I'll Be Seeing You
Chapter 19
Charlie and Joey walked from Great Yarmouth railway station to Joey's billet. The streets were very dark. There were no street lights in war time and all house windows were blacked out.
Joey took hold of Charlie's hand as they walked together. Charlie smiled lovingly at her girlfriend, but after a few moments, her face became anxious as she remembered something.
"Joey, I've got something to tell you; I've known for a few days now. I didn't know how to tell you in a letter and with what's been going on the last couple of days; it sort of slipped my mind." Charlie confessed, guiltily.
Joey looked at Charlie, but couldn't read her face in the darkness; little butterfly nerves began to dance in her stomach.
"What is it?"
Charlie bit her lip as she tried to find the right words to explain. Finding none, she decided to give Joey the facts.
"Joey," Charlie stopped walking. "I had a letter from Ruby before I left London. Andrew Aden's ship went down. His name wasn't on the survivors list. They fear he may be gone."
Joey stopped dead in her tracks. Her mouth fell open at the dreadful news. She looked at Charlie who was anxiously standing by. She tried to move her lips to speak, but nothing came out. She swallowed; her head becoming a little swimmy.
"Joey, I'm so sorry." Charlie said, wrapping her arms around her.
Joey sunk her face into Charlie's shoulder; at last finding some words.
"Oh God! Charlie, that's..."
"I know, my love. I know." Charlie said, holding Joey as tight as she could.
"Is there any hope?"
"Until it's listed as definite, there's always hope. But Jo, you know about things at sea. If a ship goes down and survivors are rescued, and a certain sailor isn't among them, what does it mean?"
"It probably means he went down with the ship." Joey answered, sadly.
"He was a good man, Jo. A good friend."
"I'll miss him a lot. I'm just sorry I never said goodbye or..." Tears began to escape from Joey's eyes and Charlie gently rubbed her hand up and down Joey's back, trying to comfort her.
After a while, Joey composed herself and the girls continued walking.
"They say drowning is nice when you stop struggling." Joey said in a flat voice.
Charlie held on tightly to Joey's hand. She didn't know how to respond to Joey's statement, so remained silent.
***
"It's not far now." Joey said, still a little subdued.
"I don't care if it's the other side of the world." Charlie smiled. "As long as I'm with you."
"You'd soon be moaning about blisters on your feet wearing those shoes." Joey pointed out.
Charlie chuckled at Joey's practicability, even through her sadness; she somehow retained her sense of humour. Maybe it was her way of coping.
"Well, here we are. It's nothing special, Charlie. Don't go expecting the 'Ritz', will you?"
Charlie looked up at the hotel.
"Are there flees in the beds?"
"NO!"
"Well then, I'm not bothered." Charlie grinned.
Joey gave Charlie a little smile and led her up the steps into the hotel foyer.
"Hi Chrissie, is Helen at home?" Joey asked an ATS girl who was trotting down the stairs.
"Hi, Jo. No, not since the other day, but you were with her then. Sorry, must dash!" She said, giving Charlie a quick smile.
"That's Chrissie. She boards here too."
***
The girls climbed the stairs to Joey's room. Joey unlocked and opened the door. She looked in, but no Helen.
"She must be out. Come on in."
Charlie walked slowly into the room. It was large and spacious. Better than she expected from Joey's description.
"Well, I'm going to leave you for a bit." Joey said putting Charlie's case on the floor. "I'm going to pop along to the base to report in. That's our bed," she said, giving Charlie a meaningful look.
"What are you suggesting?" Charlie asked, walking up to Joey and weaving her arms about her waist.
"I'm suggesting nothing!" Joey grinned in return. "Make yourself at home. There's a little stove over there if you want to make a cup of tea. I'll see if the canteen has anything nice that I can bring back; then we'll have a picnic."
"Don't be long." Charlie said, with a little smile.
"I won't."
Joey kissed Charlie gently on her lips and slipping on her over coat, opened the bedroom door and glanced back at Charlie.
"I'll be seeing you."
Charlie blew her a kiss. Joey smiled and closed the door behind her.
***
"Ah! There you are Collins." The first officer, Joyce Harding said, as Joey entered her office. "You're earlier than I expected." She said, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I've been hearing about some of your exploits, the other evening, Collins." The officer said, looking at Joey through narrowed eyes.
"Ma'am, I do apologize for not getting back at the proper time." Joey said nervously; worried she might lose her stripe.
"Well, by all accounts, it would appear that you are to be congratulated."
"I'm afraid I can't take any credit, really, Ma'am. I was only trying to help a friend who was in trouble. I stumbled upon the whole thing by chance." Joey explained.
"Well, regardless of that, it appears some good has come from your, let's say, 'interference'. I can't go into detail, but, well done you."
Joey swallowed, nervously.
"Thank you Ma'am."
"You may go now, Collins. See you tomorrow, sharp!" The first officer instructed, with a little grin.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Joey stood to attention and then headed for the office door.
"Oh! One other thing, Collins, your roommate, Helen Wetherby, reported sick when she arrived back. She's in the sick bay at the moment. The M.O.'s report says she was pregnant but has now lost the baby."
"Dear God!" Joey said, shocked. "Is Helen alright?"
"She'll live. The M.O. has suggested a few days rest."
"Thank you Ma'am, for telling me."
"That'll be all, Collins."
"Yes Ma'am, thank you, Ma'am." Joey replied and left the office.
Joey was thoughtful for a few minutes. Poor Helen. What had caused the miscarriage?
Joey walked towards the hospital block intent on visiting her friend.
***
Charlie poured the tea from the pot into a cup. She picked it up and sipped the piping hot brew and flinched as it burnt her lips. She put the cup and saucer down and looked around the room; already missing Joey. She walked over to a little occasional table in the corner and spied a small photograph in a wooden frame. She picked it up to take a closer look. It was a couple; probably in their late forties or early fifties. Charlie was about to replace the picture frame when she took a second look at the woman in the photograph. Its resemblance was striking. It could only be one person. Joey's mother.
Charlie took the photograph frame over to the lamp and studied the picture. There was no doubt. This must be Joey Collins' mother. The same colour hair, the same large brown eyes and the same stature. Joey was her mother all over again. Charlie smiled to herself. Her father, Joey had little resemblance to, though Charlie could see Joey's brother, Brian in him.
She replaced the frame and continued to wander around the room. On a shelf in the opposite corner was a plant and another photograph, this one Charlie assumed was Helen's family. There were at least ten people in the picture and Charlie doubted Joey could scrape together five relatives, let alone ten!
She fingered a book, which looked as though it had been lovingly thumbed by its tatty appearance. She picked it up. The title read, 'The Practical Essentials of Pre-Training Navigation' by 'William Thompson'. Charlie grinned, guessing it belonged to her girlfriend; there was a lot to Joey which Charlie hardly knew, but she planned to find out. She flicked through the pages and something fell out and onto the floor. Charlie stooped to pick it up. It was a photograph of herself! She frowned, wondering how Joey had got hold of this picture. It had been taken just before the outbreak of war, August Bank Holiday, 1939, in Margate. Charlie grinned at her likeness. She was carefree then, posing on the sea wall like one of the film stars in 'Film Goer.' She frowned again. How had Joey got this picture?
***
Joey walked up to the Military Staff Nurse and asked to see Helen Wetherby.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but visiting is over for the day."
"Yes, I know, I've just got back home and Miss. Harding told me about Helen. Please, may I see her, just for a few minutes?" Joey pleaded.
The nurse frowned for a moment, but relented.
"Alright. But two minutes only." She warned.
"Thanks, Staff." Joey said, walking into the ward.
Joey found Helen's bed. Helen's eyes were closed.
"Helen?" Joey whispered.
Helen opened her eyes and smiled at Joey.
"You're 'ome then, lass?"
"Yes, but what about you?" Joey asked, sadly.
"U'm sure it were for best, lass. Thart's the way I look at it." Helen said, bravely.
"What caused it?" Joey asked tentatively.
"Act of God, they say. Who nors."
"I'm sorry; I should have been here for you." Joey said, hanging her head.
"Joey Collins! Ya can't be looking after everyone at the same time! Stop fussing lass. I'll be grand when ar'v 'ad a few days rest."
Joey couldn't help but feel sad for her friend. She placed her hand over Helen's.
"The Doc said that I'll feel a bit queer for a few days; something to do with 'ormones, whatever they might be. How's ya pal, Charlie. Is she alright now?"
"She's a lot better, thanks. She's come up for a few days, just to rest before she goes back down to London. She's staying at ours over night, and then she'll find herself a hotel in town tomorrow." Joey explained.
"Well, U'm not thar at t'moment; give 'er ma bed!" Helen said, kindly. "Save 'er a few bob."
Joey looked at Helen for a moment and sighed.
"You're a good friend Helen. I'm sorry for everything that's happened and for not being there for you."
Helen took hold of Joey's hand.
"You're a good egg, Josie Collins."
"I'm sorry, Miss. You'll have to leave now." Said the Staff nurse, who had crept up behind Joey.
"Well, I'd better be getting along. I'll come by tomorrow and visit. Anything you want me to bring in?" Joey asked.
"You can bring me Clark Gable, if ya like!" Helen said, grinning.
"I'll see what I can do. Take care and sleep well." Joey said, stooping to kiss her friend on the forehead.
"Take care, our Josie."
***
Joey opened the door to find Charlie gently dozing in the arm chair. She grinned to herself and crept over; planting a soft kiss on Charlie's slightly parted lips. Charlie moaned to herself and shifted her position in the chair. Joey grinned wickedly and kissed Charlie again but this time, longer. Charlie jumped and the two girls banged foreheads.
"What!" Charlie cried, not properly awake.
"It's me, stupid!" Joey grinned rubbing her bashed head. "You were away with the fairies!"
"Was I?" Charlie asked, putting her hand out to Joey to help pull her up out of the chair.
Joey obliged and pulled Charlie into her arms.
"Hello you." She said, quietly.
"Hello you. You were gone ages. I hope you didn't meet up with some tall blonde, with long legs, did you?" Charlie asked. "I might just get into a jealous rage if you had!"
Joey grinned.
"Your long legs are the only legs I have eyes for and apart from that, I don't go for blondes; legs or otherwise!"
"Humm, I've got my eyes on you, Joey Collins."
"Good. At least I know where they are then!" Joey said, and placed her lips on Charlie's.
"Would you like some tea?" Charlie asked, as Joey took her coat off.
"Ooh! I'd love a cup and I managed to get a couple of sandwiches, if you're hungry." Joey said, placing the food on the little table.
"Was your Superior okay with you?" Charlie asked glancing at Joey.
"Fine, full of praise, actually. Had heard something of our heroic efforts and was impressed, by all accounts! Not that she ever goes over the top."
Charlie giggled.
"I did hear some more bad news, though!" Joey said, walking towards Charlie.
"What, sweetheart?" Charlie asked, full of concern.
"Helen had a miscarriage."
"Oh God!" Charlie said, "Is she alright?"
"I think so. I popped into see her after I'd seen the first officer. She was cheerful enough, but lacked her usual bounce."
"I suppose that's understandable. Do you think it was a blessing in disguise?" Charlie asked, tentatively.
"Maybe. I'm glad she's alright, though."
Charlie put her arms around Joey.
"Oh, darling. I'm so sorry."
"Funny, how things work out sometimes, isn't it?" Joey said.
"Like what?"
"Like, how every time I'm not there to keep an eye on Helen, something goes wrong."
Charlie felt a little pang of guilt.
"You mean, being with me, don't you?"
Joey didn't reply.
"I'm so sorry, Joey." Charlie said, releasing Joey from her arms and walking over to pour the tea.
"Charlie! I didn't mean to upset you. It was me who was feeling guilty. It's not your fault!"
Charlie smiled and handed Joey her tea.
"Anyway, Helen wants you to stay with me while she's in the sick bay. At least that's something!"
Charlie sat on the bed. She felt a little awkward.
"Charlie?" Joey said, putting her cup and saucer down and kneeling in front of Charlie. "Don't be sad. Let's enjoy this bonus time we have together."
Joey threaded her arms around Charlie's waist and rested her head against Charlie's stomach. Her sadness being replaced by a need for comfort. Charlie stroked Joey's hair. They sat there for several minutes before either spoke.
"I can hear your tummy rumbling!" Joey teased.
"You cannot!" Charlie cried.
"I can!" Joey said, quickly shifting out of Charlie's way as she abruptly stood up.
Charlie grabbed hold of Joey's arms and pulled her off the floor.
"Joey Collins, you're a great big fibber!" She said and kissed Joey's cheek. "And another thing...How come you have a photograph of me on Margate beach on August Bank Holiday, 1939?" Charlie said, standing with her hands on her hips.
Joey's cheeks flushed at being caught out.
"I was reading your book and it fluttered out!" Charlie said through narrowed eyes.
"Okay, guilty as charged. I found it in your room one day when I was living with you, back home. I was making the bed and I found it down by the bedside cabinet on the floor. I picked it up and pinched it! Joey confessed.
"Tea-leaf!" Charlie said, with a big grin on her face. "What else have you stolen from me?"
"Your heart, I hope!"
Charlie took Joey into her arms and whispered.
"And I don't ever want it back."