I'll Be Seeing You
Chapter 4
Saturday, 22th April, 1944
Dear Ruby,
I hope my letter finds you well and behaving yourself! How are Janet and Vince? Both well, I hope.
Dad and Morag are well and send their best love.
London has been quiet since I arrived. There haven't been any raids, for which, I am grateful. Some places look so gloomy, but that is only to be expected, I suppose. The journey up to town from Dad's takes forever and the trains are always so crowded. I'm glad I don't have to travel this way, every day!
I reported for work yesterday (at you know where) and met a gentleman who used to know Dad in the last war. He calls himself "Woody", which made me laugh. I mentioned him to Dad, but sadly Dad didn't remember him. I think I may well be having some more contact with the gentlemen so I will try and find out some more.
Morag said Dad hasn't been too well of late, which saddens me, as I know it will you, but he's cheerful. We must be thankful for this.
And Ruby, I met someone else yesterday. Joey Collins! She looked very pretty and extremely smart in her Wren's uniform. She was with a friend from her unit, called Helen, who is very nice and a lot of fun to be with. Joey invited me to see a show with them. The Ivor Novello show, 'The Dancing Years', which was extremely glamorous and had lots of wonderful songs in it. I'm sure you would have loved it.
Joey and I have arranged to meet this morning, alone, for a talk. We've got some things to sort out. I can bring her up to date on the goings on in Whitstable and of course I'll be able to tell her about your ambition to join The Women's Land Army, go to University, grow orchids and become a dance band singer. I'm sure she'll be amused!
Well, my sweet, I'll sign off here. I meet Joey at ten o'clock, today, in Greenwich Park. I'm feeling a little nervous as you might imagine. I don't think I have to explain why.
I miss you Ruby, very much and look forward to hearing from you. Please write soon.
All my love,
Charlie.
xx
***
Charlie placed the letter in the envelope, sealed it and affixed a stamp. She popped her hat on and picked up her handbag and headed for the front door.
"See you later, Dad!" She called out before she left.
Charlie walked along the road from her Father's house and up onto Blackheath. A walk across the grass, between herself and their rendezvous, would calm her nerves before meeting Joey.
***
Joey stepped out of the train carriage at Greenwich station. She hadn't been to Greenwich since her Father had taken her there, as a child. They had visited the museum and afterwards taken tea in a little tea shop nearby. They walked to the pier and bought sea-food; cockles and winkles, from a nearby vendor with a wheel barrow. She smiled at the memory, but felt sad as all her family were now lost to her.
***
Charlie entered the gate to the Park. Her heart began to beat louder and a little faster. Joey may only be a few minute's walk away from her now. She paused for a moment and taking out her compact, dusted her nose and checked her appearance.
***
Joey climbed the hill up through the centre of the Park, making her way towards the Royal Observatory. The landmark was known all over the world; Greenwich Meantime. The red time ball on the top of the Octagon Room was shining in the morning sun. Joey stopped, turned around, and looked back. A panorama of the view of London was breath taking. Even though the barrage balloons hung in the sky, the war seemed very far away that morning.
Turning again and approaching the Observatory, she saw a young woman wearing a pretty lemon dress, patiently waiting for her; a smile adorned her lovely face. Joey felt her legs turn to jelly as she neared.
"Hello." Charlie said, stepping forward to greet Joey.
"Charlie, you came!"
"Of course. How are you this morning?" Charlie said, shaking a little with nerves.
"I'm fine, but I think there may be one or two sore heads from last night!" Joey laughed.
Charlie chuckled.
They smiled at one another, shyly.
"Shall we walk for a while?" Joey suggested.
"Yes, I'd like that." Charlie smiled.
***
The girls walked not saying much; both overwhelmed at being alone together.
Charlie spoke first.
"So, what happened after I left you last night?"
"Well, the British Army, who came into the pub just before you left, ended up having a drinking contest with the Yanks. Helen came in a close third. I had to carry her home afterwards!"
Charlie laughed, imagining Joey struggling with a squiffy Helen.
"Oh dear, that couldn't have been much fun." Charlie sympathised.
"Well, I did have some help from Chuck who seems pretty taken with her. You know, Charlie, I don't want you to get the wrong impression about Helen. She is a lovely girl. But she's rather living life to the full at the moment. Her twin brother was killed in North Africa two weeks ago and she's taken it very badly. They were very close you see. She hasn't talked about it much, just seems go full steam ahead with everything."
"Sometimes it's the only way a person can cope; to throw themselves into whatever takes their mind off of their problem or distress." Charlie said, speaking from her own experiences. "I'm sure you help, Joey, just being around."
Joey smiled and sighed.
They were silent for a few moments.
"Brad was full of you when he got back from the station." Joey said, quietly, stealing a quick look at Charlie.
"Was he?" Charlie asked, tensing slightly.
"He asked me so many questions about you that I almost screamed! I think he's a bit keen."
Charlie said nothing.
"He wants me to put in a good word for him today." Joey said, with butterflies dancing in her stomach.
"He seems a very pleasant young man." Charlie said, quietly. "And very good looking."
"Did he-was he...?" Joey said swallowing. "Did he try anything when he walked you to the station?"
It was Charlie's turn to stammer.
"N-no, he just said that he would be pleased to take me out and gave me his telephone number." Charlie said, her words fading a little toward the end.
Joey felt her throat close. She swallowed again.
"Are you going to see him?" She asked quietly.
"I don't know!" Charlie replied a little confused.
"I'm sorry, Charlie. I have no right. It's just..." Joey said, biting her lip. "Oh Charlie! I've been such a fool."
Charlie stopped walking and looked at Joey.
"Charlie. I need to talk to you about something."
Charlie stood waiting; her heart thumping.
Joey took a breath.
"Charlie. I-I have done so many stupid things in my life."
Joey looked down and fiddled with her fingers.
"The day I left Whitstable, I was hurt and angry. I didn't want to talk or listen to you. I was punishing myself for being foolish enough to fall in love with someone that I shouldn't have." Joey paused, hanging her head.
Charlie looked anxiously at Joey as she stumbled over her story.
"And when I thought you'd been him...I was angry and disappointed. The most wonderful person in my life had fallen off the pedestal I'd put her on. I left, feeling empty; my life was empty. I tried to hate you but I missed you too much, so much so, that it hurt! It hurt worse than anything else I've ever known, Charlie! Even losing Mum and Dad."
Here, Joey put her hand to her mouth and tried to blink away tears.
Charlie felt saddened by Joey's confession. She wanted to comfort her. But Joey was the one who'd run off! Joey was the one who'd not listened! Joey was the one who'd never made contact!
Joey composed herself and took a deep breath.
"Of course, when I got to the training centre at Mill Hill, there were lots of things going on; there was the course which helped to occupy my mind. But when I got time to rest, in my bunk at night, it was your face that haunted me. I just couldn't run away from it. I don't think I wanted to run away from it. It hurt, but it comforted." She spoke the last few words very slowly.
Here she glanced at Charlie, who had not taken her eyes from Joey's face.
"And then I met Hugo."
"Hugo! Hugo Austin?" Charlie said, in disbelief.
Joey nodded.
"After we finished the course and passed out, we were transferred from Mill Hill to our current unit up on the East Coast. It was just before Christmas. We were told to expect a lecture by an Officer who was in, what we girls call "underwater". You can imagine how I felt when Lieutenant Hugo Austin was introduced as our lecturer!"
Charlie's eyes widened in astonishment.
"I couldn't believe it! I couldn't concentrate at all on what he was saying. I just sat there staring at him, or maybe I should say 'glaring at him'. If looks could kill." Joey said, raising her eyes.
"Did he see you?" Charlie asked.
"No. Not at first. He did during a break though. I made sure of it!"
"What did you do?" Charlie asked, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"The Naafi served up tea and I noticed a group of Wrens, crowded around Hugo, like flies 'round a dustbin." Joey said, screwing her nose up.
Charlie secretly grinned but said nothing.
"Anyhow, I couldn't stand it any longer. So I pushed my way through the crowd and found myself face to face with 'smooth' Hugo. The strange thing was he was his usual 'charming' self. Shook me very warmly by the hand and guided me away from all the other twittering Wrens. They told me afterwards that I was the luckiest girl in the unit!" She said, with a grin.
"What then?" Charlie asked, amused by the irony of the situation.
"He asked me if I liked the flowers!"
"The flowers?" Charlie asked, looking confused.
"Yes, your flowers. Those you gave me when you got back from Canterbury. He said I was a lucky young woman and if it hadn't been for me...he'd have...Well, I won't go into detail!"
"And you believed him?" Charlie said very quietly.
"I think he only confirmed what I knew was the truth. Charlie, I had talked myself into a most ridiculous situation. Why would you go with Hugo when you said you were in love with me? You'd resisted him on so many occasions, so why would you sleep with him that night? I was a fool Charlie, a silly, stupid, immature fool."
Charlie turned away from Joey. She stood silently for a few moments; anger and frustration building up inside her. She suddenly turned and faced Joey.
"Then why the hell didn't you tell me, Joey? Why didn't you write or something!" Charlie said, her voice, full of resentment. "Nineteen months, Joey! Nineteen abysmal months!"
"I'm sorry, Charlie." Joey said in a small voice.
"Sorry! Is that the best you can come up with!" Charlie yelled walking a few steps away.
"I'm sorry, I was afraid." Joey said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"Afraid of what, for crying out loud!" Charlie said; her eyes flashing.
"Afraid you would tell me to go to hell." Joey's voice cracked as she wiped away a stray tear.
Charlie sighed deeply and hung her head, closing her eyes for a few moments. She turned slowly and faced the Wren.
"Or maybe you were just trying to save your own feelings, Joey! You obviously didn't care one hoot about mine!" She said turning away, angrily.
"I did try to write Charlie. You have no idea how many letters I wrote and tore up in frustration because I couldn't find the right words to explain." Joey swallowed. "The months went by and the longer I left it, the less courage I had. I just couldn't face you again; I was afraid - afraid you wouldn't want me anymore." Joey said quietly.
Charlie rubbed her hand over her forehead. She walked a few steps over to a huge Chestnut tree and rested against it; the pulses in her temples throbbing.
"Charlie?" Joey said quietly stepping forward.
"Joey, all this wasted time! All the heartache! A year and a half of not knowing if you were alive or dead! Why didn't you...?"
Tears of frustration sprung from Charlie's eyes.
"I hate you for this, Joey Collins! I HATE YOU!"
Joey hurried over to Charlie and pulled her into her arms. She looked into Charlie's moist eyes expecting to see pain, hate and anguish but only saw love. She drew her closer, their lips about to touch. When,
'Sss-doyinggg...'
A wooden arrow with a feather attached, narrowly missed their heads and landed in a tree nearby.
The girls sprung apart, breathless and shocked. There, a few yards away, stood three little boys dressed as Indian Warriors.
"How!" Said the first.
"HOW? I'll bloody tell you HOW! That could have killed us!" The Policewoman yelled in anger; still full of emotion. "You stupid little..."
Joey rested her hand on Charlie's forearm.
"Sorry Mrs!" The second little Indian brave said, looking from one woman to the other. "We were aiming at that pigeon up there!" He said, pointing up to a branch above them.
The third boy nodded in agreement.
Charlie and Joey looked from the branch to the pigeon and back to each other and began to giggle; the tension broken. The giggle developed into uncontrollable laughter. They hugged each other tightly.
After a moment, they broke apart and Joey took hold of Charlie's hand and they hurried away from the Red Indian camp. The little boys stared after them as they ran through the trees and disappeared from view.
Phew! That was close! Thought it was nearly curtains! hee! hee! S&L xx ;-)