Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Three

Aden slipped out of the house early the next morning and went for a run. He hadn't wanted to run into Nicole and Liam and everything currently felt too confusing to deal with. He hoped that he might get the chance to talk to Joey. She was the only person he could turn to about the conflict he was experiencing.


Irene and Geoff were eating breakfast together when there was a knock at the door. When Irene opened up, she was surprised to see Donna standing there, looking flustered. It seemed strange that a woman who had once been her enemy seemed to turn to her for support now but it was in Irene's nature to give it. And now that they knew neither of them had murdered Lou, it was nice to have some kind of ally in the grief of losing him.


"What's everyone's plans today?" Leah asked as she, VJ, Ruby, Charlie and Joey crammed around the breakfast table as usual.

"Well, it's the first day of the holidays so I am going to spend each and every day with Geoff!" Ruby said, beaming.

"And do your holiday project," Joey added.

"What holiday project?" Charlie asked.

"Traitor!" Ruby said to Joey with the hint of a smirk.

Joey smirked back and finished her slice of toast.

"I'm working all day," she said.

"Me too!" Leah frowned. "Sometimes I think I should just move into the Diner store room!"

Joey giggled.

"Well, it's a pain today because Charlie has a rare day off but I'm just grateful to be working at all," she admitted. "I get to work behind the bar until Christmas and then I have to hunt for a different job."

She sighed, hoping it wouldn't be too difficult.

"Well, I'm looking forward to today," Charlie grinned. "I get to watch my girlfriend work and prop up the bar all at the same time! Much better than contemplating watching her catch fish all day!"

"You know you don't have to spend all day hanging out with me," Joey told her.

"I know," Charlie replied. "But I want to."

"You're so lame!" Ruby teased.

Charlie was about to retort but they were interrupted by Ruby's phone ringing.

"Ooh, it's Geoff!" she chirped joyfully, skipping off to take the call.

Charlie and Joey exchanged glances.

"And she thinks we're bad!" Charlie remarked.

"You are!" Leah said, draining her coffee and standing up. "And so is she!"

She turned to tell VJ to get ready for the youth club he would be attending for a lot of the summer holidays.


Geoff had phoned to tell Ruby that Irene had enlisted his help in clearing Donna's overgrown garden. Her gardener had run off and left the whole thing in complete disarray while she was still in jail and she was desperate for it to be fixed. It was part of her attempt to rebuild her life after the horror of the last few months. Sensing his girlfriend's disappointment and explaining that he needed the money, he had invited her to join him – promising that she didn't have to work if she didn't want to. She had readily agreed and was not so secretly hoping for some alone time with the boy she was so surprised to have fallen in love with.


Tony arrived at work, only to find that the gym had been broken into and completely trashed. Sighing heavily, he sank into a chair, wondering what to do next. It would take forever to fix the place up again and due to his spiralling debts, he'd cancelled his insurance. A sick feeling began in his stomach, realising that things had most definitely got out of control.


At the Surf Club, Charlie was perched on a stool, sipping a juice and admiring Joey as she worked. She'd only been in the job for a short time but she was so confident and capable. It was certainly a far cry from the Joey that Charlie had originally met behind this bar. She was proud of her.

"Hey," Aden said, plopping into a chair beside the police officer.

"Oh dear," Joey sighed, abandoning her cleaning to check on him. "What happened?"

Feeling awkward, Charlie asked if they wanted privacy.

"Don't worry," Aden said. "I'm under no illusion that Joey doesn't tell you everything."

Joey looked a little guilty but didn't speak. Charlie remained on her stool.

"I might have messed up my job," he said. "You know, at The Sands Resort?"

"How?"

"I abandoned my date and ran home," Aden admitted.

"Was she that bad?" Charlie asked.

"She was a little irritating but she was nice," Aden said. "But I slow danced with Nicole and..."

He sighed heavily.

"Then suddenly all I could think about was Belle, like I was cheating on her."


Hugo kissed Martha goodbye and headed out of the farm and towards the home he and Martha used to share. These days, Gina and Xavier were living there together and Hugo gathered that John was a frequent visitor. But it was nice to be up here with Martha and Bambang, playing house and trying out being a normal, family man. He was confident that if he could just tie up a few loose ends with the business, he could let it go and start again. He could really make something of his dive business. He could be a good man.

"Why didn't you get on the plane?" said a voice behind him.

Hugo turned and his heart sank. Suzy was back in town.


Nicole had come into the Surf Club, wanting to talk to Joey about Aden and Liam and what on earth might have happened last night. She was half delighted and half horrified to see Aden already propping up the bar and looking extremely unhappy.

"Aden?" she said.

He turned, made his excuses and left.

"Well that's mature!" Joey remarked.

Sighing, Nicole approached and took Aden's vacant seat.

"Care to enlighten me over what on earth is up with him?" she asked.


"This is fun!" Ruby said.

She was sitting cheerfully on a patio chair with her feet up while Geoff slaved away. Irene and Donna had helped for a while but then gone to get more tools, leaving Geoff and Ruby alone together.

"Fun for you!" Geoff teased. "You're relaxing!"

"And I get to watch you looking all hot and gorgeous," Ruby agreed. "You can always take your shirt off if you like!"

Chuckling, he headed over, pulling her up and into his arms. He kissed her. They immediately got carried away.


Hugo arrived at the house in order to retrieve the toy that Bambang had left behind. His head was full of confusion now that Suzy was back and seemed intent on making him return to Indonesia. He didn't want to go and he had said as much but she didn't seem to want to listen to him. Heading towards Bambang's bedroom, he passed a wedding photo of Jack and Martha on a side table. Sinking onto the couch, he studied the picture of his girlfriend and his late cousin looking like it truly was the happiest day of their lives. His heart broke a little.


Back at the farm, Bambang was wailing for his toy. Martha hugged him.

"Hugo will be back soon with your teddy," she assured him. "But you've got plenty of other things."

Standing up and taking her temporary child's hand, she suggested they go and look for something fun to play with. Spotting Hugo's bag on the floor, Martha knelt down. When they had left for the farm, they'd both stuffed different toys in their bags. Hoping Hugo might have brought something exciting, Martha rummaged. She was shocked that instead of a toy, she pulled out a box. Opening it up, she found a beautiful engagement ring.


"So, this is what you do all day," Charlie concluded.

Joey leant on the other side of the bar. Charlie couldn't quite help but take a look at the flash of cleavage she'd received. She grinned, leant forward and kissed her.

"Yep," Joey agreed. "I serve drinks, collect glasses..."

"Provide a counselling service!"

Joey looked confused.

"Everyone turns to you when they're in trouble," Charlie pointed out.

"Not everyone," Joey protested.

"A lot of people," Charlie said. "Hey, maybe that would be a good career path for you!"

Joey giggled and shook her head.

"I'd take everyone's problems home with me," she said. "I prefer it like this."

"Well, it's a good talent to have," Charlie said. "Alf's right. You really are at the heart of this community."

She leant forward and kissed her again.


Geoff and Ruby had just about found their way into the house and onto the couch. Kissing passionately, their clothes were coming off quickly. For all their planning, apparently their first time together was going to be spontaneous.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Geoff asked, pulling back ever so slightly.

"Yes," Ruby said hurriedly, kissing him again.

They continued for a few moments before Geoff pulled up again.

"What?" Ruby asked, dreading that he had suddenly changed his mind.

"I think I heard something outside."

"It's probably nothing," Ruby said dismissively, reaching out for him again.

Geoff shook his head and stood up, putting his t-shirt back on. A little grumpily, Ruby re-dressed and followed him.


Martha skipped giddily into the Surf Club with Bambang in tow, having arranged to meet Hugo there for lunch. Spotting Charlie and Joey at the bar, she headed over, trying not to look quite so excited.

"Good news?" Charlie asked.

Unable to hold it in any longer, Martha revealed that she thought Hugo might propose soon.

"Seriously?" Joey asked. "Congratulations."

"I love him so much," Martha gushed. "And the ring is so beautiful."

"I presume you're going to say yes!" Charlie giggled, forcing herself to be enthusiastic.

Inside, she was terrified that Martha was going to get hurt. If Angelo was right about Hugo then she dreaded what the future held for her friend.

"Absolutely!" Martha said.

She glanced at the door and saw Hugo arrive. Begging Charlie and Joey not to repeat what she'd said, she hurried over to greet him. Her mood deflated when she realised that he was scowling.


"There's nobody here," Ruby insisted. "Come back inside."

"I heard something," Geoff insisted.

"Look, if you're trying to find an excuse to stall then don't bother," Ruby pouted. "Just be honest with me, will you?"

He turned in confusion and then hugged her, kissing the top of her head.

"I'm not stalling," he promised. "I want to do this, okay? But I really did hear something."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone running out of the large garden. He immediately gave chase.


Hugo and Martha didn't look like they were having quite the joyful conversation that Martha had been looking forward to. Joey and Charlie tried not to watch too obviously but both women were concerned.

"I wish I knew what was going on," Charlie admitted. "I don't want her to get hurt but if he really is the person Angelo thinks he is..."

She sighed heavily.

"What if he's a bad man and Martha gets hurt? I couldn't live with myself if..."

"Charlie," Joey said reassuringly, putting a hand on her girlfriend's. "You're doing your best. You're doing everything you can. Whatever happens, you'll have nothing to feel guilty about."

Charlie smiled weakly but appreciated Joey's words and comfort. They turned back to Martha and Hugo's table. Tony had come to join them, looking even more miserable than they did. Charlie and Joey tried not to eavesdrop but the words 'selling the gym' were clear for anyone to hear.


At the end of a long day, Ruby returned home in a low mood. Geoff hadn't managed to catch the intruder but they had told Irene and Donna about it when they'd returned to the house. Upon Geoff and Ruby's vague description, Donna had concluded that the guy hanging around the property was her former gardener, Orson. Ruby had explained that her mother was a police officer and offered to call her and get her to come round but Donna had said she wasn't ready for the police, even if it was someone kind. She had some investigation to do of her own first. Everyone was worried.


"What's up, Rubes?" Charlie asked when she realised that her daughter hadn't moved a muscle for the past hour.

She was slumped in front of the television, looking lost in her own world.

"Nothing," Ruby lied.

She wanted to tell Charlie everything but Donna had begged her not to.

"Didn't you have a nice day?"

"It was okay," Ruby replied

She flashed a smile.

"I'm just tired," she said.

"Okay, well, Joey and I are indulging in hot chocolates before bed. Do you want in?"

Ruby grinned genuinely this time

"Can we have marshmallows?" she asked hopefully.

"You bet," Charlie promised, heading back into the kitchen.


Next time... Brett tries to make amends with Joey and Charlie, Nicole frets about Aden and Donna and Irene come forward about Orson...