Free Eve of the Isle by Carol Rivers

uncomfortable under his helmet. ‘It’s just an offer of help, that’s all.’
    Eve smiled ruefully. ‘We don’t usually get many of them.’
    â€˜Well, you’ve got one now.’
    Just then the twins rushed out to greet her. ‘Mum! Mum!’
    Eve scooped them into her arms. ‘What’s the matter?’
    â€˜Aunty Joan’s fell over.’
    â€˜Is she hurt?’
    â€˜Dunno. Come and see.’ They grabbed her hands and Eve was hurried up the stone steps where a small crowd had gathered on the top floor. ‘Silly cow,’ one of them said as she approached. ‘One day she’ll do herself a real damage.’
    â€˜Serve her right if she never walks again,’ remarked an elderly lady wearing an apron. ‘Mind, she weren’t one for walking, not in a straight line, anyway.’
    Eve pushed her way through to where Peg was standing over Joan who was lying on her back.
    â€˜What happened?’
    â€˜The first thing I heard,’ said Peg, ‘was the two boys calling out. They found Joan, collapsed out here.’
    â€˜Oh, me back.’ Joan lifted her head as she stared at the crowd. ‘What are you lot gawping at?’
    â€˜Is there anything I can do?’ P.C. Merritt’s voice made everyone jump and quickly the neighbours disappeared.
    â€˜Looks like you’ve done it,’ Peg scowled. ‘You might as well have shouted the black plague, the way that lot buggered off when they saw you.’
    Ignoring the insult, the young man went down on his haunches. ‘Are you hurt? Can you move?’
    â€˜Haven’t tried.’ Joan looked vague. ‘What’s going on?’
    â€˜You ain’t with it, gel,’ said Peg loudly. ‘You fell arse over tit, Joan. Don’t you remember?’
    P.C. Merritt smiled uncertainly at the twins. ‘Do you know what happened, lads?’
    â€˜We found her on the stairs,’ said Samuel in a rush, ‘just as we was going along to the lav.’
    They all peered into Joan’s glassy eyes and were assaulted with a strong whiff of gin.
    â€˜Well, one thing’s for sure, if she’s broken anything at all, she can’t feel it. Not yet anyway, not until the old thick and thin wears off,’ Peg remarked as the policeman took Joan’s arm.
    â€˜Shall I fetch the doctor?’ P.C. Merritt enquired as he slowly lowered Joan to the bed.
    â€˜No.’ Eve pulled across the covers. ‘She’ll be all right.’
    â€˜A good kip will do the trick,’ agreed the constable. ‘From my observations, anyway.’
    â€˜You mind your own flaming business, copper!’ Joantried to raise herself from the bed, but relapsed with a groan.
    â€˜Lay still, Joan. You’re lucky the policeman was here to help you in.’ Eve steered P.C. Merritt to the door. ‘Thank you for helping.’
    â€˜All in the line of duty.’
    â€˜Your duty seems to cover a lot of things. Are you new to the job?’
    He went red under his helmet. ‘Yes, does it show?’
    â€˜Only a bit.’
    He grinned. ‘I hope to be back with some news on your cottage.’
    Eve watched him leave then hurried back to the bedroom. The twins were all eyes, watching a prostrate Joan as Peg held up an empty bottle. ‘Didn’t know you was on the jollop, gel.’
    â€˜I’m not. That bottle’s been in the cupboard years.’
    â€˜And I’m the pope,’ laughed Peg.
    â€˜Get your face out of me private things, you nosy cow,’ screamed Joan, flinging back the bedclothes and giving a wail of agony.
    â€˜Oh, stop moaning,’ said Peg unsympathetically, throwing them back. ‘The truth is you’re just coming to after all the booze. You fell and hurt your back, which ain’t a life-threatening condition at all. Mind, it might have been if you’d gone over the railings.’
    Joan whimpered pitifully.