Episode 7626

Extended Summary

Ryder leads a frustrated Bella towards the caravan park house, refusing to tell her why she’s there. Alf, Martha and Roo are all sat outside and Alf goes to make some tea. Ryder says he thought he’d let Martha and Roo pitch it and they Bella her about their fundraising idea. When they’ve finished, and explained they were hoping she’d do some photos for them, she tells them it’s a good idea and she’s flattered but explains she’s not taking photographs at the moment. Martha understands that the muse can leave you. Bella offers to donate an old photo. Alf returns and Bella makes a quick exit with Ryder to the Diner. Martha assures Alf and Roo it’s not much of a setback and she knows plenty of people who could donate.

John runs into Leah and Justin at Salt. They explain that the garage owner has had an offer put in but hasn’t accepted it yet. John goes over to Cash, who thanks him for the cones and says he has big plans for tonight. Outside the Diner, Irene is bewildered that Jasmine has agreed to a date with Cash out of pity. Jasmine begins to rethink the idea and wonders if she could pretend to be ill. Irene points out that’s what she’s just had a go at Cash for and says it’s just one dinner. Jasmine replies that a dinner can take hours.

At the Morgan house, Leah tries to cheer Justin up by suggesting they watch a movie after dinner and asks him to stop stressing about the garage. Justin briefly ponders if he should have taken up John’s offer and dreams up worst case scenarios. Leah tells him not to worry about things that haven’t happened. He then gets a call from the real estate saying the offer’s been accepted and the new owner wants to speak to him tomorrow. At the Diner, Irene serves Ryder and Bella takeaway. Bella says Amber took Jai in to visit Dean. Ryder offers to give her a lift to see him. Bella says she texts Ari every day for news of Nikau and he just says “No change”. She worries he doesn’t want her at the hospital. Ryder and Bella leave as John enters and asks Irene for a big slice of cake. Irene tells him about Jasmine’s date with Cash.

Jasmine joins Cash at Salt and he suggests they sit outside. She finds he has a table set up for them on the balcony and he proposes a toast to their one dinner. Later, he asks her how she ended up as a nurse. She says she wanted to help people and he says that’s why he became a cop, adding that the man who raised him was the town police officer. Jasmine queries the reference and he explains his parents died when he was young, within a few years of each other, and he was brought up by foster parents. Jasmine said she was too and Cash jokes that he’ll add it to his file on her. Jasmine suggests they go to the Diner for brownies, saying she’s inviting him so he’ll pay.

At the Diner flat, Ryder finishes a phone call arranging the roster for the board shop. Bella notes he seems to be helping everyone today. Ryder says he can’t help Nikau or Chloe. Bella thanks him for trying with her but explains that the last time she used her camera was for a shoot with Nikau, the day before he told her about him and Sienna, and she can’t pick it up without seeing them together. However, she does have another idea how to help.  At the Morgan house, Justin notes the books are up to date and he has jobs booked in so he can show the business is worth it.  Leah sarcastically suggests he chain himself to the roller doors. She tries to get him to go to bed but Justin says he won’t be able to sleep so he’s gong to sit up and work on a plan.

At the Diner, Irene and John watch in bemusement as Cash and Jasmine get on well. John says his good nights. Cash suggests the night hasn’t gone too bad and offers to walk Jasmine home. Jasmine says she’ll stay and help Irene clear up. After a few awkward seconds where neither of them seems quite sure what to do, Cash says goodbye. Irene teases Jasmine about how well the date went. Next morning, Leah and Justin are at the garage. Leah teases Justin about trying to impress the new owner with lukewarm coffee and soggy bacon sandwiches, saying they might be vegan. John turns up and Justin says they’re about to have an important meeting. John explains that he’s the new owner. Justin looks bewildered.

Jasmine is jogging and runs into Cash, who is in uniform. Jasmine thanks him for last night and starts to suggest they do something after he finishes work but then Cash gets a call in and says he has to go, adding that he’ll see her at training. They both shoot looks back at each other but don’t notice the other one doing so. At the garage, Justin and Leah are bewildered that John made an offer despite being told not to. He says he couldn’t let them lose their business: He gets to help them, Justin gets to keep his business. He says they can discuss a partnership if Justin and Leah get their money back and promises to be hands-off. Justin agrees.

Bella and Ryder have met with Alf, Roo and Martha outside the caravan park house. Bella explains she’s arranged for her contact in the city to give them exhibition space for free and offers to take them there. Alf declines but Martha and Roo are up to it. Bella says she’ll meet them in an hour. Ryder quietly asks if she’s heard anything about Nik. Bella says she hasn’t got a reply from Ari. At the Diner, John has told Irene about buying the garage, explaining he wanted it to be a surprise. Jasmine comes in and tells Irene that Cash was a bit standoffish with her, wondering if she’s misread things.

Bella and Ryder arrive outside the Diner and Ryder tells Irene to fire up the coffee machine. Bella explains about taking Roo and Martha to the city. She gets her usual text from Ari and sees it as evidence that the Paratas don’t want to talk to her. Telling Ryder to get the coffees, she heads upstairs with Irene following her. She explains she wants to see Nikau but isn’t sure his family would want her there. She thinks they could lose Nikau because of her. Irene convinces her to go.

Bella and Irene join Roo, Martha and Ryder downstairs. Bella says she has to bail on the plan to go to the city: She needs to see Nikau herself.