Surge - Sequel to Swell

Chapter One (Part Two)

It was hard; sometimes very hard when she had the occasional client that reminded her of her teenage years, but when there were breakthroughs and achievements, they outweighed the difficult times.
Will had surprised them all when he announced he'd applied for and been accepted into the police academy after his bachelor's degree in criminology. The Taylors had looked as though they would murder him because of his limited organ function, but he'd worked his way there with doctors and physiotherapists and knew extra precautions he'd need to take; much like when he started riding motorbikes again; much to Mrs Taylor's horror.

He'd gone away for the training and stayed with Adora in her apartment when he had weekends away from the academy.

It had been Adora's twenty-first when he'd proposed, they'd been getting closer and closer to living together since he'd started training at the Police Academy.
He'd booked a hotel in the city and planned a few surprises along the way; like a cruise on the city's river at night, out into the bay, and then flooding the deck with fairy lights and romance.

After he graduated from the academy, he officially moved in with her and was on probationary duties in the city. Adora had been doing her honours that first year they had been living together and engaged, the year the COVID-19 pandemic had swept the world. It had been terrifying to see Will go to work every shift during those months, that year and a bit. He'd had to be checked routinely, at some points even daily due to his health condition; the fault of his own sister. When the city had been in the grips of its second wave, he'd been put on desk duties, much to Adora's relief.

Anne had been worried about how the Escape would survive the pandemic; but it had been in the family for decades by then, they owned it and as there were no visitors, there were fewer bills of any sort to pay.
When the pandemic had started to weaken its hold, Adora moved back to the Escape to help Anne restoke the passion while Adora studied for her Master's. Will had moved in with Brett in the city for a while to finish his probation, then he applied for transfers, bit by bit getting closer to home.

They'd been engaged for four years before they decided to have a small wedding, the pandemic had stopped a lot of bigger weddings, and neither of them felt the desire for a large celebration. Their parents, Tom, Brett, Iain and Dodge had been the only guests at the wedding. Adora had found a simple white dress, and Will had worn his graduation suit. By the end of that first married year, Celeste and AJ had been born.

Adora followed the last curves and hairpin turns of the highway to the next town and parked in the high school's carpark.

Adora greeted the office workers and opened the room she used for her sessions at this school.

All her workspaces were basically the same across the schools; a desk with a filing drawer, a large mouse pad that she put her laptop on and the swivel computer chair she sat on.
The teenagers she treated sat on a couch against the wall. It was cosy, but there was enough space for the boundaries a lot of her patients had.

She had half an hour before the first appointment and she opened the laptop and started to look through the calendar.
She checked her first client and opened the student's file; she liked to refresh herself on the last session with each student before they came back.

An email alert flashed on the side of her screen and she opened the browser to check it.

To: Adora Taylor

From: Brett Holmes

Subject: Christmas!!!

Hey Adora!

I managed to organise the week off between Christmas and New Year's so I'll be heading home and would love to catch up with everyone!

How are Will and the twins? Are you guys planning a party for the kids' 8th?

I miss you guys so much!

Can't wait to see you!

What is planned for everything?

Brett.

The smile reached her eyes and she squealed quietly in excitement before she pushed the reply button.

To: Brett Holmes

From: Adora Taylor

Subject : Re- Christmas

OMG Brett!

That is amazingly perfect! Mum has planned a huge Christmas day feast at the Escape, you know you'll be welcome there.
Iain, Tara, Dodge and their kids will be there too, so it will be a full gathering.

Will is fine, the twins are as cheeky as always.
AJ nearly made us all late this morning, and Celeste is just growing up to be such a sweetheart. She's a little bookworm and loves to collect dolls. Her collection is ridiculous, and she keeps them on her bookshelves in immaculate condition! She's such a little adult now.

I can't believe how fast kids grow these days!

We all miss you too, this week is turning into a week of great news! Nancy told me that she and Tom wanted to get married in a small ceremony here, around New Year's.

Hopefully, you'll still be here for it.

I don't know an exact date though, I think Nancy said New Year's Eve, but we know how solid Tom is with dates and plans. LOL

This Christmas is going to be so amazing. I can't wait to tell everyone about you visiting! The kids will go crazy!

Love Adora.

She leaned back in the chair with a smile as the email sent and thought ahead to the week of Christmas and New Year's. There was always somebody on the beach with fireworks both nights of that week, despite the laws against them.

It would be beautiful to have a small, family wedding end with such amazing celebrations and fireworks.

She looked at the clock and shook her head; it was time to focus now.

She closed the browser and opened her files of today's appointments for reviewing.