A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 37
Ruby Buckton hummed as she walked to the front door. She opened it, but was surprised to see the face of a complete stranger standing before her.
"Hello beautiful. Is Sergeant Buckton at home please?"
"No, sorry. She's out. Can I take a message?"
"That won't be necessary. I'll catch up with her soon. Goodbye for now... Oh! Just before I leave, do you know a young woman called Joey Collins?"
"Just who are you?"
"Charlie! I thought you would never come!" Joey wailed as they hugged each other tightly.
"I've missed you so much, Joey!" Charlie responded, choking over her words.
"Can I come home now?" Joey asked, frantically.
"No darling... not just yet." Charlie replied sadly.
"But Charlie...!"
"Joey! Things aren't safe enough yet. Things are moving along quickly, but there is still a chance that you'll be dragged into it. You must be patient and trust me."
"I do trust you, Charlie! With my life! But I miss you so much and I'm scared!"
"I know... I know, but it won't be forever and whatever way you look at it, you are much safer here."
Joey sighed resolutely.
"Okay, I'll be patient... just for a little longer."
Charlie grinned.
"But it's so boring being here alone and having nothing to do; nowhere to go and no one to talk to!" Joey moaned.
"Well, I'm sure that now I'm here, we might find one or more things to occupy your time... for the next few hours, at least!" Charlie said with an eyebrow raised.
Joey burst out laughing and gave her lips to Charlie to start the proceedings.
An hour later, the two girls lay in each other's arms feeling calmer and a little braver. Joey sighed contentedly and shifted her position; laying her cheek against Charlie's breast.
"Charlie," She whispered.
"Mmmm."
"Do you know who killed Irene?"
Charlie remained silent. She wanted to share the story which Angelo Rosetta had regaled, but it was not advisable at present. Charlie needed all the evidence to be in place before Irene's story could be told and wanted Joey to be in a better state of mind.
"All I can say at present is, someone has blown open the case with some amazing evidence which when it becomes public will likely alter all our lives drastically. You, my angel, have unwittingly become a central character, but until this evidence is presented, you could still be in danger, not only from Irene's murderers, but also from some of our ignorant friends in Summer Bay."
Joey's eyes' widened in wonder. She had only ever thought of herself as a fairly insignificant resident of the Bay and now, she had been unwillingly hurled into the limelight, and probably at that very moment, thought of by most residents of their sea-side community, as a dastardly, murdering fiend.
"I can hardly believe this is all happening. It seems only a few days ago that we had that drink together and then went for a walk on the beach; spilling our hearts out to each other! I suppose we both knew, instinctively, that we would come together eventually. But now, my world has been turned upside down and the only good thing is... is you." Joey whispered.
Charlie smiled lovingly at her girlfriend.
"You've made my life complete, Joey, and you rescued me when I thought I was dead. The whole world seems in disarray at the moment, but soon it will become sane again and then we'll settle down together... if... if that's what you want, of course?" Charlie added quickly.
"Charlie, I want no more than to be with you, always, but I'm not sure if Summer Bay is where I want to remain, regardless of the outcome of Irene's murder. It's as if... when she died, something in me died along with her and I think it was my last tie to the Bay. I think it's time I moved on." Joey murmured sadly.
Charlie swallowed and her heart thumped. She had never thought about leaving Summer Bay. Since she and Ruby had arrived, they had immediately put down the deepest roots, and even when her life seemed in tatters, the only sure-foot she had was the Bay itself and its quirky inhibitors. Since meeting and falling in love with Joey, her heart had rallied, she felt the warmth of the sun and life had been worth living again. But now Joey was talking of leaving and suddenly, dark clouds were forming on the horizon of her mind.
"It's beginning to get light. Won't your car be spotted if anyone happens to drive by?" Joey asked, suddenly.
"I hope not, but we mustn't take risks. I will have to leave shortly."
Joey closed her eyes and wished, not for the first time, that it was all over and she could be free again.
"I wish you didn't have to go."
"Me too, but..."
"It's okay... I understand. How long will it be before I can come back, do you think?"
"I don't know, my love." Charlie said, rolling Joey onto her back and touching the softness of her girlfriend's flesh with her fingers. "As soon as you're out of danger, I'll be back here to collect you for sure, I promise!"
"I hated this place until you arrived. I quite like it now." Joey grinned. "Perhaps we could use it as a holiday cottage when all this shit goes away!"
Charlie giggled and smothered Joey's breasts in small, wet kisses. For now she would forget the threat of Joey leaving the Bay and live only for the moment.
Joey wrapped her legs around Charlie so there was no escape and ran her fingers through Charlie's long, brown hair; smelling its perfume-freshness and longing to retain the scent for lonelier times to come.
The inevitable moment of separation arrived and as they held each other in the hallway, Charlie closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Be brave for me?"
Joey nodded.
"I'll try." She squeaked, trying to keep tears from her eyes. "Please come and get me soon!"
"I will." Charlie promised. "It won't be long now."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I just know."
Joey nodded her head and accepted her lover's words without argument.
"Thank you for coming." She said, quietly.
Charlie giggled.
"Darling, for you it's always my pleasure!"
Joey's eyes widened and she gasped.
"Charlie Buckton! I didn't mean... well, you know!" She said, blushing.
"Joey Collins! I didn't know you were such an old prude!"
Joey laughed.
"I have my moments, though I hope not in bed just now?"
"No! Prudery definitely wasn't on the menu!"
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too. Look after yourself. Bolt the door after I've gone."
"I will." Joey promised.
They kissed once more and gazed into each other's eyes for a long moment before parting. Now the bolted door stood between them once again.
Charlie crept into the kitchen when she arrived home.
"Charlie! Is that you?" Ruby cried, running anxiously to meet her sister.
"Yeah! Are you okay?"
"The Police have been here looking for you and also, they questioned me about Joey Collins!"
"They had no right!" Charlie yelled. "Who was the officer?"
"I don't know! I didn't recognise him! He was plain clothed."
Charlie frowned.
"What did you tell him?"
"Nothing. I told him he would have to wait until you got back."
"Good girl."
"I take it you paid a visit to..."
"My lips are sealed." Charlie confirmed with a wink.