Sorry for the slight delay. Our new flat flooded! But we're managing now so I've had some time to update today. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Four Hundred and Forty Seven
Charlie and Joey were excited, although a little nervous, as they arrived at the clinic, ready to pick Ruby and Claire up, sign them out and bring them home for good.
"Everything is going to go well, right?" Charlie asked, before the entered the building. "I mean, nothing is going to go wrong?"
"I can't promise it's going to be easy," Joey said. "It might not always be smooth while she's adjusting to life at home again after being away. But she has the right support, we're all three good at communicating now. Plus she has Claire. All those factors are important."
Charlie nodded, took a deep breath and led the way into the clinic.
Ruby and Claire were packed up and ready to go, waiting for the 'hand over' in the consulting room. They couldn't wait for Charlie and Joey to arrive and bring them home.
"This is the last chance to ditch me and go home with your parents by yourself!" Claire joked rather nervously.
"As if," Ruby said, catching hold of her friend's hand. "You and I have been in this together since we met and that's not ending today."
By lunch time, everything was done and Charlie, Joey, Ruby and Claire were pulling into a car parking space outside the apartment block, ready for both teenagers to start their lives over again.
"Can I just check, probably for the millionth time that this Kerri really does want me to move in?" Claire asked.
Joey turned back in her seat and smiled kindly at her.
"She's really keen," she assured her. "She needs a lodger and thinks you're the perfect person to fit that role."
Claire let go of a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.
"Plus she knows it'll be great for you and Ruby to live next door to each other, especially while you're settling into the Bay," he added. "All in all, yes. We're sure."
Claire couldn't help but grin. When her head was turned, Ruby mouthed 'thank you'.
Ten minutes later, both girls' bags were up in the lift – Ruby's in their flat and Claire's at the front door to Kerri's apartment. Charlie knocked and Danny opened up, eager to meet his new housemate.
"Hey, Danny," Charlie said. "This is Claire. Claire, this is Danny."
"Pleased to meet you, Danny," Claire said, extending her hand.
He shook it and then called his mother, who came to the door, welcoming them all inside. Charlie made introductions while Danny led Joey to Claire's room so she could put her luggage in there.
"Thank you so much for having me, Kerri," Claire said politely. "I don't know what I would have done without you. I'm so grateful. And I promise to be the best lodger I can possibly be. I'll start looking for work immediately so that I can pay my way. I mean, I've got enough savings to pay my first month's rent, the amount we agreed on the phone and…"
Kerri put a gentle hand on her arm.
"We can talk money and jobs and all that later," she said. "Let's at least sit down and have a cuppa tea and get to know each other first, hey?"
Claire breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you," she said. "Thank you."
"Well, why don't we let you guys get to know each other for a bit and we'll get Rubes settled back in at home?" Charlie suggested. "Then we thought we could go for dinner at the restaurant tonight to celebrate Ruby's return and Claire's arrival in the Bay. What do you girls' think?"
Both Claire and Ruby agreed. They said goodbye to each other and Charlie and Joey lead Ruby out of the flat.
Next door, Ruby immediately flopped down on the sofa and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"I can't even tell you how good it feels to be home," she said. "I mean, the clinic treated us well and the staff were kind and everything but it's just not… home. You know?"
Charlie came to sit beside her daughter, pulling her into a hug.
"We've missed you so much," she said. "Every day."
She looked up.
"Haven't we, Jo?"
Joey came to sit on Ruby's other side.
"Every single day."
"Well, I'm home now and I feel a million times better," Ruby said. "I don't plan on having to go away anywhere like that any time soon."
"Good," Charlie said. "We're both really pleased."
Claire was feeling shy, as she expected to, but she was happy. Kerri was being very kind and very accommodating and Danny was an absolute sweetheart. She had spent such a lot of her life lost and on her own, it felt odd but good to feel like she had some sort of family in Ruby and by proxy, in Ruby's family and friends now. She truly believed that she could start again here now, that she really had a chance to try.
"Thank you for being so willing to help Claire," Ruby said. "She isn't anything to you but you've been so kind and you've gone out of your way to help her."
"Well, any friend of yours," Joey assured her.
Joey hugged her.
"So, what have I missed while I've been away?" Ruby asked.
"Well, Angelo's brother has been a total nightmare," Charlie complained dramatically.
"But Angelo himself has been a model employee since we took him back on at the restaurant," Joey informed her.
"That's good," Ruby said. "I still have no idea what made you take him back but I'm glad he's proving his worth."
Charlie and Joey had opted not to tell their daughter about the day on the cliffs, feeling it would be too much for her.
"One thing… uh… one thing you ought to know though is that um…" Charlie tried.
"What?" Ruby asked worriedly.
"Liam has left town," Joey said as gently as possible.
"Oh," Ruby said quietly.
They exchanged rather nervous glances, as they watched her process the news. Eventually, she plastered a smile on her face and took a breath.
"Thank you for telling me instead of letting me just find out," she said. "I know you would have been worried about it."
They both hugged her.
It had been a long and occasionally difficult day but Ruby was pleased that she had had her parents with her throughout. They had gone for a walk to get some fresh air and although everyone they had run into had been very nice, it had been hard to deal with the eternal 'how are you' question. It just felt awkward, knowing that everyone knew where she had been and why. She thought of her time before the clinic, her drinking and her crush on Liam with terrible embarrassment and shame and facing people again was always going to be hard.
Going back to school was going to be a nightmare. Things were still tentative between her and Indi after she had got her sacked from the restaurant and of course, really, that had all been part of it. Then there was Xavier, who although she was friendly with, she had essentially dumped him because of her insane crush on a man she couldn't have. And she had therefore not really bothered to get to know April. Romeo was attached to Indi, and Nicole, probably her closest friend, was moving onto University soon. At least, school wise, she had Dex, she supposed.
That evening, Charlie, Joey, Ruby, Claire, Kerri and Danny all went out for dinner at the restaurant in order to welcome the girls home.
"Welcome home, Ruby," Angelo greeted. "The place hasn't been the same without you."
"Thank you, Angelo," Ruby said.
Joey smiled sincerely at him. It was a kind thing for him to say – and more helpful than asking how she was, which everyone else had done all day.
"Angelo, this is Claire, my new lodger," Kerri introduced.
Angelo shook hands with her.
"Please to meet you, Claire," he said. "I'm Angelo Rosetta."
"Pleased to meet you, Angelo," she replied, hoping everyone else in Summer Bay would be as friendly as those she had met so far.
He led the group over to their table.
At another table, Marilyn had persuaded a very reluctant Sid to have dinner with herself and Mitzy. It was rather awkward but they were all persevering. However, now the meal was over, Mitzy was feeling sick. In fact, she hadn't been quite right all evening. And now Marilyn was concerned that she was keeping secrets. Something just wasn't right with her friend and she couldn't work out what it was.
"Well, here's to Ruby and Claire starting a new, positive phase in their lives," Charlie proposed.
"I'll drink to that," Kerri agreed.
Claire looked shy but together. Ruby was pleased.
"Here's to Ruby and Claire," Joey said. "And to health, happiness and being at home."
They all clinked their glasses together.
Next time… Ruby returns to school, Angelo takes Paulie home and Claire begins to settle into the Bay...
