Just to let you know, I may not update tomorrow. My aunt passed away last week and tomorrow is her funeral. It isn't until the afternoon so I may get time but I can't promise anything. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty

Charlie hit the alarm clock and snuggled back under the blankets. Joey was facing away from her, just about coming to as Charlie wrapped her arms around her and kissed her bare back. Still with her eyes closed, Joey smiled, appreciating the love and the warmth she woke up to every morning. Sometimes she still had to pinch herself to make sure her happiness was really true.

"Let's stay in bed all day," Charlie suggested, her lips still pressed against Joey's skin.

"I wish we could," Joey replied. "But we have a date with Alf and Marilyn tonight."

"Oh, that's ages away," Charlie said. "We could definitely snuggle until then."


John woke up with a start, immediately bombarded with memories from the night before. He'd had a 'fight' with Tony and then brought Jill home with him. Sighing, he glanced at the sleeping woman beside him. He wondered how he could so rationally know that being with her was a bad idea and yet keep making the same mistake over and over again.


"You make a very good point," Joey decided.

She rolled over and gathered Charlie into her arms, kissing her tenderly on the mouth. She watched the way she smiled and couldn't help gazing lovingly back at her.

"What are you thinking?" she wondered.

"I was marvelling at how all the movie stars and pop stars and people like that have to work so hard to be beautiful and you… you're always looking your best. Sleepy and without makeup and you couldn't be more wonderful to look at," Charlie replied.

Joey blushed a little and kissed her again.

"You know how to make a girl feel special, Charlie Buckton," she said. "And I am very lucky to be that girl."


Irene looked up when a tall, dark and handsome man entered the Diner. Being such a small town, generally everyone knew everybody else. It always made waves when someone new showed up.

"Hello, love," she greeted when he approached the counter. "What can I get you?"

"Just a coffee, please," he replied politely.

Irene nodded and bustled about, making his drink.

"I don't think we've seen you in here before, have we?" she asked pleasantly. "Are you new or just visiting?"

"Just visiting," the man replied.

"Well, my name's Irene Roberts," she told him. "Welcome to Summer Bay."

"I'm Penn," the man replied. "Penn Graham."


Charlie lay atop Joey, kissing her passionately. Her hands wandered as she buried her lips against her girlfriend's neck.

"Every Saturday should start like this," Joey moaned as Charlie continued her explorations.


Jill enticed John back to bed. Swept up in the moment yet again, he ignored his phone ringing, little knowing that it was Gina, desperate to try and make things right between them at last.


Penn was pleased with himself. He had been in Summer Bay for less than an hour and he already had charmed at least two residents. Irene Roberts and Marilyn Chambers had been hanging on his every word all morning and they were pretty much eating out of his hand. So far, his plan was working perfectly.

"So, where are you staying, Penn?" Marilyn asked.

"I haven't decided yet," he explained. "It was a bit of a spontaneous trip."

He had been good at lying for a very long time.

"Oh," Marilyn said. "And can I ask what prompted the trip?"

"It's a long and complicated story," Penn replied. "But I don't suppose you know somewhere cheap and cheerful?"

"I know just the place!" Marilyn said brightly.


Joey cried out rather loudly. Then she and Charlie both jumped at the sound of urgent banging on their front door. Groaning, Charlie hoped that Ruby would answer it. But the banging continued and no footsteps could be heard.

"This had better be good," she grumbled.

"You're telling me!" Joey complained. "I'm the one who got interrupted mid… you know!"

They threw some clothes on and hurried to the front door where Leah and Elijah were waiting eagerly for them.


"Hello?" Marilyn called, breezing into the place she currently called home. "Is anybody here?"

Miles, Nicole and Romeo all appeared from the kitchen.

"Ah! Glad you're here, Miles," Marilyn said. "This is Penn Graham and he would like to rent a caravan."

"Then you most definitely brought him to the right place," Miles said.

He shook Penn's hand, offering a 'pleased to meet you'. Nicole stared and struggled not to drool. She had not been so attracted so quickly to someone in a long time. He caught her eye as Miles led him over to the diary to book him in.

"How long are you staying, Penn?" the curly haired teacher asked.

"As long as it takes," Penn replied.

Nicole continued to gaze at him. Romeo struggled not to laugh.


"Sorry to burst in on you so early," Leah said, as she, Elijah, Charlie and Joey all sat round the table together, nursing coffees. "Although, it is eleven o'clock."

Charlie and Joey looked startled, wondering where the time had gone. Then they both grinned. They knew exactly where it had gone.

"We just slept in," Charlie said quickly, hoping her friend wouldn't notice her blush.

"Yeah, right," Leah giggled. "Have you forgotten that I lived with you two for… how long? A year? I know exactly what you were doing!"

Charlie and Joey flushed more. Elijah cringed in sympathy and shyness.

"So, what brings you over here?" Joey asked brightly, changing the subject.

"My parents are driving us mad," Elijah said, getting right to the point.


John frowned over his missed call from Gina.

"What's wrong?" Jill asked.

"Nothing," he said awkwardly, still staring at his girlfriend's name, if he could still call her that.

After everything she had been through with her family, he had barely seen her. And the more she pushed him away, the more distant he was becoming.

"Then come back to bed," Jill said.

Sighing, he put the phone down and obeyed Jill's wishes.


It was the afternoon. Elijah and Leah had stayed for a little while at Charlie and Joey's home before taking a long walk home.

"I'm so glad we escaped for a little while," Leah admitted, as they let themselves back into the house. "I think my head was about to explode with your…"

She stopped speaking abruptly when she found Lijuan on the other side of the door.


Charlie and Joey had finally ventured out. Holding hands, they strolled along the beach, deep in discussion about where they ought to go on their holiday.

"Hang on a sec," Charlie said, suddenly serious.

Joey looked ahead and saw Liam playing his guitar on the sand.

"Charlie…" she warned.

But the police officer was already hurrying up to him. Joey jogged to catch up but kept a safe enough distance away that she didn't look like she was interfering.

"Liam?" Charlie said.

The unshaven musician looked up at her, squinting a little in the sunshine.

"Hi, Charlie," he said. "How are you?"

"Worried about my daughter," Charlie said, getting straight to the point.

"Uh…" he faltered.

"Look, can we just be clear on this?" she said. "She has feelings for you and I know that's all out in the open and everything but I need confirmation from you that you do not and will not take advantage of her."

"I swear," Liam said quickly. "I'm not interested in Ruby like that. I respect her and I care for her. And I think she's a wonderful singer. I think we could work well together."

Charlie nodded but kept her face impassive.

"Just know that I'm keeping an eye on the situation," she said firmly.

"I know," Liam replied. "And if I think something's amiss then I'll be the first to put a stop to everything, okay?"

"No, that's not okay," a voice snapped from behind them.

Liam and Charlie both looked round to see Ruby looking angry and embarrassed.

"Rubes…" Charlie began.

But she had already run off.


"Lijuan, Song, you really don't have to do this," Leah protested anxiously.

But her future in-laws were already packed up and ready to storm out of the house.

"No!" Lijuan snapped. "I know when I've outstayed my welcome!"

Song looked a little helpless as his wife swept out of the house. He followed her. Leah sank against Elijah who apparently had no idea what to say.


Charlie and Joey were sat on the beach together, far away from anyone else. Joey had her arm around Charlie's shoulders and Charlie had her face resting on her palms, elbows on her knees.

"Why did I have to charge in like that?" she wondered helplessly.

"You were just trying to protect your daughter," Joey said gently. "There's nothing wrong with that."

"Try saying that to Ruby," Charlie said, still upset.

Joey cuddled her a little closer.

"I will," she said. "You know I'm not afraid to tell her when she's being a brat."

Charlie laughed softly and nodded. Joey certainly had a knack of getting through to Ruby when everyone else failed.

"I could kick myself though," she said sadly. "Just when I felt like things were great between us, you know? We chat, we laugh, we share secrets… we're…"

"Mother and daughter," Joey agreed. "And mothers and daughters argue sometimes. But you love each other and you'll recover. Okay?"

"Okay," Charlie said, timid and sad.

"Okay," Joey agreed.

She pulled Charlie's hands away from her face so that she could see her.

"Everything will be fine," she promised, kissing the tip of her nose for emphasis.

Charlie smiled and kissed her properly, marvelling at how Joey could make any situation better.


That evening, without having succeeded in making up with Ruby, Charlie and Joey had gone to the Diner for their dinner date with Alf and Marilyn.

"I'm glad we decided to do this," Marilyn said. "It's nice to get to know you both better. And it's nice not to have any pressure now that you and I have decided to just be friends, Mr Stewart."

The older man chuckled.

"I think you can call me Alf," he said.

"Even I call him Alf," Joey giggled.

"But I've always called you Mr Stewart!" Marilyn insisted.

"Good job this isn't a real date then!" Charlie giggled.

She was happy that despite the situation with Ruby, they were all having fun and enjoying themselves.

"Good job," Alf chuckled. "But you can call me whatever you feel most comfortable with."

They all looked up when they heard someone shouting.

"You're both liars!" Gina yelled as John and Jill, who both looked desperately awkward.

John was holding out a watch a flushing crimson.

"Gina, it wasn't like…" he tried.

The headmistress stormed out of the building.

"… that," he concluded sadly.

"I would not like to be John Palmer right now," Joey decided, turning her attention back to the table.

"I would never like to be him!" Charlie said. "He's as bad tempered as I was when I first moved to the Bay and even I know that's saying something!"

Joey giggled.

"I wish I'd have known you then," she admitted

"I probably would have alienated you," Charlie said unhappily.

"Impossible," Joey said. "To know you is to love you."

"That sounds like a toast to me," Marilyn said, lifting her glass. "To friendship."

They all merrily clinked their glasses together.


Next time… Xavier is smitten with new arrival, April while Charlie makes up with Ruby and plans a surprise for Joey…