Chapter Thirty-Nine
"So, what is it about Joey?" Ruby asked curiously.
She and Charlie were having lunch and Charlie was planning on meeting her girlfriend down at the docks when she finished so that they could go for a walk and perhaps a drink before they went to rehearsals. Charlie turned to Ruby, puzzled.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, she must be pretty special if you're willing to switch teams for her," Ruby grinned.
"I didn't get a whole lot of choice in the matter," Charlie replied. "The feelings and the attraction between us was just too strong. I mean, I tried not to love her but she's just so..."
Suddenly no adjective in the world seemed good enough for the woman she loved. Ruby giggled at the dreamy smile on her sister's face. It was a week later and Ruby was definitely coming round to the idea of her sister being in a lesbian relationship. She had made an effort to get to know Joey better, wanting to invite her to become part of the family.
"So...?" Ruby urged, interested as to what Charlie might come out with.
"Perfect," Charlie decided.
Ruby couldn't help but be intrigued. She had never seen Charlie behave this way before. Normally, she was controlled and in charge of all her feelings. She had been dumped on more than one occasion for being too distant and refusing to open up and let boyfriends in. But it seemed that with her girlfriend, she had given everything she had. It made Ruby proud to see her so loving and happy.
"She's so sweet," Charlie continued, not caring that she was about to go into full swoon mode. "And funny. She makes me laugh so much. And she seems so innocent but she has this hidden, naughty side."
"Do I need to know about that?" Ruby asked worriedly.
Charlie blushed.
"Maybe not. But anyway, Joey's just so wonderful. I've never met anyone like her. There's just something in her that makes me want to share everything with her, allow myself to be vulnerable. She was so good with my panic."
"Your panic?"
"I was afraid of being with her and um... sealing the deal."
Both girls turned red at the thought.
"But Joey was so patient," Charlie continued. "There was no pressure, no rush. She was completely selfless; always putting me first and making sure I was happy and comfortable. She's beautiful, inside and outside."
"I'm happy for you, Charlie," Ruby said sincerely. "She's good for you. I know I freaked when I first found out but I am so behind you now. I've never seen you like this before, so in love."
Charlie smiled, still blushing and feeling dreamy over Joey.
"Thank you, Rubes," she said. "That really does mean the world."
***
Joey was pleased when she stepped off the trawler and found Charlie waiting for her.
"Hey, Charlie!" Joey greeted, delighted with the surprise.
"Hi," Charlie replied, pulling her into a hug.
They headed off the dock and towards the beach, hand in hand, hardly caring that they were in public. Charlie listened with interest as Joey told her about her day and the two of them enjoyed the sunshine and each other's company.
***
Picking up his takeaway coffee, Brett exited the Diner and came to lean on the fence on the perimeter of the beach and looked out at the world around him. His eyes immediately caught sight of his sister. And she was holding hands with the cop who had convinced her to press charges against Robbo in the first place. He scowled, watching how close they were and felt sure that this Charlie woman had turned his sister gay. She was perfectly normal before all of this. He shook his head, watching them more closely as they wandered along the sand together looking so happy.
***
Giggling, Joey leant into Charlie, resting her head against her shoulder. Charlie broke away from Joey's hand and put her arm around her shoulders instead. Joey snuggled in closer and dared to place a kiss on Charlie's cheek. She hoped it was okay, bearing in mind that they were in public but if Charlie was willing to hold her out here then perhaps a kiss on the cheek was acceptable. Charlie stopped walking and turned around to face her. Smiling at her and briefly glancing round to check nobody was paying attention to them, Charlie came closer and kissed Joey's lips. Joey smiled into the kiss and wrapped her arms around Charlie as it developed. If ever there was a perfect moment it was being able to stand on the beach in her partner's arms and not being afraid to kiss each other.
***
From a distance, Brett dropped his coffee and gripped the fence tightly with his hands. He was disgusted that Joey and Charlie would do this in public. It was sick and it was wrong. He didn't care how happy Joey was or what a besotted expression she had on her face, this wasn't how it was meant to be. The cop had tricked her into bed. She had seduced her. He had to do something about it.
***
The following evening, Charlie, Joey and Ruby walked back from the Diner together after a nice meal. Charlie silently considered how perfect her life felt right at that moment. Of course it was scary to be with Joey in some ways. She had come out to Leah, VJ and Ruby and they had taken it well but she was still a little nervous about coming out to other people. She was afraid of judgement, ridicule and a lack of understanding. But she was feeling braver. Yesterday, they had kissed on the beach and at dinner tonight, when Joey had reached for her hand across the table, Charlie had accepted it willingly. She'd felt Joey's hand trembling when she'd reached for her, apparently afraid that she would draw away. But she hadn't. Back at home, Ruby scurried off to bed straight away but not without a few naughty comments at the couple who seemed so in love. Standing in the kitchen, Charlie wrapped her arms around Joey. She'd really enjoyed her evening but she couldn't help but struggle in public as it meant they couldn't be as all over each other as they wanted to be. At least in private, they could make out. Joey accepted Charlie's lips and kissed her back passionately, pressing her into the kitchen counter as their passion ignited and their hands began to wander.
***
Outside, Brett watched through the window unhappily and out of sight. He swigged the last of his sixth can of beer, feeling like his mind was going to explode. Dropping the can outside, he barged in through the door. Startled, Charlie and Joey broke apart.
"Brett!" Joey exclaimed, hurriedly doing the buttons up that Charlie had made short work of. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I've come to bring you home," he declared.
"I am home."
"Since when?"
"Since the moment you threw me out."
"So what, you're shacking up with her now?"
"She's my girlfriend and we're in love," Joey snapped. "Don't try and turn it into something dirty."
"It is dirty!" he yelled. "You need to come home, Jo! You need to stay away from her!"
He reached to pull Joey by the arm. Charlie hurriedly interjected.
"You get your hands off her," she warned.
"Funny, I've been wanting to say the same to you!"
"Brett, just leave us alone," Joey said, breaking free and gripping Charlie's hand.
"You've abused my sister!" Brett yelled at Charlie.
She looked horrified.
"No, I haven't!"
"Then what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I'm taking care of her."
Charlie kept her voice low but Brett didn't follow suit. His voice was loud, slurred and angry.
"You need to stay away!" he shouted.
"No," Joey argued. "You need to stay away."
"What's going on?" Leah asked, sleepy and annoyed when she appeared in the doorway.
"Nothing," Charlie said. "Brett was just leaving."
"No, I wasn't!"
"Do you want me to get you arrested?" Charlie challenged.
He clenched his jaw and looked between the three furious women. He turned and stormed back out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
