Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty Three
It was early on Sunday morning when Ross and Joey sat on the edge of the pier, fishing together like they had discussed many times.
"Without getting all sentimental," Ross ventured, turning away from his rod and studying the face of the woman who was essentially his daughter in law. "But I truly am happy that you're part of Charlie's life. I've never seen her as happy as when she's with you. I feel safe to know that... that whatever happens to me, she and Ruby will always be looked after. They'll always have you. Won't they?"
Joey jolted when she realised that it was an actual question. She smiled.
"I will be around for as long as Charlie and Ruby need or want me," she said honestly. "Personally, I'm hoping that it's forever."
"Me too," Ross said. "And I think it will be."
Charlie, Ruby and Morag stopped by at the Diner on their way out to Yabbie Creek. Charlie insisted that it was virtually impossible to start a day without caffeine and they'd run out of too many things at home.
"Ah, now I'm ready to shop," she decided, finishing the last of her cup.
Ruby giggled while Morag stood, eager to get going. Leah came over to clear their mugs away.
"Going anywhere nice?" she asked.
"Just into Yabbie Creek," Ruby said. "We're having girl time while Joey and Ross have... boy time? Fish time?"
She looked puzzled. Charlie snorted with laughter.
"Let's just call it bonding time," she said.
Ruby nodded, satisfied with the answer.
"How come you're here anyway?" Charlie asked her former landlady. "I thought you, Elijah and VJ were going away for a few days?"
"We are," Leah said. "Elijah's going to take us to Vinnie's grave. Hopefully it will grant us all some kind of peace. But Aden called in sick so I had to cover his shift."
Charlie frowned. There was definitely something not right about that particular station. But with her cop hat off and her relaxed, family fun hat on, she declined to comment.
"I hope it all goes well," Morag said sincerely to Leah. "Charlie and Joey filled me in. I hope that's okay?"
"It's fine," Leah assured her. "And thanks."
Out on the beach, Elijah happened upon Miles who was staring blankly out to sea. Moving to sit beside him, the Reverend immediately but gently asked how he was.
"I'm seeing Rabbit less already," the teacher replied unhappily.
Elijah shifted, trying to read him.
"Is that a good thing?" he asked.
"No," Miles replied. "She gave me something to believe in. And now it feels like everything's fading away."
"You could always come to church if you need something to believe in," Elijah said.
Miles turned, looking a little surprised.
"Wouldn't that be a bit hypocritical?" he asked. "Aren't I meant to come to church because I've found a new faith in God?"
"How do you think people develop a new faith in God?" Elijah asked. "You can find God and God can find you in so many different ways. It doesn't matter if it begins as a selfish need. That's what God's good at – helping people through the worst times in their lives. And you may find, when things are better, that you want to continue the relationship."
Joey and Ross took a taxi into Yabbie Creek where the plan was to meet up with Charlie, Morag and Ruby for lunch. They'd had a good day so far. Ross had admitted that he felt more peaceful than he had in a while and Joey was glad to hear it.
"Where are we going?" he asked for the second time.
In the driver's seat, the cabbie snorted. Joey was about to launch into a tirade when Ross put a hand on her arm and shook his head.
"It's not worth it," he said sadly.
Joey frowned and sat back in her seat.
"We're going for lunch with Charlie, Ruby and Morag," she said. "And we're going to tell them all about our awesome catch."
She grinned. Ross nodded, smiling eagerly back.
"I've just got to pop into the station," Charlie said, pulling into the car park and taking the others quite by surprise.
"No!" Ruby protested. "No work! You promised!"
"I'll be about thirty seconds, I swear," Charlie said, parking and jumping out of the vehicle before her daughter could complain further.
Martha sighed unhappily. Following her Granddad's advice, she had forced herself to leave the house and go and visit Gina. But she felt even less peaceful than she had before.
"I don't understand how you don't miss him," Martha said sadly.
"I do miss him," Gina admitted. "I miss the little boy that I raised and loved. But he turned into a monster. Hugo was never real with any of us, Martha. He was capable of untold evil. I miss the person I thought he was. As for the person he really was... well, I'm glad he's gone. He didn't deserve to live and be happy, not after everything he did to those poor people. And that's only the stuff we knew about. Who knows how much worse things might have been?"
"But..." Martha faltered.
"You need to forget him," Gina said firmly. "You need to do whatever it takes to heal your life. And you need to remove Hugo far, far away from your mind."
"Well, how about dinner at ours tonight?" Charlie offered.
Watson was back from her holiday with Monica and was clearly bouncing around on cloud nine. Charlie was happy for her. Watson deserved some love and happiness. And Monica seemed to be perfect for her so far.
"That sounds great," the Senior Constable enthused. "What time?"
"What time what?" Angelo asked, appearing behind Charlie, who jumped a little.
She was trying to feel peaceful about the whole stalking thing, trying to chalk it up to an error in judgement. But she still felt a little unnerved that he had spent weeks watching her so intently, analysing her every move and looking for an opportunity to break up her relationship.
"Watson and Monica are coming round for dinner tonight and before you ask, it's a double date kind of thing and you're not being invited to be the fifth wheel."
Angelo frowned, shrugged and walked off.
"How about eight o'clock?" Charlie suggested to Watson.
Joey leaned towards the driver's window in order to pay for the taxi.
"For the record, you shouldn't be so judgemental about people," she said when Ross was out of earshot.
The driver, a portly, unshaven man in his forties, just shrugged.
"I can't help laughing at amusing conversation," he said unapologetically.
"Yeah, well amusing conversation for you, is a tragic situation for us," Joey told him. "The man you were laughing at is battling with Alzheimer's. And I'm pretty sure that he's contributed a hell of a lot more to this world than you ever could. I've taken your ID number down and I will be making a complaint to your bosses."
Paying him not a cent above the fare price, Joey turned and escorted Ross to the cafe they had arranged to meet the others at, still quietly fuming.
Feeling lost and upset, Nicole trudged out of Britt's office and then out of the building completely. Clutching her portfolio in one hand, she pulled out her mobile phone and called Aden. She'd plucked up the courage to confront Britt about stealing her designs but it had not gone well. Nicole felt in a worse position than she had been before, which considering how miserable she'd been, felt like quite a feat. Her mood further depleted when she heard Aden's voicemail. He was so caught up with Justin at the moment that he never had time for her. She gathered that he didn't have time for Joey anymore either. Sighing heavily, Nicole continued walking. She had never felt so alone.
"Are you okay, Joey?" Ruby asked worriedly.
The group of five were sat around a table at a cafe but Joey's mind seemed to be elsewhere. She flashed a smile and shook herself out of her mood.
"I'm fine," she said. "I was just up really, really early."
She grinned at Ross who returned the gesture but looked a little concerned. Charlie rolled her eyes.
"I still have no idea how getting up early and going fishing could be fun," she admitted.
Joey opened her mouth to explain.
"I wasn't asking for enlightenment!" Charlie cut in quickly. "I love you and you're adorable but I may throw myself off a bridge if you explain the wonder of fishing one more time."
Joey pouted. Charlie leant in and kissed her.
"It's fine," Joey said dramatically. "I choose to feel offended."
Ross touched her hand and searched her eyes.
"You really don't need to be upset about the taxi driver," he said firmly but gently.
"What taxi driver?" Morag asked.
"He was just a little obnoxious," Ross said. "And I gather that you said your piece when you thought I couldn't hear you..."
Joey looked mortified.
"And I was very touched by how much you care," Ross continued. "I'm grateful. But it's done now so let's just forget about it – no pun intended."
Joey couldn't suppress a snort of laughter. The other women looked bewildered but Ross couldn't help but laugh too.
"Are we supposed to understand what you're talking about?" Ruby wondered.
"No," Joey and Ross replied in unison.
Elijah drove out of the Bay with Leah beside him in the passenger seat. In the back, VJ sighed heavily, shifting his position and looking out of the window.
"I can't believe you forgot my DS," he complained, glaring at the back of his mother's head.
"Good job I bought mine really," Elijah remarked.
Leah and VJ both looked surprised.
"The bag beside you contains a DS and several games," Elijah explained. "Feel free."
"You play video games?" Leah asked curiously as VJ delved into the bag.
"I have many layers," Elijah replied.
Having waved goodbye to Ross and Morag and allowed Ruby to spend the evening with Xavier, Charlie and Joey headed out to buy food for their dinner with Watson and Monica.
"Seriously," Joey complained lightly. "You couldn't have invited them round tomorrow night?"
"I was being spontaneous!" Charlie said as they headed back out of the Diner where they had succumbed to buying desert.
She linked her arm with Joey's and offered her most innocent smile.
"Besides, we haven't spent proper time with them for ages," Charlie said.
"One day wouldn't have mattered..."
She flashed a smile to show that she was joking, at least for the most part. It was all very well for Charlie to do the invitations but they both knew that Joey would have to do the food.
"Hey, there's Miles," Joey remarked, spotting the curly haired man trudging up the beach.
They waved and he approached.
"You look very thoughtful," Joey said. "How are things?"
"I'm pondering church," he admitted.
"Church?"
"Elijah said that it's perfectly okay to come to church even if I don't believe in God and just need something to cling to," he said. "But that doesn't sound right, does it?"
"I don't think God really minds how you start your relationship," Joey told him. "It's just a wonderful thing when someone chooses to start it at all."
Miles chewed his lip.
"That's pretty much what Elijah said," he admitted.
Joey looked pretty pleased with herself.
"You didn't go to church today though," Miles pointed out doubtfully. "Aren't you supposed to go every week?"
"It's not really like that," Joey said. "There isn't a forced attendance. Normally I go but this weekend I was bonding with my father in law."
She and Charlie exchanged a happy smile.
"But if you come next week, you can totally sit with us," Joey offered.
"Maybe," Miles conceded, wandering away. "Maybe."
That evening, with VJ fast asleep in the tent, Elijah and Leah were sitting by a makeshift fire.
"How are you feeling about tomorrow?" Elijah asked.
"I don't really know," Leah admitted. "I think it's one of those things that I won't understand until I'm really there. But I know I have to be strong for VJ."
Elijah nodded.
"I'll be here for whatever you need," he promised.
Ruby arrived home from Xavier's house to find Charlie, Joey, Watson and Monica particularly merry and giggly.
"Guess who drank all the wine!" she commented.
"As long as it wasn't you!" Charlie remarked.
Rolling her eyes, Ruby headed to bed.
"Ugh, I can't believe we've got to work tomorrow," Watson said. "Being a grown up sucks."
She pulled an unhappy face. Monica leant in and kissed her, prompting Charlie and Joey to coo over how sappy the couple had become.
"Pot, kettle!" Watson cried. "You two are the sappiest people ever. At least we've been together for less than a year. You two will be the same in fifty years!"
"I hope so," Joey remarked.
She smiled fondly, thinking about her conversation with Ross earlier in the day. Every day, it felt like more of her dreams were coming true.
Next time... Aden misdirects the police on the hunt for Larry's body, Leah and VJ visit Vinnie's grave and Joey tries to help Nicole solve her problems...
