I'm sure this story is long forgotten but it always needed an ending. One which I knew I'd always struggle with.
While writing the Journey of this story, my own life has taken several twists along the way.
Gran this story is ultimately a constant reminder of you and the mornings we had together.. tho I'm sure if you knew what i was writing I'd have gone before you lol RIP granny.
I hope you enjoy this conclusion and if you don't meh its not like im gonna change it lol
'If love was as easily lived as it is written the world would be a happier place. Take comfort in words said and hope from the words left unsaid.'-Me
Charlie lay in the relaxation room after her luxurious facial, she'd never had one before but feeling her soft skin she knew it definitely wouldn't be the last. She gazed at the water feature noticing the fish for the first time, smiling she thought of Joey and how wonderful she truly was. She hoped her dad was ok although she knew Joey could manage him and calm him down better than her or ruby could.
Ruby came through the door practically floating. "My god that woman has the hands of Venus herself"
"When did Joey get here?" Charlie asked straight-faced stopping ruby in her tracks.
"Oh shush! Seriously though that massage is worth every second of whatever your paying and more" ruby grinned.
Chuckling, Charlie replied "oh really? That good? I'll be sure to get that treatment done when me and Joey come again."
As the door opened another woman walked in and sat at the opposite side of the room to where Charlie was and where ruby had just lay.
Whispering "I thought that was Morag for a second and was about to say wow that facial really did knock off 20 years" Charlie sniggered at ruby's comment as a 'tut' came from across the room making them snigger more.
"Rubes, why is she so familiar looking?" ruby looked over taking stock of the woman properly for the first time.
"Oh my god" she whispered "is that the one from that soap?"
"Ruby that does not narrow it down"
"You know the one based on a street... Oh neighbours... Sue?"
"No ...Susan Kennedy!" they both stared in disbelief.
Morag walked into the relaxation room a short time later, taking a seat at the other side of Charlie groaning "since when does a back massage include your ass? That's just rude and sexual harassment" she stated very matter of fact as ruby and Charlie burst out laughing.
"Would you please keep it down over there" came the voice from the other side of the room.
"Oh Jackie quit being such a moan" Morag quickly retorted shocking ruby and Charlie, leaving them opened mouthed.
Sitting up at the other side of the room, staring at Morag. "Bellingham trust you to cause a stir when someone's trying to relax"
"I was merely stating how inappropriate it is for them to be groping my ass... You probably pay more for the pleasure" Morag responded tight lipped. As Jackie Woodbourne rose to her feet and walked over. Morag standing staring her down. Charlie and ruby watched them in silence looking from one to the other as if it was a tennis match.
"Can't imagine it was much of a pleasure touching that old wrinkly ass and pushing back the nappy to get the hands in there" Charlie and ruby gasped.
"At least it's just the nappy they'd find... God only knows what they'd find on your ass" they looked each other straight in the faced. Charlie and ruby unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.
Jackie raised her hand, as Charlie rose quickly ready to break them apart.
"Hug for an old friend?" smiling at each other they quickly hugged, leaving Charlie and ruby looking bewildered.
Joey's mind was going faster than she thought possible. She was packing up the fishing equipment. Ross was helping her and happily whistling.
"Thanks for a lovely day Joey" Ross smiled as he picked up the bucket of fish they'd caught"
"Anytime" Joey looked at him debating whether to quiz him more, she thought against it as she knew it'd upset him. "So Ross I'm assuming we'll not be having fish tonight?" Joey chuckled.
"Well I caught enough to feed me and Morag but what will you be having? U didn't even catch an old boot" Ross smiled back. "Your missus and child will be hungry tonight skip" Ross chuckled. Joey turned around to pick up the tackle box, her mind quickly put into overdrive again, 'once is a mistake, but this is too much, how could Charlie keep this from me all this time? Was I the stupid girlfriend that didn't know? Bet they've all been laughing at me. No ruby would of let slip... Omg ruby doesn't know... Wait what the fuck age was Charlie? ... I can't believe she didn't tell me! Or trust me...' Joey fought back tears as she thought about the revelation.
"So Morag, what have you been doing?" Jackie asked as she sat on Morag's lounger.
Morag joined her "well I retired from being a judge and now occasionally help out as a lawyer when the family needs one."
"I'm just gonna say this.. But what?" everyone turned to a confused ruby and started to laugh.
"I represented Jackie.. Oh quite a few years back and we kinda became friends when I wasn't looking for super injunctions in her name" Morag explained. "This is Charlie and ruby, Ross' children."
"Super injunctions?" ruby asked eagerly. Causing Jackie to chuckle.
"Yeah they are there for a reason and you'll never find out why" she smiled at ruby "your step mother is 'that' good at her job. How is Ross?"
"He's good out fishing with Charlie's partner Joey as we had a girlie day."
"Ah the joys of a son in law" Jackie mused as the rest laughed.
"No Susan, Joey's my.." ruby elbowed Charlie in the ribs "what?... Oh.. Sorry Jackie.."
"that's ok everyone does it" Jackie smiled.
"Sorry again" Charlie cringed. "As I was saying Joey's a woman, my girlfriend"
"Even better than a son in law so" Jackie chuckled. "Well Morag it's been good to catch up but you know who will be Wondering where I've run off too and I'm afraid to tell her the truth as she won't believe me... Getting aggro from some ole doll in a nappy at the spa.." she quickly hopped out of the way of Morag's swatting hand and walking towards the door.
"You'll never change Jackie!" Morag shouted after her with a laugh.
Once the door shut, ruby got to her knees "oh my god Charlie could you be anymore embarrassing? Ok Morag spill" she eagerly waited.
"Oi, that could happen to anyone!" Charlie mumbled still embarrassed.
"No just you!" ruby responded smugly. "So Morag, tell us"
"Never ruby, that's defeat the purpose of me doing my job. So we should probably get ready to go meet your father and Joey" Morag stood and headed off towards the changing rooms. Ruby quickly scampering after her continuing to quiz as Charlie walked behind giggling at ruby's eagerness and persistence.
A while later Joey and Ross arrived back at Charlie's house and started to prepare dinner. They joked around a bit more until Joey realised that Ross was getting tired.
"Ross, I really don't want to sound rude but… get out of my kitchen" Ross looked at Joey with a mixture of shocked and hurt. "You can't know my secret recipe" Joey looked at him with a devilish grin. "So why don't you go take a nap or watch some TV and rest so I don't have to explain to Charlie that I had to kill her father over a family secret recipe" Ross visibly relaxed and started to chuckle.
"Joey I don't know whether to kiss you or club you over the head with a saucepan, you really had me worried there. But I get it, you don't want to have to explain to Charlie why I fell asleep in your famous fish soupy thingy, right?"
"You caught me on this one and here I was thinking I might out smart the great detective yet."
"Stick to your day job Joey, you'll never make a mastermind criminal or will you manage to catch your own dinner if you relay on your fishing skills" ducking out of the way of the cloth Joey had thrown at him Ross skipped into the sitting room to nap on the sofa for a bit, chuckling to himself as he went.
Joey was stirring her famous fish soup dish as she felt two hands wrapping around her waist from behind. Leaning back into the embrace Joey turned her head and received a kiss on the cheek.
"Welcome home gorgeous" Joey purred.
"Good to be home again" Charlie kissed Joey again before stepping back and offering to set the table.
"Yeah please" Joey responded suddenly trying to keep all her thoughts of the day at bay as she watching a happy Charlie float around the kitchen setting the table.
"Did Charlie tell you who we met at the Spa?" an excited Ruby finally made her presence known.
Joey provided Charlie with a questioning look before turning back to Ruby, "Who?"
"Jackie Freaking Woodbourne, that's who!"
"OMG shut up" Joey looked stunned. "What's she like? Is she like Susan in real life? Did you speak to her?"
Ruby started to tell Joey all about their chance encounter with the celebrity and over exaggerating Charlie's reactions for dramatic effect.
"So do we know what the super-injunction is?" Joey asked as she dried her tears of laughter at Ruby's story.
"No and Morag isn't Budging on it either" Ruby huffed.
"Well we'll double team her at dinner, go get Ross and Morag as dinner is now served" Joey smiled at Ruby.
After dinner Joey and Charlie went to the beach for a walk to spend some quality time together. Joey wasn't as keen on the idea as Charlie was as with every step her mind raced with accusations and silent comments.
"Jo, you awfully quiet tonight, did you not have a good day or did I do something wrong?" Charlie asked cautiously.
"Oh I had an interesting day" Joey snapped back. "I don't know Charlie did you do something wrong? Anything you wanna get off your conscience?"
Charlie stopped walking and turned to look at Joey "wow, what are you on about?"
"Don't give me that crap Charlie, you know full well"
"Seriously Joey what the hell are you on about? Want to let me into what I've apparently done wrong?" Charlie looked at Joey confused and Joey started to walk away, Charlie quickly followed her pulling her back to face her. "Joey talk to me"
"Seriously Charlie I don't even know where to begin"
"The start would be nice" Charlie retorted and instantly regretted it with the look in Joey's eyes.
With a sigh Joey looked away from Charlie out to the sea. "Well lets see… you are Ruby's mother and you were never gonna tell me. That seems like a good fucking start. I thought we put all the lies behind us but no you had to keep on…" Joey trailed off as Charlie stood laughing at her. Joey saw red and started to storm off again.
"Jo wait I'm sorry" Charlie called after her as she ran to catch up with Joey. "Do you seriously think I'm Ruby's mum?" Joey stopped.
"Your dad told me Charlie, quit trying to lie now and laugh it off, I know!"
"Babe what exactly did my dad say to you?"
"You want me to fucking read u a script?" Joey was seething at Charlie's denial. "Lets see he said id have better look getting you to have another child, that you had a traumatic experience and that she was named after a colour… oh and something like for gods sake skip she's living with you, you should know this!"
Charlie takes a step towards Joey "babe what did you say he called you?"
"Charlie WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MATTER?" Joey shouted, "fucking skip or skipper does it really fucking matter?
"Actually it does cos he was on about his ex best friend, his girlfriend and their daughter Amber."
"What?"
"That was dads nickname for his old partner when they worked together they also went fishing a lot together. And Mary nearly died giving birth to Amber so yeah that was traumatic!"
Joey's face paled. "omg Charlie I am so sorry!"
"Well hasn't our trust issues come a long way" Charlie almost whispered as she sunk to the ground.
"I'm so sorry. I just was so sure, he's your dad and he said about a colour for a name and my head just spiralled."
"Jo, I get it but I thought you'd have a little more trust in me and attempt to talk to me at least."
"I'm so sorry Charlie, forgive me?" Joey knelt in front of Charlie taking her hands begging with her eyes.
"Nothing to forgive" Charlie smiled and got up and pulled Joey up with her and giving her a passionate kiss, "Just so long as you remember this when I tell ruby, she's gonna have a field day over this." With that Charlie starts running back to the house leaving a shocked Joey in her wake.
"Chaz you wouldn't dare" was all she could shout before she took off running after her.
Catching up to Charlie finally as Charlie stopped at the door to the house, turning to face Joey with a straight face. "Joey I need you to have more faith in me and in us, this, tonight could have ruined us."
"I know and I promise I will, I am eternally sorry I doubted you"
"Joey I learnt my lesson I'll never lie to you again and I will never do anything to hurt you. Ever."
"I know and you know id never hurt you either right?" Charlie nodded and kissed Joey softly.
"Promise me this Jo"
"Anything" Joey kissed Charlie again.
"May you never steal, lie or cheat. But if you have to steal, then you will steal away my sorrows. If you have to lie, then lie with me all the nights of our life. If you have to cheat, then cheat death because I don't want to live a day without you." Charlie whispered softly as emotion filled her voice.
"I promise" pulling Charlie into a deep kiss, Joey surrendered herself completely to Charlie. "I love you so much Charlie and I always will"
"I love you too Jo!"