Starting Over

36. Is That You?

"Hi doctor, it's Ella. How are you?" I greet.

Currently sitting on the couch ready to leave for my dads with Jackson next to me playing peek a boo with Skye on his lap.

"Ella! Hi! I've been good, busy. What's up?" She says enthusiastically.

"I need to book 'the' appointment," I say releasing the breath I didn't know I was holding in.

"Oh I see, when did you want to come in?" She asks. I can just imagine the smirk on her face right now.

"Tomorrow afternoon?" I ask. 

A few days after I was assaulted I could barely walk due to the amount of pain I was feeling between my legs. Dad had sent me straight to Doctor Brown and since my first appointment, she's been my rock for the last 2 years, constantly making sure that I am feeling okay. If it weren't for her, who knows what could've have happened to me.

"Yes I've got three-thirty available," she explains.

I look over at Jackson and mouth three-thirty before he nods his head in approval. "Three-thirty is perfect,".

"Beautiful, so I'll see you tomorrow at three-thirty," I can hear the sound of her keyboard while she types in the appointment details. 

"Yes, see you then," we exchange goodbyes and hang up. "Come on, let's go".

We both get up from the lounge. I lock the front door and walk towards Jackson's car.

***

By the time we get to my dad's house, Skye is asleep in the back. We get out of the car and I watch Jackson gently take Skye out of her seat making sure not to wake her up. Jeremy opens the door before we get to the doorstep.

I run up to Jeremy. "Ahhh I've missed you," I squeal wrapping my arms around his neck, smelling his familiar scent.

"I've missed you, too!" He exclaims rubbing my back. Jeremy looks over at Jackson with Skye sleeping with her head on his shoulder.

"Hey man, how's it going?" He shakes Jackson's hand before walking behind him to look at Skye. He caresses her cheek with the back of his hand and kisses her head.

I start walking inside with the boys behind me. I walk into the kitchen and spot dad stirring a pot on the stove. Dad walks over to me once I've put down Skye's bags and mine.

"It's so good to see you instead of hearing you," he says pulling me in for a hug.

"I know, I've missed you so much," I say squeezing him tighter.

"Where's Jackson?" He asks letting go of me as Jackson and Jeremy walk in the kitchen. "Oh, there you are!" Dad pulls him in for a handshake.

Skye moves in his arms as she wakes up. "Hello, my gorgeous girl!" Dad squeaks taking her from Jackson's arms.

I sit down at the kitchen counter and watch as the boys talk to Skye in squeaky voices, smiling.

When it comes to babies, the boys get so soft and gentle. It puts a smile on my face to see how much Jackson loves kids and it makes me excited for the future.

Jeremy stands at the opposite side of the counter in front of me sitting Skye on the counter and Jackson sits next to me.

"How has everything been, still recovering from the accident?" Jeremy asks. I look over at Jackson as he starts to speak.

"No no fully recovered but I just have to have regular check-ups throughout the year for my ankle." Jackson answers.

"What for?" Jeremy questions.

"Because my ankle shattered it's now really fragile so any fall that I have can easily break it again," he explains. Jeremy nods in understanding.

"What about you, sis? What's been going on?" He asks.

"Nothings happened since I last saw you," I shrug. Not mentioning the whole Doctor Brown thing in front of my dad.

Jeremy claps Skye's hand together as she giggles and scrunches her eyes. Dads finishing up dinner so I decided to set the dining table up with Jackson helping me.

We eat dinner all together laughing, reminiscing old memories and catching up on each other's lives. I hear my phone ring from my bag, I get up from my chair, excusing myself to grab it checking who's ringing as I answer. It says 'unknown caller'.

"Hello?"

"Ella? Is that you?" The person on the other lines voice is very croaky and deep and I can't seem to recognise who this person could be. I scrunch my eyebrows as I walk into the living room away from my family.

"I'm sorry, who's this?" I ask.

"Oh, it's so good to hear your voice," the line cuts dead and my phone starts beeping. I just stare at the blank screen of my phone, hoping I'll get some sort of answer. But as expected, nothing.

"What the fuck," I whisper to myself.