UNBROKEN

FORTY THIRD INSTALMENT

A few months had passed and Grant was due back in only 1 week. During the time he was away so much had happened. Jay had been driving past and calling and harassing us constantly. I had found out that he had been harassing my Pa and this was killing me. The worst thing is he knew how close I was to my Pa and he knew this would hurt me badly.

Pa was the sort of man who would not stand down to a fight being an ex soldier as you all know. He was extremely protective of his family. He was our protector that's for sure. He told mum about the calls but Jay changed tactics when Pa told him to come and face him and not hide behind a phone. Jay told Pa that the next time he saw me I would be at my funeral. This is the only reason Pa called and spoke to me and told me what had happened.

I hated that my Pa was hurting and I felt like it was all my fault for bringing this person in to our lives. I didn't realize then but now when I look back I can't blame myself for this. I really wasn't aware he was psychotic.

It scared me so much that I called my Dad. He lived out west of where we were living. When I told him about everything and told him we had moved here he said he would be over as soon as he could.

Dad arrived within 2 hours. I hadn't seen him for a few months and the last time I didn't feel loved or cared for. I felt like a piece of garbage and he made me feel that way. I was almost invisible to him back then.

This time he was so much different. As soon as I opened the door to picked me up and spun me around "I here now baby, no one is going to hurt you. Where's mum, Barry and Ava?" He said. I couldn't stop smiling at this stage as he seemed so different. I felt like I was his little girl again his SLAM (the was the nickname he used for me, no this won't give me away only to my direct family members if they ever get to read this.) I don't know where this nickname came from but he had called me this for my entire little life. I loved that name when he said it as it always reminded me of the good times with him as we did have some when we were little and visited him (when he was sober).

Dad and Mum sat at the table whilst dad held Ava. They talked for hours about all sorts of things. They laughed together and everything seemed perfect. This is what I had dreamed of as a young girl that my family would be like, it's just a shame it never was. If you can imagine everything that I saw when I was little (what dad did to mum) you could probably feel what I felt that day. I felt peaceful and couldn't stop thinking 'if only' but I knew in my heart of hearts it never would or could be because as soon as he had a drink this bubble would burst.

Dad stayed for hours then mum offered that he could sleep on the lounge as it was too late to travel back now. So this is what he did. I went to bed and thought to myself. We are safe now Dad here. I could hear mum and dad talking to the early hours of the morning. It was lovely feeling.

When I woke up dad was asleep on the lounge and mum was getting some breakfast ready. When dad woke up he said "do you all want to have a BBQ this afternoon?, I'll go to the shop and get some meat" we all agreed. Barry was a bit funny with Dad, he stood back and took everything in and didn't really say much.

Later that day the phone rang I answered it not thinking. I was happy till I heard that voice. "I'm going to fucking kill you, you better not close your eyes for too long, I know which room you sleep in and I have watched you at night. Don't look at the window at night just just don't know who might be there!" a tear rolled down my cheek. My choices were about to interrupt our happiness again. I didn't want anyone to see but I didn't realize that Dad had been standing behind me he grabbed the phone "if you ever call my girl again, you won't have to worry about police coming and getting you because they will be coming to get me after I do what I am going to do to you" dad said and he hung up the phone.

He put his arm around me and whispered "it's going to be ok SLAM". He made me feel better again.

Jay was never far from my mind. I was shaken and I definitely couldn't sleep even with the blind down all I could think is 'he's out there'.

Dad stayed for a few nights then went home. The day he left was a dad one because I did feel safer having him there but we knew he was only a call and a couple of hours away.

About a week later the phone rang early in the morning. I was shaking before I answered and heard that voice on the end of the line "Emily! I'm back and on my way over, I've missed you so much!" It was Grant and within the hour he would be here. I ran around getting myself ready...