Chapter Text
Carla couldn’t believe it was already the week before Christmas. Once it hits December, it feels like the weeks fly by before hitting Christmas. And the only thing worse than having a Christmas birthday is a New Year’s birthday. Carla had long given up on expecting people to remember. The haze of New Year's always filled people's heads and before they had time to break their resolutions, January was over, and her birthday was behind her.
Not this time, not this year. This year Carla was fifty. Fifty! She couldn’t believe it. She pretended it didn’t bother her whenever Bobby or Ryan made a sneaky jab at her age. They meant no malice, but each time they did, it just hit her again that she was a single divorced woman hitting her late middle age. Everyone knew Carla as the bossy and confident businesswoman, always on the top of her game. Underneath that though, she had been in turmoil. Sitting at her desk, coffee in hand, she couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander.
Lisa had been a surprise to her. She had initially pegged her as some cold, heartless copper, determined to lock up Roy and throw away the key. How wrong she had been. Over the last few months, Carla had chipped away at the icy exterior to reveal the real Lisa. The grieving widow, the loving mother, and the brilliant detective dedicated to justice.
If Carla had known when offering Betsy a job that she would be sitting in her flat pining after another woman, she might not have suggested it in the first place. Her feelings for the other woman had been growing, gradually but fiercely, like a vine winding its way around her heart. Since October, Lisa seemed to take up her every waking thought, which had not gone unnoticed. First Ryan, and now Roy.
Earlier that morning, Roy had seen her sitting at her usual table, eyes fixed upon the door. Carla had been in before work, in vague hope that she would run into Lisa. Here she was, a grown woman, having only ever been with men, hanging around waiting to catch a glimpse of her friend. Friend. Mate. Was that all she was?
Roy, who had been watching her for the last hour, wandered over after the breakfast rush.
“I’m struck by something analogous to a watched pot.” His usual cadence broke her reverie. She welcomed his interruption, keen to have something to break her thoughts.
“Oh, don’t you start with me, I’m just enjoying some peace and quiet away from the factory lot. They’ve been gossiping up a storm all week.” She tried not to sound too nervous, hoping that her voice gave nothing away.
Roy gave her a strange look and held her gaze for a few seconds. “I highly doubt that a busy café would provide the solitude you intended.”
She simply gave him a stern look, keen to avoid an actual conversation.
Roy was undeterred, “Now, I believe that your birthday is in a couple of weeks, and rather an important one at that. Would you consider some sort of celebration? It is after all a milestone in your life.”
Carla rolled her eyes and got up, her back to the door now, and rested with her arms crossed under her chin on the counter.
“Roy, I think we’ve both had the year from hell, I doubt throwing a party is going to make much of a difference.”
A voice came from behind her. “Who’s throwing a party?”
Upon hearing who it was, Carla’s heart skipped several beats. She whipped her head around faster than was casual. Of course.
Lisa Swain, her hair down and wearing a tight white long-sleeved shirt, stood in front of her, having just walked through the door of the café.
She had a look of curiosity on her face, lightly framed by long blonde strands on either side. Carla’s mind went back to the night they had first truly felt their connection, and she could still see the same look in Lisa.
“Not me, no, I don’t really fancy celebrating fifty years at the moment.”
Lisa’s eyes lit up, a smile blossoming across her face.
“It’s your birthday? When?”
Carla rolled her eyes again, but inside she felt that same warmth growing in her stomach. She struggled to keep herself from smiling in return.
“That would be January third, right after New Year's.”
Lisa grimaced, her face not unlike her previous reaction to Carla’s love for sushi.
“Oh, dear, tough timing on that one. New Year's must take up all the attention.”
“You have no idea, every time it’s like a hangover en masse.”
Lisa nodded in reply to her, a wistful look appearing on her face.
“I haven’t had New Year’s off for ages, I’m usually investigating some back street assault or midnight robbery. I dunno what I’ll do this year.”
A spark of hope lit itself deep within her, and for a moment, Carla dared to dream of a midnight kiss. Once again, she found her mind wandering, thoughts drifting towards Lisa’s lips, and Carla imagined running her fingers through the long tresses.
Lisa had noticed her pause, her eyebrows raised at Carla’s momentary hesitation.
“So… do you have anything planned for your birthday stroke New Years?” Her voice lacked its usual confidence, every word sounding hopeful and hesitant.
Carla blinked twice, forcing herself to speak, “Erm I think the factory lot are planning on having a do at the bistro, they usually have a knees up on me, as I am reminded whenever I get my first bank statement of the year. Surely Besty mentioned it to you”
Lisa frowned.
“No, she did not. Are you going to be there? I don’t really trust her not to indulge in the festive spirit. She’s got form.”
“Are you inviting me to my own party, officer? Because tell you what, I’ll be there if you are. That daughter of yours wouldn’t dare try anything with the both of us under her nose.” It was bold. Carla knew it was bold. Lisa must have known it was bold. She seemed taken aback, a smile once again appearing on her face.
“It’s a deal then. I won’t tell her, as long as you don’t, I can’t wait to see the look on her face when we rock up together.” Her smile widened and a small laugh escaped her lips, the sound of it was magical. She checked her phone; having heard it ping while she was speaking. She continued, “I’ll dash off actually, I need to make sure she gets to college. I’ll see you around yeah?”
With that, she placed her arm on Carla’s wrist as a goodbye and turned to leave.
Carla missed the contact as soon as she had processed what was happening. She spoke to the retreating figure that occupied her thoughts. “I’ll text you the details.”
Lisa turned and looked at her just as she pulled the door open, winking at her, and exited onto the street, having never ended up buying anything from the café.
Carla stood there, stunned at how their conversation had gone. Her right hand went to the spot where Lisa’s had been resting, her thumb grazing the skin. She was broken from her daze when Roy cleared his throat behind her. He had witnessed the entire conversation.
Carla turned around, and puffed out her cheeks, once again feeling like a teenager with a crush. Roy had a knowing glint in his eye.
“If I may…” He began.
Carla cut him off, not wanting another postmortem.
“No, you may not.” With that, she took her coffee off the counter and made her way out the door to the street, hoping that she wouldn’t run into anyone else on the way to the factory.