Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Stephanie Meyers does. However, I do own this plot and storyline. I also own my own original characters.
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, products, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any franchise. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: I want to thank Lexi M. DeRanieri for her insight with this chapter. I would not have been able to write this one without her and her knowledge. Nurses are angels in disguise, so make sure you show them the respect they so truly deserve.
Chapter 24: Rising From the Ashes
EPOV
My head falls to my hands as I sit in that car and cry for I don't know how long. Garrett takes my statement the best he can in my distressed state, finally releasing me to go to the hospital to be with Bella.
Seth drives Jessica and me to Houston in silence. Not one of us says a word. I kept my phone firmly in my hand, hoping to hear from my father. I'm not sure how fast Seth drives or if it's because of the early hour, but we arrive at the hospital an hour and a half later.
Luck is on our side. As soon as we walk through the ER entrance, I see my father standing against the far wall. He's now wearing a scrub top. He has a plastic bag in his hand, which contains his shirt, and I can see it's covered in blood.
"Son," he breathes out once he catches sight of us, pulling Jessica and me into his arms. "She's fighting. They won't tell me anything else because I'm not family or her doctor."
"Well, they're gonna tell me," Jessica states firmly. "Come on; let's go see what's goin' on with our girl."
We all walk up to the nurse's station where Jessica explains that she's Bella's sister and would like an update on her condition.
"They took her into surgery about forty-five minutes ago. I'll page the doctor and let him know her family is here," the nurse explains calmly. "Go up to the sixth floor. There's a surgical waiting room there. I'll let them know you're up there."
We wait in that room for what feels like forever. The walls are a pale yellow. It smells like chemicals, possibly cleaning supplies. There are blue chairs that have seen better days, and back issues of entertainment magazines that lie haphazardly around. Just when I think I might lose my mind, a doctor comes in.
"You're Ms. Swan's family, correct?" he asks, taking a seat across from us.
"Yes," my father confirms.
"I'm Dr. Nathan Klein, Ms. Swan's surgeon."
My father nods, shaking the man's hand. "Bella's sister and brother-in-law" —he points to us, going in the order in which we are seated—"her boyfriend"—he squeezes my knee—"and I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen, a friend of the family."
"It's nice to meet all of you. I'm so sorry it has to be under these circumstances," the doctor utters. "It took some time to get Ms. Swan stabilized enough to take her into surgery. She'd lost a lot of blood, so we gave her some donor blood. The surgery was touch and go at first, but she pulled through." He gives us a reassuring smile.
When I hear those words, my body sags in relief and I feel I can finally breathe.
"She made it!" Jessica cries, hugging onto my side, but I could hardly focus on her; my gaze is now curious as I stare at the doctor.
Luckily, while our family smiles and cries, relieved that Bella lived through the surgery, the doctor continues, "We performed an exploratory laparotomy, where we discovered she had a pancreatic laceration, and her left kidney was ruptured. We repaired the tear, which was more like a hole, in her pancreas. We were unable to save her kidney—it was beyond repair—so a total nephrectomy was needed."
My father gasps, making us all look over at him. "The bullet literally went through her pancreas and was lodged in her kidney, which caused it to rupture, damaging the kidney to the point where it couldn't be repaired," he explains in simpler terms to us.
"Correct," the doctor agrees. "As of now, she's stable, and we're positive she'll make a full recovery, but we have her sedated. She won't be waking up tonight, so I suggest you all go get some sleep, and come back in the morning."
"Why?" I rasp, quick to clear my throat and wipe my eyes.
My father places a hand on my shoulder. "After such a big surgery, she needs time to heal. It's better she sleeps through the worst of her pain. If she's sleeping, she's not in any pain. Right?"
I nod, still reluctant.
"He's right," the doctor agrees once more, offering Dad a wry grin.
While I understand, I don't like the idea of Bella being in a medically induced coma. Even if it is only until morning.
"We can't see her at all?" Jessica asks, clearly upset.
"Not tonight," the doctor states. "She needs to be monitored, and we have to get her settled in the ICU."
We drive to Bella's apartment, which, thankfully, is close to the hospital. My father calls Billy on the way, explaining what the doctor said. He tells my father that he'll be on his way to Houston a little later and will bring us all clothes.
What he wouldn't tell my father over the phone is the condition of the ranch. He just said the chaos was still going on. Bella is going to be devastated.
Once we make it to the apartment and clean up, Jessica finds us all something to wear. She also calls Peter and Janice, telling them what we know so far and asking for their help. Jess knows Billy isn't going to leave Houston once he gets here until Bella can leave to go home with him. I'm sure Jessica will be staying here, too. So having Peter and Janice come help run the ranch while Bella heals is our only option.
Sleep does not find me easily, but I do get a few hours. I'm worried about Bella, Cassie, and the ranch. I need to see my pretty girl's eyes open before I will be able to rest.
I jerk awake to the sound of keys rattling. Just as I sit up on the couch where I'm sleeping, the front door opens, and a red-eyed, distraught Billy walks through the door. Rose and Emmett follow him in, both carrying a sleeping girl. Sarah trails behind, her hands full of duffle bags as are Billy's.
"Hey, son," Billy croaks out. "Hope we didn't wake ya."
"Naw," I answer, getting up and taking Cassie from Rose. "Can't really sleep."
Just as I turn to take Cassie to the couch, Jessica opens the door from the bedroom. "Bring them in here and put 'em in the bed," she directs, yawning.
Emmett follows me into Bella's bedroom and we lay the girls down. Seth walks out of the bathroom as we cover them up. He smiles softly before walking out of the bedroom.
I take the bag Sarah hands me and go to the bathroom to shower and change. I have to wake up if I'm going to make it through the day.
An hour later, Jessica, Billy, my father, and I are walking through the hospital entrance. We go straight up to the ICU floor and head to the nurse's desk.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Jessica calls, getting the nurse's attention. "We're here to see Isabella Swan."
"Oh, OK." She hesitates. "You're all family, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Billy inserts. "The doctor said we could see her this morning. Is there any more news on her condition?"
"Have a seat in the waiting room and let me page her doctor," the nurse instructs. "There's coffee and pastries in there as well. Help yourself to it."
"Thank you," I whisper as we walk toward the waiting room.
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Klein walks through the door. He shakes our hands and introduces himself to Billy.
"Isabella woke up for a few minutes earlier this morning," he starts. "She was mumbling something about a baby girl."
"Her daughter," I blurt out. "She has a daughter that she calls baby girl."
"Well, that explains it," he continues. "She's doing well right now, but we're keeping a close eye on her. We need to watch for infection and make sure her heart rate and blood pressure doesn't drop."
"That's good, right?" Billy asks, but he looks to my father for reassurance.
"Yes, that's good," my father confirms, but then he looks back to the doctor. "Why hasn't she woken up fully? Are you giving her something to keep her asleep?"
"No, she's only on IV antibiotics and pain medicine," he advises. "She's just taking longer to come out of the anesthesia."
"That's normal," Jessica claims. "She has always had a bad reaction to anesthesia. It takes her longer to wake up, and then she'll start throwing up afterwards. Sometimes, she gets agitated and doesn't know where she is."
"Thanks for that information," he remarks. "I'll note that in her chart. You may see her but only two at a time and don't stay long. Once she's fully awake and I can assess how she's doing, I'll move her to a private room. Also, admitting needs to speak with someone to get her insurance information."
"I'll take care of that after I see her," Jessica informs the doctor.
"Very well," he responds, standing to leave. "Have the nurse page me if you need anything."
"Come on, Edward," Jessica orders as she stands. "Let's go see our girl then take care of the admin people. We'll be back in a few minutes," she informs Billy and my father.
I'm not prepared for the sight before me. After the nurse directs us to Bella's room, or cubicle is more accurate, we walk into a sterile, white, glass-enclosed room. It's the girl laying on the bed that has me choked up.
Bella looks so small laying in the bed, tubes everywhere. I hear Jessica let out a sob beside me, so I put my arm around her and walk us closer to the bed. I lean down and kiss her forehead, making sure I don't disturb the oxygen tube taped to her face.
"She looks so lifeless," Jessica whispers. "Her skin is so … pale."
"That's because of the blood loss," we hear quietly behind us, turning to see a nurse standing in the doorway. "She'll get her color back. Talk to her; let her know you're here."
"Hey, pretty girl," I hum, rubbing my thumb across the tape on her cheek. "You need to get better and open those beautiful eyes. There are a lot of people that need you to be all right. And I know a little girl who can't wait to see her momma."
"He's right, Bella," Jessica reiterates. "You need to get your ass back on the horse. We love you, girl."
Jessica kisses her cheek before we leave so Billy and my dad can come see her.
The nurse directs us to the second floor for the admitting office. Once off the elevator, we find it easily.
"I need to take care of the paperwork for Isabella Swan," Jessica advises the lady behind the desk. "She was brought in early this morning by Life Flight."
Jessica completes the paperwork and hands the lady her credit card to take care of the co-pay balance. We go back to the ICU waiting room just as a teary-eyed Billy and my father walk out of the door to the ICU ward.
We stay in the cold waiting room, hoping she'll wake up soon. Sarah comes in carrying bags of take-out, making us eat. She explains that Seth, Emmett, and Rose took the girls to the zoo to keep them occupied for the day. Cassie has already been asking for her mother.
Just as we finish eating, the doctor walks in, smiling. "She's awake and giving the nurses hell. We're moving her to a private room on the seventh floor. There's a waiting room up there. I'll have the nurses let you know as soon as she's settled and you can visit her."
"Thank you so much, doctor," Billy chokes out, "for everything."
We throw our trash away and head to the seventh floor, checking in at the nurse's station before going to the waiting room. Forty minutes later, the nurse comes to get us, leading us to room fifteen.
"She's still a little groggy, but alert," she reveals, opening the door. "She's a spitfire, but that's a good thing; means she'll recover quicker."
We walk in to hear Bella arguing with another nurse who is trying to get her to drink some water.
"But I don't want water," Bella objects. "I want tea or juice."
"Isabella," Billy barks, walking fully into the room. "Drink the water and then maybe this nice lady will get you some juice."
Tears immediately fill her eyes as she takes the cup of water from the nurse, who is staring wide-eyed at Billy. She mouths a "thank you" to him. Bella takes a few sips before handing the cup back to the nurse. I'm at her side instantly.
"Hey, pretty girl," I whisper, kissing her lips. "You gave us a scare. How are you feeling?"
"Tired," she replies hoarsely. "Sore."
The nurse leaves, promising to bring her some juice in a few minutes. Everyone greets Bella, kissing her cheek.
"Where's my baby girl?" she inquires, tears falling down her cheeks.
"At the zoo, sweetheart," Sarah responds. "Seth, Emmett, and Rose took the girls for the day."
"The ranch?" she asks, looking at Billy. "Jane? Embry?"
"Um, Jane and Embry are both dead," he informs her. "The ranch will be all right. The hay barn is a total loss, which means we'll have to buy hay for the winter. The stallion barn is probably repairable, but I think we should just demolish it for now. Only one horse was injured and Alice is keeping a close eye on him."
"Who killed Jane?" she questions looking at me.
Before I can respond, Sarah pipes up. "I did," she vows, no remorse in her voice. "I'd do it again to protect my family."
Bella nods, holding her hand out to Sarah. I move over a little so she can make the connection they both need.
I don't notice the girl sobbing quietly in the corner of the room until Bella's scratchy voice calls to her. "Jess, come here."
Jessica is next to her, hugging her the best she can without causing any pain. "I'm gonna be OK." Bella whispers, pulling back and wiping the tears from Jessica's face. "You might have to move back into the big house for little while though; until I can get around."
"Whatever, girl." Jessica giggles at Bella's smirk. "Just get better and don't ever scare me like that again."
Later, when the doctor makes his rounds, he informs us that Bella will be in the hospital for about a week. She'll need to stay in Houston until her incision heals a little more but her recovery will take four to six weeks, depending on how fast she heals.
I argue with Bella that I want to stay with her at the hospital, but she wants me to eat dinner with Cassie. As long as her baby girl is all right, she will be too.
We visit every day, playing games and keeping her spirits up. The fourth day of her hospital stay, the two of us are in the middle of a heated game of hangman when the door opens. Giggles can be heard and Bella raises the head of her bed, trying to see the door.
When her daughter's smiling face comes in sight, I swear if she could, Bella would have jumped out of the bed.
"Baby girl," she sighs. "Oh, Momma has missed you."
"Owie?" Cassie asks, walking closer to her mother's side.
"I do have a big owie," Bella confirms. "But the doctor fixed it. You have to be gentle but I want some lovin'."
I lift Cassie onto the bed so she can lay next to Bella on her good side. They snuggle and it's the most beautiful sight.
Five day later, Bella is released from the hospital with strict orders of no work, no lifting, and to rest. The doctor also schedules a follow-up appointment at his office in a week.
Billy and I, along with my father, get her in the truck and back to the apartment. I'm not sure who's happier that Bella is out of the hospital: her or Cassie.
The apartment is only two bedrooms and currently packed full of people. I love that everyone is there for her, but right now, she needs to rest. Leave it to Jessica to take control when Bella can't.
"We all love you and want you to get better fast so you can come home," Jessica tells Bella as she sits next to her on the couch. "I have to meet with the insurance people and make sure the ranch is still standin'. Seth and I are goin' back tonight, but if you need me, just call."
"We're going back too, boss," Emmett pipes up. "Listen to the doc and don't make me come back here to set you straight," he jokes, hugging her gently. Rose, Seth, and Heidi say their goodbyes as well.
My father sits on the coffee table in front of her, taking her hands in his. "Do you want me to stay? Be honest with me, sweetheart."
"No, you need to go back with Jess," Bella whispers to him. "She's gonna need you since Billy won't be there. She'll stress herself out, work all hours of the night. When she worries, she tends to make herself sick. I need you to take care of her for me."
"Then that's what I'll do," he agrees. "But if you need me, even to talk, I want you to call me. If the doctor tells you something you don't understand or you're not comfortable with, call. Got it?"
"Got it," she confirms. He kisses her cheek before standing and telling Jessica to wait because he is leaving with them.
Bella looks over at Billy, sitting in the chair next to the couch. "Don't look at me; someone's gotta keep you in line."
"I know you're stayin', silly," she deadpans. "I was gonna ask if you wouldn't mind seeing if you can find a twin bed for my room. Cassie can't sleep with me; she moves too much."
"That I can do," he states, jumping up. "You want Chinese for dinner? I can pick it up on the way back."
"Oh, yeah," she agrees. "That's sounds good. I want soup too."
Two hours later, Billy and I are putting together Cassie's new bed. We had to rearrange the bedroom so it would fit, but as long as my girls are comfortable, that's all that matters.
Sarah helps Bella take a shower and get dressed for the night. After she eats, I bring her medicine to her and help her settle in bed.
"I know you don't want me to see your incisions," I start gently. "But remember, I love you for what's on the inside. Those marks mean you're here, with me, with us. They don't make me love you any less, only more."
I kiss her softly before going to help wrangle Cassie into her jammies and get her in bed as well.
The following week we're sitting in the waiting room to see Dr. Klein for Bella's follow-up. We've already been to the lab so they could draw blood for the appointment. The week had been good, Bella's pain lessening but she's getting dizzy when she stands or turns too quickly.
The first time it happened, I was able to catch her before she lost her balance. Ever since, she would call Billy or me to help her get out of bed or off the couch. I'm sure it scared her. She's following the doctor's orders to the letter, not wanting to prolong her recovery.
"Swan." I hear called, looking up to see a nurse holding the door open. I help Bella from her chair and loop her arm through mine, guiding her toward the nurse.
Once the door closes behind us, I turn to her. "Do you want me to go in with you or wait out here?"
"Come with me," she whispers, tightening her hold on me.
We follow the nurse into the exam room, and I help Bella onto the paper-covered exam table.
The nurse, Missy, as she informs us, takes her vitals, and asks how she's been feeling. Making notes in Bella's chart.
"Change into this gown for me please," Missy states, handing Bella the folded up material. "The doctor will be with you shortly," she finishes before leaving the room.
She still can't bend over, so I remove her shoes before helping her off the table in order for her to change. I've seen her incisions so she isn't shy about me staying while she changes. I've actually helped her shower a few times since my declaration when she first came home from the hospital.
She cringes as she tried to lift her shirt over her head. "Here, pretty girl, let me help." She releases her hold on the shirt and lets me take it off her. I wrap the gown around her before removing her yoga pants. She has two incisions, one along her left side where the bullet went in, and another from her sternum to just above her belly button. They're held close by what looks like a clear strip of tape but I know from my father that it's actually skin glue. I help her back into the table just as there's a knock on the door. The doctor walks in with the same nurse behind him.
"It's good to see you, Ms. Swan," he greets, shaking her hand. "Edward, right?" he asks, shaking my hand as well.
"Yes, sir," I acknowledge.
He goes over her labs and symptoms before examining her incisions. He just hums as he works and my nerves are building. I can see the worry in Bella's eyes as well, so I reach over and take her hand in mine.
"You're healing great," Dr. Klein states, lowering Bella's gown. "It's going to take a while before you're a hundred percent, maybe five more weeks. I'd like to see you again in two weeks.
"Now," he continues, sitting on the rolling stool. "You lost a lot of blood and you're taking a few medications, I believe the combination is what's causing the dizziness. Your iron is low, so let's try a supplement for now. If the dizziness doesn't go away in a few days, see your rheumatologist immediately."
"So," Bella hesitates. "I can go home? Back to the ranch?"
"Yes," he confirms. "But you're still on light duty. No picking anything up, no driving, and no horseback riding. You have to take it easy. I'll have the nurse make your appointment and have the prescription at the front desk when you leave."
I help Bella off the exam table and re-dress. We pick up her prescription and appointment card on the way out. On the way to her SUV, she blurts out, "I wanna go home, to the ranch."
"Then let's go get the others and go home," I agree, knowing she will be more comfortable at the ranch.
Three hours later, we're pulling through the gate of the ranch. I reach over and take Bella's hand as she lets out a sob. The remnants of the burned barns are hard to look at, but it's harder to look away.
I pull up in front of the house as people start pouring out the front door. We didn't tell them we were coming home today so the looks of surprise have Billy laughing. Billy and I help her out of the truck to shouts of "welcome home." She's an emotional mess, but I knew she would be. My mother is no better and sticks close to Bella's side. We get her settled in the living room with the pups climbing all over her and Cassie doing her best to scold them. Everyone is chatting about anything they can think of to avoid the elephant in the room. I can tell they're making her uncomfortable when she just wants her family and ranch back together. I glance at Billy, catching his eye. With a small nod, I know he agrees with me.
"So, babe, you want me to call Garrett? Have 'em come out in the morning so you and Sarah can get that over with?" I ask, taking her hand in mine.
"Oh, yeah," she agrees, smiling up at me. "I forgot we had to give our statements. Tomorrow is fine. Sarah, you OK with that?"
"Tomorrow is perfect," Sarah confirms. "Jessica, what did the insurance people say? Can we go ahead and demolish what's left of the barns?"
Jessica doesn't even hesitate, understanding what we're doing. She knows Bella better than anyone else. "The insurance adjuster was already out here and the fire marshal released the barns. So, we can tear the mess down whenever. Jasper already has a few designs for the new feed barn for ya to pick from," she finishes, looking at Bella.
Alice, Eric, and Seth come rushing through the front door; honestly, I didn't even realize they were missing. Apparently, Seth knows Bella as well as Jessica because he doesn't even hesitate.
"Boss, you're home," he beams, coming over and hugging her gently. "You gotta come see this."
He helps her off the couch, ignoring the few gasps from the room. He leads her out the door and to the waiting XUV, helping her in. I climb in the back along with Billy, and then Seth drives us to the rescue barn.
Once we're out of the cart, he steps between the barn entrance and us.
"OK," he starts, his excitement contagious. "You know the mare we took in a few months ago? Skinny as all get out?"
"Yeah," Bella answers. "She's okay, right?"
"More than OK," Seth cheers. "Come see."
We follow him into the barn and down the aisle where the mare's stall is. Looking over the wall, I gasp. Bella's hand flies to her mouth, covering her sob as tears flow down her face. I hear gasps from the others that followed us down here.
Laying inside the stall is a newborn foal, its mother still cleaning it up.
"It's a girl," Alice announces, walking around us and into the stall with a white thing that looks like a syringe in her hand. "She's premature and underweight, but that stems from her mother being in poor health. I'm going to give her one dose of Foal Response to get her some immediate nutrients and Dr. Gerandy will be here in the morning to look at her. I think if we're proactive in her care, she'll be just fine."
"She's beautiful," Bella chokes out. "Miracle. We should name her Miracle. She survived the flames and birth; she's a miracle."
"Perfect!" Billy boasts. "A miracle from a mess. It's perfect."
We stand there watching the mare care for her miracle when Bella's stomach rumbles, making us laugh.
"Let's go feed you before you scare the horses," I joke, earning a playful slap on the arm. "Whatcha want, pretty girl?"
"I guess steak," she sighs. "I'd rather get as much iron from natural sources so I don't have to take the supplement too long."
"Spinach has a lot of iron in it too," Angela blurts out and we turn to look at her. "Sorry, just want to get you well."
"Thank you," Bella smiles at her. "I gotta get my iron levels up to see if it helps the dizziness go away."
"Then let's get you fed," Angela directs. "And smaller meals throughout the day will help you absorb the nutrients more. Also, you can use black strap molasses in place of sugar when you bake or on your pancakes."
My girl's gonna be just fine; everyone will make sure of that.
The next two weeks are busy and keeping Bella from doing too much has us all on our toes. Instead of telling her what she can't do, we include her in what she can. She and Jasper pick out the design for the new feed barn and order the blue prints. Jessica keeps her busy in the office, approving things and updating the ranch website. However, my mother keeps her occupied the most. They're in full planning mode for the charity fundraiser, which they announce is going to have a disco theme.
She has only had two major breakdowns regarding the aftermath of the fire and shooting. The first one was when Garrett arrived the morning following our return. Bella gave her statement of the incident with Jane: what she remembered and then waking up in the hospital. She was perfectly fine talking to him. It was when Sarah was recounting the details of what was going on from the time the alarms went off until she arrived at the hospital that had Bella upset. I never even thought about what else was going on during the confrontation with Jane because I was so focused on Bella at the time.
"Just tell me what happened from your perspective," Garrett had directed as we sat in the living room. "Go as slow as you need to."
"Billy heard the alarms go off and ran to the door of our cabin," she started. "We could see all the barns and the main house from the porch. He yelled that the barns were on fire and ran out the door. I knew somethin' else was happenin'. I don't know, I could just feel it was more than the fires.
"I grabbed my rifle and walked around the back of our cabin to the utility building. I could hear Bella yellin' but I couldn't see her. I stayed out of the light and moved to the mare barn. The horses were runnin' everywhere, but I could finally see Bella and Edward standin' in the yard. They were facing the tree line. I moved around the front of the mare barn and saw Billy. He was just standin' there, his eyes so wide I could see the whites of them in the dark.
"I heard Jane talkin' then; she was tellin' Bella or Edward that this was the last thing they would do. I couldn't really see Jane, but I saw the gun when she raised it. I fired, aiming for her hand. I had to save them. I ran closer and saw Edward and her fightin' for the gun, so I shot her. I was not gonna let that bitch hurt my family."
Sarah went on to tell Garrett about the chaos when the fire trucks arrived and that it really didn't hit her until the drive to Houston that she had killed someone. No charges would be filed against Sarah because she was within her rights to protect Bella and me.
Garrett informed us that Jane's parents were having her body sent back to Washington where they would bury her. Apparently, they had no idea about her and Tanya's relationship, and instead of blaming us for Jane's death, their hatred was for the Denalis.
Embry's mother had his remains, which were found in the burned stallion barn, buried next to his father. She took Eli and went back to Houston, hoping to put their lives back together.
It took a few days after Garrett left, but she finally got her spirit back. Looking toward the "positive," she would say.
The next breakdown was five days later when the realtor called from Dauphin Island informing us the closing is scheduled for the following week.
"We're gonna lose the house if we delay the closing," she cries when we end the phone call. "I want that house."
"Hey, pretty girl," I call, trying to get her to calm down. "We'll figure it out."
We do figure it out once she finally calmed down enough to think clearly. She calls her family attorney and has a Power of Attorney drawn up, giving Jessica the right to close on the house in her place, citing health issues.
So, the next week, Bella and I have the funds wired to the title office. Jessica and I fly into Mobile, rent a car, and drive to Dauphin Island. The following day we sign the papers to purchase the house and I'm handed the keys. I take Jessica by the house so she can see it before we drive back to Mobile and fly home. Bella's face lights up with a huge smile when I walk in the door and hand her the keys.
October is gonna be a turning point. Things can only get better.
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