The Very Thought of You
Chapter 7
"Where are you off to, Charlie?" Called Ruby from the kitchen.
"Just off to see a friend." Charlie replied, putting on her lipstick.
"Who?" Ruby enquired.
"Mind your own beeswax!" Laughed Charlie, as she walked into the kitchen and playfully smacked her younger sister's bottom.
"Ouch!" Ruby yelled in mock pain. "You're such a bully, Charlie Farley!"
Charlie poked her tongue out at her sister and hissed "Ruby the Booby".
It was Ruby's turn to poke tongue this time.
"See you later, Sweetheart. Bed by Nine O'clock, if you please!" Charlie called as she quickly closed the door behind her in an attempt to stem any youthful argument from her sister. She swung her gas mask box over her torso and headed off towards the sea.
Charlie followed the path along the sea front and then along the little road which lead to the houses where Joey Collins lived. It was a beautiful evening; warm and inviting. Charlie hoped Joey may take an evening stroll along the sea wall. Most people did at this time of year enjoying the good weather while it lasted. It was just a shame walking on the beach was not permitted due to land mines planted at the outbreak of war in case of invasion. If she didn't bump into Joey, she would have to knock at her door. After all, she was now an acquaintance and out of uniform, so where was the harm?
Things were quieter than Charlie had expected. She met no one besides a mouse-hunting moggy intent on murder. The cat had no time to devote to the young woman, so Charlie enjoyed the taste of the salt on her lips as she perched herself on the wall overlooking the sea front, alone. She was only about twenty yards from Joey's home but had been careful not to glance in that direction in case the girl had been looking out of the window. She didn't want to scare her off before they had a chance to talk.
A few minutes later, Charlie heard a door close from one of the nearby houses. She turned discretely to get a look at the offender and saw a man of about thirty years of age leaving Joey's house. She vaguely wondered who he was. After watching him walk down towards the pub and out of sight, Charlie continued her perusal of sea. Shortly, she heard another door close. This time, it was Joey herself walking away from the door. She slowly stepped down to the gate and into the street. She hesitated. She didn't seem to know which way to go. Charlie took her opportunity.
"Hello!" The Police woman called. "Remember me?"
Joey looked over in the direction of the voice and saw Charlotte, the Police Constable who had been so kind to her a few evenings previously, perched on the sea wall. Joey wandered over slowly, vaguely wondering why Charlotte was there and out of uniform. Maybe she was waiting for a date.
"Hello, Joey," Charlie smiled. "How are you?"
"Hello Charlotte. I'm fine, thank you. I haven't seen you 'round here before. What brings you here?" Joey asked suspiciously.
"Oh, please call me Charlie. My family do. Charlotte's a bit fussy! I just fancied a walk and found myself here. I was watching some aircraft flying over the channel just now and got lost in thought." Charlie improvised, pointing in the direction of an empty sky. "Are you off for a walk?"
"Just going to stretch my legs. Haven't been out much today." Joey confessed. She looked tired. She stood with her hands in her pockets and looked at the pavement, avoiding Charlie's eyes.
"Well, I suppose I should be moving along too." Charlie sighed and then stretched. Don't want to get arrested for loitering, do I?" She said, grinning.
Joey chuckled at the Policewoman's attempt at a joke. Charlie noticed what a pretty smile her companion had. She hadn't noticed it before.
"May I join you in your walk?" Charlie asked, hopefully.
"Well, I'm not much company at the moment, but yes, if you like."
The two girls walked along the sea path silently for a few minutes. Charlie was the first to break the silence.
"I hope you're feeling better now?"
Joey didn't answer right away. After a few moments; "I'm sorry about the other night. I made a bit of a fool of myself, I think."
"Not at all. I was worried about you. You know, I'm a very good listener if you'd like to talk?" Charlie offered.
Joey stopped walking and faced the sea. "You know, if I had my way, I'd sail out of here right now and never come back."
Charlie was slightly taken aback by the other girl's sudden statement. "Why?" She asked.
Joey sighed and looked at Charlie. "I'm just tired and want to be by myself to lick my wounds and get away from..."
She paused in mid sentence.
"Away from what?" Charlie asked.
"I, I.." The tears began to run silently down Joey's face. Her head hung low. Charlie gently put an arm around the young girl.
"It's okay, Joey."
Charlie allowed the younger girl to cry tears on her shoulder and gave her a handkerchief to wipe her moist eyes and nose. She turned Joey around to face her. "Joey, you need to talk to someone. Why don't you trust me? You know the old saying about 'a problem shared is a problem halved'? We can get through this, Joey, but you've got to trust me!"
Joey looked into Charlie's beautiful eyes and began to feel herself getting lost. Just in time, she came back into the real world and hung her head once more and said,
"I'm sorry, I don't think I can."
Charlie sighed and took hold of Joey's hand. "Joey, I know something bad has happened to you and I want to help you so much. Please trust me!"
Joey looked up again at Charlie. Maybe she could trust her. What did she have to lose? After a few moments, she took a deep breath and said "I use to work on one of those boats down there." Joey pointed in the direction of the wharf. "It was there it happened, one night after work. I was putting some crates tidy when I heard footsteps behind me. I thought it was strange because everyone else had gone home. I turned around and..." more tears fell from Joey's eyes. Charlie brushed them away with her hand. "I turned around and he was standing there with a horrible look in his eyes. It was almost wild! I asked him what he wanted and he grabbed me 'round the throat and pushed me into the cabin." Here she paused. "I tried to fight and scream but I couldn't do anything! It was like a nightmare! I opened my mouth to scream but nothing came out. Then, he pushed me to the floor and, and....I'm so ashamed."
The tears were flowing fiercely now. Joey was almost choked with grief. Charlie pulled the girl into her arms and held her tightly, gently rubbing her back. Her own eyes filled with tears. She must control herself. She, a Police Officer, couldn't be seen breaking down in front of the person she was trying to help and she did want to help this girl. She didn't really know why; it was a compulsion.
"Did he penetrate you?" Charlie asked gently. The other girl nodded through her tears.
Five minutes passed by and the two girls were in the same position. Suddenly, Charlie felt Joey shift in her arms. She had stopped crying and had managed to control her breathing again. She gently pulled away; her fingers briefly brushing Charlie's bear arms in the process. Her touch sent a strange, shivery sensation down Charlie's spine. She quickly stepped back from Joey and blushed. Surprised at the feeling of pleasure the other girl's innocent touch had given her.
Joey hadn't noticed Charlie's embarrassment. She was looking out to at the sea, wiping the last of her tears away with Charlie's very wet handkerchief.
Charlie composed herself and said, "Are you okay?"
Joey nodded and looked round at Charlie. She smiled, causing yet another shiver to run down Charlie's spine. "I'm fine, thank you. It was good to get it off my chest. It's the first time I've been able to put it into words out loud, thanks to you."
Charlie smiled in return. "Joey, will you come and see me at the Police Station tomorrow and make a statement about this?" Joey remained silent. "Please?" The Policewoman pleaded.
"They won't believe me." Joey said quietly.
"Why not?" Charlie asked.
"They never believe the girl, only the men." Joey said sadly.
"Well, sometimes that is sadly true, but quite often, these girls have been promiscuous and have allowed their young men to take too many liberties and then it gets out of hand. Sometimes, rightly or wrongly, they find in favour of the man. That doesn't mean it will happen in your case Joey. The man was Robert Cruze, I take it?"
Joey turned in surprise and faced Charlie. "How on earth do you know that?" she gasped, thinking of Andrew. Could he have spoken to Charlie about this and Charlie set a trap to get her to talk? After all, hadn't Andrew suggested that Joey should speak to the Police?
"I saw the way he frightened you in the pub the other night. I've had my eye on Mr. Cruze for some time now and when I saw your reaction to him and hearing your story this evening, I just put two and two together."
Joey stood open mouthed as Charlie spoke.
"No need to look so surprised," said Charlie, smiling. "This is a small town and we get to know the good guys and the bad uns. He is definitely a bad un!"
Joey's eyes left Charlie and looked down at the pavement.
"Joey, I need to ask you this," Charlie paused as if trying to find the right words. "Joey, you didn't perhaps, accidently encourage Cruze in any way, did you?"
"NO!" Joey yelled. "I wouldn't touch him with a barge-pole! Not in a million years!"
"Why? You worked together. Weren't you friends?"
"FRIENDS! He's a PIG!" Joey spat the words out. "He has bullied me and hurt me, made dirty remarks and gestures. I wouldn't let him..." Joey stopped speaking, trying to stop her tears from falling again.
"Sorry. I had to ask. Will you come down to the station tomorrow?" Charlie asked gently.
"Will I be able to give you the statement, if I did?" Joey asked quietly.
Charlie smiled at Joey. "Of course. You'll come then?"