Chapter Fourteen

That afternoon Charlie and Joey were watching television at home when Leah arrived back with VJ, having picked him up from school.

"What do you mean you're sick?" Leah yelped into her mobile phone.

She had another shift at the Diner and her babysitter was cancelling on her at the last minute. Hanging up, her eyes landed hopefully on Charlie and Joey. She didn't hold too much hope, however, considering she'd just asked Charlie to tell Joey to move out. She smiled awkwardly.

"Babysitting?" Charlie asked.

"Please?"

"Sure we will," Charlie said.

She patted the sofa and VJ bounded out. He loved it when Charlie babysat him. He always got ice cream and she told him exciting cops and robbers stories.

***

As the afternoon wore on, Joey and VJ were getting on like a house on fire. Charlie was almost feeling left out. VJ stole all of Joey's attention, largely by allowing Joey to teach him card games. She watched them interact, smiling to herself. Joey looked so happy and relaxed. It was nice to see. She wanted Joey to be able to move on day by day. She wanted her to get to a place of healing. She would need to have reached a place of strength in order to take her place on the stand and testify against Robbo and what he did to her. Charlie knew graphic details about what had happened. She knew things she'd rather not know. So she also knew that Joey was at the beginning of a long and difficult journey. She wanted to support her every step of the way.

***

Leah arrived home after a long shift. She didn't really want to go on her date with George, the guy that Colleen had set her up with on the speed dating night the week before but she'd agreed and it seemed too late to back out now. She walked into a place of calm. It felt good. Joey and VJ were playing cards and Charlie was relaxing on the couch watching television.

"Hey guys," she greeted.

The moment VJ saw his mother he started scowling.

"I don't want to play anymore," he told Joey.

He left the room.

"What did I do?" Leah asked.

Joey and Charlie shrugged, just as confused as she was.

***

Half an hour later, VJ still wasn't talking, no matter how hard Leah tried to get through to him. Charlie and Joey were in the middle of making dinner when she arrived back in the kitchen.

"He'll only talk to Joey, apparently," she said.

"Me?" Joey asked, surprised.

"You've stolen his heart," Charlie teased.

Joey blushed and headed into VJ's room.

***

Fifteen minutes later, Joey came back into the kitchen, leading VJ by the hand. He was clutching her tightly and hanging his head. She sat him on the chair and then seated herself beside him.

"Now, tell your Mum what you told me, okay?" she said gently.

"Do I have to?" he asked.

"Go on. It's alright."

"I don't want George stealing you away from me!" he blurted out.

Leah blanched.

"Oh, VJ, that won't happen!" she said kindly.

She bent down and hugged him.

"Is that why you've been so upset this week?"

She thought it had been having a new person in the house and all along it had been her impending date with a new man. He hugged back. She thanked Joey for sorting it out.

"No worries," Joey said, shrugging like it was no big deal.

"Listen, I'm going to cancel on George, okay? And I'm going to take you out to dinner instead," Leah said to VJ.

He looked delighted. Charlie smiled at Joey.

***

That night, Charlie was woken by screaming again. Once more, she shot in to see Joey, waking her gently. Joey burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry for keep doing this to you. You're never going to get a good night's sleep," she said.

"It's fine," Charlie said kindly. "Look, you've been through so much, Joey. Of course you're going to have nightmares. It's just going to take time."

Joey nodded but she still felt terrible. She thought she coped quite well during the day but at night time all her fears were unleashed and she was entirely at their mercy.

"Do you think you can go back to sleep or do you want me to stay again?" Charlie asked.

Joey wanted to be able to tell her that she would be fine but she couldn't. Charlie crept into the bed beside her, guiding Joey to lie against her. Joey closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to claim her. Charlie lay awake a little longer, wondering what to do about Joey's housing situation. She hated thinking of Joey in a place all by herself. How would she cope all alone? The nightmares would drive her crazy and there would be nobody to protect her. And Charlie wouldn't sleep a wink either, knowing how vulnerable she was. She mulled over the idea of moving out with Joey. She, Joey and Ruby could all live together in a house with three bedrooms. That way she could keep everyone safe and happy, including herself. Deciding that was the solution, she finally drifted off.

***

In the morning, Charlie was awake first. She slipped out of bed and started brewing coffee. Leah was the next person up.

"Oh, hey, Charlie, I was meaning to talk to you," her housemate said.

"Oh?"

"Joey doesn't have to go," she said.

"Really?" Charlie said, delighted.

"Yeah. I was being totally unreasonable. And she helped me so much with VJ yesterday. There's no way I can ask her to leave. If you, Ruby and Joey don't mind whatever sleeping arrangements you've organised, she can stick around as long as she likes."

"Thanks," Charlie said. "I really appreciate it, Leah. And so will Joey."