Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Seven

It was the day of the Diner re-opening and against Leah's better judgement, everyone had convinced her to have a special grand opening in the evening. The whole of Summer Bay were likely to turn out to support her and she was rushed off her feet in the kitchen with Irene and Colleen.

Having all finished work and school, Joey and Ruby were walking along the beach, getting ready to meet Charlie in the Surf Club. Ruby paused when she spotted Xavier mucking around with Romeo on the sand.

"You like him again, don't you?" Joey realised quietly.

Ruby blanched.

"Kinda," she admitted. "Is that terrible?"

"It's not a shock," Joey said. "I mean, you've had a connection with him for a long time."

"I really hurt him though," Ruby said. "I'm surprised he's still willing to be my friend, let alone anything else."

"Well, he is willing to be your friend so why don't you just go with that and see what happens?" Joey suggested. "But don't rush anything, okay? Don't dive straight in."

"I won't," Ruby promised. "Do you mind if I go and join them?"

"Go for it," Joey instructed.

She watched Ruby hurry across the sand and then turned back towards the Surf Club in order to meet Charlie.


"Well, just tell her how you feel!" Romeo said, exasperated.

"How can I?" Xavier asked. "I mean, it didn't exactly work out well last time. She's..."

"Behind you," Romeo said quickly.

Xavier turned around a little guiltily and realised Ruby was approaching.

"Hey," he greeted warmly, if a little breathlessly. "How are you?"

"Good, thanks," Ruby said. "Did you guys enjoy your surf?"

She nodded towards their boards. Relieved that she didn't seem to know what they had been talking about, Xavier just about managed to relax.


"Where's Ruby?" Charlie asked when Joey arrived alone.

"She got distracted with boys," Joey explained.

"And you didn't?" Charlie smirked.

Joey laughed and kissed her, flopping into a chair somewhat dramatically.

"What's this?" she asked, sitting up and nodding towards the magazine on the table.

"Oh, I was just um... looking at properties," Charlie admitted.

Joey smiled and sat back in her chair.

"Find anything good?" she asked.

"A couple of places," Charlie said. "But they were available immediately so we'll probably miss them by the time we're ready to actually move in."

Joey studied the disappointment on her face.

"I don't think it'll be long," she said. "I mean, the Diner's re-opening tonight so in theory Leah will be back on her feet pretty quickly."

"I hope so," Charlie admitted. "And not just for her sake."

Joey stretched out and held her hand. She felt bad for putting things on hold when Charlie was obviously so eager.

"So, do you want a house or an apartment?" Charlie asked more brightly.

"I don't mind," Joey replied.

"Okay, well I was thinking three bedrooms for when Dad and Morag come to stay..."

"Sounds good."

"And maybe by the beach if we can?"

"Yeah," Joey agreed.

Charlie suddenly sighed. Joey noticed and asked her what was wrong.

"Joey, you're not just humouring me, are you?" she asked. "You do want this?"

"Of course I want this," Joey said sincerely.

"You just don't seem very excited, that's all."

Joey reached for her hand again.

"I am excited," she assured her. "But I'm trying not to get too carried away before it can really happen. I know that if I start looking at places, I'll get all giddy and overwhelmed and I'll end up sacrificing Leah because I really want us to set up home properly together. And that wouldn't be fair."

Charlie couldn't help but smile.

"You really are excited then?" she asked.

"Giddy," Joey said. "And I really hope – for all sorts of reasons – that Leah's able to put herself back together soon. Then you and me and Ruby can start the next stage of our lives together."

Charlie smiled. She leant across the table and kissed her.

"Thank you for reassuring me," she whispered.

"Sorry I had to," Joey replied.


With Romeo back in the water, Ruby and Xavier sat on the sand and watched him tackle the waves.

"So, um... are you going to the Diner re-opening tonight?" Xavier asked a little shyly.

"Yeah," Ruby said. "I'm really looking forward to it. Leah's been a mess since the riot so we're all hoping that this will help her feel better."

Xavier nodded.

"Are you going?" Ruby asked after a few moments.

"Yeah," he said. "I wasn't sure. I've kind of just been hanging out with you and Romeo and stuff since... well, you know. It's been a bit scary to deal with people. I keep worrying that they're judging me because of Hugo."

"They're not," Ruby assured him. "Nothing he did was your fault."

"I know but..."

He sighed and turned to face her.

"Anyway, my reason for asking was that I was wondering if you'd like to go with me," he said. "Like... like a date kind of thing. Sort of. I mean, it doesn't have to be if you don't want but..."

She smiled at how nervous he was.

"I'd really like that," she said.

His face lit up.

"Really?" he asked.

"Really."


Spotting them at a table in the Surf Club, Martha approached Charlie and Joey. She felt more than a little conspicuous now that everyone knew about her and Liam. She worried that people were judging her.

"Hi," she greeted.

"Hey," Joey replied. "Are you okay?"

"I just feel a bit... weird," Martha admitted.

"How come?"

"Just... I'm supposed to be going to the Diner tonight with Liam and..."

She sighed.

"I feel like everyone's going to be looking at me," she said. "Judging me."

Joey squeezed her hand by way of encouragement.

"I'm sure nobody's judging you," Charlie said sincerely. "I mean, why would they?"

"Let's see, I started dating the cousin of my late husband," Martha said. "And he turned out to be a murderer and goodness knows what else. He got shot right in front of me and now I'm seeing my housemate, who, I might add is a reformed drug addict."

She sighed again and looked unhappy.

"I really don't think anyone is judging you," Charlie stated. "There was nothing wrong with you falling for Hugo. It's not like you knew what he was doing, what kind of man he was going to turn out to be. And it's not like there's a rule book as to how to cope with this situation. You loved him but he wasn't a good guy. How are you meant to grieve for him? And what's wrong with you trying to find a bit of happiness with someone else? After everything you've been through, I'm certain you deserve to have some fun. I mean, if you like Liam then what's the harm?"

"I like how you think," Martha said. "I just hope that everyone else thinks the same way."

"We're all your friends, Martha," Joey put in. "So I'm sure nobody thinks anything but the best for you. I mean, you're happy with Liam, right?"

Martha nodded.

"Don't get me wrong," she said. "I don't think he's going to be the love of my life. In some ways, I don't think Hugo even was. Jack's always been the one..."

She sighed yet again.

"But Liam is fun. He treats me nicely. I like him. And he's working really hard to sort himself out. He's even got a job teaching music at the school."

"Really?" Charlie said.

Martha nodded and explained that Gina had told him the news today.

"Well, that should be good for him," Joey said.

"He's pretty excited, except for working in the same place that Nicole's repeating the year."

"I'm sure they can stay out of each other's way if they need to," Joey said.


In the Diner kitchen, Leah was busy preparing various nibbles for the party with Irene, Colleen and two other members of staff. Tonight was going to be a big night and she was already terrified. Her restaurant looked lovely now that the refurbishment was done but a big part of her was desperate to run away and forget the whole thing. She had no idea how she would be able to face the world again. Her only relief was that her family and her friends would be there to support her and get her through the night. She was dreading Charlie, Joey and Ruby moving out, although she had been told very firmly that they wouldn't go until she was ready. It was just that, at this rate, she wasn't sure if she ever would be.


Next time... Angelo hints at his theory, Ruby and Xavier get closer and Leah panics at the Diner reopening...