For Movie249, if you're still reading this. Love, IJKS xx

Chapter Two Hundred and Forty

That evening, Charlie, Joey and Leah filed into the gym at the school, ready for their lesson. It was all stuff that Charlie already knew and had certificates in but she was desperate not to be left out.

"Hi everyone," the teacher said.

He was a broad, good looking man. Leah couldn't help but notice him. He had a strong but somewhat calming presence in the room. And good arms.

"My name is Reverend Elijah Johnson and I'm going to be your teacher for this class," he introduced him. "I'm new in town so it's an extra special pleasure to meet you."

He smiled. Most of the students smiled back. Joey studied his face, quietly and carefully feeling somewhat unsure.


Ruby had agreed to babysit VJ for the evening and had happily invited Xavier around to join her. Nothing had exactly happened between them but they'd held hands a couple of times and were very obviously spending an intense amount of time together.

"Are you busy over the weekend?" Xavier asked a little nervously.

"No," Ruby said, hoping he might make plans with her. "I'm free as a bird."

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go for a picnic or something."

He hoped that she didn't figure out that he had pretty much stolen the idea from Joey. She had told him a little about her plans for her anniversary with Charlie and it sounded nice. He wanted to do something nice for Ruby. He wanted them to find their way back to each other. Perhaps their time apart, and her time with Geoff had just been a blip.

"That sounds lovely," Ruby said. "Let me know a time and a place."


"Okay, could I have a volunteer for a demonstration?" Elijah asked.

He scanned his students' faces and lingered on Joey who shook her head. Charlie glanced at her, a little worried by how anxious she seemed.

"Are you okay?" she whispered.

"Fine," Joey replied, although she wasn't terribly convincing.

"How about you?" Elijah asked, looking at Leah who had been gazing at him in wonder.

"Um..." she stuttered.

She glanced at Charlie but she was still trying to ascertain whether Joey was really okay or not. A little helplessly, Leah stepped forward. The moment he touched her, pretending to be an attacker, she panicked and fled.

"Um..." Elijah struggled.

Realising what had happened, Joey dashed after her.

"Should I...?" Elijah asked Charlie.

"Um... give them five minutes," the police officer replied. "I can... I can do the demonstration if you like."

He nodded and accepted her, surprised to realise quite quickly that she knew exactly what she was doing.


After the class ended, and with Joey and Leah having become part of it again after Charlie's predicted five minutes, everyone began to pack up and leave.

"Sorry if I upset you," Elijah said to Leah, approaching her.

She was quick to apologise for running out.

"I've been having some anxiety issues lately," she explained. "It's kind of why I'm here. But maybe I wasn't ready."

"Well, there's no need to rush these things," the Reverend said. "Will we see you again next week?"

"Yes," Leah said firmly. "And I promise not to flee in panic."

She grinned. He smiled back.

"What are your names again?" he asked, addressing all three women.

"I'm Leah. This is Charlie and this is Joey."

Both she and Charlie shook his hand but Joey's hands remained firmly in her pockets. Politely, Elijah pretended not to notice and wished them a good week.

"What was that about?" Charlie wondered, linking arms with Joey on the way out.

"What was what about?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"You wouldn't shake his hand."

"My hands were in my pockets," Joey said, as if that was some kind of explanation.

Charlie reluctantly let it go but hoped to discuss her girlfriend's strange behaviour at some point soon.


Several days passed. Joey had been vague about her anxiety around Elijah and Leah seemed to have warmed to him a great deal. New to town, he had set up home in the caravan park and was already making friends. She was happy to see him each morning in the Diner and felt strangely at ease with a man she didn't really know. His looks were also not lost on her, although it wasn't something she was eager to discuss. All in all, she was feeling better about life and when the weekend rolled around, she told Charlie and Joey that they could move out of the house with a clear conscience whenever they wanted to. Charlie had been eager but Joey had remained vague. Ruby started floating around on cloud nine when, at her picnic with Xavier, the pair finally decided to give their relationship another shot.


On Monday morning, Alf met Joey and Aden at work, looking like he had something on his mind.

"Is everything okay?" Joey asked, immediately worried that she might get fired.

Between the work, the classes she was taking, Charlie, their plans for a new home and Ruby being happy and in love again, she felt more settled than she had before in her life. She couldn't help but worry that it could all fall apart at any second.

"I've decided to take a bit of a step back," Alf explained. "I'm spreading myself a bit too thin what with the Surf Club and here and everything and you're both doing such a good job. I wanted to give you a bit more responsibility by taking one of you on as a manager."

Both Joey and Aden looked interested but a little worried.

"Only one of us?" Aden asked hesitantly.

"Well, with a promotion comes more money and everything and I can really only afford one of you," Alf said. "And there's no point having two managers and no other employees."

Both his staff members nodded before Aden asked which of them he was going to pick.

"Well, do either of you specifically want the job or not want it?" he asked, hoping for an easier decision.

"We both want it," they said in unison.

He sighed.

"I thought that might happen," he admitted. "And I have picked one of you. This is so hard. Aden, you're so good at what you do. You're committed, punctual, you're a great worker..."

Joey smiled and patted her friend on the shoulder and congratulated him.

"But it has to be Joey," Alf finished.

Joey's jaw dropped. So did Aden's.

"I'm sorry but..." he sighed. "It's such a difficult decision but you really are so good at your job, Joey. You already have so much knowledge and the customers love you. For old men who think they know it all already, you've certainly got a knack of getting them to listen to you and value your opinion. I just think you'll make wonderful manager material. I'd feel very safe leaving this place in your hands."

Joey blushed a little shyly. Aden glared at both of them and stormed out.


"She just doesn't seem herself," Charlie fretted.

She and Watson were out on patrol and so far, the time had only served to give Charlie space to rant and panic.

"Well, have you talked to her about it?" Watson asked.

"I've tried," Charlie insisted. "But she was really weird around that Reverend guy and wouldn't explain why. And Leah totally gave us the go ahead to move out and she hasn't so much as expressed an interest."

"Well, maybe she's anti religion or something," Watson suggested.

"This is Joey," Charlie pointed out. "I don't think I've known her to be anti anything."

Watson nodded. It didn't sound like Joey, she had to admit.

"Honestly, Charlie, I think you just need to tell her how you feel. Everything is usually solved by a bit of communication."

"I can't," Charlie sighed, looking and feeling utterly miserable.

"Why not?" Watson asked.

"Because I'm scared that I'm pushing too hard," Charlie admitted. "I'm scared that she doesn't want us to move in together properly or be a family. And I'm scared that if I ask her about it, she'll confirm that I'm right."

"Charlie, do you really think that someone who didn't want to be with you, would behave the way she does?" Watson asked seriously. "You can tell how she falls about you just from the way she looks at you."

Charlie sighed and was about to answer when her phone rang. It was Joey.

"Hey, sweetheart," she said, although she lacked enthusiasm.

"I got promoted!" Joey squealed rather loudly and in rather a high pitch.

"What?"

"Alf just promoted me to manager of the bait shop. Aden stormed out in a strop but I'm so excited! How amazing is this, Charlie?"

"It's wonderful!" Charlie said, genuinely full of enthusiasm.

She tried to chase away the thought that maybe this was the first step to her girlfriend leaving her behind.

"I'm going to cook a special dinner for us tonight," Joey declared. "Leah's at self defence and Ruby will delight in not having to babysit so she can go out with Xavier. So when VJ's in bed, we can pretty much have the place to ourselves."

She smiled into the phone.

"That sounds perfect," Charlie said. "I'll be home at six."


Charlie arrived home from work feeling more anxious than she wanted to. Watson had tried to reassure her but she was worried that Joey was going to leave her behind. She felt utterly conflicted. On the one hand, Joey made her feels so very loved. But on the other, Charlie was worried that somewhere along the way, Joey had somehow realised that she was too good for her. What if she was trying to make her escape?

Pausing in the doorway to the lounge, Charlie watched Joey with her nose in a magazine and a pen in her hand.

"Hi," she said.

Joey turned round, dumped the magazine and launched herself into Charlie's arms.

"I'm on such a high!" she said excitedly.

"I can tell!" Charlie laughed when Joey smothered her in kisses.

"And even more exciting than anything else," Joey said, taking her hand and leading her to the couch. "There are so many listings in here! I've circled tonnes and I thought we could spend the next week viewing places. Now that we've got the go ahead from Leah, there's no need to wait, is there?"

Charlie felt suddenly overwhelmed. Joey saw the emotion in her eyes.

"Charlie?" she said a little worriedly. "You haven't changed your mind, have you?"

"No," Charlie promised. "I definitely haven't changed my mind."

"Good," Joey beamed. "So, let me show you what I've found and then I'm planning a very romantic meal, especially for you."


Next time... Charlie shares her fears with Joey, Aden quits his job and falls out with Joey and Joey explains her behaviour with Elijah...