This chapter is devoted especially to Blue1927 as a thank you for your wonderful feedback on my novel (Shards of Glass by Tessa Jane Lee, only 93p on Amazon Kindle!) Was that plug smooth enough! Anyway, thanks so much to Blue and to everyone for their support with the novel and here on fanfiction. I love writing these stories and I put my heart and soul into all of them so every time one of you leaves a review or gets in touch, you make my world a better place. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Two Hundred and Seventeen

It was the last day of their holiday and Charlie and Joey had headed out to the beach one last time, although it wasn't lost on them that they had their own beach at home. It had been a wonderful holiday and both women had enjoyed themselves. They were grateful for the break and being granted quality time together, especially in the wake of everything that had happened with Hugo.

"We should really make more of the beach when we get home," Joey mused from her sun lounger.

She was stretched out comfortable, reading a book. Charlie smiled, looking away from her own novel.

"We really should," she agreed.

Grinning, they shook on it.

"But my first priority really ought to be to get a job," Joey added.

"You'll find something," Charlie said confidently. "The right job is just waiting for you."


Ruby stormed out of the Diner in anger. She'd had another argument with John about the asylum seekers. It infuriated her that people could be so ignorant and not care about people who had suffered so badly. And even though Geoff was on her side, even he didn't quite understand why she was so adamant about it all. Secretly, she knew it was about Charlie. Her mother had nearly died to save those people. Ruby had nearly lost her. And it terrified her. She was glad that she and Joey would be returning home soon as she had missed them more than she'd expected to. She was more afraid than ever of something bad happening to Charlie at work. She'd already nearly drowned and now she had nearly been killed by Hugo and Suzy. Charlie's dangerous job was a truth that Ruby could hardly bear.

Stepping onto the beach, Ruby spotted Xavier sitting on the sand, alone and looking sad. She went to sit beside him.

"Hey," she greeted softly.

"Hey," he replied.

"What's up?"

He shrugged.

"Xave?"

"Mum and I just had to sit Brendan down and tell him about Hugo," he explained sadly. "It was so hard. He didn't get it for ages. We just had to say the words over and over again and... well, I guess I just realised that it's all true."

He sighed heavily.

"I know he was a bad guy," he said. "I know he wasn't the person I believed in, that I loved and trusted. I know he did bad things but..."

"He was still your brother," Ruby said, understanding.

Xavier nodded.

"Is Brendan okay?" she asked.

"He was tearful," he explained. "Mum's taken him out for some ice cream. And I... needed space."

Ruby apologised and made to leave but he stopped her.

"I just needed space from the pain," he said. "Not from you."

The former couple smiled at each other.

"So, tell me your news," Xavier said brightly. "Distract me."


Joey crept off her sun lounger and knelt beside Charlie, touching her gently on the arm and trying to rouse her from an unhappy sleep.

"Charlie?" she said gently, as her girlfriend continued to fret. "Charlie?"

The police officer jolted awake in a state of panic.

"Another nightmare?" Joey asked.

Charlie nodded. Joey pulled a bottle of water of out the cooler and handed it over, perching on the edge of bed and holding her hand.

"I feel like an idiot," Charlie said, not for the first time.

"Don't be silly," Joey said affectionately. "You're not an idiot. But um... can I make a suggestion?"

"You think I need counselling, don't you?" Charlie concluded.

Joey held her hand and nodded.

"I think it might help," she said. "Just to get you through all of this."

"I haven't been... hurting you again, have I?" Charlie asked worriedly.

"No," Joey said quickly. "No, you're not thrashing around or anything like you were last time. But you haven't had a good night's sleep since everything happened. So maybe when we get home, you could start seeing that Michael guy again? He might be able to help."

Charlie nodded a little reluctantly. She supposed it hadn't been so bad last time. And she really could do with some rest. The nightmares were definitely a problem.

"Will you at least think about it?" Joey asked hopefully.

"I'll think about it," Charlie agreed.

Joey leant closer and kissed her.

"I love you, Charlie," she said. "And I want the best for you. I don't like to see you in pain like this. You don't deserve it."

Charlie returned her kiss.

"Thank you for always being so good to me," she said.

"How could I be anything else?"


Aden and Nicole were playing pool in the Surf Club and so far, had been having a lovely day together. After Joey had all but forced him to talk to Nicole, he had tried. At first, he had upset her by explaining his lack of feeling. But yesterday, they had made a breakthrough when he had finally been able to admit that he liked her and had feelings for her. He'd explained that he'd never be able to forget about Belle but understood that she wanted him to move on and live his life. And then he'd told her that he wanted to be with her. So now, somewhat tentatively, they were dating. And so far, it was fun and easy going and both of them were having a nice time.

Nicole won the game. Aden laughed as she did a jubilant jig around the table. Still laughing, he pulled her into a hug, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Unbeknownst to them, Liam stood in the doorway, heartbroken and watching everything. He stormed home with only one solution on his mind.


"I don't want to go home," Charlie pouted.

She and Joey sat opposite each other at a corner table in a restaurant they had found and liked a lot at the beginning of their stay.

"Me neither," Joey admitted. "But I guess we have to some time. Life can't be a holiday. We've got things to do."

"Yep," Charlie agreed. "Not least you..."

"Finding a job?" Joey interrupted. "Stop being a lazy arse?"

Charlie laughed and declared that she was no such thing.

"I was going to say that you've got to start your restaurant," she grinned. "You pass your course in six months and then away you go!"

"In six months time, I'll have qualified," Joey agreed. "The rest... probably not so much!"

"Why not?" Charlie asked. "You're good enough."

"Well, unless I win the lottery – which I gather you have a play in order to win – I don't really have the funds to start up my own business," Joey pointed out. "And I doubt the bank will be interested in loaning me the cash."

"We'll work something out," Charlie said confidently. "Besides, I'd get a loan pretty easily so I wouldn't worry about that kind of thing just yet."

She grinned. Joey couldn't help but grin back.

"Have I mentioned lately that I love you?" she asked. "Because you really do have this wonderful knack at making everything in the world seem pretty damn perfect."


Next time... Martha rescues Liam, Charlie and Joey pick up a hitchhiker and several locals get caught up in an Australia Day riot...