Episode 7349

Extended Summary

Alf gives directions to Nikau as he works outside the bait shop. Ryder appears, putting up posters for Evan’s gig. He asks Nikau if he’s going but Nikau says he’s not in the mood, adding that Gemma spent the night with a guy. He admits that nothing happened so Ryder thinks it’s no big deal but Nikau is angry at her moving on from his dad. Ryder gets a text about a delivery. In the Diner flat, Bella has the letters laid out on her bed as she unpacks her things. She hides them when Colby knocks on the door, saying he’s going to the Diner. Bella initially wants to go with him to see Irene but changes her mind when Colby reveals Irene’s away for two weeks, telling him to just bring her back a milkshake. After he’s gone, Bella puts the letter to Irene in a drawer and places the one for Colby on his bed.

Tori arrives at the Diner to collect Grace from Leah and Justin. Justin notes she’s been unsettled and grumpy and dribbling even more than Buddy. He leaves to do an assignment. Colby comes in and asks for a wrap and a chocolate milkshake for Bella, explaining she just got back. Nikau comes in and overhears part of the conversation. Tori advises Colby to try chatting about something light, like the horses. Up in the flat, Bella gets a text from Nikau asking if she’s okay. Colby comes up and asks her about Bullet and if she’s mad about horses. Bella says she doesn’t miss mucking out and says they had to do it every day and there was a lot of horses so a lot of muck. She asks if she’s putting him off his food. She apparently is.

Outside the surf club, Roo and Ryder look over the sound equipment they’ve been given by a hire company, including free lights. Maggie comes along and Ryder explains about the gig, including that it’s his dad. Nikau appears and calls out to Ryder, asking if he knew Bella was back. Ryder didn’t and Nikau admits he’s not sure where he stands, confirming that he texted her. Ryder thinks she’ll get back to him but Nikau isn’t convinced. At the flat, Colby asks Bella why she didn’t want him to pick her up. Bella says she was afraid that if she saw him she’d forget what she learned and go back to old habits. Colby says he’ll help her but Bella says that’s the point: She can’t rely on him anymore. She heads off to see Nikau.

In the Diner, Leah serves Jasmine and Willow, who are looking after Grace, also leaving Tori’s order on the table. Bella comes in looking for Nikau and Willow tells her about the Paratas’ new place opposite the Palmers. Willow asks about Colby, and Bella suggests she go up and check on him. Jasmine joins Leah in the kitchen and asks for a carrot for Grace, letting her chew on it. Tori enters and is horrified, taking Grace off Jasmine and saying she could have choked. Willow joins Colby up in the flat. He notes his instinct was to stop Bella going to see Nikau. He observes she’s changed and worries that she doesn’t need him anymore and will want to leave. Willow says to give her time.

Outside, Willow finds Jasmine standing on her own. Jasmine says Tori doesn’t trust her with Grace. Tori approaches and tries to apologise but Jasmine just walks away. Tori tells Willow she messed up. Meanwhile, Bella turns up at the Parata house to see Nikau. She explains Willow told him where it was and Willow knows because it’s Summer Bay. Nikau says he came to see her in hospital and Bella says she knows and it was sweet of him. She says she can’t stay but gives him the letter, saying it’s all in there.

In Salt, Roo and Ryder are setting up for the gig. Ryder wonders if he should put a stool out in case Evan’s not strong enough and Roo suggests having it there so he can use it if he needs it. Bella appears and she and Ryder talk privately. He tells her about his dad arriving and that he’s dying, telling Bella to keep it quiet because Evan doesn’t know he knows. He notes it could be Evan’s last gig. Bella hugs him. At the flat, Colby finds Bella’s letter in which she apologises for the chaos she brought to his life and thanks him for trying to make her happy but says he needs to stop because it’s not down to him. Nikau reads his own letter in which Bella thanks him for having her back and says he did nothing wrong but she can’t start over in a relationship and hopes he respects that. Nikau screws the letter up. Colby keeps reading: Bella’s letter thanks him for finding her but says they need to live their own lives and she needs a brother not a dad. Bella returns and Colby notes he made things harder for her.

Tori goes to see Jasmine at the gym. Jasmine says she wouldn’t have hurt Grace and knows what she’s doing. Tori accepts that and says she’s overprotective: She wants Jasmine’s input but Jasmine should run things past her. Jasmine appears to agree, but after Tori’s gone she starts typing on the forum that her sister-in-law thinks she knows her daughter better than her. At the Diner flat, Colby and Bella have sat down to eat. Colby accepts it was easier for Bella to write it all down than tell him to his face and says he’s proud of her for soul-searching, noting he’s trying to do similar himself.

Next morning, Ryder is fretting outside the caravan park house, telling Roo about everything he’s got to do. Roo says he also needs to have breakfast. Alf exits, saying he’ll come to the surf club to help once he’s finished setting up the bait shop. Ryder is too on edge for breakfast and virtually drags Roo away. As they walk near the beach, Ryder continues to worry, saying Justin’s coming to help set up. Roo offers to talk to Evan but Ryder thinks there’s no time and insists things must be perfect. Roo says it might not be that but the whole Bay is behind him and he should enjoy it.

Nikau goes to see Bella at the flat, asking why she’s not talking to him about what happened. Bella says she’s spoken about it with her counsellors. Nikau accuses her of being another person making decisions for him. Bella says she’s thought about him a lot but it’s not the right time for them. She calmly tells him to go. Later, Nikau is stamping on empty boxes outside the bait shop. Alf tells him to leave them for now and mop up inside. Nikau says he’ll get round to it when he’s ready. Alf retorts that he’ll do it when he’s told. Nikau tells him to stick his job and walks away.