Part 4

Platform 1 Bath Spa Station 3.27pm

For Charles, slight panic was setting in. This is ridiculous, she must have got off this train, somewhere!

He scanned the platform from one end to the other and still couldn't see her but it was difficult with the large number of people milling around. There must have been hundreds of passengers who had just got off the London train and they were now on the platform, meeting people, sorting out trolleys, organising their luggage, looking for the exit, and all the other things people do when they arrive in an unfamiliar city. Why didn't he think to ask her what colour coat she'd be wearing? That would have helped.

Then he breathed a deep sigh of relief, a full two carriage lengths away he recognised a small figure in a navy, padded coat, trying to persuade several large pieces of luggage out of the door. Some kind fellow passenger, a middle aged man, was helping her. He walked towards her pushing the trolley with his heart pounding. God, she was lovely, that thick chestnut hair cascading down around her shoulders while she struggled with the bags. She still hadn't noticed him and was now thanking her "Good Samaritan" for assisting her. Her helper got back into the train with a cheery wave. By then Charles was just close enough to hear him say "good luck Molly" before he closed the carriage door with a slam.

Charles came up behind her and stood there with the trolley, "Need a porter miss?"

She turned, looked at him with those beautiful green eyes and flashed the blinding smile that he remembered so well. Its warmth permeated his whole body. She ran the three paces between them. Her arms went straight around his neck and she stood on tiptoe so that she could reach his lips with hers. Not a word was spoken. The knots in his stomach miraculously disappeared, he put his arms around her in a tight hug, stooping a little and, returned the kiss. The kiss lasted a long, long time!

Young lovers greeting one another at the end of a railway journey are a common sight on station platforms the world over and the reaction of other passengers is the same everywhere. It's a look and a smile that says "I remember being in love like that". Charles and Molly were both oblivious to all the smiling passers-by.

Charles put his cheek against hers and spoke first. "God, I've missed you so much Molly".

"Ditto" was all she could say, but he loved hearing her say it and he kissed her again.

They helped each other pile the bags onto the trolley and set off for the car. Molly made up for her silence by chatting non-stop about the journey, the book she was reading and how she'd missed him. It was slow going though. They stopped, on average, every ten or so paces to kiss, each time a little more passionately.

...

Bath Spa Station - Car Park 3.30pm

Here they are! She almost said it out loud.

Ruth could see them coming out through the station entrance, talking to each other continually. Charles was pushing a trolley piled high with Army bags. Molly had one hand resting on his as they walked. As they were talking, she kept looking up to his face as if she couldn't believe he was actually there. Ruth couldn't hold back any longer. She got out of the car, leaving it at the mercy of any passing parking attendant (what the Hell, it's only a fine!), and half walked, half ran, the fifty or so yards towards them. Her thoughts raced as she got closer and closer, Molly Dawes at last. What a gorgeous looking girl. Just like that photo in the paper. But even lovelier with her hair down.

Molly was rather concerned to see this elegantly dressed woman staring at her face and running straight towards her. Either it's Bossman's Mum, or it's a complete nutbar, she thought. "What do I do, Charles," she said out of the corner of her mouth, "shake hands, kiss her on the cheek or call the police!?" Charles laughed. The decision was taken away from her as Ruth wrapped her arms around her, despite the thick winter coat, gave her a huge bear hug which lasted an inordinately long time, and then kissed her on both cheeks, and then hugged her some more!

Ruth put her hands on Molly's shoulders and looked into her eyes, "Hello Molly, it's so lovely to meet you at last."

"And you, Mrs James."

"Call me Ruth, Molly".

"Don't mind my mother," said Charles, "She can be a bit over-demonstrative at times"

Then he gave Molly a look as if to say, there, what did I tell you, nothing to worry about!

The hatch was opened and the bags were thrown in. Molly and Charles got into the back seat and folded up the armrest.

"Have you two got your seat-belts on?"

"Yes Mum", he said, in the same tone he'd used since he was a four year old (when being asked if he'd tidied his room).

In the mirror, Ruth saw Charles put his arm around Molly's shoulders. She saw their heads turn towards each other with huge smiles on their faces and then they kissed each other very tenderly. Molly rested her head against him and laid her arm across his chest.

Ruth drove off back towards The Royal Crescent with a big grin on her face. With the empty passenger seat beside her and a couple "making out" in the back she felt just like a typical taxi driver.

But she didn't mind one little bit!

...

20 Royal Crescent 3.45pm

At the back of the garage there was a small four-wheeled sack trolley used for ferrying shopping to the house. This was now loaded up with Molly's kit and, pulled by Ruth and Molly side by side, they set off towards the house up the wide path. Charles followed behind. The garden was beautifully manicured but clearly not at its best. There was some winter colour; the copper beech hedge's golden leaves and the large number of dogwoods with their brilliant red stems had been cunningly planted to give a winter contrast against the green lawns. But for the most part it was rather bare.

Molly thought it time to make polite conversation, "Must look lovely in the Summer, Mrs - er - Ruth."

"It does Molly, beautiful. Its perfect, sitting out here on a warm Summer evening"

"But a lot of work I guess"

"Fortunately we have a really good gardener who comes in half a day a week. Couldn't manage it without him."

They reached the back porch and unloaded the trolley just inside the door. The porch led straight into a utility room, which in turn led into the kitchen. Charles shut the outside door behind them and they started removing coats. He couldn't help but stare at the beautiful pale green dress that Molly had now revealed which accentuated her lovely figure. Molly could see the effect it had on him and only wished she'd changed into heels in the car. Her trainers did not go with the dress at all. At that moment Emma came out from the kitchen drying her hands on a small towel.

She smiled a very welcoming smile at the visitor, "Hello, you must be Molly, I'm Emma – I'm the baby sister." They shook hands, which seemed terribly formal after his mother's greeting earlier.

Molly was gobsmacked. She could not believe what she was looking at. It was a female version of Charles; same build, same face (but prettier!), same eyes. Even the hair was the same colour and texture, but cut very short. Molly had always reckoned that only the prettiest face could get away with very short hair like that. It suited Emma perfectly she thought.

Molly became conscious that she hadn't replied at all but they were still shaking hands. She leant towards Emma and kissed her on the cheek. The kiss on the cheek developed into a tentative hug.

"Hello lovely to meet ya."

"Come into the kitchen Molly," said Emma, "I'm sure you're in dire need of a cup of tea and I put the kettle on when I saw you all arrive."

They filed into the kitchen, Molly and Charles holding hands. Emma went to get mugs out of a cupboard.

"It's lovely to meet all of ya'," said Molly, "but I gotta be honest and tell ya' there's one thing I really don't like about this family."

The three members of the James family turned, as one, to look at her, all aghast.

"You're all too bleedin' tall," she said.

...

Thanks for all the feedback. Your support and encouragement is what keeps me going. Consensus is 100% to continue the story apart from the sad troll (see below). There may be a short break (a few days) before Chapter 5 though. Sorry, I have to earn a living!

Note to the stupid troll that keeps writing guest reviews. It takes longer for you to type your drivel than for me to delete it. So if you want to continue wasting your time that's your problem. It worries me not a jot. You are one sad person.