Chapter 11: Chapter 11
Lessons Learnt
Chapter 11
Elvis watched Molly as she robotically moved about the camp. Still an effective member of the team. Still once her crying had stopped, able to perform as she always did. But the special light that made Molly Dawes seemed to have gone out. It had been two days since they had returned to their main camp. Ultimately the mission had been a success. But the loss of the young popular soldier's life weighed heavily on them all. Molly especially. They were to return home early from their deployment with Geraint's body and his section. He hoped it would help Molly, getting back home, back to Charles, and him to Georgie. Innocently believing that his relationship, just like Molly and Charles' had not changed during this deployment.
"I'm worried about her mate. She just so empty." Elvis confided to his friend on the phone, using up some of his talk time, to express his concerns about Molly. He'd seen it before. How the soldier turns their grief inwards, making them blame themselves, doubt their actions. Even worryingly questioning their role in the Army. It was slippery slope and one Elvis did not want Molly to head down, because once on it lives, relationships, futures could be destroyed.
Charles hated to hear his friend say these things about the woman he loved. Miles away from her, useless and unable to help her. Grateful though Elvis had called him. Still with a tinge of jealousy, and a degree of anger that Molly had left him alone for so long, that she had put herself in such danger willingly. That she maybe craved something that perhaps he could not give her.
"Thanks for looking out for her Elvis. She not really talking when I call. Text are just the odd word. It's as though she has shut off from me." Charles was worried. Geraint's death seemed to have stalled their relationship. He needed it to get back on track. Back to the good times. He had done stupid things in the past, but he knew with the loss friend Molly would need him, and he was looking forward to that fact; that she would be needing him again.
"Look Charlie Boy I think that's kind of how we all are. Numb. Try not to worry about it too much. In just 48 hours we'll be home and then you can help her. She probably just needs to see you."
Elvis had never been so pleased to be going home. Going home early at that. Nothing had turned out as it should have, he also felt a failure. Plus he'd even missed the crazy woman in his life. Recently she had eased off, been more reasonable with him. Almost as though she was considering him in their relationship for once, rather than it all being about her. Curious Elvis, thought! Maybe this mad bint had other sides to her that Elvis had yet to see. He smiled at the thought of getting to know a bit more of Georgie. He paused in his machinations; he thinks he might actually have missed her! He couldn't possibly be falling for her…could he?
Charles silently agreed, selfishly glad that it was Molly who was coming home, alive. Coming home back to him. Any other outcomes were too painful to consider. As long as they were together he believed he could start to put things right in her world.
He was now more mobile, the troublesome boot was gone. The pain was under control as long as he took it easy. Christmas holidays to look forward to, leave for Molly. Charles had plans, romantic ideas in his head to make it up to Molly. To show her how he cared, loved her. He'd been lonely without her, and he needed her to know that no matter what had happened she was the woman for him.
Molly hadn't even considered it. It was almost unbelievable.
Her life over the past week had been automatic, responsive only to the external stimuli that she needed to react too. Not thinking too deeply, not investing anything into her emotions.
She therefore was dumb founded, when the section and SF arrived at Brize; and there was Charles and Georgie, together, waiting for her and Elvis' return. Both looking happy, no hint of remorse or uncomfortableness about them. The pair of them standing, looking expectantly for their arrival.
Seeing them together was hard and Molly struggled to keep herself on an even keel. Difficult especially after the journey they had just undertaken. Their flight home was subdued and long. The atmosphere heavy with the precious heart breaking cargo that they were returning back to Geraint's family. His section presenting his coffin on landing.
The SF team quietly slipped away. Away from the ceremony. Their presence and involvement in Geraint's final mission, like all missions, did not need broadcasting. A degree of anonymity of their identities being maintained wherever possible.
That was how Molly and Elvis and the rest of the SF guys ended up leaving the tarmac through a special exit where their loved ones silently waited. Where Molly was met with the mind blowing site of the shameless couple, Charles and Georgie waiting. She had never considered this scenario.
As the SF family members met their loved ones there were no cries of happiness, no passionate reunions, and no demonstrations of joy. All were met by muted welcomes, and silent hugs. Everyone appreciating what had been lost and the sadness of the occasion. Gratitude spilling out of their hearts at their loved ones returned. Even Georgie greeted Elvis with respect for the situation and a degree of empathy to his feelings. Despite everything, that being Molly's new found dislike for her friend, she was impressed by her. Georgie could always pull the performance of a life time out of the bag when needed. And today standing within this intimate quartet, she seemed to be playing a blinder!
With reserve was how Charles greeted Molly, almost shy of her. Cautiously, hesitantly. Like she was a china doll ready to break under the slightest pressure. Molly actually felt that right at this moment that was exactly how she felt. A hug from Charles surely would break her, break her resolve and detachment. He moved into hug her and she numbed herself to everything and she let him, but didn't return it. She was stiff and cold. Charles looked at her, moving to kiss her, but saw there was no life in her eyes, no joy to see him, so all he did was hug.
"I've missed you so much Molly. Thank you for coming back to me."
She couldn't answer him. Couldn't look at him. She hadn't come back to him. She had come back to being the single strong Molly Dawes, a role she did well at but had enjoyed giving it up these past few months to take on the new role as Molly Dawes, girlfriend to Charles James. But now that role was over. End of the line. So now all she could do was cry.
"Think we need to get her home Charlie Boy." Elvis said and the three of them guided her out towards Charles' car.
The journey passed with little conversation. Georgie and Molly sat in the back and Molly feigned sleep for the entire journey, even after they had dropped Elvis and Georgie off.
She opened her eyes to see that Charles had pulled in to his street. The expectation being that she would stay with him. Molly didn't have the energy or the words to argue differently. So silently she followed him in to the hall, then climbed into his bed and slept away her pain and loss.
Charles let her sleep. Again like last time she came back exhausted he slept on the couch. He was shocked by her few monosyllabic replies to his questions, but understood. She had lost someone. She had been unable to save them. He wanted to give her space. Wanted her to turn to him when she was ready. That and the memory of Georgie in his bed causing pains of guilt crashing over him.
Charles too was shocked about the young man's death when Elvis told him. He was a past pupil at Charles' school, before his time teaching there. So young though. The elder brother of Smurf, the pupil Molly helped when he hurt his arm. He wondered if she knew. He could only imagine she did. Molly invested everything into those she had a duty of care for. She would have known all types of information about him, got to know the person and not just the soldier. He wondered if this was why it hurt her so much. She not only knew the soldier, but she knew the family too.
The next morning Molly woke. Still fully clothed and horrified she had spent the night at Charles'. Plus she had spent the night in the actual bed she had caught Georgie and Charles in. She needed to get out, back to her room and end this. She needed to move on. They all were acting as though nothing had happened, not Geraint's death or Charles' infidelity, but Molly for one couldn't do that. Wouldn't do that.
She found Charles in the kitchen reading. He instantly got up, happy to see her and went to hug her. Hoping today would be a good day for them.
"Morning." He kissed into her hair. It felt so good, Molly thought, in other circumstances he was just what she needed, but not now, she had to be strong. She had learnt her lesson, that was the only way to keep going.
"I want to go back to barracks please." She said offering him no love in return to the hug he'd enveloped her in.
"What? Why? Stay here Molly. Let me look after you. I've missed you so much." He sounded so hurt.
"No I want to go back. Then I'm going to see my folks."
"Molly please." He begged. "It's Christmas in a few days. I'm on holiday. Let me be here for you."
"Will you give me a lift or do I have to call a taxi?" She stood in his hallway lifting her Bergen on to her back.
Charles sighed but relented and drove her back to barracks in silence. As they pulled up to the gates he asked;
"When will I see you again Molly? Tomorrow?"
"No I don't think so. Look Charles I've been thinking. This is isn't good for me. It's over. I don't want to see you again.
"Molly!" He shouted. "Molly."
But it was too late she was out of his car and running through the barracks. Running away from him.
Charles was powerless to follow. Instead he just sat there confused shocked by what had just happened.
Molly had ended it with him.
For the next several hours he tried calling her, texting, but nothing she never replied. What had happened? He appreciated she was grieving for the soldier, but he could help her. Why was he being pushed away? Charles' world came tumbling down. He loved her, but she wanted out.
He thought back to when he first admitted that he loved her, and how she said nothing back. Maybe he had forced her into saying it too, without her really feeling it. He knew she'd had history, heart break somewhere in her past, and wondering if this was a factor in her behaviour. He couldn't leave it. He had to see her again, he needed to see Elvis.
He barged into Georgie and Elvis' reunion without so much of a second thought.
"Elvis are you going to tell me what exactly the fuck went on out there. Molly has just ended it with me."
"Wow. Shit. Don't blame me mate." Elvis bit back. "She hasn't been herself since she came back from visiting you when you broke your foot."
"What do you meant visiting me. I haven't seen Molly for months, until yesterday." He looked at his friend stupidly.
"Well I gave her leave to come and see you. She landed in the U.K, 48 hours she had, then came back in a foul mood. Pretended everything was fine. Guess just guessed you argued."
Charles was reeling. If Molly had said she was coming to see him but didn't, who the bloody hell did she see? What did she see? Was there someone else? Doubts started to roll into his brain.
Charles was beyond politeness.
"You had better start talking Georgie. You know her secret what's going on?" He turned on her.
"I don't know Charlie. Honestly I don't. Here let me text her."
Charles paced the room while Georgie fired off text after text to Molly. No replies came. What was she hiding?
"I'm sorry Charlie she's not replying." Georgie said, getting fed up having to be involved in Molly's drama. All she wanted was some along time with Elvis. Just then her phone rang.
"It's molly." She said….. "Hello. Molly you ok? What's going on?"
Georgie didn't have her phone on speaker but Charles and Elvis both heard everything Molly was shouting down the line at her friend.
"….don't ever call me again or come anywhere near me. You betrayed me more than he has. You were meant to be my mate. My mate Georgie and then you've gone and done just what Katie did."
"What do you mean? Who with. What you on about?" Georgie found it difficult to look Elvis in the eye. Realisation was starting to dawn. Georgie's games were catching up with her.
"Don't Georgie…just don't… I saw you… saw you both. Together….. in his bed….. that morning I came back." And with that Molly hung up.
Georgie and Charles looked at each other turning white with realisation. They had been seen. What had they done to the woman they both loved?
"Oh shit." Moaned Charles, sitting down with his head in his hands. Tugging his curls. Georgie looked fearful at Elvis, she could feel his anger.
"Someone." Elvis bellowed. "Had best quickly tell me what the fuck is going on here."