Chapter One Hundred and Fifty
Charlie and Angelo remained in the car down at the docks, waiting for goodness knows what.
"So, what do you make of all the death threats and stuff that Hugo keeps complaining about?" Charlie asked. "And the missing boat?"
Angelo shrugged.
"It could be John Palmer, like he thinks," he ventured.
Charlie nodded, remembering the heated argument that she and Joey had seen them having a little while ago.
"But it could be connected to the fact that the guy's evil," Angelo said. "It could be someone he's worked with or hurt or both."
Charlie sighed, wondering when this case would be resolved. She was still finding it hard to get her head around the whole thing. While she hadn't been a Hugo fan for a while, especially not since the time he had hit on her when she had been so vulnerable because she'd been taken away from Joey. But she struggled to think he was that much for a bad man. He just seemed so normal. And she hated to think that after losing her beloved husband, Martha was going to end up hurt again.
"So, when this case is resolved..." Charlie ventured.
He turned to give her his full attention.
"Will you be sticking around or...?"
"I have no idea," Angelo admitted. "I mean, I'm not the most popular guy in town. It'd probably be easier to leave and start again somewhere else. But that largely depends on work."
"What do you mean?"
"They rescued me from jail for this mission," Angelo explained. "The only promise they made was that I wouldn't go back inside and that I would stay on the police force but where they'll post me... who knows?"
Charlie nodded thoughtfully. From a personal perspective, it would make life easier if he left. She didn't mind him, minus their few incidents, but she knew Joey didn't like him. She felt unsettled by him and Charlie's priority would always be her girlfriend.
"I bet you'll be glad to see the back of me," Angelo commented.
"I don't mind you," Charlie said. "I just wish you would stop making crap decisions."
He managed a laugh.
"Well, maybe I can make up for them someday," he said.
"You have a lot of making up to do when it comes to Joey," Charlie told him.
He nodded.
"I'd like to give it a try," he said. "Even if I'm not sticking around, you're pretty much the one person in this town that I care about. And I know that without Joey onside, I can't really be your friend."
"Maybe it's something we could work on," Charlie said.
Joey and Aden had both finished dinner and, stuffed, were on the sofa together, drinking beer.
"So, has Charlie got a big case on tonight?" Aden asked.
Joey nodded and sipped her drink.
"I hope she doesn't get back too late," she admitted. "I hate the nights where I have to sleep without her."
Aden smirked and teased her for being cute.
"Shut up!" Joey protested. "It's not my fault!
He laughed.
"It's sweet really," he said. "In a sappy, sickening kind of way!"
She poked her tongue out at him and pouted.
"What can I say?" she mused. "I just love her too much."
Aden smiled sadly, thinking of Belle. He still missed her every single day, although time was beginning to allow him to adapt. Noticing his expression, Joey apologised, feeling bad for going on about Charlie when Aden was a widower before he was even twenty. He reached out and held her hand.
"I'm happy that you're happy, Joey," he said honestly. "After everything you've been through this year... you deserve it. I cherish every single moment that I had with Belle. And I regret every mistake I made, every moment that passed when I didn't show or tell her how much I loved her. If I could go back, I'd go back and do it better."
He smiled. Joey kept hold of his hand.
"I love the way you are with Charlie," he continued. "You two are beautiful together. And not in a pervy way either."
They both giggled.
"Charlie is a wonderful person," Aden said. "And you've brought out the best side of her than any of us have ever seen."
Joey blushed.
"And you're my best friend. You and Nic both. I think you're wonderful and it's so great to see you so content with your life. You deserve this. Once you've found your soul mate... you don't let go."
Geoff and Ruby had finished eating dinner but remained at the table together, pondering dessert.
"So, how are things at home now?" Geoff asked.
"Yeah, they're better," Ruby said, finishing her fifth glass of water. "I think things will settle down now. I mean I'm not entirely sure how me and Charlie are going to go forward... whether she's going to carry on being my sister or start being my Mum but at least I know we're going to stay close. And I know we're going to leave Grant Bledcoe behind us."
Geoff smiled his encouragement.
"That's really good news, Rubes," he said. "I always kind of admired the relationship you and Charlie had as sisters. But maybe this whole thing will eventually be able to bring you closer."
"I hope so," Ruby said. "Although Joey is totally panicking about being a step-mother!"
They laughed.
"She's only nine years older than me, after all," Ruby mused. "But then, well, Charlie's only twenty nine so..."
She shrugged, feeling sad over what her guardian had been through. Geoff reached out to hold her hand. They smiled at each other for a long moment before Ruby politely asked for some more water.
Charlie and Angelo had spent much of the evening analysing Angelo's life. Now, he was keen to turn the tables.
"So, Charlie Buckton," he ventured. "Are you really as happy and sorted as you seem?"
Charlie grinned.
"Well, I've just escaped an unfair murder charge," she said. "My relationship with my daughter is a mess because she's spent her whole life believing she's my sister. I've only just been reinstated to work. And my Dad was willing to go to jail to save me and Joey. So, I'm not sure my life is exactly sorted."
"But you seem on top of the world," Angelo said. "Despite all of that."
Charlie nodded.
"I know it sounds weird," she said. "But I am. I mean, we've been to hell and back these last few months. The man who raped me stormed back into my life and I can't even begin to explain how painful that was. And then the truth coming out and the Ruby stuff and then Grant killing himself..."
She shook her head.
"But for the most part, I've felt able to cope with it. The worst part of it was when Joey spent the night in a cell. She's the one who's kept me strong all this time and when I thought I could lose her..."
She shuddered and closed her eyes. Angelo watched her intently.
"You really love her, don't you?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Charlie opened her eyes and smiled. She nodded.
"I really do," she said. "I never thought I could feel like this about someone. I honestly didn't think it was possible."
"What about Roman?"
Charlie shook her head.
"I wanted to feel this way about him but I was never really going to," she explained. "And he certainly was never going to feel that way about me. But with Joey... it's nothing I've ever experienced before. She knows me so well, including all the bad stuff and she just loves me anyway. And I love her so much. She actually makes me feel complete."
Angelo smiled, wanting to be happy for her but still struggling with his own desire to keep her for himself.
"I get all silly when I think about her," Charlie grinned. "Every time her name flashes up on my phone, I get excited. I used to throw myself into work so much and I thought it was because I loved it so much but actually, I think a big part of it was that I didn't feel I had much to go home to. But now, I love going home at the end of the day because I know I get to be with her. I miss her when she's not around. Sad, hey?"
Angelo chuckled and said it was sweet before admitting that he was surprised to see it.
"I never saw you as the besotted type," he said. "I mean, I knew you pretty well before everything happened with Jack and I never thought... well, I didn't think you'd end up with a woman for starters!"
He chuckled. So did Charlie. It had certainly been a surprise for her too.
"But I also never thought you'd do the long term, committed thing," he said. "I remember that night when you and I first... well, you know..."
Charlie nodded quickly, wanting to rush over the topic.
"Well, you said you had never had a long term relationship and nothing had ever hit the six month mark and you didn't really see yourself settling down and stuff," Angelo said.
"I never saw myself doing it either," Charlie admitted. "But I guess if you're with the right person..."
"Do you think you'll get married or whatever the lesbian equivalent is, one day?" he asked.
"Yeah," Charlie replied honestly. "This is most definitely a lifetime commitment."
"Plus, you're really hot together," Aden smirked. "I reckon there must be a lot of guys around here that use you two for fantasy material!"
"Aden!" Joey squeaked, slapping him playfully on the arm.
"It's a compliment!" Aden insisted with a grin.
Joey shook her head.
"I accept that a lot of people probably fantasise about Charlie. I mean, she is literally the most beautiful woman on the planet but..."
She pulled a face at the idea of anyone finding her attractive. She still marvelled at the concept that Charlie liked her in that way.
"Come of it, Joey Collins," Aden said. "You must know you're gorgeous. You have mirrors in this place, right?"
Joey blushed and focussed on her beer. Aden continued to find her adorable.
Geoff walked Ruby back home, wondering if he ought to be bold enough to kiss her goodbye. He was just plucking up the courage when Aden and Joey appeared in the kitchen, giggling.
"Oh, hey, you two," Joey greeted warmly.
"Hey," Geoff said with a small blush at having nearly been caught in the act.
Noticing, Aden smirked and offered to walk partway home with him.
"Okay," Geoff said.
He hugged Ruby goodbye a little awkwardly and turned to leave.
"So," Joey said with interest when the door was shut. "Did you have a nice night?"
She raised her eyebrows suggestively.
"Nothing happened!" Ruby insisted with a blush. "We're just friends."
"No kisses?" Joey asked, following her into the living room.
"No kisses," Ruby confirmed.
"Do you not want kisses?" Joey asked, obviously a little tipsy.
"I didn't say that," Ruby smirked before wishing her goodnight and heading upstairs.
Joey moved into the kitchen and began to wash the dishes so that nobody would wake up to a mess in the morning. She'd just started filling the sink when the door opened again and Charlie glided into the room, looking tired but beautiful.
"Hey," Joey greeted happily. "I wasn't sure what time you'd be in."
"We decided to call it a night," Charlie said, hugging her. "There was nothing worth waiting for. I think I need to get more assertive about how we spend our time. We should be watching Hugo's house – if anything – not hanging around the docks in hope."
Joey turned the water off and hugged Charlie properly.
"Well, I'm glad you're home," she said. "I was worried about trying to get to sleep without you."
"I can assure you that you have me for the rest of the night," Charlie said, kissing her. "And the rest of your life if you want me."
Joey kissed her again.
"I definitely want you," she said.
