Just to say thanks to everyone who reads and reviews – and welcome to the new people. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Thirty Six
Charlie was nervous as she waited for her mother and sister to arrive at her apartment. She was working all the hours she could in a restaurant these days but rent was high in the city and work had taken a while to find, considering the appalling reference she had received from Mr Collins. Thankfully, a kind woman had taken pity on her and given her a chance and this time, she hoped she would do someone proud.
She leapt up from the sofa when she heard a knock on her door. She had one last look around her flat to check that everything was in order and then eagerly hurried to the front door to welcome Elsie and Ruby inside.
"Hi, Charlie!" Ruby greeted joyfully.
She threw herself into her big sister's arms. Charlie hugged her close before turning to her mother. They hugged more sedately but the emotion was still there.
"You mean Dad decided not to come?" Charlie cracked.
Ruby laughed but their mother looked uncomfortable.
"I'm joking, Mum," Charlie assured her. "I know Dad and I are over. It's cool. I've made peace with it. I'm just… I'm just glad to see you and Rubes."
Judy was waiting by the front door for Joey when she arrived home from school, just as she had promised. She hugged her daughter immediately and congratulated her on getting through her first exam of the block.
"Thanks, Mum," Joey said.
"If you go up and get changed, I have a surprise or two for you after dinner," Judy said. "And for your father, for that matter."
"A surprise or two?" Joey asked, her eyebrows raised.
Her mother just grinned at her.
"I'm guessing I'll like them more than Dad will," Joey remarked.
"See, a clever girl like you is going to walk these exams," Judy told her.
Once Elsie and Ruby had dumped their bags, Charlie had taken them for a tour of the surrounding area before Elsie had treated her girls to dinner. Sat with a jacket potato and salad and a nice glass of orange juice, Charlie was relaxed and having a nice time. It felt so good to spend time with her family again. The only thing that could make her day better would be for Joey to be there too.
"So, how are you settling in here, Charlie?" Elsie asked. "Are you happy?"
"For the most part," Charlie replied honestly. "I mean, I'm a bit lonely but hopefully in a few weeks that won't be the case."
She thought of Joey and smiled. Elsie and Ruby both caught her.
"Is that when your beloved gets here?" the youngest Buckton teased.
Charlie blushed and sipped her juice.
"Hopefully," she said. "If all goes well. I think she's got into some sort of trouble with her Dad for being in touch with me but she said this morning that her Mum has started helping her stand up to him so hopefully everything will still be okay."
She couldn't help but worry that something would still go wrong.
"I really hope it all works out for you, sweetheart," Elsie said sincerely. "And then Ruby and I can come back for another visit. Meet her properly."
"I think she's great," Ruby enthused. "I liked it when she told Dad how great you were."
Charlie looked startled.
"When did she do that?" she asked.
"Um…"
The teenager looked decidedly awkward.
As instructed, Joey got changed out of her uniform and headed back downstairs to an early dinner with her parents. It was as awkward with her father as breakfast had been but she and her mother enjoyed normal chatter as if he wasn't there.
Afterwards, Indi brought up a cake for Joey, which Judy had asked Colleen to bake especially to congratulate her on getting through her first exam and to encourage her for the next ones.
"Oh, this is so great!" Joey enthused. "Thank you!"
Judy looked pleased with her daughter's reaction. Mr Collins looked like he had eaten something particularly sour.
"I hope you like it," Judy said.
"I love it," Joey said. "Thank you."
"This is just ridiculous," Mr Collins said. "Are you competing to be mother of the year or something?"
"I'm trying to make up for all the mistakes I've made living under your rule, yes," Judy snapped back. "And I'm trying to show my daughter that I love her. You might want to try it yourself sometime."
Mr Collins just glared at his wife and shook his head.
"Did Colleen bake it?" Joey asked Indi, who cut a piece for all three diners.
"Yes, she did," the pretty blonde replied.
"I'll go and thank her afterwards," Joey decided.
Charlie had very much instilled lost manners in her during her time at the mansion. Indi couldn't help but smile.
"When did Joey talk to Dad?" Charlie persisted curiously.
Ruby chewed her lip, not wanting to say the wrong thing. She looked between her mother and her sister and then leant forward, taking her time in slurping her milkshake. She sat back again, still taking her time.
"Well, as you guys were leaving after my birthday party, she just… bigged you up a bit," she explained. "She told Dad how great you were and stuff."
Charlie smiled happily. She should have known that Joey would have tried to help her build up her relationship with her father. She knew more than anyone how it felt to be a disappointment to a parent.
"I guess it didn't do much good," Charlie sighed. "But it's very sweet that she tried."
"Maybe Dad will come round one day," Ruby said hopefully. "Maybe he'll understand."
"I can't hope," Charlie said sadly. "I can't deal with the disappointment."
Elsie reached over and touched her daughter's hand.
"I'll keep working on him," she promised.
"Your second surprise," Judy announced.
Mr Collins grimaced. He really wasn't keen on this new wife of his, so determined to stand up to him and change all the rules. He was used to running things, to being in charge. This new layout to their lives was unsettling to say the least.
"What's this?" Joey asked uncertainly, as her mother slid an envelope across the table.
"Open it and see," Judy urged.
Joey hesitated and then opened it up. She stared at the paper inside and then at her mother.
"A hotel booking?" she asked.
"What?" Mr Collins squawked.
"We have two rooms in the city for the week after your exams finish," Judy said. "Starting the very next day after your last one. And Romeo is welcome to join us if you'd like him to."
Joey just stared.
"I figured you'd want to see Charlie as soon as possible."
"No!" Mr Collins snapped, slamming a fist so hard on the table that all the plates, glasses and cutlery rattled.
Joey and Judy stared at him.
"It's happening, George," Judy stated. "Get used to it."
"And how exactly, did you pay for this?" Mr Collins snarled.
"You know the patronising little allowance you've been giving me all these years?" Judy said.
Mr Collins stared at her, agog.
"Well, I've never spent any of it," Judy said. "I set up a personal account years ago and it's been stored it there until I found something useful to do with it."
"So, this trip is being funded with my money?" Mr Collins snapped.
"No, it's being funded with my money," Judy replied. "You gave it to me. I earned it."
"Earned it?" Mr Collins balked. "How?"
"I've put up with you for how long?" his wife replied.
Joey suppressed a smile.
"Now, you're welcome to support your daughter, meet her girlfriend and generally be a decent human being," Judy stated. "Or you can stay here. Either way, we're going. And either way, things are changing around here."
"Changing?"
"I'm going back to work," Judy said.
Mr Collins looked outraged.
"And if you don't agree to loosen your grip on both of us, we're both leaving you for good."
Next time… Charlie and Joey are reunited…