For chazny. Thank you for all your lovely reviews. Everyone who reviews means so much to me. You all make me so happy! Thank you. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty One

Joey and Charlie arrived back late on Sunday night feeling relaxed and happy after a nice weekend away.

"Hey, guys," Leah greeted warmly.

Their housemate was curled up in front of the television and enjoying a glass of wine. She offered them a glass, which they eagerly accepted.

"How was your weekend?" the Diner owner asked.

"Amazing," Joey said happily, pouring wine out for herself and Charlie and topping up Leah's glass. "Yours?"

"Pretty quiet," Leah said. "But fine."

"How was Ruby?" Charlie asked.

"Well behaved," Leah reported. "She did spend a lot of time with Geoff but I can confirm that he was sent home at ten o'clock on both nights, as instructed."

Charlie was relieved. She sank back against the couch cushions and put her arm around her girlfriend.

"So, what did you do while you were away or shouldn't I ask?" Leah smirked.

Charlie blushed and Joey giggled.

"It was fun," was all Joey said.

"Oh, and we went to that restaurant you had a master class in," Charlie said. "It was awesome."

"Yeah, it's really good there," Leah said. "Amazing food."

"Good dessert," Joey added quietly.


The following morning arrived without welcome. After their short break, neither Charlie nor Joey really wanted to get back to work and their normal lives. They vowed to get away more often in the future. Charlie dropped Joey down at the docks and kissed her goodbye. Then she swung by the school to drop Ruby off.

"Have a good day," she said.

"Thanks!" Ruby replied, leaping out of the car.

She looked around to catch up with her friends and then remembered that currently, she didn't really have any – not in school anyway. Charlie watched her head into the building and then drove to work. She pulled into a parking space and braced herself to start the day. Heading inside the building, she waved cheerfully at Watson on reception and as usual, Angelo was glued to his desk.

"Any news from that tip off?" Charlie asked him quietly.

Angelo looked confused for a moment and then shook his head.

"Pretty quiet weekend," he confirmed. "Did you have a good time?"

Charlie just grinned. Angelo tried not to cringe. He didn't even know why he'd asked. He didn't want to know.

"Okay," Charlie said brightly, patting him on the shoulder. "Keep me up to date."


Despite missing her beloved, Joey was enjoying being back on the water. She liked the air in her lungs and the labour of her hands. It was good, physical work and it made her feel happy and healthy. She was trying to ignore the anxiety about the trawler losing its spot on the marina now that John was in charge. And she was determined to enjoy her job for as long as she had it. She turned round when she heard Aden make a strange noise.

"You got a problem?" she teased.

They had fallen out for all of five minutes when Joey had confessed to voting for Martha anyway but they both knew their friendship was too strong to go back on it over a small thing like that. And he understood Joey's reasons. He'd toyed with the idea of doing the same thing.

"Nah," he said. "I'm just sickened at how swoony you to are."

He nodded towards Geoff who was grinning inanely. Joey snorted with laughter.

"Please don't tell me I look like that," she said.

Geoff looked up, offended.

"I can't help being in love!" he said defensively.

Aden made a retching noise.

"At least yours is a new thing," he said to the blonde boy. "Joey should be well past the honeymoon stage by now!"


Charlie got up from her desk when she heard Martha's voice in the reception area. Poking her head round the door, she heard her ask for Charlie by name.

"I'll see if she's free," Watson said.

"I'm here," Charlie said, approaching.

She always had time for her friend and the widow of such a beloved colleague.

"You okay?"

Martha looked unsure and nodded to the small child she had in tow. Curious, Charlie looked down and smiled.

"And who might this be?" she asked.

"I don't know his name," Martha said. "Romeo and Xavier found him last night, in some sort of haunted house or something. He doesn't speak English and he was in a terrible state so Hugo and I looked after him for the night and then I said I'd bring him here."

Angelo looked up and listened in with interest, careful not to get too close. He would never exactly be Martha Holden's favourite person and quite rightly so.

"Well, you did the right thing," Charlie said. "Why don't we sit and chat?"

Angelo stood up, clearly wanting to get involved. Charlie shook her head and gestured for Watson to follow instead. Irritated but mostly understanding, Angelo sank back into his chair.


At lunch time, Joey headed to the Diner with Geoff and Aden. As soon as Geoff spotted Ruby, he left his colleagues to go and sit with her. Joey giggled as she watched her step daughter kiss her boyfriend and hold his hands across the table.

"You've got to admit they're pretty cute," she remarked to Aden.

"Maybe," Aden said.

She patted his hand.

"How are things in your head now?" she asked.

On cue, Nicole and Liam came in for their lunch. Aden looked down and sighed heavily.

"I'm pissed off because Nicole's with Liam. I want to be with Nicole. But I never want to be with anyone ever again who isn't Belle. And Belle's gone so it means I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life," he said. "So, it's all pretty confusing in here."

He tapped the side of his head.

"I hope things start getting better soon," she said. "I wish there was something I could do to help."

"You do help," Aden said.

Joey looked confused.

"You're here, aren't you? You're my best friend. You'd be surprised how much that means, Jo."

She beamed at him and they began to decide what to eat.


Angelo waited anxiously for Charlie to leave the interview room. They'd called in an interpreter to try and figure out who the child was and where he had come from.

"Charlie!" Angelo squeaked.

"Yes?"

"He's Clint Eastwood's son!"

Charlie took him to one side and asked him what he was talking about.

"That guy," Angelo said. "The guy I brought in last week. I am absolutely certain that it's his son. Look."

He pointed to a photo in his ever increasing case file. Charlie nodded.

"What do we do?" she asked.

"I need to talk to him," he said.

"Okay but I need to clear it with Martha," Charlie said. "The last thing we want to do is upset her."

Angelo nodded, trying not to feel frustrated.


Geoff and Ruby had already left the Diner and Aden was in the bathroom so Joey headed towards the exit in order to wait for him in the fresh air. She paused when she heard Ruby and Geoff's voices.

"Do you think you'll be able to sneak out at all now that Charlie and Joey will be back?" Geoff asked.

Ruby sighed.

"I doubt it," she said. "Joey's pretty cool but Charlie's watching me like a hawk. Sometimes I feel like having diabetes is a crime, not an illness."

Joey was disappointed by the venom in her voice. She felt terrible for Charlie who was only trying to do her best for her.

"She just cares about you, Rubes," Geoff said. "She's your Mum."

"Don't even go there, Geoff!" Ruby warned with a half hearted laugh. "But I promise, if I can sneak out then I will. I'd quite like to take advantage of you living all alone!"

Joey immediately made her presence known. Ruby blanched.


Next time... Joey gives Ruby a piece of her mind and Angelo upsets Bambang...