Guys,
Xtr75, yeah, it's early days, so they both have a way to go, before they're truly on the right tracks.
AJ. :-)
Chapter 55
"That was a lovely meal out today." Joey stated in the car.
"We seem to be having some great food lately." Charlie smiled as she drove. "Homemade, and out and about."
"We'll have to do more running to burn off all those extra calories."
"Yeah we will. I'll have to race you down the beach again." Charlie chuckled. "But you don't even run to Michaels anymore."
"No, I've hardly done anything since the assault." Joey stated.
"Can we count bowling as exercise?" Charlie asked hopefully.
"I guess it is." Joey chuckled. "But the pizza afterwards will be full of calories though."
"Umm. True." Charlie chuckled. "Still. It'll be worth every single one." She smiled.
They arrived at Joeys, and sauntered slowly inside. "Did you want to stay for a while? Or did you want to go home for a longer sleep before work?" Joey asked Charlie, whose shift started at midnight.
"I'd like to stay for a while if you don't mind." Charlie replied.
"You could always sleep here you know." Joey said softly.
"I know sweetie. And thanks. But it'd probably be better for me to go back to Leahs. My uniform's there and I wouldn't want to disturb you by waking you up."
"OK. This time." Joey replied, as she put the kettle on for a coffee. "But next time, you can sleep here. I'd like you too." She smiled.
"Thanks sweetie. I'd like that too." Charlie replied softly.
"Shall we watch a DVD?" Joey said, as she took their coffees through to the lounge.
"Sure. What did you have in mind?"
"Shrek?" Joey asked.
Charlie giggled. "Why not?"
Joey got the DVD from her room, and they snuggled up on the sofa to watch the film. They managed to watch it without nodding off, and then Charlie left for home, and sleep before her nightshift.
They kissed tenderly goodbye. "Goodnight then Charlie. Have a good sleep, and a good shift." Joey said softly.
"Will do. And I'll see you tomorrow for bowling." Charlie smiled. "I'll bring Rubes over at about 10 a.m.."
Joey chuckled. "She'll be delighted to get up that early."
"She'll be fine sweetie. Bowling and pizza for lunch will be a good bribe."
"Let's hope so." Joey smiled.
"I hope you're OK to bowl. I don't want you hurting your arm." Charlie said worriedly.
"It'll be fine. And if it's not, you two can take my turns can't you." Joey smiled.
"As long as you don't strain yourself."
"I won't."
They kissed softly once more. "I'd better go then sweetie."
"Yeah." Joey said. "See you tomorrow."
"I love you Jo." Charlie said softly, smiling adoringly at Joey.
"I love you too Charlie." Joey replied, smiling equally as adoringly at Charlie. She pushed Charlies loose locks behind her right ear, before kissing her once more, as they released each other.
"Bye."
"Night." Joey chuckled, as she opened the front door for Charlie. "Missing you already."
"Me too sweetie." They waved to each other as Charlie walked to her car, before driving off home.
Charlie got home and went straight to bed, setting her alarm for 11 p.m., to give her time to shower, have a snack and get to work for midnight.
Joey watched TV until her housemates came home from work, and they had an evening of beer and snacks after a dinner of chicken and chips.
She texted Charlie as she lay in bed. "Night Charlie. Have a good shift. Love you. Jo. XXX."
She then switched off her phone and went to sleep.
Charlie replied some 10 minutes later after showering for work. She smiled and texted back. "Sleep well sweetie. Love you too. Charlie. XXX."
Charlie had some strawberry jam on toast and a coffee, and then left for her shift, while Joey slept the night away.
Charlies shift wasn't too bad. A few minor disturbances at a local bar, the usual Friday night problems. When she was out on a shout with Watson, they also arrested someone for drunk driving.
They enjoyed working with each other, and had a catch up of how Charlie and Joey were getting on. Charlie enjoyed talking with Watson, and telling her about Joey, and what they'd been up to. Watson was very discreet, and Charlie trusted her with her personal business.
When it came to the end of Charlies shift, she texted Joey. "Morning sweetie. See you soon. ."
She then zoomed home for a quick shower, before putting on her dark blue jeans, a black vest, black sandals, picking up her dark blue denim jacket for later, and leaving the house with her phone and purse.
She soon arrived at Irenes, and knocked on the door.
"Hello darl." Irene greeted her happily. "Come in, Rubes was up and showered, so she must nearly be ready."
"Morning. Thanks Irene." Charlie replied, as she walked to Rubys room. She was happy that Ruby seemed so keen to go out with them. Getting up early at the weekend was never top of Rubys priorities before. She knocked on the door, as she heard the sound of the hair drier.
"Hey Rubes. Are you ready?" She shouted through the door.
"Come in." Ruby shouted back. Then added somewhat quieter. "Almost." As Charlie entered the bedroom.
"You look nice Rubes." She said, as she admired Rubys black jeans and dark blue flowery loose shirt.
"Thanks." Ruby smiled. "So do you." She thought Charlie looked very smart but casual. She smiled as she thought how Joey would like it too.
"So. We all set?"
"Yep." Ruby put on her sandals. "Let's go."
They said goodbye to Irene as they walked to the car.
Charlie texted Joey before she set off. "Hi Jo. Just picked up Rubes. See you soon. C. XXX." Ruby smiled at Charlies texting, and Charlie blushed when she noticed Ruby watching her. "Just umm, texting Jo to tell her we're on our way."
"So I see." Ruby smiled amusingly.
Charlie put her phone away, and started the engine.
"How did your shift go?" Ruby asked, as they drove to Joeys place.
"Not too busy." Charlie replied. "The usual Friday bar fights going on."
They chatted about school and work, and then arrived at Joeys.
"When we drop Joey off, you can come in and meet her housemates if you'd like too." Charlie suggested. "No pressure though. OK."
"Sure. That'd be nice." Ruby smiled.
"Great." Charlie smiled happily. "Won't be a tick." She said, as she got out the car to get Joey.
Joey had had a nice long sleep, getting up at 9 a.m., having her crunchie nut cornflakes and coffee before taking a shower and getting ready for their half day out.
She wore her blue jeans and a white t-shirt, along with a pair of sandals. She picked up her purse, and went to the lounge to wait for Charlie to arrive.
It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door. Joey jumped up and answered it, smiling broadly as see saw Charlie standing outside. "Hey Charlie." She said happily.
"Hi Charlie." Some of Joeys housemates shouted.
"Morning." Charlie replied loudly, as she walked into the house. "Hey Jo." She added softly, smiling at Joey. She blushed slightly as she looked Joey up and down. "You look, umm, lovely." She said, licking her lips.
Joey chuckled. "You don't look too bad yourself Charlie." She replied, impressed with Charlies casual, and yet sexy attire.
"Shall we go then?" Charlie asked, slightly huskily.
"Yep. All set." Joey smiled. She got her purse. "See you later then guys."
"Yeah. Have a good day." Cal said.
"Bye." Marty replied. "Have fun." He chuckled.
"Hey Rubes." Joey said, as Ruby got out the front seat. "You don't need to move on my account."
"Hi Jo." Ruby hugged Joey hello. "No worries Jo. I know you're eager to sit next to each other." She giggled, as Charlie blushed, and Joey grinned.
They got in the car. "Hey Charlie." Joey said, admiring what she could see of Charlies attire. Charlie smiled shyly and leant forward to kiss Joey briefly on the lips.
Ruby smiled in the back seat, as Charlie started the engine, and they headed off to the bowling alley.
They paid for two games each, and they took a coke each to their lane, before typing in their names.
"Right Rubes. What would you like to be called?" Joey asked.
Ruby laughed as she looked at the scoreboard. "Super cop and beanie girl eh?"
"It has to be done Rubes." Charlie chuckled, as Joey had entered their same names from before.
"Umm. What should I be then?" Rubes pondered.
"How about cheeky chops?" Joey suggested, giggling.
"Joey!" Ruby exclaimed.
Charlie giggled. "Oh Rubes, how apt."
"Charlie!" Ruby huffed.
"You always did have the most cheeky, cutest chops around." Charlie reminisced, as she thought of Ruby as a baby.
"That's settled then." Joey decided, as she typed in "Cutie cheeky chops".
"How embarrassing." Ruby mumbled.
"Awww Rubes." Joey chuckled. "We love you, and this is our way of showing it."
"I can think of better ways." Ruby replied.
"Let's get started then." Charlie said, as she picked up a ball. "Here goes." She lined herself up, as Joey and Ruby watched her.
"Go Charlie." Joey chuckled, as Charlie let fly with the ball. It trundled down the alley, and managed to knock 3 pins over.
Ruby and Joey laughed and clapped.
She turned around and bowed and giggled. "Not bad for a first throw."
"Way to go Charlie." Joey smiled.
Charlie threw again, and then Joey and Ruby had their goes, as the match progressed.
They had fun, clapping or laughing at each others throws.
Joey won, Ruby was second and Charlie third in their first game. Joey went to buy them all another coke, and they had a drink and breather, before they started again.
"How's your arm sweetie?"
"It's fine. Not too bad at all."
"I'd forgotten about that Jo." Ruby stated. "How are you getting on now?"
"Not too bad Rubes, thanks." Joey smiled. "Still a bit battered and bruised, but improving every day."
"I bet Charlie's helping you do that too." Ruby giggled.
"Yes she is." Joey smiled broadly. Charlie blushed.
"Oh yeah, I bet Charlie's having a great effect." Ruby winked at Joey.
Joey grinned broadly, as she suggested Charlie kick off the next match.
They once again had great fun, laughing, cheering and teasing and clapping each other as they bowled.
It was neck and neck between Ruby and Joey for first place all the way through.
Charlie managed a strike, and they all cheered, and Joey high-fived and jumped up and down with her excitedly. "Waaaaay to go Charlie." She shouted.
Even though Charlie was losing, she was having so much fun, having such a great time, with Joey and her daughter.
When the games ended, Joey had once again won. "Well done Jo. It was a good contest." Ruby said as she shook Joey hand in congratulations.
"Well done sweetie." Charlie said softly, as she approached Joey and hugged her. She gave her a kiss on the lips for good measure.
"Thanks Charlie." Joey smiled, happy that Charlie behaved like that in public.
Ruby was amazed that Charlie had done it. She watched on as Charlie and Joey smiled and laughed together, and she smiled too.
They took their shoes off, and put their own back on, and Charlie walked out the bowling alley, hand in hand with Joey, back to her car.
They headed off to the Italian restaurant for a pizza.
"Now I'm not going to boast Rubes, but this pizza is the best ever." Joey stated.
"I think your home made pizzas are pretty good Jo." Ruby said.
"Well, yes, you're right there." Joey replied, pretending her head was swelling.
Ruby laughed. "Oh Jo. Will you do us a pizza one night at Leahs?" She asked.
"You wanted my fish soup next Thursday Rubes. We'll have to have pizza the week after then." She smiled at Charlie, as this meant that Ruby was happy about Thursday becoming a regular thing.
"OK. It's a date." Ruby replied happily.
"That's great Rubes." Charlie replied, somewhat emotionally. "Do you think we could make Thursday a regular thing? At least we'd all know to keep it free."
"I'm game." Joey said, hoping to encourage Ruby.
"I think I'd like that too." Ruby replied thoughtfully. She was happy at the way things were progressing, and she'd enjoyed dinner at Leahs the other day, and the plan for this Thursday, and Joeys food again. Now she'd agreed to pizza in a fortnight too. She smiled, she guessed spending that time with Charlie wouldn't be that bad.
"Great." Charlie replied softly.
They arrived at the Italian, and walked in, and were escorted to a table for four. Joey had a wine, and Charlie and Ruby a coke.
They ordered garlic bread, a ham and mushroom pizza, and a pepperoni pizza between them.
They chatted and laughed about their morning, and then chatted about what each of them were doing for the rest of the weekend.
Charlie paid the bill, and they ventured back to her car. They drove over to Joeys, to drop her off.
"Would you like to come in for a coffee and meet my housemates Rubes?" Joey asked.
"Sure. If you don't mind, and Charlie doesn't have to get home for sleeping."
"I'm fine Rubes. As long as I get to bed by 5 p.m. ish, I'll be fine for working at midnight." Charlie smiled.
"Cool. It's only 2 p.m. now, so we can stay for a coffee and have you back at Leahs by 3 p.m.." Ruby replied.
So they all got out the car and Joey ushered them into her house.
Marty and Cal were lounging on the couch. "Oh, hey Joey, Charlie." Marty said, as they walked in. "Oh, and who's this?" He asked, smiling, when he noticed a stranger following them in.
"Marty, Cal, this is Ruby." Joey said. "Charlies daughter." She hoped Ruby didn't get angry with her for introducing her like that, but Ruby seemed fine with it.
"Hi Ruby." Cal got up and shook her hand. "I'm Cal, and this is Marty." He said, introducing Marty, who also stood up, and shook Rubys hand.
"Hello." Ruby replied, smiling.
"Are Jess and Saff home?" Joey enquired.
"Saff's shopping, and Jess is out back." Cal replied. "I'll go get her."
"Coffee everyone then?" Joey asked.
"Why not." The boys replied.
"Yes please sweetie."
"Yes please Jo." Ruby replied.
"Take a seat then you two." Joey chuckled at Charlie and Ruby.
"I'll give you a hand Jo." Charlie said.
"No, you sit down with Rubes." Joey smiled.
"OK."
So Charlie, Ruby and Marty sat down, while Joey went to the kitchen and put the filter coffee on, and Cal went to get Jess.
When Joey brought the coffees in, along with some chocolate biscuits, Ruby had been introduced to Jess, and they had all chatted about their morning bowling.
They were all curious about Ruby though, as she was so grown up, and a lot older than they expected.
Ruby was chatting to them all, and they were quite taken with her.
"You must be really proud of your daughter Charlie." Marty stated. "She's quite something."
Charlie smiled broadly. "Yeah I am. Very. She's amazing." She said, looking adoringly at Ruby.
Ruby blushed at the compliment from Joeys friends, and from her mother.
"Like mother like daughter." Joey piped up, smiling broadly at her girlfriend.
Jess was wondering how Charlie managed to have such an old daughter. She wondered if Joey knew. Probably, she decided. They seem to know everything about each other. And Ruby certainly seemed to know Joey well too.
"So you don't live with your mum then Ruby?" Cal asked.
"No. We umm, no we don't." Ruby replied, unsure of what to say.
"We had a falling out Cal." Charlie took over. "All totally my fault. And Rubes has moved into a friends house for the moment." She explained. Ruby was stunned at what Charlie had admitted.
"Well I hope you get it sorted out." Cal smiled kindly. "You seem to be getting on quite well now." He remarked.
"Yes, that's mainly due to Joey." Charlie smiled at her girlfriend. "She's been amazing too."
"Nonsense." Joey replied. "You just needed a bit of time apart." She smiled. "You're getting back on track. Slowly but surely."
"Yeah we are." Ruby smiled kindly at Joey.
Charlie was more than happy that Ruby had expressed that out loud.
"And what do you think of your mums new girlfriend?" Marty laughed. "Evil step-mother material?" He asked.
Charlie and Joey blushed. "Marty!" Joey warned.
Cal and Jess laughed, as did Ruby. "I've known Joey for two or three years." She replied, but she wasn't sure what these housemates knew about Joey and Charlies history, so she didn't give much away. "And she's far from an evil step-mother. She's lovely." Ruby smiled. "She's a great cook, and she's great for my ummmm." She corrected herself, as she almost said sister. "For my mum."
The boys chuckled. "She's a great cook alright." Marty said. "And if your mum ever dumps her, I'll gladly take her on."
"Bloody hell Marty." They virtually all said at the same time, and Joey pummelled him with a cushion.
They all laughed loudly, including Ruby. "There's no chance of that." Charlie stated, once the giggles had passed.
"Definitely no chance." Joey said too, smiling at Charlie.
Ruby smiled, happy for them both.
When they'd finished their coffees, Charlie and Ruby got up to leave. The others all said their goodbyes, and Joey walked them back to the car.
"Thanks for coming in Rubes." Joey said. "I'm glad you've met most of them. Just Saff to go." She smiled.
"They were really nice Jo." Ruby smiled.
"What? Even Marty?" Joey laughed.
"Yeah. He was gross, but funny too." Ruby laughed.
"You'll get used to him." Joey smiled.
"We'd better go then Rubes, Jo." Charlie stated. "I'll see you in a couple of days then Jo. Have a good shift tomorrow. Don't overdo it." She said, as she kissed Joey briefly on the lips.
"Yeah. Bye Charlie." Joey kissed her back. "You have a good sleep and shift too."
Ruby hugged Joey goodbye. "Thanks for today, and introducing me to your friends."
"It was a pleasure, and great fun." Joey smiled. "We should do it again soon."
Ruby rolled her eyes, knowing what Joey was like. "Yes, yes." She chuckled. "We'll do it again soon."
Charlie smiled. "Well, we'll see you on Thursday anyway. I'll pick you up from Irenes, for Joeys dinner at Leahs."
"Yeah. See you Thursday then Jo. Thanks again." Ruby said, as she and Charlie got in the car.
Joey waved them off and then went back inside.
"Ruby was lovely Jo." Cal said, as she sat back on the couch.
"Yeah, she's a great kid." Joey smiled.
"Charlie's done well with her." Jess added.
"Yeah, she's been great too." Joey smiled.
While Charlie drove Ruby back to Irenes, Ruby asked about Joeys housemates. She asked if they knew about Joey and Charlies history, and about herself.
"No Rubes." Charlie shook her head. "They don't know what happened to Jo, and they don't know, you know, what happened to me, or you either." She glanced at Ruby as she drove. "They don't know why Joey and I broke up before either. It's all our private business, and we didn't want to share it all with them."
"OK." Ruby replied. "Umm. That Jess was quiet. I don't think she liked me much."
Charlie smiled. "I think it's more of a case that she doesn't like me much."
"Why's that?" Ruby asked, and then she twigged. "Oh." She chuckled. "She has her eyes on Jo."
Charlie nodded. "They went out a couple of times. Nothing serious. Jo had to let her down gently."
"I see." Ruby chuckled. "So it's the green eyed monster then."
"A little I think." Charlie replied. "But she's been fine with us both, so, I can't complain."
"Was this recent? I mean, since she met you again?"
"No. It was before that Rubes. Ages before that. Joey didn't want to use her and string her along, because she was really nice, and you know, wanted more. More, you know, commitment from Jo."
"And Jo wasn't in love with her." Ruby stated.
"No she wasn't."
Ruby laughed. "Because she was still, and is still in love with you."
"Yeah, she was, she is." Charlie smiled.
"Lucky you." Ruby chuckled.
"I sure am Rubes."
They arrived back at Irenes, and Charlie escorted Ruby to the door. "Thanks for coming out with us again Rubes. It was a lovely day."
"Yeah it was. Thanks for taking me." She smiled.
"I'll see you Thursday then, here, 7 p.m. sharp." Charlie smiled.
"Yep. See you then." Ruby smiled. "Night then."
"Yeah. Night Rubes." Charlie smiled. She was slightly taken aback, in a good way, when Ruby gave her a quick hug. "Bye Rubes." She said emotionally, as Ruby went in the house, and as she walked back to her car.
When she arrived back at Leahs, she quickly phoned Joey, and told her what happened, and Joey was delighted for her. Then Joey wished her a good sleep, before they hung up.
