The Very Thought of You
Chapter 39
The girls arrived back home later that morning. Having given details of their discovery to the Police and helped the Military with their enquiries, they felt tired and hungry. Charlie put the key in the door and pushed it open.
"I wonder if anyone is around." She whispered, as they walked through to the kitchen.
"Why? You're not going to try and ravish me, are you, Constable?" Joey asked hopefully.
"Shhh, you!" Charlie sniggered.
"Do you think they bought my story about our interest in bird song?" Joey asked innocently.
"If I'd have been interviewing you, NO!" Charlie replied grabbing Joey around the waist and pulling her to her. "Couldn't you have come up with something more plausible?" She frowned.
"I'm sorry. Alf caught me on the hop and I couldn't think of anything else apart from making corn dollies! Don't think that's exactly you, Officer." Joey smirked.
"But why tell them we were interested in 'bird song'? Why not 'stamp collecting'?"
"Well, it was different, and apart from that, who takes their stamp collection out for a walk? And who in a million years would suspect the real reason for our barn activities? A man would never think of that!" Joey said placing her lips on Charlie's and holding her tight.
"Oh my God!" Came a small voice from the doorway.
Charlie and Joey broke free from one another and spun round to see a stunned looking Ruby standing with her hand to her mouth and disbelief in her eyes.
"Ruby!" Charlie cried anxiously. "Ruby, I'm so sorry."
Ruby turned and ran to her bedroom. Charlie shot Joey an anguished look and followed her sister.
Joey filled the kettle and lit the gas.
"Ruby! Let me in, please?" Charlie pleaded.
"Go away!" Her younger sister shouted. "I don't want to talk to you!"
"Ruby, please! I need to speak to you! Please let me in."
"Go away and leave me alone!" Ruby sobbed.
Charlie stood back from the door and felt sick. She slowly wandered back to the kitchen where Joey was pouring tea from the teapot.
"She won't talk to me!" Charlie said tearfully.
"Here. Drink this." Joey said kindly, passing a tea cup to Charlie. "Charlie, she's young and won't understand. She's frightened – horrified, even. Don't expect her to forgive and forget right away. The idea of two women feeling as we do for one another has probably never entered her head. Why would it? Wouldn't you have felt like your world had ended, seeing your sister with some dirty..."
"Joey, stop!" Charlie cried, putting her tea cup down. "It's not your fault – I was as much to blame, if not more; on my own doorstep. What can I tell her?"
"Charlie, I don't know. But if Ruby wants to blame or even 'brain' someone, better me than you! Let me talk to her." Joey said, resting her hand over Charlie's.
"No. She's my responsibility and I don't want her blaming anyone, especially not you!" Charlie said quickly, looking at Joey.
"Charlie, do you want me to go?"
"Joey! Please don't go anywhere, not for a while. I'm confused; I don't know what to do. Please don't go, yet!" Charlie pleaded.
Joey smiled trying to reassure Charlie.
"I'd better go and see if she'll talk to me now." Charlie said, standing.
"Take a cup of tea for her. I've put plenty of sugar in. Good for shock!"
"Think I'd better take some myself." Charlie smiled sadly and left the room.