I've finished my take on the stuff in episode 5 between seeing CJ in his hospital bed and then meeting up in Bath. It's nowhere near as good as pixies, but it's the best I can do. Feel free to sabotage it as you see fit. I'll add it to the Google docs thingummy as well.
Little did she know that at the other end of the phone, Captain James was also wondering how he was going to tackle the subject. Always so confident, this time he felt like a teenager about to ask a girl out on a first date. He had rehearsed his little speech over and over in his head whilst lying in his hospital bed and yet he was now terrified of making one catastrophic blunder. Four tours of Afghan and this was like almost worst mission he’d ever been on.
“You ok?” he started off tentatively.
“Yeah, Boss, it’s just that I can’t sleep properly. I was wide awake when you rang. I just want to say……….”
“Dawsie, I’m sorry……….”
They both spoke at once.
Ever the gentleman, he let her go first.
“Boss, I’m sorry I ran out on you in the hospital. I was shit scared to be honest. Just seeing you in there, knowing it was all my fault.”
“It was never your fault, never think that. And I sprang it on you, all that stuff about resigning my commission and that we could be together. It was too soon, I realise that now.”
There was silence from Molly’s end. He bit his lip apprehensively and ran his hands through his hair.
Eventually Molly spoke.
“It was all I ever wanted for months. I’ve told you all this before. I love you like I never thought I could love anyone and we’ve not even done anything yet! But you’re out of my league Boss. Do you think we could make it work? You’re posh an’ all that shit and I’m definitely not posh!”
He took a deep breath. “Molly, there’s all sorts I want to talk to you about, things about me and Rebecca and why we split up and you have to understand that my son is a big part of my life. I know I mentioned it when you came to see me but there’s a lot more to the story. But I need to talk to you face to face – they aren’t conversations to have over the phone. My doctors tell me I should be out of hospital by the end of the week and I am going to stay with my parents for the foreseeable future. I’d like to suggest I come up to London to see you but to be honest, I won’t be able to walk very far. Would you consider coming to Bath? I can sort out the rail tickets for you if you want – I know you’ve never been outside the M25 before!”
Again there was a long and drawn out silence at the other end of the phone.
All sorts of ideas were flashing through Molly’s mind.
“You’re on Boss. I can’t wait to see you and I’m sorry if I handled it badly in the hospital. Are you going to ring me when you feel up to it?”
“As soon as I can walk more than a few paces unaided, I’ll be with you, I promise. I’m having quite intensive physio but I’m still on crutches though they all seem pleased with my progress. Oh and Molly…… I’ll be counting the days, I just can’t wait to talk all this through with you!”
“Ditto.”
With that, she blew him a kiss and went back to bed to catch up on some much needed sleep for a couple of hours until the whole mad circus started up again in the Dawes household.
*
She received the call from Captain James about ten days later and he suggested meeting up at a restaurant not too far from his house near the Royal Circle because he knew he would be able to walk to it. Molly’s first thought after they had spoken was what she was going to wear? Her best clothes, pre-Army days, were hardly the sort of attire to be wearing to what sounded like a pretty upmarket restaurant. Well, she had money sitting in the bank these days, so it was time to spend some of it. She could ask Belinda to go shopping with her but since she’d never really mentioned much about Captain James, other than the fact he had been shot and she had had to treat him, that could prove an awkward conversation, especially if Dave overheard them, so after much deliberation, she decided to take herself up to the West End and have a look around. She ended up asking for the services of a personal shopper.
“What is the occasion, madam, am I allowed to ask?”
“Er, well to be honest, it’s a first date but it’s also in a fancy restaurant in Bath and I just don’t have anything even vaguely suitable.”
The woman smirked to herself knowingly. “I have just the dress.”
*
Molly woke up with butterflies not only in her stomach but they seemed to be flying around everywhere inside her. She could barely force any breakfast down. She’d never mentioned anything to her mother even after buying the dress for the date so when she was ready to go out to catch the train, Belinda just looked at her in amazement.
“Molls, you look stunning! Where on earth are you off to, done up like a dog’s dinner and so early in the day?”
“Mum, I’m meeting some of my section – they want to come up to town and we’re going for lunch. Not sure what they want to do later, maybe we’ll go to a club or a show or something, depends how long lunch lasts. Knowing that lot, they’re going to drink themselves stupid. Don’t wait up!”
Belinda watched her daughter walk down the street with a bemused look on her face and then shook her head in disbelief. The army had certainly changed Molly beyond all recognition.
*
The train from Paddington was on time and the journey passed easily. Molly spent the time reminiscing about the first time she had met Captain James and how they had set off on the wrong foot. When had she actually realised she had feelings for him? To be honest, she couldn’t quite recall because she had refused to admit it to herself for ages, having to keep everything buried deep inside but it was probably when he called her into his quarters that night to give her the words to the duet. He called her Dawsie. She hugged herself and smiled at those cherished memories.
A text bleeped on her mobile:
She chose to walk from the railway station. He had said to take a taxi but it was a lovely day and she needed to clear her head. She took in the magnificent Georgian houses and wondered which one of these belonged to his parents. It was a world away from Newham, that’s for sure.
Despite her nerves, she had dared herself to think beyond the lunch in the restaurant – well, would there be anything beyond it? Would they have to resort to a Travelodge? Even if they did, it was going to be better than behind the Indian takeaway with Smurf who had never let her forget that. She smiled to herself; that was her secret.
She saw the restaurant and pushed the door open. There he was, drumming his fingers on the table. She hadn’t even been able to picture him wearing ordinary clothes. He had always been in uniform. He saw her and stood up as she walked towards him.
“You look beautiful,” he said and leaned down to kiss her.