Early the next morning Isabella was up and about making breakfast for everyone as she had done the day before. She really didn't mind though, the children were great and Paul was clearly oblivious as to what was going on which meant no questions. She was placing the egg on top of the toast when an exhausted Eva ran into the room.
"What have you been up to?"
"I've been jogging", she continued going from one foot to the other.
"Why?"
"Cause I want to be fit for going back to work."
"Oh right", That was the best thing she had heard her say all week, but she still had one particularly pressing question in mind, "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Isabella's stomach turned and she felt a lump come to her throat. Was it only false hope again?
"It depends what you think I'm saying", a smile slowly spread across the friends faces and they took each other's arm as they darted to the telephone. A theatre slot was the hardest kind of function to book!
Five days was all that stood between DC Sharpe and a new lease of life. Her appointment was probably seen as an annoyance to Dr. Martin but she didn't care. How could she? She was having the surgery! Unfortunately, this also meant the heartache of telling her family and friends about what she would be doing within the next week. At first, it was the usual shock and then there were a mixture of reactions. Paul had struck out, not in front of anyone and it hadn't been anything major, but he had still turned his anxiousness and grief into physical actions.
Joanne had cried, even though she didn't really understand what there was to cry over. Her mummy wasn't dieing, she was just going into hospital for a while and then she'd be home again. Her other children were far too young to comprehend the seriousness of the situation and so had only began to get upset when they saw their older sister crying. It had been an emotional time but they had had a good blubber, much hugs and many "I love you's". Then it was time to face her work mates. It wasn't an announcement she had planned, she simply wouldn't hide what she would be doing in a few days time should the topic be brought up.
"What is it this time? School holidays and gran can't baby-sit?", Debbie McAllister snidely commented about the time Eva seemed to be spending away from work with no action being taken.
"No actually I'm going into hospital, I'm having surgery on my breast to remove it...to remove cancer that is", she gave her superior officer a moment to absorb what she had said and its implications, surprisingly no response was given, "Stuck for words are we?"
Debbie turned her gaze to the floor and made a feeble excuse, leaving a slightly smug looking but internally terrified Eva to her coffee.
"Tomorrow the big day?" Debbie nervously approached.
"It is."
"Worried?"
"What do you think?" Eva snapped.
"Sorry", she quickly apologised, "You know we may not have always gotten along but I'd never wish this on you or anyone else. You don't deserve it."
"No one does", she sighed and stood from her filing position, "Life's too short Sarge, let's forgive and forget eh?"
"Yeah? Yeah! Definitely, I'll even fork out for a drink if you like!"
"Nice thought but I'm going to walk home, take in some of the scenery I'd forgotten was around here. When you see it from an ill woman's eyes, SunHill seems not such a bad place, somewhat wonderful even."
Debbie nodded as if she understood, waving good bye a moment or so later. She shuddered slightly at the thought of what would be happening tomorrow, it was going to be a hard day for all involved but it was going to be an even harder night, not that any of them knew that at the time.
The bottom of the pizza box felt good against the cold of her fingers as she left the fast food restaurant and entered back into the chilly wind which had picked up considerably.
"You aren't planning on eating that all on your own are you?" Tony faked astonishment.
"What do you take me for!" She returned the tone.
"Well people do say you are what you eat." He shrugged as if his remark was innocent.
"Oh right so I'm a pineapple or tomato am I?"
"You said it."
Izzy playfully kicked out but he was faster and not only guarded his legs but actually managed to get a swift swipe to the back of hers. The box feel from her now luke warm fingers to the ground, spilling onto the pavement. Izzy stared out Tony until he agreed to buy her another one, even bigger than the previous but before he handed it to her he grabbed a large slice for himself.
"Pig."
"Hey I don't even have my uniform on!"
Both officers laughed, although this time Isabella kept a firm grip on the piping hot cardboard. They began walking together along the main road. Being the gentleman he was, Tony had offered to escort Izzy home failing to mention that he lived in the entirely opposite direction.
Eva lay flat out on the small part of the green she had chosen due to it's tranquillity. She watched as the breeze blew the branches of the trees, seemingly they were keeping in tune to what she was humming and she could feel the dampness of the grass below her. For the first time in her life, she saw the simple little things, things people take for granted, as the most important and the most precious.
Little by little she got to her feet, breathing deeply and enjoying every sensation which came from the environment she had lain in. Bringing her mobile from her pocket she began to dial her house but she got as far as 0188 when she felt something new, something she wouldn't live to remember. The sharp cool of the blade as it entered her chest.
"Ewww." Izzy displayed her disgust at PC Stamp's burping.
"Hey it was your pizza that caused it."
"Like I care. You're in the presence of a lady and you ought to behave like it", Izzy walked slightly ahead, twirling her hair and placing each foot directly in front of the other.
"That's how a lady walks is it?" Tony scoffed.
"It is indeed, clearly you have lived a sheltered life if you can't even identify a waltz." She shyly glanced over her shoulder and fluttered her eyelashes over dramatically.
"A waltz?", he couldn't contain himself, "You daft mare, that's a dance!"
That comment caused Izzy to stumble, she was laughing so hard she couldn't keep to the pace she had begun with. She grabbed onto Tony's arm and held it until they reached the bench where they sat, still in hysterics.
"You are funny, you know that."
"And that's a compliment is it?"
"It is!"
"If you say so…"
The pair still had a smile on their faces as they carried on their journey to Eva's house but when they reached it the fun time ended.
"What's that?"
Izzy frowned at the flashing blue lights which could be seen outside the semi-detached home.
"I don't know…come on" She broke into a run which Stamp found hard to match and by the time he caught up, Izzy had already guessed the bad news. Paul was sat with his arms wrapped around his children and when she approached, his eyes melted.
"She's dead."
Izzy's eyes skirted from Paul, to the children and back again. She didn't even notice the tears which were pouring down her face till she opened her mouth and the salty liquid found its way inside her.
"The cancer?" She asked.
"No", his hands now covered his children's ears, "Murdered. Stabbed through the heart and all for a few measly belongings like her phone and purse. Why do such a thing? I don't understand this…" He placed his head to his daughters and after a few deep breaths he told Izzy what he wanted: she was to leave as soon as possible, she was a reminder, something he didn't want to be around and it was what was best for the children.
"What about me?", Izzy bawled, "I've lost her too! She was my best friend…what have I got now?"
"Not us. That's for sure", Paul was shaking with anger and he could feel the hot tears rolling down his cheeks. He wanted to say so much more but he daren't, if he let himself go he didn't know what he would be capable of. He parted with a firm and hurtful 'Stay away' which caused a pang of pain inside Isabella. She gazed into space until the door closed behind the family she had once considered herself part of.
