Chapter twelve
Georgie packed the last item she needed in to her Bergen and zipped it up, before dropping it on to the bed. First thing tomorrow she was leaving for the barracks, ready to join 2 section again for their next mission in Afghanistan.
She still shivered whenever she thought about being back there. She was dreading it. The last time she had been there she held Elvis as he died in her arms. This time she wouldn't even have Charlie to lean on if it got tough. However that wasn't all bad; at least she wouldn't have to worry about watching him die as well.
She heard the doorbell go and ignored it. Her parents were downstairs cooking dinner, and she was busy. She lay back on the bed and covered her eyes with the back of her arm, enjoying the sensation of doing nothing for the last time before she left.
'Georgie?' Grace's voice from downstairs broke her enjoyment, and she sighed before raising from the bed and opening her door.
'Yeah?'
'There's someone at the door for you, love.'
Georgie was just climbing down the stairs from her second floor bedroom when she heard his name. 'It's Captain James.'
Georgie swore under her breath and considered running back upstairs and slamming the door behind her, but she wasn't a teenager and she knew that would look suspicious. She also knew that he must have driven all the way here, and he wouldn't leave without seeing her. She suddenly felt angry. All this was for his own good, and she had been so close to escaping from it all. And now here he was, about to blow it all apart.
'Hi.' She said, as she approached the bottom of the second set of stairs.
'Hi.' He said.
Grace stood by the door like a spare part, smiling at her daughter's former boss.
'Can you give us a minute please, Mum?' Georgie said, walking past her.
'Of course.' Grace said. 'You're welcome to stay for dinner though if you like, Captain James. We're having Georgie's favourite as she's off tomorrow.'
Charlie forced a smile and was about to respond when Georgie almost pushed him out of the front door and closed it behind them.
'What are you doing here?' She snapped.
Charlie said nothing for a few moments and she studied his face. He didn't look himself. He looked exhausted and like he hadn't eaten a proper meal in weeks. She felt a pang of guilt as she imagined him sitting at home on his own.
'I can't let you go without talking properly.' He said finally, trying to take her hands in his. Georgie pulled them away. 'Please, Georgie. Talk to me. I don't understand why you're doing this.'
'I told you.' Georgie said. 'I've made my decision, I'm going on tour tomorrow. I don't want this.'
Charlie shook his head, and she felt another stab of guilt for lying to him.
'If I thought you were telling the truth then I would let you go.' He said. 'But I don't believe you.'
Georgie sighed. 'I don't know how I can make it any clearer, Charlie. I've told you.'
'Did something happen the day I went to see the brig?' He asked. 'Because everything was fine that morning, you were going to come back - we wanted the same thing. We were happy together.'
Georgie sighed. 'No.' She hated lying to him. 'Look, it's just being back here, having space... made me realise what I want. I was confused. We aren't what each other need right now.'
'You're all I need.' He said, his voice barely louder than a whisper. 'Please, Georgie. Just tell me the truth. What's going on?'
She wanted to, more than anything. They had promised to always be honest with each other, and here she was lying to him. She hated it. But, she reminded herself, it was for his own good.
'Have you seen Molly?' She asked instead, changing the subject.
'No but I'm due to see my solicitor next week.' He said. 'To sign the papers'
Georgie looked at the floor. Why wouldn't he just listen? 'You need to see her first.'
'Molly and I have said all we need to say.' He said. 'It's over.'
'But it's not just you that you need to think about!' Georgie blurted out.
Charlie was confused. He had no idea what she meant.
'She doesn't want to be with me either.' He said. 'It was her decision to split, you know that.'
'I'm not talking about Molly!' Georgie said, her voice slightly raised. Her heart was banging in her chest.
'Georgie, what are you talking about?' Charlie asked, his face a picture of confusion.
And then he noticed the ring hanging around her neck again, and he sighed, leaning against the side of the porch.
'It's him isn't it.' He said. 'Elvis.'
Georgie panicked, she didn't know what to say. How to tell him. She closed her eyes and nodded, escaping from the situation.
'Georgie, you're not making sense. We spoke about this, we agreed... Elvis will always be a part of us. I love you, Georgie.'
It was the first time he had said those words to her, and all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and tell him she felt the same. But she couldn't let herself.
'I'm sorry, Charlie.' She said instead. 'I can't do this.'
He recoiled as if she had hit him, tears welling in his eyes. The sight of him looking so distraught brought tears to her own eyes.
'Please, go back to Molly. Get help with your PTSD. If you do that I'm sure you can make things better. You and Molly are meant to be together, just like...'
'You and Elvis.' Charlie finished her sentence.
Georgie nodded. 'I'm sorry, Charlie.' She said, and then she went inside and shut the door.
