Chapter 11
Charlie pulled the car along the side of the road and stopped. She glanced across at Joey as she released her own seat belt. Suddenly she felt a little bit nervous - and a little bit shy - so she initiated conversation to try to dispel her nerves.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Joey nodded ... "I was just thinking ... this time yesterday my heart was breaking ... and I was planning to be as far away from you as possible. I had given up on us".
Charlie shook her head, thinking of the hurt she had caused. "I'm sorry ... I was just ... so scared of what I was feeling".
Joey needed one more reassurance from the woman she loved - "Are you still scared now?" she asked, hoping that Charlie's reply would be the one she wanted to hear.
Charlie stared out of the front window for a moment as she answered the question in to herself first. No! She wasn't scared anymore. She turned to look at Joey and simply shook her head, "But it would be nice if we could just take off", she laughed as she imagined herself locked away in a secret retreat with her lover. Joey smiled back at her.
"I dunno ... ", Charlie continued, "find a place up the coast and ... hide away for a few days!" She gazed off into empty space, daydreaming. The idea was wonderful.
Joey joined in, "Eat ... sleep ... swim ... midnight walks on the beach". She paused, thinking. "Let's do it. Let's just go ... as soon as we can". She glanced across at Charlie, her eyes widened in anticipation of Charlie's reply.
Charlie met her gaze. "Are you serious?"
"Yes ... I am. Let's do it - spend some time together". She hoped Charlie was feeling as impulsive as was at that moment.
Charlie thought to herself briefly. What about work? I should be able to get a few days off. "Okay", she replied, "we'll go this evening. It'll be ... fun". Charlie realised it was just what they needed.
The two women gazed at each other, smiling warmly - both suddenly filling up with excitement at the thought of the next few days that lay ahead of them.
"Well ... I should let you go now", Joey said, "you have criminals to catch ... guns to polish ... or whatever it is you police officers do". She smirked.
Charlie laughed out loud. She loved Joey's sense of humour and felt the urge to kiss her for it. She leaned across – their lips met, a tender, lingering kiss.
Still in embrace, Charlie whispered "I'll see you later ... go start packing".
Joey smiled at Charlie's sweetness - "Okay", she replied, "I love you".
Charlie gazed into Joey's eyes one last time before softly declaring "I love you too".
To be continued ...