Stranded in Love

Chapter Nineteen

- Ella's POV -

"Your names please."

"Elleanor Estela Brooks." I answered. The air inside of the small police station was stale, and the fan that was oscillating the warm air around the room rattled on the police's desk, drawing my attention. Derick was sitting in the seat next to me.

"Derick Thomas Pierce." Derick replied once the man motioned for him to speak. The man typed our information into the system. Ramon hadn't lied when he told us the police station wasn't much. There were four desks in the tiny room, and cabinets surrounded the walls, stacked with files and papers that could fall over at any moment.

"Do you's have identification?" The Officer with the last name Williams asked, he was chewing on gum, and I noticed the muscles of his jaws.

"I have my identification, but Ella doesn't have hers."

Derick adjusted to pull his wallet out, and passed his drivers license over to the officer. I passed glances at Derick as I played with the skin on my fingers. my nails were chipped, and dirty beneath. I messed with them as the man clacked at the keyboard.

"There's a missin' persons report for the two of yall's. Filed on October 23rd, 2023. Report says you's were scheduled for Andros Islands. Departing The Bahamas on the 25th of October. Can you's explain how you ended up down here?"

I listened to Derick as he explained everything in great detail. He talked about Cynthia, the pilot, and everything we had gone through. Ramon had come with us to the station to give his statement, and where he found us. He gave Derick and I his address to come by later on for dinner if we had the time.

"We don't got the embassy on dis island, but, I'm goin' to make a few calls to get you's home." Officer Williams said, popping a bubble with his gum. "We've got's a phone for you's to call home to your family." He directs us to the wall where a corded phone is hanging.

"You call first. No rush." Derick assured me when I made a motion for him to go. The tile was cold on my bare feet as I walked to the wall. I hesitated above the handle. I knew my choice would be Emilia, but I was scared of her reaction. I was always the big sister, protecting her from the world, comforting her. Who had she had in this time to be there for her? My heart raced as I picked up the phone, and put her number in.

The line rang, and each one made my hands sweat. I played with the tattered hem of my shirt as I waited for what felt like an eternity. My breath hitched when the ringing stopped.

"Hello?" She answered, sounding just the same as the last time I had spoken to her, and unfamiliar at the same time.

I couldn't speak. My mouth was filled with invisible sand and I swallowed hard, the lump not going away.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" She asked, sounding more agitated. I smiled, warmth sliding down my face.

"Emilia it's me, Ella." I choked out with a laugh. I couldn't hear anything on the other side of the phone, and I was about to speak again, until I heard a dog bark in the background, knowing it was Piper. I smiled hearing her familiar bark. My heart swelled.

"Oh my God you're alive... you're alive." She responded, her voice unusually quiet for who she was.

"I am, did you miss me?" I laughed, wiping my face as I leaned my head, pressing the phone closer to my ear.

"Mom! Mom! Ella's on the phone! She's alive!" Emilia yelled, and my heart sunk. Sandra was there? "Where are you? I'll catch the next flight! What happened? I saw on the news that your plane had gone down in the Atlantic after it went missing in a storm. I couldn't believe it, and I refused to. I thought you had died! Who's there with you? Are you okay?" She rambled quickly, and I could barely pick up the words that she was saying.