As Time Goes By
Chapter 8
Liverpool Street station was cold and draughty. Joey's train had been delayed by an hour and a half and Charlie stamped her boot-clad feet on the ground trying to keep warm. Suddenly she felt a rumble as a steam train slowly approached the platform. Charlie's heart gave a leap of delight knowing it would only be a matter of moments before she would see the love of her life. Charlie picked up her overnight case and stood to one side watching the sea of faces who had disembarked from the train, heading for the ticket collector. She scanned each face in turn but couldn't see Joey anywhere. Her heart began to pound in fear that Joey hadn't been able to board the train; maybe something had happened at HMS Midge and she was unable to leave. Charlie's brow furrowed and she bit her lip. But suddenly, her hand was taken and squeezed.
"Joey." Charlie breathed.
"Hello you."
Charlie flung her arms about Joey and they embraced each other tightly.
"Welcome home, darling." Charlie whispered in Joey's ear. "I thought something had happened when I couldn't find you!"
"I think you'd better change your profession, Charlie, or get some spec's. I walked out right in front of you! I could tell you hadn't noticed me; wearing your little 'anxious face'!" Joey teased. "Police Constables, huh?"
Charlie laughed.
"You mind I don't get my handcuffs out!" Charlie warned.
"I do wish you would!" Joey grinned in return.
"Come on, give me your case. Look at all this luggage!"
"Well, don't forget I've lived up there for over two and a half years! And I have one or two little Christmas packages hidden here and there, which probably don't help, either!"
"Did you eat on the train?" Charlie asked, picking up Joey's suitcase.
"No and I'm starving!"
"Good." Charlie said with a little smile. "I have a surprise for you!" She said, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
Joey glanced at Charlie and threaded her hand around Charlie's on the suitcase handle. After all, the case was very heavy!
***
They left Liverpool Street Station and Charlie hailed a taxi.
"A taxi?" Joey asked in surprise.
"Ah-ha!"
"Where are we going?" Joey asked, watching the taxi as it pulled up in front of them.
The cabby jumped out and helped the girls in with their luggage.
"Where to ladies?" He asked.
"The Broadlands Hotel, Victoria, please." Charlie ordered.
"Right-oh!" The cabby said, swinging his black cab around and heading off.
"Why are we going there?" Joey asked; her eyes narrowing.
"Wait and see!" Charlie said; a wicked grin appearing on his lips.
***
The taxi pulled up outside The Broadlands Hotel and the engine chugged as the driver jumped out and helped the girls into the foyer with their luggage. Charlie paid the fare and tip and the taxi pulled away. Joey stood looking about the moderately plush hotel and grinned impishly as Charlie joined her.
"Well, I didn't expect this, Charlie! Are we having lunch here?"
"Yes, lunch and a little more!" Charlie said looking towards the hotel clerk.
"Good afternoon, ladies. May I be of any assistance?" The clerk smarmed as the girls walked towards him.
"Good afternoon. I have a room reserved in the name of Buckton." Charlie said, confidently.
Joey smirked and Charlie nudged her in the ribs.
The hotel clerk scanned a list of names in his book.
"Ah yes, a double room for one night, in the name of Mr. Charles. Buckton!" He confirmed, looking up and glancing at the two girls; one eyebrow raised.
"Yes, my husband booked it, but unfortunately, he was unable to join me, so my sister here has kindly agreed to meet me today and we're off to see a show this evening." Charlie said, smiling.
"Unfortunately, Mrs. Buckton, I cannot offer you a twin room, as all our other rooms are taken, due to the Christmas rush."
"No! That's quite alright!" Charlie said, hastily. "It won't be the first time my sister and I have shared a bed." She said, glancing at Joey.
"And I doubt it will be the last!" Joey added, quietly.
Charlie tried to suppress a grin.
"Thank you, ladies. If I might ask you to sign our register?" The clerk simpered as he turned the register around to face Charlie.
Charlie picked up the pen and signed her name. Then, Charlie handed the pen to Joey.
"Your turn to sign, sister dear!" She said, flashing her eyes at Joey.
"And your identity cards please, ladies." The clerk said, holding out his hand.
Charlie swallowed, hoping the clerk wouldn't pay too much attention to her card as she passed it over. Joey smiled and held out her card. The clerk gave them a cursory glance and handed them back. Charlie smiled and accepted them gratefully.
The clerk hit the desk bell summoning a man in red livery and officiously ordered the elderly porter to take the luggage to room twenty one and handed him the keys.
Charlie thanked the clerk for his trouble and they followed the porter to the lift.
***
Joey was silent. She wasn't sure what was happening, but thought it best not to speak until she and Charlie were alone.
The porter unlocked the door and entered with the luggage, setting it down at the foot of the large bed.
"Thank you." Charlie said, slipping him a sixpence.
"Thank you Madam." He said, and touched his cap. He closed the door behind him as he left.
Charlie turned around to face Joey, who was lost in wonder.
"Come here, you!" Charlie ordered, holding her hands out to Joey.
"What on earth have you been up to, Charlie Buckton?" Joey asked, noticing the pretty flowers by the bedside.
Charlie took Joey in her arms and kissed her tenderly.
"It's for you! This is your Christmas present from me!"
A sudden knock at the door made them jump apart.
Charlie opened the door and a young woman in a black and white uniform stood with a trolley laden in fine foods and an ice bucket with champagne.
"Oh! How wonderful!" Charlie said, in mock-surprise. "My darling husband, Charles, has thought of everything! It's just a shame he can't be here to share it!"
Joey turned her back on the scene; her face puce from pent up amusement. The maid laid out their meal on a little table and wished them 'bon appétit' and left.
"Wow!" Was all Joey could think of to say.
"Happy Christmas, darling!"
Joey looked from the food and champagne to Charlie, her mouth a little open.
"Charlie! I don't know what to say!"
"Just say, 'Charlie, I love you madly!'" Charlie said, with French accent. "and I'll be more than happy!"
"Then, Charlie, I love you madly!" Joey said, impersonating Charlie and giggled.
Charlie smiled and drew Joey back in her arms again.
"I love you madly too!" She whispered.
***
They drank the champagne and ate their tasty lunch and kissed and cuddled in between.
"I can't eat another thing!" Joey said, sitting back in her chair and loosening her skirt. "I didn't realise this sort of yummy food could still be got, on ration! I hope it isn't black market, Constable!" Joey said with a frown.
Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"So, what was 'husband' thing about?" Joey asked after a moment.
"I thought it would look better that way, booking a double room, I mean."
Joey got up out of her chair and walked across to the vase of flowers and bent to smell the blooms. She noticed a little card hidden in the display and plucked it out.
It read,
'To my darling girl, with love from Charlie. xx'
Joey grinned at Charlie's ingenuity.
"My goodness! You thought this out well in advance, didn't you, Mr. 'Charles' Buckton?"
"I was worried stiff when the hotel clerk asked for our Identity cards! I had visions of him realising I was single and blowing the whistle on us!" Charlie said with a grin. "If I'd just booked a double room for you and me, it might have got him thinking." Charlie said in a seductive voice, as she began to unbutton Joey's uniform blouse.
Joey looked down at Charlie's busy hands. She stood up, bringing Charlie with her and kissed her. Their kiss soon became impassioned and they slightly lost balance and fell onto the large bed and started to giggle; the champagne beginning to work its magic!
"Are you drunk again, Joey Collins?" Charlie teased.
"No! Not me, it must be you, coz you've gone blurry!" Joey giggled.
"Well, I'm not that blurry that I can't do this!" Charlie said straddling Joey and undoing her own blouse in a strip show for her girlfriend.
As Charlie unbuttoned her blouse, Joey gave a hand in unzipping the side zip in Charlie's skirt.
"I hope you're not trying to steal my thunder!" Charlie said as she dropped her blouse on the floor.
"No, I'm just playing the Good Samaritan and lending a helping hand!" Joey smirked, running her hands over Charlie's ribs.
"Ugh! That tickles!" Charlie complained and doubled up, giggling.
Joey did it all the more until she'd managed to push Charlie off her body and pulled her skirt from under her.
Their arms folded about each other and they kissed through their happy smiles.
***
Outside, it started to snow again. Large white flakes fell onto the dirty, grey London pavements and roads. Footsteps and tyre marks were quickly covered by a persistent soft, white blanket.
***
Joey grinned wickedly at Charlie as she unhooked her front fastening bra and slowly pulled each cup apart revealing Charlie's pert breasts. Joey's soft hands lightly covered them, feeling the delicate soft skin and hardened nipples beneath. She lowered herself and kissed between them enjoying the warm, slightly salty taste of her lover. Charlie drew her arms around Joey imprisoning her for a few moments. Charlie let her hands relax slightly and found Joey's bra clasps which she easily unhooked and the garment drooped and hung between the two girls. Joey sat up straight; a smile playing on her lips and cast the bra to one side. Charlie's long arms reached up to Joey and pulled her down once again onto her own body; their breasts touching. Joey's lips found Charlie's and they kissed fervently in the gloom of the chilly December afternoon.
***
The snow entirely covered the pavement and roads and the Christmas Eve traffic had problems as their tyres slipped around on the un-gritted roads. Squealing children appeared from nearby houses delighting in the white fluffy display. Pieces of wood, tin trays and even dustbin lids were collected for make-shift sledges.
***
Charlie pulled off Joey's uniform skirt and kissed her stomach. Her hands slowly slid down Joey's thighs and unhooked her suspenders, freeing her stockings. Charlie lifted Joey's legs one at a time removing the silk stockings and casually dropping them onto the floor. She smiled down at Joey who beamed back. Joey captured Charlie's body tightly between her legs and giggled.
"Now get out of that one, Officer!" She teased.
"Easy-peasy!" Charlie said tickling Joey's ribs unmercifully.
"Okay!" Joey screamed and released Charlie from her vice-like grip.
Charlie fell onto the bed next to Joey and they cuddled and nibbled each other.
***
An elderly lady stepped out of the greengrocers shop and slipped over, much to the amusement of two other elderly ladies, eating cakes together in a tea shop window, opposite. Two of the children playing with their improvised sledges, hurried over to help the old lady to her feet. She was very grateful and slipped them a sixpence.
***
Charlie took hold of Joey's panties and slowly slid them down her legs; she followed closely behind kissing Joey's thighs making her shiver with anticipation. Upon reaching her feet, Charlie bit Joey's big toe and giggled. Joey jumped in shock and joined Charlie at the bottom of the bed and bit her ear lobe in revenge.
***
A soldier, home on leave; his wife and two children, built a snowman in their back garden. The children screamed with delight as mummy produced a carrot for his nose and two pieces of precious coal for his eyes. Daddy found an old bowler hat which he placed proudly on the snowman's head! Then the children made snowballs and tried to knock the snowman's hat off!
***
Joey removed Charlie's stockings carefully. She looped one around Charlie's neck and reeled Charlie into her. Charlie crawled up the bed as Joey dictated and came to rest in her arms. Charlie kissed her way down to Joey's breasts and encircled her tongue around Joey's nipple. Joey ran her fingers through Charlie's thick hair and arched her back as she craved more.
***
The Postman used his gloved hands to move the snow away which had drifted against the locked door of the red pillar box. He tutted; this being the third box he'd had to perform this operation on, before collecting the deposited mail, that afternoon. "Bloody weather!" He grumbled.
***
Joey slipped her hands into Charlie's panties and removed them deftly and Charlie helped by wiggling her hips from side to side. Soon, the two girls lay naked in each other's arms. Charlie gently stroked Joey's rosy cheeks and looked deep into her brown eyes. She still couldn't believe how lucky she was that Joey had found her again, one morning, last spring, by the River Thames after being estranged for so long but, here they were, together, deeply in love and about to complete each other's happiness.
Joey's hand slowly made its way down Charlie's body and Charlie's followed suit; their hands reaching the other's somewhere in the middle. Their fingers intertwined for a few moments as they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes, then their hands parted to find soft, magical places to pleasure in unison.
Their lips crushed together as their passions heightened and both softly moaned in their pursuit of happiness.