Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty Nine
Charlie stood up in front of the police force, her friends, her family and her community. She was touched by the sheer number of people who had turned out to celebrate and commemorate her father's life. Even Liam and Bianca, who they had hardly heard from these past few weeks, had returned from their trip to Europe, to be there to support them. The moment she had seen Bianca, she had burst into tears. And she had only just stopped crying from seeing her father's coffin. That had taken the whole journey in the funeral car. She had been trying so hard to stay strong, especially for Ruby. And she had been succeeding right up until today.
She looked directly at Joey, seeking her strength as she began to tell the packed church all about the amazing man, police officer and father Ross Buckton had been. Joey had listened to the eulogy several times. She had helped her add in funny stories and quips so it wasn't dry and she had shaped it with her. Charlie just hoped that if she focussed on the woman she loved then she would be able to get the words out and do her Dad proud.
A couple of hours later, several people had come back to Charlie and Joey's house for the wake, although thankfully not everyone, as there must have been over a hundred people in attendance at the funeral itself. Leah had very kindly catered for the event, taking all the pressure off Joey and the family and she had done some really amazing food.
Charlie stood in the middle of her lounge, surveying all the people around her, huddled in groups, making polite conversation and she struggled not to feel overwhelmed. She could hardly take in the enormity of the day. Her Dad was gone and she now had to face the rest of her life completely without him. She had long ago dealt with the idea that he wasn't the strong, capable man she had grown up with. But it was hard to get her head around the fact that she would never hug him or speak to him ever again. As if reading her mind and understanding that she was struggling, Joey appeared and wrapped her arms around her waist. Charlie held on tightly.
Their attention was caught by Morag's sharp voice.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded.
Robertson was stood in the doorway.
"I'll go," Joey said, gesturing for Charlie to stay back.
She couldn't bear for Charlie to be more upset than she already was.
"I just came to pay my respects to a valued police officer," Robertson said, holding his hands up in submission.
The truth was that he had returned to Summer Bay to appear at Alf Stuart's bail hearing. He was a dedicated officer and he liked to see things through. He was determined to see Penn Graham's killer brought to justice once and for all.
"Well, you're not welcome here," Morag said, bitterness in every word.
"I think you should leave," Joey said. "We don't want any scenes at Ross's wake, okay?"
"I understand," he said, although he had been hoping for a glimpse of Leah.
She hadn't been returning his calls.
"Well, I'm off too," Morag said.
"What? You're leaving?" Joey said, surprised.
"It's Alf's bail hearing today."
"It's today?" Joey gasped.
She was ashamed of herself not to have known. She had been so lost in Ross's death that she had lost track of everything else. She hadn't set foot in the restaurant since New Year. Thankfully Angelo and Claire had been amazing at keeping everything going. They deserved a New Year bonus whenever she could get her act together to sort things out.
"Yes," Morag said. "In an hour. I'm assuming that's why Detective Robertson really showed up all of a sudden."
Joey grimaced.
"I need to go and represent him," Morag said. "Get him out of there and bring him home."
"Please tell him I love him," Joey requested.
Morag nodded and slipped out, pocketing her grief and putting her legal hat on.
Joey went to find Charlie. She was disappointed to find her shouting at Irene and Colleen in the kitchen. Evidently, the two women had been arguing about Will.
"If you're going to snipe at each other and argue then get the hell out of my father's wake!" Charlie snapped.
"Sorry, Charlie," Colleen said.
"I'm sorry," Irene told her. "I'm sorry for everything."
Charlie looked at her directly.
"I'm sure you are."
"Charlie," Joey said gently, nudging her away. "Let's mingle."
She pulled her away from the kitchen and they approached Liam and Bianca who looked like the happiest couple on earth despite their sombre funeral faces.
"Thank you so much for coming all the way back here for the funeral, guys," Joey said.
"We were heading back shortly anyway but when we heard about Ross we had to come back," Bianca said. "After all the support you've given me, how could I not be there for you when you needed me?"
She smiled gently and hugged them both.
Morag hugged Alf tightly. She never wanted to let him go. Recovering herself, she blushed. It wasn't like her to show so much emotion. But she was so relieved that bail had been granted.
Glaring at her, Robertson stalked past them and out of the building.
"Ready to go home?" she asked her brother.
"Hopefully for good," he said.
He was painfully aware that he still had a trial to get through. But for now, on the promise that Morag move in with him, he was allowed to return home. He couldn't wait.
"Oh, Joey told me to tell you she loves you," Morag said. "But I'm pretty sure she'll be round as soon as she can to tell you herself."
The last few people drifted away from the wake, leaving Leah, Colleen and Irene cleaning up. Joey, Charlie, Ruby, Claire, Hannah, Angelo and Romeo helped. Morag let herself into the house. Alf had gone straight home. He needed a hot bath and a coffee.
"Morag!" Joey shrieked. "What happened in court?"
"Alf got bail," Morag said. "He's at home now."
Joey burst into tears of joy. Charlie and the others weren't far behind her.
"But the condition was that I move in with him so I'm just going to pack my stuff. I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course," Charlie said. "Whatever he needs."
"Will he be up for visitors? Not this second, of course. But tomorrow?" Joey asked.
"I'm sure he'd love to see you," Morag said. "I passed on your message."
She and Joey exchanged smiles before Morag headed into her room to pack. Privately, she was pleased to leave the room she and Ross had shared, the room she had said goodbye to him in.
"I'll head back with Morag then, I guess," Romeo said. "If you'll be okay, Ruby?"
Ruby was touched by the way he cared about her. Claire couldn't help but notice. Hannah noticed that Claire noticed.
"This is the life, isn't it?" Liam remarked.
He and Bianca had pitched their tent down by the river bank just outside of town, determined to continue the back to basics, country life they had been living while they were away. It had been amazing while they were away to live a basic life, pitching up tents and immersing themselves in nature instead of being absorbed in modern life. It had made them really connect with each other and they wanted to let it continue.
Bianca lay down on the camp bed beside him and snuggled against his chest.
"Yes," she said. "It really is."
Leah had only just arrived home after a busy day catering for Ross's funeral. She paused when she saw Robertson hovering in the doorway of the kitchen.
"What are you doing here?" she asked awkwardly.
He had tried to call her many times over the last few weeks but she had ignored him. She couldn't forgive him for being responsible for putting Alf behind bars.
"Well, phone calls didn't work so…"
"So you didn't get the message?"
"Leah…"
"Robertson, I cannot date the guy that put Alf Stewart behind bars," she told her.
"Well, he's out on bail now, so…"
He laughed. She didn't.
"Look, can we be friends at least?" he asked. "I just… I really want a friend."
She sighed heavily. She gave in.
That night in bed, Alf was relieved to be in his own bed for the first time in so long. He felt clean from the best bath he had had in a long time. He'd had a decent meal, a lovely cup of coffee and a nice cold beer. But he was tormented with images of Will Smith and his betrayal. He was furious with him for lying to the police. He just didn't understand why Will would do that. He was hurt and he was angry. And he was determined to get answers.
Charlie and Joey curled up in bed together, still broken by the loss of Ross but so happy that Alf had returned home. Things in Summer Bay seemed just that little bit safer and that little bit more correct knowing that he was in his house, back where he belonged at last.
Next time… Alf is welcomed home, Morag gets stuck into Alf's defence, Will and Alf come face to face…
