A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 19
"Joey..." Charlie whispered in the darkness.
"Mmmm." Joey answered sleepily.
"Joey, are you awake?"
"Mmmm."
Charlie rolled onto her side; propping herself up on one elbow and smiling down at her very, sleepy lover. She kissed her gently on her cheek and blew softly in her face.
"Hey, you... wake up!"
Joey slowly opened her eyes and smiled at the wondrous sight before her.
"Hey you. Are you really here or am I only dreaming?" She asked softly.
"I'm really here, but alas, I need to go!" Charlie replied sadly.
"Need or want?" Joey asked; her attention now caught in full.
"Need." Charlie affirmed, stroking Joey's face with her index finger.
"But I don't want you to go!" Joey groaned propping herself up and facing Charlie.
"I don't want to go either, but my little sister will worry if she realises I didn't get home last night. Believe me; she won't let me alone until she finds out where and whom I've been with!"
Joey looked longingly at Charlie.
"And stop looking at me with those beautiful, puppy-dog eyes of yours!" Charlie giggled.
She pushed Joey back onto the mattress and lay on top of her.
"Joey, I love you."
"I love you too, Charlie. I love you so much."
They kissed and held each other for as long as Charlie allowed, before gently untangling herself from Joey's grip and making ready to leave. Joey watched as Charlie dressed; each movement was like witnessing the most wonderful and graceful ballet ever performed.
"You're so beautiful." She murmured. "I wish I could hold you in my arms forever."
Charlie looked back at the younger woman who had started an ever-burning flame in her heart; the woman who had taken her to Heaven; the woman whom a few weeks previously had dragged her back from the depths of despair.
"When I'm not physically in your arms, I will be, mentally." She promised.
She walked slowly to the side of the bed where Joey lay. She took her hand and kissed its fingers lovingly.
"I love these fingers! They do the most wonderful things to me!" She grinned. I'll ring you later. Now, go back to sleep, my darling."
"Not until you text and tell me that you're home safe." Joey said, pulling Charlie down into her arms. "Promise me you'll do that."
"I promise."
"Okay, I reluctantly let you go to that little sister of yours. Damn your little sister!" She grinned.
"I'll not mention that to her." Charlie laughed.
"Are you gonna tell her... about us?"
Charlie's face clouded a little.
"I will, but not just yet. I'd better be off. See you later?"
Joey nodded.
"Well... bye."
"Bye Charlie." Joey whispered back.
They kissed once more before Charlie left, leaving Joey alone in her quiet bedroom. The room felt strangely large and cold. She had never noticed it before that night. It was Charlie who had given it warmth and without her, it felt barren and lifeless.
She sighed and wrapped her arms about herself, waiting for the special text message to arrive. When it did, she grabbed her mobile phone and poured over its delivery.
'I'm home, my love. Now sleep, and dream wonderful dreams. I love you. Charlie.x.'
Joey smiled and her heart filled with love. She keyed her return message and pushed the send button.
'Goodnight my darling. Thank you for loving me. I love you too. Sweet dreams. Joey.x.'
"I told you Hugo, I haven't got the cash! You'll just have to wait!"
"I've waited long enough; I want it now!" Hugo spat, angrily.
"I can't give you what I haven't got!" The other man yelled.
Hugo pinned him up against the shed wall. The other man whimpered as he felt the steel blade against his throat.
"If you don't get that cash to me by noon, you're fucking dead meat, buster!"
The blade rose and fell as the man's Adams-apple moved with each nervous swallow.
"Y-You'll have your money." He promised.
"I'd better. Now get!" Hugo yelled; pushing the man forcibly out of the fisherman's shed. The man stumbled, but recovered quickly.
Hugo watched as the man ran away into the night, little aware that he too, was being observed from a nearby tree. Hugo grinned and closed the shed door. He attached a padlock and got into his car. Unusually and out of character for Hugo, he pulled away without drama and travelled slowly along the woodland path until he met a larger road.
Angelo put his camera away and switched off the recording machine. This time he had some real evidence to add to his ever-growing cache.
"And where did you get to last night?" Ruby asked indignantly as Charlie entered the kitchen from her bedroom.
"And good morning to you too, little sister!" Charlie replied, playing for time. "And what a lovely morning it is!"
"Don't change the subject!" Ruby snapped.
"I wasn't in that late!" Charlie said, trying not to get irritated by her younger sister's cross-examination.
"You weren't in by one thirty!"
"How do you know?" Charlie snapped back; turning the tables on Ruby.
"Because... because I didn't go to bed until then!"
"Ah-ha! And why was that?" Charlie asked.
"Because... I-I was doing homework!"
"Likely story!"
"Well, what time did you get in?" Ruby asked again.
"Err... a little after that!"
"You must have been very quiet then, coz I didn't hear you!" Ruby said; incredulously.
"I was!" Charlie grinned, triumphantly.
"And did you have a good evening?" Ruby asked; digging for information.
"Yeah... Good. Real good." Charlie grinned to herself.
"With anyone I know?"
"I... Err... Met up with Joey Collins and a couple of girls from the 'SBF & C'... At the surf club. We had a few beers and then... went back to Joey's for a night-cap." Charlie said, hoping her story sounded feasible.
"Oh! Good for you, sis! I'm glad you're getting out again. You and Joey seem to get on really well."
"Yeah, she's..." Charlie took a few moments to consider her answer. "She's one of the nicest people I know. You know when you can trust someone, totally? Well, that's how I feel when I'm with her... Well... I mean as a friend!"
Ruby smiled.
"I'm glad you've got a proper friend at last, sis. Fancy some toast?"