The Very Thought of You

Chapter 22

Joey caught her fish and made her way to Brian's house to collect one or two things. She unlocked the front door and walked in. The house was surprisingly tidy. She was pleased that she wouldn't have to clear up. She put her bits and pieces into a bag and was about to leave when she noticed a little pile of mail on the mantelpiece. She picked up the envelopes and read the recipients names. All were addressed to her. She popped them into the bag and headed for her lodgings.

Charlie arrived home from work and walked into the kitchen. The aroma of good cooking greeted her, making her tummy rumble appreciatively. Joey head was in a cupboard and hadn't noticed Charlie's entrance until she spoke.

"Something smells wonderful!"

"Ouch!" Joey cried as she bumped her head. "Sorry, didn't hear you come in. It's a kind of fish stew. Freshly caught this morning and the vegetables are fresh from the allotment!" She boasted, proudly. "All my own work!"

"Sorry I'll miss it." Charlie said unbuttoning her uniform tunic.

"Miss it?" Joey asked, crestfallen.

"Don't tell me Ruby didn't tell you?" Charlie moaned.

"Tell me what?" Joey asked.

"I saw her at lunchtime and I told her to tell Janet that I have something on tonight and not to include me in dinner arrangements."

"I haven't seen Ruby, and Janet has a date with the Squadron Leader this evening. Oh well, all the more for us!" Joey said, trying to sound cheerful, but really feeling extremely disappointed. She had prepared the meal with Charlie in mind and had taken such care to make everything as wonderful as possible.

"Well, I'd better get myself ready." Charlie said, about to walk out of the kitchen. She hesitated for a moment. "Sorry Jo." She said quietly. With that she walked off to the bathroom.

Ruby came bouncing through the door at about six forty five.

"Joey! I won't be in for a meal tonight. Annie, Phyllis Roberts, Rosemary Smith and I are going to get some chips and go back to Annie's to play her gramophone." Ruby said, panting. "So can you save whatever's cooking for another night, please? It smells lovely!"

"So nobody wants dinner tonight?" Joey said feeling even more disappointed with all the trouble she had taken.

"Charlie will be....Oh! Sorry Jo! I was meant to tell you or Janet that Charlie would be out this evening! Has she got a date, d'you know?"

"I r-really don't know." Joey said, beginning to wonder herself. "Say! I have an idea. Why don't you ask your friends over to have a meal with you? You could play the hostess!" Joey suggested. "The food won't keep and it's almost ready. Can't let good food go to waste. There's a war on!"

"WOW! That's a great idea. We can play our records afterwards! I'll go and get them!" Ruby said as she rushed out of the house to round up her friends and invite them to her supper party.

Joey heard Charlie's bedroom door close and her footsteps on the stairs leading down into the hallway. Joey looked up and saw Charlie dressed in a beautiful blue satin dress, pre-war, but still looking stunning. The blue of the dress matched Charlie's eyes.

"WOW!" Joey said as Charlie entered the kitchen. "You look wonderful!"

"Thank you." Charlie said nervously. She fiddled with her stockings making sure the seam was straight at the back. She'd rolled up her hair at the front as was the mode of the day and wore her pretty peep-toed court shoes.

"So, where are you off to?" Joey asked brightly.

"I've got a sort of date." Charlie mumbled, as she fiddled with the clasp of her evening bag.

"I-I didn't know you were seeing anyone!" Joey said in surprise.

"Well, I'm not really. But Hugo asked me again and I decided I'd give him a whirl."

Joey could hardly believe her ears. Hugo Austin! The man whom Charlie seemed to dislike so much.

"Well, I hope you have a good evening." Joey said, not really knowing what else to say.

"Thanks." Charlie said and turned to walk away. "Oh! And you too."

"Thanks." Joey said quietly as she watched the love of her life walk along the hall, open the front door and leave.

Joey's heart fell into her shoes. She felt like a huge boulder was pressing on her chest which she couldn't move. She closed her eyes tightly trying to suppress the pain. There was only one thing she could do now. She took and re-opened the brown envelope, part of the mail which she picked up from Brian's mantelpiece that morning, and re-read the letter. She returned it to her pocket and put the finishing touches to Ruby's dinner party.