HI everyone. I hope you all had a lovely Easter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Four Hundred and Five

"All we're asking is how long this whole thing is going to take," John said, following Charlie up the closed beach and towards her patrol car.

Alf followed also, looking just as stressed. The seaside town relied on tourism and if the beach was shut off, people would stop coming.

"For as long as it takes," Charlie replied.

"And how long will that be?" John snapped, obviously frustrated.

Charlie sighed and turned to face both of them.

"We don't mean to be harsh, Charlie," Alf said reasonably. "It's just…"

"I know," Charlie said evenly. "I know how important it is to keep the beach open and we'll be as quick as we can. But we need to comb it for more needles. If someone else has to deal with what Nicole is right now then it'll be on all our heads. You live with her, Alf. You know what she's going through."

Alf nodded grimly.

"We'll be as fast as possible," Charlie assured him and John. "Most of the team are out there and they're working really hard. Hopefully we'll be done in a couple of days."

John was about to launch into horror but Alf held him back.

"We need to be patient," he warned.


At the restaurant, Joey winced at the noise the builders were making and desperately hoped that nobody would complain, upstairs or downstairs. The whole thing was necessary and Joey felt it was very important. She just hoped that it didn't cost her or the Surf Club any patrons.

"Hey, Tony," she greeted when her one time colleague arrived. "Are you eating?"

Technically, she wasn't open yet but the locals had already established that she was flouter of rules.

"Drinking," Tony told her.

Joey looked surprised.

"Soft drinks," he assured her, considering it was ten o'clock in the morning. "For now."

She walked behind the bar and he pulled up a stool.

"What's up?" she asked, although she suspected she already knew.

"I think I've just lost my wife and my son," he said sadly.


Charlie stopped at the Diner to grab a coffee before the onslaught of the rest of her shift continued. She suspected it was going to be a very long day. Her salvation was that Joey had promised to bring food home from the restaurant and they, plus Ruby had a plan for pyjamas, food and DVDs for the rest of the night.

Entering the Diner, Charlie found that nobody was serving. Leah stood and headed over to her apologetically, having been distracted with chatting to Rachel at a table.

"Usual?" she asked, already preparing the drink.

"You know me so well," Charlie grinned.

"Well, you have always been a coffee fiend!" Leah remarked.

"Guilty!" Charlie agreed.

They both turned when Rachel stood up, looking fraught.

"What's wrong?" Leah and Charlie asked in unison.

"Lucas's plane has been grounded so he can't come," Rachel told them. "I'm back to square one."


"You can't just let her go, Tony," Joey said, back in her usual counsellor role. "Not if you love her as much as we all know you do."

"I've begged her to stay," he replied, wishing he could order a beer. "I don't know what more I can say. She obviously wants to leave me behind."

"That's not true," Joey insisted. "She loves you. You won't… consider going with her?"

Tony shook his head, feeling choked.

"My son is buried here," he said, his voice cracking just a little. "Who's going to tend his grave? Who's going to remember him?"


"If his own son can't make him come with me then…"

Rachel trailed off, struck by realisation.

"It's Jack," she said.

Charlie almost looked round and flushed with embarrassment. Obviously Jack wasn't there. He was dead. Realisation dawned on her too.

"He doesn't want to leave him," she said.

Rachel nodded, feeling terribly guilty.

"I've been so selfish," she said. "I didn't even think."


At lunch time, John was pleased to run into Gina. He was stressed over the closure of the beach. Between that and the Australia Day riot earlier in the year, tourism had been suffering in the Bay this year. He and the Council had been trying to think of ways to improve things but they hadn't managed to come up with anything yet.

"Tough day?" Gina asked, as they headed into the Diner together.

John nodded glumly.

"We just had to cancel a couple getting married on the beach," he complained. "They booked it months ago and then it's just ruined, just like that."

"I'm sorry," Gina said earnestly. "That must be awful. It's supposed to be the happiest day of your life. Do you know if they found an alternative location?"

"Yeah, up where that Aden guy married Belle," John said.

He would always feel a little bit guilty for losing Aden his job so soon after he'd lost his wife to cancer. But then, he had been a different person then. Gina had most definitely turned him into a better man.

"John?" Gina said, when her boyfriend's face seemed to change.

An idea had struck him and it had been rather a surprise.

"I was just thinking about marriage," he said.

"Weddings are lovely," Gina said with a smile.

"So, you don't feel jaded by past experience?" John asked.

"No," Gina said. "I love a good wedding. I guess I'm an old romantic."

Good, John thought to himself. That's very good news.


Charlie and Watson took their break, having helped out with combing the beach, at the restaurant where Joey had gladly taken a break to spend time with them. After they had eaten, Joey had requested a walk, needing to get out the confines of the room she'd been in all day.

"So, do you think Tony might be reconsidering?" Charlie asked, walking hand in hand with her girlfriend.

"I don't know," Joey said. "But he seemed pretty thoughtful when he left this morning."

"Hey, there's Kerri," Charlie said, noticing their friend coming in their direction.

Watson stood a little straighter and checked her hair.

"Hi!" Joey called over to their neighbour, waving.

Kerri smiled and wheeled herself over to them. Watson couldn't help but admire how her wheelchair didn't seem to be a hindrance to her.

"How are you guys?" Kerri asked.

"Yeah, pretty good," Joey said. "Just taking a break from work."

"And that noise!" Charlie said.

Joey elbowed her.

"What noise?" Kerri asked, amused.

"We're um… putting a lift in the Surf Club," Joey mumbled.

"Joey, it's a good thing," Charlie said, putting her arm around her.

"You're putting a lift in?" Kerri asked, smiling.

"Yeah," Joey said. "So that people for whom stairs aren't friendly, aren't excluded from anything."

She smiled uncertainly. Kerri beamed at her.

"Well, then book me in for a meal the day the work is completed," she requested.


Rachel and Tony met up at home, both with the move to America on their mind.

"I'll come with you," Tony said at the same time as Rachel informed him she was staying put.

They both stared at each other for several confused moments.

"Did you just say you'll come with me?" Rachel asked curiously.

"Yes," Tony told her. "I think you're right. We could do with a new start. And there will be so many opportunities out there. For both of us. Plus, I might actually get to see Lucas once in a while."

He laughed sadly. Often it felt like he had lost both his sons. There was only Harry left. And that was one of the reasons why he needed to move too. He couldn't bear to let Rachel take his precious baby away from him. He would miss both of them too much.

"But you were so against it," Rachel said.

"I know," Tony sighed. "But I've been doing some thinking since then."

"Why didn't you want to move, Tony?" Rachel asked quietly.

"Because…"

He broke off, unsure of what to say.

"It's because of Jack, isn't it?" Rachel said.

Tony nodded and wiped his eyes.

"Then we shouldn't go," Rachel said. "I can't tear you away from where he lived and died. I'm so sorry. I didn't even think…"

"No, Rach," Tony said, taking her hands. "We need to do this."

"But what about…?"

"Jack is gone," he said, his voice breaking. "And no amount of staying here and not really living is going to bring him back. I miss him every moment and I love him so much. But he's not here anymore. I can take his memory with me though. That's what's important."

Rachel nodded quietly, not quite daring to hope.

"And I was getting all stressed about keeping his grave clean and tidy and everything but… well, Joey promised that if we did go, that she and Charlie would maintain it for me."

Rachel smiled at the gesture from their friend.

"You'd really like to go?" she asked, very aware that the flight was tonight.

"Yes," Tony said. "I want us to start a new life together – me, you and Harry."

They kissed.


"So, what's Kerri's story?" Watson asked curiously, as she and Charlie took their turn in combing the beach.

Fortunately, no more needles seemed to have appeared.

"Her story?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, like uh… what's she like?"

"Well, we don't know her that well yet," Charlie said. "But she seems really cool. She lives next door with her son."

"With her husband or…?"

"Single," Charlie said. "And bisexual. Why? Are you interested?"

She grinned at the way her colleague blushed.


Joey had taken an extended break in order to have a drink with Kerri in the somewhat noisy Surf Club.

"I'm looking forward to coming up to the restaurant when you're ready for me," Kerri said. "It's kid friendly, right? I can bring Danny?"

"Of course," Joey said. "As soon as I get up there, I'll book you a table for two."

Kerri smiled.

"Unless you want to bring anyone else, of course," Joey added.

Kerri looked down.

"I don't think I'll need a plus one other than Danny for a while," she said. "If ever."

"You never know when love could be around the corner," Joey said, optimistic as ever.

"Nah," Kerri sighed. "I think my dating days are over. For starters, it could only be a stroke of luck to find a single, gay girl in a town like this. Plus…"

She gestured to her chair. Joey looked uncomprehendingly at her.

"My disability has a tendency to get in the way of relationships," Kerri told her.

Joey looked puzzled, unsure of how Kerri not being able to walk could stop another person from seeing how wonderful she was.

"Well, Watson's gay and single," she said.

Kerri looked surprised.

"Really?" she asked.

Joey half smiled, noting the interest in her voice.

"Interested?" she teased.

"No," Kerri denied quickly. "Just… surprised that someone as beautiful as that would be single."

Joey couldn't help but grin. Maybe Kerri could be the person to put a smile back on Watson's face.


Afternoon became early evening and Tony, Rachel and Harry were all packed up and ready to go. Outside the Diner, Leah, Colleen, Charlie, Joey, Gina, John and Xavier were all gathered to say goodbye to them. Hugs were exchanged and emotions rode high, especially between Tony and Gina.

"Thanks for everything, Joey," Tony said when he hugged her.

"No problem," Joey said. "Good luck. And keep in touch."

"I will," he promised. "And you'll…?"

"I will," Joey replied with a smile.

He nodded, thanking her again. He saved one more hug for his sister and then prepared to jet off with his wife and son.

"Ready to go?" Rachel asked.

"I just have one stop to make and then yes, I'm ready," Tony replied.

Everyone waved as they drove away.

"What was Tony thanking you for?" Charlie asked curiously.

"We're maintaining Jack's grave for him," Joey told her.

Charlie smiled and put her arm around her.

"You really are an angel," she said.


With the beach closed and Bianca feeling a little restless, Liam had offered to take her for a spin on his motorbike. Cautiously eager to spend time with him and forget the pain of her breakup with Vittorio, she had agreed. Now, she was perched on the bike with his arms around her while they kissed.


Rachel hung back with Harry as Tony tended Jack's grave and told him how much he loved him and that he would be taking him in his heart to America. The bereaved father stood and dusted his knees. He took one last look and then headed off to his new life with his family.


That night, Charlie, Joey and Ruby were happily curled up in front of the TV with takeaway from the restaurant.

"I had an interesting conversation with Watson," Charlie ventured.

"Oh?" Joey said, thinking of Kerri.

"I think she might like Kerri," Charlie informed her.

Ruby focussed on the TV. The last thing she wanted to hear about was yet another budding romance that had nothing to do with her.

"Really?" Joey said excitedly. "I think Kerri might like Watson!"

Ruby rolled her eyes as her parents debated whether it was alright to set them up or not.


Next time… Charlie and Joey want to get Watson and Kerri together, Ruby's misery intensifies and Angelo opens up to Joey and Alf about his family…