My 'comeback' didn't work out too well, did it?! Oops. Sorry about that. Just as an aside, in case anyone is interested, I've started writing a blog. You can't put web addresses on here but it's on Google blogger and it's called Just Keep Swimming. But anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Love, IJKS xxx

Chapter Forty Four

"Charlie! Charlie!"

Frustrated, the police office whirled around in the car park to find Watson hurrying after her.

"What is it, Watson?" she asked, trying not to snap.

But her stress levels were through the roof so it was hard not to.

"Let me drive you," her colleague requested. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to drive in your state."

Gratitude overwhelmed her. Charlie promptly burst into tears. Watson quickly gathered Charlie into her arms. They hugged for a second before practicality took over and Watson put Charlie into the passenger seat of her car, leaving Charlie's car in the car park.

"Where are we going?" Watson asked. "Hospital or home?"

"She's at home still," Charlie said. "She didn't want to go to the hospital without me."

That was the last message Charlie had received. She'd been about to call her partner when Watson had come out. She continued dialling as soon as she strapped herself in.

"Charlie!" Joey's voice came through the phone after barely one ring.

"Joey, I'm so sorry!" Charlie said desperately.

"Charlie, I need you," Joey said, sounding frantic.

"I'm on my way. Are you still at home?"

"Yes," Joey said breathlessly. "The baby's coming, Charlie. She's early."

Charlie nodded at Watson, who nodded back, hurrying towards her friends' house as quickly as the law would allow.

"It's okay, Joey," Charlie said. "It's a few weeks but it's okay. It's not dangerous. Everything's going to be okay. We're nearly there. And we'll get you to the hospital and to Judy and everything is going to be just fine, just like we've talked about and practiced. Okay?"

Joey squeaked on the end of the line.

"Okay?" Charlie said.

"Okay," Joey managed.

"We'll be there in just a few minutes," Charlie said. "And I'll stay on the line so I'll be with you every step of the way. I promise. Everything is going to be just fine."

"Okay," Joey repeated.

Charlie's heart broke at the level of fear in her girlfriend's voice.

"I love you," Joey whispered.

"I love you too," Charlie said. "You and Sarah both. And just think. After all this stress is over, we get to meet our little girl. Isn't that exciting?"

"Yes," Joey breathed. "Yes, that's exciting."

Charlie looked around her, grateful that Watson had taken control and seemed to be getting her home fast.

"We're nearly there, sweetheart," she told Joey. "Really nearly home."

"I called Ruby," Joey told her between panting. "Her phone was off though. I don't know if she's coming. Nobody was available when I needed them."

Both she and Charlie became tearful.

"I'm so sorry," the police officer managed.

If she wasn't so emotional, she would be thinking of ways to kill Angelo right about now. She just didn't understand what he thought he was playing at, hiding her phone from her when she had a pregnant girlfriend at home.

"I'm so sorry," she repeated.

Watson pulled up outside the house in record time.

"I'm here," she said, leaping out of the car before her colleague had even cut the engine.

Leaving Watson to deal with the car, she hurried up the path and burst into the house, cutting off the phone and shoving it into her pocket, as soon as she found Joey leaning against the kitchen table, doing all the breathing exercises that Judy had taught her.

"Joey," Charlie said, approaching from behind and putting her arms around her. "I'm here. I'm so sorry for messing up."

Joey kept one hand on the table and put the other hand on top of Charlie's.

"It's fine," she said. "You're here now and I'm sure there was a reason. It just… it came on so quickly. One minute it was just building up and slow and then…"

She cried out with a well timed contraction just as Watson arrived in the house.

"We need to get her to the hospital," Charlie told her. "Would you drive?"

"Of course," Watson said, all set to head back out the door. "Which one is the right hospital bag?"

She nodded to the two neatly packed bags by the door.

"Joey's is the blue one," Charlie said. "Mine's red."

Watson nodded and picked the correct bag up, just as Ruby hurried through the door, with Geoff right behind her.

"Joey!" the teenage girl said. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Joey lied.

She didn't feel at all fine. Her body hurt and she was terrified.

"But you're about to get a little sister."

"We're taking her to the hospital," Charlie said.

"We can follow in my car," Geoff offered.

"Great," Charlie said. "Thanks, Geoff."

She carefully helped her girlfriend out of the house and out towards the car where Watson already had the engine running. Opening the back door, Charlie helped Joey into the seat, strapping her in.

"Are you comfortable?" she asked.

"Minus the horrific pain?" Joey cracked. "Yes, I'm comfortable."

Charlie grinned and kissed her.

"Do you want me in the back with you?" she asked.

"Yes, please."

Charlie nodded and hopped round to the other side. They held hands all the way.


At the hospital, Watson left the family to it, needing to get back to work, but she politely requested to be kept informed and very much wished them her best. Charlie remained by Joey's side, refusing even bathroom breaks, Geoff stayed in the waiting room and Ruby flitted between rooms.

"I think Charlie knows something," the teenager fretted, sitting down beside her boyfriend.

"What do you mean?" Geoff asked, confused.

"About Grant," Ruby said.

"What makes you say that?"

Ruby sighed heavily.

"She's just being… off."

Geoff put his arm around her.

"Joey's in labour and Charlie's heavily pregnant," he pointed out. "She's probably just… focussed."

Ruby shook her head, although she was moved that he always looked on the bright side.

"I don't think that's it," she said. "There's something… wrong with her. She's not… including me. Every time she looks at me, it's like I've done something wrong."


"What's up with you?" Joey asked, glad for some respite between contractions.

She still refused to let go of Charlie's hand though.

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked, feigning ignorance.

She should have known that she could never get anything past Joey. She could read her like a book.

"You've got more on your mind than just me squeezing a person out of my body," Joey said. "What is it?"

"It doesn't matter," Charlie insisted. "Nothing right now is more important than you and Sarah."

Joey squeezed her hand.

"Don't be upset with me for saying but it's affecting how you are with Ruby," she said honestly.

Charlie sighed heavily. Keeping hold of Joey's hand, she pulled a taller chair closer to the bed and sat down.

"You're right," she said, opting not to go into details.

Stressing Joey out right now was not an option.

"I'll pick it up," she promised.

"What's on your mind, Charlie?" Joey asked.

"You and Sarah," Charlie said firmly. "Time has stopped as far as I'm concerned, until we have our little bundle of joy in our arms."

Joey nodded. They kissed, interrupted only by a timid knock on the door.

"Come in," Charlie said.

Ruby entered, looking anxious. Joey squeezed Charlie's hand and released her. Charlie blocked Grant's words out of her head and hugged her daughter.

"Judy said it won't be long now," she said. "And then we'll have the newest addition to our family."

Ruby hugged her mother for all she was worth.


Grant was feeling pleased with himself. He'd done a good job earlier, winding Charlie up. And then he'd overheard that her girlfriend had gone into labour so now he was waiting outside the hospital, hoping to catch a glimpse of one or any of them on their way out. He didn't much care how long it would all take. He had all the time in the world.


"Okay, Joey, one more push and we're on our way," Judy said, her head at the business end of proceedings. "Then the rest will be easy… relatively speaking."

Ruby and Geoff were waiting eagerly outside the door while Charlie was holding her partner's hand, trying to encourage without patronising.

"I can't!" Joey cried, collapsing back against the bed.

Her whole body was on fire.

"Yes, you can, darling," Charlie said.

"It hurts," Joey sobbed.

Charlie gently wiped her eyes.

"I know," she said softly. "I know. But just remember, the moment you see our beautiful girl, you're going to forget you were in any pain at all. You're going to be so happy. You're going to fall even more deeply in love with her than you already are."

"Is that possible?" Joey asked, raising her head again.

"You wouldn't believe it but it is," Charlie confirmed.

"Ready?" Judy asked.

Joey braced herself. Minutes later, Sarah had officially arrived in the world.


Next time… Sarah is welcomed to the family but Grant is ready to cause trouble…