I'll Be Seeing You
Chapter 3
The GI's, Wrens and Policewoman walked towards Covent Garden and into Rose Street. They entered the Lamb and Flag, which was noisy and smoky.
"Hey! Yelled GI, Abe, "This looks like a typical English pub!" He said, with excitement.
"Yeah. Let's get some drinks. Whata ya have, Ladies?" Asked GI, Chuck.
"Ul ave a straight Gin please!" Helen said, waving her hand.
Chuck looked at Joey and Charlie.
"A Shandy and G&T, please." Joey said, ordering for them both.
Charlie smiled at the familiar way Joey had assumed her choice of drink.
GI, Brad, stood back a little from the others and catching Charlie's eye, smiled at her. Charlie smiled back and took a seat next to Joey at a small wooden table. Joey glanced at Brad; his smile at Charlie had not gone unnoticed. A wave of jealousy washed over her.
"Here you are, Ladies!" Announced Abe. "One gin, straight up." Passing the glass to Helen. "One Gin and Tonic and one Shandy."
The girls thanked the soldier and when the men had received their pints, Chuck cleared his throat.
"Uh-hum... Cheers everyone!"
"Cheers!" Everyone followed, accept Helen.
"Bottoms op!" She said, laughing.
"So, where do you come from Ma'm?" Abe said, glancing at Joey and offering her a cigarette.
"No thanks." Said Joey, shaking her head.
"Ee, don't give 'er one; she chokes 'herself 'arf to death after one poof!" Helen said, laughing and accepting one herself.
"My home is in Kent. Whitstable; it's a sea-side town. Charlie and I both live there; well, I did until I joined up." Joey explained.
"And you Ma'm?" He said, looking at Helen.
"I'm from Yorkshire, in the North of England." She replied, smiling at the Chuck as he winked at her.
"Are you gals in the Navy?" Chuck asked Joey.
"Yes, we're Wrens, but Charlie," She said, glancing at her friend, "Is a Police Officer!"
Charlie blushed as the whole company looked at her. She shifted a little uncomfortably and smiled.
"But, you're not in uniform?" Brad, the quieter GI pointed out, taking the spare seat beside Charlie.
"No. I'm off duty at the moment. I met Joey and Helen by accident earlier today and they've kindly invited me out with them this evening." Charlie said, a little shyly.
"They have good taste!" The soldier said keeping his eyes fixed on Charlie.
Charlie felt Joey's body tense beside her. So why would Joey be fretting? Wasn't she the one who walked out on Charlie and never even bothered to write?
Charlie smiled at Brad's compliment and looked down at her hands which had nothing to do but fidget. She tucked them under her legs and smiled at Joey. But Joey's eyes were too busy glaring at Brad to notice.
***
The GI's told the girls about their homes in the United States of American. All obviously proud as punch to be serving their country, but missing home and family more.
"Yooz makes it sound soo romantic!" Helen said softly at Abe; leaning on his shoulder.
Joey sighed.
"What's wrong?" Whispered Charlie.
"She's filling herself with Gin and talking rubbish!" Joey hissed.
"She's only having some fun." Charlie said, casually. "Aren't you?"
"Not much. I wish it could be just me and..." Joey stopped in mid sentence, glancing at Charlie.
Charlie cleared her throat.
"You were saying?"
"Doesn't matter." Joey replied, again noticing Brad eyeing Charlie.
"How long are you London, Ma'm?" Brad asked.
"I don't know at the moment. I report back to work on Monday; I may have a better idea then."
"Well, I'd really like to take you out to dinner if you're still around next week, Ma'm. Maybe Monday evening?" Brad asked, politely.
Charlie blushed and felt Joey tense once again.
"Well, I won't make any promises just in case I'm not around. But thank you for the invitation." Charlie said quickly.
"Perhaps I could call you on the phone, Ma'm, just to see?"
"Well, I really don't know. My father..."
"Oh go on Charlie, give 'im your number, lass. You'll not regret it, I promise!" Helen said, winking.
"I think we can let Charlie make up her own mind, Helen!" Joey said, severely.
"Well, I was only saying..."
"Well, don't!" Joey snapped.
Helen sat stunned after seeing a brand new side to Joey.
Touched by Joey's protection, Charlie felt dangerously familiar feelings beginning to creep back into her heart. Oh! Why did Joey always manage to turn her world up on end?
"Well, maybe if I give you my hotel number, you could call me, if you'd like to?" The GI suggested.
Charlie sat uncomfortably not knowing what to do. She wanted to appear friendly, but didn't want to lead the handsome American on. She blushed and fidgeted until the tension was broken by the entrance of a bunch of British soldiers, stumbling through the pub door singing very loudly a rather 'ripe' army song. Everyone looked up and laughed, except Joey.
Charlie smiled and silently thanked them. She glanced at Joey who still sat stony faced and giggled. Joey glanced at her. It was very unlike Charlie to giggle at nothing.
"What's so funny?" She asked, feeling a little irritated.
"Nothing. I don't know. Everything!" The whole evening seemed somewhat surreal.
"Perhaps what your friend needs is another drink?" Chuck suggested.
"No, really." Charlie said, shifting in her seat. "I actually have to be leaving." She said, glancing at her wrist watch. She had to leave now, before it was too late!"
Joey's face dropped.
"Don't go!" She said, placing her hand on Charlie's thigh.
Joey's hand felt warm and Charlie delighted in its presence. She placed her own hand on top.
"I really have to. The last train goes at ten thirty and its ten o'clock now."
"I'll walk along with you." Joey said, reaching for her bag.
"That's okay Ma'm." Brad Interrupted. "I'll see Charlie to the station. It'll be my pleasure, Ma'm." He said, smiling at Charlie.
Joey and Charlie glanced at each other.
Charlie stood and collected her things. The other GI's and Joey stood also.
"Thank you all for a very pleasant evening. It was fun meeting you all. Goodbye Helen." Charlie said and then turned to Joey.
Joey's face was sad. There was so much she needed to say to Charlie but in a crowd, she hadn't had a chance.
"Well, you." Charlie said.
"Well, you." Joey repeated.
They paused and smiled at each other.
"Enjoy the rest of your leave." Charlie said at last. "It was..." she paused briefly, "nice to see you."
"Thanks, Charlie." Joey said, looking down.
Charlie gave her a quick hug and left the pub with Brad.
They hadn't walked far when Charlie heard her name.
"Charlie!" Joey came running towards her.
"Charlie, will you meet me tomorrow morning?" Joey asked; her eyes full of entreaty.
"Well I...yes of course, if you want." Charlie said. "Where?"
"Erm, what about Greenwich? Perhaps in the park by the Observatory? At least you won't have to travel too far."
"That's fine." Charlie said, her heart beating with excitement.
"At ten o'clock?" Joey suggested.
"At ten o'clock. By the Observatory?"
Joey nodded, squeezing Charlie's hands and smiling.
"I've missed you." Joey said.
"I've missed you too."
The two girls stood, lost in each other's eyes.
"Excuse me, Ladies, but the time's getting on." Brad reminded them.
"Come here." Charlie said giving Joey a hug.
"I'll be seeing you, Charlie!" Joey whispered in her ear.
"I'll be seeing you, Joey!" Charlie replied reluctantly letting go and walking away with Brad.
Charlie looked back over her shoulder and watched Joey walk slowly back into the pub. She anxiously bit her bottom lip, realising that however hard she had tried during the last nineteen months to put Joey Collins out of her mind and heart, it had taken only a few short hours to put her right back there again.