Isabella's Last Request (9 page)

With that, Ollie lets go of my hand and races forward, leaving me in his wake.

              ‘Are you ready?’

I’m just about to pull into my road and I’m starting to feel a little worried the boys will be overwhelmed. I’ve driven most of the way, with
Izzy doing a few hours in the middle. Scotland to Cornwall is a really long drive, especially with a couple of American men in the car giving you tips, telling you to speed up. They also had a tendency to ask questions about where we were and what that part of England is famous for. Sometimes with our limited geography knowledge, Isabella and I didn't know so had to blag it in the hopes they wouldn't then check their smart phones.

Rita
and mum have organised a big BBQ for our friends and family to meet our new boyfriends, and as a very belated birthday celebration. We’re having it at my house as it’s bigger than Isabella’s.

             
‘Of course they’re ready. There’s nothing to be scared of Livs! Come on everyone, out the car, we’re here!’

My mum must have heard the car pull up, either that or she’d been waiting by the window watching or us. I really hope it’s the former.

              ‘Olivia! Sweetheart, I’ve missed you! Isabella, I’ve missed you too, of course!’

Mum rushes over and pulls me into a tight hug, so tight she knocks the wind out of me. She reaches out a hand and grabs
Izzy pulling her in as well, until she spots the boys getting out of the car.

             
‘Oh my goodness, would you look at those two! Which one’s the lucky man sweetheart?’

Mum half whispers this at me, but it’s too loud to be a proper whisper and I hope the boys didn’t hear her. Honestly, she’s so embarrassing sometimes.

              ‘Mum, meet Isabella’s boyfriend Josh and my boyfriend Ollie.’

I struggle out of her embrace to gesture towards the two awkward looking Americans in turn. Mum gives Josh a quick cuddle before pushing him to one side to grab Ollie.

              ‘It’s so nice to finally meet you! Olivia’s just about told me everything about you!’

I swear I’ve gone as red as mum’s lipstick. I know she’s just being friendly but she’s too full on, not to mention she’s making me look like a stalker or something.

              ‘Okay mum, you can let go of him now, please.’

             
‘It’s very nice to meet you Mrs Hope.’

Ollie flashes my mum his most dazzling smile and it makes my knees go weak. Then I feel a rush of jealousy, why is he smiling at her the way he smiles at me? I must stop this.

              ‘So mum, who is coming today?’

             
‘Oh yes, what are we doing standing around out the front? Let’s go through, almost everybody is here already. Isabella, we’re still waiting for your mum; she’s late as usual.’

Mum practically pushes us through the house, which is just as well because everywhere you look there are baby photos of me. Everything from me as a naked baby in the bath with a bubble
beard, to me on my prom night with my first “love”; how embarrassing! I should’ve made her to take them down before the boys got here. Ollie tries to stop and look at one of Isabella and I in our pink tutus, but I swiftly move him on. That’s enough of that. Isabella on the other hand is actively pointing out the most embarrassing photos to Josh. I can hear giggles and cute words coming from them and I want to throw something at her! It’s not my fault I was too small to argue and look like a bloody poodle in that photo. Or that I decided to have my face painted like a penguin at Jodie’s birthday party. Thinking about it, I think mum has only put up the embarrassing pictures of me, I wonder if that’s so she has something to laugh at when she’s having a bad day.

As soon as we get to our lounge, we’re surrounded by friends and family, who instantly swarm over Ollie. All the woman wanting kisses and hugs and all the men wanting male company. As Isabella and I have no fathers, men are outweighed by women in our family and social groups. As much as I love Ollie, I know the minute Josh enters the room all the women will flock to him as he’s so good looking. The men will probably stay with Ollie, not wanting to stand too close to such a heart throb! As if on cue I feel the atmosphere change, and without looking I know Josh has just walked in. One by one, the women start to peel away from Ollie and me to head to Josh and Isabella, the beautiful people. Should I be offended? Luckily, it looks like both of us are used to this.

              ‘Right, now they’ve all met you and cleared off, I think it’s time for me to get to know you better.’

Mum winks at Ollie as she says the last bit. Is she flirting? Oh my god, she is! My mum is flirting with my boyfriend! I really think she needs to start dating again, but she won’t. She says it’s too soon after my dad, although it’s now been twenty-one years.
In my mind that’s not too soon. I think maybe that’ll be one of my tasks before I go travelling again. I must help her meet someone as I can’t imagine moving home after all this travelling, and the thought of her rattling around the place all alone makes me want to cry.

             
‘That sounds like a good idea Mrs Hope. I’d like to get to know you too. Livs has told me so much about you.’

             
‘She lets you call her Livs?’

The shock in mum’s voice makes me giggle and Ollie blushes just enough for me to notice.

              ‘Erm… well, not really, although she doesn’t object quite so much anymore.’

Mum gives me a playful punch on the arm.

              ‘Aw, my little girl must be in love!’

             
‘Yes mum, thanks for that! I’m starving, who’s doing the barbeque?’

Mum scans the room and the back garden before returning
her gaze back to me. It looks like my plan of distraction has worked.

             
‘Now Rita’s here, we can start. As you’re our guest of honour Ollie, would you like to start the barbeque? Don’t worry if not, I’m sure Uncle Dylan will be happy to step in.’

I realise I’ve not seen Uncle Dylan yet, I must go and find him once I’ve checked Ollie’s okay. Uncle Dylan is my dad’s twin brother; he was my main father figure growing up. I’m suddenly sad I’ve let our close bond slip a bit recently. As soon as we found out Isabella was terminal, I’ve dedicated all of my time to her, and now Ollie. I’ve even let my
relationship with mum slip a little, and we’ve always been more like friends than mother and daughter. I must keep up with my family life, although I never seem to have spare time these days!

             
‘I’d be honoured to cook; if Uncle Dylan wants to help he’s more than welcome. I just don’t want to step on anybody’s toes.’

             
‘What a great idea, Uncle Dylan will want to do his usual checks to make sure you’re good enough to be with one of his girls. His checks have become more thorough since his eldest daughter started dating though! You go and start the barbecue up, I’ll go find Uncle Dylan and get him to bring the meat over.’

As if sensing we were talking about him, Uncle Dylan suddenly appears at me side engulfing me in a massive bear hug.

              ‘Olivia!! I’ve missed you! Where have all my postcards and phone calls been? I’ve had to rely on your mum for updates, and you know what that’s like. It does mean I’ve heard more about this American than I have about you. Is this him?’

Uncle Dylan hasn’t looked at Ollie until he says the last bit, gesturing to Ollie with his thumb. This could get awkward.

              ‘This is indeed him Uncle Dylan. Meet Ollie.’

             
‘Oliver?’

             
‘You may call me Oliver if you wish, sir’

Ollie’s smile doesn’t falter as he extends his hand, waiting for Uncle Dylan to shake it. Uncle Dylan waits for longer than necessary to shake it, and when he eventually does his knuckles go slightly white so I know he’s gripping him hard.

              ‘You have good manners for an American.’

I have to try really hard to stifle a giggle. You wouldn’t believe Uncle Dylan was only forty-six; he sounds like such an old man. I wish he’d calm down the American comments though; it makes no difference where he’s from, as long as he makes me happy, surely?

              ‘Thank you sir, would you like to help me with the barbecue?’

             
‘You can stop with all this sir nonsense now, call me Dylan. And yes, if you want to help me with the barbecue, you’re more than welcome. Come along.’

Uncle Dylan heads off to the kitchen and Ollie quic
kly follows him, I do hope my favourite uncle plays nicely for a change.

I look around at all my lovely friends and family, and feel so honoured to have these people in my life. Then I catch a glimpse of Isabella standing with her mum and Josh. Josh has his arm around her shoulders and is talking animatedly to Rita,
Izzy is smiling but I see through it, she’s clearly in pain. The pain is getting worse too quickly! I don’t know how much longer she has left, and the thought terrifies me. I can’t breathe. I don't want to cause a scene and I know I need some space before I do just that! I rush up to my room where it’s safe and quiet and collapse onto my bed, phew I can finally breathe. 

             
‘If you have any questions, just ask.’

             
‘Thank you Mel, that’s great.’

It feels so weird to be working again after all this time, but needs must. Isabella and I are staying home for a while until we’ve saved enough for our trips to Thailand, New Zealand and Australia. We still have money left from before, but we don’t want to worry at all about how much we have left when we’re away from home. We’ve said from the start this is a once in a lifetime trip, so we want to be able to do anything and everything we get the opportunity to do, without limitations, so it's time to build up some funds.

              The boys went back to America a couple of days after the BBQ. They were a massive hit with everybody; mum even said I need to marry Ollie, just not anytime soon. I'm still far too young for marriage, and if I even think about giving her a grandchild any time in the next few years then I should just think again! I love my mum, she's so funny.

             
After the boys left, Isabella and I did some fundraising such as a sponsored silence, a couple of car boot sales, and a charity party (a less formal version of a charity ball). But we decided it was worth me doing some temp work, as Izzy has money coming in from her photos. Izzy has been going for little day trips whilst I’ve been tempting. She says the reason for the trips is to take photos for the galleries, but I think there’s something else she’s not told me, which worries me. I hoped she wouldn’t keep secrets from me.

When
Isabella first started feeling ill, I was the one who practically dragged her to the doctors. She refused to go for so long, but then she had a seizure at work one day which scared her. She didn’t want to worry her mum so I went to the doctors with her. We were expecting them to say she had epilepsy or something similar. But when Isabella admitted the full extent of her symptoms and how long she’d been feeling ill, the doctor started to look serious. The fact her headache had been continuous but worse early in the morning, and so bad it was disturbing her sleep was the first on the doctor’s invisible checklist. Then she mentioned she’d been feeling really sick, and had been sick a lot more frequently, she’d also been dizzy and fainted a couple of times but not told anybody. She’s been tired and confused lately, she’d go somewhere without thinking, then snap back into the real world and have no idea where she was, or why.

The doctor kept his eyes on Isabella the whole time she spoke, not even pausing to look at the pad as he wrote notes. When she went quiet and looked close to tears, he turned to me and asked if her mood or behaviour had changed lately. I felt awful saying it in front of her, but I had to be honest. I explained to both the doctor and Isabella that she’d been really moody, not herself and sometimes a complete bitch for t
he last month or two. This seems to be a complete shock for Isabella who looked like I’d just slapped her in the face.

It would appear that was the last tick on the doctor’s invisible checklist, because the questions stop and he sits quietly for a moment. The silence became deafening and I hear my poor friend scream out…

              ‘What’s wrong with me?’

             
‘I don’t want you to worry, because it’s rare. But I need you to have some tests done at the hospital. There’s a possibility you have a brain tumour.’

The words hit hard and I heard a long sorrowful scream, but even to this day I couldn’t tell you whether the scream came from me or Isabella.

The next couple of weeks went by in a total blur. I held Izzy’s hand, praying I could be strong and not cry whilst she told her mum. Then breaking down when the time came to tell my mum. She had to have so many tests at the hospital, most of which only her and her mum went to, so I don’t know how bad they were. I tried to Google it once, but it made me feel sick.  Reading what other people have gone through and what tests my beautiful, kind and caring best friend was having.

Because I got too upset at the time, and still do now, Isabella has never gone into full details with me. All she tells me and other people that ask is that she has terminal cancer. I overheard my mum talking to Rita about it once, and I got the gist. Isabella has a brain tumour which is growing too big and too fast to be removed, but it’s also spread, which is very rare. That made me a smile a little, even at this terrible time. Trust my
Izzy to get something really rare, she’s not one to follow the crowds. She had a couple more seizures after her initial diagnosis but they’ve put her on special medication to stop them, so she’s not had many since.

              ‘I want to find my dad.’

When Isabella told me she needed to see me after work urgently, this isn’t what I was expecting. I’m thankful this is all it is, I was terrified she was going to tell me something terrible.

              ‘Have you told your mum yet?’

             
‘No, that’s what I need help with.’

             
‘Oh no Izzy, this will crush her! Why do you want to find him? He’s never tried to contact you.’

             
‘Livs, you were with me when I told her I was ill and you coped. This will be easier, so man up will you? He’s my dad and I have the right to some answers. Also, imagine looking for your dad and finding out he was dead, you’d be gutted wouldn’t you? I want him to get to chance to meet me before I pop my clogs.’

             
‘Well I can’t comment on that as my dad’s already dead, so I wouldn’t be looking for him.’

             
‘Olivia, for once please don’t make everything about you!’

Isabella never calls me by my full name so I know she’s annoyed, but what she’s said has upset me. My dad would have stayed with me but he didn’t get the chance. I don’t cope well with death, and everyday I’m afraid the news will come that Isabella hasn’t made it through the night. I try to stay strong and be brave for her, but I find it so hard to put on a front when inside my heart is being ripped apart. Her moods have been a lot worse lately, but I know it’s just the illness. So I’ve carried on and let her treat me badly, but I don’t think I can for much longer.

              ‘Not everything is about you either Isabella. But let’s move on and go find your mum shall we?’

              Rita took the news a lot better than I thought she would. She was upset that Isabella suddenly wanted contacted with her dad and his family, after always saying she wanted nothing to do with them. But I think she understood it was just because of the circumstances.

             
Rita told us Isabella’s paternal grandparents had met her a few times when she was small, but then they emigrated when she was three so decided to cut all ties as they wouldn’t be back often. Rita occasionally gets emails from them asking about Isabella, but they weren’t ready to talk to Isabella yet. I couldn’t help but feel sad about their missed opportunities, if ever I think about contacting someone but put it off, I'll think about this and go for it. Rita said she will email them to see if they can put her in contact with Greg. Isabella has asked that Rita not tell them the reason why through email. She wants to tell her dad herself, and then he can phone them and explain.

             
All the way through their chat Isabella stays very calm and organised, and I think that has a positive effect on Rita. I feel a bit useless just sitting there, and I wonder why Isabella needed me. I’m not complaining though, it feels nice to be needed by Isabella for once.