A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 11
"Whose car is that parked outside?" Ruby asked as she glanced out of the kitchen window.
Charlie walked slowly over to where her sister stood. Her heart gave a little jump of excitement as she recognised it as being Joey's car, but not seeing the owner only convinced her that Joey had walked home.
"It's Joey Collins' car." Charlie replied flatly, walking back to the stove and feeling as if her world was ending.
"Joey Collins? Why is it parked outside here? I thought she lived over the other side of town?"
"She does, but she came over to see Alison next door, but ended up here and we had a drink. I suppose she thought it was best to walk home rather than drive."
Ruby had noticed the two empty wine bottles, washed out and draining by the sink.
"You obviously had quite a bit to drink by the looks of things!" She giggled and pointed to the evidence.
"And?"
"Well, you could have at least invited her to sleep on the sofa rather than walk home alone!"
"She didn't want to stay." Charlie replied, making coffee.
"I love Sunday's! Don't you, Sis? I love the sheer laziness of them... the 'no' school day and the lovely Sunday lunch which I hope you are going to cook me!"
The last thing Charlie felt like doing, was preparing a Sunday lunch.
"Look Rubes, can we skip the lunch thing today; I'm not feeling so good."
"Hangover, I guess!" Ruby said with glee.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Charlie's heart stopped as she prayed that Joey had come back. She watched eagerly as Ruby skipped to the door.
"Hi Alison!"
"Hey Ruby honey. How are you?"
"Yeah, good, thanks."
"Good-oh. Is-err... Joey Collins here by any chance?" Alison asked, thumbing to Joey's parked car in front of the driveway.
"No!" Charlie called as she walked to the door. "Hey Alison."
"G'day mate... That's weird!" Alison said, scratching her head. "Can't think why she is parked out front then!"
"Oh, her and Charlie here were having a little drinky last night and polished off two, whole bottles of wine. Seems Joey thought it safer to walk home." Ruby grinned, glancing at her sister.
Alison grinned back at the younger Buckton.
"Right. Lucky old them! I was stuck with an old Aunt of mine who came for the evening. We talked the whole night about crocheting and drank copious amounts of tea! Well, I won't keep you... I'll see you later!" Alison cried cheerfully.
"Alison! Would you like to have Sunday lunch with us?" Charlie asked on impulse.
Alison looked surprised, but accepted happily. It would save her having to cook and eat alone like she did most days.
"Great!" Charlie grinned.
Ruby was a little surprised at Charlie's invitation, but smiled welcomingly at Alison.
"We eat at about one o'clock. Pop by a little before."
"Good-oh!" Alison said and waved as she walked away.
Joey Collins rested her head in her palms. She wasn't a good drinker and the alcohol consumed the evening before, certainly had not rested easy. She lifted her head and tried to eat the toast she had prepared. Giving up, she took sips of strong, black coffee and regretted agreeing to drink with Charlie at all.
Her eyes came to rest on one of the account ledgers which Irene Roberts had given to her the evening before and she remembered with dread how she must pick up her abandoned car from outside Charlie's house. She quickly swallowed the rest of the coffee and prepared to take a cold shower to help shake the hangover she appeared to have.
"Where did you get all this money from?" Martha cried; her eyes widening in wonder.
"Where the hell did you get that from, you bitch?" Hugo cried as he leapt from their bed; snatching the notes away from his partner.
Martha recoiled and was shocked at Hugo's anger.
"I was doing what I always do when I wash your clothes; I was turning out your filthy jeans pockets! They stink of cigarette smoke and whisky!" She informed him with disgust.
"Keep your fucking hands off my stuff!" He yelled.
"Well, in future, do your own fucking washing!" Martha yelled back, throwing Hugo's dubious jeans in his face.
Joey Collins heart beat a little faster as she approached Charlie Buckton's house. She knew there was a chance she may be observed getting into her car, from Charlie's kitchen window, but she needed to move it. She also needed to speak to Alison about the company ledgers. Taking a deep breath and feeling for the car keys in her pocket, she remotely unlocked the door of the car and got in. The remote key gave a high-pitched squeak and Joey grimaced, knowing the alarm would clearly give her away.
Indeed, from inside Charlie's kitchen, Ruby heard the remote key alarm and looked out of the window into the street, in time to see Joey Collins.
"Joey's here picking up her car!" She informed her sister.
Charlie almost ran to the window; her heart beating wildly.
"Blimey Charlz! Where's the fire?" Ruby complained as she was jostled out of position.
Charlie only sighed as she watched Joey pull away.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked in concern.
She had noticed her sister's mood was less cheery than it had been for a few days and was sorry for it. Charlie had been like the sister she remembered from when they were younger; full of fun, bright, amusing and someone she wanted to be like herself.
"I wanted to invite Joey to lunch, too." Charlie replied sadly.
"Well, you can!" Ruby grinned. "She's just pulled onto Alison's driveway next door!"
Charlie craned her neck and watched as Joey walked up to Alison's front door.
"I'll pop by later and invite her too." She grinned with happiness.
"Sit down, Joey... Wow! You look like you've been out all night, if you don't mind me saying!" Alison grinned as she showed Joey to a chair. "Coffee?"
"God! Yes please!" Joey said gratefully; trying to ignore her thumping head. "Black... very black and strong!"
"So, you were visiting with the neighbours last night, huh?" Alison said as she handed Joey a steaming mug.
Joey tried to smile but got it all wrong.
"Why the face?" Alison grinned.
"Ali, I did something really un-smart last night." Joey confided.
"Like what?" Alison asked, settling in a chair opposite.
"I made a pass at Charlie Buckton." Joey lied.
What else could she say to Alison, without mentioning that Charlie had made the first move? Joey had long since decided that Charlie's pass had been fuelled by alcohol and not by any real feeling.
"Oh my God, Joey! What did she say?" Alison asked; her face beaming with amusement.
"She got a bit flustered, then, I left." Joey replied, bending the truth.
"Well, shows the old Lesbo is still there!" Alison laughed. "I thought it had moved on as it's been such a long while since you've taken an interest in the Sheilas!"
"Yeah, and look where it's got me? I feel a right fool, honest I do!"
Suddenly, at knock at the door interrupted their conversation.
"Sorry mate; won't be a mo." Alison said, as she left the room.
Joey looked down at the accounts ledger resting on her lap. She could hear muffled voices coming from the hallway and then footsteps approaching the lounge.
"Err, Joey... Charlie from next door has popped by; she wants a word!" Alison announced, opening her eyes wide in amusement.
"Me?" Joey asked, standing up. The ledger dropped to the floor with a thud. "But..."
At that moment, Charlie walked into the lounge.
"I'll err... go and put the kettle on, shall I?" Alison suggested; fleeing the room, tactfully.
The girls looked at each other with shyness; both rather uncomfortable, but both aware of the electric charge which happened whenever they were within reach of each other.
"Hey."
"Hey." Joey replied.
"I err... well, I wondered if you would still like to come to lunch today. I saw your car on Alison's drive... so I knew you were here. I've asked Alison and she's coming. I thought it was..."
"There's no need to worry, Charlie. I'm about to speak to Alison about the ledgers." Joey said trying to sound casual and failing. "So, please don't worry about lunch on my behalf."
"But I want you... I would like you to come... Come to lunch, that is." Charlie stepped closer to her companion. "I'm sorry how things ended last night. I acted stupidly and I feel very embarrassed about it now. I'd like to make it up to you, if I can. I must have been so drunk."
"You were no more drunk than me, Charlie."
"I know." Charlie whispered; looking at the floor. "I just wished I'd have known how to act."
"What happened was natural under the circumstances. Please don't give it another thought."
"But that's the problem!" Charlie suddenly cried. "I've done nothing but think about it since then! I've hardly done anything but think about you since last night and I keep remembering how we..."
"There we go... biscuit, Charlie?" Alison said handing her visitor a mug of coffee and a plate of Hobnobs.