit her lip and watched her again as he took her hand and licked slowly up the side of her finger "come here," he said laying back down, Charlie leaned down to him" you have something on your face," he said before licking the gelato from her nose "missed some," he said and kissed the side of her mouth Charlie giggled "there's still more," he whispered before kissing her softly.
Charlie dropped her pot and settled herself so she was lying on him and deepened the kiss.
Brax brought his hands to her waist and neck holding her close as the kiss intensified.
"Wow," Charlie breathed as they broke away.
"Yeah you can say that again," he replied. Charlie looked down at him and burst out laughing "not the reaction I was looking for," Brax laughed.
"I'm sorry… y-you…have… gelato… on… your… face," she said between laughs.
"Well whose fault is that?" He asked wiping his cheek and rolled her off him.
"Aww here let me get it," she giggled and moved closer to him, she had a smirk on her face and licked it off slowly "better," she whispered. Brax nodded and kissed her hard she had no idea what she was doing to him, he lay her back down and hovered over her making out like teenagers. "So it's good?" she asked when they finally came up for air.
"Oh yeah… better than good," he said with a grin.
Charlie slapped him "I meant the gelato."
"Surprisingly it was alright," he laughed.
At home Jack, Louise and Ruby had just come back from Angelo's "so who's up for a movie?" Jack asked.
"I am- I get to pick though," Ruby answered.
Louise walked to the stairs "I'm kinda tired I'm going to head to bed- night," she said and ran up to her room.
Jack and Ruby looked at each other "is she okay?" Jack asked.
"Um one of the girls kinda asked her about her mum they all thought Charlie was."
"I knew it wasn't just me she barely said a word through dinner I should go talk to her," he said walking towards the stairs.
"Nah Uncle Jack leave her I talked to her already she's just settling in- we all are, she'll be fine a lot of people don't know what happened she's going to get asked it again."
Jack looked up the stairs and sighed "yeah I guess you're right come on then and please don't torment me with a chick flick."
"Uncle Jack don't insult me I don't watch that crap it's Transformers all the way," Ruby said grabbing it from the dvd shelf.
Back on the beach Charlie and Brax were lying on the blanket Charlie rested her head on his chest while his hand ran patterns up and down her arm. "This has been the best date I've ever been on you put so much thought into it Brax thank you," Charlie mumbled sleepily.
"Yeah me too and I reckon you're worth the effort I don't do this for just anyone," Brax looked at his watch it was after midnight "better be get you home soon."
"Yeah I'll fall asleep here you're so comfortable," she muttered snuggling deeper into him.
Brax smiled down on her she really was amazing "right let's go sleepyhead," he said pulling her to her feet.
"Oh I never said thank you for the bed you didn't have to but thank you I had the best sleep ever."
"Well where else were you gonna sleep?"
Charlie shrugged "I'm easy one of the girls beds or the floor," she replied as she helped him put all the stuff away.
Along there walk back Brax had his arm around her shoulder and she shivered "you cold?" He asked.
"Just a little I'm fine, we're nearly there," she said rubbing her hand up her arm.
"Here," Brax pulled a jacket from the basket and placed it around her shoulder "better?"
"Yeah, thanks," she said and rested her head back in his shoulder.
Back at the house Jack asked something that had been bothering him "Rubes?" She looked up at him "why did mum and Karl break up?"
"Um has mum not told you?"
"No she didn't I had to hear that from you remember?"
"Well she kinda broke up with him over me and Lou."
"You and Lou, why?" Jack asked confused.
"Well I sorta spilled juice on him by accident and then he had to go home coz Lou was sick," Ruby replied.
"So she broke up with him over that?"
"No he uh kinda had to leave a few times due to us being sick or fighting or whatever so he kinda began to ignore us and then one night me and Lou were messing, he snapped and started yelling at us to get out and shut up. Mum heard him from the kitchen and asked him to leave... after a screaming match of course. He called us stupid spoiled brats that she had no control over, she slapped him and told him never to come near any of us again."
"He called you all that?" Jack asked angrily.
"No no Jack it's okay, he apologised and said he was stressed something about his ex-wife hassling him so long story short him and mum are speaking again but only in work that is far as it goes."
Jack sighed he really had missed so much if he had of still been there this Karl would have a few bruises or at least a very strong warning for speaking to his sister like that.
Charlie and Brax had arrived at his house they climbed out and began to walk towards Charlie's until she stopped "you feel like finishing that wine?"
"If you want to, we can go to mine if you want a quiet house."
"Yeah I have no idea what one of them is," she laughed and walked towards his door.
As soon as they were inside she was on him, she kissed him deeply and pulled him closer. Brax turned around and pushed her up against the door, he ran his hands down her sides and lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled his top over his head and flung it to the floor before kissing him passionately.
"Charlie," he panted "Charlie come on, we can't do this," he said in between kisses.
Charlie pulled back and rested her head against the door "sorry got carried away… and you're right we shouldn't be doing this now," she said as he let her slide back to her feet "can you feel this as much as I can, this connection?"
"Yeah," he smiled and kissed her "it's over powering all I can think of is you, since I ran into you in the hospital even though I never knew it was you I thought you were beautiful I watched you go- nice move by the way."
Charlie giggled "it was kinda bad on Jack but I can't lie he just knows he couldn't know who I-" she stopped talking before she said too much "never mind that how about a drink?" she asked smiling up at him.
Brax smiled back and kissed her again "coming right up, have a seat," he said leading her to the sofa grabbing his shirt on the way. Walking to the kitchen he couldn't help but think she was keeping something he shook it off and went to get some drinks. "Here we are," he said sitting beside her and handing her a glass of wine.
"So how long have you owned Angelo's?"
"Uh coming up to five years now, I invested in it with the old owner and we were in business together for a year or so and then he decided to sell it over to me and move away with his girlfriend."
"How did you get to know Jack?"
"Well that's a bit touchy," Brax laughed "Heath was drunk one night and got into a fight your brother was passing and tried to break it but with his cop training he had Heath pinned and the other guy cuffed. I was kinda wasted too and found what I thought was some guy attacking my brother so I pulled him off, we had a scuffle and I kinda knocked myself out on which I'm very embarrassed about."
Charlie laughed "how did you manage that?"
"Well he moved when I ran at him and I hit a wall pretty hard, I woke up a few hours later in my house on this sofa actually with Heath passed out on the floor and Jack on the chair keeping an eye on me. The next morning he forgot his phone and when I finally tracked him down we got talking went for a few drinks. He told me everything and about you girls he told me what happened to his fiancée and your mum he was in a bad place for a few weeks. I had to find him and bring him home he drank everything he had, then one night I found him with his bags in the rain just sitting on the beach- he was wasted, the woman he was renting a room off had thrown him out because he hadn't paid his rent in two weeks, I offered him to stay here until he got back on his feet and boom… here we are over three years later and we're the best of friends."
"Aww Brax thank you so much for looking out for him, I wouldn't have coped if anything had of happened to him too."
"Don't thank me he needed the help I wouldn't see anyone like that." He smiled down at her as she snuggled into him.
"I better go," Charlie yawned after a while.
"Sure I'll walk you over," he said pulling himself up off the sofa.
"I'll be fine Brax it's two houses away," she laughed.
"I don't care I'm walking you," he said ushering her out the door.
Once they arrived Charlie opened her door and walked inside "it's very quiet," she said.
" Jack must have worn them... and himself out," Brax laughed as they walked to the sitting room.
Charlie stopped in the doorway Jack and Ruby were curled up asleep on the two seated sofa "where's Lou?" She panicked.
"Charlie calm down she might be in bed," Brax said.
She was gone up the stairs before he finished his sentence "Lou?" She said and flung her door open, sighing in relief she walked to the bed to a sleeping Louise. She took the photo from her hand and sadness washed over her, it was a photo of her and her mum when she was starting high school, looking at her sleeping form Charlie noticed the track marks on her face she wiped them away and sighed.
"Is she okay?" Brax whispered behind her.
Charlie kissed her on the forehead pulled the covers up around her and walked out of the room "yeah she's sleeping," she whispered back.
"What you got there?" Brax asked nodding to the photo.
"Lou and D," she said handing it to him.
"She was beautiful Louise looks just like her," Brax said handing it back to her.
"Yeah she is, Lou had it in her hand I think I need to talk to her."
"Yeah maybe she'll feel better," Brax replied as they walked back down the stairs.
Charlie walked into the living room and threw a blanket over Ruby and Jack "well it's safe to say he's not going home."
Brax chuckled "yeah I guess, right I'll let you get to bed," he said walking to the front door, "I had a really great time tonight Charlie," he smiled.
"Yeah me too you really went all out."
"Well how about we do it again sometime?"
"Yeah I'd like that, Friday night?"
"Friday's good for me," he leaned in and kissed her softly "night Charlie."
"Night Brax," she smiled and kissed him quickly again she couldn't get enough of him.
"Bye," he called and walked across the lawn back to his own house.
Charlie closed the door and headed up to her own room, she knew Ruby would wake soon and go to her own bed so she left her there with Jack. Taking off her make-up she couldn't keep the smile off her face, pulling another shirt on she fell into bed thinking about Brax before she drifted off to sleep.