Episode 7513

Extended Summary

Ryder finds Nikau in the caravan park, where he explains he’s waiting for Chloe, and they discuss how Ari’s doing. Chloe appears with her bags: She’s decided to move back in with the Paratas. Ryder is confused, since Mia told Alf she was moving away, but Chloe has decided she’s not going with her, although she hasn’t told Mia, since she wants Mia to know what it’s like for someone else to make the decisions. She gives a bag to Ryder, roping him in to help carry her stuff. Meanwhile, Dean is hovering outside the bedroom door when Bella turns up to collect some clothes. She realises Dean is sleeping on the couch and tells him to take Colby’s room, noting that she’s learned what’s important. Amber appears, having been woken by Jai. Bella leaves and Dean tells Amber about the room. Amber suggests she and Jai move in there rather than Dean move his stuff. Dean seems about to say something, but just reminds her not to tell Bella about Mackenzie’s pregnancy.

Tane is lifting weights at the gym when Ziggy comes in. She offers to leave if he needs space but Tane says he needs the company and they discuss what’s happened with Ari. Tane admits he could do with a friend. Later, the two of them are going for a walk on the beach. Ziggy says Tane didn’t know what would happen but Tane isn’t willing to let himself off the hook so easily, saying he always makes the wrong choices and Ari, Nikau and Ziggy all deserve better. He adds that she’s the best thing to happen to him in a long time. Ziggy is pleased he said that.

Nikau arrives home on the phone to Gemma, assuring her she doesn’t need to come, with Ryder and Chloe trailing. Bella also arrives and Ryder orders pizza for them, refusing Nikau’s offer of cash. Chloe mockingly notes Ryder gets a big staff discount. Ryder comments that she’s back to normal. Meanwhile, Justin is waiting outside the Diner as Alf, Roo and Leah approach. Alf notes Martha still considers him the enemy and he hasn’t seen her, although Roo is visiting her tomorrow. Leah and Justin discuss their house problems: Although Susie has stalled the seller, they haven’t been able to get a loan. They’re seeing another bank tomorrow but the bank didn’t seem impressed about them being small business owners. Roo thinks the Diner and the garage are both successful and established businesses but Justin admits the garage took a hit while he was ill.

Chloe gets a text from Mia saying she’s spending the night at the hospital with Ari. Ryder offers Nikau the last slice of pizza, saying he’ll have to eat it otherwise. Chloe sharply asks why he’d assume that and Ryder says she can have it if she wants but Chloe retorts that she doesn’t need his permission. Nikau is annoyed that they’re still doing this while Ari is in hospital. He and Bella go to bed. Ryder goes to leave and Chloe thanks him: Not for the pizza but for the fact she couldn’t have got through their captivity without him. She kisses him, thanks him again, then says good night and shuts the door in his face, leaving him utterly bewildered. Next morning, Amber, in a rush, joins Dean and Jai for breakfast: She overslept because Jai kept kicking her in the night. Jai says he and Dean should swap, since all his friends’ parents share unless the dads are in trouble. Dean says he’s always in trouble. Amber quickly ushers Jai out.

Chloe catches up with Ryder near the surf club on the way to work, where Ryder hastily comments on how people did things they want to forget last night. They run into Dean, and Ryder makes laboured small talk to him about the surf until Chloe says she’ll see him upstairs. Dean runs into Ziggy who says Mackenzie’s gone to stay with her mum for a few days. Dean says he’s working at having Amber and Jai stay, and Ziggy says the same about her and Tane. At the Parata house, Tane is preparing to go see Ari. Nikau says he and Bella will come but visitors are still restricted so Bella says she’ll stay behind. Nikau asks her to go and talk to Chloe about Mia.

Ryder asks Chloe’s opinion on the fact they’re running short of lime. Chloe is bewildered that that’s what he wants to talk about. Ryder brushes off the previous night as a thank you kiss and they quickly change the subject as Bella appears, claiming they were talking about lemon and lime. Chloe shuts down Bella’s attempt to talk about Mia, but Bella warns her not to push people away. She asks Ryder if there’s something she’s missing and he denies it. At the caravan park, Alf is scrubbing the barbecue. Roo returns from the hospital and says Martha still believes her delusion is real and won’t take her medication. Alf admits he’s keeping busy to avoid the fact he can’t help.

Tane suggests to Nikau that they give Gemma an update but Nikau doesn’t think there’s anything to say. Tane argues that Ari will pull through. Ziggy arrives and Nikau makes himself scarce. Tane notes Mia is staying with Ari and obviously really cares about him. Ziggy tells Tane he doesn’t need to put on a brave face with her. Outside the surf club, Amber tells Dean she explained to Jai that not all families live together and they don’t do it in a romantic way. Nearby, Bella approaches Nikau, who tells her there’s no change with Ari, which Dean overhears. Bella says she struck out with Chloe but that Chloe and Ryder might like each other.

Up in Salt, Chloe tries to start a conversation with Ryder about one of the orders he took but Ryder says it’s the end of his shift. Chloe wants to talk about the kiss, before disappointedly concluding that it obviously meant nothing to him. Ryder is stunned by the implication that it meant something to her but Chloe walks away. Roo enters and finds Leah and Justin, who confirm they didn’t get a loan and feel they may have to let the house go. Meanwhile, Ziggy and Tane are preparing for a meal. Tane apologises for keeping things from her. Ziggy says her last two relationships ended because of secrets. Tane says he’s not Dean and they agree to put it behind them, kissing.

Amber and Jai arrive home and Amber sends Jai to get changed, with him mischievously ssaying it’s so her and Dean can be alone. Amber tells Dean that the agency have got her a job in the area so she’ll need his help more with Jai. Dean brings up the subject of their living arrangements but Amber is unwilling to give a relationship a try since Jai might get hurt. Back at the caravan park, Ryder approaches Alf asking for advice on women, rambling about how you think you know that they want and suddenly they change. After initially ignoring him, Alf shouts that he’s got other things on his mind.

Later, Ryder is walking with Roo and tells her about the incident. He admits he wasn’t exactly sensitive but thinks Alf was way over the top. They approach the house, where Alf is sweeping up outside. Alf apologises for going off at Ryder, who apologises for being insensitive. Alf gets a call from the hospital and tells them Martha’s missing.