Isabella's Last Request (14 page)

             
‘Are you sure about this Josh? It’s not too late to change your mind; I asked them, they have spaces on our flight.’

             
‘Thanks for the offer but it’s too soon for me to go travelling and enjoying myself, especially with it being Isabella’s birthday. I think I’m better off back at home with my family. I meant what I said to Isabella’s family, they’re welcome to visit anytime they like.’

             
‘Okay Josh, if you’re sure. Remember we love you and are here for you anytime you need us.’

Ollie nods his agreement and gives his friend a back slap and a heartfelt nod. Men communicate feelings in the weirdest ways.

              ‘Thanks guys, now go catch your flight so I can sit in the bar until they call mine.’

             
‘Josh please don’t drink too much, they won’t let you on the plane.’

             
‘Yeah, yeah, alright mum.’

Josh reaches over to kiss my cheek, and then pulls me and Ollie into a three way hug. He’s trying to so hard to be himself, but it’s clear to see his heart is breaking.

Ollie booked this trip whilst I was organising Isabella’s funeral. Apparently just before she died she pulled him to one side, and told him the plan was to visit the Pyramids for our birthday. She’d told Ollie that she wouldn’t make it. Even if she was still alive, she knew she’d be too poorly to travel, so it was up to Ollie to make this the best birthday ever. Ollie hadn’t booked our holiday while Isabella was still alive because he knew I wouldn’t go away and leave Isabella on our last birthday together. He was right of course.

I didn’t want to go this time but when I thought about spending my birthday at home with all our friends and family but without Isabella, I knew it’d be impossible. So at least if I’m somewhere new and beautiful, I may be slightly distracted.

Ollie’s been fantastic since Isabella was told she had hours left. He kept me and Josh strong, fed us, cared for us and kept us smiling – for Izzy. After her death he kept looking after us and keeping us strong. It must have been so awful for him, he lost his friend too. But because the effect of her loss was worse for his girlfriend and best friend; he had to stay strong and not grieve.

Ollie was trying to take my mind off the flight when I started to panic last night, and he found the best way. We spent the evening setting mine and Isabella’s mum up on a couple of dating websites, registering their details and posting our favourite photos of them. I don’t think I’ll be living in England for much longer, so I need to know my mum is happy and looked after. I promised
Izzy I’d do the same for Rita.

Ollie and I chose our favourite men that were suggested and wrote both mums a list of men to contact, along with instructions on how to use the sites. That was our leaving gift before we ran to the car. My mum text me after about 80 minutes to say although they were offended, they’d give it a go for me and Isabella.

             
‘Happy birthday kitten, are you ready to start celebrating?!’

             
‘Err, what time is it? It’s still dark!’

I try to keep my eyes open, but can only manage a few blinks before I try to go back to sleep.

              ‘It’s a little early but I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Maybe we could go for a romantic walk before breakfast?’

I’m suddenly wide awake, this must be a dream! This is what happened last year!

              ‘Did Izzy tell you to do this?’

             
‘What? Izzy? Why would she tell me to wake you up?’

             
‘Please tell me the truth. Is she playing some sort of beyond the grave joke?’

             
‘I’m sorry I woke you. Maybe we should go back to sleep for a bit. You’re really not a morning person are you?’

             
‘No Ollie, I’m really not. But I’m ready to learn how to be, so let’s get up.’

             
‘Great, come on then. Dress warm; you know what happened on the hot air balloon ride!’

             
‘Yeah, yeah, alright, do you want to choose my outfit and bring it to me?’

             
‘What about your birthday suit? Now come here and let me give you your present.’

When Isabella died, one of the things she left me was her silver charm bracelet. For my birthday Ollie gave me a little silver penguin to put on there as it reminded him of my last birthday when he’d just met me. He also gave me the most beautiful, emerald green heart which was from Isabella. I loved the beautiful, green heart from the second I saw it. But when Ollie explained the reason he was up so early was because reception had called to say it’d finally been delivered, and why it had to be delivered; it was impossible not to cry and not to love it.

When Isabella knew she didn’t have long left, she began looking online for things to do with her ashes, and came across a company that turns your ashes into glass. She left Ollie in charge of “stealing” some of her ashes to send off and have my heart, a necklace for her mum and a glass paperweight for Josh made.

I have no idea how Ollie got the ashes without any of us noticing and I don’t want to ask. Ollie did assure me that there are still some left for me to scatter, as per Isabella’s wish. So on Isabella’s first missed birthday, me, Josh and Rita all got one last present from her.

My birthday present from Isabella was topped by a different emerald, which came in the form o a gold band with diamonds surrounding it.

We were at the pyramids catching some sun and having a break from our tour, when Ollie said he had another birthday present for me. He got up from the bench we were sitting on, and got down on one knee. I thought he was joking, until he produced the stunning ring that’s now sitting comfortably on my left ring finger.

It was magical, and to have the Pyramids in the background made the whole thing perfect. Obviously I said yes! It was a hard day knowing Isabella wasn’t here, but Ollie made it perfect.

              ‘I hate to say it Kitten, but I think it’s time to get back to reality. Now that I’m not writing about Isabella I don’t really have an excuse to travel about. I need to go back to work, especially if I want to get this promotion.’

             
‘I was thinking the same thing actually. You have a job to get to and I need to decide where I’m going to live and what I want to do with the rest of my life.’

             
‘Where you’re going to live? You’re going to live with me, aren’t you?’

             
‘Well… umm… of course I want to. But I think I need to decide what career I want, and then choose where to live based on that. If I want to work in a nature reserve then obviously I can’t live somewhere that doesn’t have one nearby.’

             
‘Okay, I guess that makes sense. Well hurry up and decide what you want to do and let me know, so I can figure out moving and starting my own newspaper.’

             
‘You’d give up your job and house for me?’

             
‘Of course I would kitten! Now can we please join the mile high club?’

I’d love to move in with Ollie straight away. I have enough money left over from my scratch cards and savings so I wouldn’t have to work straight away. I need to get my life sorted though; I’ve gone straight from education to temping to travelling. I know if Isabella hadn’t been ill I’d be working now, but in a way I’m pleased for the excuse to travel and grow up a bit. We’re back in England for a couple of days before we head off to Canada for our trip, before its back to reality. I promised Isabella I’d scatter her ashes abroad somewhere I loved and where she hadn’t been before. So if I can persuade Rita to let me take her with me, I’m hoping to scatter her in Calgary.

My dad used to fish in Calgary for one month of the year every summer. My mum would join him for a week or two and shop or relax whilst he fished during the day, and then in the evenings they’d go out and do something romantic. When my dad was killed, my mum wanted to travel to Calgary to scatter his ashes on his favourite part of the river he fished, but she couldn’t bring herself to travel there without him. My plan is to take Isabella’s ashes along with something of my dad’s to scatter together. I hope my dad is looking after her up there.

Once I’ve done this, I think I’ll be ready to finally settle down and live my life how I want to. As much as I love Isabella, I think I had her so high on a pedestal that I’ve spent my life trying to live up to the standards I felt she set. Between that and constantly worrying about my mum being sad, lonely or missing my dad, I kind of put my life on standby. This has changed now because my mum is now dating! While Ollie was proposing to me, my mum was on her first date in longer than she cares to admit. And it’s all thanks to me as it was someone she met on the dating site I set her up on. Rita hasn’t started dating yet as she’s still grieving, but mum and I will help her when the time is right. I did promise Isabella after all.

             
‘Do you think he’ll be there?’

             
‘I hope so Livs, he texted me to say his flight was landing before ours, so he’d wait around for us.’

             
‘That’s not what I mean Ollie…’

             
‘Yeah I know what you meant. He said he’d meet us there and I believe him. He’s not really been out or done anything since he went home. Even his mum called me as she was worried about him.’

             
‘I know, and it upsets me, he was so outgoing. This is the last thing Isabella would have wanted, we have to help him.’

‘JOSH!’

Josh looks shocked when he hears Ollie and I both shout his name as we run at him, arms open.

              ‘Alright guys? I hear congratulations are in order?’

Josh sounds happy as we have a three way hug, but I sense the sadness in his voice. We must bring back memories of his and Isabella’s engagement.

              ‘Thanks dude! How are you? You look well.’

             
‘Yeah yeah, I’m fine. Is… is she with you?’

Josh turns to face me when he asks the last bit. I reach out and take Josh’s hand.

              ‘Yes Hun, she is. I guess this is the last time all four of us will be travelling together.’

             
‘I’ve missed her so much. I don’t know if scattering her ashes will help bring me closure, or make me miss her more.’

             
‘I know what you mean. I don’t want to let her go, but I know I’m giving her to my dad to protect. And I have my emerald to protect keep her with me always.’

             
‘I know this is what she wanted, but it doesn’t make it any easier. It’s too soon, I’m not ready.’

I can hear the sorrow in Josh’s voice before I see the tears trickling down his cheeks. I pull him in for a hug while Ollie looks away slightly awkwardly.

              ‘I was going to choose you.’

I almost didn’t hear him whisper this into my hair, but as the realisation hits me I pull away.

              ‘What?’

Josh looks shy suddenly and I think I must have been hearing things, but then he gives me a coy smile.

              ‘That first day in the restaurant, I wanted to choose you but knew you’d be perfect for Ollie. So when Isabella through herself at me, I thought she’d be a bit of fun for a few days.’

             
‘What?’

             
‘Yeah, thank god for Ollie eh? Can you imagine us together?’

             
‘What?’

             
‘Livs, please say something other than what. I loved her, I didn’t think I would but I did, with all my heart!’

             
‘Me? You wanted me over Isabella?’

             
‘I did, but don’t worry, you’re safe with Ollie now… so let’s get going shall we?’

             
‘Oh…Kay…’

             
‘Oh, and maybe let’s not tell Ollie, he might get all weird and jealous.’

             
‘Sure, let’s go find Ollie and head off to the hotel.’

I hadn’t noticed Ollie wander off; I pray to god he hasn’t left because he heard Josh’s confession.

We found Ollie in the airport shop buying sweets for the drive to our hotel. He hadn’t heard a word, just thought he’d give us some time to talk.

Along with Isabella’s ashes, we bought along some photos of her, and some photos of my dad. We cut them into strips and made them into origami wishing stars so they could go together. When we eventually scattered them, we all sobbed. I played “Swallowed by the Sea” by Coldplay on my phone with the volume on maximum. The words hit me like tonne of bricks. Replace the word sea with river, and that’s exactly how I feel.

             
‘Welcome to your new home kitten!’

             
‘Welcome to our new home!’

It was bloody hard to get my visa, even with Ollie’s paper sponsoring me. Never mind the fact I’m engaged to an American
and have been offered a job at Sea World which I’m currently counting down the hours until I start.

It’s now August 3
rd
and I’m finally here, standing in the house Ollie and I have just bought together across the road from Josh.

             
‘I’m so pleased to be home and close to my boys!’

             
‘And I’m ecstatic to have you here finally! Now go and grab Josh, I have a gift for you both.’

When Josh joins me in our posh new lounge that still smells like new carpet and fresh paint, Ollie pulls out two beautifully wrapped parcels, identical in size.

Josh and I rip into the paper and find ourselves staring at a book with Isabella’s smiling face on the front. The cover reads: Isabella – Her story as told by Oliver Clarke.

He’s wrote a book! The man I love has written a book about the girl I love! She always wanted to be a heroine in her own book, so now even after death she can cross off number 3.

So that completes Isabella's last request.