Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Nine
A couple of mornings later, Joey arrived at work just before Aden, only to find that the outside of the bait shop had been sprayed with graffiti.
"Great," she muttered, unlocking the door before pulling her phone out to call Charlie.
"What's going on?" Aden asked behind her.
"Vandals," Joey sighed. "Alf is not going to be amused."
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Angelo said, appearing in Charlie's office. "I really didn't mean to fall out with you."
"Okay," Charlie sighed. "Let's just draw a line under it."
He nodded and asked if he could sit down.
"Sure," Charlie replied, putting her pen down. "What's on your mind?"
"Well, it's nothing work related," he said. "I just wanted to pick your brains."
She waited for him to explain.
"I need some jobs done at my place," he said. "You know, some plumbing, DIY and stuff. You don't know anyone who could help, do you? I don't know any companies."
He studied her expression, hoping for some detection of guilt but she just shook her head.
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I mean, Joey fixes a lot of the stuff at home but if she can't do it then it's kind of Leah's domain. She's books people and stuff. Being the landlady and everything. Maybe you should ask her."
He nodded, a little disappointed not to have found any more information.
"Thanks," he said brightly.
He left the office just as Charlie took Joey's call. She appeared in the reception area after a few moments and asked Watson to join her down at the bait shop. They'd been dealing with graffiti for the last couple of shifts and it seemed that the spray paint demon had vandalised Alf's shop this time.
At lunch time, having broken the news to Alf about the bait shop and spent most of the morning cleaning the outside of the building with Aden, Joey was glad to be settled at the Diner with Charlie.
"How's the clean up going?" Charlie asked.
"Well, I'd rather spend the day not cleaning up someone else's 'art' but never mind," Joey said.
"Ooh, speaking of maintenance – you don't know any handyman type people do you?"
"Sweetheart, you know everyone that I know," Joey reminded her.
"Good point. Never mind."
"Why?" Joey asked with a hint of a smile. "You're not looking to have a real handyman on your kitchen table, are you?"
Charlie snorted and almost choked on her drink, only making Joey laugh more.
"Sorry," she said. "I couldn't resist."
She grinned. Charlie rewards her with a kiss, just as Leah approached to take their order. Their housemate seemed to be coping a lot better with life these days. She was still a bit wobbly but she was making progress every day. Charlie and Joey were both proud of her.
"How are you doing?" Joey asked immediately.
"Yeah," Leah said, taking a seat. "Things are getting better, I think. I have my first counselling session tomorrow."
"Good," Charlie enthused.
"I saw this today," Joey said, pulling a folded poster out of her pocket and showing it to her friend.
It was an advertisement for a self defence class that was starting at the school that evening.
"What do you think?"
"Maybe," Leah said uncertainly. "But I don't really know how to do that kind thing."
"That's why I'm suggesting we take a class instead of a test," Joey giggled.
Leah blushed and nodded.
"It might be fun," she said. "You'll do it with me though? I don't have to do it on my own?"
"Of course I'll do it with you," Joey said. "As long as I have permission from the Mrs!"
Charlie looked outraged but couldn't make it last. Joey looked too cute and too cheeky for her own good.
"Well, count me in then," Leah said. "Thanks, Joey."
Taking their orders, she headed off back to the kitchen. Joey immediately noticed that something wasn't right.
"I was joking," she said. "But if you really don't want me to, I don't have to."
"It's not that," Charlie said, not quite meeting her gaze.
"Then what is it?" Joey asked worriedly. "I don't like the sad look on your face."
"I might feel a bit left out," Charlie admitted quietly and quickly.
"You can come with us," Joey replied immediately. "I just thought you'd done all of that before."
"I have," Charlie said, sipping her drink and still not meeting Joey's eyes. "But what with work and college and everything... I kind of feel bereft of your time."
"Well then you have to come," Joey said firmly. "I don't ever want you to feel like that, Charlie. You know I'd ditch anyone and anything if it made you unhappy."
"I know," Charlie said, managing a smile and reaching out to hold her girlfriend's hand.
"So, you'll come?" Joey asked hopefully.
Charlie kissed the back of Joey's hand.
"I'll come," she promised.
Next time... Leah and Joey struggle in their self defence class, Alf gives someone a promotion and Xavier and Ruby arrange a date...
