Chapter Fifty-Four
The following afternoon, Charlie and Joey were stretched out in their swimsuits on the grassy verge by the lake they had found a couple of days previously. The sun was warm, their tummies were full and both were officially in bliss. Joey reached across the blanket and caught hold of Charlie's hand.
"I never ever want to leave this place," she said, gazing up at the clouds above her.
"Nor do I," Charlie agreed. "I think Aunt Alice has the right idea. Although, I'm not sure I could do it alone like she does."
"I'm not sure she's as alone as she makes out," Joey revealed.
"What do you mean?" Charlie asked, turning her head towards her girlfriend.
"While I was rummaging for another box of matches yesterday, I found some um… intimate photographs of her and her uh… 'friend'."
"What?" Charlie squeaked.
"More evidence to suggest genetics," Joey giggled.
"Please make sure I never see those photos," Charlie begged.
"I put them back where I found them, don't worry," Joey assured her. "But phew, she's got an even better toy collection than we have!"
Charlie sat up straight, her eyes wide. Joey sat up more slowly, laughing softly.
"You'd better be talking teddy bears this time, Joey Collins," she warned. "Otherwise, my head might explode."
Joey laughed louder and leant to kiss her.
"Well, one thing was pink and fluffy," she said.
Charlie clapped her hands over her ears.
"La, la, la, I'm not listening!" she sang.
Joey kissed her again, succeeding in making her stop. She guided her back down onto the blanket and lay on top of her.
"Alright, I'm kidding. They were soft and cuddly, I swear," she lied.
"Good," Charlie said, relieved.
They kissed.
"Some with powers of vibration."
Charlie kissed Joey harder, mostly to keep her from talking. She rolled her onto her back and felt Joey wrap her arms tightly around her.
***
The next evening, Charlie and Joey ventured back into town to have a meal in a restaurant for their last night away. The week had been perfect for both of them and neither one particularly wanted to go home. There wasn't anything terrible waiting for them, aside perhaps from Davina, but living on the farm had been too good to be true. Plus, Joey was going to miss Gabby the Goat terribly, not to mention the chickens and the cats. Charlie and Joey felt like they had learnt a lot more about each other while they'd been away, that they'd got more emotionally intimate as they'd spent their time getting back to basics with nature. The woods had freaked Charlie out a little at first, with her experiences of Skip still in her head, but she'd recovered quickly enough and both women felt completely safe in their little isolated world.
"Well, here's to us," Charlie proposed.
"And a lifetime of happiness," Joey added.
They clinked their glasses and drank, holding hands over the table.
***
Joey woke up feeling sad the following morning. Their last night together had been romantic to say the least. After a delicious meal, they'd driven back to the farm and made love under the stars, falling asleep by the fire. Joey was disappointed that their trip was coming to an end. The week had gone too quickly. Slipping out of the sleeping bag, she left Charlie to her slumber and released the chickens, collected several eggs and brought them back. Then she headed over to say good morning to Gabby, feed her and give her a cuddle. She would miss her terribly too. Leaning against the fence, Joey sighed heavily.
"Maybe we can come back and visit you sometime," she said sadly, fondling Gabby's ears. "I'm really going to miss you, you know."
She smiled, still sad when she felt Charlie slip her arms around her.
"We'd better start packing," she said.
"I know."
"Hey, we're still going to be together when we get back," Charlie said. "It just won't be here."
Joey turned round to face her.
"I'm being silly," she said. "I just love this. I love being with you in this peaceful place where there isn't anyone to interfere with us or hurt us. It's just me and you, happy, safe and in love. It's nice here. We don't have to worry about anything."
Charlie kissed her softly.
"What is there to worry about at home?" she asked.
"Well, nothing really. It's just real life, I guess. I've never been a fan."
She clung tightly to Charlie, burying her face in her neck.
"Trials, struggling parents, jobs that keep us apart for a ridiculous number of hours a day…" Charlie ventured.
"Evil police officers," Joey added.
Charlie held her a little tighter.
"All the things that we can pretend don't exist here, right?"
"Right."
"Well, they might exist back home, but they don't particularly matter," Charlie said.
Joey looked into her eyes.
"As long as we're together, everything can be as perfect back home as it is here."
Joey smiled and hugged her again. Charlie nudged her into walking back towards the caravan so they could begin to pack their things.
"Do you think we could sneak Gabby into the back of the car?" Joey asked.
***
Evening was drawing in when Charlie and Joey arrived back in the Bay. Ruby was waiting up for them, eager to welcome them back and find out all about their trip. Many hugs and an excited interrogation later, they were all nearly crashed out in the living room.
"Oh, hey, can I ask you guys a question?" Ruby asked.
Charlie was immediately suspicious.
"Would you come to dinner with Xavier and me and Xavier's brother?"
Charlie was pleasantly surprised and agreed. Joey nodded.
"Hugo's just arrived in town and he doesn't really know anyone," Ruby explained.
Joey pulled a face.
"Hugo?" she whined.
"Have you met him already?" Ruby asked.
"Wait, is that the guy who…?" Charlie asked.
"Who what?" Ruby asked, instantly intrigued.
"Oh, it's nothing," Joey said dismissively. "He's just a little relentless in hitting on people, that's all."
Charlie frowned.
"You guys will still come, won't you?" Ruby said worriedly.
"Of course we will," Charlie assured her. "Just make sure he keeps his hands to himself."
