Chapter Three Hundred and Forty Nine

Ruby took the long way home back from school and walked at a snail's pace. Liam hadn't really said much in response to her declaration of love. He'd just mumbled a few vowel sounds and run off in panic. Now she felt both stupid and rejected. She didn't know how she was ever going to face him again.


"What on earth am I meant to do now?" Liam wondered.

He'd come to find Nicole at home, desperate for advice over how to play things with Ruby.

"You need to face up to things," his ex-girlfriend declared. "I mean, running away from her wasn't exactly the mature thing to do. And you are meant to be the grown up here."

Liam sighed anxiously. That was, of course, part of the problem. Perhaps once upon a time, he could have been interested in Ruby, back when he hadn't cared all that much about age gaps. After all, she was only two years younger than Nicole and he had been besotted with her. But things were different now. Ruby was only a teenager and he was indeed a grown up. He was clean living and attempting to embrace a professional, responsible life. Even if there was something between them, ethics and the law would prevent him from doing anything about it.

"How did I get into this mess?" he wondered.

"Well, you've got to stop being so hot!" Nicole giggled.

Liam paused their walk around the caravan park and glared at her.

"You're not helping," he said.


Ruby had finally gone home. She'd burst into tears the moment she'd seen her parents making dinner and promptly told them all her woes.

"I'm sorry to say it because I know it's not very helpful but I'm relieved that he doesn't feel the same way about you," Charlie admitted as gently as possible.

Ruby's heartbreak doubled.

"She just means because it's inappropriate," Joey added. "He's too old for you. And he's a teacher in your school. You can't have a relationship."

"The age gap isn't that big," Ruby complained, ignoring the school comment.

"But it's at a really important age," Charlie said. "A few years between you when you're in your twenties or thirties isn't such a big deal. But when you're sixteen…"

"I'm nearly seventeen," Ruby interjected.

"Which means you're still sixteen," Charlie pointed out. "You're at such a vulnerable age, Ruby. He's too old for you."

"But what if he doesn't want to work with me anymore?" Ruby asked.

Charlie kept her arm around her daughter.

"We'll just have to see what happens," she said. "Maybe you can still sing together if you're careful about boundaries."

Ruby nodded but continued to weep.


On Saturday, Charlie and Joey went out for their semi-regular run across the beach. And as usual, they were very competitive about it.

"I win!" Joey declared jubilantly.

Charlie groaned and flopped down on the sand. Joey shifted to lean over her, kissing her lips.

"Losers gets to shout breakfast," she whispered.

Charlie groaned again but allowed her girlfriend to haul her to her feet as they made their way to the Diner.


Liam was nervous as he waited for Ruby in the Surf Club. Having given up trying to avoid her, he had arranged for them to meet in a public place to discuss the future of their musical partnership. He was really just relieved that Charlie hadn't decked him, although he was quick to remind himself that he hadn't actually done anything wrong.

"Hi," Ruby said, anxiously hovering near his table.

"Hey," he replied, gesturing for her to sit down.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet me," Ruby ventured when she was settled. "This whole thing has had me out of my mind."

"Me too," Liam admitted.

"Sorry," Ruby said.


On their way into the Diner, Charlie and Joey almost collided with Jill, who was clutching some sort of business card and looking very serious.

"Hi, Alf!" Joey called cheerfully when she saw her boss.

He turned from where he had been ordering a coffee and looked rather anxious as he came to join them at their table.

"What's up?" Joey wondered.

"I appear to be going on a date with Marilyn," he ventured. "And I'm not entirely sure how it happened!"

Charlie and Joey both grinned in amusement.

"Yeah, she mentioned it the other day," Charlie admitted.

"I'm really not sure it's such a good idea," Alf said doubtfully. "I mean, I am too old for her, which is how the thing started. Colleen insulted me and we tried to bite back. But… she's one of my closest friends. I really don't want to ruin our friendship."

"Well, just keep it casual then," Joey suggested. "It doesn't have to be a 'date' date, does it? You could just be two friends going for dinner and seeing what happens."

"You think?"

"That's how Joey and I started," Charlie revealed. "We were really close friends and things just went from there."

Alf looked alarmed.

"But I don't think I want to go anywhere!" he said.

Joey chuckled softly.

"Then it doesn't have to," she said, patting his hand.

Alf heaved a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Hey," he said, his eyes lighting up. "I've got a good idea!"


"So, we're set?" Liam checked.

He and his student had decided that as long as Ruby was careful to keep any feelings in check, the two of them could continue working together. Both of them felt a little unsettled. Liam was nervous about getting into some sort of trouble by blurring professional lines and Ruby wasn't convinced her feelings for him wouldn't just continue to grow. But they were both willing to try.

"Yes," Ruby confirmed. "It all sounds good to me."

Liam extended his hand and she shook it. Grinning, they both felt a little more at ease.


"What's this?" Romeo asked when something fell out of his mother's purse.

"Oh!" Jill said awkwardly, trying to take the card from him.

She was too late. His eyes lit up as he realised the card contained details of a local AA meeting.

"You're going to AA?" he asked hopefully.

Without giving her a chance to reply, he pulled her into a hug. He was overjoyed.


Alf left the Diner in a much better mood than he had been in for a few days. Charlie and Joey were both rather bemused.

"Did we just agree to go on a double date with Marilyn and your boss?" Charlie wondered.

"I think we did," Joey replied, furrowing her brow. "I'm not quite sure how that happened."


That evening, Miles was busy cooking dinner for far too many people. Romeo had passed on the news that Jill was going to AA and really trying to make an effort with him. In response, Miles had suggested a family and extended family meal to welcome her to Summer Bay and show how much everyone cared. Subsequently, Miles was now preparing dinner for himself, Jill, Romeo, Alf, Nicole, Marilyn, Leah, Elijah, VJ, Colleen, Charlie, Joey and Ruby. And he was starting to think he had bitten off more than he could chew.

"Hello?" a voice called through the house.

Ducking out of the kitchen, Miles approached the door and found Tony and Rachel waiting for him.

"Hi," he greeted. "What can I do for you?"

"We were just in the neighbourhood and thought we'd say hello," Rachel said. "But you're obviously busy so maybe we'll come back."

"No, no, come in," Miles said, leading the way into the kitchen. "As long as you don't mind me cooking while we chat."

Rachel and Tony both surveyed the mess.

"Do you need any help?" Rachel asked.


Charlie and Joey had had a nice day. After their run and breakfast and random chat with Alf, they'd gone home to change and spend the rest of the day looking for venues for the restaurant. They had seen some nice places but none were really close enough to home. The whole point was to provide a restaurant unique to Summer Bay and that was something Joey was desperate to hold onto.

Now, Charlie, Joey and Ruby were getting ready for dinner at Miles's house. They were all rather touched to have been invited and Joey hoped that Jill wouldn't be annoyed. It was dinner in her honour, after all, and she didn't seem to like her very much.

"Rubes, are you ready to go?" Charlie called, leaving the bedroom.

"Nearly!" the teenager called back.


Jill arrived at the nearly empty Surf Club and was pleased to see John at a table with what looked like a non-alcoholic drink and a newspaper.

"Hi," she said, sitting down before she was invited. "How are you?"

Everyone had gathered at Miles's house – everyone but Jill, that is.

"I'll go and find her," Romeo said glumly. "And I bet I know exactly where she is."

"We'll come with you," Nicole decided, grabbing Ruby's hand and dragging her out of the house after Romeo.

"If this dinner spoils, I may hang myself," Miles muttered.

"It'll be fine," Joey assured him.

She and Leah took control by helping him keep everything warm while they waited for the guest of honour to show up.


"How are you feeling?" Charlie asked, approaching Alf who was behaving more than a little awkwardly around Marilyn.

"Like I should cancel," Alf replied.


Romeo was furious when he spotted Jill in the Surf Club, laughing with John.

"Romeo, wait…!" Nicole tried.

But he was already marching towards his mother.

"Romeo!" Jill said.

"How could you?" her son demanded.

"How could I what?"

"Start drinking again!" Romeo yelled, snatching her glass and smashing on the floor.

The barman quickly hurried over and attempted to persuade them all to leave.

"I was drinking orange juice!" Jill insisted.

Nicole and Ruby hung back awkwardly as everyone ignored the barman.

"I don't believe you!" Romeo said, sounding more upset than angry now. "If it wasn't booze then you wouldn't have been late!"

Jill looked confused and then studied her watch.

"I am so sorry," she said quickly. "I just got to talking and lost track of time…"

Romeo shook his head, torn between wanting to believe her and doubting every word she said.


Back at the house, everyone was making small talk. Charlie had ended up talking at length to Marilyn and Alf and the 'couple' had cleared the air about their anxieties regarding their date. Deciding that they didn't want to ruin their friendship, the evening was still on but only as friends. And Charlie and Joey were still invited.

Joey, meanwhile, was helping Leah keep poor Miles calm. Everyone stopped when Romeo, Ruby and Nicole reappeared with Jill. Tony's face fell when he spotted John behind Romeo's mother.

"What the hell is he doing here?" he muttered under his breath.

Rachel caught hold of his hand and warned him not to lose his temper.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," Jill said.

Charlie noted that at least she looked sober.

"Is there room for another one?"


The meal had mostly gone well. The food itself was delicious and nobody complained that it wasn't quite as hot as it should have been. However, the company was tense. Romeo seemed angry at Jill and Tony seemed angry at John and therefore, a lot of awkwardness resided round the table.

"So, Joey," Miles said. "I hear you got the bank loan."

Jill swallowed a retort, still annoyed that her son had offered her his money.

"Well, Charlie got it," Joey said brightly. "But yes, it looks like we're all good to go."

"We just need to find a venue," Charlie added.

"Actually…" John began.

"What the hell are you playing at?" Tony interrupted nastily.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"I was just going to suggest to Joey…" John tried.

"You shouldn't even be here!" Tony snapped. "Does my sister know that you're still running around with this trollop?"

"Tony!" Rachel scolded.

A little anxious at the conflict, Charlie and Joey held hands under the table.

"She's not a trollop," Romeo said evenly. "But you're right. They shouldn't be together. It's wrong to mess with other people's feelings."

"Maybe we could talk about something else?" Miles tried, not wanting his evening to be ruined.

"Yes," Marilyn agreed. "What's the theme of your…?"

"You make me sick," Tony interrupted again.

"Maybe we should take this outside," John challenged.

Without missing a beat, both men headed out the door. The rest of the dinner guests exchanged nervous glances.

"Should we…?" Charlie wondered.

"You're not in cop mode now, Charlie," Ruby said firmly. "Leave them to it."

"They made peace again last time they had a scrap, didn't they?" Alf remembered.

"They'll get over it," Rachel agreed, although she wasn't convinced.

To be honest, she was sick and tired of her husband's feud with John Palmer.


After a particularly interesting evening, where John and Tony had yet again failed to have a fight, Charlie, Joey and Ruby were relieved to come home. Still feeling tender over everything that had happened with Liam, Ruby headed to bed immediately to try and get some sleep.

"We should take a holiday," Charlie decided, as she and Joey got ready for bed as well.

Joey grinned.

"That sounds good," she agreed.

"Yeah," Charlie sighed, slipping beneath the blankets. "After the whole Hugo debacle and before we get really busy with the restaurant. I think we deserve to treat ourselves."


Next time… Penn Graham arrives in town, Ruby falls out with Charlie and Marilyn, Alf, Charlie and Joey all go out on their double date…