For Thane xxx

Chapter Five Hundred and Sixty One

It was hard to drag themselves out of bed the next morning but Charlie and Joey managed just in time. They were both hopeful that Scott would be the right fit for the restaurant. Joey hadn't spent any time with him the night before but she trusted Charlie's judgement.

He was waiting for them outside the building when they arrived, looking bright, cheerful and eager. He greeted them happily and thanked them for the opportunity for an interview.

"Well, we're really excited to get to know you," Charlie said, letting them into the building and leading the way upstairs.

"I'm Joey, by the way," Joey introduced herself. "We didn't actually get the chance to meet last night."

"Scott Dobson," the newcomer said. "I saw you from afar and Charlie told me lots about you. She swooned over you, in fact."

"Hey!" Charlie protested from ahead of them.

"I think you might well get this job," Joey chuckled.

"So, where in the UK are you from?" Joey asked. "I've always wanted to go there."

"I'm from a little place on the south coast called Brighton," Scott said. "It's the gay capital of the country. It's no wonder I came out of the womb dancing to Kylie!"

Joey snorted. Charlie let them into the restaurant.

"Shall we?" she said.


Elijah was on the beach, trying to clear his head. Things had got awkward last night when Grace had suggested consummating their marriage. He had been thrown, not expecting her feelings for him to have become real. He had only married her for the sake of Thabo. It had never been more than that. His heart was still with Leah, even more so now that he was back in the same town as her. He was upset that she had gone on a date with another guy last night. He hadn't been able to sleep for thinking about how it had gone. Had she liked him? Had she kissed him? More? He shook his head, sighing heavily and sitting down on the sand. How had everything got so complicated?

Ahead of him, he spotted Romeo surfing with a young man he didn't know the name of. He supposed life in Summer Bay never stood still. People came and went with the tide.


Romeo and Casey pulled their boards out of the water. Romeo shook his head and ran his hands through his wet hair.

"Right," he said. "Shall we get on with our assignment now?"

"I never had you down as a geek," Casey teased.

Romeo looked serious. On Friday, Casey had failed to hand in yet another assignment. Romeo had decided to take his new friend under his wing and help him study, the way he and Ruby were studying. But first, he'd had to bribe him with an early morning surf.

"I just don't want you to get thrown out of school," he said. "Now, I assume you don't want Miles breathing down your neck so shall we go to your place?"


Scott had easily got the job. Charlie and Joey had both known from the start that he was the perfect fit. He was charming and funny and could talk easily to anyone. They knew he would be a hit with their customers.

"So… you know pretty much everyone in this town?" Scott said.

"Most people," Charlie said.

"There was a guy in here last night," Scott ventured. "I didn't get to talk to him but he was about my age, blonde, cute. He was sat near the back with a guy and a group of women. One of them was in a wheelchair, I think?"

Charlie smiled. She knew exactly who he meant.

"What about him?" she asked.

"Just… he was cute," Scott remarked.

"Well, maybe he'll come back," Charlie said.

They watched him leave before Joey turned to Charlie quizzically.

"Blake," Charlie explained. "The colleague I told you about?"

"Oh!" Joey realised. "You're like a little matchmaker!"

They slowed their step when they spotted Angelo and Brax exiting the building next door. The four of them came face to face. Charlie and Joey held hands.

"Checking out your new venue?" Charlie asked.

"Yep," Brax said brightly. "We should be up and running pretty soon."

He looked at Joey.

"I don't think we've actually met," he said, offering his hand.

She didn't take it.

"Fine," he said. "Well, I'm Brax anyway. Nice to meet you."

"I'd like to say the same but it's not really, is it?" Joey said stiffly. "Leah told us why you really took her out last night. A little embarrassing, isn't it?"

Angelo looked confused. Brax laughed.

"I think she got the wrong end of the stick," he said, shaking his head. "She thought it was a date but I was just trying to pick her brains about the Diner and what she knew about your business. I think she got a little pissed off when she realised."

Joey laughed and shook her head.

"Whatever you say," she said, keeping hold of Charlie's hand.

"How did your big launch go last night?" Angelo asked.

"It was really good," Charlie told him. "We've just hired your replacement, actually."

He felt sad. He had hated not being at the restaurant last night. So many times, all through the day and the evening, he had nearly changed his mind. He didn't want to work for Brax. He wanted to continue to be part of Charlie and Joey's family. And now it was clearly too late.

"Great," he said stiffly. "I hope it works out for you."


Nicole had gone round to Indi's house for a study day but a lot of it had been spent talking and they were currently on the subject of Romeo.

"You guys seemed okay last night," Nicole said. "Not that he had much time to sit with us. The poor guy was rushed off his feet."

"Yeah, pretty crap timing for Angelo to walk out," Indi complained.

"Well, he half jumped and was half pushed," Nicole said, feeling a little bit sorry for Angelo.

Indi shrugged. She just hoped that Charlie and Joey would find a replacement for him soon as she knew Romeo would put in extra hours to the detriment of school and their relationship, which was suffering enough already.

"So, things haven't picked up between the two of you?" Nicole asked.

"I just feel like the magic has died somehow," Indi admitted.

"Well, maybe you need a night together… you know, just the two of you…?" Nicole suggested with a grin. "I mean, a careful night!"

She patted her growing bump, making Indi laugh.

"Well, we've never actually had one of those nights, if you know what I mean," she admitted.

"You haven't?"

Indi shook her head.

"I have before but he hasn't and we wanted it to be perfect," Indi explained. "And now I feel like it's become such a big deal that we might never do it! Especially with how things are between us. It certainly doesn't feel perfect anymore. It's kind of like we've overshot or something. Like, we didn't do it when things really were perfect and now we've drifted so far apart that they'll never be perfect again."

She sighed heavily. Nicole put her hand on her arm.

"I think you need to do it," she said. "Invite him round. Create something romantic. Let him know just how much you love him. And providing it feels right, it should bring you together. You're not communicating right now. But you do love each other, don't you? You want to be together?"

"Of course!" Indi said. "I love him more than life!"

"Well then," Nicole said. "Fight for him. Make time for him. Show him how you really feel."


So far, it was a weird experience being at the Braxton house. It was a little like visiting the house of Romeo's childhood. It was dirty and untidy and full of chaos. Romeo and Casey had only been studying for a couple of hours when Casey's mother, Cheryl had arrived home drunk. It wasn't even midday. And Romeo didn't think it seemed to be a one off occurrence. Casey had put her to bed, embarrassed and then returned to the table without another word.

He sighed heavily when he heard the door open, hoping it would be Brax arriving back and not Heath. He had suffered enough embarrassment this morning. But alas, it was his middle brother and not his eldest.

"Oh, look at the brains of the family, knuckling down and getting his work done like a good little boy!" Heath said, spotting them immediately at the table.

"Shut up, Heath," Casey said through gritted teeth.

Romeo remained silent.

"And who are you?" Heath wanted to know, vaguely recognising Romeo from the beach. "His new boyfriend?"

"Shut up, Heath!" Casey snapped, jumping out of his chair.

Heath immediately squared up to his younger brother, clearly finding the whole thing amusing. Casey was not amused. Romeo remained at the table, concerned at the level of anger in his friend.

"You got a problem with me, Case?" Heath asked, reaching out and ruffling his brother's hair.

Casey shoved him hard in the chest; Heath shoved him back. Romeo was relieved when Brax arrived back and immediately broke it up, demanding to know what was going on.

"He's taking the piss out of me for studying!" Casey yelled furiously.

"Well, that's because he was too dumb to finish school," Brax said evenly. "Don't rise to it."

Heath looked affronted.

"And you," Brax said to him. "Stop being such a… You know what? Never mind. You can't help it."

Romeo stood up and gathered his things up, making his excuses to leave.

"Now look what you've done!" Casey snapped at Heath.

"Aww," Heath said, throwing himself down on the sofa. "Do you miss him already?"

Brax stopped Casey launching himself at Heath a second time.


Charlie and Joey went for lunch at the Diner, inviting Leah to join them. She was still sore from her date with Brax and still a little embarrassed over the fact that he had only ever asked her out because he fancied Charlie – not to mention awkward that she had blurted that out in front of Joey.

"Well, I'm convinced that he's up to no good," Charlie said. "That beer he offered us has got to be stolen. And it wouldn't surprise me if this restaurant he's setting up is a cover for something else. I'm definitely going to investigate."

"Charlie, I really think you should just stay away from him," Joey said worriedly.

"Jo, I'm a police officer," Charlie said. "If I think there's a criminal at work, I need to act."

"He's got his eye on you," Joey said. "And I don't mean that in a 'he wants to sleep with you' sense, I mean it in, there's something about you, to him. There has to be a reason, other than the fact that you're the hottest woman in the world, that has made him make a beeline for you. Otherwise why would a criminal gang member be into a cop? It's dumb. It makes me nervous."

Charlie put her hand on her leg, promising that she would be careful.

"I just worry about you," Joey said.

"I know," Charlie said. "And I swear, I will be careful. I'm not going to make a big deal out of anything. I just want to have a little look into his business, make sure it's legit."

Joey reluctantly accepted it.

"I just hope Angelo doesn't get caught in the crossfire," she added.

"Joey, you can't feel guilty about the decisions that Angelo makes," Leah said.

"But I do," Joey said. "If I hadn't reacted like that then he wouldn't have gone off with Brax."

"If he'd have bothered to listen to the voicemail you left him two minutes later, he'd still be with us," Charlie reminded her.

Joey sighed heavily. She still felt very guilty.

"So, what's new with you?" she asked Leah.

"Well, VJ and I ran into Elijah this morning," she said. "That was awkward. And he was in such a weird mood as well."

"What did he say?" Charlie asked.

"Not much," Leah said. "He was just… weird."

She shook her head.

"Anyway, I've reluctantly left VJ surfing but he has to check in every hour," Leah said.

"Our boy's growing up!" Joey said, aghast.

"I know!" Leah said. "It's horrible!"


It was late when Charlie and Joey closed up the restaurant that night. Scott had had a successful first shift and he had got along well with customers and staff. Although they missed Angelo, they thought he would flourish within their little group. He had particularly bonded with Claire.

"Where are we going?" Joey asked when Charlie didn't head straight for the car.

"I thought we could have a moonlit walk along the beach," Charlie said, taking her hand.

Joey beamed at her and accepted and they headed for the sand.

"I really am proud of you," Charlie said sincerely. "This was a huge weekend and you handled everything so well."

"Apart from freaking out and firing Angelo," Joey corrected her.

"Hey," Charlie said. "I was just as angry as you were. I can't honestly say I wouldn't have done the same thing. You were just quicker than me."

Joey leant against her.

"You make me feel better," she said. "You always make me feel better."

They stopped and kissed.

"And what will really, really make me feel better is to get this dam cast off my wrist," Joey complained.

"Soon," Charlie said. "And then you'll have full access to all your digits."

She raised her eyebrows suggestively, making Joey laugh.

"At least it was your left hand," Charlie grinned, kissing her again.

"Thank goodness!" Joey giggled. "Imagine how grumpy I'd be if we couldn't…!"

Charlie laughed and pulled her closer. She stroked her face and ran her hands through her hair.

"You do know that there is nobody else in the whole world that I would ever want to be with, don't you?" Charlie said sincerely. "You are my whole life, Joey. You make me happier than I could ever explain."

Joey smiled.

"I feel the same about you, Charlie," she said. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I'm really sorry if I've been insecure or unreasonable lately…"

"It's not about that," Charlie said, anxiously fingering the ring box in her pocket. "Joey, what I'm trying to say is…"

"It's that queer cop!"

Heath Braxton led the charge as he and a group of his friends piled onto the beach, completely ruining the moment. Charlie closed her eyes for a moment, frustrated and furious. She took her hand out of her pocket, the moment lost. Keeping hold of Joey's hand, always feeling the need to protect her from the River Boys and Heath in particular, she prepared to make their escape from the beach.

"Did we interrupt?" Heath asked. "Were you guys about to go at on the beach?"

"Don't let us stop you!" one of his friends added to an eruption of jeers and laughter.

Ignoring them, Charlie and Joey left the beach and headed for the car.

"Are you okay?" Joey and Charlie both asked each other.

They both laughed and confirmed they were alright.

"Seeing Heath, I mean?" Charlie asked.

"I'm fine," Joey said. "I have to learn to live with it. He's not going anywhere. But what about you? You look super stressed."

They wrecked my proposal, Charlie thought to herself.

"They're just really starting to piss me off," she said.


Next time… As Charlie and Joey's anniversary approaches, Joey tackles her issues, Romeo and Casey conflict and Scott starts work at the restaurant…