Chapter Five Hundred and Seventy Nine

Charlie's heart pounded as she charged across the sand, the waves lapping the sea and the hot sun beaming down on her. She cried out as Joey suddenly shot past her, out of nowhere.

"Damn!" she said, skidding to a halt.

Joey jumped up in jubilation. It was their regular war, challenging each other to a race.

"I think lunch is on you!" Joey teased.

Charlie remained sat down in the sand, hot and out of breath. Grinning, Joey straddled her lap, wrapping her arms around her neck. She kissed her, looking very pleased with herself.

"I just feel like you cheated," Charlie complained with a pout.

"I did not cheat!" Joey protested. "You are such a bad loser!"

Charlie continued to pout. Joey kissed her again. Charlie pushed her backwards onto the sand, covering her body with her own. She kissed her neck, running her hand over the body she loved so much, losing herself in the moment.


Arriving at the Diner to get a coffee, Charlie spotted her daughter at a corner table, buried in homework. Casey Braxton was sat opposite her, also working hard. It was a surprise, considering it was early on a Saturday morning. Ruby hadn't been this interested in schoolwork since she had been interested in Romeo.

"Oh, that's nice to see," Miles said, appearing behind them in a queue.

Charlie turned around to look at him, tearing her gaze at away from the kids.

"He has been working so hard on overcoming his dyslexia," Miles said.

Charlie and Joey both looked surprised. It was yet something else that Ruby hadn't shared with them.

"Oh, Ruby didn't say?" Miles said, feeling suddenly awkward at his overshare. "I've been tutoring him and I know Ruby has been helping him a lot with studying – not doing it for him or anything but helping him with spelling and reading. She's put a lot of work in and he has made so much effort and he's reaping so much reward for it. All he's really needed is for a handful of people to believe in him. I don't think he's ever had that before."

Joey smiled sadly to herself, looking at Casey. She might not like the Braxton family but she did know what it was like to come from a background where nobody believed you could succeed.

"Well, I'm glad he's got people who believe in him now," she said.

"That's kind of why I had to withdraw the complaint about Heath," Miles explained further. "I wanted Casey to know he could trust me. I couldn't have him see me as an enemy. But I know that caused problems for you, Jo and I'm really sorry for that."

It had meant that there really wasn't enough evidence to prove exactly who had injured her in such a big ruckus so Joey had also withdrawn her complaint, albeit grudgingly.

"Please don't worry about it," she said, patting him on the shoulder.

She and Charlie took their coffees to go. Opting not to disturb Ruby, who looked like she was deep in concentration, they left the Diner and stepped back out into the fresh, warm, morning air.


Charlie and Joey headed for home. Their plan was to go into Yabbie Creek to do some shopping, which Charlie was quite excited about, as this was something she rarely agreed to. Charlie usually had to rely on Leah, Bianca or Ruby if she wanted new clothes as it just wasn't Joey's thing but she had even gone so far as to suggest it this weekend.

On their way to the car, they were surprised to see Romeo coming back from a surf. In itself, it wasn't unusual but what was odd was that he looked to be in an extremely good mood. He was even smiling. Since everything had come out about him and Ruby and the subsequent breakup of his relationship with Indi, he had definitely not had anything to smile about lately.

"Maybe he's had some good news?" Joey said hopefully.


Having stopped at home to shower and change out of their sports gear, Charlie and Joey took their coffees and jumped back into the car to head off to Yabbie Creek.

"So…" Joey ventured, once they were on their way. "Ruby and Casey…"

Charlie sighed and concentrated on the road ahead.

"You think we should give him a proper chance," she said.

"Well, Miles gave him a pretty good recommendation," Joey pointed out. "And he has stuck by her through everything. He stood up to Xavier. He's obviously got her back."

"He's still a Braxton," Charlie said.

"I mean, Collins isn't exactly a great family to be part of…"

Charlie glanced at her, reaching out and held her hand.

"I called the restaurant Bucktons' for a reason," Joey added.

"We haven't talked about names when we get married but… I mean, I'd be very happy to double-barrel or…?"

"I'd love to be a Buckton if you're asking," Joey said, smiling at her.

"Joey Buckton," Charlie said, nodding. "I think that sounds beautiful."

"Charlie and Joey Buckton," Joey agreed. "Yeah… Perfect."

Charlie lifted Joey's hand and kissed it.

"So, back to Casey…" Joey ventured.

Charlie sighed and reluctantly agreed that she was right.


"So, it's Claire's birthday next week," Ruby told Casey.

He looked up and waited for her to continue.

"Case, it's kind of a big deal," she said.

"Why, is it a special birthday?" he asked.

"Every birthday is special," she informed him. "But yes, actually, it's her twenty first. And I want to throw a party for her. Will you help me?"

He looked reluctant. She wasn't impressed.

"Ruby, I just get the feeling that Claire doesn't really like me," he admitted. "I mean, join the club, right? Claire doesn't like me, your parents don't like me…"

"Claire totally likes you!" Ruby insisted. "We talk about you all the time and she absolutely likes you."

He didn't look convinced but accepted it.

"So, will you help me arrange the party?"

He smiled and reluctantly agreed. He would do anything Ruby asked of him.


Joey was beginning to question why she had agreed to go clothes shopping with Charlie. She couldn't fathom what was so thrilling about such an activity. Personally, she could spot a pair of jeans she liked, check they fitted and be out of the shop in ten minutes – fifteen if there was a queue. Chore done. It was the same with any item. For Charlie and their friends it seemed a genuine pleasure. She didn't understand it at all.

However, once her fiancée had satisfied her need for new outfits, Joey was planning to reveal she had really suggested their shopping trip and it was nothing to do with new t-shirts and a nice lunch.


Romeo was a bag of nerves as he waited for Indi to arrive at the quiet picnic spot he had invited her to on the beach for their date. He had gone to a lot of effort to make things special and put together a spread with the help of Marilyn and Miles. He just hoped that today would be the day that he and Indi would be able to lay the past aside and rebuild their relationship.

"Hi," her familiar voice greeted.

She sounded as nervous as he felt. She looked absolutely stunning.

"Hi," he replied.


"Okay, are we all shopped out?" Joey asked.

She had been shopped out after the first ten minutes in the first place. That had been hours ago. Still, they'd had a nice lunch since then and Joey did appreciate being rewarded with food. Especially dessert.

"I think I'm satisfied," Charlie said.

She reached across the table for Joey's hand.

"Thank you for indulging me," she said. "I still don't know what I did to deserve it."

"Well, I did have an ulterior motive," Joey confessed.

Charlie sat up straighter.

"Why?" she asked. "What's happened?"

Joey laughed.

"There's something else I want to do today," she said.

Charlie raised her eyebrows suggestively. Joey scolded her playfully.


Ruby had just about persuaded Dex to join them at the table and also just about agreed to let Xavier join them too. Dex may not have forgiven Ruby for sleeping with his sister's boyfriend but he cared a great deal for Claire and once he discovered it was her birthday, he was completely on board for helping arrange something. Ruby wasn't terribly eager to include Xavier but if she was going to make the day special then the more people that helped, the better.

"So, I thought we could have it at the restaurant," she said.

"Which one?" Xavier asked.

He was just trying to be mean; this was exactly why she hadn't wanted to include him.

"My parents' restaurant," she replied, not rising to the bait. "The place means a lot to Claire and we'd get it for free, obviously."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Dex agreed. "Who should we invite?"

"Well, all of us, obviously," Ruby said. "My parents, Scott and Blake…"

"Romeo?" Xavier asked.

Casey wanted to punch him.

"He and Claire work together so yeah, probably," Ruby said, determined not to let him bother her.

"Well, he and Indi are on a date right now so let's contact them later," he said.

"Great," Ruby said. "You can do that then. We can make a list of who invites who later. There's bound to be other people we can invite. Joey will probably have a good idea of who she's friendly with at work – customers, I mean."

Casey studied his girlfriend's face, wondering if she was upset at Romeo and Indi getting back together or if she was committed to him completely. If she was bothered, she didn't let it show.


"Joey, what's this?" Charlie asked.

"Well, traditionally, this is known as a jewellers," Joey explained. "They sell shiny, pretty things."

Charlie looked at her.

"But why are we here?" she wanted to know.

"Because I have an engagement ring and you, my darling, do not," Joey said. "So, we are here because I would like to buy you and engagement ring."

"But I didn't technically buy you a ring…"

"So the ring I have is priceless," Joey said. "But I still want to get you something."

She took her hand and nudged her into the shop.


Things had not gone well. Romeo sat alone on the picnic blanket, staring out at the sea. He felt like his heart was completely broken and that it could never be repaired. Half the food had been left uneaten. Everything had started okay but pretty soon, Indi had put a half to things. She had noted how much effort he had gone to but that every time she looked at him, she could only imagine him and Ruby together. She couldn't get over his infidelity. Therefore, they could never move forward.


"Joey, this is far too expensive," Charlie protested, whispering.

"I have the money," Joey assured her. "Come on, you love this one. This is the one you wanted, isn't it?"

Charlie nodded but she didn't want Joey to spend so much money on her.

"Well then, this is the one you'll have," Joey said. "It looks beautiful on you."

They smiled happily at each other.

"Fiancée," she added sweetly.


Leah was glad the day was almost done. She had been working in the Diner all day due to one of her Saturday staff being on holiday. Normally, she was able to avoid the weekends, as she had VJ to look after, not that he appreciated being 'babysat' now that he was in high school. He was certain that at eleven years old, he no longer required adult supervision. She disagreed. Thankfully, he hadn't put up too much of a fight over being shipped off to spend the day with Danny and even more thankfully, Watson and Kerri had been more than willing to take him for the day. She definitely owed them more than one favour.

"Did you do it?"

Leah almost dropped a tray in surprise. She hadn't hard Elijah arrive in the kitchen and the level of urgency or perhaps it was even aggression in his voice had startled her. She picked the tray back up and put it on the side.

"Did I do what?"

"Did you tell the authorities that Grace was here illegally?"

"What? No! Of course I didn't!"

"You weren't happy about our relationship," he said.

His tone was definitely aggressive.

"Your relationship was nothing to do with me," Leah said.

"Oh, come off it!" he snapped. "You were jealous of my marriage to Grace."

"Your marriage was a sham!" she pointed out.

"And there we have it!" he yelled, slamming his fist on the side.

She jumped in fright.

"How could you do that to her, Leah? Do you know she's been arrested?"

Leah looked devastated.

"Regardless of anything, I would never have contacted the authorities," she said, genuinely worried about Grace. "She's a good person and she doesn't deserve that. For goodness sake, Elijah, her son has just died!"

"I am aware," he said coldly.

"Well, I am genuinely sorry for what's happened," Leah said. "And I hope you find out who it was but it was nothing to do with me. Now please leave."

He stared at her for several moments before exiting the premises.


"So, yeah, that's the plan," Ruby concluded. "What do you think?"

Charlie and Joey had called Ruby while they had still been in Yabbie Creek and asked her and Casey both if they would like to have dinner with them. Once the teenagers had recovered from the shock, they had accepted and now the four of them were at Joey's favourite table at Bucktons'. Romeo was their server and hadn't smiled once the entire time.

"I think that sounds fantastic," Joey said. "Do you want to do it here?"

"Yes please!"

"No problem. I'll just put it down as an event in someone else's name so she doesn't twig."

"Good thinking," Charlie said.

"Just give us an idea of how many people and I'll sort out the catering."

"You're the best! I just really want her to feel special. We had a talk the other day and she sounded so sad about her family. We're the closest thing she has to a family now."

"Then the best family we will be," Charlie told her.

"Definitely!" Ruby said. "Can I look at the ring again please?"

Charlie laughed and stretched out her hand.


Next time… Bianca and Liam continue to have problems, Liam makes his presence felt in his new home and Elijah finds solace in alcohol…