Chapter Three Hundred and Thirty One

On a break from work that just wasn't long enough, Charlie headed out to the town centre in order to meet Joey and Ruby for lunch. She was tied into work every day until the Hugo case was resolved, which was tiring and irritating, especially when she had to have so much to do with Angelo. But, as she had told Joey, the harder she worked on the case now, the sooner it would come to its conclusion. Then they could all go back to their normal lives and move on.

"Hey, guys," she greeted, joining her girlfriend and her daughter at an outside table at one of their favourite Yabbie Creek cafes.

"Yay! You're here!" Joey said eagerly, greeting her with a kiss.

"Do you two never get bored of seeing each other?" Ruby wondered.

"Nope," the couple said in unison, making all three of them laugh.

"Come on, you can't tell me you don't get bored of seeing Xavier," Joey coaxed.

Ruby shrugged. She was indeed getting bored of seeing Xavier these days. Not only was she struggling to keep a lid on her feelings for Liam, Xavier represented lies and deception to her now. He and the rest of his family were harbouring a known criminal and forcing her to deliberately keep it a secret from her parents. Their relationship, which had once been so fun and easy, was now feeling more like a burden.

"Trouble in paradise?" Charlie asked worriedly.

"Nah… just… I don't know," Ruby replied. "Things just aren't the same. Put it this way, I don't see myself growing up and moving in with him or marrying him or anything like that. I don't think we're going to have the same level of commitment that you two have, or Leah and Elijah."


Alf rolled his eyes when Colleen marched into the Surf Club with a false smile plastered on her face. He felt distinctly uncomfortable about the situation between them and Marilyn. It had started out as a bit of fun to teach Colleen a lesson for gossiping. But he was concerned that it was about to spiral out of control.

"I'm glad I caught the two of you together," Colleen said, getting right to the point. "Not that you ever seem to be apart these days."

Alf and Marilyn exchanged anxious looks.

"But I've decided that if my brother insists on going out with someone like you, then I have no choice but to accept you and welcome you to our family."

Her words didn't match her face. She looked like she had swallowed a wasp.

"You will never be a sister to me, Marilyn Chambers," she added. "But I accept your relationship, albeit grudgingly."

Without waiting for either party to respond, she left.


"So, do you think you guys will get married?" Ruby asked bluntly.

The three of them were halfway through their lunch. She'd expected them to blanch and panic at the mention of a wedding but not even Charlie reacted badly. She just sipped her juice and smiled.

"One day," she said evening. "Not immediately. We don't think there's any rush and things are going to get seriously busy with opening the restaurant and everything. But yeah, one day, I reckon we will."

Joey nodded and smiled her agreement.

"Awesome," Ruby grinned. "Do I get to be bridesmaid?"

"Of course!" Charlie laughed. "As if there would be anyone else!"

"Good," Ruby said. "As long as you've got your priorities straight."

Joey smirked at her.

"Yes, Rubes," she giggled. "When we get married, you will of course be our priority."

"Damn straight!" Ruby said. "Or, well… maybe not straight…"

Charlie snorted and shook her head.


Xavier clenched his fists and his jaw as he saw Liam sitting on the sandy beach with his guitar. Taking a breath, he marched over to confront him.

"Hey," his teacher and former housemate greeted, not reading his mood.

"I want you to stay the hell away from Ruby," Xavier warned, towering of him as much as possible.

Liam furrowed his brow.

"Excuse me?" he said.

"I know there's something going on between you and I'm telling you that it stop right here, right now," Xavier said.

Liam continued to look confused.

"Xave, I have no idea what you're talking about," he admitted.

"You and Ruby!" Xavier exploded. "I know you like her and I know she likes you!"

"We're just singing together," Liam insisted.

Xavier shook his head.

"We both know that it's more than that and if you carry on, I'm telling Mum exactly what kind of person operates out of her school."

Denying Liam a right to reply, Xavier stormed away.


After lunch, Charlie gave Joey an extended hug goodbye.

"I get another short break at around five," she whispered.

"You do?"

Charlie nodded, her lips pressed against her girlfriend's ear.

"I was wondering if you wanted to meet me and go shopping," she whispered.

Joey drew back, confused.

"Shopping?" she said, pulling a face.

Charlie merely raised her eyebrows. Catching on, Joey grinned.

"Oh, shopping," she said. "Count me in."

From behind them Ruby decided that she did not want to know what they were talking about.


"I just think this has gone far enough," Alf said tiredly.

He and Marilyn were still at the Surf Club and he had spent about two hours begging her to go and tell Colleen that their engagement was just a joke.

"She hasn't learned her lesson yet," Marilyn protested.

Alf sighed again and began wiping the bar surface with a cloth.

"I just can't see any good coming from playing a trick on her," he said.

"Um… her mortified face when she realises she fell for it?" Marilyn replied.

Alf shook his head.

"We have to tell her the truth," he decided.

But Marilyn would not be moved.


Having left Joey the moment she spotted Liam on the beach, playing his guitar, Ruby approached her musical partner.

"Hey!" she greeted warmly, seating herself beside him.

He stopped playing and looked rather awkward.

"Hey," he said distractedly.

"Is everything okay?" the teenager worried.

Liam studied her face. He recalled his discussion with Xavier. Deciding that the kid was probably just a jealous boyfriend because Liam got so much of Ruby's time, he opted to ignore the situation.

"Everything's great," he decided. "In fact, I started to write a new song today for our album. Want to hear it?"

"Yes please!" Ruby enthused, breaking into a wide smile.

From a distance, Xavier watched. He was absolutely seething.


Next time… Charlie and Joey experiment with a new purchase…