Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy

Charlie, Joey and Ruby sat around their new kitchen table, trying to puzzle out a guest list for their housewarming party.

"Well, Leah and VJ, obviously," Charlie said, writing their names down. "And I presume Leah will want to bring Elijah."

"And we have to invite Miles and Alf, of course," Joey added.

Charlie nodded and wrote their names down also.

"Don't forget Xavier," Ruby added. "And Brendan's visiting for the weekend so can he come too?"

"Sure," Charlie agreed. "We should probably invite Gina in that case."

Joey pulled a face at the thought of her bringing John but she decided to be community spirited.

"Oh, and Martha and Liam," Charlie said. "And Rachel and Tony."

"And Nicole and Romeo," Ruby added.

"And Aden, obviously," Joey put in.

Charlie wrote all their names plus Justin down.

"Do you guys mind if I invite a few people from work?" Charlie asked, chewing the end of her pen.

"As long as you're not about to write Angelo's name, I'm happy," Joey said.

Charlie looked a little guilty.

"Charlie, no," Joey said firmly. "You can't invite him."

"I really think he's sorry," Charlie ventured.

"I really don't care," Joey replied.

Charlie sighed. She wrote Watson and Monica's names down, as well as a few other officers.

"I'm not being unreasonable," Joey said anxiously. "I mean, he stalked you, Charlie. He spied on you. Why would you want him around?"

"It's not that I want him around exactly," Charlie mused.

"What then?" Joey quizzed her.

"I feel sorry for him," Charlie admitted. "I mean, he's kind of pathetic right now. And I guess I hoped if we offered him the hand of friendship – even from a distance – then maybe he'd be happy and stop trying to break us up."

Joey chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"We tried that before," she reminded her. "And he's been a complete arse for nearly a year now."

Charlie sighed and nodded, leaving Angelo's name off the guest list.


That afternoon, Charlie, Joey and Ruby headed to the Diner to place their official food order for their party the following evening. Despite the Angelo debate, all three women were looking forward to the night ahead.

"Woah! Where's the fire?" Ruby exclaimed as VJ charged past her and out the door.

Leah then nearly crashed into her, calling her son's name. Growling in frustration, Leah stomped to a nearby table and sat down. All three of her former housemates joined her.

"What's up with him?" Joey wondered.

"He's kicking up a fuss about meeting Elijah tomorrow," Leah complained.

"Maybe he's just not ready to accept someone new in your life," Ruby ventured. "It must be a bit bewildering for him."

"It's not like I switch boyfriends every five minutes, Ruby," Leah snapped.

The teenager looked offended. Charlie stepped in and touched Leah's hand.

"That's not what she meant," she said gently but firmly. "He's just approaching a difficult age so he thinks it's his prerogative to have tantrums."

Leah nodded, sighed and apologised to Ruby.

"I don't know how to talk him round," she said.

Glancing up, she spotted Joey sitting across from her. Her eyes lit up and she smiled.

"You could always talk him round," she suggested.

"Me?" Joey said. "No, I wouldn't make any diff..."

She trailed off. Everyone was looking at her, fully aware that if anyone could win VJ into a better mood, it was her, thanks to his crush. She sighed and stood up dramatically.

"Fine," she said. "But I totally expect a discount on tonight's food."

With that, she headed out of the Diner in a bid to catch up with VJ.


"What are you smiling about?" Angelo asked when Watson read a text message at her desk. "Or don't I want to know?"

"I'm just arranging getting to Charlie and Joey's party tomorrow," she said.

Angelo looked immediately interested. Watson cringed at putting her foot in it.

"Charlie's having a party?" he asked.

"A house warming thing," Watson reluctantly revealed. "It's a small thing, I think."

Angelo sighed and informed her that he hadn't been invited.

"Well, you did stalk her," Watson pointed out. "That's not traditionally the way to make friends."

"But we made up and sorted it all out," Angelo reminded her. "Or at least, I thought we had."


With Joey still off on her mission, Charlie and Ruby had ordered drinks and settled at a table to wait for her. Leah had taken her break and joined them, still fretting about VJ. She perked up when Elijah walked into the Diner. Their eyes met and they beamed happily at each other. The relationship was new but it was already something very special to both of them.

"I thought you were bringing VJ," Elijah ventured.

"I wouldn't pursue that line of conversation," Ruby warned him.

"He didn't take to the idea then?"

"He'll come round," Leah sighed reaching out to squeeze his hand. "We've set Joey on the case."

Elijah chuckled.

"Ah, the object of his affection," he said.

"The whole thing's pretty cute," Charlie giggled. "And useful in times such as these."

"Hi, Marilyn!" Leah called when the always perfectly turned out woman entered the Diner.

She smiled, somewhat distractedly and came to join them.

"Reverend Elijah?" Colleen barked from across the room.

The pastor turned at the sound of his name and approached her at the counter, deciding to order himself a coffee in the process.


"So, your Mum really wants you and Elijah to get to know each other," Joey ventured.

Having played a bit of soccer together, she and VJ had sat down on the beach and were currently gazing out to sea.

"I already tried that," the ten year old sighed. "I tried it with Roman and with that Detective guy she liked before. But every time I start liking one of Mum's boyfriends they go away again."

"Well, maybe this time it will be different," Joey suggested.

"How will I know that?"

"You won't until you give it a try."

VJ sighed gazing into Joey's eyes. He was always struck by how beautiful she was. The fact that she was always so willing to spend time with him made him feel special.

"Everything is changing at the moment," he complained. "I don't like it."

"What's changing?" Joey asked, although she had a feeling she already knew the answer.

"You and Charlie and Ruby have moved out," he sighed. "And I'm worried I'm not going to see you much anymore."

"What, you really think you could get rid of us that easily?" Joey smirked.

Despite himself, VJ laughed.

"We were just about to personally invite you to our party tonight before you rushed out."

"Party?"

"To welcome us to our new home," Joey explained. "You were our guest of honour."

He beamed at her, agreeing immediately.

"And do you think you could be friendly to Elijah?" Joey asked hopefully.

VJ sighed and returned his gaze to the sea.

"Is he nice?" he asked.

"He's very nice," Joey said. "Actually, when he first arrived I was pretty nervous around him."

VJ turned back to her.

"Really?"

Joey nodded.

"You see, when I was a little girl, I went to the church here," she ventured. "But when I was there, some of the people weren't very nice to me. And because Elijah is a Reverend, I was scared that maybe he'd be unkind to me too. But he's been lovely. He's done me a lot of good, you know. He's helped to heal some past hurts."

"He has?"

"Yes," Joey said. "And he and your Mum really care about each other so I think maybe you should give him a chance. Even if you decide you don't like him, you can at least know you tried."

VJ nodded.

"Okay," he agreed. "I'll try."


"I'd stay away from that woman if I were you," Colleen said while she made Elijah his drink.

"What woman?" he asked curiously.

"Marilyn," she said. "She's horrible."

"Oh, she seems very nice to me," Elijah said, glancing back at the blonde who appeared to have a captive audience in Leah, Charlie and Ruby.

"She broke my Lance's heart," the older woman explained sourly. "I've never forgiven her."

"Well, maybe it would be nice to try," Elijah ventured. "If we believe in a God who can forgive us anything then I think it's our duty to try and carry that out on earth."

Colleen frowned as she handed his coffee over and accepted his cash. Maybe he had a point. She hadn't thought of it quite like that before.


Martha anxiously followed Gina into Xavier's vacant bedroom.

"Gina, I really don't think Liam's right about this," she said as her ex-boyfriend's mother began to rummage around. "I don't think he's dealing drugs."

"He's done it before," Gina reminded him. "And what with everything Hugo did, who knows what Xavier could be up to?"

"He's not like Hugo," Martha said seriously. "He's a good kid."

"A good kid who's hiding drugs in his room."

"He's not hiding drugs!" Martha insisted. "I'm sure of it."

She struggled over whether to tell Gina that she knew exactly what her son was hiding and where it had come from. Deciding to stay quiet, she set about distracting Gina from her hunt.


VJ walked back into the Diner clutching Joey's hand. He objected to too much physical contact with his mother in public but he took it from Joey every chance he got. He just hoped that nobody had cottoned on to how much he loved her.

"The wanderer returns," Leah said happily as Joey pulled up two chairs around the table.

"Sorry for running out," VJ said quietly.

He turned at looked at Elijah.

"Are you Mum's new boyfriend?" he asked.

"Yes," the Reverend replied, extending his hand. "My name's Elijah. I'm pleased to meet you."

VJ glanced at Joey who nodded. VJ then shook Elijah's hand.

"I'm guest of honour at the party tonight," he told his mother proudly.

Charlie looked amused. Joey shrugged a little helplessly and took her girlfriend's hand.

"So what did I miss?" she asked.

"Marilyn was telling us about some strange dreams she's been having," Leah explained. "And Elijah was about to give us a sermon about forgiveness."

She grinned at her boyfriend to show that she was joking. They were interrupted by Charlie's phone beeping.

"Watson dropped us in it with Angelo," she told Joey.

"About the party?" Ruby asked.

Charlie nodded and explained that he was apparently feeling very down and left out.

"Okay, fine!" Joey relented, the concept of forgiveness charging through her brain. "But don't expect me to be nice to him."


Next time... Xavier tells Ruby about Hugo's money, Marilyn struggles with more strange dreams and Charlie and Joey prepare for their party...