Heading home with a heavy heart after Joey had continually avoided her for the rest of the day, Charlie slumps down at the table.
"Mum, are you ok?"
"Yeah, it's just been a long day."
"How was Joey this morning?" Her question throwing Charlie off balance, "What do you mean?"
Ruby tries not to giggle at her mother's expression, thinking that now wasn't the time to mention that when she had gotten up for school and seen her mother's empty bed, she had decided to check in on Joey herself, only to find the two of them in bed together, looking very peaceful as they slept in each other's arms.
"I just meant that Joey was hurt last night and I was hoping she was all right."
Feeling stupid for thinking that Ruby had meant anything else, Charlie assures her that Joey was more than fine.
"Are you sure you're ok mum, you look kind of down."
"Yeah, I just got a call from Angelo earlier to say that he was going to be away for at least another week, maybe even longer," Charlie says as a way to explain her mood, unaware that Ruby doesn't believe a word of it.
"Oh, that's just too bad," Ruby says with false sincerity. Before she could ruin everything by jumping up and down in glee at the latest developments, Ruby excuses herself to go and do her homework.
Not even bothering to change out of her uniform, Charlie grabs a bottle of wine and heads to the lounge room. Pouring her second glass, Charlie stares at it with disinterest when there's a knock at the door. In no mood for visitors, Charlie swings the door open, intending to get rid of whoever it was.
"Hey Charlie," Joey greets her brightly.
"Surprised to see you here," Charlie says, her coldness surprising Joey.
"I ah, I thought we were going to talk about where things are going with us."
"That's funny, because I was assuming you had changed your mind."
Joey looks at her in confusion, "Why would you think that?"
"What am I supposed to think when you ignored me for most of the day?"
"Oh."
"Oh!" Charlie cries out in anger, "That's all you can say."
"We were at work Charlie, what did you expect?"
"Some acknowledgement that I existed."
Joey grimaces as she realises what she had done, "I fucked up again, didn't I?"
"What's going on Joey?"
"Can I come in, I feel like your friendly neighbourhood watch guy has his binoculars trained on us."
Stepping aside, Charlie lets her in. Joey has a quick glance around the room, "Is Ruby home?"
"She's in her room studying. Joey, what's going on, do you regret what happened this morning?"
"Of course not. Charlie, I'm sorry about the way I was at work, but you know how I feel about professionalism and I hardly think it would have been a good look when all I wanted to do was this." Stepping closer, she kisses her, letting Charlie know exactly how much she had missed her during the day. Drawing away breathless, she whispers, "Not the most professional of behaviour," before capturing her lips again.
Forgetting that her daughter was home, Charlie puts her arms around Joey, their kiss growing more passionate as Joey backs her up, suddenly finding themselves in a giggling heap on the couch.
Climbing off Charlie, Joey sits beside her, grinning, "So much for talking."
Charlie steals a quick kiss before glancing at Ruby's door, hoping she hadn't heard their carrying on. "Sorry for doubting you, but after the way you avoided me today, I just thought that you were regretting this morning," Charlie says softly, a little of her fear still evident in her voice. "I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised about you wanting to stay professional, considering the grief you gave me about it." Thinking about what just happened and this morning when Joey had come into her room and a quick kiss goodbye had become much longer, Charlie starts to wonder if maybe Joey had the right idea about keeping their distance at work.
"I'm sorry for acting the way I did, I certainly didn't mean for you to take it as a rejection." Joey looks down at her hands, "It just seems that even when I try to do the right thing, I find a way to fuck it up."
"Hey, it's ok," Charlie takes her hand, "It was just a misunderstanding." Noticing Joey's downcast look, Charlie squeezes her hand, "You constantly surprise me Joey, you seem so confident and assured one minute and so unsure another."
"I'm fine at work Charlie, it's just that when it comes to relationships, I just," Joey shrugs. "It's just never been easy for me. Charlie, if this is too hard, we don't have to go anywhere with this," the thought making Joey's heart catch. "We can just put it down to a reaction to the events of the night before and both of us needing a little comfort."
"It sounds like you're trying to talk yourself out of this."
Joey lets out a long sigh, "No, I'm just giving you the chance to walk away now. Charlie, I'm not the easiest person to love or get to know." Charlie offers a wry smile and nod at that. "And I'm not putting myself down or anything, I'm just speaking from experience. I fuck up, especially in relationships and people get hurt. I mean look at today, I never meant to make you feel bad, but I did. I don't want to hurt you Charlie."
"I'm a big girl Joey and I'm more than aware of what you're like, that you're difficult and hard to figure out and that's one of the things I like about you." She brushes a strand of hair from Joey's face, "You're so different to anyone I've ever known."
"There are things you don't know about me," she says, wishing she could tell Charlie everything.
"I know that there is a lot to still discover about each other but for the moment, I just want to follow my feelings, wherever they may lead."
When Joey doesn't respond, Charlie looks away despondently. "Hey," Joey finally reaches out, gently taking Charlie's chin, she brings her around to face her. "Charlie, do you really want something to happen between us?"
Gazing into her eyes, the warmth she sees there melting her heart, Charlie nods her head, "But I guess I'm scared too and that's why I was so quick to jump to conclusions today."
"Scared?"
"I don't know Joey, I feel this connection to you, even before we started to get along and I'm scared of my feelings, at the idea of being attracted to a woman." Charlie smiles wryly, "I guess I'm just scared because this is all so new to me."
"Then maybe we should stop it here, before one of us does something we'll regret."
"No!" Charlie blurts out. "Joey, I don't know how this happened, I didn't ask for this to happen and I know what we're doing is wrong, but as scared as I am, I want this," suddenly sounding very sure of herself. She leans forward, tenderly kissing her, "I want you." Seeing the indecision in Joey's eyes, Charlie sadly pulls away, "But you're still not sure."
"God, Charlie, you have no idea how much I want you, but there are complications," Joey says, a little afraid at how strong Charlie's feelings appeared to be and regretting even more not being able to be completely truthful with her.
Thinking that Joey was worried about her husband and daughter, Charlie moves closer to her, "I realise that if this goes anywhere, we will eventually have to talk about how this will affect your marriage and my engagement and while I don't want to hurt anyone, all my life I've put the needs of others before my own, first my father, then Angelo, so it's time that I put what I want ahead of others for a change."
"Charlie, if we move forward, it's not going to be an easy path, especially if people find out about us," giving Charlie another chance to back away.
"I realise that, but I'm willing to take the risk. Are you?"
Her head and heart a conflict of emotions as her head tells her heart to stop this before her deceptions hurt them both, Joey's heart wins out as she captures her lips again.
On the other side of her bedroom door, Ruby throws her hands up in a silent victory, "Goodbye Arsehole Rosetta."
Sometime later, Joey rests her forehead against Charlie's, breathless, "I probably should be going before Georgie sends out a search party."
"How will she react if she finds out about us?"
"Not well. She doesn't want me to be hurt and let's face it Charlie, chances are, one or both of us are more than likely to get hurt."
"I don't care Joey." Charlie caresses her face, "If I'm truthful with myself, I haven't felt much in a long time, especially in the bedroom. Other than the occasional good moment, I've been largely on auto pilot, yet this morning, just lying there with you, doing nothing more than kissing, I felt so alive." Charlie leans in, kissing her gently, "I could have stayed there all day doing just that. I've never felt that before Joey and even if this has to end as soon as the investigations are over and you go home to your family, I'm willing to risk the pain just to feel this for as long as possible."
"You're making it hard to leave," her breath catching at Charlie's words.
"You could stay."
Joey smiles warmly, "We've said the words Charlie, but let's not rush into this."
"You're right," Charlie reluctantly admits.
Before she could change her mind, Joey stands up, holding her hand out, she pulls Charlie to her feet. Leaning against her, her hands on her hips, Joey can't resist kissing her again. Chuckling when she pulls away, "I don't know how we're going to keep this quiet when I can't keep my hands or lips off you."
"Just imagine your sister's reaction, that should be enough," worried herself about Angelo's reaction if he found out.
"Georgie only wants me to be happy."
"I know and even though we're friends, I guess I haven't exactly impressed her when it's come to my love life."
"She's hardly been thrilled by some of my choices either." Joey steps away, "I really should be going."
Walking Joey to the door, Charlie keeps her hands in her pockets to prevent her from grabbing Joey and refusing to let her go.
Joey says goodnight and makes her way slowly down the footpath to her car, careful not to look back, because she knew that if she saw Charlie watching her, she'd be running back to the house and into her arms. "My sister is so going to kill me if she finds out," she mutters as she drives away.
Some more hints about Joey in upcoming chapters and maybe even an answer.