Chapter 21 – Skylar's Courage

Isabella's heart hammered against her ribs as she clutched her phone, Principal Johnson's words echoing in her ears. "There's been an incident with Skylar..." The world seemed to tilt on its axis, memories and thoughts spin in her mind!

Is it Xavier? Did he go to take her?

"Is she okay? What happened?" Isabella demanded, her voice shaking.

The principal's tone was calm, but it did little to soothe her frayed nerves. "Skylar intervened in a bullying situation on the playground. Then she got lost in the hallway as she tried to take the file to safety. She's a bit scraped up, but nothing serious. However, we think it's best if you come pick her up."

Her own childhood trauma floods back with brutal force.

That day she was lost... And separated from her parents.

Isabella was already grabbing her keys, barely remembering to end the call as she raced out of her office.

"Mrs Ricci, you have ..." Ava's voice boomed but she didn't wait to listen to her.

The drive to the school was a blur, her mind conjuring increasingly terrifying scenarios.

She couldn't shake the memory of getting lost in the park as a child, the paralyzing fear of separation that had haunted her for years.

The thought of Skylar going through that same horror caused her stomach to knot.

Arriving at the school parking lot and screeching to a stop, Isabella hurriedly locked her car before sprinting towards the entrance. The corridors appeared never-ending, with every stride as slow as moving through thick, sticky molasses.

No wonder her poor baby was lost.

Finally, she burst through the nurse's office door, her eyes frantically searching for her daughter.

There, perched on the edge of a cot, was Skylar. Her little face was streaked with dried tears, a large Band-Aid adorning one knee. Mickey sat beside her, gripping her hand tightly, his young face a mask of concern for his twin.

"Mommy!" Skylar's voice trembled, with new tears streaming down her face.

Isabella strode across the room in three long steps, embracing both children in her arms. "I'm here, darling. I am here now. "Everything is gonna be fine now."

She slightly moved back, softly inspecting Skylar's apparent wounds. The cuts on her knees and the bruise on her elbow caused Isabella emotional pain. "What happened, sweetheart? Can you tell me?"

Skylar hiccupped, her bottom lip trembling. "I... I saw some big kids being mean to a little girl. They were pulling her hair and calling her names. I remembered what you always say about standing up for others, so I tried to make them stop."

Pride warred with concern in Isabella's chest. Her brave, compassionate little girl, so eager to right the wrongs she saw in the world. Just like her mother.

"Oh, Sky," Isabella murmured, smoothing her daughter's tousled hair. "You were so brave to want to help. But remember what we've talked about? When we see something dangerous happening, we always get a grown-up to help. It's not safe to try and stop big kids by yourself."

Skylar gave a solemn nod, her wide blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Mom." I just... I just... I wanted to be like you. You always help people who need it."

Isabella felt her heart soften upon hearing her daughter's words. She hugged Skylar tightly, inhaling the familiar fragrance of her strawberry shampoo. My love, you are already similar to me in all important ways. You have a big, kind heart. But part of being brave is knowing when to ask for help, too."

The school nurse approached, a gentle smile on her face. "Skylar was very brave, Mrs. Ricci. She managed to distract the bullies long enough for a teacher to notice and intervene. The other little girl is okay, thanks to your daughter's actions."

Isabella felt a swell of pride, tempered by lingering worry. "Thank you for taking care of her. Is there anything else I should know?"

Principal Johnson cleared his throat from the doorway. "Mrs. Ricci, given the circumstances, we're giving Skylar two days off to recover. We'll also be addressing the bullying situation with the other students involved and their parents."

Isabella nodded gratefully. "Thank you, that's very kind. Come on, kiddos. Let's go home and get you both settled."

As they made their way to the car, Isabella couldn't get rid of her uneasiness. The cuts seemed insignificant, but what if there was something overlooked?

"We're going to stop by the hospital, just to be on the safe side," she declared.

"But Mommy, I'm not sick!" Skylar protested, her earlier tears forgotten in the face of potential doctor visits.

Isabella managed a reassuring smile. "I know, baby. But it'll make Mommy feel better if we have a doctor take a quick look, okay? After that, we can go home and enjoy some ice cream."

The children appeared to be calmed by the prospect of a sugary snack, so they got into the car without any more disagreements. As she made her way through the crowded streets to the hospital, Isabella's thoughts raced.

Looking in the rearview mirror, she observed Mickey saying something to Skylar quietly, causing her to laugh.

He was always protecting Skylar. She loved her twins.

Isabella felt some relief in her chest as she listened to her children's laughter. They were fine. They were out of danger. However, she was amazed at how fast Skylar had jumped to protect a stranger, just like Isabella had done numerous times when she was young.

They were lucky to receive prompt attention at the hospital. A gentle doctor with gray hair carefully examined Skylar, his friendly demeanor calming everyone.

"You have some remarkable battle wounds, young lady," he remarked with a friendly smile, "but they're not too severe." Only a few small cuts and bruises. Ensure that you maintain their cleanliness, and you will return to normal quickly.

A sense of relief engulfed Isabella like a tidal wave. She gently clasped Skylar's hand while holding back tears. "Thank you, doctor. We appreciate you taking the time to check her over."

The doctor's eyes twinkled as he looked at Skylar. "Your daughter's quite the little hero, Mrs. Ricci. Few children her age are courageous enough to confront bullies in that manner."

Skylar smiled happily, sitting up with better posture. Isabella experienced a complex blend of feelings - admiration for her daughter's bravery, anxiety about the risks she had taken, and a strong, enduring affection that was almost overpowering.

Upon exiting the hospital, Isabella's phone buzzed persistently. Glancing at the screen, she noticed Xavier's name flashing. With a sigh, she silenced the ringer. Whatever her ex-husband wanted, it could wait. Right now, her children needed her full attention.

She silenced her phone and chose to head home.

At home, Isabella put Skylar to bed so she could rest. Mickey stayed close, hesitating to move away from his sister.

"Why not pick up a book and read, darling?" Isabella made a suggestion. You can read Skylar until she drifts off to sleep.

Mickey's expression brightened with excitement, and he quickly ran off to choose a story. Isabella sat at the edge of Skylar's bed, softly caressing her daughter's hair.

Skylar softly apologized to her mom, saying she was sorry for scaring her.

"I'm sorry I scared you, Mommy," Skylar uttered softly, her eyes small because she cried. "I just wanted to help, like you always do.

Isabella's throat tightened with emotion. She gathered Skylar close, breathing in her sweet, familiar scent. "Oh, my brave girl. I'm so proud of you for wanting to help others. But you know what? The bravest thing we can do sometimes is ask for help ourselves."

Skylar nodded against her chest. "I'll remember next time, Mommy. I promise."

After that Skylar fell asleep while Mickey snuggled next to her with a much-read edition of "The Velveteen Rabbit." Isabella kissed their forehead before walking out of the room.

In the corridor, she rested on the wall, taking a moment to process the events of the day. She had assurance of her daughter's safety. Scraped and bruised, indeed, but out of harm's way. The feeling of relief was so intense that it caused her knees to go weak.

But beneath that relief, a current of unease still flowed. Skylar was following in her footsteps – for better or worse. The realization filled Isabella with a complex mix of pride and fear. How could she protect her children while still nurturing their compassion? And with Xavier suddenly back in the picture...

Isabella shook her head, pushing away thoughts of her ex-husband. Right now, her focus needed to be on Skylar and Mickey. Everything else could wait.

Heading to the kitchen, she gathered the necessary ingredients for the ice cream sundaes she had promised. While she served vanilla ice cream into dishes, her thoughts drifted back to her own childhood. The strong urge to defend others, to correct injustices whenever she noticed them – it had been a gift and a burden.

Her determination to rescue Rose Stone many years ago caused a series of events that would have a permanent impact on her life. It had empowered her to establish her business from scratch, to improve her children's lives. However, it had also exposed her to peril on numerous occasions that she preferred not to tabulate.

Now, when Isabella looked into Skylar's eyes and saw that same fire, she felt a revitalized sense of determination. She had to lead her daughter, instructing her on how to direct that passion in a secure manner. To demonstrate to her that there were numerous methods to improve the world.

While placing toppings on the kitchen counter, Isabella could hear the quiet steps of small feet approaching from behind. She turned to see Mickey, his face etched with worry.

"Is Sky gonna be okay, Mommy?" he asked, his voice small.

Isabella kneeled down, hugging him. "Yeah your sister is going to be fine, munchkin. Your sister is very brave and very strong. Just like you."

Mickey's chest puffed out a bit at the compliment. "I don't know when she went to stop the bullies, but I know she must be scared. We were in the playground then I lost her."

"That's okay, Mickey," Isabella assured him. "I know you're always there for your sister. Being brave doesn't mean you're never scared. It means doing the right thing even when you are scared. And you know what? The right thing in that situation was to get a grown-up to help. That's what I want both of you to do next time, okay?"

Mickey nodded solemnly. "Okay, Mommy. Can I help make the ice cream surprise for Sky?"

Isabella smiled, ruffling his hair. "Of course you can. Let's make it extra special for our brave girl."

While they work together decorating the ice cream with sprinkles and chocolate sauce, Isabella experiences a wave of affection for her small family. After everything they had experienced, they were now stronger and more united than before.

"Is that ice cream I'm smelling?" Skylar mumbled rubbing her eyes making them both glanced up at her.

Isabella laughed, the sound light and full of joy. "It sure is, princess. Come on, let's all enjoy this treat together."

As they gathered around the kitchen table, digging into their sundaes with gusto, Isabella took a moment to simply breathe. To soak in the laughter of her children, the sticky sweetness of the ice cream, the warmth of the afternoon sun streaming through the window.

Life wasn't perfect. There were still challenges to face, decisions to be made about Xavier's sudden reappearance. But right here, right now, in this moment with her children – life was pretty darn close to perfect.

And as Skylar regaled them with a dramatic retelling of her playground heroics, chocolate sauce smeared across her chin, Isabella made a silent vow. She would protect this – this love, this family, this hard-won happiness – with everything she had.

No matter what happens. She'll always be there with them.

The future could wait. This moment, Isabella decided, was all that mattered.

While Skylar eats her ice cream. She finally got time to check her phone and she saw 30 missed calls and 10 messages.

They were Ava's and Xavier's. She called Ava to know what's up. And she picked up at one go.

"Bella, where on earth are you? Did you want to miss the meeting?"

"Meeting what meeting?"

"Your meeting with Xavier Stone! And you're 15 minutes late already."

She glanced at her phone. "Shit! It's already 4 PM.”