Hello! Welcome to my new fic. It's a thirteen part story, set at the time when Joey SHOULD have returned! Three months is forever! You got that right, Charlie Buckton. But this story is about why Joey might not have returned. And where the girls could go from there. I hope you enjoy it. Feedback is always very much appreciated! As usual, this is a bit of a short chapter but there will be more soon. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter One
"So, do you want to sign on for another three months?"
Joey Collins chewed her lip, trying to decide how to answer her boss's question. She'd never planned on staying out at sea for longer than this but now it didn't seem as if there was anything worth returning to Summer Bay for. She'd so desperately wished she would be going home, ready to start afresh with the woman she loved. After three excruciating months apart, she'd hoped the space between them would make them both realise how much they loved each other. But now, Joey knew that Charlie Buckton didn't love her. She wondered if she'd ever loved her. And it broke her heart.
"Yes," she said with a big, brave smile. "I'd love to."
"Excellent!" David Bateman said. "I'm glad. You're my best worker, Joey. I really think you could go far in this business."
"So, what are you going to do?" Ruby asked curiously.
She and Charlie were sitting down to lunch together. Joey was due to be home soon. Charlie had checked down at the docks and her trawler would be returning in three days time. The police officer was scared and excited. Three months apart had felt like the forever she'd feared it would be and she'd missed Joey every day. She'd slipped up two weeks ago and shared a kiss with Angelo but when he'd tried to make more of it, Charlie had firmly told him no. She still felt guilty about it and she was preparing to tell Joey everything. Honesty was definitely the best policy and she had learnt that the hard way. She just hoped that if Joey could forgive her for sleeping with Hugo, something she wasn't entirely sure she would have, that she could also forgive her for kissing Angelo.
"Well, she's docking at midday on Tuesday," Charlie said. "So I'm going to make sure I'm there waiting for her."
"And you want to make things work this time?" Ruby checked.
Charlie nodded and smiled a little anxiously.
"I'll be waiting with open arms and flowers, ready to lay my heart on the line and tell her exactly how I feel. And then I just have to hope that she's missed me enough to take me back."
Ruby put a hand on her sister's arm and smiled her encouragement.
"She loves you, Charlie," she said. "She went away to sort herself out, clear her head, heal her heart. But she wouldn't have given you a time limit if she didn't think she could forgive you and be with you again."
Charlie nodded, hoping she was right. But the fact that Joey hadn't been in touch at all during her time away, made her worry. There hadn't been one phone call, text, letter or email. Nothing. It scared Charlie to think that she might have lost her forever.