The Very Thought of You

Well, Chaps, this is the last chapter of the story. Thank you for taking the time to read it and I hope you have enjoyed it. Many thanks to the reviewers. "We'll meet again!" (I hope!) ~Sweet&Lovely~ xxx

Chapter 54

Charlie woke early on Saturday morning. She made her way to the kitchen and found her young sister already up and dressed.

"You're up early for a Saturday." Charlie commented, looking at the clock. It was seven o'clock.

"So are you!" Ruby replied.

"Are you going out or something?" Charlie asked.

"Well, I thought I would go and call on a friend."

"Oh yes, and who, of all your friends, would be up at this time of the day?" Charlie asked with a smile.

"Joey Collins." Ruby said, shifting uncomfortably.

"Joey?" Charlie said, her heart beating a little faster. "Why?"

"Well, she's my friend and I want to know she's alright."

"She won't talk to you."

"She might."

"She won't talk to you because you're my sister!" Charlie said, stating the obvious.

"She might." Ruby repeated, "As it's me."

Charlie stared at Ruby.

"Aren't you even going to try again?" Ruby exploded.

Charlie jumped at her little sister's outburst.

"She won't talk to me Ruby! I've tried, but she keeps running away from me!" Charlie said, tears filling her eyes.

"Fight for her Charlie! Get down on your knees and beg if necessary!"

Charlie chewed her finger nail. She shook her head and walked back to her room.

"That's it Charlie. Give up." Ruby sighed.

***

"Miss. Collins! There's a visitor for you!" Mrs. Glover, her landlady called.

Joey's heart sunk. Could this be Charlie?

"Thank you, Mrs. Glover. I'm on my way."

Joey finished buttoning up her suit jacket and left the bedroom; slowly walking down the stairs. She was more than a little surprised to see the younger Buckton sister standing in the hallway.

"Ruby!" She said and smiled.

Ruby's eyes filled with tears and ran to Joey who welcomed her with a hug.

"Oh, Joey! I'm so sorry for the way things have worked out." Ruby sobbed.

"Come up to my room." Joey said, taking a tearful Ruby by the hand and leading her up the stairs. She closed the door behind them.

"Ruby, I can't begin to tell you how sad I am about the way things have worked out. I really believed your sister and I would be together forever, but..."

"You can, Joey! Charlie loves you beyond belief and is heartbroken that you won't listen to her." Ruby pleaded.

"Ruby, I have listened to her and I'm sorry, but I can't stop thinking about her and Hugo Austin!"

Ruby sighed. Her sister and her sister's friend were both being stubborn.

"Well, there's nothing more to be said." Ruby said sadly. She looked about the room.

"Are you packing, Joey?" Ruby asked, noticing the suitcase open on the bed.

"Yes Ruby. I am. I'm leaving today."

"Where are you going?" The younger girl asked, noticing Joey's suit.

"I'm going to London, then after that, I don't know."

"Joey, you don't have to do this, you don't have to go away. It will tear Charlie apart. Please don't do it!" Ruby begged.

"Ruby, I'm sorry. I have no choice."

Joey took Ruby into her arms and they cried together.

***

Charlie was sitting at the breakfast table when Ruby came dashing through the kitchen door.

"Charlie! Quickly! Joey's leaving. She's going to London and then going on somewhere else after. You've got to hurry. She's catching a train." Ruby cried.

Charlie was up and out of her seat in a moment.

"When is the train due to leave?" She called putting her shoes on.

"I don't know, but soon!"

With that, Charlie flew out of the door and ran as fast as her legs would allow to Joey's lodgings. She arrived panting, and hammered loudly on the front door. Mrs. Glover opened it looking slightly miffed at the visitor's noisy request for entry.

***

"I'm not deaf!" She said.

"I have to speak to Miss. Collins, urgently!" Charlie pleaded.

"Pardon?" The landlady said.

"Joey, I need to speak to Joey Collins!"

"Well, you can't. She left here fifteen minutes ago. She's off to the station to catch a train. Good morning to you." And with that, closed the door in Charlie's face.

Charlie stood for a few moments, gathering her wits. Suddenly she turned on her heel and made for the railway station.

***

Joey stood on the station platform. It was quiet as no one else was around, apart from the lady porter sweeping up some leaves at the other end of the platform. A tap, tap, tap of shoes running along the platform made Joey look behind her; it was Charlie running towards her, with a platform ticket in her hand.

"Joey! I thought I'd missed you!"

"Charlie, you shouldn't have come." Joey said, her voice breaking and tears beginning to fill her eyes.

"Joey, please don't leave me, we can work this out. I love you so much. My heart is breaking, please Joey?" Charlie pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Charlie, I have no choice. I've been called up. I've joined the Wrens."

Charlie stared at Joey open mouthed. She had totally forgotten about Joey's interview. It had been on the same day as she had been suspended from work and had stayed the night in Canterbury.

"Joey, I'd – you never said...Oh Jo!" Charlie dissolved into tears.

Joey heard the distant rumbling of a train coming along the rails.

"I really have to go." Joey said, picking up her case and gas mask box. "I'll miss you."

Charlie stared at Joey for a few moments and then glanced back at the steam engine nearing the station platform.

"Joey, I..."

Joey dropped her case and bags and hastily pulled Charlie towards her and tenderly kissed her on the lips. She soon broke apart and stooped to pick up her luggage.

Charlie remembered the little China boat which she had found in her bedroom that morning and took it out of her pocket.

"I found this. You won't want to leave it behind."

Joey took the little boat and kissed it.

"You look after it for me." She said, handing it back to Charlie.

"Take care of yourself, Joey." Charlie said, sadly. "Maybe when you have some leave we could..."

The train had now pulled in and the steam from the engine's boiler hissed preventing Charlie from finishing her sentence.

"I don't know, Charlie. I'm sorry, I have to go." Joey said, boarding the train and slamming the carriage door behind her. She leaned out of the carriage window. "God bless you."

"Good bye, my love. God bless you too." Charlie said, tears streaming from her eyes.

The Station Master blew his shrill whistle and the Fireman waved his flag and the train grunted into life and began to chug out of the station.

Charlie anxiously looked at Joey who hung out of the window.

"I love you!" Joey silently mouthed to Charlie.

"I love you too!" Charlie silently mouthed back.

Their eyes never broke contact as the train continued on its way out of the station; with each blast of steam from its funnel, tearing the two girls apart.

Charlie watched as the train rounded the bend and disappeared from view taking the love of her life with it. She stood a lonely figure on the platform; still gripping onto Joey's little china boat. She heard the train whistle blow in the distance, as it made its way towards London.

"I see your face in every flower, your eyes in stars above. It's just the thought of you, the very thought of you, my love."

~ The End ~

(Or is it?)

COMING SOON, TO A FANFIC NEAR YOU, "I'LL BE SEEING YOU"