Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Five
The following morning, on her way to work, Charlie ran into Miles sitting alone in the Diner looking lost. Feeling compassionate, and having heard a while ago about the miscarriage, she came to sit beside him.
"Anything I can do?" she asked.
He glanced up at her, looking bereft.
"I'm not sure there's anything anyone can do," he said sadly.
She reached out and touched his hand.
"I was really sorry to hear about what happened," she said. "Joey and I both were."
"Thanks," he said.
"How's Kirsty doing?"
"She's not," Miles admitted. "It's like she's completely shut down. She won't even look at me, let alone talk to me."
Charlie put her coffee down.
"I wouldn't take it personally," she said.
Miles looked tearful, wondering how he couldn't.
"Sometimes... sometimes you need to talk to someone who isn't so involved," Charlie ventured. "I know it's not the same. I mean, well, really, it's the opposite. But when I'd given birth to Ruby... you know, in the circumstances..."
She looked down. Miles nodded, willing to hear anything his friend had to say.
"My parents were great," Charlie explained. "They were willing to do whatever it took to make things better for me. But it wasn't enough. I went away to stay with my aunt in order to get my head together. It was too late for me by then but... it helped."
Miles nodded thoughtfully.
"I think you might have just given me an idea," he said.
"Really?" Charlie said, startled.
Miles nodded, stood, kissed the top of her head and dashed out of the restaurant.
At lunch time, Joey headed off the trawler. The plan had been to meet Charlie for lunch on the beach but her girlfriend had called to say that she was caught up with work and couldn't make it. Disappointed but understanding, Joey headed down to the beach with her sandwiches and sat, gazing out at the sea that she couldn't get enough of.
"Hey, Joey!" Martha greeted cheerfully.
"Hey!" Joey said, inviting her and the little boy she assumed with Bambang to join her.
Martha made introductions and the boy managed a smile at the stranger but concentrated back on his toy.
"Charlie mentioned there was a new addition to the family," Joey commented.
"Yeah," Martha said, unable to stop smiling. "He's lovely. Hugo's not so keen but..."
Thoughts of everything Charlie had said about Hugo unnerved Joey for a moment but she kept a smile on her face.
"He doesn't want the responsibility or...?"
"I don't know exactly what his problem is," Martha sighed. "I love having Bambang around. He's brought a lot of joy to my life already."
She continued to look deliriously happy. Joey giggled. It was infectious. Bambang looked at them both curiously.
"I'm glad you're feeling happy," Joey said. "You deserve it. I mean, I know I haven't really known you that long but..."
They smiled at each other.
"Do you ever see yourself having kids?" Martha asked. "I mean, I know Bambang isn't mine but Jack and I always planned that after the cancer was over with, we would."
"I don't know," Joey said. "I mean, technically I'm a step-mum to a teenager already but..."
Martha nodded.
"Are things more settled between Charlie and Ruby?" she asked.
"Yeah, they're getting there," Joey said. "I think they made a breakthrough last night. As for kids of our own... who knows? I think Charlie would like the opportunity to be a Mum again. You know, properly, from the start this time. But I'd be nervous of raising a child... you know, with two Mums and everything."
Martha nodded.
"Well, the world is moving on," she said. "So, maybe it would be okay."
"Maybe," Joey agreed.
They caught Bambang looking longingly at Joey's sandwich.
"Do you want half?" Joey offered.
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Martha said but Bambang's eyes had already lit up.
Joey happily handed it over.
"Can you work late tonight?" Angelo asked.
"Angelo, I've just worked through lunch," Charlie said.
"I'll get you some take out," he offered.
He was certain that things were hotting up on the human trafficking ring and he was determined to get the bottom of it sooner rather than later.
"Why exactly do you need me?" Charlie wanted to know.
She didn't want to give up her evening unless she had to.
"I think it's time to start watching the house," Angelo said.
"Hugo's house?" Charlie asked, already not liking the idea.
The more involved she got with this thing, the more she wanted to back out.
"Yeah," Angelo said.
"I don't know," Charlie said. "I was meant to be..."
"Making plans with Joey?" Angelo asked sourly.
"Yes, actually," Charlie said with a hint of irritation. "Do you have a problem with that? I already had to cancel lunch with her."
Angelo held up his hands defensively and apologised.
"I just thought you cared about this case as much as I did," he said.
She glared at his retreating back, knowing full well that he was trying to guilt trip her.
Joey had finished work for the day and was glad to get home and into the shower. She loved her job but the days were long and physically gruelling. Plus, she wasn't sure she ever got the fish stink out of her clothes and hair. Stripping off, she stepped beneath the spray and began to wash the day from her, looking forward to a relaxing evening.
Hugo stood in the doorway looking unhappy as Martha and Bambang, unaware of his presence, played at the kitchen table. Finally, he cleared his throat. Martha looked up and smiled, eager to get Hugo to spend with their new charge. But it was clear from his face that he didn't want to.
"I spoke to social services today," he ventured, moving closer.
Martha stood up, taking his elbow and moving further away from Bambang.
"And?"
"And they agreed that he'd be better off with an Indonesian family," Hugo said.
"He's fine here!" Martha protested.
"I know," Hugo said. "You're great with him. But we don't know how long he'll need support, Martha. He needs someone who can speak his language and understand his culture."
"Gee, it's a shame nobody in this household spent years in Indonesia then!" Martha remarked.
"It's not the same and you know it," Hugo said evenly. "I'm sorry. I know you care about him but I really think we're doing him a disservice by trying to keep him for ourselves."
Charlie reluctantly phoned Joey. She picked up on the fourth ring and sounded cheerful.
"Hey, sweetheart," her girlfriend greeted. "How's your day going? Will you be home soon?"
"Uh..." Charlie said awkwardly.
"I'll take that as a no," Joey frowned.
Charlie apologised and said she hoped not to be back too late.
"Have you even had a break today?" Joey asked.
"Not exactly," Charlie sighed. "I'm really sorry, Joey."
"It's okay," Joey said.
She let her towel drop and lay back dramatically on the mattress.
"Are you at home?" Charlie asked. "Can you make other plans with Aden or something?"
"Yeah, I'm home," Joey said. "I just had a shower."
"How just?" Charlie asked with a teasing tone.
Joey giggled.
"Very just," she said. "I'm between towel and clothes."
Smirking, Charlie kicked her office door closed in order to get some more details.
Martha appeared unhappily in the police station with Bambang. She looked at Angelo and then turned her attention to Watson, awkwardly explaining that she had arranged to meet Social Services in order to hand Bambang into official foster care.
"Oh, that's such a shame," Watson said sadly. "I thought you guys were getting on well."
"We are," Martha said, hugging the little boy close. "But Hugo thinks that he's better off with a different family. And as much as I love him already, I think Bambang is better off with a family who can understand him better than I can."
"Are you sure?" Angelo asked, stepping up behind her.
She turned and glared at the man who had killed her husband.
"This has got nothing to do with you," she snapped.
"Do you want to speak to Charlie?" Watson asked.
Martha nodded. Angelo headed towards her office.
"You know, you could just stay naked and wait for me in bed until I get home," Charlie suggested.
She grinned as Joey giggled on the other end of the phone.
"You could even text me pictures if you..."
She broke off and blushed when the door opened and Angelo stood there, unsure of what he may or may not have heard.
"Don't you knock?" she screeched.
"Sorry," Angelo said. "I didn't realise you were making such a private phone call."
Charlie turned back to her call and told Joey that she had to go. Wishing her love, she hung up and asked Angelo what he wanted.
"Martha's here," he said. "She's giving Bambang up."
Charlie hurried out of her office.
Two hours later, Martha had left in tears and Bambang had been handed over to Social Services with quite the protest. Angelo was in a foul mood and so was Charlie. Sitting back at her desk, not relishing the idea of having to spend much of the rest of the evening with her colleague, she closed her eyes. Her phone beeped to say she had a text message.
"Tease," she said with a grin.
Joey had sent a photo of herself which clearly indicated that she was naked but didn't actually reveal anything naughty. After gazing at the photo for a while, she stood and headed out into the reception area of the police station. Angelo was typing furiously on his computer.
"I really don't think I can do tonight," she said.
Angelo looked set to argue.
"But..." he started.
Sighing heavily, he stood up.
"You know what? Fuck it. Fuck all of this."
He stormed out. Charlie hurried into her office in order to head home, hoping that Joey was still in a state of undress.
Next time... Romeo has an emergency, Aden falls out with Liam again and Joey gets on the wrong side of John...
