The Very Thought of You
Chapter 2
WPC Charlotte Buckton sat at her dressing table putting on the final touches to her face. She felt tired but glad to have the chance to go out for an evening. After two weeks without a day off, she was feeling suitably weary, but after seeing her recently widowed friend, Martha, in town that afternoon, she agreed to meet her in the The Old Neptune for a Gin and Tonic and some very welcome girl talk.
Charlotte, or Charlie as she was known by her nearest and dearest, was in her late twenties; a tall, beautiful brunette, who little realised how her pretty look's affected those around her. As she walked her beat, many of the townsmen would turn, firstly to admire the slender WPC in her uniform and then visualize her out of it! She was pursued by many men, but she seldom took any of them seriously. She put it down to "the war" and times being hard due to rationing.
She gave her hair a final brush and stood up. Gave herself one final check in the mirror, flicked off a piece of fluff, picked up her hand bag, turned off her light, and headed for the kitchen, bumping directly into her sister who, at that moment, was making a hasty retreat to her own bedroom.
"Oi!" Yelled Charlie, as young Ruby elbowed her in the ribs.
"Sorry Charlie, but 'ITMA's on the wireless in a minute and I need to get my homework done – s'in me satchel and..." Ruby replied, still running.
"Sorry, just a minute! Why are you still doing your homework at this hour?" Charlie asked, glancing at her watch. "Besides, you've had all the summer holiday to do that. You should have had it done weeks ago! And where were you when I got home from work?" Charlie demanded.
"Well, Annie and I went to see that gaping great hole which the bomb blast left in Mrs. Hodges back room and we met up with Doreen and Rose Cooper and they were telling us about...."
"Okay Ruby, spare me the details. Just do your homework and don't sit up all night listening to the wireless. I'll not be out too late. When I get back, I want to see you in bed and fast asleep. Oh, and by the way, keep away from 'gaping great holes'. There may be a gaping great unexploded bomb down there, and then you might end up with a gaping great hole in your head! Night, sweetheart." Charlie called. But Ruby was too busy searching her school bag to take heed of her sister's instructions.
Ruby was fifteen and like all fifteen year olds was only interested in three things, film stars and pretty dresses and romance. She was a clever child; quick witted and observant. Charlotte was Ruby's guardian. Their Father was a sickly man who lived with their step mother on the outskirts of London. Under the circumstances, it was considered better for Charlotte to look after the headstrong teenage girl and safer for her being out of London, away from a greater threat of bombing.
Charlie checked the blackout in the kitchen and turned off the kitchen light before opening the back door.
"Bye Ruby!" She called. No answer, came her reply.
"This is Josephine Collins, Alf." Said Andrew Aden, introducing the young woman to the Publican.
"Good evening Josephine. Welcome to the Neppy and thank you for coming along." Said Alf warmly, shaking the young woman's hand.
"Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Stewart." She smiled gratefully. "But please, call me Joey."
"Oh, alright love. Funny name for a girl though. I knew your father, you know. Nice fella was Ted. Sorry to hear about him and your mum. Bad, very bad indeed." Sympathised Alf.
Joey smiled sadly. "Thanks, Mr. Steward. I miss them both. A lot."
"Well now, let's take your jacket and show you the bar." Alf helped Joey off with the garment and showed her the way to the bar area.
Andrew left them to it, promising to call for Joey after closing time to walk her home.
Charlie and her friend, Martha Holden sat together sipping their G&T's. Martha was busy singing the praises of her late husband's cousin who was in town.
"He's so nice, Charlie, everyone thinks so. He told me he thought you were really pretty. What do you think about him?"
"Hugo? Well, he's nice enough, but not really my cup of tea. Besides that, I'm not interested in men at the moment, Martha. I'm far too busy and then there's Ruby..." Charlie tried to explain.
"Oh, come on Charlie, don't make Ruby an excuse! You haven't been out with a man since you parted company with Paul Roman. That was months ago now! Do you good, take you out of yourself." Martha enthused. He's quite the Navel hero so my father-in-law tells me! Tony says that he's stationed in Scotland somewhere. Something to do with diving and underwater stuff, I think. All very hush hush and I should think a bit dangerous too. Quite romantic." she said, winking at Charlie. "Lieutenant Hugo Austin of the Royal Navy."
"Really?" said Charlie trying to suppress a yawn.
"That's what I mean, it's pretty exciting, don't you think?" continued Martha without a let up.
Charlie was half listening to Martha's ramblings, but the sight of a familiar face who wondered up to the bar, suddenly captured, what was left of her attention, away from her friend. The man she recognised as Robert Cruze, a good for nothing fisherman who spent most of his leisure hours either getting himself drunk or trying to sell fake items to unsuspecting housewives from his black market bag. Charlie watched as he lent across the bar making the new barmaid jump nervously then back off away from him. Charlie noticed how the pretty young girl paled suddenly and hung her head, almost in shame. Cruze leered at the young girl and she heard him laugh in a very low and unpleasant way. The young girl beat a hasty retreat into the room behind the bar as Robert Cruze left the pub.
Charlie frowned. The young woman was obviously distressed and the police woman in Charlie was sufficiently interested enough to want to find out more.
"Sorry, Martha," Charlie said, interrupting her friend in mid flow. "Do you know the name of that new barmaid?" asked Charlie.
"Err, Granddad said her name was Josephine or Joey or something like. He employed her earlier on. Why?" Martha enquired, with a frown. "Is there a problem?"
"I don't know," Charlie replied slowly, "but she's just run off near to tears into your grandfather's back room. Do you mind if I pop back there and see if she's alright?" Asked Charlie already walking in the direction of the back room.
"Okaydoke. Granddad's popped out, so I'll watch the bar." Martha said.