Chapter Fifteen
"Where did you go?" Charlie wondered.
She had been sat alone at the kitchen table drinking coffee when Joey had returned to the house.
"Sorry," Joey replied. "I just had to deal with some stuff."
"What kind of stuff?" Charlie asked.
Joey smiled and sat down beside her, kissing her lips.
"Nothing for you to worry about," she assured her.
Not quite satisfied, Charlie gave up being nosy and offered her a coffee.
"Thanks," Joey replied.
She couldn't help check Charlie out as she got up to make the drink. She had always been a fan of the skimpy nightclothes she wore.
"So, are you still up for tonight?" she asked.
"I think you already won the competition," Charlie remarked, bring Joey's coffee to her.
She sat down beside her again. Joey took her hand.
"I'd still like to take you out on a proper date," she said. "I've got it all planned and everything."
Charlie smiled and blushed a little.
"You realise that it should be me trying to impress you, right?" she said. "I'm the one who fu…"
Joey interrupted her with a breathtaking kiss.
"I'd like to impress you," she whispered, their lips still together. "You've been dating that for a year. You need the recovery!"
Charlie giggled and kissed her again.
"Then I thoroughly look forward to being impressed," she said.
The evening rolled around and with it, came Charlie's date with Joey. They had already spent much of the day together, mostly trying to talk things through with Ruby, who had promised never to drink again and to be open about how she was feeling instead of masking it all. Then Joey had headed out to set up for the evening.
"Ready?" Joey asked when Charlie came out of the house to greet her.
She remained on her motorbike as she handed the helmet over.
"It's very difficult to wear a dress like this on a bike, you know!" Charlie protested.
"You could always take off," Joey smirked.
Charlie laughed and scolded her for misbehaving. She then clumsily climbed onto the bike and allowed Joey to drive her down to the docks.
"Wow!" Charlie breathed when she and Joey climbed off the bike.
Joey had decked the Blaxland out with fairy lights. From the shore, she could see a candlelit table with a single rose in a vase in the middle. And at the back of the boat, there were cushions splayed out like there had been the first and last time they had been on the boat together.
"Is it tacky?" Joey wondered a little nervously.
Charlie laughed softly and hugged her.
"It's perfect," she assured her.
Taking Charlie's hand, Joey led her onto the boat. She pulled out a chair for Charlie to sit in and then dashed below deck to collect their starters.
"Tada!" she said, lifting lids off both the plates and presenting Charlie with a prawn cocktail.
"This is one of my favourites!" Charlie exclaimed.
"I remember," Joey said, seating herself opposite the woman she hoped she would soon be able to call her girlfriend officially.
Charlie smiled at her, as Joey poured out two glasses of wine.
"The plan for the evening is that we have our starters, head out on the water a little bit, have our mains, spend some time together and finish with dessert. How does that sound?"
"It sounds wonderful," Charlie said happily, tucking into her meal. "You're wonderful."
Joey blushed a little shyly and started on her own food. She hoped to give Charlie the best night of her life.
Charlie giggled as Joey helped her steer their way out onto the water. Just like she had all those years before, every time Joey touched her hands to guide her, thrills shot through her whole body. With Charlie's hands on the wheel, Joey stepped a little closer and wrapped her arms around her middle. She kissed her shoulder.
"I love you so much, Charlie," she whispered.
"I love you too," Charlie replied. "More than I could ever completely explain."
Far away from the Bay and near one of the surrounding islands, Charlie and Joey enjoyed their main course – Joey's signature dish.
"Oh, this is even more amazing than I remember!" the police officer gushed. "Thank you!"
Joey smiled, a little overwhelmed with the compliment.
"You'll have to do it for Ruby at some point," Charlie continued. "She'll be furious to have missed this."
"I'll make it a priority," Joey promised.
"I hope she's okay tonight," Charlie ventured. "I've never seen her like this before."
"Well, hopefully we made progress today and she can start sorting herself out a bit," Joey said, trying to be optimistic.
Charlie nodded, hoping she was right.
"But anyway," she said. "Let's not worry about that tonight."
"Sounds like a plan," Joey said. "Although, if you really are worried then we can always go back. I don't mind."
"After all the trouble you've gone to? No way!" Charlie chuckled. "Plus, Leah's at home and she's promised to keep an eye on her."
Joey beamed at her.
"Well, I hope you like what the rest of the night has to bring," she said.
"I have no doubt I will," Charlie replied.
Joey took them out to face the closest island from where they had retired with a glass of wine each at the back of the boat. Snuggled amid the cushions, they kissed tenderly.
"Oh look," Joey said, pointing upwards.
Fireworks began to display in the air above them.
"What a coincidence that we're in just the right place at just the right time."
She grinned. Charlie beamed back at her.
"You organised fireworks?" she said incredulously.
"I thought it might be fun," Joey replied, hoping Charlie would appreciate the gesture.
Charlie lay back in Joey's arms, gazing upwards.
"It's perfect," she said dreamily. "Thank you."
"It's my pleasure, Charlie," Joey said honestly. "All I want to do is make you happy."
Next time… Charlie and Joey's date reaches its climax…