Chapter Eighteen

Charlie was getting ready for a run when Joey emerged from the bedroom, washed and dressed. They paused to secretly and silently observe each other admiringly before Charlie distracted herself by making Joey a cup of tea. Joey thanked her and sat down at the kitchen table.

"You were rambling about boats in your sleep last night, you know," the police officer teased.

Joey looked alarmed.

"I talk in my sleep now?" she asked.

Charlie grinned.

"A little bit," she said.

Joey was distraught. She dreamt about Charlie sometimes. What if something terrible slipped out?

"On the plus side, at least you slept the whole night through," Charlie said, setting the drink down in front of her friend.

Joey smiled at her gratefully.

"That's true."

"So, boats, huh?"

"I do love them."

"I don't get it," Charlie admitted.

"You don't get it?" Joey asked, horrified.

"Why do I get the feeling that I've just confessed to some terrible sin?"

Charlie looked terribly worried.

"I'm sorry but if you're going to be my best friend, you require a boat conversion," Joey giggled.

Charlie shook her head.

"I'm not sure that'll work out somehow," Charlie said, pulling up a chair.

"We'll find a way," Joey said certainly.

Leah appeared in the kitchen, looking as cheerful as she always did.

"Morning, guys," she said brightly.

They greeted her warmly.

"I was after a favour," she ventured.

"Shoot," Charlie told her.

"Well, I was hoping to do a bit of a lunch here today…"

"We're gone," Charlie said, sighing dramatically.

Joey giggled at the drama queen.

"Do you fancy lunch?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, that sounds great," Charlie said, agreeing immediately.

She stood up and patted Joey's shoulder affectionately.

"I'm off to teach the punch bag a lesson. See you at the Diner at noon?"

"Sounds good," Joey said.

She was already formulating a plan in her head.

***

Charlie arrived at the Diner right on time, surprised to find Joey standing there with a hamper instead of a menu. She smiled, approaching her friend curiously.

"I'm converting you," Joey declared, gesturing for her to turn around and head back out of the café.

Charlie obeyed, still unsure of exactly what they were going to get up to.

"I've hired Alf's boat for the afternoon," Joey explained, once they were walking side by side.

Charlie beamed at her.

"So, it's you, me, a picnic, a beautiful boat and the open water for as long as you want."

Charlie suddenly cleared her diary for the entire afternoon. They headed towards the wharf.

***

The afternoon seemed to be going far too quickly. Charlie couldn't help but admire just how comfortable and at home Joey was out on the water. She came to life and developed a confidence she didn't have anywhere else. It was beautiful to see her coming to life like that. Charlie had shyly and reluctantly taken the wheel but only on the promise that Joey kept her hands on it too at all times because to drive a boat without a licence was illegal. It had sent a thrill through Charlie to have physical contact with Joey. She had physical contact with her every night when she held her in order to go to sleep but this was different somehow. The feel of Joey's strong hands on her, guiding her and teaching her, sent a spark through her skin. Once out on the sea, Joey had stilled them and they had eaten their food on deck in the sunshine. Charlie couldn't get over how happy Joey was. She couldn't get over how happy she felt herself. Everything seemed peaceful out here, like she was in some kind of utopia where nothing else mattered except her and Joey. There was nowhere else she wanted to be. Leaning back on the deck, Charlie gazed at Joey who was brushing her hair out of her eyes.

"So, what made you become a cop then?" Joey asked.

They had already delved into Joey's love of boats, which dated back to her childhood and her happiest memories being out on the water.

"Well, my Dad's a cop so I guess it's in my blood," Charlie explained.

"Do you get on with your Dad?" Joey asked. "You don't talk about him much."

Charlie looked away.

"Well, he's pretty sick right now," she said.

"Ruby mentioned that," Joey said nervously.

Charlie nodded and looked back at Joey. She never spoke about her father. She never had, even before the Alzheimer's.

"He and I have a complicated relationship, I guess," she explained. "I never felt I got enough attention from him. There was always a lot of resentment there on my part. And now there's a lot of guilt."

"Guilt?" Joey asked.

"Well, he's so sick now and so vulnerable. I feel bad that I ever gave him a hard time. I realise now that he did always love me, he was just busy," Charlie said.

She wasn't sure she was explaining herself very well.

"I know it's really hard to see him suffer like he is but you haven't got anything to feel guilty about," Joey said gently.

Charlie smiled weakly, hoping she was right.

"I guess I feel like I lost a lot of time with him," she said sadly. "And I've worked so hard to make him proud and I never will."

"So really you became a cop to make him proud?" Joey challenged.

Charlie blushed. Joey knew her far too well already.

"Maybe a little," she admitted.

"I think he must be proud of you already, Charlie. I don't think you've failed there."

"I wanted to do so much, Joey," Charlie said, looking deep into Joey's eyes. "I wanted him to see me climb the ladder, make Detective like he was. I wanted to do so much but by the time I get there, he either won't recognise me or… or he'll be gone."

Charlie wiped furiously at her eyes. Her tears had surprised her. Instinctively, Joey moved forward and held Charlie who rested her head on Joey's shoulder. She was comforted by Joey's arms around her. She felt safe there.

"Sorry," Joey apologised. "I shouldn't have pushed."

Charlie stayed in Joey's arms.

"No, it's okay," she said. "I've not talked about it with anyone. I should. I need to."

Joey smiled, hoping that perhaps she had helped a little bit.

"I don't know if it means anything to you, Charlie but I don't see how your father could be anything but proud of you now," Joey said softly.

Charlie looked up at her, a smile playing on her lips, searching Joey's face, wondering if she really meant it.

"I mean, look at you," Joey continued. "You're amazing. You're beautiful, smart and funny. You look after Ruby so well and you're the best cop ever. When I think about how good you've been to me, the way you've looked after me... I could never have asked for anything more. You've been incredible. I look at you and I feel like the luckiest person in the world because I've met the loveliest person in the world."

Charlie blushed and couldn't stop smiling. She snuggled closer to Joey and let herself relax against her. It felt so good to be so close to her. She took in the scent of her perfume, mingled with the salt of the sea, little knowing that Joey was doing the same thing.

"Thank you," Charlie eventually said.

"For what?"

"For being you."

Now it was Joey's turn to blush. She hugged Charlie a little closer and looked out to sea. This felt like the most perfect day in the world. Surely life couldn't get better than chilling out on a boat, the ocean all around them with, quite literally, the woman of her dreams, in her arms. Gazing at each other, with Charlie's compliment still hanging between them, Joey suddenly became shy. Their faces were only inches apart. Charlie didn't think they had ever been quite this intimate before, not even curled up in bed together. This was a different mood somehow. Before she could control her actions, she had lifted her face slightly, moving her mouth closer to Joey's and reached out to hold Joey's free hand with her. Noting Charlie's movement, Joey also guided her head forward, essentially closing the gap between them. She could hardly believe that it was happening, that it was real and yet, here she was, with Charlie in her arms, feeling her lips pressed against her. Charlie was pleasantly surprised by the softness of Joey's lips as they tentatively pressed against hers. She kissed her back willingly, applying gentle pressure and slowly letting their mouths move against each other. Charlie felt Joey's tongue touch her lips, silently seeking entry. Succumbing to Joey's every want, Charlie parted her lips slightly, inviting Joey inside. Their kiss deepened, sending thrills through both of them as they wrapped their arms protectively around each other.