For Blue1927, Jensy25, Mabs39, Born2Try and Thane3. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Three Hundred and Eighty One
"I could get used to this," Charlie said, pulling into the car park for the Surf Club, Diner and the restaurant that would soon be open for business.
She and Joey had picked up the rental car while her insurance company covered the buying of a new one. Joey grinned. It had taken them ten minutes alone to set off because Charlie had been so busy playing with all the new hi-tech features.
"I'm guessing this is the car you'd like to replace your old one with," she remarked.
"Hell yeah!" Charlie grinned. "But I want it to be blue still."
Joey chuckled and climbed out of the Jazz. Charlie followed suit and they headed into the Diner to grab a coffee before another day of setting up began.
"I'm still really sorry about what happened," Joey mumbled.
Charlie stopped walking and turned to face her, holding both her hands.
"It wasn't your fault," she insisted. "Please stop taking this on as something you're responsible for."
Joey sighed and didn't look terribly convinced but managed a smile. Charlie kissed her and they resumed their walk.
In her tarot office, Marilyn was flummoxed to find Mr Oddly missing. Nobody had been playing tricks for a few days but today, in place of her doll, she found a note explaining how hurt his feelings were over the games everyone had been playing and that he was off to find his fortune.
"Are you okay?" Angelo asked from the bait shop.
The door interlinking the two rooms was open.
"Mr Oddly appears to have moved out," she informed him.
Puzzled, Angelo didn't really know how to respond so left her to it. Marilyn had decided that although she liked him, she desperately missed working closely with Joey.
In the Diner, Leah was not in a good mood and had already pissed Colleen and even Irene off.
"Okay, you need a break as much as we need coffee," Charlie decided. "Sit."
Leah hesitated, only to be frog marched to a table while they waited on their order.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked, getting right to the point.
"I can't let go of the idea that Elijah's going to leave," Leah admitted.
Charlie and Joey both sighed. Their friend was supposed to be excitedly looking forward to her wedding, not fretting about the groom's imminent departure.
"I found this," the Diner owner said, pulling a folded piece of paper from her pocket.
Charlie and Joey both read it and had to admit it was a little worrying. Last night, Leah had arrived home to find a letter from a voluntary organisation, inviting Elijah to come and work with them abroad.
"Have you spoken to him about it?" Joey asked.
Leah shook her head quietly.
"Well then, that's the first thing you have to do," Charlie insisted. "I think this is becoming a bigger issue than it needs to be, sweetheart. Communicate with him. It's always the first and best thing to do."
"Have I mentioned how annoying it is when you're right?" Leah asked.
In the bait shop, Angelo rejected a phone call from his brother. He had been trying to get in touch for a few days but Angelo had no inclination to talk to him. Of all the mistakes he had made in his error filled life, the first one was taking the blame for a mistake Paulo Rosetta had made and subsequently got away with.
Up in the restaurant, Joey had taken it upon herself to clean every inch of the venue, even though it was new and untainted.
"I just don't think we're going to be ready in time," she fretted. "There's so much to do, Charlie!"
The police officer interrupted her by taking hold of both her arms and turning her around to face her properly.
"Joey, everything is going to be fine," she assured her.
"But there's so much to prepare," Joey said. "And what if it's all a big failure? Everyone will be laughing at me for even thinking I could…"
Charlie kissed her, taking her breath away.
"It's going to be an amazing success," she insisted, gazing intently into her eyes. "Please stop panicking, Joey."
"But what if I fail?"
Charlie was touched by how meek and fragile she sounded.
"You won't," she replied.
Leah agreed to take her lunch break with Elijah on the beach, having made up some sandwiches to take with them.
"Why are you being so strange at the moment?" Elijah wondered, gazing out at the horizon.
"I'm not being strange," Leah denied, although she knew it was fruitless.
Everyone could tell when she was lying and that was one of the many reasons why she tried not to do it.
"Are you sure you're going to be happy here?" she finally asked.
"Of course I'm happy here, Leah," he assured her. "I love you."
"But…"
Leah sighed and pulled out the letter she'd found. Elijah chuckled softly.
"I haven't agreed to anything," he said. "It was just a request."
Leah dared to look at him properly.
"So, you're not going anywhere?" she asked.
"Not as far as I know," he said.
As relief flooded her, Leah didn't noticed the flicker of uncertainty in her fiancé's eyes.
Leaving Joey in Ruby's capable hands, Charlie had driven over to the police station. She was still on leave from work but Watson had called to say that she had some news about the car.
"What's the situation?" the Sergeant wondered.
"Not good, I'm afraid," Watson said.
They were sat in the office that the Senior Constable had once shared with Angelo, the office that had been Charlie's not so long ago.
"There was no trace evidence?" Charlie asked.
"Nothing," Watson said. "I went through all the results myself but there's nothing. Whoever torched the car didn't leave any evidence behind."
Charlie looked glum.
"At least we can prove it was arson," she sighed. "It won't stop my insurance company paying out. But it does mean that there's an arsonist wandering around the Bay."
"Do you have any theories?" Watson asked.
"Not really," Charlie said. "I don't make a habit of pissing people off, I hope."
She sighed thoughtfully, trying to figure out if she had seen anyone dodgy hanging around.
"Would one of the River Boys know your car?" Watson asked.
When there was trouble, they were often prime suspects.
"I don't think so," Charlie said. "I mean, I only interact with them when I'm in uniform so…"
She sighed.
"I guess it'll be one of life's mysteries," she surrendered. "At least my rental is awesome though!"
Marilyn arrived home from work to find Mr Oddly sitting at the table. She eyed him curiously, wondering where he had come from and who was messing about with him now. It had seemed like an innocent game at the start and a way to wind Alf up. But the whole thing was beyond her own understanding now and Joey's words about upsetting one of her oldest friends had hit home.
"He was a very good student on his first day of school," Miles said, appearing behind her and making her jump.
"Am I the only one who thinks Mr Oddly really needs to move on?" she wondered.
"I won't tell her!" Ruby insisted.
She followed Joey around the restaurant, whining about finding the name of the restaurant out.
"The sign is ordered and will be delivered and installed next week so I suggest you and your mother try the underrated art of patience!" Joey replied.
Ruby giggled and then started complaining again. Her curiosity was very much getting the better of her.
Next time… Ruby pesters Charlie about cars and driving lessons, Penn causes friction between Sid and Nicole and both Rachel and Elijah have life changing decisions on their hands…
