Page 63 of Choosing Skyler

Devon: Actually, yeah. Timothy still wants to meet with us all together. I tried to get him to wait until after she’s home and settled but he’s impatient.

Me: I think the fact that he put his practices on hold to fly out here and help says a lot. Give him a break. Just this once?

Devon: I guess you’re right. How is she? I know she was wiped when we left earlier.

Me: Yeah, she was. She’s still sleeping, but I’ll wake her up soon. Are you on the way, now?

Devon: Timothy is picking me up. He should be here any minute.

Me: Okay. See you in a few.

I put my phone on the side table and run my finger down Skyler’s cheek to wake her up.

“Skyler, wake up, Beautiful,” I whisper in her ear.

She starts to shuffle around in my arms before stretching her arms over her head and looking up at me. She smiles and sits up to kiss me. I kiss her gently before pulling back.

“Devon and his dad will be here in a few minutes. Is that okay?” I ask her. One ounce of doubt and I’ll call Timothy myself to tell him that he’ll have to wait.

Skyler nods. “I..” she starts before clearing her throat. Speaking is always slow when she first wakes up. “I’m glad I finally get to meet him,” she says in her new raspy voice.

She hates that she doesn’t have the same smooth voice she had before, but I kind of like her new low, raspy voice. And I especially love that she saves most of her spoken words for me. She’s taken to using sign language most of the time when she doesn’t have to speak.

She stands slowly and stretches again before heading to the bathroom to clean up for company. I get up, run a hand through my hair and pull my shoes back on. I’m straightening the bed covers just as she comes back out of the bathroom. I offer to help her back into bed, but she shakes her head and points to the sofa. She wants this meeting to be as normal as possible.

There’s a light knock on the door and Julie comes in. She looks to the empty bed before scanning the room and finding us. She smiles at us and holds the syringe up, looking at Skyler.

Skyler shakes her head. “Can it wait until eight? I need to start taking it later anyways.”

Julie nods. “I was actually going to suggest that, but I know today was a lot. Are you sure you’re not feeling too anxious right now?” she asks Skyler.

“I’m good. I promise,” Skyler says.

I look at Julie. “Devon and his dad will be here in a few minutes. I don’t know if they’ll stay until eight, but I’m sure she’ll be ready for it as soon as they leave,” I tell her.

“Okay. If you change your mind, just call me. Okay, Skyler?” Julie says, waiting for Skyler’s response.

Skyler just nods and smiles at Julie. They’ve become close the past week and I’m glad to see Skyler opening up to the ones that care for her.

As Julie walks toward the door, there’s another knock and Devon sticks his head in. “You up for another visitor, Sweets?”

Skyler nods and Devon steps in with Timothy following behind him in a crisp three-piece suit like he’s stepping into a meeting with a billionaire. Julie steps back to let them into the room and eyes Timothy like he’s a piece of steak and she’s a starving carnivore. I stand and cough to hide my chuckle at her perusal of a man almost twice her age. Devon catches it and his eyes follow mine to Julie before turning back with a sour expression. This time I don’t try to hide my laugh.

“Timothy, it’s been a long time,” I greet him, shaking his hand.

“It has. How are you, Brady?” Timothy asks me.

“I’m a lot better than the last time you saw me for sure. Thank you again for this,” I tell him earnestly.

“No thanks needed, son. I’m glad to have something to help Devon with that I’m actually good at,” he says before turning to Skyler. “And you must be Skyler. I’m so pleased to finally meet you. You seem to be quite a good influence on my son,” he says, holding his hand out to her.

She takes his offered hand, gently shaking it before replying. “It’s so nice to meet you too, Mr. Mitchell. And he’s been good for me too.”

He waves off her remark. “None of that Mr. Mitchell nonsense. If you’re family to them, you’re family to me. Call me Timothy, please.”

She nods and smiles, instantly taken with his charming personality. It’s not the personality Devon usually gets to see. Timothy can charm just about anyone—except his own son. Hopefully, this will change that. Maybe some good can come from this disaster after all.

We all sit, and Skyler rehashes her attack and the past experiences with Dirk. It’s the most she’s spoken at one time outside of therapy and when Julie comes back in at eight, I’m relieved that this meeting is over. Devon stands to usher Timothy toward the door before turning back to us.

---