I'll Be Seeing You
Chapter 18
Tom sat back in his chair and sighed.
"That was very nice, my dear." He said, complementing his wife's cooking.
"Mmm, super!" Joey said, dabbing her lips with her napkin.
"What time is your train, dear?" Edna asked Joey as she began to collect the empty plates after their meal.
"It's the seven thirty three. It should get me into Yarmouth by eight." She said and quickly glanced at Charlie.
Charlie looked back anxiously at Joey and hung her head.
Joey touched her hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Charlie's look was not lost on Edna.
"Charlie, why don't you travel to Yarmouth with Joey, to keep her company? You could stay over for a couple of days. You won't be expected back in London yet. If anyone enquires for you, we'll just tell them you're on a couple of day's sick leave."
Charlie's eyes brightened immediately.
"Can I really do that?" She asked, excitedly.
"Of course, dear."
"I'll telephone London, if you like; after you've gone, of course. Shouldn't be a problem." Tom confirmed.
Charlie smiled at Joey happily, and Joey squeezed Charlie's hand tighter.
***
"You don't mind me coming back with you, do you, darling?" Charlie asked as Joey watched her packing a few essentials for her short break.
"I think it's wonderful. I'm only sorry I shall be working while you're visiting." Joey said pulling an unhappy face. "I hope there's a spare room free at our place. If not, we'll have to find you a hotel room in town somewhere."
"But it'll be late when we reach Yarmouth." Charlie said, frowning.
"You can bunk in with Helen and me if you like. I don't want you to be uncomfortable though!"
"I'd rather be with you." Charlie replied, putting her arms around Joey and kissing her delicately on the lips.
"I'm sure Helen won't mind, if we're good, that is!" Joey said, giggling.
Charlie smiled and pulled Joey down on the bed.
"I do love you. Did I ever tell you?" She said placing butterfly kisses on Joey's face.
"Bet you don't love me as much as I love you!" Joey challenged.
Charlie grinned, getting off the bed and walking to her dressing table.
"How much?"
Joey's eyes narrowed, deep in thought. Then her features took on a very serious expression and she lowered her head.
"Joey?" Charlie said, putting down her toilet bag and sitting on the bed. "What's wrong?"
"I think you've already proved your love for me. So let's just forget it."
Joey climbed off the bed and walked over to the window, overlooking the garden.
"Jo. Please don't get upset. What happened is done and we've got to carry on somehow. Please don't fret, my darling. Come here." Charlie said, meeting Joey half way across the room and holding her tight. "I would do it all over again if it meant keeping you safe."
"Please don't, Charlie. It's not worth it!"
"You're worth it. I'd die to keep you safe."
The girls held each other tightly for a few moments and then relaxed. They stared into each other's eyes; their foreheads barely touching. Charlie brushed away a few tears on Joey's cheek and smiled. Joey kissed Charlie's neck and Charlie closed her eyes enjoying the sensation. Joey's kiss moved up and over her jaw and met Charlie's mouth. Their lips moved gently together. Joey felt Charlie's mouth press urgently against her own and she moaned with pleasure as their kisses became more fervent. Their hands began to explore each other and Joey manoeuvred Charlie backwards to the bed and gently guided her down. Charlie's heart beat with pure joy; with Joey so close to her again, she felt her mind beginning to heal. Joey's body trembled with the passion she was feeling within and hastily started to undo Charlie's blouse, but then stopped.
What if Charlie wasn't ready for this?
She continued to kiss Charlie but with gentler lips this time and then finally stopped.
"We really should be going down stairs." She suggested and climbed off the bed.
Charlie stared back at Joey, disappointed and hurt that she had stopped making love to her.
***
The Wren and the Police Officer stood in the hall way with Tom and Edna.
"Well, thank you for everything." Joey said, taking Tom's hand.
"It was an absolute pleasure, Joey. We can only thank you for helping Charlie last night. It would have been a lot worse if not for you!"
Joey blushed but remained quiet.
"It's very true, dear." Edna agreed, giving Joey a little peck on her cheek. "I've grown quite attached to this young lady," She said, glancing at Charlie, "and I know you'll always take care of her. Goodbye."
Charlie kissed Tom and gave Edna a big hug.
"I'll miss you both!" She said, her eyes becoming misty.
"Lord! You'll see us on Sunday before you go back to London." Edna said, giving Charlie an extra squeeze. "Take care and make the most of your time together."
Edna watched as the two girls walked along the road and sighed. She remembered back to her boarding school days and Mary Whiting, in particular.
***
The girls stood together on the platform waiting for the train to arrive. Charlie was feeling jittery. She was to spend the next few days with Joey, though it was only early mornings and evenings, but at least she would see her. She was still confused about Joey's feelings for her, but hoped it would soon pass.
The train pulled into Stowmarket station. The girls climbed into a carriage which had separate compartments. Each compartment had two long bench seats; one facing the other, enough for four passengers either side. Charlie sat one side and Joey elected to sit opposite. The blinds on the windows had already been pulled down as dusk approached.
"At least it's nice to have all this to ourselves, for the moment." Charlie said, brightly.
Joey nodded but remained quiet.
"Jo. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just feeling tired. Last night's catching up with me, I expect." She said avoiding Charlie's eyes.
Charlie felt a cold hand touch her heart and anxiously frowned. Maybe that wasn't all that was catching up with her. What if Joey couldn't touch her after what had happened with Hugo Austin?
Suddenly, the train lurched forward and Charlie's open handbag fell off her lap; the contents spilling onto the carriage floor. Both girls leapt forward to retrieve lipstick, compact and comb; their bodies colliding.
Joey looked deep into Charlie's anxious eyes and could bear it no longer. Taking Charlie by the shoulders drew her close and kissed her passionately on the lips. Charlie pulled Joey in her arms and they toppled onto the carriage floor; falling apart. They both began to laugh and quickly picked up the contents of Charlie's bag and climbed back on to the carriage seat; this time side by side.
"Charlie, I want you!" Joey moaned as she wove her arms around Charlie; resting her forehead on her shoulder.
"I want you too, but we can't here!" Charlie said breathing heavily as Joey nuzzled into her neck. "I thought you didn't want me anymore!"
"Why?" Joey said breathing into Charlie's ear.
"Because you stopped earlier on. I thought it was because of the Hugo thing!"
"It was, but it was because I thought you might still feel anxious about me touching you."
"Oh, my darling. Not now! You've made me all better! You always do." She said finding Joey's very willing lips.
Their kisses and touches aroused burning passions within them and they were well on the way to unbuttoning each other's clothing when the sound of an adjacent carriage door slamming bought them back to reality with a jolt. The train had stopped at a station. They looked at each other, one with hair all askew, the other with her under clothes exposed. They started to giggle. The giggling stopped as they heard voices outside their own compartment door and rushed to make themselves presentable. Nobody entered and they breathed a sigh of relief as the train whistle blew and the locomotive chuffed out of the station.
"I think we better calm down a bit." Joey suggested with a smile, re-arranging a few stray hairs which were still out of place around Charlie's face.
"Yes." Charlie said mischievously. "That could've been a bit tricky one to talk ourselves out of!"
She lay back against the seat and sighed. Joey leaned against her, enjoying the nearness of her most treasured possession on earth.
After a while, Joey involuntarily shivered.
"You okay?" Charlie asked.
"A bit cold."
Joey was wearing only her Wren uniform jacket, which wasn't adequate for a chilly spring evening.
"Come here." Charlie said, wrapping her arms about Joey to keep her warm.
Joey obliged and instantly felt warmer just being near to Charlie. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted into a half sleep.
***
The train pulled into another station and this time their luck ran out. A middle aged couple opened the carriage door and entered.
Charlie, suddenly aware she was sitting cuddling another woman, smiled sheepishly at the couple.
"Hello." She said quietly.
The couple nodded and looked at the sleepy Wren.
"My sister." Charlie lied, "She's..."
"Not drunk!" A little voice squeaked from Joey.
"Ha ha!" Charlie chuckled, lamely. "She's a little unwell."
"Oh dear! "Nothing catching, I hope?" The lady asked anxiously.
"Oh no." Charlie said. "Nothing that bedtime won't cure!"
Joey smirked, her head almost buried in Charlie's chest. Charlie gave her a nudge and smiled at the couple who seemed to accept her story.
***
The couple got off at the next station leaving the two girls alone again. As the carriage door closed, Joey let out a hoot of laughter which Charlie attempted to quash with her hand.
"You silly arse!" Joey grinned, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Well, better to say that than confess that I was cuddling the only person on earth who I never want to live without." Charlie said, looking into Joey's eyes and becoming very serious.
Joey lifted her hand and traced the outline of Charlie's lips with her finger.
"I love you Charlie. I love every little thing about you. Even your pathetic stories!" She said, grinning.
"I love you too, even if you do take the Mickey out of me, mercilessly!"
"Charlie. Charlie Buckton."
"What?"
"Nothing. I just like saying your name."
"You're a fruit cake!" Charlie laughed.
"I hope you enjoy fruit cake!" Joey grinned. "In case you fancy a nibble at anytime!"
"Just a shame we can't get the mixed fruit in war time!" Charlie quipped.
"Aren't I sweet enough for you?"
"I don't know. I'll tell you when I've had a bite" Charlie said, going for Joey's neck.
Joey giggled and wriggled away from Charlie.
"Don't start again!" She warned.
"Hey! I nearly forgot." Charlie said, rummaging around in her luggage.
She produced a neatly wrapped little box.
"What's this?" Joey asked, curiously.
"A gift! Open it and see!"
Joey looked at Charlie with a frown and begun to open the gift. She removed the paper and it revealed a red velvet box. Joey opened it up and there, inside, was a small gold signet ring. Joey looked up into Charlie's smiling face in wonder.
"It's engraved, inside." Charlie pointed out.
Joey took the small ring out of the box and looked inside the band. In tiny letters, the words;
'My love always, Charlie'
"Charlie! It's perfect! I've never had anything as wonderful as this!" Joey said with tears in her eyes!
"This is the present I wrote to you about. I hope it fits? I remember you tried one of my rings on once and it fitted, so I judged we were about the same ring size!"
Joey swallowed, trying not to get too emotional.
"Charlie, I don't know what to say." Joey said quietly.
"Just say you love me."
"I do, I do love you. I don't ever want to live without you in my life, either."
Charlie took the ring and placed it on Joey's left hand ring finger.
"It's my way of saying that I will always want and love you, Joey Collins." She said, taking Joey's hand and kissing the ring.
Joey flung her arms around Charlie's neck and hugged her tight.
"Oh Charlie!"