Chapter 53 – Ella
I stripped off the stupid pyjamas I have been wearing in hospital in rotation with some other pairs and was tempted to throw them straight into the bin. Karla decided to stop off at Marks and Spencer's in duty free in order to buy me some clothes. She had received the phone call saying we were spotted leaving Summerleaze beach and it might be wise to head back over in case everything blows up – actual words from the admin team, bet they feel pretty shit now about it. And she did. Her and Saul packed their bags and were on the first flight over. She had landed a few hours after everything kicked off on the island and I was in theatre. So what did Karla do best? Buy awful looking clothes to deck me in whilst I had no obligation to scream my horror at them. I knew she was trying, but satin? Really?
But I didn't have much else to wear, so I made do with the satin burgundy old lady baggy pyjama bottoms until Will saved my actual life and brought me some trackies from Primark (after having more stern words to Joe about what he'd do if Joe hurts me) but they hurt to wear. My legs were still really burnt and the grafts were just settling in without rejection and were tender and the cuffed hem bottoms rubbed against one of the graft marks, causing irritation. So for the journey home in the car, then to Maui and back again I had to wear the satin odd things Karla had brought me.
But I had never seen Mum so excited before. Like it was something else. She greeted Joe with such a welcoming smile before hugging him – a middle aged woman a tiny bit taller than me hugging Joe as Joe panicked was hilarious. She then demanded everything from Joe. All about his childhood, brother and sisters, nieces and nephews, uncles, aunts, how we met and everything. Karla sat for about four hours as Joe explained his whole life story (I fell asleep in this time, too, not that Karla noticed,) and she invited us both over to stay for a few weeks the second I was allowed on a plane.
I pressed the button in the shower to turn on the water, adjusting the temperature before looking at my legs, pulling a face of disgust. The marks of each burn and graft were still prominent – but I had only had it done less than a week ago. Xav tried to heal them but focused on my head and other main injures and said he would visit in the next day or two to attempt to tackle my legs. But my legs were swollen and red and looked horrific. I then looked at my stomach, where only the slightest of bumps had appeared. Currently, a pancake would have more rises to it but I noticed it was there and so did Joe. The smallest of bumps, only visible when I didn't have a shirt on. Jeez, I need to stop daydreaming and have a shower. It's been god knows how long since my last shower.
About fifteen minutes later, I jumped out and tied my hair into the towel like I normally do at home after patting myself dry, wincing as I touched my legs. I looked at the fresh laundry pile – just visible from where I opened the door and grabbed the first shirt that was there. It was one Joe had got when he was down in Cornwall, but doubled also as my pyjama shirt. The design was meant to be long on men so it came down just past my bum – ideal. Joe's parents weren't meant to be home any time soon and the doctors had told me to "air" the grafts. This seemed like the best thing I could do at the moment.
I crept down the stairs and could hear the very rapid typing of Joe on his laptop. From the sound of the noise, it seemed like he was in the kitchen. Not to make him jump I walked down the stairs, turning the corner and ran into the kitchen. Joe looked up quickly, closing the screen on his laptop before getting up and putting the kettle on the boil again.
'How was your shower?' He asked, looking at my bare legs. Rather than wincing, like I did, he just raised an eyebrow.
'I've never been so thankful to have a shower ever, but what were you doing?'
'Just some paperwork,' He lied, avoiding eye contact.
'Liar.'
'I was doing paperwork.'
'On what? We've only just got back!' I laughed, sitting down on one of the chairs at the kitchen table as he dug out the hot chocolate power from the kitchen cupboards. I marvelled at their kitchen – clearly Joe's parents were very proud of their house and must have spent a lot on this kitchen. It honestly looked like it could star in next month IDEAL home magazine. 'That reminds me, pass me your phone.'
He took the phone from the kitchen side and threw it at me and I caught it. Unlocking it, I pressed the phone book button and found Susan's number, dialling it before Joe could even ask what I was doing.
'Joe, just the person I needed to speak too. How's Ella? What time are you both coming in today?'
'Hi!' I replied back.
'Oh, Ella,' was all Susan managed to say.
'I won't be coming in today; I'm calling in sick,'
'Ella, you can't really call in sick to a hospital appointment.'
'Good point. I'm calling in perfectly healthy then,' I joked and heard Susan tut as I grinned at Joe who just continued to give me such a dirty look for doing something this stupid but he didn't stop me. I knew Joe well enough to know that now we were out of the woods he just wanted a day out to calm down and relax.
'Ella, I know you don't like hospital appointments and you may feel perfectly well but we just need the standard battery of tests done to confirm you are perfectly safe and well so we can send off the information to the leading Government branch in charge of military services so you can get the compensation you deserve,' Susan explained.
'You know you should really star in those Injury Lawyers adverts on TV. I'm fine, really.' I protested.
'Ella,'
'Look, I just need a rest. I can come in tomorrow if you need me too. I just want a day without having to travel at all and just relax. Please,' I made my voice break knowing the affect me pretending to cry on Susan had.
'Okay, Ella, but we do need you in tomorrow for that battery of tests and then again next week for the female clinic but everyone has to go to that. The implant they put us all on had a fault that could cause in it breaking so they're just changing them over,'
'Oh, the implant that Maui gave us was faulty and could break – so some people could be pregnant? Jeez, that would be bad and unforeseen. That would lead to some interesting reveals.' I said comically, pulling a face at Joe who just did a spit take on his coffee.
'Yeah, well hopefully not. Anyway, I'll call you later and see how you're getting on. You rest now,' Susan said before hanging up.
'You little shit,' Joe whispered, putting his hand gently on my waist as he kissed me. 'I love it,'
'Well I got it from somewhere,' I laughed. 'Probably from Colorado,'
'Jeez, could be interesting when we go over there.' Joe mumbled, taking my hand and leading me into the living room.
'Uh, we still need to book the flights over there.' I said to him as I sat down on the sofa as he knelt on the floor in front of me.
'Might have already done that,'
'Er?' I joked, and he rubbed my exposed knee slightly.
'I'm afraid we have a few busy weeks.' He explained and I sighed. 'Well, we have tomorrow off, then we're moving Thursday, got the ultrasound Monday morning then Wednesday we're going on holiday for a few days but I'm not telling you where. We come back Sunday and then Tuesday after at ten we're flying out to Colorado,'
'We're going on holiday?' I gasped.
'We have to stay in England though; you can't fly for another two weeks. I booked the flights on the first day you're allowed too.' Joe said regretfully.
'No, that's perfect, thank you.' I launched myself at him, knocking him on his back as I hugged him. He gently laughed to himself, putting his arm around my waist as I laid down on top of him for a second, super thankful that he didn't just leave me in that hospital in Devon and he was still here for me. 'Thank you,'
'Don't thank me, you deserve this,' He mumbled into my hair as his phone vibrated. He brought the phone up to look at what it said and sighed again. I looked up at him, frowning, as he locked his phone. 'Mum,' he answered my unspoken question.
'Oh?'
'She wants us to go out to lunch with her and Dad, but has stressed only if you feel well enough too.'
'I'm scared, what if they hate me?' I mumbled. 'What if it'll be awkward?'
'It'll be fine, hun, they'll love you. Honestly, they really will. Also, if we go and you don't like them we can go find somewhere else to stay tonight and tomorrow but it won't come to that.' Joe promised, his pinky finger finding mine.
