A Pathway of Adversity
Chapter 42
They lay together in a motel double bed; Joey happily snoring gently, but Charlie studying the bedroom ceiling. Sleep was being evasive; her mind trying to find ways of convincing Joey to return to the safe house and later, when the troubles in Summer Bay had blown over, and how to make the break from her job, family and friends and leave, following her lover to wherever she may lead.
Joey muttered a few undistinguishable words in her sleep, followed by a little chuckle. Charlie smiled and glanced over at her lover; watching as Joey's eyelids fluttered and her lips twitched. Whatever she was dreaming of tonight, was gentle and safe. Charlie reached over and stroked Joey's hair softly. As if by magic, Joey sighed.
"Charlie..."
"I love you, Joey. I always will." Charlie whispered back to her sleeping girlfriend.
Joey sighed again and sunk into a much deeper sleep.
Charlie carefully climbed out of bed and tip-toed over to the little en-suite bathroom. Taking a glass tooth mug from the stand, she filled it with cold drinking water and thirstily drank the refreshing liquid. She sighed and glanced at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Stripped of makeup, she looked pale and a little dark around the eyes. The anxiety lines on her forehead were more pronounced than she would have liked, but it was hardly surprising how they had carved themselves into her face just recently. She reached up and traced one of the lines with her finger tip.
"I still think you're the most beautiful creature I ever laid eyes on!" A voice said from behind.
Charlie jumped and swung around to face Joey. Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears and she fell upon Joey's shoulder to cry them out.
"Hey! What's all this for?" Joey cried. "I thought I was the only weak and feeble one who cracks up at the slightest thing!"
Charlie continued to sob and Joey held her close. When the tears subsided and only sniffles remained, Joey held Charlie a little away from her and looked deep into her teary eyes.
"Tell me..." She demanded.
"I guess I'm just tired, scared and a little out of sorts." Charlie replied. "And I can't sleep. That's all."
"That's all? I'm sorry. This is what I've done to you, isn't it?" Joey suggested, sadly.
"Well, I'd be lying if I said you had nothing to do with it, but I guess I had a moment of self-revelation just now with my friend here..." Charlie said, gesturing towards her own reflection in the bathroom mirror. I'm not the same woman I was a year ago. So much has changed in my life and I feel as if I've got a little lost along the way."
"That's not good, I take it?"
"Well, some of it is good, but I just wish I could make everyone happy and..."
"But, my love, you do! You make me so very happy!" Joey said, taking hold of Charlie's shoulders. "So very, very happy! You've given my life purpose and even hope, in spite of what's going on back home. Without you, my life would now be in the hands of others and I think I would have drowned in despair."
Charlie smiled her gratitude.
"Are you worried about 'coming out' to all and sundry to be with me?" Joey asked suddenly.
"A little, but even that doesn't seem such a big deal as it would have done once. I guess I'm just getting old and I've had one of those moments when I can't cope with it. I'm sorry."
"You'll never be old, Charlie; not in my eyes, anyway." Joey smiled, snuggling into her girlfriends inviting, toned body. "Come back to bed. You need some sleep; we both need some sleep!" She said, yawning theatrically.
Charlie giggled and wiped away the rest of the dampness on her cheeks.
The next morning was overcast. The air was hot and storm flies flitted here and there, predicting a storm not far away.
Joey had agreed over breakfast to return to the safe house, even though deep down, she knew she would suffer many a sleepless night there until Irene's murderer had been apprehended and charged. But for Charlie's sake, she kept a bright countenance and took delight as she watched the Police officer's eyes brighten at the prospect.
"I'm so pleased, Joey. At least I shall be able to see you... and I know things look awful at the moment, but very soon everything will be okay – just you wait and see!"
Joey smiled but the smile did not reach her eyes. Charlie saw this and touched Joey's cheek with her fingers.
"You know you can't hide your secrets from me, don't you?"
Joey sighed and smiled.
"Okay, I confess I shan't enjoy the experience, but as long as I can see you from time to time, it will make my life a little happier."
"Good. Well, we'd better pick-up your car and get going. If I'm not careful, I shall be losing my job!" Charlie grinned.
"Well, if that happens, we can just run away together and to hell with the rest!"
Charlie laughed but doubt crept into her heart again.
Joey observed her girlfriend closely.
"You know, you can't hide secrets from me, either."
Charlie smiled.
"Well, maybe it's just as well we don't play poker!"
"Yes... Let's leave that sort of thing to Messrs Austen and Rosetta."
Charlie felt a little hurt in her heart that Joey had including Angelo Rosetta's name with the likes of Hugo Austen, but then, Joey had no idea how Angelo was trying to help her.
Angelo Rosetta was admitted into the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. His car was a write-off after hitting a tree and turning over twice...but miraculously, Angelo wasn't. But he did have several injuries which needed attention and possibly several nights stay in hospital to recover.
"Is there anyone you'd like us to contact?" A nurse asked the bandaged young man.
"Could you possibly ring a Police Sergeant in Yabbie Creek for me, please? Her name is Sergeant Charlie Buckton." Angelo requested. "I'd like her to know."
"Yabbie Creek? Where the hell is that?" The young nurse asked, perplexed.
"Well, it's... Have you got some paper? I'll just give you the number."
With Joey Collins safely back at the safe house, Sergeant Charlie Buckton found it hard to leave her lover's arms and get back to her work in Summer Bay. Every time she tried to inch towards the door, a very inviting pair of soft lips detained her; taking her mind off her duty.
"Joey! I have to go!" She cried after the fourth time of being way-laid.
"But..." Joey said, between embraces. "I want you to stay!"
"You know I can't, honey! I need to get back to my office and see how things are developing. You do want to get out of here, don't you?"
Joey loosened her grip on Charlie's waist.
"I guess so." She said sadly. "Promise me you'll come by again, soon?"
"I promise." Charlie smiled. "Now, go and settle down and read or wash-up... or something!"
"Yes, dear!" Joey moaned.
Charlie smirked.
Suddenly, her mobile phone rang.
"Charlie Buckton."
"G'day Sergeant Buckon. This is Nurse Sampson at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. I have been requested to contact you by a patient of ours, a Mr. Angelo Rosetta."
"Angelo!" Charlie cried in surprise. "A patient, you say? Whatever happened?"
Joey watched Charlie's cheeks pale as she received the news about Angelo's accident.
"Dear God! How did he get out of that without any major injuries?" Charlie asked, astonished.
"Well, some of the injuries, though not life threatening, certainly are serious, but I take your point." The nurse replied.
"May I speak with Angelo?"
"I'm sorry, Sergeant; that's impossible. But if you'd like to visit..."
"Yes, of course. I'll get there as soon as I can. Please give Angelo my love and tell him to expect me as soon as I can get there."
Hearing Charlie's words gave Joey a little pang of jealousy.
"So, what has the wonderful Angelo done to deserve such attention? I thought up until now that he irritated the shit out of you!" Joey said, walking into the kitchen and stacking their breakfast plates.
Charlie sighed. If only Joey understood what Angelo had done for her.
"Joey, honey... You have to understand that Angelo is a dear friend and therefore..."
"And therefore, you have to go running to his bedside when he has a scratch on his finger and kiss it better!"
"Joey! You know better than that!"
"Then, why the great concern? Up until recently, he'd treated you like dirt and now he expects you to jump when he snaps his fingers!"
"He was involved in a car accident leaving Sydney. He has sustained some bad injuries; not life threatening... but he doesn't have anyone else and..."
"What about his family? Don't they count or was yours the only telephone number he could remember?" Joey asked with a stony expression.
"Please try to understand; we were together for a long time and..."
"And therefore, you have to go... Well, don't let me detain you any longer."
"Joey! Don't be like this! You know things between Angelo and me are well and truly finished!"
"So you tell me, but I still don't understand why you have to rush off all the way to Sydney, to visit some dirty, rotten liar who destroyed your life once before, and given half the chance, will do it over again!"
"Angelo won't be ruining my life again – he can't because my life is with you and he accepts this. Joey, please don't fret so. I have no other feeling for Angelo than mere friendship. I owe him that."
"You owe him fuck-all, Charlie!" Joey yelled as she clattered around with the cups in the washing up bowl. "And you know it!"
Charlie sighed. She could see there was no humouring Joey. She had no understanding of what Angelo had done for her, but then, why would she? All she saw was Angelo, the guy who, apart from nearly destroying her girlfriend's life, was a possible conspirator in the murder of Irene Roberts. After all, hadn't he once been a close friend of Hugo Austen?
"Okay, Jo. Well, I can see there is little point in arguing with you over this, so we might as well let it drop. I have to go now. I have some things to attend to at work and then I'll travel up to Sydney. I'll ring you when I get there, if you like."
"Please yourself." Joey said, absently.
Charlie felt her throat tighten. Joey had no reason to be jealous but whatever she tried to say, made no difference.
"Well, I'll say "goodbye" then." Charlie said; aiming her lips at Joey's but only being shown a rather grudging cheek.
"Goodbye." Joey replied, coldly.