The polite chit chat continued around the dinner table and Georgie did her best to join in but she couldn't stop thinking about Elvis, who now seemed to have done another of his disappearing acts. As the chatter between her parents and Charlie's echoed all around the room Georgie suddenly felt as if everything was happening in slow motion. She gazed down at her hands; the hands he had been holding in his mere moments ago. She had actually felt him and it had thrown her into a state of confusion. Her chest grew tight and with it came the familiar feeling of emptiness, of loss. Things slowly began to come back into focus and when she looked back up she saw Charlie watching her from across the table. She could tell from his expression that he knew something was up.

Clearing her throat she began to rise from her seat "Right, are we ready for dessert?" She interrupted everyone. She was willing for this whole charade to be over now, she was only just beginning to realise how exhausted she felt.

"No, no, I'll bring it in." Charlie said, gesturing for her to sit down as he stood. He was desperate for a breather himself. Georgie reluctantly sank back down into her chair as Charlie made his way to the kitchen.

OG

Charlie stood with his hands leaning on the kitchen counter and stared out of the kitchen window which overlooked the modest garden at the back of the house. The sun was beginning to set, marking the end of another day. He lowered his head; all of the days seemed to just roll into the other lately. He greatly missed the structure that army life brought with it. Every time he saw his mum it made him question his decision to leave, hence why he'd deliberately put some distance between them. He didn't have too long to dwell though as suddenly he heard the kitchen door open behind him, he turned swiftly on his heel to see that it was Georgie. Moving over to the fridge to retrieve the cheesecake that Grace had kindly made for dessert he asked breezily "Everything alright in there?"

"Yea." Georgie began, as she leant her back against the island in the middle of the kitchen and sighed. "Dad's telling his story about when he saved those kittens from drowning in the Manchester Ship Canal." She said with a roll of her eyes. Max loved to tell that story at any given opportunity and she and Charlie had both heard it numerous times, though each time he told it was more elaborate and heroic than the last. Charlie smiled knowingly and their eyes met, they stared at each other intently for a few moments. Georgie studied him and a wave of guilt washed over her for thinking of Elvis tonight of all nights. Just as she opened her mouth to speak Grace entered.

"Hope you don't mind?" She said waving an empty wine bottle in her hand. "Shall I open another?"

"Of course! Sorry!" Charlie said, he took another wine bottle from the fridge and handed it to Grace. "We're terrible hosts! Terrible!" He joked. Grace giggled "Dont be daft, we're having a lovely time." Their voices faded as they made their way back into the dining room. Georgie remained in the kitchen, she bit her lip and closed her eyes, shaking her head at another missed opportunity to talk to Charlie.

And just like that, there he was, again. She let out a small gasp when she clocked him just a couple of meters away from her, standing at the other end of the island. Elvis stared at her but he didn't say anything, he looked a bit pissed off. Slowly, he pushed a knife that was lying on the countertop towards her. Georgie looked at the knife and then back at Elvis blankly.

"To cut the sexual tension between you two." Elvis explained curtly, raising an eyebrow at her. She rolled her eyes in despair and let out a huge sigh, here we go again, she thought. He had a knack for making her so lustful for him one minute and then so angry at him the next.

"Georgie!" Charlie called out from the dining room "Could you bring in a knife to cut this cheesecake with please?"

"Yep! Just coming!" She called back. She didn't take her eyes off Elvis as she took the knife from the counter. As she turned to leave he spoke again. She stood still, facing the door with her back to him.

"I saw you earlier." He started. "You and Charlie-boy. Kitchen counter eh? Well, almost. Guess I've got Max and Grace to thank for not having to endure what might have followed."

Georgie inwardly cringed at the thought of Elvis having been there. However she knew he was looking for a reaction and she didn't give him one. Instead she calmy walked back into the dining room.

OG

The dinner had come to an end and it was time for Patricia and Richard to head home. They had said their goodbyes to Grace and Max in the dining room and Georgie and Charlie had gone out into the hallway with them to see them off. Richard excused himself as he went to use the loo upstairs before they left.

"Oh, I seem to have left my purse..." Patricia said as Charlie helped her into her coat.

"I'll get it." Georgie said, disappearing back into the dining room.

There was an awkward silence between Patricia and her son. "Oh for heavens sake Charles, spit it out." She said.

Charlie shuffled on his feet. "Georgie thinks you don't like her." He said bluntly, his hands stuffed into his trouser pockets.

Patricia turned her head away from him, almost as if she knew this was going to come up at some point.

"Is she right?" Charlie asked gently.

"Georgie is a lovely girl Charles..."

"—But?" He interjected.

"But so was Rebecca. And so was Molly." She said with a small shrug.

Charlie half nodded "You think I'm gonna screw up again like I've done in the past?" He summised.

"Charles, I would really hope that instead of 'screwing up' as you put it, that you'd learn from the past. That girl seems... fragile. Think carefully about this one hmm?"

With that, Georgie returned with Patricia's purse. "There you go." She said handing it over with a smile. Patricia nodded her thanks and turned to Charlie. "I spoke to Rebecca last week." She announced, Richard was now making his way downstairs. "Sam's been asking when he can see you?"

Charlie chewed at the corner of his lip. He knew this was for Georgie's benefit. "Right, I'll give him a call." He said, eyeing his mother.

"Good. Shouldn't take me having to remind you." She glanced toward Georgie who pursed her lips together.

"I'll call him." Charlie affirmed, sternly this time.

"Thanks again for a lovely evening both of you." Richard said, ushering his wife towards the door.

"Oh you're welcome, anytime." Georgie said as Charlie held the door open for them. Once they'd gone he closed it and turned to Georgie. "Any time?" He questioned.

"Well, maybe not for a while." She made a grimacing face and laughed as he enveloped her into a hug and allowed himself to relax. She closed her eyes when he planted a kiss on the top of her head and just enjoyed the feeling of being wrapped in his arms.

OG

Grace and Max had been great helping with all the tidying away and washing up after dinner, they'd blitzed through it all in no time at all and they were all able to put their feet up and relax with a drink in the lounge at the end of the evening. When Grace and Max went upstairs to bed Georgie pottered around in the kitchen, washing up the glasses they'd just used. She soon felt Charlie's arms slink themselves around her waist. She hadn't heard him come in.

"Thought we could carry on where we left off earlier." He said, moving her hair to the side and kissing her neck. "Before we were rudely interrupted by your parents." He added with a smile between kisses. Georgie stiffened in his hold, all she could think about was Elvis having been there watching them. Who's to say he wasn't here now? Sensing her discomfort Charlie stopped kissing her, "What's wrong?" He asked as she turned round to face him. "Is it because your parents are upstairs?"

"No, it's nothing, I'm just..." she tried to think of an excuse "..tired." was all she could come up with.

Charlie stepped back, feeling slightly dejected, and studied her for a moment. She was avoiding making eye contact with him, she looked uncomfortable. He tried to put his finger on what it was bothering her.

"It's him. Isn't it?" Charlie said quietly after a moment.

Georgie's eyes shot straight to his.

"What? Who?" She was on the defense.

Charlie's eyes fixed on the diamond ring that hung around her neck; a permanent reminder of the man she truly loved. Georgie turned her head away from him and gulped. The fact that she didn't deny it was confirmation enough for him.

"Jesus, Georgie." He breathed, raising his eyes up toward the ceiling. He shook his head as though thinking he was an idiot.

"Charlie.." she started by way of an explanation but she wasn't quite sure what she was going to say.

"Don't. Just don't." He said.

"Charlie please. It's you and me now. You know that." She said, attempting to take his hand in hers, he pulled it away.

"Is it?" He asked. "Well I don't know anymore."

Georgie looked stunned "What?" She breathed shakily, tears beginning to fill in her eyes.

"I'm just sick of trying to compete with a fucking ghost Georgie!" He snapped before he turned and walked out of the kitchen and along the hallway toward the front door. Georgie stood and watched him go; wanting to call out after him, wanting to ask for his help, wanting him to look after her and tell her it was all going to be ok but it was as though she'd lost the ability to speak.

"Bit rude." Elvis suddenly said from his position behind the door, jerking his head in the direction that Charlie had just left in with his usual air of self-assured arrogance. And that was it - the straw that broke the camels back. Georgie swiped a glass from the side and hurled it in his direction with an almighty scream, he just managed to duck out of the way before it smashed against the wall.

She took a deep but shaky breath as she stared at the now empty space behind the door and the broken glass shattered across the floor - like the broken pieces of her heart - as the tears finally fell and trailed down her cheeks.