Chapter Three Hundred and Eighty Two

"But this one is pink!" Ruby said, jumping up and down and whining like a child.

"Ruby, for the hundredth time, I am not buying a pink car!" Charlie argued.

They, along with Joey, were down at the car lot, trying to pick out the next family vehicle.

"If you ever get round to teaching me to drive, I'm going to get a pink car," the teenager said grumpily.

"It's not a case of getting round to it, Ruby," Charlie said tiredly. "I am not teaching you to drive."

The teenager sulked.

"She has said she'll pay for half your lessons," Joey chimed in. "That's fair."

"Why are you always on her side?" Ruby asked.

"I'm only on her side when she's right," Joey insisted.

"And I'm always right!" Charlie added.

Ruby glared. Charlie got excited by the look of the next car. It was not pink.


Sid was puzzled when he saw Penn's name on his patient list. The Doctor hadn't quite worked him out yet and couldn't help but feel a little concerned about Nicole. He didn't necessarily subscribe to all of Marilyn's beliefs but she was very sceptical about him, as were Charlie and Joey. Regardless or perhaps because of his history with Nicole, Sid felt very protective.

"Hello, Penn," he greeted, entering the room where he was waiting. "What can I do for you?"

Penn held up his injured hand, which looked like it had inflicted some serious damage on something or someone else.


In the new car, ready to drop Ruby to school and then head to the restaurant, Charlie and Joey were excited about the features of their new toy.

"You know, I think I'd like to learn to drive," Joey ventured.

"Yeah?" Charlie said.

"Me too!" Ruby squeaked from the backseat.

"Find half the money and you can," Charlie replied without missing a beat.

The teenager grumbled to herself, making Charlie and Joey laugh.

"I'm guessing you're as unwilling to teach me as you are to teach Ruby," Joey remarked.

"I love you both too much to go down the driving lesson route," Charlie insisted. "Dad and I didn't speak for a week when he taught me."

Joey's giggled.

"We should try and get over to see them soon," she said. "It's been a while."

Charlie nodded. They had both been rather caught up with their own lives recently.

"They're coming for the restaurant opening," Ruby said.

"They are?" Joey asked, turning round to look at her.

"Which was a surprise," Ruby said glumly. "Sorry."

"It's fine," Charlie assured her, smiling into the mirror.

"Will you act surprised?" Ruby asked.

"Of course," Joey replied.


Rachel sat in the Diner, staring idly into a coffee cup. She was expecting her friend, Daniel to arrive. They had trained together many years ago and he had gone off to America where he was a well respected surgeon. She was looking forward to seeing him but the more she thought about it, the more she felt like her life was going nowhere. She was happy with Tony and with baby Harry but career wise, everything felt rather stagnant. Daniel had gone on to achieve great things and she was stuck in a small town doing nothing she considered to be of real value.


"I could totally help you out at the restaurant today if you like," Ruby said, when Charlie pulled up outside the school gates.

"I think you're more needed here," Charlie said. "You know, to get this thing called an education."

"Nobody likes a smart arse," Ruby commented cheekily.

"Just get to school!" Charlie tutted. "We'll meet you at home for dinner tonight, okay?"

"Okay," Ruby said, smiling and scampering off into the building.

"That girl really tests my patience sometimes," Charlie complained.

"But you love her," Joey said.

"But I love her," Charlie agreed.


Nicole had skipped school to meet Penn at the hospital. She knew it wasn't the most helpful thing to her education but she cared about Penn and she wanted to look after him. After Aden, she hadn't thought she could ever trust a man enough to commit to him but as far as she was concerned, and despite her friends' misgivings, Penn was everything she could ever want.

"What happened?" she wondered, as they walked out of the hospital together.

"Nothing really," Penn said dismissively. "I just fell and landed badly. It's fine."

Nicole didn't look all that convinced but kept quiet.

"I had an interesting conversation with Doctor Sid though," he added.

"You did?" Nicole asked a little nervously.

"He still has feelings for you," Penn told her.


"Stop listening in!" Joey complained, hanging up her mobile phone and pouting at Charlie, who had indeed been eavesdropping on her conversation.

"But I want to know what the sign will say!" Charlie complained.

"It will say the name of the restaurant, as will the menus," Joey told her. "Have some patience!"

"Is that what you've called the restaurant?" Charlie asked hopefully.

"You're a nightmare!" Joey told her.

"Is that what you called the restaurant?"

Joey snorted with laughter and hugged her.

"You'll find out soon enough," she promised.

Relenting, Charlie pulled her in for a kiss.


Rachel left the Diner with her mind reeling. Daniel hadn't just come for a random visit. He had come to offer her a job at a new emergency department. She could take charge and lead the team. It would be more money and a far bigger challenge than what she had at work right now. The only problem was that the emergency department was in Boston, America.


"Can I get a job at the restaurant when you open?" Ruby asked over dinner that evening.

Both of her parents were surprised.

"Do you want one?" Joey asked.

"Well, I need to raise the driving lesson money somehow," Ruby replied, looking pointedly at Charlie.

"If you want one, you can have one," Joey told her. "But we'd have to be pretty strict about hours. I don't want you sacrificing your school work or anything for the sake of extra cash."

Ruby grinned at her.

"What?" Joey asked a little uncertainly, also noticing that Charlie wore the same expression.

"You're such a Mum," Ruby told her.

Joey continued to look puzzled.

"Is that a good thing?" she wondered.

"It's a very good thing," Ruby assured her. "I like having both of you as my parents."


At home, Leah stormed off to bed, slamming the door behind her before remembering that her impressionable young son was trying to sleep. Downstairs, Elijah sighed heavily and sat at the table. Leah had been paranoid once again that he was about to leave her to do missionary work and had snapped at him about not being upfront with his intentions. He had tried to allay her fears but the truth was that he did miss his outreach work. It was something that was important to him. In a fit and frustration, he signed the form she'd found the previous day.


"I'm sure I'm not old enough to be mother to a teenager," Joey commented as she and Charlie got ready for bed that night.

"How do you think I feel?" Charlie chuckled, slipping beneath the sheets.

Joey joined her in bed, immediately cuddling up.

"I can't say this is the life I ever thought I'd have," she admitted. "But I can definitely say that this is exactly the life I want."


Next time… Charlie and Joey enjoy spending time together, Leah and Elijah break up and Dex has a crush on Marilyn…