There she sat on the bonnet of her car just staring at the sign right in front of her, 'Welcome to Charming, Our name says it all'. She wasn't sure of her emotions but knew that sooner or later she was going to have to cross that line and face her past but she just wasn't sure was ready for it especially not now with everything else that was going on.
Suddenly she jumped as her cell rang aloud taking her out her trance. As she flipped it open she smiled and answered 'Is everything okay?'
''Shouldn't I be the one asking you that. You said you'd be arriving a few hours ago Tara. Are you okay, what's happened?" Donnas concern for her evident in her tone made her smile, her dearest and oldest friend still looking out for her after all these years.
'Donna everything's fine, I just got caught up' she said with a crooked smile as she slides of the bonnet and makes her way around to the drivers door, 'how's my da?'
'Tara its probably best if you come straight here to St Thomas. He's deteriorating very fast and the doctors don't how long he's got left. Hun I'm so sorry' Donna's voice came sounding slightly panicked and full of worry. 'Donna I'll be there don't worry. 'I'll see you in ten' Tara's voice so clam and cool to put her friend at ease. 'Okay, seen you then' came Donnas response they both hung up. Tara then pulled out from where she was parked and crossed that border she had run so far away from 10 years earlier and drove straight to the hospital as Donna suggested.
That was now a fortnight ago and she was packing her Dad into her car to bring him home, where he wanted to be. Tara didn't know why she was surprised really she should of expected that her Dad would find some way of screwing with her and with her return to Charming the doctors were happy to release him into her care. She couldn't believe what was happening but she figured it'd give her some time to work out all the other shit that was happening back in Chicago. As her Dad was up and down continuously there was no way of predicting how long it was going to be. Lucky her boss from Chicago understood and accepted a leave of absence for however long it took. 'Tara stop the day dreaming and lets get going' came her Dads stern voice jolting her away from her thoughts. Once her Dad was belted in she then threw his couple of bags in the back of the car and as she made her way to the drivers door there he was across the cark park getting off his bike. There it was, she felt something for the first time since she was back a wave of emotion and although he was the other side of the car park it felt as though he was right there standing in front of her no distance between them. She shook if as quickly as possible and climbed into the car. She looked back and saw he was meeting with a pregnant blonde who was standing outside the hospital door and as she started the car and pulled out of her space she saw him look back. So he did know, 'oh well guess that means I can stop hiding' she thought to herself.
When they got back to the house and unpacked her Dad was tired so she helped him to his room to rest. Just as she came back into the kitchen there was a knock on the door, which made her jump, as she wasn't expecting anybody. She went to get something from her handbag when she heard Donna's voice 'Tara, you there?' Tara relaxed and made her way to the door and opened it to see her best friend standing there with a bag of groceries. 'Figured you'd want a cup of coffee and then figured you probably didn't have time to pick the stuff up so here you go' Donna said as she made her way through to the kitchen putting the bag down on the table. 'Your right again my friend, want one?'
'Of course I do.' Donna answered as if there was no need to ask. The kids are at school and its Pinneys day to pick them up and god only knows where Ops at so you have me for as long as you want' came Donnas answer fast and happy. Tara made the coffee and the two women sat down at the table and chatted away as if they'd done it everyday. Tara was exhausted from everything in Chicago and coming home it was good to have someone to talk all that shit out with someone. 'So what's the plan now?' asked Donna. Tara looked up at her friend not knowing how she was going to react and continued 'I put in for a transfer to St Thomas back in Chicago and its all gone through I start next week'. Donna's eyes beamed with delight 'You mean your home for good?' she questioned. Tara meet her friends eyes and smiled 'Yea baby I'm back'.