Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Five

Ruby had stayed quiet about her hospital trip and she hoped that nobody else would open their big mouths either. But as far as she was aware, it was only a few school kids and Miles that knew what had happened so she was hopeful that she could stay quiet about the whole thing. The last thing she needed was for Charlie and Geoff to start fussing again. Even Joey fussed to a degree, although, understanding how she felt about things, she clearly tried to do it less. And she felt better now anyway so what was the point of making a fuss? She would just worry her family unnecessary.

Arriving at school, she headed towards her locker. Xavier approached a little anxiously. She was surprised. They were hardly on friendly terms anymore after all.

"I just wondered how you were feeling now," he ventured.

"I'm fine," she said dismissively. "It all just got stupidly over-dramatised."

"You passed out," he reminded her.

"It doesn't matter," Ruby insisted. "I'm fine. Leave it alone."

She stormed off to class. Xavier grimaced, wondering yet again why he bothered.


On board the trawler, Joey was reaching the end of her tether. It appeared that Nicole had moved Liam into the house with Aden. And after not even twenty four hours, Joey's best friend was already close to breaking point.

"Oh, and another thing he did – he finished all the milk this morning! Did he buy it? No, he did not. And there was plenty left. He just stole it!"

"Aden!" Joey finally snapped. "You have already told me about the milk. And about every single thing he's done. Please, please, please give it a rest."

She pretended to cry, although she was genuinely frustrated.

"Sorry," he said quietly. "He just pisses me off so much! And why the fuck do I have to live with him?"

He launched into another rant. Joey considered throwing herself overboard.


On an extremely delayed lunch break, Charlie headed into the Diner with Watson. They passed by Tony and Rachel who looked to be in a heated debate about finances. The word 'broke' was uttered several times. Walking past them, Charlie and Watson found a table in the corner.

"So, how are things?" Charlie asked.

It had been a little while since they had had a proper catch up.

"Yeah, things are going great," Watson enthused. "I'm moving into my new house next week and I'm seeing that woman again."

She grinned.

"Excellent news!" Charlie chirped. "What's she like? Where's she from? How old is she? Is she good enough for you?"

Laughing, Watson explained that the woman's name was Monica, she was twenty seven, from Melbourne and so far Watson thought she was lovely.

"Maybe we should double date one day," Charlie enthused.

Both police officers looked up when Colleen appeared to take their order.

"Oh, hello Senior Constable," she greeted. "And Constable Watson. What can I get you?"

"I will have a tuna melt, please, Colleen," Charlie said.

"Me too. Thanks," said Watson.

"No problem," Colleen told them, writing it down. "Oh, how's young Ruby?"

"Fine," Charlie replied. "Why?"

"Well, after her little hospital trip yesterday..."

Charlie froze.

"Her hospital trip?" she asked.

"Oh, yes! She passed out at school. Miles had to take her in to get checked out," Colleen explained.

"Cancel that order, please," Charlie said. "Watson, I need to take the car."

Her colleague nodded and let her go. Charlie hurried outside.


"Aden, I swear if you don't calm down, I'm either going to drown you or myself," Joey warned.

"Sorry," her friend replied. "He just... drives me crazy! I hate the guy! I..."

"Aden!" Joey snapped.


Charlie arrived home in a hurry. It was naughty of her to use her squad car for personal business but she doubted Watson would rat her out and this was important. She was relieved to find her daughter at home. Without engaging her brain first she immediately demanded to know what on earth happened yesterday. Ruby blanched.

"I don't know what you mean," she lied.

"You went to hospital," Charlie accused.

"So?"

"So? Ruby, I am your mother! Don't you think I need to know these things?"

"No. Because you're not really my mother."

Charlie looked immediately wounded but Ruby continued anyway, explaining that she was absolutely fine and she hadn't seen the point in worrying anyone.

"No," Charlie argued. "That is not good enough!"

"Well, it's all you're getting!" Ruby snapped. "This is my life. And I don't have to tell you every damn thing about me!"

"What happened?" Charlie demanded.

"I didn't keep my blood sugar in check and I passed out," Ruby said. "It's no big deal."

"And Miles took you to hospital?"

"Yes."

"Then why the hell didn't he see fit to inform me?"

"Believe it not, Charlie, the poor guy has other things on his mind than us!" Ruby scolded.

Charlie felt a little guilty. His girlfriend had miscarried and then dumped him. Yes, Ruby definitely had a point.

"Someone still should have said something," she said more quietly. "I shouldn't have had to hear this from Colleen, of all people."

"I didn't tell you because you didn't need to know," Ruby said.

Charlie laughed bitterly, asking how she could possibly have not need to know something like that.

"Because we'd just settled things, Charlie," Ruby said desperately. "And I didn't want you fussing around me again and trying to control my life!"

"I've never tried to control your life!" Charlie argued.

"You've always tried to control me!" Ruby snapped, ignoring the tears in Charlie's eyes. "It's just only been in the last few months that I've figured out why!"


Joey was feeling stressed as she walked home. From the moment she'd seen Aden to the moment she'd left him, he had gone on and on and on about Liam and Nicole. She had been supportive so far about everything but today, she had lost her rag. She felt bad about it and it seemed a shame to have been in a bad mood for much of the day when yesterday and the weekend had been so lovely. But she couldn't help it. John had told her again at lunch time that her trawler days were numbered and then Aden had grated on her every nerve. Still, she was looking forward to a hopefully relaxing evening with Charlie.

Walking through the door, she frowned when she heard raised voices. Walking through to the lounge, she saw Charlie and Ruby having a screaming match. She tried to make herself heard but they were too busy yelling.

"Guys!" she finally yelled.

They paused and looked at her.

"What the hell is going on?"

Mother and daughter launched into hurried explanations as to why the other was so awful.


Aden arrived home in a bad mood. There had been a lot of tension between himself, Joey and Geoff all day and he suspected that all three of them were more stressed about the future of the trawler than they were letting on. Walking through the front door, he found Liam in the lounge, playing guitar with a teenage girl.

"What the hell is this?"

"I'm giving a guitar lesson," Liam told him as if he was stupid.

"Well, don't do it in my living room," Aden said sourly.

"I think you'll find it's our living room now," Liam said before turning his attention back to the girl.

Furious, Aden stormed back out of the house.


"Shut up!" Joey bellowed.

Charlie and Joey both fell silent, mostly from shock.

"I have had a shitty enough day without both of you making it worse," Joey told them angrily. "Ruby, you're an idiot for not telling us what happened and quite frankly, you need to learn some respect for your Mum. And Charlie, you need to stop wading into these situations all guns blazing. Be her Mum. Lay out the guidelines without turning into a petulant child! This whole argument is ridiculous!"

Leaving Charlie and Ruby to stare after her, Joey stormed into her room and threw herself down on the bed.


Next time... Joey has a nightmare and Charlie and Ruby work together to cheer her up...