I Kissed Ya
Chapter 2
Joey pulled up at the beach. She took out a sheet of paper from her bag and turning on the car's interior light, studied it. She laid the paper down on the passenger seat and frowned. Looking about her, she noticed a couple walking along on the sand towards her and jumping out of the car, waved to them.
"Excuse me. I'm looking for the caravan park." She said, as the couple walked up to her.
"Straight along that road and to the right." The man indicated with his hand. "Keep going straight and you can't miss it."
"Many thanks!" Joey waved, getting back into her car and pulling away.
***
The Senior Constable walked into the Police Station; glad her shift had finished. It had been an unusually quiet evening, which had prompted her to stalk traffic instead. Even that had been fruitless.
"I'm off." She called out to her staff as they busied themselves with their duties.
"Night, Senior!"
"Good night!" The Senior Constable said with a yawn as she made for the door.
***
Joey knocked on a bungalow door in the caravan park and as she waited for a response, she glanced around at the trees and shrubs which made eerie shapes in the moonlight. She shifted uneasily and cursed herself for being such a lightweight. After a few moments, the door opened and a young lad of about sixteen stood before her and smiled.
"Hey! Can I help you?"
"Hey! Erm, I have a reservation in one of your vans." Joey said, indicating with her thumb towards the scattered array of caravans. "My name's Collins, Miss. Joey Collins."
"Hold on a moment." The young boy said. "Miles!" He yelled; looking back behind him.
"Yo!" Miles replied; shimmying to the door.
"Miles, Miss. Collins has a van reserved." Jai informed Miles who was the manager of the park.
"Great! Hey! How are you doing?" Miles said, nervously shaking his shoulders.
"Hi, fine thanks. I wrote asking for a reservation for an indefinite period. I hope you've received it?" Joey asked, with concern.
"Yeah! No worries. Please come in and I'll get the keys and we can work out finances." Miles said lightly jerking his head and dancing into the house.
Joey followed the man; grinning at his twitchy antics.
***
"Hey Charlie!" Ruby greeted her sister as Charlie Buckton walked into the house.
"Hey Rubes." Charlie replied unbuckling her utility belt and throwing it onto the table.
Ruby glanced at her sister. Ruby was sixteen going on seventy years old and knew exactly how to read her elder sister in every which way. She allowed her very little slack and expected much of her guardian/relative.
"Had a bad evening?" She asked, flicking her unruly hair from her face.
"Not bad, but uneventful apart from... Well, never mind. I'm going for a shower." Charlie said, leaving the room; her sister's eyes following her.
***
"This is your van." Miles said to Joey as he jigged about. "I hope you'll be comfortable, but let us know if there's anything we can do to improve your stay, won't you?" He said, pushing his long curly locks behind his ears.
"I will. Thanks." Joey said, accepting the key. "Oh! There is one thing. I was stopped by some stroppy Police Officer on my way here. I have a bulb and tyre problem with my car. I was wondering where I can get it fixed. I think she'll clap me in irons if I don't!" Joey said, pulling a face.
"Constable Watson?" Miles asked in surprise.
"No, that wasn't the name. She was a Senior Constable someone or another." Joey said with a frown.
"Oh! Have you had an encounter with Charlie?" He asked with a grin.
"You might say that!" Joey said with a shiver.
"Ah, Charlie's lovely. She comes over a bit prickly at times, but she's a good mate."
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend!" Joey said, eating her words.
Miles laughed at Joey's discomfort.
"No worries. I'll sort out a local garage card for you in the morning and pop it under the caravan door. Have a good night!" He waved, bouncing off back to his bungalow.
Joey unlocked the door and switched on the light. She looked about the caravan which was to become her temporary dwelling. It was basic but comfortable enough. It had a kettle and a bed which thankfully was already made up. She walked back to her car and removed the luggage and carried it over to the caravan and closed the door behind her.
***
Charlie left the bathroom after her shower rubbing her long, damp hair with a towel. She glanced at her sister who was eating a doughnut.
"You'll get fat!" She warned, with a grin.
Ruby looked up and began to protest, choking on a large mouthful of the sugary delight. Charlie took full advantage by bending over and taking a bite herself and walked away chewing and grinning as Ruby gasped for breath!
***
The following morning, Joey woke up hungry. She hadn't eaten properly since lunchtime yesterday and felt ready to tackle anything from a bowl of Cornflakes to a woolly mammoth if one was unfortunate enough to cross her path! She showered and dressed; and finding the local garage card which Miles had kindly pushed under the caravan door, grabbed her purse and headed out in search of sustenance.
Walking along the beach on a gloriously warm, sunny morning, Joey spied a cafe not too far away and grinned with pleasure as she smelt the aroma of good cooking coming from within; her stomach growling in anticipation.
***
Charlie accepted the coffee and paper bag containing a chocolate muffin which Irene Roberts handed over and thanked her.
"Enjoy, darl." Irene grinned as she waved Charlie goodbye.
Charlie headed for the door. It was her day off and having been for a long jog, now intended to relax on the beach for half an hour before heading for home, showering and writing out a shopping list for the weekly groceries.
Joey opened the door to The Diner as Charlie was about to walk out.
"Sorry." Joey said, holding the door for the runner to exit.
"Thank you. Oh! Hi." Charlie said, recognising the young brunette from the evening before and smiled prettily.
Joey looked at the girl and casually returned her greeting and walked up to the counter to order her meal.
As Charlie held the door, her eyes followed the brunette, feeling a little disappointed at her lack of response to her friendly greeting. She shrugged her shoulders and left.
***
Joey sat back in her chair and felt much happier with a full stomach.
"How was your meal, darl?" The friendly waitress asked as she came over to clear plates.
"Wonderful!" Joey purred, dabbing her lips with a paper napkin. "My compliments to the chef!"
"Good." Irene said, with a smile. "You're new around here aren't you, love?"
"Yes. I arrived last night. I'm staying over at the caravan park." Joey said, sipping her coffee.
"On holiday?"
"No. I have a friend who's putting on a musical production locally and has asked for some help. I do scenery and stuff." Joey explained as Irene stood listening with interest to the new girl's story.
"Oh! That wouldn't be the youth production, would it?" Irene asked.
"Yeah, I think it is. I've gotta find a place called the 'Yabbie Creek Playhouse'. Is it local to here?" Joey asked.
"Not far. Just over at Yabbie Creek." Irene grinned.
"Yeah! I suppose it would be!" Joey chuckled, feeling a little stupid. "I'm looking for a local garage too." She said, taking the business card from her pocket and handing it to Irene.
"Oh, that's down the coast road a bit. A guy called Hugo runs it."
"Is he any good?" Joey asked with some concern.
"Gordon only knows, love. I don't have a car, but he's a decent enough fella and the nearest."
"I'll make him my next stop! Don't want the cops after me again!"
***
Joey left The Diner and headed back to get her car. She followed the instructions Irene had given and pulled up in front of a small, oily looking establishment.
"Hello!" Joey called, trying to make herself heard over the radio playing loudly in the pits. "Anyone here?"
Suddenly a head popped up from beneath a car bonnet and a curly haired, stubbly faced guy grinned at the pretty brunette.
"Can I help you, beautiful?"
"Oh!" Joey said in surprise. "I need some things done to my car. I wondered if you could help, please."
"Sure!" The curly, stubbly man said, wiping his hands on a dirty rag and walking towards Joey.
"The name's Hugo!" He said, holding out his grubby paw as he introduced himself.
"Joey." She said, taking the mechanic's rough, oil impregnated hand.
Hugo held onto Joey's hand for a whisker longer than necessary and Joey looked down at their entwined paws. Hugo released her hand and winked then grinned.
"What seems to be your problem?" He asked.
"I was stopped by the Police last night. I have a tail light out and a dodgy tyre. I wondered if you can sort them out for me, please?"
"Yeah, no worries, though I hope we can get you a match for that tyre. Little 'uns, aren't they? Haven't seen an Austin Mini in a while. Bit of a rarity these days!" He said, running his hand lovingly over her bonnet. "Still, I'll see what I can do. Do you wanna leave her with me? I'll give you a buzz later and let you know when you can pick her up?"
"Fine." Joey said, handing over her car keys to Hugo.
"So you got copped, did you?" Hugo asked with a grin.
"Sure did."
"They're a bit keen about cars being in good shape round here. Still I'm not complaining. Keeps me in business!" Hugo said with a chuckle.
"Sure you're not in league with that Senior Constable?" Joey asked with a grin.
"No, but I'd like to be!" Hugo replied with a wink. "Afraid I don't tick the right boxes though!"
Joey laughed.
"Never mind, you're probably better off by yourself. Here's my phone number." Joey said, scribbling down the digits on a piece of paper.
"Thanks. Give you a shout later."
***
Joey left the garage and walked back along the coast road mentally making a list of things she would need to stock the caravan, at the supermarket. Then, she took out her mobile phone and scrolled through the contact names until she found a particular one and pressed the call button. She smiled as the recipient picked up.
"Hey sexy! How you doin'?"