The Very Thought of You
Chapter 36
Joey made her way to Charlie's home. It was now dark but the moon was bright lighting her way. Charlie's words washed over her yet again. She needed to speak to her. She needed to understand. What was the meaning of her words?
She quietly stepped up to the front door and knocked. A few moments later, Charlie opened the door, looking surprised, but not unhappy to see her.
"Hi." Joey managed.
"What are you doing here?" Charlie asked softly.
"I don't think we finished that conversation from this afternoon." She replied simply. "I think we should."
"There's too much going on here at the moment. Everyone's home and..."
"Okay, so come out for a walk with me now or we may never have another chance." Joey said, fingering the brown envelope in her pocket.
Charlie stared at her for a few moments, a wave of excitement filled her being. She nodded.
After telling Ruby she was popping back to the station for a while, she joined Joey at the door. She took a deep breath and stepped outside. The two girls walked away together.
They walked for sometime in silence following a path which, lead them to a field. At long last Joey broke the silence.
"How's the Squadron Leader?"
"He's not great. He has a badly burnt face and has lost the sight in one eye. They're hoping to save the other. He'll never fly again." Charlie said, sadly.
"Poor man." Joey sympathised. "How is Janet taking it?"
Well, you know Jan. On the chin, but deep down, I think she's devastated."
"I'm sorry. She only deserves the good things in life."
"So do you, Joey." Charlie said quietly but keeping her eyes averted.
Joey said nothing but her heart beat faster with Charlie's words.
"I'm sorry for what happened the other day – between us, I mean. I completely panicked. I had it all worked out in my mind what I was going to say to you, when I was at Dad's, speeches, the lot!" She chuckled, "But when you're around me, Joey, I don't function well. It all came out wrong and," glancing at Joey, "you must hate me!"
"I don't hate you Charlie! When you're near me, I find it hard to breath. I feel overwhelmed with emotion. I'm so in love with you." The words tumbled out of Joey's mouth.
"I think, I'm in love with you too." Charlie confessed, quietly.
The girls stopped walking and turned to face each other.
"I've been so scared." Charlie said, "Worried about my work, my family and how all this could affect them. What will they think of me? What will people say?"
"Charlie. I can't answer those questions. I've asked them so many times in my life. But I know I don't want to stop loving someone or being with them for fear that someday, somebody might point the finger of scorn at us. It may not even happen! I don't propose to shout my feeling for you from the roof tops! I just want to be with you and know that you love and want to be with me too." She paused for a moment. "Do you want to be with me?" Joey asked searching Charlie's eyes for the answer.
Charlie looked anxiously at Joey, but after finding so much love in her eyes, relaxed a little and whispered,
"Yes, I want to be with you."
Joey gently touched Charlie's cheek with her hand. She looked deep into her love's eyes and smiled. Charlie desperately sought safety and assurance in Joey's eyes and found them. All the pain and anguish she had inflicted on them both over the last two weeks seemed to crumble away to dust. She took Joey's other hand in hers and gently put it to her lips. Joey stepped closer to Charlie and as their soft lips met, the whole world and its sorrow melted away, leaving only the two of them and the night.
And about blooming time too !!! :-)