I was deliberately evasive as to who was watching the show with who but it'll all become clear in this one. Well done to those who got it right! I hope you enjoy the chapter. This one is a bit short but we'll be delving further into the story from now. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Four
Present Day
Charlie kept her eyes glued to the screen as the narrator introduced her family. There were several shots of each of them doing various chores, which they shared. Angelo appeared on screen.
"I'm not one of those guys who believe in 'women's work' or anything," he said. "I'm as happy doing DIY as I am doing dishes and laundry. I'm not much of a cook though, I must admit. Nor is Ruby. That's pretty much Charlie's area of expertise so I hope whoever comes here can knock together a decent meal!"
He chuckled and smiled at the camera. Next, over some footage of Charlie and Ruby together, the narrator explained that Charlie had given birth to Ruby when she was just fourteen. In their interviews, Charlie and Ruby explained that they were very bonded and Ruby stated that Angelo was not much of a father to her. On the couch, Charlie looked away from the television at her daughter, worrying that Ruby hadn't been happy all this time. Then she beamed as on screen, her daughter declared that she didn't need a Dad because she had an amazing Mum. Angelo reappeared on screen looking unhappy.
"Charlie struggles to let me in," he said. "We don't have the most ideal living situation, not for me anyway."
On screen, there was more footage of Charlie and Ruby messing around together and having a nice time. The narrator's attention turned to describing Charlie and Angelo's relationship. He explained that they had been together for five years on and off and then cut to Charlie describing how they had got together.
Watching the programme, Angelo couldn't help but feel a little sad watching himself and Charlie together. As much as, at that time, he hadn't been terribly happy, he had loved Charlie. He still did. He couldn't help it. And shots of them as a family, shots of them being a couple made him nostalgic to say the least. Sighing heavily, he continued to watch.
This was the part that Joey had been dreading. She distinctly remembered being caught making out with Mel on camera and she hated the idea of it being filmed, although she knew Mel would really enjoy it. She'd been interested to see Charlie's family life and how she was before they had met. The narrator introduced Mel, Joey and Sam, viewing their home and introducing how they lived. There was a heavy emphasis on the fact that Joey did all the housework and that Mel relied on her to help manage her business.
Watching with Sam, Mel looked horrified and felt humiliated.
"I look like a fucking sex mad, lazy, spoilt bitch!" she bellowed.
Sam remained quiet as Mel ranted about being misrepresented, pacing the floor.
"Sit down," Sam said tiredly. "Even if you want to yell at them, you can't do it now. The office is closed."
Unhappily, Mel flopped back down on the sofa and watched with hidden pride at the shot of her and Joey getting caught out.
In the lounge, Charlie turned to her left and raised her eyebrows at Joey who was blushing profusely under the gaze of her girlfriend, her girlfriend's daughter and her girlfriend's parents. She cringed as she watched herself and Mel fixing their clothes. Having already learnt exactly what Mel was like, Charlie smiled at Joey and put her arm around her. They snuggled up together as they watched themselves say goodbye to their families for two weeks that would change their lives.
Next time... Charlie spends her last night with her family, Mel does the same and then the women swap lives...