As Time Goes By
Chapter 18
After a visit to the local Doctor, Joey was granted permission to resume her duties on the following Monday. She packed up her things the evening before and Charlie promised to walk her to the bus stop early the next morning to catch the six thirty bus to Dover.
***
The dank January morning was cold and very dark. The dawn wasn't due to break for at least an hour and a half and the girls walked together, hand in hand, down to bus stop with little fear of discovery.
"Will they send you straight off to Brighton for this course or will you have to wait a while?" Charlie asked as they neared the bus stop.
"I imagine I'll be sent in the next day or two, but can't be certain. A lot's happened since Christmas, hasn't it, Charlie?"
Charlie looked at Joey and smiled.
"You might say that! I still can't believe it. It started off so beautifully, just you and I and a bottle of Champagne and look how it finished!" Charlie complained.
Joey chuckled.
"Well, it hasn't wiped out the memories of your Christmas present to me, that's all I care about. Actually, Charlie; there's something I want to speak to you about before the bus comes." Joey said, lowering her eyes to the ground.
Charlie immediately started to look anxious. She couldn't help it; every time Joey had something important to say, poor Charlie felt her world was about to end.
Joey looked up into Charlie's worried face and grinned.
"You're such a worrier, Charlie Buckton! I haven't told you yet what it is and your face looks like a wet weekend in Skegness!"
Charlie blushed and chuckled.
"Sorry." She said, quietly.
Joey surreptitiously slipped one arm around Charlie's waist and kissed her cheek.
"I was thinking that now I'm nearer home, I should do something about ... Robert Cruze."
Charlie looked at Joey in surprise. She hadn't broached the subject knowing that Joey was very sensitive about it.
"Well, if that's what you want to do darling, I'll support you whole heartedly! And I'm sure if I ask Morag, she'll stand for you. Would you like that?"
Joey looked into Charlie's eyes and nodded.
"Do you think she would?"
"There'll be trouble if she doesn't!" Charlie laughed, trying to make light of the conversation for Joey's sake. "I'll travel up to Dad's one evening after work and talk to her about it."
It was Joey's turn to look anxious. Charlie smiled and kissed her temple.
"Don't worry honey. It will be alright. I'll help you every step of the way, you know I will."
Joey smiled and closed her eyes for a brief moment.
"Sounds like the bus." Charlie said, breaking away from Joey's arms for a moment and picking up her luggage.
"Charlie. Take care, won't you. No playing with Doodlebugs without me, eh?"
Charlie smiled and quickly dropped the bags and wrapped Joey in her arms, hugging her tightly. Their lips met and they kissed urgently. Joey pulled away gently.
"Bye, sweetheart. I'll be in touch."
"Goodbye, darling. Take care and no playing with live mines!"
Joey smiled broadly and gave Charlie one more peck on her lips and flagged down the bus. Joey climbed on board and placed her luggage on the luggage rack and took a seat by the window. She wiped a hole in the misty pane to look through and smiled sadly at Charlie who stood outside looking up at her. She drew a love heart in the mist with an arrow passing through and wrote their initials either side. Charlie grinned and blew her a kiss.
The driver slammed the bus into gear and released the hand break. The bus reluctantly lurched forward and Joey blew a kiss back to Charlie and mouthed, 'I love you' and Charlie responded in kind and waved like mad as the bus drew away from the stop carrying Joey Collins with it.
***
That evening, Charlie hurried home from work and ate half a boiled egg; her appetite having diminished with her impending encounter. She changed into some warm, casual clothes and bidding farewell to Ruby, made for Whitstable Railway Station. The steam train was already waiting by the platform as Charlie anxiously purchased her ticket; not wishing to miss her connection. The whistle blew as Charlie leapt up into the carriage and pulled the heavy door shut behind her. Her journey was uneventful, but cold and draughty, and she was glad when she was able to change trains at Dartford and travel directly to Blackheath on another slightly more comfortable train. She left the station and walked to her father's house five minutes away.
***
"What a surprise, darling!" Ross said, as he greeted his daughter at the door. "Is anything wrong?"
"No Dad. I'm really here to see Morag. I need some advice about something."
Ross nodded removing his daughter's coat.
"She's out at the moment, but I expect her back at anytime." He paused for a moment. "How's your Joey?" He asked, looking at her slyly.
Charlie blushed and grinned.
"She's well, thanks Dad. I saw her off on a bus to Dover this morning. Today was her first day."
Ross smiled.
"I'm sure she'll be fine." He said and walked back to his daughter after hanging her coat on a hook. He took her hands in his own and looked seriously at her. "Darling, I think Joey is a wonderful young woman and I can see what a difference she has made to your life, but you will be careful, won't you?"
Charlie nodded. She knew exactly what her father was trying to say and only wished to reassure him.
"We are very careful, Dad. I'm glad you like her. She makes me so happy." Charlie said; her eyes shining.
Ross took her into his arms and held her. Suddenly, they heard a key in the lock and Morag bustled in with bags and a briefcase.
"Charlie! What a lovely surprise!" Morag said, glancing at her husband. "Everything's alright, I hope!"
"Everything's fine, thanks." Charlie smiled. "It was a moment of your time and some advice I'm after, but I can see you've only just arrived home from work."
"Please don't worry. Have you eaten?"
"Yes, I had a bite before I left home. Could murder a cup of tea, though!"
"Leave that to me!" Ross volunteered and walked off to the kitchen.
"So, how can I help you, Charlie?" Morag was intrigued to know.
"My friend ... Joey..." Charlie said, glancing up at Morag. "It's information for her, really."
"Well, come and sit in the lounge and explain things." Morag suggested, kindly as she took her coat off.
***
They seated themselves in front of a warm, open fire. Morag rubbed her hands vigorously; intent on warming them up.
"So, how can I help you or Joey, should I say?"
"Joey was raped by a man back in the spring of nineteen forty two. That's how we met." Charlie said, looking up at the Lawyer quickly. "We became very close and I managed to get her to make a statement to the Police, but due to one or two circumstances Joey left Whitstable and therefore, the case was never pursued. As you know, she's now back and living in Kent and has given me reason to believe she would like to take the matter further."
"So, how do I come into this?" Morag asked, sitting back on the sofa, folding her arms.
"I wondered if you would represent her." Charlie said, feeling very nervous.
Morag observed Charlie for a few moments and then cleared her throat and sat up straight.
"Charlie, before I give you an answer, I feel that you should be quite honest with me. Are you and this young woman romantically involved?"
Charlie blushed and averted her anxious eyes. She pondered for a few moments and slowly nodded her head.
"Thank you, Charlie. It must be a very hard thing to admit to and I don't judge you. I've heard of far worse things in my day! It's just better for me to know the whole truth if I'm going to represent my step-daughter's..." Here Morag paused, "'partner', shall we say, in a court of law."
"Thank you, Morag." Charlie said sincerely.
Ross bought in tea and a few sandwiches on a tray.
"Thank you, darling." Morag said, gratefully, smiling at her husband. "I'm sure your daughter can eat something now!"
Charlie grinned.
***
Morag asked Charlie to gather as much information and possible evidence against Robert Cruze as she could. So upon her return to work, Charlie sought out Joey's case file and procured what was necessary. Technically, she knew what she was doing wasn't ethical, but this didn't deter her. She made written copies of the paperwork and popped them in the post addressed to Morag.