Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Lessons Learnt
Chapter 14
He stood outside her bedroom door. He wondered why he felt so nervous. After all this was just Molly. She had been back from the mission for a couple of days now. Elvis had made sure that everybody knew they had returned. Now it was time for her and Charles to meet. She seemed very nervous about making the first move once she knew he was awake, so he took it upon himself.
Looking at himself in the door he realised that he had made a special effort for tonight, to see Molly. Laughing, at himself at just how pathetic he must come across. But in a very short period of time he started to realise just how much Molly meant to him. He didn't know where to go with these type of feelings, he didn't even know if she had any feelings for him. What he wanted though despite everything was still to be friends. They had all been through quite a rough time of late and they all needed friendship. At least that's what he told himself.
She opened the door and quite literally the sight of her took his breath away. It had been so long since he had seen her in normal clothes.
"You look beautiful." He said. Leaning in for the habitual kiss on the cheek.
She giggled at him, Always the smooth one, but secretly pleased, as she too had made an effort tonight,
"You're not too shabby yourself there mate." And playfully she punched him on the arm.
He smiled enjoying how comfortable they were together. She turned to go back in the bedroom to get a coat and bag and they started to head out.
She told him that she felt pretty bloody nervous.
"Yes." He replied. "I know how you feel. It's a big deal this isn't it?
"Yes it is. But I'm pleased that I'm here with you."
"Molly." He looked at her. "I don't want you to get hurt; I just want you to be happy."
She stopped and looked up at him, into his big brown eyes.
"Thanks it means a lot. Especially with what's going on."
They were nearing his car by now and as it opened and Molly jumped in she shouted over the top, to the man who had planned tonight…..she looked over to Charles' best mate …..Elvis.
"You're a bloody good mate you know that Elvis. To Charles and I. Thank you for this. Come on let go and finally see our Charlie boy."
As Elvis drove Molly reflected how grateful she was that he was with her. He had been a true friend, a valuable support. Her gratitude however was nothing to what she felt when they finally reached the hospital. She was nervous beyond compare. Tonight after months of not talking to him, they were going to see one another. Panic rose, what if he didn't want to see her any more. What if she had blown her chance? Elvis could feel the waves of panic flowing off Molly, which to him only heighted his reserve never to act on his feelings for Molly. She would never be his; he could see that in the way she approached the meeting. Her whole body though nervously was anticipating at being back with the man she loved.
Charles now he had woken up had been moved to a larger room which housed four other patients. Each of them surrounded by relatives at this time of night. Elvis had arranged however that Mr and Mrs James would not be there, for it just be the two of them that would have the pleasure of Charles's company tonight. He thought that would be easier for all.
As soon as Molly looked over and saw Charles she nearly buckled. He was lying there with a broken leg, injuries to his arm, and still half of his face was hidden by a large bulky dressing. His right eye totally obscured. He looked in pain, he looked drawn, but as soon as he saw his two friends his whole countenance changed and he looked happy. His uncovered eye moving from Elvis to Molly, before finally resting on Molly. Delighted to see her beautiful face and a smile that matched his own.
Elvis saw it all. The inconvenient truth of love actually happening right before his reluctant eyes. The way they absorbed everything about each other by looks alone.
"Charlie Boy can't tell you how good it is to see you again. Give us a bit of a scare there didn't you." He leaned over to hug his dear friend.
Charles tried to shift up in the bed but due to his injuries found it difficult he struggled then gave up looking exhausted. He returned the man hug as best as he could. Frustrated by his immobility.
"Elvis so good to see you." He moved his head and then tried to make contact with Molly, some contact, any would do.
"Oh Molly." He cried. His big brown eyes filling with tears until they spilled down his face. He wasn't ashamed of them.
"Hello Charles. Good to see you again. It's nice that you're getting better." She kicked herself, she sounded stupid. How did she mess that up? All day she had been planning what her opening words would be and now she was here no words seemed good enough. Charles didn't mind, he just loved she was here. It meant something, it meant everything. Anything she said to him was better than her saying nothing at all.
Charles and Elvis chatted on like old friends do. Sometimes Molly involved herself in the conversation but the majority of the time she just smiled, watched and listened. Elvis could see Charles was becoming tired, he also knew Molly and Charles had things to say to one another. He also knew nothing he felt would influence their hearts in choosing a different direction. So being a good friend he rested is his hand gently on Charlie Boy's shoulder and said;
"I'm going to pop to the canteen, feed myself I'll be about 20 minutes. I'll come back and pick you up then Molly." Then he was gone.
Charles and Molly gratefully smiled but nerves started to take over. Both remembering what was said, what happened the last time they talked to one another. Charles knew that Molly had visited; his parents had keenly mentioned it. He had no recollection of it himself though. No idea of the love she had shown him or expressed each and every visit. So the two lovers sitting uncomfortably with each other were going to have to start again.
"Thanks for coming to see me Molly. I've missed you." He added as though it was an afterthought.
"Yeah?" Hope boomed in her chest. "I know exactly what you mean Charles… You know getting yourself caught in a fire... well I have to say there's easier ways to get me to come and see you."
They both laughed and Charles reached over trying to get hold of Molly's hands. He was too weak and she was too far away. She saw his struggle, and for the first time in a long while didn't run but stayed. She pulled her chair closer and grabbed his thin fingers between both her hands, raised them to her lips and kissed them.
He gently stroked her hair, and when she raised her face saw tears running down them.
"Molly." Was all he whispered, but it was enough. It was one word that was loaded with love and regret. His eyes spoke of the hope they now had in their hearts. Both finally on the same page, both wanting the same.
"I am sorry Charles…. so sorry. The letter…I should have… was scared…..But I'm back now. I came back." She held onto his face, stoking his jaw, tracing her fingers over his lips, feeling them dry chapped a reminder of how unwell he had been.
"We've both been a bit stupid haven't we? I still love you…. you know that. Always will I guess." Her fingers drawing out on his face felt like expressions of her tenderness for him.
"Yeah I love you too." She moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Mindful of where they were and how delicate he still was. She needed to be close to him. She wanted his words only to be heard by her.
"Then promise me one thing Molly." He drew her close.
"What's that." Bending to hear his declaration.
"Please stop running away. Stop because I won't be able to run after you for a while because of this." He pointed at his full leg cast and that made her laugh. "But also stop running please, because when you do, bad things happen to me, to us." His uncovered eye glassed over again with emotion.
"Ok. I promise. No more running." She was promising this not only to him, but also to herself as well. "Just good old shouting and arguing. Maybe a few pots being thrown, but no more running."
"Thank you."
Joking in between chastely kissing his lips she replied;
"You won't be saying that Charles after our first argument and I given it to you both barrels."
He tried to deepen the kiss, but aware of her embarrassment and his positioning in bed it was not a satisfactory result. Instead he whispered into her ear.
"Bring it on Molly Dawes. I look forward to it, cause then we can have amazing make up sex!"
It wasn't long before Elvis returned and they took their leave.
As he pulled into the car park Molly turned over and said;
"You've been a really good mate Elvis thank you. I just wish Georgie could have seen how good a bloke you are." And with that she gently kissed him on the cheek.
He walked her back to her room, turning down the offer to come in for a cuppa. Now how would that look to people? He knew all about the gossips on camp. So he politely declined and walked away. He knew Molly belonged to Charles. He knew his best mate deserved her. His girl, a girl like Molly, was out there somewhere for him he just hadn't met her yet .
It was the first time in many weeks that Molly went to bed that night feeling happy. Charles had texted her good night, and instead of texting him back she called him, and she could hear the delight in his voice. The phone call was short, but it went such a long way to ensuring that Molly and Charles rekindled everything that they had before Georgie played her trick.
The next morning when she woke, she woke happy. Happy and brave. She had some leave and was going to spend it visiting Charles.
Molly and Charles' happiness lasted. Molly spending as much time as possible with Charles. They fell back into their easy routine with one another. Each day Molly and his family could see Charles getting stronger, and put it down to his very own medic; who had healed his heart, and was now healing the rest of him.
His voice was still very weak, and talking for long made his throat hurt. But there were improvement. The cast to his right arm was removed which gave him a degree of independence, however the one to his right leg and the dressing to his face remained. Charles frequently showed periods of anger, and pain. His facial wounds at times excruciating. However it was the boredom that he struggled with the most. Boredom taking a grip of a usually active man's life can start to destroy their soul if not tackled.
"God." He angrily huffed. "Just to get out of this bed without help would be good."
"You got your arm back. She smiled at him, trying to appease not patronised. "Now at least you can go to the loo without help. Wiping your own bum must feel good?"
He looked at her, beautiful, remaking his bed while he sat out, and burst out laughing. No one had a way with words quite like his Molly.
"There is that." He admitted, grinning. Then he shifted in his chair.
"Molly come here please."
His tone was serious and she knew what he was going to say. His mother, who she now called Mary, called her last night to warn her.
"I saw the doctor yesterday about the burn and my eye. It's not looking good. As far as they can tell I'll have no vision in it at all. It's most likely lost." He couldn't look at her, he didn't want to see her reaction.
She sat down on the chair arm, careful as he was still tender, but sunk down into him for a hug. They needed to be together in this in every possible way.
"I know your Mum said. But it's still early days. We got to keep hope. We won't give up."
"Yeah. I know. But I have to be realistic too. It just is so bloody painful the burn. I can't bear it some days. Plus I imagine my face isn't going to look too pretty either once the bandages go."
"You'll always be beautiful to me you know Charles." She raised his face, holding on to his stubbled chin,
"Your face was nice to look at I'll give you that. It still is you know? But you're not your face, it's part of you, not all of you. I'll love you no matter what. You know that don't you? Scars, warts, smelly feet and all."
He laughed, dangerously pulling her toward him, cradling her into him, breathing in her hair.
"I Molly Dawes do not have smelly feet."
She tilted her head towards him.
"Are sure about that mate? You're too bloody tall you can't probably smell them all the way up there. But let me tell you from one who's closer... they bloody stink."
Both of them chuckled, and Molly was grateful that his good mood had returned. That he sort her out to raise his spirit. She knew he needed to be positive to recover.
As the days went by Charles started a gentle physio programme. Weeks of lying in Bed had seriously weakened him. His arms and leg showed signs of muscle wastage. He worked hard but it tired him out, hurt and frequently he fell asleep in Molly's company. Mentally though it was excellent for him, challenged him, focused his traumatised mind. Molly often watched him sleeping after such sessions knowing that as awful as Charles' accident had been they were lucky that it was the event that gave them their second chance. Made them learn, understand what was important to them.
Finally though Charles had some good news. They were sending him home. This piece of information was happily received by Charles but Molly and his parents panicked.
He would need someone to look after him and his dressings would need daily attention. His house too small to accommodate his parent and himself at the same time. So the only solution was that Charles would move back to Bath with his parents. Molly was sad. Her leave was almost up and chances of her seeing him apart from weekends were slim. Elvis had been lenient about the time away from work, but he couldn't bend the rules forever. Charles knew too that although he was delighted that he was being discharged he'd miss Molly. Plus a thirty year old moving back into his parent's home, a home he'd left over ten years ago was a sobering thought.
It was actually therefore Mary who can up with the solution, the compromise. For the last week of leave Molly offered to move into Charles' house to look after him. Charles accepted readily. Then once she had to go back to work Charles would continue his convalescence at his parents. This was the bit he was not looking forward to. That and only seeing Molly at weekends. Especially as that Elvis had already started to take the piss about him being a Mummy's boy again.
Molly's moving in, although temporary was a big step for both of them. Living together seemed to have quite an unspoken significance for them. One could almost see it as a trail run. Molly was nervous, she had so many self-doubts. Charles could tell, truth be told though he was too, but all he wanted was to hold Molly in his arms, in private and be together in a way they had both deeply missed. To have conversations with her without the fear of being over heard. To touch her without the need for restraint. To love her as Molly Dawes deserved to be loved.