For Movie249, to say thank you for such a lovely review. Love, IJKS xxx
Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty Six
Charlie woke up to the smell of breakfast cooking. Her eyes pinged open and she smiled until she realised that she was alone. Jumping out of bed, she pulled her robe around her and raced into the kitchen where, as she'd expected, Joey was merrily singing away and cooking. Turning around, Joey grinned broadly at her, setting her pan down and pulling Charlie into her arms.
"Happy birthday, my love," she said, kissing her and twirling her in a small circle.
"Happy birthday!" Ruby and VJ bellowed, hurrying into the room and enforcing a group hug.
Leah followed with less enthusiasm but happily handed over a card and small, wrapped gift.
"This is awesome, guys," Charlie said. "Thank you."
The somewhat unconventional family had settled down to breakfast together. Leah had reluctantly agreed to spend the day with Martha and Rachel. The only reason she had really agreed was because Martha needed as much support right now as anyone, if not more. She had been like a ghost walking round town these last few days and it was breaking everyone's hearts. She was desperately conflicted over her feelings for Hugo, especially now that he was dead. Joey and Charlie had suggested it might do both her and Leah some good to have a girlie day together and Rachel had readily agreed to enforce it.
Knowing that Charlie and Joey wanted to spend the day together, and not really needing an excuse, Ruby had plans to spend time with Geoff. She was secretly growing concerned about the state of their relationship and she was scared that she was losing him. Things had been so perfect up until the night of the riot but with his injury, he seemed to be pushing her away. But she was determined to make things right. They loved each other. She was certain that they could weather any storm.
VJ was off to the summer youth club he attended most years. It was a good time for him to hang out with friends and play soccer, which was very obviously his first love – minus, perhaps Joey. Charlie couldn't help but find it adorable that the youngest member of their household had such a crush on her. Joey found it rather strange but then, she felt it odd that anyone could like her, no matter how many times people hit on her and no matter how often Charlie declared her love and lust.
With everyone gone, Charlie and Joey were in their bedroom.
"Okay, I'm going to change in the bathroom and then I'll knock on the front door when I'm ready," Joey said, stealing a kiss.
Charlie deepened their contact and wrapped her arms tightly around her, pulling her back onto the bed. Joey shrieked as they landed in a heap.
"Charlie!" she protested. "This isn't part of the plan."
"Well, I'm sure we can make out a lot and then do the plan," Charlie suggested.
Joey kissed her and then sat up, straddling her hips.
"I think that might spoil the plan a little bit," she pointed out.
Charlie pouted. Joey kissed her, leapt off the bed grabbed her stuff and dashed out of the room. Charlie remained on the bed, smiling to herself. Between the lovely gifts she had received, the cards, the plan and the special meal they had planned for tonight, she was sure that this was going to be the best birthday ever. Leaping to her feet, she hurried to get changed, wanting to look as attractive as she possibly could.
Joey checked her reflection in the mirror. She was dressed in grubby looking overalls, open at the top and hanging around her waist. She wore big boots and a tight fitting white vest that she knew Charlie was a particular fan of. Scooping her hair up into her cap, she fitting it on her head, did a self conscious twirl, nodded to herself and then headed out of the house.
Waiting for a whole ten seconds, Joey took a deep breath and knocked on the door she pretended wasn't her own. A few moments later, Charlie, looking breathtaking in the same dress she'd worn the other night during their job celebrations, opened the door.
"You called a handyman?" Joey asked. "Or, well, woman."
She grinned. Struggling not to break character, Charlie nodded and welcomed Joey inside. She looked her up and down, lust surging within her and they hadn't even got started yet.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Joey asked, also checking Charlie out. "You look dressed up."
"Oh, this old thing?" Charlie smirked. "I just threw it on. I've got all the time in the world."
The couple giggled a little shyly but endeavoured to keep going.
"So, what might the problem be?" Joey asked, gripping her toolbox.
"Um... oh, uh... something under the sink?"
"Charlie!" Joey scolded with a laugh. "You were meant to plan this out!"
"Sorry!" Charlie said. "I got caught up with other... details."
They both laughed. Joey nudged past her, towards the cupboard under the sink. Charlie made a point of not getting out of the way so that her 'handywoman' had to brush up against her. Joey bent over to open the cupboard.
"In here?" she asked.
"Oh yes," Charlie said, unable to tear her gaze away from her firm bottom.
She licked her lips. Yep, today was definitely going to be a lot of fun. Joey turned around, raising an eyebrow and smirking at her. Opening the cupboard, and with no idea what she was really doing, Joey lay on her back on the floor. Unable to control herself any longer, Charlie shifted forward, gazing down at her girlfriend's lean body.
"Have you found the problem?" she asked.
"Yeah," Joey pretended. "It's pretty simple. I'm surprised your husband wasn't able to deal with it."
Charlie giggled at the new twist. She continued to gaze at Charlie and fiddled with her dress for a moment.
"He's not very good at stuff like that," she explained. "I needed someone who's good with their hands."
"Where is he today?" Joey asked with a grin, her head resting against the floor of the cupboard, her body resting on the ground.
"At work," Charlie said. "He won't be home for hours."
Unable to control her desire any longer, Charlie moved swiftly forward, lowering herself to the ground and straddling Joey's hips. Joey smiled at her, relieved at not having to make small talk anymore. She felt like she was in some kind of porn film. Shifting onto her elbows, Joey met Charlie's gaze.
"We've got the whole place to ourselves," Charlie purred, running her hands up and down Joey's torso and making them both tingle.
Joey shifted again, crushing her lips against the 'housewife'. She wrapped one arm around her and let her other hand stroke Charlie's thigh. They kissed with passion, breathless and out of control. Charlie felt her heart race as their bodies melted together on the floor. She reached for the bottom of Joey's vest and slipped her hands beneath the material, eager to touch and tease. Joey ran her hands over Charlie's body. Electric shot between them as their pulses beat too quickly. They were hungry, desperate and eager to please.
Angelo had deliberately forgotten to bring Charlie's birthday card and present into work the previous day. He wanted an excuse to visit her at home and wish her happy birthday in person. He'd never spent a birthday with her before. This time last year, he had been languishing in jail and before that, neither of them had been residents of Summer Bay. They hadn't yet met. But having been granted a pardon among the community and propelled forward at work, he was feeling good about life. And if there was anything he wanted, it was to have Charlie as his friend. He had reluctantly accepted that she wasn't romantically interested in anybody but Joey but if he could remain her friend, he would be happy. For now at least, that was enough for him.
Approaching the Patterson-Baker-Buckton-Collins residence, Angelo was about to knock on the door when he caught sight of movement in the kitchen. Curious, he peered through. His eyes widened as he saw two people, one of them unmistakably Charlie, making passionate love on the kitchen table. Angelo's breath caught as he saw Charlie, flat on her back on the table, seemingly wearing nothing. The other person, leaning over her and clearly thrusting against her, was half dressed in overalls. Neither of them noticed him. Charlie's cheating on Joey, Angelo thought to himself – half thrilled and half distraught that it wasn't with him. Swallowing uncertainly, he gave the couple one last look before hurrying away.
Charlie climaxed for the third time. She lay against the table top, struggling to catch her breath. Joey smiled, leaning over her and stealing a soft, delicate kiss.
"Leah is going to kill us if she ever finds out we did it on her table," she pointed out. "Again."
Charlie snorted. Right now, she didn't care. Joey took her hair, pulling her to her feet. Closing the kitchen cupboard, putting the toolbox back in place and gathering Charlie's discarded clothes together, they held hands, giggling all the way to the bedroom.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Watson commented when Angelo returned to their shared office.
"I'm fine," he said, waving a dismissive hand.
He couldn't get the image of Charlie writhing with some unknown person on the kitchen table out of his head. He tried to gather clues as to who Charlie could have been with. Had it really been a plumber or someone like that, stopping by the house to fix something? Was this a one off or a long term thing? And where had Joey been? He'd assumed that if Charlie had made the effort to take her birthday off work, she'd have done it in order to spend it with her girlfriend. But apparently, her mind and her body had been wandering elsewhere. Perhaps there was hope for him after all.
"So, how did you celebrate your birthday?" Charlie giggled, mimicking a conversation she might have with someone. "Well, I spent the entire day making love to my girlfriend!"
Joey giggled. Completely exhausted, the couple lay side by side in bed, still a little breathless and holding hands. Shifting, Joey rolled onto her side, cuddling up against her girlfriend.
"Has it been a good birthday so far?" she asked a little nervously.
"It's been amazing," Charlie confirmed. "Thank you. From the breakfast, to the presents and that lovely card... And this afternoon. I've loved it. And not just because of the sex, although that was pretty damn hot. Just... being with you. Knowing that you love me."
"I do love you," Joey told her. "I love you more than I could ever tell you."
"And that makes me happier than I could ever tell you," Charlie said. "I've never... I've never actually spent a birthday with a partner before so..."
She blushed a little.
"Well, I'm thrilled that you're my first and my last."
Joey kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"Me too," she said.
Catching sight of the clock on the bedside table, she sighed, realising that if dinner was going to be ready on time then she'd better get started. Leah, VJ, Ruby, Geoff, Ross and Morag would all be due round in a couple of hours.
Dressed and decent again, Charlie and Joey were just leaving the bedroom when Charlie caught hold of her girlfriend's hand, pulling her into her arms. They kissed again, gazing into each other's eyes.
"Why don't we move in together?" she blurted out.
Joey eyed her curiously.
"Sweetheart, you do realise that we already live together, don't you?" she asked with a hint of a smile.
Charlie laughed and nodded. Keeping hold of her girlfriend's hands, she pulled her carefully onto the sofa.
"I mean, let's get a place of our own," she ventured a little nervously. "Me, you and Ruby. We could rent a place together that's just ours, where we can be a proper family. What do you think?"
"I think that's a wonderful idea," Joey replied.
Next time... Ruby and Nicole console each other over difficult boyfriends, Leah finally admits how much she is struggling and Charlie feels insecure...
