Chapter Sixty
Charlie felt like everyone was looking at her the next morning. Even though Leah knew nothing about the night before, she was obviously picking up on the tension and it was clearly centred around Charlie. And Ruby couldn't stop studying her. Joey was a comforting presence but the minute Leah headed to work and Joey went for a shower, Ruby began with her questions. Naturally, she wanted to know about the baby. How old had Charlie been? Had she had a boy or a girl? Who was the father? Why had she given the baby away? Charlie had evaded her at first but Ruby had pleaded with her for answers.
"I'm just totally shocked by this, Charlie," she said. "I had no idea that this happened. Why didn't I know?"
"You were too young to have any idea," Charlie said, wishing Joey would come back and rescue her.
"I just would have expected..."
"What? More from me?" Charlie challenged. "Ruby, I don't need a lecture, okay? I've spent years living with giving my child up."
"Sorry. I wasn't judging you," Ruby said quietly.
"Look, it happened. It's over. I don't want to think about it anymore."
"Don't you love... him, her? Was it a boy or a girl?"
"A boy," Charlie lied.
"Did you love him?"
Charlie shrugged. Her heart was screaming that she'd loved her baby more than life itself. That she still loved her and wished more than anything she could take her time back and be the mother she always should have been.
"It's too late to love him now," she said sadly.
Standing up, she cleared the breakfast plates into the sink and began to wash them, still wishing for Joey. She felt better, safer when her girlfriend was around. Joey knew everything and she loved her anyway. Around her, Charlie had nothing to hide and nothing to be afraid of.
***
Joey finished in the shower and headed to the bedroom to get changed. Picking out her clothes, she was glad that hers and Charlie's day off coincided. It was good timing as well. Charlie would be heading back to work the following day and while she knew Charlie was desperate to come off sick leave, she was aware that she was also nervous about it. Her hip had given her a lot of trouble since the accident and Joey had been very worried. That plus all the stress of everyone finding out there had at least been a baby, even if they didn't know it was Ruby, was really wearing Charlie down. Dressed in shorts and t-shirt, Joey headed back into the kitchen. Charlie was washing dishes. Joey crept up and wrapped her arms around her. Charlie smiled and leant back into her embrace, allowing Joey to kiss her cheek. She turned around in Joey's embrace, putting her wet hands around her. They kissed gently, letting it develop. Charlie's tongue sought tentative entry into Joey's mouth. Joey gave immediate permission, allowing their bodies to press as closely together as possible. It felt like a lifetime since they had been this intimate. Their relationship had been awash with stress since the accident and all the revelations about Charlie's past.
"Let's spend today just like this," Charlie whispered.
Joey smiled, her lips still pressed against her girlfriend's.
"That sounds like a perfect idea," she replied.
***
Ruby sat in the Surf Club with Xavier. She'd recounted the whole story to him and her mind was still reeling.
"I just can't believe she had a baby and I knew nothing about it," she said, shaking her head. "And she couldn't even say that she loved him. She just... Nothing. She had nothing to say. How can you go through that and have nothing to say?"
"Maybe it's too painful for her to talk about," Xavier suggested.
"I guess. I don't know. I'm just so confused. I mean, Charlie has this son out there that none us have even met. He'd only be a few of years younger than me and she doesn't even know who he is."
***
A couple of feet away, Angelo blanched. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop exactly but he'd heard Ruby and Xavier's conversation absolutely clearly. Now his mind was reeling as much as theirs was. Charlie was secretly a mother? Had she really given birth when she was a teenager? The idea was mind boggling. It was yet another secret she'd kept. He wondered if Joey knew and if so, how long for. How was she taking it? Were these the 'personal issues' Charlie had referred to? He sighed, telling himself he should stop concerning himself so much with Charlie's life. She wasn't with him anymore and she'd made it perfectly clear that she never would be. Still he knew he'd never get her off his mind. He'd even been considering asking May to move in with him and yet all he could think about was Charlie.
***
Joey and Charlie were curled up on the sofa, wrapped up in each other's arms. Joey kissed the tip of Charlie's nose, making her giggle and return the gesture. They met in yet another gentle kiss, closing their eyes and breathing in each other's scent.
"I love you," Charlie said softly.
They kissed again.
"I love you too."
Charlie snuggled down against Joey's shoulder.
"So, do you want to tell me how it went with Ruby this morning?"
"No," Charlie said with a big sigh.
Joey stroked Charlie's shoulder and kissed the top of her head.
"I lied to her," Charlie admitted. "I told her I was sixteen and had a baby boy. I told every damn lie I could think of in order to prevent her from suspecting that she could be my child. As if she'd ever suspect that anyway. It's pretty outrageous really."
Joey rested her cheek upon Charlie's head, saying nothing.
"You must be disgusted by my inability to be honest," Charlie said, disgust evident in her own voice.
Joey moved and tilted Charlie's head towards her.
"Sweetheart, you're doing what you have to do," she said. "I know that."
"Maybe I should just tell her the truth."
"It might be good to let it all out in the open," Joey said honestly. "These secrets are tearing you apart. They're hurting you and if you do keep having to fabricate stuff... you might trip up."
"You think I should tell her?"
"I don't know. I do wonder if it would be if it would be everyone's best interests. But if you don't want to or if you can't... I'll understand."
Charlie swallowed, looking unsure. Joey stroked her face.
"Listen, we don't need to think about that now," she said. "I only brought it up because I didn't want to drop you in it in case Ruby asked me something."
Charlie smiled.
"Now, as you were," Joey commanded with a grin.
They kissed again.
***
Ross and Morag had lunch together. It had been a difficult day with Ross struggling more than usual with his memory. Stress made his condition worse. Morag was also feeling very guilty for bringing the whole thing up in the first place. If she'd wanted to talk to Charlie about it, she should have brought it up in private, not over dinner. It was wrong of her and she felt terrible now. She hoped she could make it up to her. But with their relationship never having been amazing, she wasn't sure she'd get the chance.
***
That evening, Belle and Aden came home quiet and subdued, alerting nobody of their arrival.
