Tyler's Battle

Chapter 41 - Lost and Found

Jody turned and ran, out of the gate and across the field, the wind whipping her hair back behind her. She didn't look back. She heard Tyler calling her name and his dad calling too but she didn't care, she just kept running, tears streaming down her face. She reached the far end of the field puffing and panting. There was nowhere to go just a copse of trees beyond which there was a big metal fence. She felt cornered liked a frightened animal. Her eyes darted around taking in her surroundings and then suddenly she lunged towards the nearest tree and pulled herself up into its branches. She climbed as far as she could until the branches thinned out to little more than twigs.

Jody! Jody! Come down please! Screamed Tyler.

Jody. Please come down, it's not safe shouted Tyler's dad

Jody sat clinging onto the tree trunk, her whole body shaking as she sobbed.

Jodes, Jodes called Tyler desperately

He ran towards the tree but his dad pulled him back before he had the chance to climb it.

Don't even think about it. I'm not having both of you up a tree, you could get hurt. With that he pulled off his jacket and climbed into the tree himself. He couldn't get as high up as Jody, the branches were too thin, they wouldn't support his weight but he got about half way up.

Jody, please come down.

No, why should I.

Because its dangerous, you could fall.

Who cares.

Tyler cares. He doesn't stop talking about you, that's why I told him to bring you along today. You obviously mean the world to him

Not anymore, he's got you now, a proper family. He won't want to hang out with me anymore, not once he leaves Ashdene Ridge. 

That's not true. You are as much his family as we are and he's not leaving Ashdene Ridge anytime soon, we've got a lot of catching up do before we even consider that.

Let's face it, it may not be next week or next month, but we all know he will leave Ashdene Ridge eventually to play happy families with you and the kids and Joanne.

I honestly don't know what will happen yet but I do know that even if he does leave Ashdene Ridge, he could never leave you.

Yeah right. Nobody wants me, not my mum or my big brother Kingsley, and now Tyler doesn't want me either.

Seriously Jody, you have been there for him through some of the toughest times of his life, you know him better than I ever could. You deserve the title of family much more than I do. Your his family and you better believe it girl. And do you know what? You're my family too. You gave me something so special, you gave me my son back, something I didn't think anyone could do. I can never thank you enough for that. You not only believed in Tyler but you believed in me too, you believed Tyler deserved the chance to get to know his dad, to have a family. Now it's my turn to believe in you. You are the most important person in the world to Tyler, and anyone who is that important to Tyler is important to me as well.

Come on, come down he coaxed

His words had calmed her, had taken away the fear and anxiety. Jody started to climb down. She reached the lowest branch and Tyler's dad stretched out his arms to help her down. She dropped down but felt herself being scooped into his arms. He gave her a quick squeeze and then put her gently down. He brushed the hair from her face and wiped away her tears.

Come on kiddo he said smiling. Jody smiled back. They turned away from the tree. Mr Hughes' arm still around Jody, Tyler ran forward, and the three embraced

I'd never leave you Jody, you may not be my blood family but you are just as important, you are my family too. said Tyler.

Right, time for an ice cream said Tyler's dad cheerily. The three began to walk back towards the playground together, laughing and chatting. Anyone that saw the three walking through the park would have assumed they were family, a dad with his arms round his two children, looking lovingly down at them whilst they chattered away. And they would be right, they were family. For the first time Jody felt like she truly belonged and Tyler had found a family, his dad, Joanne, the kids, but most importantly of all, Jody.