I'm catching up with the show at the moment and I can't help but marvel at the irony... They were so panicked about Charlie entering a loving, happy, lesbian relationship and yet they'll have her screw Brax at every opportunity and have Angelo and Nicole fall into bed after one kiss. Family values? Really! Anyway, I'm busy planning how these current stories will play out in A Different Way but we have lots to go before then! Having said that, the River Boys will be making a few premature appearances. But, moving on... It's Boxing Day 2009. Enjoy! Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Seven
It was Boxing Day and in response to the token Joey had given her the day before, Charlie had requested that she take them, plus Ruby, Geoff, Ross and Morag out on Alf's boat. Aden had also readily agreed to join them. Still feeling awkward around Nicole, he had been grateful to escape having to see her for the day. It was something he felt bad about but his head was so confused that he thought it was safer to stay away. Also, he had no desire to spend time with Liam who would inevitably be with her.
"Thanks for doing this," Charlie said, stepping up behind Joey at the wheel.
"I don't mind," Joey said cheerfully. "It'll be nice. I kind of feel bad that you're wasting your token though because I would totally have done this anyway."
"Ooh!" Charlie grinned. "Can I have something else instead then?"
"If you're lucky," Joey smirked.
Charlie kissed her softly on the neck. Then she turned and gazed out at the deck where Ruby was lying happily in Geoff's arms, chattering away to him, Ross, Morag and Aden. It was nice to see her so relaxed and comfortable and she was still very touched to think of the card she'd got them.
Martha, Hugo, Bambang, Xavier, Brendan and Gina were having a somewhat awkward late breakfast. Christmas Day hadn't been much better. Aside from Brendan's amusing anecdotes and Harry and Bambang being generally adorable, things had been a little strange. The tension between Martha and Hugo was abundantly clear although nobody knew why and Xavier, for his part, had tried his best not to shoot daggers at John at every opportunity.
"What's everyone planned for today?" Gina asked, breaking the silence.
"Xavey's taking me to the beach," Brendan announced happily.
Xavier had arranged to meet up with Romeo and spend the day hanging out with him and Brendan. At this point in time, he would do anything to escape the house. He'd tried to ask Hugo what was wrong but he'd just snapped at him.
"What about you two?" Gina wondered, gesturing to Hugo and Martha.
"I thought maybe we could..." Martha ventured.
"I've got work to do," Hugo interrupted.
Martha looked crestfallen.
"It's Boxing Day," she said unhappily.
"The world doesn't stop turning," Hugo said, standing up, bidding them all goodbye and promptly heading out of the house.
The sun was shining and the Buckton-Collins-Campbell-Jeffries families were enjoying a hearty lunch.
"I didn't think I'd ever be able to eat again after yesterday but," Aden said brightly, popping a couple of Dorito's into his mouth, "here I am."
"Why wouldn't you eat again?" Joey asked, narrowing her eyes in mock accusation. "Are you saying I cook badly?"
"No!" Aden said quickly and somewhat nervously. "It was good! It was too good! I ate too much."
"No kidding," Ruby smirked. "I was expecting way more leftovers!"
"Are you saying I cook badly?" Joey asked with a teasing smile on her face.
"No!" Ruby said in much the same way Aden had. "It was wonderful! I was looking forward to..."
Realising her step-mother was joking, the teenager pouted and began tucking into sandwiches.
"You're behaving badly today," Charlie gently chastised her girlfriend.
Joey's secret grin made her blush. Suddenly she was very much looking forward to getting home and spending some alone time with her.
Angelo arrived back in Summer Bay, having forced himself to spend Christmas Day with his family. His younger brother, Paulie had been as annoying as ever and typically, he'd received a lecture from his father about what he was doing with his life. They had been critical of him for accepting the post back in Summer Bay and although his mother had visited him during his time in jail and accepted that Jack's death was an accident, the whole clan were very opinionated about what he ought to be doing with his new found freedom. His mother was largely supportive of everything he did but his father didn't believe that he should still be in uniform. He wanted him to come home and become part of the family business again, although he'd made a point of reminding him for the millionth time that it would be his second chance in that job too.
"What's everyone doing for New Year this year?" Ross asked.
"There's a party at the Surf Club," Ruby told him. "It looks really fun. Will you come?"
Ross shook his head, telling them that he thought his party days were over. The noise and the crowds only heightened his difficulties and he didn't want to set himself back.
"But the care home are having a do," Morag said. "So we've decided to go to that."
"Oh, that's nice," Charlie enthused.
"Are you guys all going to the Surf Club?" Aden asked Charlie and Joey.
The couple nodded. Both were looking forward to big night out with lots of fun and laughter.
"What about resolutions?" Geoff asked. "Do you guys make them?"
"I make them," Joey said. "But I don't tend to keep them."
"What are your resolutions this year?" Geoff asked with interest.
"To really go somewhere with my catering course."
"You're keeping that one," Charlie, Aden and Ruby all said in unison, making the others laugh.
"I'll do my best," Joey promised.
Noting Martha's sad mood, Xavier offered to take Bambang out with him, Romeo and Brendan. Martha had worried that it was too much for him but her potential brother in law had assured her that he and Romeo would be fine at looking after her charge. With the boys gone and Gina and John out for the day, Martha wandered around the house feeling despondent. Sighing, she couldn't help but think about Hugo and wonder what his problem was. Things had been going so well, even after the Suzy debacle and she was sure that he had been about to propose. But now, it didn't seem like he liked her anymore, let alone loved her. Reaching a decision, she stood up, grabbed her bag and headed out of the house.
"Well, you know this is where Charlie and Joey had their first kiss," Ruby announced.
The couple blushed and scolded Ruby for telling tales.
"That's sweet," Ross said affectionately. "Romantic day trip?"
"Well, it wasn't meant to be," Joey said. "I didn't think I stood a chance. And it took Charlie by surprise too."
"I don't know how!" Ruby remarked. "You were already sharing a bed."
"Platonically!" Charlie insisted.
"And spending all your time together," her daughter continued. "And cuddling. And gazing sappily into each other's eyes..."
"We were not!" said Charlie.
Everyone looked sceptical. She pouted and folded her arms.
"Okay, maybe we were," she relented. "But it was still a shock."
"She tried to swim back home," Joey giggled.
Charlie snorted with laughter at the memory. It had been the day she knew for sure that she was in love with her best friend. It had both scared and excited her and she was grateful every day that she had got her head together enough to really make a go of things. It had been nine months, her longest relationship and she even lived with her. These were all things she had never believed could ever happen but now that they had, she felt like the happiest woman on earth.
"I know I've been an arsehole these last few days," Hugo admitted.
Martha had found him working on his boat, although from the looks of things he was inventing things to do.
"Yeah, you have," Martha said bluntly, sitting down.
He stood over her and apologised.
"It's okay," she said. "But can we just fix it now, please?"
He sighed and nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"The only way to fix it is to break up," he said flatly.
Martha just stared at him.
Joey and Ross were making plans to go fishing together before Ross left for the city again and trying to coerce Charlie into joining them. She had a week off, after all, but she was pulling faces that indicated there were other things she'd prefer to be doing than catching fish.
"But it's fun!" Joey insisted.
"I'm sure," Charlie said, not sounding very sure at all.
"Why don't you go for a little while?" Morag suggested. "And then when you don't like it..."
"If!" Joey squeaked.
"If you don't like it, we can go shopping and have some girl time."
"Sounds good to me!" Charlie agreed eagerly.
"What are you talking about?" Martha asked weakly.
"I don't think we should be together anymore," Hugo informed her.
Tears stung her eyes and he did his best to ignore them.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because... because I just don't want to. It doesn't feel right."
"But we were a family!" Martha protested, standing up and wringing her hands together.
"No, we're not!" Hugo argued. "You and Bambang would do just fine without me."
"But... you were going to propose," Martha said, sitting back down again.
He stared at her, wondering how on earth she had found out what his plans had been. He hadn't told anyone but the shop assistant when he'd bought the ring.
"No, I wasn't," he lied.
"I found the ring..."
"That wasn't for you," he said, hating himself for hurting her more. "It wasn't even new. I bought it for Suzy years ago."
Martha cried harder.
"Look, I'm sorry if you thought I was going to propose but I wasn't," Hugo continued, trying to act like he didn't care. "But it only goes to show that we're not in the same place and that we don't belong together."
Martha kept her head down, closing her eyes on the world.
"I'll be moved out by the end of the day."
He turned and resumed his work. She hesitated for a few moments and then fled.
Charlie, Joey, Ross, Morag, Ruby, Geoff and Aden were just coming off the boat when they saw Martha fleeing in tears. Instantly, Joey ran forward, calling her name. Martha paused and turned to stare at the family in tears.
"What's happened?" Joey asked.
Martha fell into her arms and cried.
Next time... Charlie tells Angelo about Hugo while Joey comforts Martha, Charlie and Joey go out with Brett and Amber and Angelo hits Hugo...
