Right, before we start, can I just make it clear that this is a work of FICTION? Views expressed and actions undertaken by characters in this story are not my own, they do not reflect my thoughts, my feelings or what I would personally do in any given situation. They contribute to a work of FICTION. I repeat – FICTION. And if you're not intelligent enough to work that out, please stop reading. Also, I'm sure it's very easy to sit there all safe behind your computer offering your opinion but you do not know me, you have no idea what my personal history is and what experiences I bring into my stories so do not come on here and tell me that you do. You know nothing. Read the stories if you want. Like them, don't like them. Continue reading, stop reading. But there's no need to attack me. Or explain to me why Joey is reacting the way she is. I already understand. I am the WRITER. But in order to create a STORY, you need characters that don't always respond the way we want them to, that might only be able to deal with their own pain and not think much further than that. I am speaking for them; they're not speaking for me. That's how it works.
Okay, rant over. I'm just sick of being harassed so much for this story. I know it's a difficult subject but if someone isn't enjoying it, stop reading it. I would never read someone's story on here and be horrible to them. I would certainly never be so arrogant, wade in and assume that I have the monopoly over life experience and assume that I know the place that they are writing from. It's rude and it's ignorant.
Okay, the rant really is over now but it's been bugging me for ages. Not just that review but the other 'guest' that pops up all the time. Anyway, for the rest of you, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Fifty Three
August 2012 (Age 30)
Charlie started her day, as recommended by Shannon, with a coffee in the Diner with Pippa. If in doubt, turn to your mother, and Pippa was the only mother Charlie had. She still had vague memories of own biological mother and there were still days when she longed for her and missed her terribly. There were still days of pain when she was almost angry with her for dying. If that hadn't happened then so many other things might not have happened. Her Dad wouldn't have abandoned her, she wouldn't have become a lost child, subjected to the will of Mrs Bitch. She wouldn't have been attacked.
But then she would never have met Joey. And until this year, that was always the thing she had held onto. That was the thing that had kept her going for twenty years. Now her head was in a spin of anger, hurt and grief. Would her life have been simpler after all if she and Joey had never crossed paths? But then she never would have enjoyed the love they'd had during their time together.
She sighed heavily and sat back in her chair, right at the moment Pippa - kind, gentle Pippa came to join her.
"That was a very big sigh for so early in the morning," she remarked.
"It was a very long day yesterday," Charlie told her.
"What made it so long?" her foster mother wondered.
Irene approached with a pad, ready to take their orders. They both ordered different coffees.
"No problem," Irene said. "I'll be right with you."
"Oh, hey, I heard you ran into a bit of trouble yesterday," Pippa said. "Some guy or something?"
"Oh, yeah, I nearly had my bag snatch," Irene told her. "But this young woman stepped in and grabbed it for me. Chased them off. I didn't know her or anything and she didn't seem to want to take any thanks but I was so grateful."
Charlie's mind immediately flashed to Joey. It was exactly the kind of thing she used to do when they were kids. That was how they became friends in the first place.
"That must have been scary," Pippa sympathised.
"It wasn't fun," Irene admitted. "I was really grateful to the girl though. Told her she has a free lunch here if she ever wants to come by. Anyway, I'll get your coffees."
She wandered away.
"Your head's in the clouds," Pippa remarked.
"Just seems strange that Joey showed up yesterday and that's the day Irene gets rescued by a mystery girl," Charlie mused. "It's exactly the type of thing she'd do. Or at least, the type of thing the Joey I used to know would do."
"I thought your pensive mood might have something to do with her," Pippa said gently. "She's come back then?"
"She's left Hayley, told us absolutely everything she can, gone into protection and is co-operating fully. She's also still the most beautiful person I have ever known in my whole life and every single wall I put up when she left is crumbling," Charlie explained.
She looked Pippa directly in the eye.
"How am I supposed to stop myself getting hurt again?"
"Do you think maybe one day Charlie might be willing to be my friend again?" Joey asked meekly.
She and Watson were sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and waiting for another officer to take over the shift.
"I know I've burnt my other bridges with her but… if I could stop her hating me… somehow…"
"She doesn't hate you," Watson said. "I mean, that's my personal belief, anyway. Friendship will take time but I think you can get there. If you try. Do you want to try?"
Joey nodded definitely.
"If at the end of this, I could have her back in my life in some way… that would be a dream come true…"
December 1997 (Age 15)
"Well, I consider that a job well done," Mrs John said, standing in the doorway to Joey's room. "Charlie has gone to a home far, far away from here where she can flourish and really become someone where you can't touch her and drag her down any longer."
Joey sat meekly on the bed. She felt like part of her soul had been ripped out, like she could no longer breathe.
"I've been doing this job a long time, Joey and believe me when I say that I know children," the older woman continued. "That child has potential and you… do not. You're a waste of space and have been sucking the life out of her for too long. I'm relieved that she's finally free."
She offered the teenager a parting glare and turned to stride away. Joey sank back under the blankets. No, she thought. I'm going to find my Charlie and we are never going to be apart again. Love like ours doesn't die. Love like ours lasts forever. The obstacles that get in our way are irrelevant. We're meant to be together.
August 2012 (Age 30)
Charlie stopped in at the Surf Club before she was due over at the house Joey was staying at. She had mentioned needing a good lawyer for Joey and Pippa had directed her to Alf.
"Hello, love," the older man greeted warmly. "We don't often see you in here so early. I hope you're not here to arrest anyone!"
"Of course not!" she grinned. "I was just hoping to pick your brains, actually. Could we have a chat?"
"Of course," he said, stepping out from behind the bar and guiding her towards a table.
They sat down together.
"What can I do for you?" he asked.
"I have a really heavy case on right now," Charlie explained. "And we have a very vulnerable victim and witness who is key to the whole thing. We need a lawyer who knows exactly what they're doing who might be negotiable on pay because she's been in a domestic violence situation for a long time and hasn't been allowed to earn her own money. I'm happy to put my own savings towards payment and I'll work something out as best I can but I might not have the exact funds a really good lawyer costs. Pippa said you might know someone flexible enough and good enough to fit the bill, so to speak?"
She looked at him hopefully.
"I have exactly the person you need," he said.
He pulled out his phone.
"Hello, Morag?" he said. "How are you? Yeah, yeah, I'm good. I have a favour to ask you…"
An hour later, Charlie was sat with Angelo and Watson, who had hung on, at the house with Joey, having explained that she had obtained a lawyer who would see her through the court case at negotiable pay.
"But pay isn't even negotiable," Joey fretted. "I literally have nothing. I paid my bus fare in change I found lying round the house."
"We have a fund for cases like this," Charlie lied.
Angelo looked set to argue. Watson kicked him under the table. They could discuss this later.
"So… I have a lawyer?" Joey asked.
"Yes," Charlie said. "She'll handle everything. And we have Hayley in custody already, on charges. Aden is safe. Everything is going well."
She knew she'd already lost her hardened attitude. Joey appreciated the kindness in her eyes.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"You're welcome. And depending on her bail hearing, you may well be free again."
Joey swallowed but thanked her again. The truth was, she didn't mind being here. Otherwise, she had nothing. She had nowhere to go.
Charlie saw Watson out. Angelo was on duty but Charlie wanted to hang on for the meeting with the lawyer, Morag Bellingham. Apparently this woman was Alf's sister, a qualified Judge, who really knew her stuff.
"So, what's this fund Angelo and I have never heard of?" Watson asked.
"It's called the Savings of Charlie Buckton," her friend admitted grimly.
Watson squeezed her hand.
"You don't really hate her then?" she asked.
Charlie sighed and leant against the wall of the house.
"I tried," she said. "I really, really tried."
"She asked me if I thought she could ever be your friend again," she said. "I told her to try."
Charlie managed a smile.
"Every time we're apart, I always feel like there's a part of me missing," she admitted.
"You realise this whole thing is ridiculous?" Hayley snapped.
It was the afternoon and she was still being held behind bars, awaiting her bail hearing. She had been charged with assault, possession of a class A substance and perverting the course of justice.
"Exactly what part is ridiculous?" Watson asked, handing over the cup of tea she had demanded. "The part where we have a tonne of evidence or the part where we have a tonne of evidence?"
She couldn't help but offer a sneaky, triumphant grin.
"It's not nice when your victims fight back, is it?" Watson added. "You can spend your life pushing people down, backing them into a corner, making them think they're nothing… but sooner or later, you're the one who loses. It's time to face the consequences of everything you put that poor girl through, and everyone else along the way."
She turned and left. Over her shoulder, she heard Hayley growl and hurl her tea across her cell.
Angelo made himself scarce while Charlie and Joey sat down with Morag, a formidable woman who certainly made her presence felt. She had already pledged to do whatever it took to represent Joey and Aden both in court throughout the whole case and protect them in legal terms against Hayley.
"What um… what about the fee?" Joey asked anxiously.
"I'm semi-retired now," Morag told her. "My husband and I devote our time to looking after our granddaughter. She's a teenager and quite a handful so I only take on cases such as yours, cases where I feel someone really needs my help. Obviously it's not ideal to work for free but the fee is negotiable according to the funds available. We can discuss it. But it's not important right now. The most important thing are the details of the case and how to represent you. That's what matters to me."
Tears formed in the corners of Joey's eyes but she fought to hold them back.
"Thank you," she managed. "Thank you."
A phone call interrupted them.
"Sorry," Charlie said, pulling her mobile from her pocket. She walked away to take the call, reappearing a minute later.
"Hayley has been remanded in custody," she announced. "Joey, you're free."
Charlie had taken over officially from Angelo once Morag had left.
"Do you um… have anywhere to go, Joey?" the police officer asked, hovering as she put her few belongings in her bag.
"Angelo was telling me about a homeless centre on the edge of town that I could go to that's free," Joey told her. "He gave me directions. He drew a map. He was quite specific."
She smiled weakly and zipped up her bag. Charlie nodded, her heart torn between agreeing that that's where she should go and wanting to take her home.
"Have you eaten much today?" she blurted out.
"No," Joey said, pulling her bag on her back.
She looked around the bedroom, wondering which moment in her life had turned thing around from being a well respected police officer to having her every possession in a bag, ready to make her bed in a homeless shelter.
"Why don't we go and get dinner?" Charlie suggested.
"I have no money," Joey replied.
"My treat."
"You've done enough for me."
"Please?" Charlie said.
The truth was, she wanted to keep her. She didn't want her to walk away again, even just to the other side of town. She was terrified of losing her forever.
"Um… if you're sure?" Joey said.
If she was being honest, she didn't know when she would get another meal. The next few days, weeks and months were going to be hard.
"Let's go."
Charlie and Joey were sat in the Surf Club waiting for their dinner. Charlie was aware that Joey had chosen the cheapest thing on the menu on purpose. They had thanked Alf profusely for getting them in touch with Morag. He had been gracious as ever and told them that she was due to be popping in that evening too.
A few moments later, Morag strode in. She spotted Charlie and Joey immediately and waved. Charlie's smile froze on her face when, behind her walked a man that no amount of time could stop her from recognising. It was Ross Buckton. Her father.
Next time… Charlie faces her father while Joey does her best to support her…
