Reckless Moments
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No Drama in this one - their first holiday
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Chapter 13 – Wind of Change
Charles did decide to order and hire a jeep for a few days so they could explore but it wasn't being delivered until later that day so it was a good idea to sit around the pool. Even in September it was still very warm on the terrace. Molly loved it, sat there on the sun lounger with a glass of homemade lemonade. The whitewashed building and the view up the mountain and behind her the drop to the valley and the ocean, she was more than happy sitting under the brolly flipping through her magazine while Charles was busy swimming up and down the pool.
She was aware of another couple who had come and sat at the next parasol and sun loungers. Bloody typical, you have a whole terrace and someone has to come and sit next to you, as she kept her head down in her magazine.
Charles eventually got out the pool and leaned over Molly to get one of the towels, "Oi watch it Charlie, your dripping over me Magazine" Charles just grinned and sat down on the same sun lounger with her, noting her drink picking it up and drinking half of it. "That's really nice, I might have one of those"
"Looks like you just did mate" she grinned looking at her nearly empty glass. She waved to the waiter who was walking round the pool offering the chilled lemonade and asked for two more.
"Thank you" smiled Charles and the waiter walked away.
"Now if that ain't an English accent if ever I heard one" came the voice of the man at the next parasol "You just arrived here"
"We got here yesterday" answered Charles
"Beautiful here isn't it" said the man's female companion "We've been here a few days ourselves, some lovely places to visit but you have to have a car stuck right out here, don't you Tom"
"I've already organised one, it should be here later today" responded Charles looking at his watch
"I suppose we should introduce ourselves, I'm Tom Baxter and this is my wife Vicky" and put out his hand which Charles shook
"I'm Charles James and this is…" Molly swung her legs over the lounger and put her hand on Charles leg "I'm Molly" she smiled at Tom and Vicky. Charles looked at her raising an eyebrow at her interruption
"You staying long Charles?" asked Tom "Ten days" he answered.
"You'll have to go to the Bellapais Abbey, there is a restaurant next door that looks out over it and its all lit up at night" said Vicky "We went there last night didn't we Tom"
"We had a lovely dinner there" he chuckled "But watch the alcohol, the stairs up to the restaurant are a bit on the steep side, getting up is OK but coming down could be a bit tricky" laughing at his own wit.
"I'll bear it in mind" smiled Charles always polite but hoping that they weren't going to get stuck with them for the duration, the whole idea of picking this place was that it was quiet and they could spend time alone.
"So where are you from Charles, you're not a Londoner like Molly here are you"
"Born and bred in Bath" answered Charles honestly, Molly's hand still on his leg as she squeezed "How did you know Molly came from London"
"I was born in London but my parents moved us out to Essex when I was still a teenager," he beamed "Close enough to the city but feels a bit less crowded, and certainly less crime. I guess I just recognise a London accent when I hear it"
Molly pulled her sunglasses down from her head covering her eyes and picked up her lemonade, she's gone a bit quiet thought Charles.
"So where abouts in London do you live Molly" asked Vicky she gave a small giggle "Sorry you might not live there anymore" nodding her head towards Charles
"Newham" answered Molly
"Talk about a small world" said Tom animatedly "That's where I came from, maybe we have common friends"
"Doubt it mate, it's a big borough" smiled Molly in response but Charles could see behind her sunglasses and her eyes had changed, they were staring at Tom and looked completely blank
"Well it would be nice to have a chat about the old area, see that there is a fair bit of building going on, all those posh new apartments going up"
"It's certainly changing Tom" responded Molly "definitely going upmarket these days"
"So I hear" gushed Vicky and Tom continued "Yeah must be totally different now, when we lived there one of the firms was running the manor, Tony Wilkins if my memory serves, retired to Spain I heard, and who said crime don't pay" and burst out laughing. Charles in the meantime had his hand over Molly's prising her fingers off his thigh and trying to look nonchalant and wondering what was causing such a reaction in Molly, her eyes now icily cool and hard behind her dark glasses.
Charles looked at his watch again "Perhaps we should go back to the room Molly see if there is a message about the delivery of the car" Molly was already on her feet and wrapping her sarong around herself, collecting her belongings together. "Well it was nice to meet you both" smiled Charles extending his hand and shaking both theirs "You too Charles, I'm sure we will see you about over the next week" smiled Tom.
Charles put his hand onto the small of Molly's back guiding her round the chairs and parasols back to their room. When they were nearly back at their chalet he finally spoke "What was that all about Molly"
"What was what about?"
"You being a bit rude to Tom and Vicky, you weren't very friendly"
"They're blue bottles Charlie"
"What?"
"Lilly Law, Rozzers, Coppers, whatever you want to call them"
"You can tell that from the brief conversation we just had"
"They were asking too many questions" she shrugged, it had been a feeling until Tom had mentioned Tony Wilkins and then she was sure, most people in their world tried to keep a low profile. Didn't want to get noticed.
"That's what people do on holiday, when they see other people, they ask questions, find out where to eat, where to go, that sort of thing"
"Except they wanted to know where we lived"
"Also perfectly normal when on holiday, its makes the world seem small when you find out someone you've never met only lived close by"
Molly shrugged again curling the corner of her lip into a sneer "Must have been a left over smell of bacon from breakfast then" and carried on walking leaving Charles stood there open mouthed. Watching her retreating back he shook his head and followed her to their room.
-OG-
Charles made a call to reception and found that the jeep had in fact been delivered and went off to collect the keys and check the car over, making sure it had a full tank of petrol, noting all the scratches and dents on it. Thinking it a perfect vehicle for getting off the beaten track.
When he let himself back into their chalet he walked through to their bedroom and found Molly lying on the bed still with her sarong wrapped around her, she had released her messy bun and her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders, her feet were crossed, her arms behind her head and her eyes closed. He knew exactly what he would like to do right at this minute as he sucked in his bottom lip, seeing her there like that, but he wanted to get to the bottom of why she wasn't being that friendly to Tom and Vicky.
He took his shoes off sat on the side of the bed and swung his legs up, leaning on his elbow he looked down at Molly and moved her hair away from her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
"So you really believe they are in the police then" and she nodded "Does it matter if they are" and her eyes widened at him as if she couldn't believe he was asking such a silly question "We're on holiday Molls, so are they, you surely can't believe that they have been sent here at tax payers expense just to see what we are up to on holiday"
She couldn't help but giggle at the suggestion "Nah course not, but I think I recognised the name, I think he was at school with Gary maybe he remembers me an all"
He lifted her head putting his arm behind her and pulling her across towards him, now lying on her side against him her head on his shoulder "But he might not, and even if he did, what makes you think he wants to know what your family might be up to these days, if he realised Gary was your brother he might be interested in knowing how he is, who knows"
Sighing as she moved her head down to his chest so he couldn't see her. She closed her eyes, he may have known her nearly all her life but he didn't understand, didn't know what it was like. Her voice was soft and barely audible he thought as she spoke. Told him the first time that Doris Wilkins and her Mum sat her down when she started school, told her to be careful, never be too unhappy, never say too much, never be noticed and bring social services or the police to their door. They had all been naughty kids but took the punishments metered out rather than kick off and escalate it so that welfare looked in their direction. When she was older it was Sam and Fred that had talked with her, told her to be careful who she trusted, don't ever speak of the family. It was a code they had lived by even after her Dad came back from prison. She had trusted people, not many but she had, believed what they had told her. Mary had been her best friend since their first day at infant school, to be honest she had never been that sure on Artan, but he kept telling her he loved her and wanted to marry her, but it seems he just wanted an in to the wharf and his illegal imports, that even her father would never have had anything to do with. Look at Mary, she hadn't been that loyal as a friend had she. Her whole life she had been told to trust in the family and be careful of outsiders. His slow rhythmic breathing against her head encouraging her to tell him everything, show him a side of her that no one outside her family had ever seen. That she wanted people to like her but she was scared, if she said the wrong thing, trusted the wrong people would her dad go away again or her brothers, and what about the extended family like Fred and Sam, their friends the Latsis family and she wasn't exactly Snow White herself, could hardly pretend she didn't know what they were into because she did and always had. He didn't say a word as his arms wrapped around her, listening to every word she said as his hand lightly stroked her arm. He felt a deep sadness at some of the loneliness she must have felt growing up if it hadn't been for her brothers, now he understood the reason the three of them were so close, Gary and Jack would have been told the same things. The disappointment and hurt when people let her down, like Artan and Mary. Even with that upbringing she had a taste for life, wanted to try new things, showed no fear especially if her family were about and his mind flipped back to the drinks tray, the slide, that baseball bat only a few days ago, a whole raft of memories flooding his brain while they were growing up. The only time he had ever known her show fear was in that tree, when Andrew left her alone up there, she had trusted him and he left her there. He couldn't ever remember being made to feel like Molly had, dig deep, stand alone, trust no one but family. He didn't think he felt as close to her as he did right now, that she trusted him enough to tell him everything, to show him just how vulnerable she felt sometimes. He vowed to himself that he would never make her feel like that, he would always make her happy and keep her safe.
"So what do we do about Tom and Vicky" he asked with a snigger
"Well, what's the betting that when we get back from dinner they turn up a few minutes later"
"And that means what"
"That he knows who I am, we just don't know what he wants"
"Shall I set Elvis on him" and he was rewarded with the hysterical laughter of Molly. He grabbed hold of her hips and pulled her onto him "Molly Dawes you are without a doubt the love of my life and nothing is going to happen, I promise" kissing her soundly.
-OG-
Charles couldn't help but grin when Tom and Vicky did turn up five minutes after they did and he winked at her. He could be clever, 44 weeks at Sandhurst learning strategy wouldn't be for nothing, and diverted every conversation to the weather and trips they planned to do, did everything he could to make sure that they went out early in the mornings, came back late, sat in different positions round the pool, next to other people. There was another English couple staying there who had also spoken with Tom and he was indeed a Policeman and worked for the Met. Seems Molly's radar was on point but that didn't mean that he knew the Dawes family or had been to school with Gary, he tried to tell her. All he wanted was for Molly to be happy and if that meant avoiding the Baxter's or diverting the conversations, then that is exactly what they would do.
They organised a boat trip out of Kyrenia, a sailing boat with lunch included. That was another time she managed to make his heart race and not in a good way. It was a small boat with only three other couples. She was awestruck when the sails went up and they sailed round the point and fort and out to sea before dropping anchor for them to swim in a bay, it was a glorious sunny day and the ocean looked like it was sparkling. "What are they" she asked one of the crew of the brightly coloured polystyrene tubes "Noodles" answered the English lady who appeared to be in charge of the crew and had prepared the lunch, which she was starting to lay out for after their swim. "If you are not good at swimming they keep you afloat" the lady carried on and Molly's face lit up as she grabbed one. The water to her looked clear and inviting and she had never swum in the sea. She had a vague recollection that Sam took her and her brothers to Southend once, to go fishing off the pier but there was no way she was chucking herself in that. This was so clear she could see the bottom and it was beautiful.
"Molly" Charles grabbed her elbow a raised eyebrow in question "Please don't tell me you cant.." her face breaking out into a huge grin "Course I can't Charlie, what makes you think I can bleedin swim, the Thames is disgusting" as she climbed onto the side of the boat, like the other couples had done, with the noodle wrapped firmly around her back and holding it to her chest. His jaw dropped as she just chucked herself off the side with the others. He saw her vanish momentarily "Can't she swim" asked the woman "It would appear not" as he dived over the side swimming across to her and holding onto her noodle along with her to make sure she stayed afloat. "Can you reach the bottom Charlie" she beamed "Don't be bloody silly it must be twenty feet deep here" "Oh shit" she laughed as she let go of the noodle and held him round his neck and wrapping her legs round his waist "Bit late now" as he pulled the noodle closer to them, treading water to keeping them both afloat "First thing we are going to do when we get home is teach you to bloody swim" he shook his head biting his lip but smiling "I can't believe you just did that Molly" her eyes bright and the little golden flecks shining in the sunlight a huge grin on her face as she continued to hold him round his neck, giving him a quick peck on the lips "Yes you can" she laughed and he grinned back at her "Without a doubt you are going to give me grey hairs" and she let go of him to run her hands through his wet hair pushing it back from his forehead "Can't see any mate"
-OG-
Molly didn't think she had been anywhere so beautiful, well she wouldn't have, London and visiting Bath when she was growing up, a couple of visits to Maidstone, she couldn't remember going anywhere else and had never been abroad before. Admittedly he had been to the army base in the south but he seemed so knowledgeable about Northern Cyprus and although they did spend time relaxing by the pool they also found the time to look around and with the jeep had explored well into the mountains, she wasn't going to say anything, she didn't like heights much, never had but that dirt track to look for abandoned tanks or whatever from the war freaked her out a bit. She would love to meet that dick in the bar that told him about that. They didn't find any bleedin tanks and how they got down that track was beyond her, especially when they came across that ruddy great rock he had to try and drive round, she had to grip the seat to stop herself clinging to Charles and distracting him, but if she saw the plonker that told Charles about this she would make sure he was every bit as shit scared as she had been.
They were having dinner in the harbour area of Kyrenia and Charles insisted he was having a steak for a change, he was pissed off with chicken because she wanted to feed all the bloody cats, she could stick with the fish if she wanted but he was going to start clucking soon if he didn't get something different and he was going to eat all of it. And just for clarity they absolutely, categorically were not going to take any of them home, no matter how skinny some of them looked.
"There is no time to feed the cats, we are being taken to a special beach" he grinned at her as they finished their meal.
"I ain't taking me clothes off in public" she huffed "Even if it is a bit dark"
"You really are a conundrum"
"What? What does that mean?"
"You know all about brothels, running a night club, hooky booze, smuggling, your Dad and my Uncle appear to be crime lords, you feed every stray cat in Northern bloody Cyprus and you won't get your kit off" he laughed, she put on her best poker face, jutting out her chin "I ain't letting any old Tom, Dick or Harry get an eyeful" and he couldn't help but throw his head back with laughter, shaking his head at her earnest face.
He attracted the attention of the waiter so they could get their bill "It's not that sort of a beach and you are going to be seriously impressed" he laughed. He had told her earlier to wear trousers and bring a cardigan they were going to be out late.
They walked round the harbour to a small mini bus where others were waiting. They were going to a beach where the turtle eggs hatched and they hopefully would see them making their way back to the ocean.
They found a spot everyone in the group looking for somewhere separate, spacing themselves out so they could watch what happened. The guide telling them that this was one of the nights that the baby turtles would hatch and make their way back to the ocean. There were markers round the nesting sites to protect the eggs from accidental damage by tourists.
Charles and Molly had found their spot on the edge of the beach, close to one of the markers. The light was starting to go and to Molly it seemed an awful long way back to the sea. Poor little buggers having to walk all that way. They had been given a blanket and instructions not to frighten the newly hatched turtles with lights or noise.
Charles removed the leaflet he had been given from his back pocket, lying on the blanket his forearms propping him up as he started to read. Molly copied and lay down next to him.
"So what type of turtles are they"
"Loggerhead and Green turtles"
"Will we be able to tell the difference?"
"No but I expect they will" he laughed as he looked across to her, she was staring at the marker as if it was all going to happen right this minute, asking question after question like an excited child. He was glad he had brought her now, he saw this trip when he was booking the holiday and managed to get a space with the conservation group that managed the beach
"How many babies will there be"
"According to this between 70 to 150 eggs per nest"
"Bloody hell" her chin now resting on her crossed hands
"When will they start hatching?"
"After dark"
"We won't see anything then" she sighed
"Yes we will look at the moon" and she looked up and nodded smiling at him
"How long will it take, will we be here long"
"All night, till dawn about 5.30 the brochure says"
"Oh" she sighed and started looking around her "What happens if I need a piss in the night"
He looked down at her shaking his head "Molly"
"Yeah"
"Shut the fuck up"
"I was only asking" and Charles leant across and kissed her head still smiling "In the years we have been together I have never known you to get up in the night for a piss, but if you really get the urge go behind the tree line over there"
"Typical bloody bloke, it's easy for you ain't it" shoulder bumping him
"So now that we have that sorted, what shall we do while we wait" he couldn't help but ask raising his eyebrows and passing across the leaflet.
"Piss off Charlie, we ain't doing that, that guide bloke said we had to be quiet and I ain't spending the rest of the night with sand in me kecks" he buried his face in her hair as he tried to muffle his laughter. "I was thinking more along the lines that you could read this leaflet while we are waiting, I've already read it and we could open that flask of Coffee they gave us" kissing the back of her head "Good idea though"
They lay there for ages, whispering quietly together every now and again and it must have been the early hours of the morning that they saw the first movements from the nest they were watching. The first little head poking up through the sand, then another and another, it was difficult to work out how many, the way they started to scuttle across the sand towards the sea. Instinct taking over from the second they were hatched, just like the instinct of their mother before them who had swum oceans to get back to the beach where she had been born to lay her own eggs.
As dawn came there were still hundreds of tiny little turtles trying to make their way to the sea. The guide came round with a bucket and said they could collect them and take them to the shoreline. Molly tried to convince Charles as he had such long legs to go further out and put them somewhere safer. The guide smiled but shook his head, that taking them to the water's edge was saving them from birds, dogs and humans but after that you had to let nature take its course, some would make it and some wouldn't.
They were all tired, covered in sand, and more than a little hungry as they traipsed back to where the mini bus had been left. They were dropped at their hotel and the receptionist with a bright welcoming smile asked them if they had enjoyed the trip and would they like breakfast sent to their room today. Charles nodded in thanks and asked if it wouldn't be too late could they leave it half an hour so they could shower and change first, Molly telling her that it was one of the most amazing things she had ever seen and she would never forget for as long as she lived.
"It was beautiful and they were so cute" the receptionist nodded, this reaction from their guests was not unusual "Yes" she said "We are very lucky to have this on our doorstep" She would organise their breakfast for them, she liked this couple, they were always so polite, always stopped to say good morning and thank her for her recommendations on where to go or where to eat, came back to tell her it was blinding, not that either of them looked like it made them blind, the way they looked at each other. Not like some of her guests, who didn't even notice she was there half the time, walked straight past her as if she didn't exist.
They bi-passed Tom and Vicki already on their sun loungers, Charles telling him they had been turtle watching all night and falling asleep on a sun lounger might not be a good idea. "Good catch Charlie" whispered Molly as they continued to their chalet.
With breakfast due and both feeling shattered after having stayed awake all night they showered together, Charles stunned at how much sand Molly had got in her hair considering she had ended up tying it up.
"I think that might have been one of the best nights of me life" sighed Molly her eyes closed as the shampoo ran down her face. His hands momentarily stopping their ministrations of washing her hair "Not sure if I should be really offended by that remark Dawes" he said huffily although his lips curled into a smile
"I said one of" she turned to face him, her arms going around his waist "My 18th when you kissed me for the first time"
"Indeed" he laughed "Well recovered Dawes" pushing her hair back and stopping more soapy water getting in her eyes
"What's with the Dawes all of a sudden?"
"Don't know, it's the army in me I guess, we're into nicknames" he grinned still rinsing her hair "Still we had a bit of luck on that reconnaissance" and he couldn't help but laugh at her confused expression "You didn't need to get up for a piss or come back with sand in your kecks" and burst out laughing
"Yeah" she grinned getting out the shower and wrapping a towel round her "I can always go on army rations" as she picked up another towel to wrap her hair in, noting his raised eyebrow "Abstinence for six months"
"Really Dawes" grabbing her from behind and holding her in a bear hug kissing round her neck as she relaxed in his hold tilting her head "You sure about that" he whispered just as there was a light tapping on the door. "Saved by the bell Dawes" he winked putting on his towelling robe he walked to the door. Breakfast had just turned up.
-OG-
The holiday was over soon enough and it didn't seem any time at all and they were getting their flight back home. It was quite a different flight home to the one they had coming here. That last tour, the funeral and that business with Gary in the club had been playing on his mind when they left and was now all filed in his little box. He looked across to Molly who had her eyes closed and her arm threaded through his. He didn't think he had ever seen her look so beautiful, what his mother would call sun kissed. She had a light golden tan and he could see faint freckles from the sun across her nose and it really did make her look so much younger. She wasn't an immature 21 year old, not like Dylan Smith, who just wanted to be like his brother, the typical class clown and it worried him greatly whether he would ever grow up and be the soldier he felt he could be.
If he thought they were close before this holiday, they were more so since. That conversation about what it was like for her growing up, her problems with trust, that she had told him all of this made him feel he knew her better than anyone else, and all he wanted to do was protect her from feeling like that ever again, to never feel like an outsider, or lonely because she couldn't trust those around her not to want to hurt her or her family. He couldn't imagine his life without her in it, he had never been one to believe in that soul mate stuff, none of the girls he had dated before stayed in his mind when he was on tour or not in their company. Molly was never far from his thoughts, would she like it, would it make her happy, the smell and feel of her hair in his hands, her eyes the way she looked at him, the way she held him in the night, the softness of her skin. Now that he realised just how much he wanted her in his life, he really should start to think about how to put it on a more permanent footing. All he had to do was think about where, when and if he really should sit down with Dave and tell him his intentions. He knew Dave knew they were living together but still he should do this properly. New Year perhaps, or what about a spring break somewhere and do it there. This was definitely going to take some thought and planning.
-OG-
The best laid plans of men and mice, he still hadn't asked her to marry him. He decided against New Year as it was the Millennium, there was too much going on, the club had re-opened after its refurbishment and he had to say her and Jackie's idea was certainly different and they had turned it into a place that everyone wanted to come to. Even Gary had said he wished they had done it years ago, now they were looking for premises to set up another just like this.
Gone were the podiums with dancers, predominately men in attendance until later in the night when the club really came into its own with the disco. Now there was a stage where burlesque dancers strutted their stuff, silks dangled from hooks in the ceiling and acrobats did the most amazing things all to music. There was a short show while people had cocktails, then they served food and the main show starting at 10. By 11.30 people were up dancing to the resident DJ dancing and chatting until the early hours.
He'd gone out earlier this evening to meet up with Elvis, Georgie was coming down from Manchester to spend New Year with him. Molly had told him to bring them to the club, they could have dinner and drinks there, they had put up big screens for the Big Ben chimes followed by the firework display so people didn't have to stand out in the cold unless they really wanted to. They had kept one table back for family so they could sit there if they wanted. It would be lovely to catch up and make a night of it.
As they walked into the club he saw Jack at the bar waving to him, pointing them to the table and walking over to join them. It wasn't long before Gary spotted them and went over to say hello
"Busy night Charlie, not sure if Jac's and I will have much of a chance to chat until we start clearing some of this lot out" he grinned then turned to Elvis "Nice to see you mate, this your girl" and put out his hand to shake Georgie's "Have we met before"
"Sorry, this is Georgie" Elvis replied giving the introduction, he probably couldn't remember much about her as that was the night Jack was shot "Have to say you look much better than when I last saw you" and Gary couldn't help but touch his nose, it still felt a bit crooked to him but Jacs kept telling him it didn't show. "Yep all good now" turning back to Georgie and narrowing his eyes "Sure I've seen you somewhere"
"You have" smiled Georgie and turning her head to face Jack who was sat next to Charles "Blimey, you're that army medic ain't yah, the one that stopped our Jack bleeding and took him to the hospital" Georgie nodded as Gary broke out into a huge grin, flapping his arm in the air to attract Jackie's attention and she came over towards Gary smiling "Jac's would you mind bringing them a bottle of fizz, ta love, this is Georgie, she saved our Jack" Georgie couldn't help but go red at the accolade she was being given, she didn't feel she did much other than hold her fist in the wound to stop the bleeding. She was just doing her job, what she had been trained to do "I don't really like champagne that much to be honest" she said but hoped she didn't offend them by saying
"We've got Prosecco if you prefer, it's a little bit sweeter, or you could try one of our cocktails" beamed Jackie. Georgie nodded to the Prosecco and Jackie kissed Gary on the cheek "You're dad is off on one of his rants again" and walked back to the bar to sort out their drinks for one of the waiters to bring over.
Gary rolled his eyes as Jack laughed "That's why I came over here as soon as I saw Charlie come in, it's alright for you Gaz you can say you have to mingle with your customers"
"What's he on about this time"
"Usual stuff, how the government spent years getting rid of the GLC and now it looks like we are gonna get it back again, bets we get Red Ken back an all and what a waste of taxpayers' money"
In unison they said "I didn't vote for this lot" and burst out laughing "What's the joke boys" Dave had walked over with his pint patted Charles on the shoulder "Good to see you lad, sorry your mum and dad couldn't make it up here this year" Charles nodded, his grandmother hadn't been that well and Beth thought they should stay at home this year with her.
"Still don't blame them with all this media hype" and he sat down next to Charles, Gary rolling his eyes and saying he better get on and their drinks would be here soon, Charles felt Jack sigh next to him "What media hype" asked Georgie and Charles had to put his hand over his mouth to cover his snigger as he heard Jack whisper "Now she's done it"
"This millennium bug, how did it get into the computers, that's what I want to know, who put it there and how come these geek people didn't realise that you can't have a clock with all zero's" he drew breath "You know what I think" and Georgie shook her head and he took a sip of his beer "I think it's all a bloody great con and that nothing is gonna happen, it was just an excuse by the media to whip up a frenzy so that everyone booked their holidays early and didn't fly on New Year so they could get a day off" taking another sip of his beer "The banks, you telling me all this electronic money is gonna vanish overnight because of a bleedin clock and the stock market will crash, nah mate it's all a con that got you spending your dosh when they wanted you to, somebody somewhere has made a lot of money out of this you mark my words" taking yet another sip "It'll all be a damp squib, the planes won't drop out the sky, them timers on the bank vaults won't open, the brightest thing that is gonna happen tonight is that show they're putting on at the dome"
"Right Dad" said Jack when he finally thought he had run out of steam "You ready for another drink as its new year" standing up and winking at Charles. He started to walk out from round the table and Dave also stood up, after all Fred and Sam were still at the bar he had only come over to say hello to Charles and his friends. "Mum, Josie and Chloe are upstairs having a natter if you want to say hello" said Jack giving Charles an out if he wanted, not sure if his dad was going to come with him or stay.
"Well, well well if it ain't me old Sandhurst mates" came a voice from behind them and both Elvis and Charles turned to look. There was Bones with a leggy blonde on his arm. Why were they not surprised, while they had all had their share of luck in attracting attention when they were out on the town during their Sandhurst days, Bones was the one that was like a rat up a drain pipe when it came to the ladies. "What you doing here, you never said you were in London tonight" said Bones
"Friend of yours Charlie" asked Jack and Charles nodded. Jack nodded and extended his hand offering them seats at the booth they had been sitting at. He raised an eyebrow at the woman Bones was with, cor that was some dress, if she didn't cross her legs they were all gonna get a right old eyeful of her. He shook his head and moved aside to let them in.
Bones made the introductions as he knew most at the table, Elvis, Georgie and Charles, the woman he was with was called Flis, short for Felicity. Elvis and Charles exchanged a look, wondering how long he had been going out with Flis and was this one going to last any longer than his other conquests. She looked a nice enough girl but he had the distinct feeling that she wasn't going to be joining them again next year.
Charles in turn introduced him to Jack and Dave. Told them that Bones was at Sandhurst with him and Elvis. "Well if you are friends of them you are in for a good night" grinned Jack just as a waiter came back with a wine cooler and a bottle of Prosecco and a tray of champagne flutes. "Thanks mate" said Jack patting the waiter on the back "Do us a favour and make sure that is topped up all night" the waiter nodded as he moved away to the next table.
As everyone sat back down leaving Jack standing, Dave looked at the new couple who had turned up, friends of Elvis and Charles. He couldn't help but grin as it reminded him of one of his jokes. "Ere Charlie, you heard this one about the couple that went into the woods one night for a bit of how's your father" Charles shook his head and groaned, his jokes were definitely an acquired taste but Elvis interrupted and said he hadn't and would like to hear it as he smirked at Charles. Jack shook his head and rolled his eyes at Charles as Dave grinned and nodded at Elvis, took a sip of his beer and took the floor "well they are up in these woods, see and its dark" taking another sip of his beer for effect "after about 15 minutes of passion he says to his girl, wish I had brought me torch now" looking round at his audience and taking another sip "his girl says so do I, you've been eating grass for the last 10 minutes". Charles looked to Jack who shrugged, this was nothing new for him, his dad was always coming out with things like this when he had a few pints, he had no idea where he got half of them from, probably one of the old cronies down at the Earl. What surprised them was the laughter from Elvis, Georgie and even Bones
"I know someone who would love to come here Boss" laughed Georgie looking at Charles "Meet you Dave" turning her eyes to a grinning Dave. "Fingers" they said in unison. "Well suppose it would make a change from eating competitions, they could have the 50 joke challenge" giggled Georgie "You got a joker in your group Charlie" grinned Dave and Charles rolled his eyes looking at Dave "He likes to think he is"
-OG-
Molly came out from the dressing rooms at the back of the club, she loved talking with the dancers, one of them, Sophie said she would teach her some of the burlesque moves, she had been a dancer with them years now well before the refurb, she not only did a session she also choreographed some of the shows and trained up some of the new girls. She loved watching the way they moved they looked so flexible, it might keep her fit as well, she never really had the time to use the gym at their apartment, always too tired when she got in, although sometimes she did do the Aqua Zumba Sophie ran at their complex, it had really taken off and Sophie had been grateful for the work while the refurb had been going on, loved running the classes. Molly liked the dancers laid back attitudes, some were housewives, some students some had been shat on from a great height, but they all got along, no wonder they were always full at the club they were beautiful women, with a sense of humour that had you crying with laughter. She scanned the main area and was pleased to see that every table had been taken. This was going to be a good night for the club. Gary had put on extra security, they had also hired extra bar staff and waiters just in case but it looked like everyone was having a good time with the cocktails, champagne and the first course of dinner looked like it was being served at some of the tables. There were over a 100 covers for dinner, then there were the rest who were just coming for cocktails, show and disco, it was going to be a very busy night.
Her and Jackie had been to see Cirque Du Soleil and it was there that Molly came up with the idea for the club, make it more inclusive, a place that women would like to come to as well. Not just your standard nightclub where everyone got pissed and the bouncers spent most of the time trying to stop fights and throw people out. It had taken a while for people to realise it had changed but now they had a good clientele, business people who wanted a good time for a reasonable price and no hassle. She was surprised at how many people wanted to see this sort of thing, she had been worried that it was just her and Jac's that would like it, that Gary would be pissed off with her for the amount this refurbishment had cost for no return. Seems they had an influx of money to launder so the refurb came at just the right time to do that, but still she was grateful to him for letting her try out this new idea, grinning, although she had a feeling Jackie helped quite a bit in persuading him.
Charles couldn't stop looking at the vison that was walking across the dance floor towards him. He had left to meet Elvis and Georgie and she said there was so much to do for tonight she would get ready in the flat at Gary and Jackie's. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was in a deep wine red body con that made her skin look pale and creamy, the tan from their holiday long gone, and gave a tantalising glimpse of cleavage and finishing just above her knees, it hugged every curve of her, shear stockings or were they bare legs, well in his mind he hoped they were, and those bloody heels, those nude coloured stilettos must have added 5 or 6 inches to her height. Her dark hair was down for a change and swept over one shoulder, light curls in the end. It looked soft and glossy and he had an overwhelming urge to run his fingers through it. Her barely there makeup, but tonight she had put on a red lipstick to co-ordinate with her dress and he really didn't know how he was going to keep his hands off her as he stared.
"Put your tongue back in Charlie" came the guffaw beside him "That's my sister you're gawping at"
"Sorry" as he sat up straighter still watching as she made her way over to them, stopped momentarily by a waiter who passed a flute of champagne to her. She smiled in thanks and continued walking to their table.
"So sis, everything ready for later" and she nodded
"I've heard about this show" simpered Flis "Are you one of the dancers" she asked looking at Molly up and down. Georgie knew that Elvis kept things close to his chest and she would probably never get all the details about that night but one thing she did know was that Molly wasn't a dancer, that she was part of the family that owned this club. She looked stunning tonight and clearly only had eyes for her Boss.
"Let me introduce you to everyone" butted in Charles, he saw that look, it wasn't for one moment what Flis had said, Molly didn't think it mattered what you did for a living, he remembered a long lecture after he passed a casual remark about the girls who worked in the parlour and what they did, it didn't mean that they didn't deserve to be treated with a bit of respect, there were a lot of reasons why they did what they did she'd said. It was the way that Flis said it that would have had Molly's hackles up.
He knew he wouldn't be able to spend a lot of time with Molly this evening, it was a busy night for the club. He did get to have a chat with Belinda, Josie and Chloe, they came downstairs to watch the show. Belinda also wanting to check on Dave that he wasn't getting too pissed. They left about 11.00 with Dave, Fred and Sam, all of them saying that they would see in the New Year at home. Less noisy and they would be able to see the fireworks even from where they lived. Marge was at the house and they shouldn't really leave her on her own keeping an eye on Martin. They would have their own mini party there and only had to walk up a flight of stairs at the end of the night. With hugs and kisses all round they swept out of the club and home.
It was a couple of minutes past midnight when Gary got the text from Dave wishing them all a happy new year and he told them didn't he, damp squib, bloody vault didn't open. Gary couldn't believe that he had even managed to find a smiley face for the end of the text. He burst out laughing as he passed the phone to his brother and sister. Charles saw the message over Molly's shoulder
"He wasn't waiting outside was he" laughed Charles "You know waiting to steal the gold reserves"
Molly threw her head back laughing her hand now on his leg and he could feel the warmth of her hand through his trousers "Nah course not, he will have tucked Martin up in bed, read him a story, chewed the fat with Fred and Sam. Mum, Josie and Chloe would have been making cups of tea and bacon butties along with giving them a few cans of beer" she grinned "Leave it a couple of weeks till the heat dies down, if there was a flaw in their system they will find it, when they are least expecting it"
"Shit Molls" he was staring in to her eyes dancing with laughter "You are joking aren't you" her eyes creasing with laughter "Yeah you're joking, I know you are" she waggled her eyebrows at him "You're not, Oh shit, my uncle and your dad are going to do something really stupid" he whispered into her ear. Her laughter music to his ears as she threw her head back and then kissed his cheek "You are so bloody gullible sometimes Charlie" he felt her breath close to his ear "Come dance with me" grabbing his hand and he followed her to the dance floor.
"Is that dress new" and she nodded "Do you like it" he didn't think his grin could get any bigger as his hand ran down her back
"Are you wearing anything under that" he whispered close to her ear "Let's go home, take it off and find out"
"There's still too much to do here, we can't go yet" she laughed her hand stroking the nape of his neck.
Unable to contain his laughter "Well I know a nice little alley way just outside" raising his eyebrows at her "Nah mate, it will already be crowded in there with all the teenagers who have nowhere else to go" she continued dancing against him as he groaned "You can take Elvis and Georgie back to the flat if you like, show them the spare room and where everything is, I'll get home as soon as I can"
"Dressed like that" he nuzzled her neck before whispering into her ear "I'm not letting you out of my sight"