Chapter Fifty

Two and a half years later, Charlie, Joey and Ruby were gearing up for a very important day. Three years of hard study – at least in Charlie's case – had brought them and the rest of their classmates to graduation. The day had fallen on Ruby's eighth birthday and her parents were determined to make it perfect.

Things had gone from strength to strength in their relationship and Joey had officially adopted Ruby the previous year and was now her legal guardian. Now, the couple were looking to rent a house together with Charlie off to train to be a police officer and Joey aiming to get into trawler work, with a view to eventually gaining enough experience and cash to start her own business.

They had looked around at the best places to raise their daughter and settled on a quaint, nearby town called Summer Bay. Its school came highly recommended, the locals seemed friendly and the fishing business was booming. Also, for a small town, the police looked like they were kept exceptionally busy, which was a challenge Charlie was looking forward to.

As the graduation ceremony began, Ruby sat excitedly in her seat between her grandparents who both looked very proud of their daughter. Joey's parents hadn't come to the ceremony but Joey had reluctantly agreed to visit them at some point in the near future. While Ruby didn't quite understand Joey's home situation, she was very aware that she rarely went to see her parents and had spent the last two Christmases with the Buckton family instead of going home.

"There's Mum!" the eight year old squeaked excitedly as she saw her mother step on stage in her gown to be handed her diploma.

Ruby jumped up onto her seat and clapped loudly while her well to do grandparents tried not to look embarrassed.

"I love you, Mum!" Ruby bellowed.

On the stage, Charlie jerked her head to the audience and was sure she could spot the unmistakable silhouette of her daughter bouncing up and down on her chair.

"I love you too, Rubes," Charlie chuckled softly so nobody heard her.

She shook hands with the University Chairman, took her certificate and stepped off the stage.

Three long hours later, the ceremony had finished. Just as she had done with her mother, Ruby had leapt out and shouted that she loved Joey when her time had come to get her certificate. Now, having chatted to their friends for a while, Charlie and Joey returned to Ruby, Ross and Charlie's mother. Ruby launched herself at both of them.

"I'm so proud of you," she declared.

Joey picked her up, even though the little girl was far too big for such things now.

"Thank you, sweetheart," she said affectionately.

"Did you hear me?" Ruby asked eagerly. "Did you hear me cheering?"

"People on the other side of the world heard you cheering!" Charlie teased.

Ruby's eyes widened in shock until she realised her mother was joking.

"We're both very proud of you," Ross said sincerely. "Of both of you."

Joey smiled shyly. She and Charlie's parents had built up a surprisingly good relationship and they were the closest thing to good parents she had ever known. At first, Joey and Charlie had both worried that Mr and Mrs Buckton would object to their daughter being in a lesbian relationship but although they had admitted it wasn't what they would have chosen for her, they were happy that she was happy.

"Thank you," Charlie said.

"Thanks," Joey put in.

"Listen, we hear it's someone's birthday today," Ross ventured.

Ruby looked immediately excited.

"So we were going to treat our three favourite girls to dinner," her grandfather said. "What do you think?"

"Yes, please!" Ruby enthused. "Can we have ice cream?"

Her back aching, Joey put her down and ruffled her hair.

"You might need some proper food first," she said.

Ruby pouted but as usual, it didn't last long.

With Charlie's parents heading home and Ruby in bed, Charlie and Joey were relaxing with a glass of wine each in the lounge of their new home.

"What an amazing day," Joey said happily.

She smiled in sheer adoration at her girlfriend. Charlie moved to snuggle up into her arms.

"It's been perfect," she declared.

"Well, not quite... yet," Joey said.

Charlie sat up and smirked at her.

"Oh, really?" she remarked.

Joey laughed and took both her hands.

"For once, I actually wasn't talking about that," she revealed.

Charlie looked bewildered. Joey studied their joined hands as she began to speak.

"Charlie, I want you to know how much I love you," Joey ventured.

"I know," Charlie said softly, gazing into her partner's eyes.

"Every single day that we've been together... I've been happier than I even thought was possible. You really do mean everything to me and... I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Joey feared her heart might burst out of her chest as she slipped off the sofa and onto one knee. Charlie's eyes widened as Joey let go of one hand and dug around in her pocket. Her fingers trembled as she opened a small, black, velvet box and presented it to Charlie.

"Will you marry me?" she asked nervously.

Charlie just stared between the beautiful ring sitting happily on the cushion and Joey's equally beautiful face.

"Are you serious?" she asked.

"If you're going to say yes, then I'm totally serious," Joey said. "If you're going to say no then I'd rather just pretend I dropped something and I'm kneeling on the floor in a bid to find it."

Beaming at her, Charlie also moved to kneel on the floor. She held onto Joey and gazed into her eyes.

"Of course I'm saying yes," she said sincerely. "There could never be another answer."

Joey matched Charlie's happy expression, genuinely elated. Still trembling a little, she took the ring out and slipped it onto Charlie's finger. She put the box on the sofa and closed the gap between their bodies. They united in a passionate kiss that left them both overwhelmed.

"Now this really is the most perfect day," Charlie confirmed.

Well, I hope that you have enjoyed this one. A few people have referred to it as a favourite so I am really pleased about that. I hope you like the ending and also the rather bumpy journey to get there! I am in the process of writing two new stories so when I have a few chapters down, I will start posting them. Love, IJKS xxx