Shadow of the Day

[JosieTash]

BIIIIIIG catch up for me !!!! FOUR chapters !!! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED it all, especially …..

 After Kitty, when I was three, I had Hammy the hamster and I was so excited I patted it every five minutes until she died of fright and I cried for days afterwards. And there was Moo, he was my Dalmatian, he got his name because I thought he was a baby cow because of the black and white spots. After that, for my sixth birthday, I got Goldie and Fishie and they were my goldfish, by this time Moo had run away. They died in two days because Charlie forgot to feed them; I didn’t forgive her for two whole hours, that’s how mad I was.’

Ruby took a deep breath before continuing. ‘Peggy was my hen two years later and I didn’t eat chicken the whole time I had her but she kept sneaking under the fence and getting it on with he rooster next door and eventually made chicks; dad got mad and sent her and her babies away to the farm. It was quite the neighbourhood scandal. I also got a snake called Lulu who ate rats and Charlie was scared so she got sent away too to the zoo. I mean Lulu, not Charlie. Charlie didn’t like the zoo, dad would never send her away there.’

‘Oh my god, before Lulu, there was my other dog Raymond; he was really old and wrinkly and liked to sleep a lot. He had cancer and arthritis and eye problems and god knows what else oh…’ Ruby continued on her detailed explanation of her childhood pets.

This was what Xavier walked in on the morning after the arrest when he’d entered the holding area to take Ruby out of her cell. He’d even paid her bail himself. When he heard Ruby’s incoherent rambling and noticed the poor constable supervising the cells and his worn expression, Xavier felt for the man.

‘Oh Xav, this is my friend Constable Gunn, and he even carries a gun,’ Ruby gleamed when she noticed Xavier walking towards her cell with the keys. ‘We had the most fun chatting,’

‘Unfortunately, she did most of the talking,’ Constable Gunn grumbled, the tone of his voice less than amused. For the sake of his sanity, he hoped never to see Ruby Buckton and her drunken knack for story telling in his cells ever again. Ruby’s cellmates felt similarly.

With an apologetic look, Xavier escorted Ruby outside and made sure she signed the paperwork while she wordily described Charlie’s dead husky Chuck. And then they were on the road, Xavier having finished his night shift and Ruby had finished her stint in jail. Thankfully, the ride home was quieter.

‘Well, worst case scenario, you’ll get community service since it’s your first offence, if you’re lucky a hefty fine. You should keep your bank accounts full,’ Xavier filled the silence. Ruby had been charged for not wearing a seatbelt and possession-she had two yellow pills in her pocket.

 She wore a strapless cream dress the day she died. There was a lunch in her honour and Charlie had to look her best. Of course, for Charlie, a woman who looked good even in sweats, this wasn’t a difficult task. But still, she did her hair, did her makeup and wore the strapless cream dress. It was a shame that dress would be soiled by the sorrowful stench which was death.

It was Leah that found her. Charlie had looked so peaceful that at first she’d thought her friend was sleeping. Only difference was, her chest didn’t rise and fall with regularity as all sleepers do; her chest lay perfectly still. There was no blood, no scars, just her peaceful self in the strapless cream dress which she wore for her lunch. A lunch she would never attend.

 ‘I always knew you liked me,’ the bikini she wore was bright red and she leant to fix the tie on it. Brax nodded; his eyes nowhere near her face.

 ‘I don’t remember owning a bikini like this when I was alive,’ Charlie gestured to her barely there bright red bikini. It did nothing for modesty. ‘If only Colleen could see me, she’d have a heart attack,’

‘Sorry,’ Brax really wasn’t all that sorry. Seeing her in that bikini was most definitely not a sorry sight.

‘No, you’re not, but that’s okay, I forgive you. I know how to let things go,’ Charlie smiled and walked along the beach. She turned around.

Brax knew what she was doing; asking him if he knew how to let her go. The answer was a lot more complicated than a simple yes or no. ‘How about we hit the water?’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ Charlie beamed and picked up a cream surfboard from the sand. ‘Really, you got me a surfboard too?’

‘This is my fantasy, Charlie, don’t mess with it,’ Brax laughed and ran into the water. ‘I’ll race you!’

‘Hey!’ Charlie was chagrined that he got the upper hand. Racing after him, she finally caught up and pushed him into the water cheekily. They laughed and before long, the couple were splashing each other playfully. Brax grabbed Charlie and swung her through the water.

 ‘Dad, boys are so silly, I don’t know why I bother!’

Brax laughed as he went to get a glass of water from the kitchen, passing Casey on the way. He was visiting his brother and niece. ‘You’ve no idea how much I’ve always wanted to hear hose words out of your mouth, eh,’

Jade didn’t understand what he was saying so ignored it. ‘Harry so mean to me, he say I’m a girl!’

‘But you are a girl,’ Brax pointed out. He put down his glass of water on the coffee table and sat beside his daughter.

Jade rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not what he say, it’s how he say it,’

‘I’m sorry, what’s the matter?’ Casey laughed.

‘I tell Harry that my daddy giving me cute whale for Christmas and he laugh in my face. He say you won’t but I know you will because you love me,’ Jade ranted. ‘He think I’m a silly little girl, just because he’s older, and goes to big kid school,’

Brax sighed. It looked like he’d be in big trouble when Christmas rolled on and there wasn’t a three metre whale under the measly little white tree. ‘Well, you know I can’t always do everything right?’

‘No Duh! But Penny’s gonna have babies soon,’ Jade rationalised. Penny was the local Aquarium’s resident killer whale and she just happened to be pregnant. Unfortunately for Jade, one wouldn’t be arriving on her doorstep come Christmas morning.

‘Penny’s a lucky girl,’ Brax shook his head. ‘I think Penny might be a little sad if we took one of her babies though, don’t you?’

‘I guess that mean. Almost as mean as Harry,’ Jade didn’t want to make Penny the whale sad.

Casey, who had been sitting at the table, stealing Brax’ food laughed. ‘You know, some people say that when a boy’s mean to you, it means they really like you,’

‘Really, they really say that?’ Jade’s eyes lit up and she sat up. Brax’ eyes meanwhile, were another story. He glared at his little brother with such intensity; Casey thought his eyes might pop out of the sockets. Casey shrugged apologetically and continued grinning.

‘Sometimes,’ Brax emphasised, trying to diffuse the situation. ‘Very rarely, hardly ever really, practically never,’

‘But Case says they do. So Harry does like me! Really really like me!’ Jade smiled sweetly. Brax leant his head against the back of the couch exasperatedly.

‘Our baby’s growing up; huh’ A whisper in Brax’ ear caused him to yelp and jump upright again. It was Charlie, whispering in his ear from behind. Jade and Casey looked at him oddly. His sudden jumpiness raised some eyebrows.

 Work was something that took time and for a woman who loved to stay up late and keep her own schedule, Ruby hated the very idea of it. Instead of the regular rigidity of a secure job, Ruby preferred to work the bare minimal to support herself. She worked for no one, only herself. Her only skills were her voice and her passion. Late night singing at lounge bars, karaoke bars, small clubs and the works put money in the bank to fuel her habits but she only worked when she was about to run out money.

 ‘I know, mum flew off the handle when she bailed me out. I have to pay the damn woman back every cent, it sucks,’ the disdain in her voice made Ruby cringe. There were no limits on what Ruby would give for her mother to scold her on her recent misbehaviour. And here was Elle, cursing her mother like it was nothing.

‘Don’t,’ Ruby whispered solemnly.

Elle looked confused. ‘Don’t what?’ She placed the cigarette butt on the floor and sat on the metal top of the chain link fence. She didn’t know how lucky she was; she took it all for granted.

 Babysitting Jade was always a pleasant experience. She was always so well behaved and sweet, people sometimes refused to believe she was the daughter of a woman as uptight and brash as Charlie.

 ‘This is Liam’s son Ash; he’s a little older than Harry.’

‘How come he don’t live with you?’ Jade looked up expectantly.

Bianca sighed. ‘Well, he lives with his mummy in France.’

‘You not his mummy?’

‘No, I’m not,’ Bianca explained. ‘I’m not anyone’s mummy,’

Jade nodded solemnly. ‘Oh, I’m not anyone’s mummy either,’

‘I kind of figured that would be the case,’ Bianca tried to keep a serious face. She failed. Jade flicked through all the photographs and came across another. ‘Oh, now that one was taken the day I came to Summer Bay. That was the day I met Liam,’

‘You real pretty Bee,’ Jade admired the photograph showing the beautiful blonde woman in her silky red evening gown, adorned with diamonds. She glanced through the rest of the pictures on the coffee table and gleamed when she noticed a certain one, ‘Look, it’s you and mummy, Bee. She real pretty too, huh,’

‘Yes, she was very beautiful. You take after her,’ Bianca felt clammy as she saw the picture in Jade’s hand. It had been taken in the cabin on their last trip together as friends. Charlie in her red jacket, her arm around Bianca’s neck; was smiling at the camera in front of the cabin’s wood walls. Oblivious to the fact that Bianca would shut her out of her life the very next day; the day of Liam’s motorbike accident; the day of the swap.

 Ruby sighed and banged the empty carton onto the island. She exasperatedly turned to inspect the fridge contents for something else, ‘No, I can just take the twenty minute walk to the Diner completely fatigued to get my morning coffee.’

Casey didn’t bother to point out that it was eleven o’clock, morning was almost over. Instead, he stood up and went to the fridge and put his hand around ruby to get to the fridge. ‘Do you have to be so close?’

‘I’m just getting the chocolate,’ Casey moved away once he’d gotten it out and snapped the chilled bar of chocolate into pieces. ‘You want some?’

‘No,’ Ruby was annoyed. It was like the boys never ate. The fridge was full of nothing; a chocolate bar, a noodle box of Dex’ leftovers from three nights ago and the bacterial piece of pizza that no one wanted to eat. ‘God, why is there nothing edible in this house?’

Ruby grabbed the chocolate bar from Casey’s hand and broke it into two, placing one in her mouth. Casey shook his head in amusement. ‘I thought you just said you didn’t want any,’

‘Well, it’s better than getting salmonella from that junk in there, isn’t it?’ Ruby retorted and yawned after she swallowed. ‘I seriously need that coffee,’

‘I never know what to expect with you anymore,’ Casey shook his head as he popped the last of the chocolate into his mouth. He was leaning against the counter. ‘It’s like you’re looking for a reason to complain when it comes to me.’

‘Not everything’s about you, you know,’ Ruby sighed, trying to ignore the lethargy.

 Ruby scoffed. ‘You’re going to bring mum back from the dead are you? You’ll stop Jake from raping her, you have a time machine? Are you going to get rid of Grant too while you’re at it, Casey? Stop Grant from hurting her, stop me from existing, and stop him from coming back into our lives, into your life? Are you?’

Ruby got more worked up but she remained still. Her face remained blank. In the midst of the momentary silence that had followed Ruby’s rant, they stared at each other, and both equally shocked. Ruby could only whisper, ‘Sorry,’

‘You don’t have to…’ Apologise. The last word went unsaid. Casey looked down at his feet. Amidst the silence, Ruby, who was leaning against the sink, involuntarily put her right hand in a fist and smashed into a bread plate on the counter top. The plate broke, ceramic shards cut into Ruby’s fist.

Casey observed the blood trickling on Ruby’s hand. There were grazes on her. Casey could remember the last time he had seen Ruby punch in frustration. That last time, it hadn’t been towards an inanimate object but a living breathing tyrant of a person. One who’d surely deserved every hit.

 At the words, Ruby felt her anger grow again considerably. Before she knew it, Grant was keeling over; his hand over the eye Ruby had forcefully and abruptly delivered. ‘What the hell was that for?’

‘As if you didn’t know,’ Ruby’s voice remained calm. ‘I think you’ve overstayed your welcome. I suggest you leave town,’

‘Did you see that?’ Grant complained, speaking directly to Georgie Watson, in her casual leather jacket and jeans. ‘She assaulted me,’

‘It’s my day off, I’m not working,’ Georgie took a bite out of her cake, not even bothering to get up from her seat. ‘And anyway, I didn’t see any assault,’

‘Neither did I,’ Leah countered.

‘Me neither,’ Roo had no idea what was going on but she was with Ruby too. Grant looked around the diner full of disapproving women and decided it was time to leave. Turning around while ursing his already blackening eye, he ran face first into Casey Braxton.

Casey balled his hands into fists, ready to defend his girlfrind. Ruby shook her head behind Grant and after glaring the man down for a quarter minute more, Casey reluctantly stepped to the side, his face full of menace.

Once Grant was gone, Ruby yelped in pain as she was finally able to acknowledge the burning of her knuckles. She grabbed her wrist wincing as Casey moved to comfort her. ‘You could’ve told me hitting a guy actually hurt,’

‘I didn’t think you’d hit him,’ Casey rubbed Ruby’s arms up and down as she winced in pain at the hand that throbbed from punching Grant. ‘That was a mean hit though. You got a pretty good right hook for a chick,’

Ruby just glared at her boyfriend until Leah interrupted with a bag of peas. ‘Here, put this on your knuckles, it’ll help.’

‘Who was that guy?’ The diner was back to business again, and everyone back to their meals. Casey couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed; what kind of man would possibly rile Ruby up so much?

‘Someone I have no intention of ever seeing again,’ Ruby could feel a tear running down her cheek. She turned to Leah and Roo by her side. ‘You guys won’t say anything to Charlie about him being here. She just got into a happy place again after Jade and…’

‘Charlie doesn’t need to know a thing. She’s been through enough lately,’ Leah agreed. Roo and Casey, although they didn’t know what was happening, both knew Ruby was scared and agreed as well.

 So close. There she was, Ruby Buckton, the daughter of a woman Jake despised with all his might and he was stuck within the boundaries of his house. The old house, the back yard and the front yard were all the man had ever seen for some months now. The only exception was the hospital visits to monitor his ailing health.

Jake Pirovic had her metres away from him and there was nothing he could do about it. Unless Ruby decided to enter the boundaries of his confinement, he was stuck. With a melancholy sigh, Jake turned around and walked towards his front door, the little light on his law enforced ankle monitor flashing an endless sequence of green.

 The garment bag was off-white and hung from the hook on the wall. Most of the room held boxes full of memorabilia but this bag was what caught her eye. The house belonged to a man and a young child; the garment bag was an odd addition.

Before she knew it, Ruby was standing in front of the bag. With her good hand, she gently pulled back the zipper right down until it opened freely. The contents made her heart rise to her throat. It wasn’t because it was the most beautiful thing she’d seen but because of what it represented.

The gown was soft silk under Ruby’s fingers. It’s off the shoulder sleeves draped softly along with the rest of the fabric. It was beautiful and she couldn’t help but think she had seen it somewhere before. ‘Your grandma wore that dress on her wedding day; Charlie wanted to wear it to ours. She altered it a little to make it more modern but…’

Ruby turned towards the voice to find Brax leaning against the door frame but her gaze soon returned to the piece of art before her. ‘It’s beautiful,’

‘Yeah, I just wish I could’ve seen her wearing it,’ Brax smiled. ‘I was saving it for when you get married, or Jade if you didn’t want it,’

‘No, I definitely want it.’ Ruby smiled. She could just imagine how the dress would perfectly slip over Charlie’s delicate body. She remembered the photographs from the seventies of Elsie wearing an older fashioned version. For Ruby who had very little in the way of family, this was a beautiful gift. If she ever got married, she could only hope to wear Charlie’s dress. ‘Thank you,’

 Charlie would not make it to her engagement lunch. Now, as Brax stroked the soft silk of what would’ve been Charlie’s wedding gown, he realised he would never feel any worse than he had that day waiting for Charlie to make it to their engagement celebration. He could remember his heart break when a hysterical Leah spoke those dreaded words over the phone, ‘She’s dead.’

Brax had dropped the phone in the middle of Angelo’s that day. In front of him, a one year old Jade had giggled in innocent glee as she waved at the phone and spoke her first sentence, ‘Bye-bye, see you,’

 The idea of it scared Charlie. It wasn’t the idea of being a mother properly the second time around that scared her but the belief that she might not be enough. What would happen if she didn’t love the child inside her? As it was, she felt nothing but indifference to her baby. Did that make her a bad person? Ruby was ecstatic; Ruby had already made them promise to name the child after a jewel; Opal maybe, or Amber or Jade. Charlie had no opinion.

Charlie pulled Brax’ checked shirt in tighter over her body, guarding against the early morning chill. And then she heard the cry.

Bianca hadn’t thought anything would go wrong but it had. In that single moment she felt the cramping in her belly, the importance of children became increasingly clear to her. She could not be losing this baby. One hand on her stomach, keeling over in pain, Bianca reached into her pocket for her phone but there was nothing there. She had left it at home.

‘Bianca, are you alright?’ The voice was the soft gentle one of Charlie’s as she stood frozen on the beach watching Bianca in pain. Then, her legs woke up and she rushed to help her. She held her hand and rubbed her back caringly. ‘Hey, it’s alright, it’s going to be alright,’

‘No, the baby,’ Bianca strained trying hard to stay calm but it wasn’t working. For the first time in months Charlie took control and walked her over to a seated position, still continuing to rub her back. ‘I can’t lose it,’

‘You’re going to be okay, Bianca, just breathe,’ Charlie stayed calm and collected. As Bianca looked at her, she couldn’t help but notice the fully formed bulge of her pregnant belly. The pain mixed with jealousy; Charlie didn’t even want a child, yet she was getting one.

But Charlie stayed with Bianca all morning rubbing her back while she cried and soothing her with her melodic voice; at least until Liam arrived to take over. Liam was equally supporting as he led her to his car but Bianca couldn’t help but want Charlie back. But she had already begun walking away.

Later that day, Bianca had found out that Charlie had gone into labour shortly after the episode by the beach. While Bianca waited in the hospital room for the check-up that was going to clarify what she already knew; that she had lost the baby; somewhere in another part of the very same ward, a beautiful girl was born. With her jade green eyes, this little girl would eventually become to be known as Jade Buckton.

Bianca couldn’t help but feel jealous. Both women’s bodies had been cleansed of pregnancy that day but only one was to receive a child. It was just not fair.

[mizziette]

Thanks everyone

TWENTY

‘Daddy, where’s my whale? Where’s my whale?’ Brax couldn’t help but sigh when he heard the eager anticipation in his daughter’s voice. Jade ran out of bed in her sponge bob pyjamas and nearly collided with the wall as she exited the hallway into the living area. She paused excitedly searching and found the tree.

It was nine o’clock. Brax hadn’t expected Jade to sleep in on Christmas morning but thankfully she had. It was going to be a long day. ‘Morning, how’d you sleep?’

‘I hear Santa,’ Jade sat on Ruby’s lap. Ruby had arrived to spend the morning with her little sister so for the first time in a while, she had gone home early the previous night.

‘Probably daddy’s big monster footsteps going to the little boy’s room in the middle of the night,’ Charlie winked at Brax.

‘So, I heard someone wanted a whale,’ Brax hated it when Charlie saw him with other people around. It was always so much harder to remember. Picking up the micro bead whale, she tossed it to the girls.

Jade looked down at the stuffed toy in her hands. ‘This only a toy,’

‘Yeah, but it looks just like the real one,’ Ruby kissed Jade. ‘Esther’s too big to come here and she has her other family to spend Christmas with,’

‘Is Esther my whale?’ Jade inquired.

Brax smiled as he picked up the papers on the table. ‘Yeah, Esther lives in Hawaii and is two years old. We adopted her; see we’ve even got the adoption papers.’

For a ten dollar donation per month to the save the whale charity, the orca whale was all theirs in name. Ruby cringed a little at the mention of adoption but let it go. Instead, she showed Jade the photograph of her rather large present. ‘Just so we’re clear, Esther can’t live here okay? She has to stay in Hawaii.’

‘Then we go to Hawaii?’ Jade admired the beautiful picture of her very own whale jumping through the ocean, posing mid-air.

‘When you’re older you can save up and take your old man in his old age, how’s that sound?’ Brax shook his head as he walked into the kitchen to make Jade’s morning cup of chocolate milk. Charlie was in the kitchen leaning against the sink and he tried his best to ignore her. Better to ignore than look like a loon.

‘It sounds long. I won’t be older til like forever.’ Jade groaned but she was still ecstatic about Esther the whale. She held the photograph like it was the gold at the end of the rainbow. ‘I pin this up on cookie board, you help me right Ruby?’

‘It’s cork board honey. Ruby laughed as she stood up. ‘Lead the way,’

‘You forgot to give Ruby her present. Don’t want her to think you left her out do you?’ Charlie smiled as she watched Brax. Brax, who was pouring the milk into the mug gulped as he placed the carton on the counter and gripped the edge. As much as he wanted to spend Christmas with Charlie, in reality, it just wouldn’t work out in his favour.

Lunch was at Leah’s house later that day. Brax, Casey, Bianca, Liam, Irene, April and VJ all gathered for coffee after a beautiful lunch in the living area. Ruby and Xavier had taken Jade to the Palmer’s farm; John had bought it from the Walkers when they all moved to the city and Dex was spending the holidays with his family.

‘I think it’s great,’ April declared. ‘Every one’s too busy adopting puppies and third world children, no one thinks about adopting the poor endangered whales. I’m sure the people caring for Esther really appreciate the donations,’

‘Yeah, I’m sure Jade appreciates it a whole lot more,’ Liam looked at Bianca and squeezed her hand. All this talk of adoption had got him thinking.

Brax walked back from the kitchen with his mug. Beside him was Charlie. ‘You know you still haven’t given Ruby her present yet. Tick tock, clock’s ticking,’

‘Shut up,’ Brax grumbled and his eyes widened when everyone looked at him. ‘Sorry, not you,’

Liam looked at him oddly. ‘Okay, mate, you right?’

‘Yeah, yeah, course I am,’ Brax leant against the round dining table and took a sip.

‘Nah, Jade’s a lovely little one, no trouble at all,’ Irene said, ‘she gets a tad too idealistic and imaginative at times but that never hurt anyone,’

‘I kind of agree with Irene, Jade’s an angel,’ Charlie was leaning beside Brax on the table. She looked sideways at him, thumbs in the pockets of her pastel dress. ‘A little touch of heaven on Earth, kind of like me, well, not me because I’m not exactly here but…’

Brax tried to focus on the conversation about surfing he was having with VJ. Had he just asked a question? Brax didn’t know.

‘Could’ve fooled me,’ Brax muttered under his breath and smiled when VJ looked at him. For someone who wasn’t really there, Charlie was being exceptionally present. ‘You know Veej, I think the swell’s going to be great round at Wilson’s the next couple of days,’

‘Yeah, I know, I drove past there the other day and it was huge but if mum knew, she’d freak…’ VJ continued on his rant.

‘Oh my god,’ Bianca stood up with a bad taste in her mouth. ‘Who put the pepper in the sugar container?’

‘I don’t care what anyone says, this time, it really was not me!’ Charlie exclaimed. Back in the good old days, Charlie had been responsible for many kitchen mishaps in the Patterson house. Brax laughed hysterically at Charlie’s comment and earned himself a deathly glare from Bianca.

‘Brax, it’s not a laughing matter, my tongue’s burning,’ she walked off to the kitchen to rinse her mouth from the bitter taste of peppery coffee.

Liam, who was trying to stifle a chuckle, followed her. ‘I’d best go check on her,’

Ten minutes and two glasses of milk later, Bianca’s taste buds were much calmer. Beside her in the kitchen, Liam rubbed his wife’s arm gently. ‘Feeling better?’

‘Yeah, as long as Leah fixes her kitchen organisation,’

‘It’s not Leah’s fault actually,’ Liam smiled. ‘I think April might have taken her jar of pepper from the pantry instead of the sugar,’

‘So it’s my sister’s fault,’ Bianca mumbled as she took another sip of her cold milk. It was doing its job soothing her mouth.

‘Listen, Brax adopting the whale really got me thinking about us,’ Liam knew it wasn’t the optimal time but they were alone for the time being; everyone else was in the kitchen.

‘What?’ Bianca asked. ‘You want to adopt a whale too?’

‘No, I was thinking more along the lines of a human being.’ Liam’s words were drawn out. Bianca placed her glass on the counter and looked at him.

‘I never really thought about it,’ Bianca admitted with a dreamy look. ‘I don’t know, I always wanted a child who held my heritage and my blood, who looked like me, you know, adoption never really…’

‘Oh,’ Liam looked disappointed. ‘It was just a thought.’

‘No, it’s not a no, just…’ Bianca paused, looking for the right words. ‘It’ just an ‘I don’t know. I don’t really have an opinion right now,’

Liam nodded. ‘I don’t think it should matter where you come from, as long as you belong somewhere at the end of the day. Brax isn’t related to Jade at all but he’s still her father.’

‘I have to think about it, I just don’t want it to feel like we’re giving up on our own,’’ Bianca was a little unconvinced. It wasn’t just that she wanted a baby, she wanted to be pregnant. Liam had a point though. Looking at the close relationship between Jade and Brax, it was hard to believe they didn’t share the same genes. But still, it was a big decision.

‘We wouldn’t be giving up, we’d be trying harder,’ Liam smiled and put a palm on the small of her back. ‘We’ll talk later. Come on; let’s get back to the party.’

[kiwi151]

The part where Brax is laughing hysterically at Charlie was so funny. Was relieved that he didn't look like a loony though

Thanks xx

[Inactive User]

Great chapter Liked the part of Brax laughing at Charlie-so funny More soon please xx

[pembie]

So Jade got her whale YAY. Esther the whale.

Oh dear Charlie is causing problems for Brax. I wonder if he is starting to see it as a pain seeing her all the time. I never thought I would say this about Brax but I do feel quite sorry for him.

More soon.

[soph1303]

Great update,

Hehe nice save by Brax with the whole whale thing !! And nice naming too !!

As much as Brax loves seeding Charlie around, sadly he's gonna have to let go of these visions if he wants to move on with his life !!!

I understand where Bianca is coming from, but i really think that adoption would be a good idea for them!!

More soon please

[Zetti]

Esther the whale! I loved that bit, couldnt help but chuckle at it

Adoption would be a good thing for Bianca..but I can see where she is coming from.

[mizziette]

Thanks for commenting every one, hope this is okay

TWENTY ONE

Brax first met Marissa after Charlie’s death. She arrived to assess Jade’s living conditions and determine whether Brax was a suitable guardian but it had felt more like an interrogation. He had divulged information about his underprivileged childhood and lied about his irresponsible way of claiming responsibility for his family’s finances. He admitted regretfully about his river boy days and grieved over his relationship with Charlie.

When they finally arrived to his relationship with Jade, Brax had pleaded with his eyes and prayed inwardly in hopes that she would not be taken away from him. He was determined to see Marissa as the enemy; she could determine their entire future; one wrong move and it was all over. Being mad at the petite caring social worker was however difficult.

‘I’m not going to hurt you Darryl,’ Marissa had laughed the first time they met. ‘I’m at least half your size. Just ease up and relax a bit.’

Brax hadn’t realised he was grabbing the arms of the chair until his knuckles were white. Hesitantly, he let go and watched the blood rush back his to hand in a pink flush. ‘I’m a little nervous,’

‘You have nothing to be nervous about, I’m here to work with you, not against,’ Marissa reassured him again. The genuine smile on her face had been hard to remain apprehensive towards.

They began to talk of Jade and gradually, Brax found that he was beginning to ease up. From being rigidly polite, he had started joking lightly; his hands lagging gently, legs loose under his chair and a hint of a smile on his face. It really wasn’t so bad.

‘Now what happens?’ Brax had stood beside the door as he escorted Marissa out afterwards. ‘Does she stay with me?’

‘Now,’ Marissa turned on her heel. ‘Now I take this back to the office and return in three months to check on how you’re both handling things and fitting in together. Seeing how Jade was living with you prior to her mother’s passing, that shouldn’t really be much of a problem, but we check on most new guardians anyway.’

Marissa smiled lightly. ‘Look, I’m not here to take her away from you. I just want to make sure Jade’s best interests are taken care of. That’s all.’

Brax was still concerned. He’d already lost Charlie less than a fortnight ago. He couldn’t lose Jade too. Luckily he had little to worry about. Every three months, Marissa Gold would check in on the Braxtons and return to the office with glowing reviews. It was hard to consider her as the enemy, and Brax now considered her a good friend.

Brax hadn’t realised that mailing an envelope could be such a difficult task. Standing there in front of the red post box, Brax must’ve looked quite strange simply standing there for several minutes but he needed to work up the courage to post his mail.

‘I didn’t realise pushing some papers into a slot was such a chore for you,’ Charlie urged him on. ‘Just get it over with,’

With a deep breath, Brax lifted the manila envelope and placed it in the opening. Another breath and he pushed it in. There, it was gone. There was no getting it back. It was done.

In less than an hour, the post collector would arrive at the post box situated by the busy surf club and take it to be delivered to the department of children’s services adoption division. The adoption application was signed, stamped and sent via snail mail. It was the point of no return.

Brax had thought long and hard before he dotted the I’s and crossed the t’s. He knew this might make Ruby upset but he had to try. If he didn’t, he’d always be wondering. And anyway, chances were Brax might not even get a chance. He wasn’t exactly a saint, and any court would see it.

‘Brax, is that you?’ Brax turned around and saw Marissa Gold walking up the beach path towards him. The social worker wore a summery dress, quite different to the business wear he was used to seeing her in. ‘It is, hi, how are you?’

‘Yeah, yeah, I’m good,’ Brax gestured to the beach. ‘I would’ve never guessed you for a beach person,’

Marissa held onto the strap of her hand bag, fiddling with it. ‘Well, I don’t go much but I thought I’d give it a go since I’m going to be living around here full time now.’

‘Won’t it be hard to commute?’ Brax asked.

‘Oh, didn’t you hear? I thought you’d have been informed by now.’ Marissa gazed up at him. ‘I resigned from children’s services. I loved it but it was taking a toll on me; thought I’d try a mellower job for a little while. Maybe guidance counselling at Summer Bay High, if I get it,’

‘Oh yeah, my niece goes there; Darcy Callaghan, she’s starting year nine this year.’ This prompted Brax to wonder about his brother’s where-a-bouts. Heath had spent the holidays with Cheryl and Darcy; that much he knew but they hadn’t spoken in a while. ‘Well, I was just mailing something…the adoption application actually.’

‘Oh, Brax, that’s great,’ Marissa was genuinely pleased. She placed a hand on his upper arm briefly. ‘It really is. Listen, I have to go meet my friends for lunch but I’ll see you around, okay?’

‘Yeah, for sure,’ Brax waved at the disappearing figure walking into the surf club.

‘I think she likes you,’ Charlie was leaning against the wooden railing separating the beach from the grassy area. Brax turned around and walked away from the surf club towards his house and towards a certain sense of privacy.

‘What makes you think that?’

‘Oh, it’s girl thing. We just know these things, trust me,’ Charlie was keeping up with his stride. They turned the corner into Yabee Creek Road and walked along the kerb on the empty turning road. ‘So, are you going to ask her out? She’s not your case worker anymore, there’s no conflict of interest,’

‘No, you know why, because she’s not into me,’ Brax couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with Charlie of all people. Sure, he’d had lovers after Charlie, but none had ever been more than a fling; he was sure as hell not going to talk about his love life with the woman he loved.

‘What, you don’t trust women’s intuition?’ Charlie asked. She was fiddling with the small cushion cut diamond on her engagement ring. It wasn’t a huge extravagance but it was beautiful and it was hers. The simple act of fiddling with the ring made Brax’ heart lurch.

‘This is a little weird.’ Brax admitted. But there were things in his mind he would never dream of admitting. He liked Marissa but Charlie was here now and she’d been around for over two months. He loved Charlie and she loved him. Why did it have to change?

‘You know, what’s weird, dating a dead girl,’ Charlie scrunched up her face teasingly. ‘Although, I can understand why it would have its perks. I mean, you’d save money on dinner dates for one. I don’t eat.’

‘And I wouldn’t have to dish out on presents,’ Brax turned the corner into his neighbourhood and walked down the sidewalk. The Austin house sat right in front, a few metres away.

‘Oh yes you would. You’d shower me with kisses,’ Charlie was mischievously stern. ‘Has my daughter received her present yet?’

Brax sighed. ‘Sort of,’

Charlie furrowed her eyebrows. ‘What do you mean, sort of?’

The box sat on Ruby’s dresser, haunting her with its presence. She had found it on her pillow when she got home Christmas evening after a lovely day with the Palmers. Two weeks later and it still sat unopened.

Casey had left a note with the box. The box was a Christmas present Brax had enlisted his little brother to deliver. Ruby couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows. Why not just give it himself? She knew before she even thought it. When she’d first noticed it was from Brax, Ruby had stood in front of the bin and held the gift box over the top of it and watched it fall in. There was no way she would accept a gift from Brax. Her civility of late was for Jade’s benefit, that was all it was, mere civility

Yet it still sat on the top of the dresser; haunting her with its never ending presence. Somehow, with a little unwitting help from Ruby, the box had found its way out of the rubbish bin and onto her dresser. And it was glaring at Ruby, begging her, daring her to open it and take a peek inside.

Unable to bear it any longer, Ruby sighed and marched over to the dresser, grabbing the gift and stuffing into the deep recesses of her underwear drawer. Piling her clothes on top of it so it was well covered, she closed the drawer and returned to the full length mirror where she was brushed her hair to go out that night. She was dressed in a pink flowing maxi dress belted at the waist.

Smoothing down the curls in her hair and doing one last check in the mirror, Ruby could still feel the presence of Brax’ present. It was driving her crazy and glancing over at the dresser every few seconds wasn’t helping. Ruby concluded that she needed a little pick me up before the bonfire that night; the box was driving her crazy.

Marching back to her underwear drawer, she sifted through her unmentionables and her hand roamed to the box again. One touch of the silk material and Ruby jumped away like it was on fire. Instead, she worked around the silk gift box and found the miniature drawstring bag she wanted. Inside was a pill that would make her euphoric until the early hours of the morning. She wouldn’t be haunted by a silly Christmas present for hours.

Closing the drawer, Ruby took a deep breath before popping the pill in her mouth and swallowing it dry. Back at the full length mirror, she shook out her hair so it bounced freely. Before she had only looked ready to go out, but now, Ruby was unstoppable. Grabbing her clutch, Ruby stepped out of her room, out of the house and into the hopes and dreams that the night would offer.

[Inactive User]

Great chapter. More soon please xx

[kiwi151]

Great chapter. The Brax and Charlie scenes make me smile