The dangers of Smoking

Part II

The dangers of smoking are widely known, by smokers and non smokers alike. Detective Sergeant James Hathaway knows them, accepts them and lives with them. Except one. No one thought to warn about that one did they?

Chapter 50

On balance, Laura Hobson didn't know who had missed Hathaway more in his weeks absence.

Robbie had been irritable, bemoaning just about everything from Jean Innocents attitude to the overbearing and eager sergeant he'd been partnered with that week.

Evie had been quieter than usual, diligent and hard working but distant. What puzzled Laura however was the smiles that she caught on Evie's face when she thought she was alone, like the best thing in the world had happened to her.

Laura was glad Friday was here, work and home might get back to normal now James was on his way back.

Seeing Evie washing some instruments she smiled to herself. Laura had had her fair share of lovers, ones that had made her slightly insane, and ones that she felt comfortable with like a pair of old slippers on a cold winters night.

She had long since given up on the whole fairytale romance, of white flowing dresses and dashing princes sweeping her off her feet. She was too old, jaded and sensible she considered. But then there was Robbie...and he was both. There were times when she could just laugh aloud with joy and pleasure at this man she'd known for so many years and now fallen in love with, do crazy things. And there were times when she knew that only he could make it all better, that an embrace from him was like wrapping a blanket around her warm and secure.

She wondered if Evie felt the same, and hoped she did. Part of Laura felt a pang of regret that it had taken her this long to find someone who meant everything to her. The greater part of her however, was grateful and humbled that a man like Robert Lewis, with the tragedy he had lived through, found it in his heart to love again. And love her well, because he did. It had been worth the wait.

"Why don't you finish up and get off home?" Laura said.

"Oh!" Evie jumped "I didn't see you there!"

Laura smiled "Sorry"

Evie calmed herself a little "I've got some other bits and pieces to finish off..."

"They'll keep" Laura smiled "Isn't James back today?"

"Huh" Evie coloured "Yes..."

"Then I'll help you put these away, and then get yourself off" Laura insisted.

"Oh...thank you" Even Evie wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"No problem" Laura replied "Are you going out tomorrow night?" she asked "For Lucie's birthday?"

"I don't know" Evie answered "James said he's got some things to sort out at work over the weekend before we go away Monday...so he's busy"

Laura laughed "You'll have to watch him Evie!"

"Why?" Evie was genuinely perplexed.

"He's meeting Robbie tomorrow night, and seems they are both using the excuse of work" Laura replied conspiratorially "I suspect that the 'things to sort out' will be done over a few pints, in a pub"

Evie relaxed slightly and then shrugged "They're close aren't they?"

"Yes" Laura nodded "Though neither of them would ever admit it"

"Are you going?" Evie asked "Out for Lucie?"

"No" Laura shook her head with a wry smile "With Robbie out I'm looking forward to the TV remote all to myself"

Evie laughed politely.

"You should go" Laura encouraged "If James is busy, what are you going to do instead? Sit at home twiddling your thumbs waiting for him to finish 'work'?!"

Evie smiled, that's exactly what she'd intended to do, and Laura saw it on her face.

"When Robbie retires" Laura advised "And James is DI, you'll be doing plenty of that"

You have no idea Evie thought to herself happily That I'll be doing that for the rest of my life, God willing. But she took the point.

"Think I might go" she smiled.

…...

Evie looked at the roses that sat in the vase on her window sill, five lone roses. The traditional number was twelve, but she had five. One for each day James had been gone.

It must have cost him a fortune, she reflected, to arrange for the florist to deliver one red rose, each day, for 5 consecutive days. But he had, and she'd kept them all, putting them together, adding the flower food to keep them alive as long as possible.

Next to the vase sat 5 cards. There had been a small card with each rose, with a printed small quote, or a few lines of Latin.

Beside them sat a small box. She opened it, smiling to herself as she looked at the watch. He'd told her his kept losing time, and although it had sentimental value for him, he'd be forced to get a new one soon, or risk being a tardy DI.

She read the inscription she'd had put there.

DI Hathawayand the date of today, when he would be a DI in all but name, until Lewis' official retirement date. She hoped he'd like it.

Having managed to get out of the door from work not just on time, but early, she was impatient for the call that would tell her that James was back, that they would be soon leaving for a week alone and together. Although from Sunday night, she'd have him to herself, she freely admitted that the past week had been harder than she ever anticipated.

…...

James pressed the call button at 17.03. Evie finished work at 17.00 so a call now wasn't against the rules.

"Hello"

"Hello darling" he smiled.

"Are you back?" she almost demanded.

"I'm at the boat" he chuckled "Got back a couple of hours ago, just sorting a few things out and then..."

"You should have rang" Evie tried to keep the impatience from her voice "I finished work early"

"Well" he sighed "I didn't want to distract you...anyway, I was going to go home and have a shower, pick you up about 7?"

"Where are we going?"

"Out, to celebrate" he announced.

"I take it you passed then?" she laughed.

"Yes" he confirmed "But not just that. Unless of course you have changed your mind...?"

Excitement curled in her stomach as slight unease waiting for her answer curled in his.

"I haven't changed my mind" she breathed.

"Good" he replied, his relief evident "Then I will see you at 7"

"James...?"

"Yes?"

"I love you"

"I can give not what men call love;But wilt thou accept not, The worship the heart lifts above, And the heavens reject not,The desire of the moth for the star,Of the night for the morrow,The devotion to something afar From the sphere of our sorrow?*" James replied quietly.

Evie didn't answer right away, she couldn't, but he was surprised by her response when she did.

"Do I get the other half of the poem tonight?" she whispered, her voice not steady.

"And more" he laughed self consciously "Shelley has a wealth of poems on the subject. See you soon"

"I can't wait"

James hung up, looking at his phone for a few seconds before putting it back in his pocket. He tried to wipe the grin off his face, but found himself unsuccessful.

…...

* From the poem 'One word is too often profaned' by Percy Bysshe Shelley.