Well I know it's been a while…but I'm determined to finish this fic…I am sticking to my resolution and finishing as many fics as I can so…here goes. This is the final chapter…set when Isabelle is 16. Jo and Jerry have three more kids Marika who is 11, Janet who is 8 and Michael who is 6.
Just a quick recap of what happened last time…Jonesy gave Izzy the bone marrow she needed and now Izzy is perfectly healthy…Jonesy went back to Mt Thomas however he and Jo kept in touch. Jo sent him letters and they phoned each other every month for updates…they became friends again and keep in contact every month. Okay so wont say anymore…it'll give away the whole thing…you'll have to read and find out what happened!
Okays this is dedicated to all my loyal fans out there…please keep reading my work (even if some of it does suck : P)
"Ok guys let's go!" Jo ushered the four kids out of the house and into the car. "I don't want to be late for work again."
"We're coming…gees mum calm down!" Isabelle laughed.
"Right…into the car…come on!" the three younger kids climbed into the back seat of the car and Isabelle got into the front seat next to Jo.
"Are you ready for your first day of work experience?" Jo asked.
"To tell you the truth I'm kind of nervous. I mean…what if I do something wrong? What if I mess up?"
"You'll be fine. And I'll be right there beside you if you need any help."
"Okay." Isabelle nodded.
"Great." Jo pulled out of the driveway and drove towards the primary school.
"Well here we are." Jo said as she pulled up outside the police station. "Are you ready?"
"Not really. But I don't have much choice do I?"
"Nope." Jo laughed. "You'll be fine."
"I hope so." Isabelle took a deep breath and then got out of the car. Jo grabbed her hand and the two of them walked into the station together.
"Morning Jo, Izzy. Welcome to your first day of work experience." Carrie smiled.
"Thanks Carrie."
"You look nervous."
"I am." Isabelle replied. "I'm just praying that I don't screw anything up."
"You'll do just fine. You'll mostly be doing paperwork and stuff anyway."
"Oh fun." Isabelle replied.
"Well you've got to start somewhere." Jo said.
"I know. It's okay…paperwork I can do." Izzy laughed. "See you Carrie."
"See you later Iz." Carrie smiled as Jo and Isabelle walked into the main office. When the saw Isabelle walk in Annette, Heather and Kane all walked up to her.
"Hey guys." Isabelle smiled.
"Hey Izzy. Ready for your first day of work?"
"I think so…" Isabelle replied. "I hope so." She added.
"Great. Come on then. I'll show you to your desk for the next few days." Kane offered.
"Thanks." Isabelle looked up at Jo.
"Off you go. I'll be in my office if you need me." Jo replied. She watched Isabelle walk off behind Kane and the others went back to work, then she walked into her office.
At lunchtime Isabelle walked into Jo's office.
"Hey Izzy. How were your first three hours of work?"
"Great. All I did was file a heap of folders…then I went through the lost property and stuff…not very exciting."
"Ah well. Maybe if you're lucky at the end of the week you'll be able to do something more exciting." Jo smiled at her.
"Like what exactly?"
"I don't know. We'll have to have a chat to the boss first…soo…did you want to go out for lunch?"
"Sure. Where too?"
"There's this nice little café just around the corner. We can walk there and be back within an hour." Jo smiled.
"Great."
"That'll give us a chance to talk about your birthday."
"Great. Because there is something I really wanted to talk to you about too."
"Okay. I'll just grab my jacket and we can go."
"Great."
"So…" Jo said as they sat down at a table in the café. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"You go first." Isabelle smiled.
"Okay. Well I was thinking maybe we could have your party at the community hall down the street. That way there is plenty of room and you can have as many people as you want. But remember…NO ALCOHOL."
"I know mum…" Isabelle laughed. "That's an awesome idea. But I was actually thinking maybe we could have it at our place."
"But the kids are going to be there…and I know how much you like your privacy."
"That's okay mum. I don't mind them being there. Besides most of my friends love the kids. Especially Mike. He's cute."
"Okay…what do you want?" Jo raised her eyebrows at Isabelle.
"Why do you think I want something?" Isabelle asked innocently.
"Because you haven't said anything about how much you hate your brothers and sisters. And when you start being nice I can tell you want something."
"Alright fine…I know what I want for my birthday."
"Is it something I can afford?" Jo asked.
"Yeah…but I'm not too sure if it's something you'll agree with…"
"What is it?"
"Well…actually I wanted to ask if I could meet Dad…"
"What do you mean? You live with him why would you want to…"
"No I mean my real dad…not Jerry…I want to meet him Mum…"
"Izzy…I…"
"I didn't think you would agree." Isabelle frowned. "It was just a suggestion."
"Hey…" Jo reached over and lifted Isabelle's chin up and looked into her eyes. "I don't have a problem with you meeting your father. To tell you the truth I thought you would have asked years ago when you found out…"
"Well…I wanted too…but I also didn't want to. I wasn't ready back then…"
"And you're ready now right?"
"Yeah. I think so…"
"Well…that's fair enough. I'll tell you what. if you like I can take you to visit him…I'm not too sure what he will think of the idea…maybe we should run it by him first."
"Really? So you aren't going to stop me from seeing him?"
"He's your father Izzy. It's only fair that you have a chance to get to know him. I always knew this day would come…and I think I'm finally ready to go back there…I want to show you where I used to live…where I worked and I want you to meet all of my old friends."
"Are you serious?" Isabelle beamed at Jo.
"Of course I am. You're my baby girl and I just want you to be happy."
"Thanks Mum…I love you so much."
"I love you too Honey." Jo and Isabelle hugged across the table.
"So when are we going to go?"
"Well it all depends on what Jonesy says…I'll give him a call tonight…"
"Thanks Mum…do you think Jerry will mind?"
"No. He's really great with the fact that you're not his daughter…he knew too that one day you were bound to want to find your father…he's actually the one that convinced me to stay in touch…he wanted to get to know you…and you may not believe this…but he was actually talking about you going up to stay with him for a while…"
"So…all those secret phone calls and letters…they were from him?"
"Yeah. I wanted to tell you…but he thought it was best if we didn't disrupt your life until you were old enough to understand…and now…well now you're old enough."
"Oh Mum…this is awesome. I can't wait to see him!"
"I know. I'll tell you what…I'll give him a call tonight…if he agrees…we'll go down the weekend of your birthday and see him. How does that sound?"
"Great!" Isabelle cried. "I love you so much Mum."
"I love you too." She smiled.
Later that night…
"Hello Jonesy speaking." Jonesy answered his mobile phone.
"Hey Jonesy. It's Me, Jo."
"Hey, how are you? How is everything? I wasn't expecting a call until next week."
"Yeah well…something's come up."
"Okay…anything I should be worried about?"
"Well yes and no…you see…Isabelle and I were talking at lunch today…she wants to meet you."
"Really? That's fantastic…I mean…I want to see her too."
"Great…well you know it's her sixteenth birthday soon and I was thinking maybe we could come down this weekend…"
"Ah…sure. I'll have to run it by Susie and the kids first…but that should be fine."
"Great."
"Mum!" Isabelle called in the background. "I can't find my red shoes!"
"Was that her?" Jonesy asked.
"Yeah."
"Can I talk to her?"
"Umm…sure." Jo was a little hesitant but she asked anyway… "Hey Izzy come here." Jo called.
"Sure Mum…what is it?" Isabelle walked into the room and when she saw Jo on the phone her eyes lit up. "Is that…?"
"Yeah. Do you want to talk to him?"
"Can I?"
"Yeah." Jo handed the phone over.
"Isabelle?" Jonesy asked.
"Dad?" Isabelle's heart soared. Jonesy heart was beating faster and faster.
"Hi…"
"Hi…"
"Soo…I hear your birthday is coming up soon."
"Yeah." Isabelle replied.
"What did you want to get?"
"Well there is only really one thing I want this year…"
"What's that?" Jonesy asked.
"To see you." Isabelle replied.
Jonesy gulped back tears and smiled.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Isabelle bit her lip nervously.
"Your mum said you wanted to come down next weekend?"
"Is that okay?"
"Yeah…I've been waiting so long to see you…you know you sound just like Jo…"
"I know…I look like her too…except I have your eyes. At least that's what mum told me."
"Yeah. You do. I remember seeing you when you were ten. It was clear how much you looked like her back then…"
"Yeah…mum told me you were at the hospital…you saved my life."
"Yeah…" Jonesy replied.
"So…mum tells me you've got kids?"
"Yeah. Two girls and a boy…and another one on the way."
"Wow…that's so cool. I have more brothers and sisters. How old are they?"
"Well Dylan is almost the same age as you…she's a few months younger though…then there is Aaron…he's 10, and Jessica…she's only 6."
"What's your wife like?"
"She's really great. You'll love her…I know she'll love you too once she gets to know you." Jonesy explained.
They spent two hours on the phone, Jonesy telling her about his kids and his life in Mt Thomas…Isabelle told Jonesy about her life, school and her friends.
When Jerry arrived home from work with the other kids, Isabelle was still on the phone.
"Hey." Jerry kissed Jo. "Who's she talking to?"
"Jonesy…"
"Really? So she knows?"
"Yeah. They've been talking for almost two hours now."
"Wow. So are they going to meet?"
"I wanted to talk to you about that actually. She wanted to go down next weekend…I said I'd ask you first."
"I think it's a great idea."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Jerry replied. "She should get to know her real father…"
"You're not upset?"
"Well of course I am. She's like a daughter to me."
"Yeah…thankyou for understanding."
"It's alright Jo…we knew this was going to happen." Jerry told her. He put his arms around her and looked her in the eyes. "Everything is going to be okay…you'll see."
"I hope so." Jo looked over at Isabelle…she was laughing and smiling. "I've never seen her this happy before. So I guess taking her to meet him is a good idea."
"Yeah. I'll tell you what. We'll all go with you…for moral support…we're about due for a family holiday anyway."
"That's a great idea…show up to my old town with my new family…that'll go down well."
"It was just a suggestion."
"I know. I like that idea…it's just I think this is something Isabelle and I have to do alone."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'll tell you what…me and Izzy will go down this weekend…then if everything goes okay…we'll all go down again soon after that."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Are you sure you can handle the kids by yourself for the weekend?"
"Yes Jo. You guys go and have a girl's weekend away. Spend some time together…we'll be fine."
"Okay. I'll talk to Jonesy and arrange a time for them to meet." Jo smiled and hugged Jerry. "Thanks for being so supportive."
"Any time. I love you Jo."
"I love you too Jerry." He held her close in a warm hug.
When Friday came Jo was really anxious. She was worried what everyone will think of her turning up after so many years of being away. She knew that PJ had a wife and kids, as did Ben, and there were new members at the station too, who had all become good friend with her old friends…Jo was afraid that they had forgotten her…even though it was her fault she left in the first place.
"Mum!" Isabelle snapped Jo back to reality.
"Sorry what?"
"Are you ready to go?"
"Ah…yeah I guess. Just let me say bye to the kids."
"Okay. I'll wait in the car."
"Okay…have you said goodbye to everyone?"
"Yeah. Just don't be long Mum…I want to get out of here as soon as possible."
"Aren't you nervous?"
"Nope!" Isabelle replied. "I can't wait to see everyone. I've talked to Susie and the kids as well…they all seem really nice. I can't wait to meet Dylan…she sounds really cool."
"Aren't you just the tiniest bit nervous?"
"Nope." Isabelle replied. "See you in the car."
"Okay." Jo sighed and went upstairs to say goodbye to Marika, Janet and Michael. When she came back downstairs Jerry was waiting at the front door with Jo's bags.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be. I just want to get it over and done with so I can come home."
"Relax Jo…you'll be fine. I'm sure they cant wait to see you again."
"I hope you're right. Bye…" She leant in and gave him a long kiss.
"Are you sure you don't want me to drop you at the airport?"
"No…It's too much hassle with the kids. We'll be fine. I have to go the taxi is waiting out the front."
"Bye Sweetie…"
"Bye." They had one last kiss then Jo grabbed her bags and joined Isabelle out in the taxi.
"Are you sure you want to do this? It's not too late to urn around and go back home." Jo said as they approached the gate their flight was departing at.
"I'm sure Mum…I want to do this."
"Okay…" Jo took a deep breath. "Let's get this over with." She carried her bag through the gate and they got onto the plane.
Well there you go…another chapter over with…next chapter will be up soon I promise!
Next time… Jonesy and Isabelle meet for the first time and Jo faces all the people from her past!
Jess