Chapter Four Hundred and Nineteen
At the Diner the next day, Colleen was still in a bad mood over what had happened with who she believed had been the food critic the previous day.
"Um… I ordered a latte with caramel," the customer in front of her said. "This is plain."
"Well, I don't know why you people want fancy coffees anyway," she snapped bitterly, snatching it away from him and stomping over to the coffee machine to change it.
Paulie followed Angelo to work, despite his brother's suggestion that he go and explore Summer Bay on his own instead of just spending time at the restaurant.
"Hi, Paulie," Joey greeted. "How was your first night in the Bay?"
"A little uncomfortable on Angelo's couch but otherwise pleasant," Paulie replied cheerfully. "Nice to catch up with my brother and everyone I've met so far seems pretty wonderful. Especially his boss, of course."
Joey grinned.
"You're so cheesy and yet I'll totally take the compliment," she said.
Angelo clenched his jaw, annoyed at the immediately easy friendship between the two of them, when he had had to work so hard at being close to her.
"Well, seeing as you like me so much, I wondered if you'd be up for lunch," Paulie suggested. "You me, Angelo and your lovely lady."
Joey nodded.
"I'm sure we could manage that," she said. "I'll give Charlie a call and invite her."
Paulie grinned. Angelo was less enthusiastic.
Charlie visited Watson in her office, a knot in her stomach. She wanted to break the news about Kerri and Brax before her friend caught them out together and got her heart broken by surprise.
"Hey, Watson," she greeted anxiously.
"Hi," her Senior Constable replied. "How are you?"
"I'm okay, thanks," Charlie said, sitting down. "Listen, I need to tell you something."
"What's up?" Watson asked worriedly.
"Um… look there's no easy way to say this," Charlie ventured. "But when I was at the restaurant last night, I saw Kerri out on a date…"
Watson looked crushed.
"With Darryl Braxton."
Watson sighed and leant back in her chair.
"I guess I missed my chance," she said. "I can't blame her. I mean, I didn't bite the bullet when I should have. Either that or she was never interested in me in the first place."
"I think she was but…"
"I didn't get my arse into gear," Watson said.
Charlie frowned, not sure what to say.
"I am sorry," she said.
Watson shrugged.
"Never mind," she said. "I'll get over it. I was born to be alone anyway."
With Alf installed behind the bar, Joey settled at a table with Angelo and Paulie, waiting for Charlie to arrive for lunch. She looked over at her Bar Manager, who was still subdued but at least getting on with things after what had happened with Penn. With permission, she had told Charlie what he'd shared with her about what had really happened that day. The police officer had been grateful to at least understand a little of what had really gone on, although Penn's side of things still didn't make any sense.
"Hi, guys," Charlie greeted, kissing Joey's cheek. "Sorry I'm late."
"No problem," Joey said. "It's only a couple of minutes."
Charlie sat in the chair beside her girlfriend.
"Thanks for suggesting lunch," she said to Paulie.
"Well, I thought it would be nice to get to know you both," he said. "Angelo speaks very highly of you."
Angelo cringed, dreading his brother embarrassing him.
"Well, we are awesome," Joey grinned.
"You are," Paulie agreed.
"So, how long are you visiting for?" Joey asked.
"Not long," Angelo said quickly.
"A few weeks," Paulie replied at the same time.
The brothers exchanged looks.
"How long have you two lived here?" Paulie asked the girls.
"Born and raised," Joey informed him.
"I moved here in 2008 so I'm fairly new," Charlie said. "My Dad came to live here, although he's moved back to the city now. I came over here and got a job and then my daughter came too so we settled here. Then I met Joey and the rest is history, as they say."
Angelo sipped his drink, trying not to be annoyed at the fact that she had left out her romance with him, like it wasn't important. To him, it was the most significant relationship he'd ever had. It was part of the reason he'd accepted his mission to return to Summer Bay. Not that he had feelings for her anymore. His affections had very much switched. He looked at Joey and listened to her chatter away to Paulie. He was smitten.
Out for a walk on her lunch break, Watson stopped short when she spotted Kerri at an outside table at the Diner with Brax. They were obviously having a lovely time. She had very much missed her chance. I probably never had a chance in the first place. But it would have been nice to try. She trudged on, feeling utterly miserable.
After lunch, Charlie headed back to work and Paulie finally agreed to leave the restaurant and go exploring, leaving Angelo and Joey to work.
"Cheer up, Angelo," Joey teased.
"I'm fine," her employee replied stiffly.
"You're really not enjoying your brother being around, are you?" Joey observed, as they headed into the kitchen together.
Angelo sighed and leaned against the counter. He ran his hands through his short hair.
"He just winds me up all the time," he admitted. "He's got everything going for him and it's all based on a lie because all those years I took the blame for his mistake. And he swans in and allows poor Colleen to think he's the mystery food critic and then he charms every single person he meets while I'm still the guy that everyone puts up with but nobody really likes."
Joey patted his shoulder.
"I like you," she told him.
He managed a smile.
"That helps a bit," he admitted.
"The thing to remember though, Angelo, is that he's your brother," Joey added. "And that's a bond that can't and shouldn't be broken. Look at me and Brett. We didn't talk for months because he couldn't stand who I was and who I loved but we got there in the end. If you and Paulie can make things work, if you can keep your relationship strong then you should try."
Angelo nodded, mumbling that she was probably right.
"And thanks for reminding me of two calls I have to make," Joey added.
"What are they?" Angelo asked.
"I need to arrange to meet up with Brett and also tell Colleen that the mystery food critic could still be prowling."
Back at the station, Charlie spotted Watson looking glum. She approached her.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I spotted Brax and Kerri looking cosy," Watson explained. "Thank you for pre-warning me. It would have hit me a lot harder if you hadn't."
Charlie sighed compassionately and hugged her.
That evening, having explored the town, Paulie convinced Angelo to go to the Surf Club with him for a couple of beers.
"There's something I need to tell you," the younger Rosetta said.
Angelo exhaled. He had wondered when this conversation was going to crop up.
"What's that, Paulo?" he asked.
"I've um… run into some financial trouble and I need some help," Paulie explained.
Angelo let out a small, sardonic chuckle. He swigged his beer.
"You never let me down," he remarked.
Charlie and Joey sat down to dinner at the Diner with Brett and Amber. They had considered going to Bucktons' but had decided that it would be nice to be somewhere different for a change. As much as she loved the place, it was nice to leave it behind.
"What is going on over there?" Brett wondered, nodding towards Colleen, who was seriously fussing over a customer.
"I think that's the food critic everyone's been panicking over for the last couple of days," Joey said. "He hasn't been into the restaurant yet but Colleen's been going crazy expecting him."
All four of them cringed as the waitress dropped a pudding in the guy's lap.
"That is not going to get a good review," Amber remarked.
"Oops," Charlie frowned.
"I really hope it goes better if he comes to us," Joey mused.
She turned back to her brother.
"Anyway," she said. "I'm more interested in how you two are. What have you been up to?"
"Well, we've been busy planning the wedding," Brett said.
"We've got the date locked into our diary," Charlie promised.
"We had a request, actually," Amber ventured, glancing at Brett, who nodded. "How do you feel about providing catering? Paid of course."
"Consider it a wedding gift," Joey said.
Next time… Charlie and Joey find themselves agony aunts, things hot up in the library and Romeo and Indi's night comes to an abrupt end…
