The Very Thought of You
Chapter 23
Joey, Ruby and her young friends sat around the dinner table laughing and enjoying the meal Joey had prepared.
"This is wonderful Joey!" Ruby announced. "You didn't say you could cook like this!"
"Thanks Ruby. It was a recipe my mother used a lot. It was given to her by a French woman we met on a holiday a couple of years before the war."
"Well, foreign or not, it's lovely!" Said Annie.
Joey smiled at the scene. She had enjoyed the company of Ruby and her friends even though her heart was aching.
"So, I thought it best to help her out as I felt quite responsible for her losing her home. She's wonderful company and helps so much in the house, taking the heat off of Janet and me. She works so hard up at the allotment and Ruby adores her!" Charlie said smiling as she described her friend.
"Really?" Hugo replied toying with his food. "Fascinating."
Charlie stopped talking and the smile disappeared from her lips.
"Sorry. I've sort of gone on a bit, haven't I?" Charlie confessed.
"Well, a little. Well, a lot actually!" Hugo laughed.
"Sorry! You talk now!" Charlie suggested.
"Well, to give you my potted life history; I was born with webbed feet. I've always loved the sea and..."
"That sounds just like Joey...!" Charlie said smiling.
"Well, girls. Hope you don't mind me leaving you the clearing away, but I'm a little tired so I think I'll head for bed." Joey said, standing.
"Awww!" The young girls all chorused.
"Just stay a bit longer, Jo!" Ruby begged.
"Thanks all the same, Ruby, but I really am pooped. I'll see you!" She said, kissing the top of her young friend's head and walked away.
The kitchen clock read eleven fifteen when Charlie Buckton quietly opened the front door waving Lieutenant Hugo Austin goodbye. She closed the door behind her with a sign and leaned her back against it, briefly closing her eyes with relief. It had been a difficult evening. Hugo had been pleasant enough but he pawed her too much and was smarmy beyond belief. She opened her eyes. All the lights were out in the house. Charlie locked the door and set down her evening bag on the table. Her thoughts of Joey had been heightened this evening and she was still on her mind. She glanced at the clock wondering if Joey would still be awake. She walked a few paces with the intention of knocking quietly at Joey's bedroom door, but at the last minute changed her mind. It was late, she was tired and it would be unfair to wake Joey if she were sleeping. She picked up her evening bag and headed off to her own bedroom.
The next morning Charlie was slipping her uniform tunic on when she heard a little tap on the bathroom door.
"Charlie!" Ruby called. "Cuppa tea outside for you!"
"Thanks, Ruby. Just coming."
As she walked into the kitchen, Ruby was sitting at the kitchen table reading a book.
"Why are you up so early?" Charlie asked as she sipped her tea.
"Just wanted to make sure everything was put back properly after my dinner party last night." Ruby replied.
"Your dinner party?" Charlie asked with a look of doubt playing on her face.
"Yes. Joey arranged it all. It was wonderful! All the girls had a smashing time. We played records and cards and we had a scrummy dinner – Joey's a much better cook than you!"
"Why thanks!" Charlie said pulling a face, but proud of Joey.
"She's such a fun person. She was telling us about when she was a girl and what she got up to. It was a shame she left so early."
"Left? Where did she go?" Charlie looked sharply at Ruby.
"Oh, nowhere. Only to bed. She said she was feeling tired. Come to think of it, she did look tired. I hope she's not sickening for anything. Anyway, everything seems to be in order." Ruby said looking about her. "I'm gonna pop into the lavvy before Vince beats me to it!"
"Toilet, not 'lavvy'!" Charlie called shaking her head gently.
She thought about Joey and decided to give her a knock. She had almost walked to Joey's bedroom door when she heard someone calling from the kitchen. She hurried back to see who the visitor was. It was some boys collecting for a selvage drive.