Chapter 14
Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring.
"What the hell?" Charlie woke with a fright.
"Wha.." Duffy said, sleepily, as she lay on his chest.
"The door. Sorry, um." He said, as he gently kissed her on forehead; and she moved off him to let him up.
Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring.
"Bloody hell, I'm coming, I'm coming." Charlie said, as he quickly took his bathrobe off the hook from behind the door, put it on, tying it at the waist.
He then opened the bedroom door, and grumpily walked down the stairs.
Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring.
"Ok, ok, for god sake." Charlie said, as he rubbed at his forehead.
As he walked towards the door, unlocked it and revealed.
"Andrew?" He said, in surprise.
"Have you seen Duffy?" He said, as he stormed into the house.
"Um?" Charlie said, as he watched him enter the hallway, then he closed the door behind him.
"She isn't at home. Her Mum hasn't seen her. And, after hearing about what happened today. God, she could be anywhere." Andrew said, as he put his hand to his forehead in panic.
"Calm down Andrew. I'm sure there's a rational explanation for all this." Charlie said, as he rose his hands up to try to calm him down.
"Well where is she then?" Andrew said, as he then rubbed the back of his neck.
"Where have you looked?" Charlie asked, as he stood with his hands on his hips.
"Um, just home, her mother's, and here." He said, as he turned and looked at him.
"Oh." Charlie said, a little bit surprised.
"Not the park then?" Charlie added.
"The park?" Andrew said, and he frowned at him.
"Um, yeah, Robertson's Square Park, the one with the little lake. She always walks through there when she has things on her mind." Charlie explained, frowning at him, and puzzled that he didn't know that.
"Oh, right, yeah, the park. Thanks Charlie, I'll go and look for her there." Andrew said, as he seemed a little less worried than before.
"Don't worry too much. She was fine when I dropped her off. Just tired really. She had a long stressful day. And the nap she had at work helped. But, maybe she couldn't sleep, so went out for a walk?" Charlie said, as he looked at him reassuringly.
"Yeah, you're right. And ok, thanks Charlie." Andrew said, as he then walked back towards the door.
"When you find her, ring me will you. Just so I know she's ok." Charlie said, as he watched Andrew open the door.
"Yeah, I will. Thanks." Andrew said, as he walked through the door, closing it behind him.
Charlie then let out a long sigh, rubbed the back of his neck, and said.
"Bloody hell!"
He then walked towards the door, locked it, and turned and walked up the stairs.
"Duffy?" He said, as he walked into his bedroom.
"I heard." She said, as she was dressing herself quickly.
"Are you going now?" He asked her, as he walked towards her, his hand going to the back of his head.
"You heard him, he's gone looking for me." Duffy said, as she zipped up her trousers.
"At Robertson's Square Park Duffy, he'll be gone for ages." Charlie said, as he stood next to her, his hand now on his neck.
"Charlie, my Mum, the boy's, I can't just let them worry." Duffy said, not looking at him.
"Duffy." He said, as he put his hand on her shoulder.
"You said yourself you're not ready to face them just yet. I just thought you wanted some time to yourself." Charlie replied, looking at her.
"I know, and I do want time to myself." She said, as she looked up at him finally.
"Then stay, just a little bit longer." Charlie said, as he looked at her, and put a few strands of hair behind her ear.
She looked up at him and smiled at him weakly.
"Ok." She said.
He then bent down and kissed her.
-o-
Their lovemaking had been more intense than the first time, as time was against them. She had barely removed all of her clothes before they were in the full heat of passion. They were still trying to slow their breathing, as Duffy turned her head to look at him laid next to her.
"Sorry." She said.
"What for?" He replied.
"Andrew." She explained.
"Oh." He said, still breathless.
"He can be a bit." Duffy tried to say.
"Hot headed?" Charlie suggested.
"Yeah." Duffy replied, and sighed.
"Duffy?" Charlie said, as he looked into her eyes.
"Yeah." She answered.
"It'll be alright." He said, as he brushed his thumb against her cheek.
"Will it?" Duffy said, as she put her hand to his cheek.
"Yeah. I'm here for you. If you want me. Anytime. Always." He said, as he brushed her hair behind her ear, and stroked her face with his thumb.
"Oh, Charlie." She said.
He bent down and kissed her lightly.
He then pulled back, as he said, looking into her eyes.
"I love you."
"I love you too." She said, as she cupped his cheek once more.
He pressed his forehead against hers, and sighed. He then lay back down, and she rested her head against his chest. They lay like that for a ten minutes or so.
Until Duffy sighed, then rose up and said.
"I have to go." She looked down at him, he played with her hair, running his fingers down the side of head, then down her cheek.
"Ok." He smiled up at her.
She walked into the bathroom to shower.
When she was finished. She came back into the room.
He just lay there and watched her dress, tilting his head at her figure. He then got up himself.
"Want me to drop you off? At the park or at home?" He asked, as he zipped up his jeans.
"Do you mind?" She answered, as she put on her shoes.
"Course not." He said, after he pulled on his t-shirt.
"Thanks, and home I think." She said, as she put on her coat.
-o-
"I can't promise this is going to be easy Charlie." She said as she sat in his car, as he pulled up at the end of her street.
"I know." He replied, as he looked into her eyes, he then reached for her hand, and squeezed it.
"I'll be right here." He added.
She gave him a small smile, and squeezed his hand.
"I'll see you at work." She said, as she opened the car door and got out, closing it behind her.
He sighed as he watched her walk down the street. He noticed Andrew's car was parked outside too. So, at least he was there, rather than out looking for her. He sighed again.
What were they going to do?
-x-