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 60
"For as long..." she faltered, her cheeks blooming with red "As long as you want me here"
"I...I'm heading back Evie" he said matter of factly "The trial, is that why you're here?"
"No" she blinked up at him and for a moment he couldn't make his brain work.
"Then why...?"
"Because...oh because you said you liked it here, because I miss you, because I love you" she stuttered all at once.
"You knew I was here?" his expression darkened slightly, mistrust squirming beneath the surface.
"I thought you might be, maybe" she shrugged "The post was quicker than normal...and you said you like the church here. I thought that when I got that postcard on Saturday, this morning, you might stay over the weekend...you know, go to church, on Sunday"
"I'm not part of the congregation" he replied softly.
"I know" she gave him a hesitant smile "I'm sorry...I've gatecrashed your salvation"
Suddenly he laughed, and she blushed again, blinking up at him, confused.
"Gatecrashers aren't usually so attractive" he said, his voice dropping lower, turning his head onto one side.
"Are you staying?" she asked, her breath catching in her throat painfully "When you come back, for the trial?"
"I don't know" And as suddenly as it had appeared, his happiness was gone.
Evie took a deep breath, not sure how to proceed.
"I've got a new job" she said, and for a minute, James was glad of the change of topic, it allowed him space from a question he continued to run from. But his heart stopped when she added the rest.
"In Australia"
He gaped at her momentarily before composing himself "Congratulations"
"Nursing again" she replied "General"
"You're good at it"
"I won't go" she said, her eyes trying to reach his "If you're coming back"
"Why?" it wasn't what he wanted to say, but the needy and selfish part of him woke up, why indeed? It asked.
"Because...Because I'm only going because you're not there" she sighed "In Oxford. I don't want to be there any more"
"Are you scared Evie?" he whispered.
"Terrified" she sniffed, trying to hide her emotions "But not the way I used to be"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm scared that I'll never move on" she replied in a small voice "That I can't move on, in Oxford, because I'm always hoping...that you'll come back, one day"
"Do you want to move on?" he asked softly. But clarity hit him, right between the eyes. She was going, to the other side of the world, and he realised that the only thing that stood between them was himself.
"No" she said her eyes filled with tears "I don't"
He stepped closer, not touching, but pleading with his eyes.
Can I do this? He asked himself Can I beg for another chance? Damned right you can – IDIOT!
"You'd stay?" he pressed "If..."
"If you want me to" she answered "If you and me...if we can do this"
"Don't go to Australia" he begged carefully, moving closer again.
"James..." she looked at him, needing to hear it.
"Don't go to Australia" he asked again softly.
She looked back at him, wide eyed.
"Why?" she asked, directly. She needed to hear it.
"Absence from those we love is self from self - a deadly banishment*" he breathed back.
"No" she said, suddenly sharp "In your words James, no more quotes, no more Latin, I need to hear you"
James took a deep breath, no expression on his face. Evie's heart sunk, and here it was, she thought, they spoke different languages, literally. She'd never keep up.
He took her hands, his thumb brushing over the back of her hands before he spoke.
At least he's going to be kind.
"Evie...I'm sorry, I'm sorry I hurt you, I'm sorry I didn't trust you and I'm sorry I left you to deal with it all by yourself" he breathed "I said I was lost, even with you, and I was. But not as lost as I am without you. If you want me back in Oxford, Australia...Timbuktu then I'll be there, if you want me to be"
She grabbed the lapels of his coat suddenly and squared up to him almost, James' eyes opened wide in shock as she did.
"You ever" she warned, her tone harsh but her eyes were swimming, her bottom lip trembling ominously "Run out on me again, disappear...desert me, I'll hunt you down Hathaway...and I'll...I'll..." she faltered, she didn't know what.
"Oh Evie..." he sighed.
"I'm not done" she raised her eyebrows at him "I can forgive you just about anything James, because I love you, even this ridiculous self punishment ritual you're so fond of. But I can't do this again..."
"You won't have to" he promised, smoothing hair back from her face.
"I better not" she threatened "Because I will hunt you down, and I'll...I'll..."
"What?" a ghost of a smile hinted across his face.
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it" she snapped.
He chuckled, and the tension broke "Feisty" he quipped "I like it"
She fixed him with a look and he laughed louder "It's not a bridge you're going to have to even approach" he promised "But please...stay feisty, for a little while"
"You!" she shoved at him lightly, playfully and laughed.
"Me?" he replied, feigning innocence, catching her as she pushed and pulling her towards him.
"Yes" and there it was again, the smile, her smile "You" her tone was quieter, happy, calmer.
"I missed you" he almost groaned, and kissed her, softly, tenderly.
…...
Evie rolled over and frowned slightly. The room was bathed in sunlight but it was cold, really cold. She instinctively pulled the covers closer around her as her nose detected cigarette smoke, kick starting her brain into a craving. She opened her eyes, focussing finally on the end of the room, the main doors onto the small deck were open and James lolled with his legs sideways over the chair, smiling at her. The winter sun behind him and the smoke that swirled around him giving him a mystical quality.
"What ch'you doing?" she asked sleepily.
"I intended to watch the sun rise" he said, smirking "But got distracted by something far more beautiful"
She flushed, not embarrassed but with delight this time.
"It's freezing" she protested lightly burying further.
"It is" he agreed, holding her eyes.
She rose from the bed, wrapping the cover around her tightly and padded over to him, settling in his lap she cuddled closer for warmth, taking the half smoked cigarette from his idle fingers and inhaling.
"You're mad" she accused lightly.
"Quite possibly" he agreed grinning down at her.
She yawned deeply and gave him a lazy grin "Come back to bed"
"In a minute" he promised "How long can you stay?"
"Stay?" she frowned.
"Now, I mean" he explained "I assume that you will be working notice...and that you'll have to sort things out...your plans..."
"Have changed" she assured him.
"To what?" he asked quietly, his face impassive but his eyes told a different story.
"I don't know" she shrugged "Wherever, wherever we want to go"
James took a sharp breath in and looked at her we. He hadn't dreamed it all.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked "Do you want to take this job in Oz?"
"Not really" she scrunched up her nose "I don't like snakes, and well, you're terrified of spiders"
"Thanks" he said, deadpan "I feel really manly now"
Evie laughed "You know what I really want?"
James raised his eyebrows suggestively and she laughed again.
"I want to stay here"
"Here?"
"On the boat" she told him "We never got that holiday did we? I want it now , after the trial we're both free...no ties, why not?"
"Hmmm" he regarded her carefully.
"Is that hmmm yes?" she challenged lightly, grinning at him.
"My flat hasn't sold yet" he said "And my savings aren't what they were"
"I have savings" she replied "And my flat is on the market"
"Kept man?" he arched a brow "I think not"
"Then you'll just have to get a job" she challenged with a laugh "While I become a lady of leisure I think"
"Oh you think do you?" he teased.
"Yeah" she grinned back "I do, but in answer to your earlier question, I am using up my owed leave until my finish date. I was free as of Friday, 5pm. Although HR won't know that until they get my email"
"And you want to stay here?" he checked.
"Hmmm hmmm" she nodded.
"Did you bring any clothes?" he asked "Anything?"
"I have an overnight bag in the car" she shrugged and then gave him a wicked grin "Am I going to need clothes?"
James stood, in one awkward movement, Evie clinging around his neck to avoid being tipped on the floor. He stumbled down the steps back into the bedroom, and laid her on the bed.
"No" he grinned back "Not if I can help it"
"Then I'll come back with you" she replied, more than a little breathless "For the trial"
"Hmmm hmmm" he replied, he was distracted, as was she.
…...
*William Shakespeare.
…...
Wow, that's it. Well almost, two more chapters to come because I cannot resist a happy ending :) Epilogue part I is 'The Trial' and epilogue part 2 is 'The future'. Innocent, Lewis and Laura make appearances again in the last two chapters.