The Very Thought of You
Chapter 28
The bus from Whitstable to Canterbury seemed slower than ever the next morning. It chugged up every hill and wheezed down the other side and even back-fired once or twice.
Charlie sat next to the window. She looked out at the rolling fields packed with produce just waiting to be harvested. Every square inch had been used to maximise productivity for the war effort.
The sun shone on Charlie's face making her eyes close a little against its glare. Slowly they closed completely and she drifted off into sleep. She had slept ill the night previously; running over the day's events one by one and feeling wretched each time she thought how she had nearly lost Joey.
"I've come to visit Josephine Collins." The Policewoman announced as she reached the reception desk.
"Which ward?" The clerk at the desk enquired.
"King George v ward." Charlie said in her most official sounding voice. She knew that visiting was not permissible during morning hours, so had donned her Police uniform under the pretext of interviewing the victim.
"No. I'm afraid you're too late." The clerk informed Charlie, after checking her book.
Charlie's heart skipped a dozen beats.
"Too late?" She croaked.
"The patient discharged herself this morning against the Doctor Armstrong's orders."
"Do you know where she went?" Charlie asked much relieved that she was at least alive.
"I'm afraid not. Good morning." And without attending to Charlie any more, picked up a file and made her way into another room.
Charlie stood, open mouthed and wondering where Joey could be. She slowly walked out of the main building of the hospital. Would Joey have caught a bus home? Could she still be in the City? Charlie reluctantly made a decision. She would catch the bus home in hopes of finding her friend there.
Joey sat at her kitchen table with her head in her hands. Brian had already left for work when she arrived back home. She was tired and sore. Her throat felt on fire from the previous days assort. She coughed and grimaced with pain. The kettle's whistle blew as it started to boil. Joey removed it from the stove and poured it into the tea pot on the table. Her activity was interrupted by a gentle tap at the front door. Joey heaved herself up, clutching her ribs and made her was along the passage to open the door.
"Charlie!" She croaked. "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to see how you are." Charlie said with concern.
"May I come in?"
Joey looked at her for a few moments and then opened the door wider to let her friend in. Joey led the way into the scullery and indicated to Charlie to sit down.
"Would you like some tea?" Joey croaked.
"I'd love one if you have one in the pot, thank you."
Joey poured the tea and sat down. She stared into her tea cup.
"So, how are you feeling?" Charlie asked watching Joey intently.
"Alright, I suppose. I feel as though I've been in a threshing machine and apart from a few bumps and bruises, I'll survive." She smiled, feebly.
Charlie studied Joey's face with concern.
"You shouldn't have discharged yourself, Joey. It was against the Doctor's orders."
Joey looked up sharply.
"How did you know I'd discharged myself?"
"I've just got off the bus from Canterbury." Charlie sighed. "I'd gone up wearing my uniform in hopes of them letting me see you this morning. Jo, I've been so worried!"
"Well, you needn't have been." Joey said very quietly.
Charlie felt a stabbing in her heart.
"Why did you leave, Joey!" She said with sudden passion.
"I don't like hospitals." Joey said looking at her tea cup again.
"Not hospital!" Charlie said raising her voice.
"Why did you leave me yesterday?"
Joey gulped, the action causing pain to her throat.
"Joey?"
"Because, I thought I was doing the right thing. You were obviously having difficulty with me being there and I can't be around you anymore, it's too hard, Charlie, it's too confusing!" Joey said as passionately as her voice would allow.
She got up and walked to the window leaning one hand on the butler sink, and held the other to her throat.
Charlie arose and walked toward Joey.
"Joey. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression." Charlie said, her heart beating rapidly.
"The impression wasn't wrong." Joey said in low voice, still looking out of the window.
Charlie swallowed.
"You're wrong."
Joey sighed and half smiled. "I forgot. You're interested in Lieutenant Austin. How did your date go?"
"It was..." Charlie paused and looked away. "It was fine."
"Well," Joey said, suddenly turning towards Charlie. "I'm leaving soon, anyway, so you'll not have to worry about me anymore."
"Where are you going?" Charlie asked glancing at the remainder of Joey's luggage on the floor.
Joey turned back to the window. "I don't know. But thanks for calling by." In such a small voice that Charlie quickly took hold of her arms and turned Joey around to face her.
"Joey, why are you doing this? We can still be friends can't we?"
Joey stared at Charlie in disbelief at the words she was hearing.
"Joey! I like men, I have always liked men! And I've never felt like this before!" Charlie said, her words tumbling out of her mouth uncontrollably.
"Felt like what before?" Joey challenged, looking intently into Charlie's eyes.
The two girls stared at each other for several long moments, both breathing heavily. Charlie's heart was beating so rapidly she felt sure Joey would hear it. Suddenly this same heart took command of her mind. She leant in towards Joey and gently placed her lips on to the other girl's, and closed her eyes. For a few short moments, both girls were lost in a secret world of their own.
Joey was the first to break the contact. She quickly pulled away from Charlie's embrace. Charlie felt crestfallen. Joey could hardly believe what had just happened. What Charlie had made happen.
Time stood still for a few moments; both girls struggling for something to say.
Even though she had just experienced the most blissful moment of her life, Charlie's head gained control again as she realised that she must pull herself together and ignore, for the sake of Joey, what had just occurred between them.
Joey was at a loss. She had just been kissed by the very someone she believed she would never possess. She retained eye contact with Charlie waiting for her next move but all too soon, realised the change in Charlie's eyes. It was replaced by a look of anguish and fright.
"Charlie?" Joey breathed.
Charlie's mouth slightly opened to speak but closed again almost immediately. Joey watched as the other girl swallowed hard, blinked her eye lids and hastily moved to the kitchen table.
"Charlie, I..." Joey stammered.
Charlie cut her words short.
"I think if we're going home, we better get going. I have to go to work soon."