Hello lovely readers. I hope you're enjoying the story. I know Angelo is a swine but I have to keep him around for a bit because I have plans for him! But I promise that he'll get over Charlie soon enough. What his next obsession will be though, I can't say! Thank you all for your reading and reviewing. I take every message to heart so it really helps when you say nice things! Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy Two
Music bleared from two large speakers attached to Joey's iPod as she, Charlie and Ruby made the final preparations for the party. They had laid out the food, chilled the drinks and got dressed up ready to greet their guests. The whole town had been invited and they were looking forward to an exciting evening ahead.
An hour later, the party was in full swing and although they were busy playing hostess, Charlie and Joey were having a wonderful time. In one corner, Joey was chatting away animatedly with Alf, Irene and Marilyn, who was still fretting about her dream. In another corner, Charlie was laughing over something Miles had said to her, Leah and Elijah. And on the sofa, Ruby, Xavier, Annie, Romeo, Nicole and Aden were all in a deep discussion about something that only teenagers would really find interesting.
"I'm so sick of this, Martha," Liam said, venting his frustration as the most complicated woman in his life continued to criticise him.
"Stop being so sensitive," Martha scolded. "All I was saying was that it wasn't your place to tell Gina about Xavier's box. It's none of our business."
"And you've said the same damn thing about nine thousand times!"
"So?"
"So, I'm sick of it," Liam said. "Plus, if I think someone might be dealing drugs from my house then I think I'm entitled to make an issue of it!"
"It's not your house," Martha pointed out.
"Yeah and it never will be," Liam snapped. "So I'm going to move out the first chance I get."
With that, he stormed out of the party.
"Tony!" Rachel called desperately when her husband stormed out of the house after Liam.
He marched on regardless and Rachel hurried over to Martha who had sunk down on a chair looking upset. Charlie and Joey also approached her from opposite ends of the room.
"What happened?" Charlie asked worriedly.
"We're just fighting all the time," Martha admitted. "If it's not about us, it's about Xavier and..."
She shook her head unhappily.
"He's moving out."
On the sofa, Xavier glanced awkwardly at Ruby who held his hand, silently encouraging him to stay quiet. Thanks to their conversation with Colleen, they at least had a potential hiding place for the money that was causing so much trouble. And it meant that they wouldn't have to deceive anyone about it either.
Joey headed into the kitchen to pour more wine for herself, Charlie, Martha and Rachel. She tried not to fret that the house warming was failing.
"Joey?" said a voice behind her.
She spun round and came face to face with Angelo. She frowned.
"Yes?"
"I was just hoping that we could make peace," Angelo ventured. "I mean, I think Charlie's alright with me now but you've hardly looked at me all evening. And when you have, you've looked like you wish I was dead."
Joey sighed and turned back to pouring wine.
"I don't have a problem with you, Angelo," she said.
"You don't?"
"I don't care about you enough to have a problem with you," she said, more venomously than she meant. "At the end of the day, you and I are never going to be friends, are we? You're still in love with my girlfriend and you'd chew your right arm off to steal her from me."
"Yeah, okay, that's a fair assessment," Angelo admitted.
"Plus, you stalked her," Joey added. "You followed her around like a lunatic. You really freaked us both out and I'm in serious doubt that it was the first time."
The police officer shifted uncomfortably but didn't speak. Joey moved to stand in front of him, looking him directly in the eye.
"So why don't we agree to not be friends?" she suggested. "I'll tolerate you as best I can if you try and stop being such a prick. For Charlie's sake. She has this need to see the best in you so why don't we both try our hardest not to hate each other?"
He shook her extended hand in agreement.
"Sounds good to me," he said, nodding.
With a vague smiled, Joey took four wine glasses back to her friends and partner in the lounge.
Aside from the argument between Liam and Martha, which had led to another row between Liam and Tony, the party was going well. It was nearing midnight and although some people had retired early and gone home, lots more people were having great fun. Leah had intended to leave when VJ got sleepy but he had been happy to curl up in Charlie and Joey's room until his mother wanted to leave. The music was louder but not deafeningly so and a few guests had started to dance including Watson and Monica and Nicole and a less than enthusiastic Aden. Sitting beside each other a little awkwardly, Romeo just about plucked up the courage to ask Annie to dance with him.
"So far, so good," Joey remarked, stepped up behind Charlie and wrapping her arms around her waist.
She placed a gentle kiss on her girlfriend's shoulder. Charlie smiled and turned her head in order to press their lips together.
"It's been a fun night," she agreed. "And I'm sure I saw you having a conversation with Angelo earlier..."
Joey nodded and sighed.
"We've agreed to dislike each other in a more peaceful capacity," she explained.
Charlie turned around properly, placing her hands on Joey's shoulders.
"I'm proud of you," she said.
Suddenly Martha charged past them in the direction of the bathroom. Leah and Rachel rushed after her and even over the sound of the stereo, everyone heard her retching. Joey hurried into the kitchen to get a glass of water before she and Charlie made their way towards the crowded bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, with several people having left already, the party was winding down and Martha just about looked human again. She cursed the fact that her hangover had started already. She hadn't truly enjoyed being drunk yet. And she felt especially bitter about Liam.
"I need to go home," she said unhappily.
"Right, yeah," Leah said, feeling awkward as she wasn't quite ready to leave yet.
"I can take you if you like?" Angelo offered.
Joey looked sceptical but Martha accepted gratefully and wobbled to her feet. Angelo stepped forward and caught hold of her hand, leading her out of the apartment.
"See?" Charlie said, nudging Joey. "He's not all bad."
"Don't push it," Joey smirked.
At two thirty, most of the guests had left. VJ was still asleep in Charlie and Joey's room and Ruby had said a rather passionate goodbye to Xavier before crashing out herself. Drinking the last of a couple of bottles of wine between them, Charlie, Joey, Leah, Elijah, Tony and Rachel still had Martha on their minds.
"I mean, Liam said it wasn't his fault but considering his previous..." Tony said, shaking his head.
"In fairness to him, I don't think he's been out of order," Charlie ventured. "Martha's been all over the place and she's admitted herself that she hasn't been all that nice to him."
Joey nodded, backing her girlfriend up.
"Honestly, I don't think it's got anything to do with Liam," Rachel said. "I don't think she's grieved properly for Hugo. I mean, where do you even start with something like that?"
Leah sighed heavily.
"I have no idea," she admitted. "But I think we've got to help her find a way to help herself. After everything she's been through..."
Having taken a rather emotional Martha back to the farm and stayed with her while she drank enough water to sober her up, Angelo stood to leave. He could hardly believe the time. They had been talking for quite a while and it felt kind of nice to have a real conversation with someone. For a drunk woman, Martha was still largely coherent and he remembered now why he had liked her so much back when his life had been simple. Jack had been alive, Martha had been his wife and Angelo had just been a cheeky chappy, out to work hard and play harder – preferably with Charlie.
"Well, I'd better leave you to it," he said, handing Martha a final glass of water.
"I'm going to spend the whole night peeing," she frowned.
Angelo chuckled.
"Better than throwing up," he remarked.
Martha nodded.
"Yes," she said. "Better."
"Well, I guess I'll see you later," Angelo said, moving to get off the sofa.
Without warning, Martha leant in and kissed him.
As Summer Bay began to sleep, Charlie and Joey were happily getting ready for bed. Leah and Elijah had extracted a very sleepy VJ and taken him home and everyone was looking forward to a peaceful Sunday.
"Well, I'd consider the party a success," Joey said, slipping into bed beside Charlie.
"Me too," Charlie said. "Aside from Martha, maybe. That was quite painful."
Joey nodded.
"I hope she'll be alright," she said.
"I'm sure she will be," Charlie replied. "She's made of pretty strong stuff."
Joey nodded and then yawned.
"Are you tired?" Charlie asked with a little pout.
Catching her meaning, Joey smirked and pulled her closer.
"Never too tired," she promised.
Angelo arrived back at his apartment, his head a rather confused place. Martha had kissed him. For a moment there, deep in his eternal loneliness, he had been tempted to kiss her back. She was most definitely attractive and she, of all people, seemed not to have judged him quite as harshly as others about the Charlie fiasco. But she would have hated herself in the morning if anything had happened. She was too drunk and too emotional. He knew it would be taking advantage if he'd gone anywhere near her. And he did not need another bad decision on his conscience. Still, it had been a very tricky thing to turn her down gently and walk away.
Marilyn woke from her dream with a jolt. Rubbing her eyes and with images of Amber whirling around her brain, she felt compelled to go outside. Padding down the stairs, she pushed open the front door. She stopped walking in shock as she saw Miles tagging the caravan with orange spray paint.
Next time... Leah seeks more of Joey's help with VJ, Gina objects to Xavier taking up boxing and Charlie is unhappy with Ruby's latest scheme...
