I'll Be Seeing You
Chapter 13
Somewhere
Sunday, 30th April, 1944
My dear Joey,
I hope you are well and keeping away from any form of danger! ('Specially those pretty Wrens!)
I guess you will have received my letter which I sent to you from Dad's on Friday, but I wanted to write to you again anyway. It comforts me.
I find myself in a small town not too far away from the coast. My billet is comfortable and very clean and the couple who are looking after me are very pleasant and have been very welcoming. They understand the job in which, I am involved and have given me lots of encouragement. It has helped a little, but I still have many misgivings.
Yesterday morning, I received the most wonderful present I have ever had! A recording of 'That Lovely Weekend' sent by the loveliest girlfriend anyone could possibly want. Did I ever tell you how beautiful she is and how she turns me to jelly each time she smiles her wonderful smile at me? And how her big brown eyes can render me senseless with one glance? One day, I'll bore the panties off you about it. (Mind you, that could be quiet interesting!)
I hope that Helen is well and please give her my best regards. I never did get the opportunity to thank her for allowing me to intrude on your weekend leave together. It was very generous of her.
Well, my Joey, I have no more news at present, but hope to write again soon.
Please take good care of yourself, darling and think of me, won't you?
With all my love,
Charlie.
Xxx
p.s. I love you. x
***
"Cheers!" The three Navy personnel said, clinking glasses together.
Helen leaned back in her chair and looked at her handsome younger brother.
"Ee, Lad, you sure get better looking as ya get older. Don't ya think so, Josie?"
Joey blushed. She wasn't sure if she should answer that one or not.
"Don't bloosh!" Helen laughed at her friend, making her blush all the more.
"Here, let me get some more drinks." Jim said standing up and collecting their glasses. He walked up to the bar to order.
"What will it be, Jack?" The barman asked.
***
"So, what do you think about my baby brother?" Helen asked, nudging Joey gently in the ribs.
"He's a very nice chap, Helen."
"I nor that, bot ya nor, what do ya think about 'im?"
"Helen, are you trying to match make, by any chance?" Joey asked, her eyes widening.
"Where's harm in it? He's young, free and single and so are you. Get to it, I say!" Helen said winking at Joey.
"Please, Helen, don't go..."
"There we are, ladies." Jim said, placing the three glasses down on the table.
"Bottoms op!" Helen said, giving Joey a knowing look.
"So, what brings you to these shores apart from your loopy sister?" Joey asked Jim.
"We're o'er Ipswich way, being lectured about water and stoof." Jim said, scratching his head. "Y'know, it's tha' wet stoof uz sailors are always up to our necks in!"
"Is thart at HMS Ganges?" Helen asked, sipping her drink.
"Aye. Tharts rart. I'm thar for a few days then we're off on our travels, so to speak."
***
Late morning on Tuesday, Charlie found herself wandering around the town of Ipswich. She spent most of Monday being briefed by Tom and Edna and now, having got her new family history sorted out, felt ready to pursue Lieutenant Hugo Austin. Tom informed Charlie that Hugo's first lecture was at HMS Ganges at ten o'clock, but by lunch time, most of the sailors adjourned to the pub a few streets away and it was very likely Hugo would be of the party. Charlie was unsure of hanging around outside a pub, especially one frequented by sailors! Edna informed her there was a little tea shop opposite where she could easily observe the comings and goings of the pub's patrons and it was always pleasanter to do it alongside a nice cup of tea.
Charlie checked her wrist watch. It read twelve fifteen. She headed for the pub which Tom had told her of and upon finding it, looked about for the tea shop. She saw it nestled between the grocers and the newsagents. The tea shop window was draped in pretty red and white gingham check, giving the impression of quaintness. Charlie entered carrying a wicker basket with one or two items purchased from the chemists in it, and chose a table over by the window. She ordered a cup of tea and sandwich from the waitress and prepared to 'snoop'.
***
"I wish you hadn't gone on so much last night, Helen. You embarrassed your poor brother to death and me too!" Joey added.
Helen laughed.
"He'll get over it!"
"Helen, I know you mean well, but I really don't want to be set up. Your brother is a lovely young man, but I'm just not interested!" Joey said, as tactfully as she could.
"Oh well, I tried. Can't blame a girl for trying to fix 'er best friend up with 'er brother, can you?" Helen said, sadly. "I'd 'ave liked ya as a sister-in-law, Josie."
Joey smiled and hugged her friend.
"D'ya reckon you'll ever fall in love, Jo?"
"I've been in love, Helen, and still am! It's one of those loves that gets right under your skin. It's with me 'til I die. I'll never get over it and I never want to." Joey said, thinking of Charlie.
"Who is he, Josie? You never talk abart him."
"No. I don't. And that's how I prefer it to be." Joey said, finishing the conversation.
***
Charlie wiped the crumbs from the corners of her mouth with her napkin. She heard the tramping of feet and looked up to see at least fifteen sailors walk into the pub opposite. Another two or three sailors followed and after a few minutes, an older ranked officer accompanied by their guest speaker, Lieutenant Austin, came in to view. Charlie shifted uneasily in her chair, feeling a surge of butterflies in her stomach.
The remains of Charlie's sandwich lay untouched on her plate. Her nerves had rendered her appetite as useless. She ordered another pot of tea and continued to wait for the sailor's to leave the pub after their liquid lunch. Her plan was to exit the tea shop as the seamen started to leave and to wander in the general direction and accidentally bump into Hugo.
***
Somewhere
Monday, 1st May, 1944
My darling Charlie,
I was upset and concerned as I read your letter which, you sent from your father's house, last Friday. My darling, if I could be with you, you know I would, in a flash. Being apart from you is hell. When this damn war is over, I swear I will stick to you like glue and you won't shake me off 'til I expire!
Seriously, my love, please don't do anything to put yourself in danger. I speak selfishly, as I want you safe and sound all for myself and sod the war!
Helen thinks she may be pregnant. Heaven knows how she's going to cope. It's that Yank's baby. And judging by the fact she hasn't heard a dickey-bird from him, I think she's up the creek without the proverbial. She hasn't been to see the M.O. yet, but she seems pretty certain. How she can be, so quickly after...Well, maybe I'm not best qualified to know.
She received a surprise visitor, in the form of a younger brother, called Jim. He seems a nice enough lad, but Helen seems intent on pairing us up! Please don't laugh as I know you must be; it's so embarrassing! She fancies me as a sister-in-law. Some hope!
Well, I'll close here. I still can't imagine what you are doing at the moment and maybe it's best that I don't know, for I shall only worry.
I look forward, as always, to receiving another letter from you. Please make it soon!
With much love,
Joey.
Xxx
***
The pub door opened and five Sailors emerged, laughing and joking with each other, their bell bottoms flapping gently in the breeze.
Charlie quickly set down her cup onto the saucer and called the waitress over asking for the bill. The waitress seemed to take a long time adding up the items as Charlie watched anxiously for Hugo to step out of the pub door. She got out a more than generous amount of money to leave on the table if she should have to hurry away. But at last, the waitress ambled over. Charlie thanked the waitress and left some cash and a tip under the saucer before leaving the tea shop.
***
"Have you heard anything from Jim since he went back to Ipswich?" Joey asked Helen as they sat eating lunch together.
"Nor. Doubt if I will now for a bit. I wish you could 'ave fallen for 'im, Jo. You'd 'ave made a reet good looking couple."
Joey smiled.
"You don't give up easily, do you?"
***
Charlie walked along by some shops as she tentatively made her way towards the pub. The pub door opened again and Charlie quickly turned her back on it, preferring to 'snoop' via the reflection in the shop window.
No, that's not him, nor that one, nor – ah!
Charlie caught sight of Hugo Austin as he left the pub with the officer.
Well, it's now or never, Charlotte!
"Hugo!" She called, "Hugo Austin!"
Lieutenant Austin turned around.
Charlie waved her hand and upon recognising her, he did likewise. He said something to his comrade and trotted over in Charlie's direction.
"Charlie Buckton! As I live and breathe!" He said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Hugo! How lovely to see you! What are you doing here?"
"I might ask the same of you! You're a long way from Whitstable."
"I'm visiting relations in Stowmarket." She said with a smile. "And just doing a bit of shopping!"
"How long are you here for?" Hugo said, glancing at his watch.
"A couple of weeks. I arrived on Sunday night."
"Great! Can we meet up one evening? I'd love to catch up with all the news."
"Love to." Charlie said.
"How about tonight?" Hugo said, looking over his shoulder as the rest of the sailors poured out of the pub door.
"Great!" Charlie enthused. "I have a late pass!" She chuckled.
"Well, I have to get back now, but I finish about five. Maybe I could meet you here about then?"
"Wonderful!" Charlie said, "I really look forward to it!"
Hugo waved and trotted back towards the retreating sailors.
***
"Jo, Is Helen alright? I saw her sitting outside the M.O.'s office earlier." Ruth asked as she and Third Officer, Collins worked on a Parsons Turbine which had been removed from a destroyer, needing maintenance.
"She's just a bit under the weather. Best to get checked out though." Joey said, trying to sound casual. "Can you pass me that wrench?"
"That brother of her's is a bit of all right, don't you think?" Ruth said, leaning against the rotary generator. "He could sail me around the world in a bath tub, if he wanted." She said, her stare way off in the distance.
"And if we don't get this turbine fixed before the First Officer arrives, she'll send us both sailing around the world, but it will be via her boot! So, look lively!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Ruth said, saluting.
***
"I'm afraid there aren't too many fancy places to eat in Ipswich, Charlie. I do know a little pub that does a nice roast beef though, if that's alright with you?" Hugo said, as he escorted Charlie along the high street.
"Sounds wonderful." Charlie said, beginning to feel a little anxious.
Keep focusing on Joey, Charlie..... Joey, Joey, Joey...
***
"How did you get on with the M.O.?" Joey asked Helen as they met up that evening.
"Can't ya guess?" Helen said, miserably.
"What did the old battleaxe say exactly?"
"She said, 'Miss. Wetherby, you appear to have got yourself in to a fine mess. We expect better from Wrens.' Then she gave me a full scale military tattoo on the agonies of Motherhood in war time and suggested I speak to t'Chaplin."
"That was useful, then?" Joey said, grinning.
"I don't care about that auld bitch, u'm more worried about what me Dad will say."
"They'll get over it Helen, especially if Chuck is willing to support you. Have you told him, yet?"
"Nor! And I'm not gonna, either." Helen said, stubbornly.
"Why on earth not?"
"Cause 'ees a good for nought fly by nart and who wants to live in America, anyroad?"
Joey looked at Helen and gently shook her head.
***
"So, the last time I saw you, Charlie, was in Canterbury. What's life thrown at you since?" Hugo asked tucking into his roast beef and two veg.
"Mostly work, actually." Charlie said, waiting for Hugo to mention Joey's name.
"How are Martha and Alf?" He asked.
"Very well. Martha's working in a factory making components for aircraft and Alf is still running The Neptune."
"I can't imagine Martha working in a factory!" Hugo laughed. "She'll have to get her hands dirty!"
"She's taken to it like a duck to water!" Charlie laughed. "Thinks of herself as quite the saviour to the Royal Air Force, I think!"
"And you, Charlie? You must have other interests apart from your work. How about Joey? Hey! I saw her months ago at a lecture, did she tell you?"
"Joey and I don't...Well; we're not on friendly terms, anymore. It sort of got awkward. I think I was going through a phase and," Charlie paused. "And I'm afraid I rather broke her heart."
"Tut, tut, Charlie." Said Hugo, a wicked smile playing across his lips. "So, could that mean I'm back in the running?"
Charlie didn't answer but gave Hugo a little smile, which certainly gave him food for thought.
***
"Helen! Visitor for you!" Someone yelled from the front door of their billet.
Helen walked down the stairs and saw her brother, Jim, standing with his cap in his hand.
"Jim, lad." She called, "Come on op!"
Jim followed Helen up the stairs and bumped straight into a semi naked Joey, fresh out of the bath tub with only a towel wrapped around her.
"Oops!" Jim said, embarrassed.
"Sorry!" Joey said running back towards the bathroom. "Helen, bring me some clothes, please!"
"Okay. So, what are ya doing back here, lad?"
"Company commander gave oz nart off, so I thought l'd come and visit ma big sis again and 'er pretty roommate. Nice to see so mooch of 'er!" He grinned.
"Don't go getting any ideas, lad. She's taken. Shame, though."
Helen took Joey's clean clothes along the corridor and knocked on the bathroom door.
"There go, Josie!"
"Thanks!" Joey said, taking the garments from Helen.
"Think ma brother wants to take oz out. D'ya fancy it?"
"Sure. I've got to post a letter first though."