The Big Decision

"Well, only if you want to, of course." Jack added. "It's in Saint Marie, specifically."

"Sorry..." she said, pressing her thumb to her temple, trying to understand the surprising news. "I don't understand, Caribbean? Saint Marie? Why would I be going ther-" She interrupts herself. "Hang on! Isn't that where you used to work?" she blurted out paired with a dumbfounded expression on her face.

"Ah! You remembered!" he said with delight.

"Of course, the stories you tell are practically unforgettable, I always look forward to them." She smiled.

"There's a case in need of a temporary English officer, and they contacted me to help them out with the position, hoping I would have the perfect candidate. And well... I thought of you, Jane."

"Oh wow... I don't know what to say! I wasn't expecting this at all, I-I- just... wow." She felt relief, thinking she was going to be fired at any second during the conversation, but no, quite the opposite. "Why does the police force in Saint Marie need an English officer?" She added, with a touch of confusion.

"There's a very rich and important family from England caught up in a murder case, and they have very close ties with the Met police. The team in Saint Marie is down an officer, so to fill in the gap, the police commissioner decided it was best to include a Met officer in the case, as it would only be temporary."

Jane nodded, as she took in the information.

"You're an exceptional officer, Jane, and I truly believe you are the right person for the job. This is an opportunity of a lifetime." He said with a twinkle in his eye. "So... what do you think?"

Jane began to stroke her fictional beard, thinking what the best course of action was. "Well..." she added to fill the deafening silence. "I don't know... it's a big decision..." admitting defeat, knowing her boss would probably prefer a more conclusive answer.

"Yes, of course, the commissioner needs an answer by tomorrow, I'm sorry I can't give you more time to wrack your brains around it. I'll give you the rest of the day off to help with your thinking time at least."

"Thank you, sir, I appreciate it a lot." she grinned as she offered her hand.

Jack replicated the action with his own hand while grinning too. "No pressure." he sarcastically said.

ooo

The cold, brisk wind shot through Jane's open windows as she patrolled her small apartment. "Come on..." she mumbled to herself, trying to force her brain to make a decision. "Come on brain! Work!" It was now nighttime.

She collapsed onto her sofa as she had circled her flat at least 50 times. Her phone, which laid on the coffee table, caught her attention. *buzz* *buzz* Her phone rang, suddenly reminding her she never told Debby how the office visit went.

"I'm so sorry, Debs! I completely forgot to update you!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, I was wondering when you were going to call, I got impatient. So... how did it go? Do I need to find a new coffee buddy?" she teased slightly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well... um... didn't go quite how I imagined..."

"Oh?"

"I've sorta been given the decision to work in the Caribbean."

"What?! Well, I definitely didn't expect that... I was more expecting to hear you start sobbing."

Jane chuckled at that statement, as it is quite like her. "I need to make a decision by tomorrow, It's temporary, but it's still such a big thing to do."

"My god! I have so many questions! You're going, right?" she said with a touch of hysteria.

Despite them being on the phone, Jane could sense the expression Debby was making on her face right now, no doubt paired with a raised eyebrow and her hands on her hips. "Maybe."

"No maybes, you're going."

"And you're so sure about that?" she replied, taken aback.

"You've missed so many opportunities because you're too scared to do anything! Just go, come on!"

Jane paused for a second, thinking about what her friend had just said. She was right, all her life she had been scared, not taking a break from her introverted ways. She desperately wanted life to be easy for her, but it wasn't. Not only that, but she couldn't even go for a hair appointment without at least some anxiety torturing her, now one of the biggest decisions that have ever been put in front of her was now lingering. It was overwhelming, almost hoping it would all go away, but in the back of her mind, she really wanted to go. Maybe this was the final push, the demanding manner of her concerned friend, who only wanted the best for her, could maybe convince her to go. "...Okay." She finally said, with some hesitation. "I'll go."

"Yes! Oh, yes! I knew you would do it in the end! Yes!" Debby said with increasing enthusiasm, most likely jumping around her living room floor. "You better send me pictures! I can help you pack!"

Unable to stop herself from smiling, Jane was glad she had a friend like Debby. To have someone look out for you like that, it was one of the best feelings in the world. "I'll tell the inspector now, alright."

"I'm so happy for you, oh my god, yes!" Almost screaming at this point. "I'm hanging up, you have an important phone call to make, bye!"

"B-" Jane didn't even have time to finish the sentence. Her hands shaking from the excitement and anxiety, she punched in the number of her boss, while taking a big breath. "Sir? I have some news for you."