SIX

 I braced myself, there was a possibility that I had been absent for eighteen months. I felt as though my life was unravelling before me, living my days out of sequence, everything back to front.

 “Mum… Dad.” I gulped nervously yet with an overwhelming sense of gratitude that my parents were alive and well. And after eighteen months they were still reassuringly, mum and dad.

 “Anna what are you doing here?” My dad asked, frowning with confusion. “I thought you were in Herne Bay with your auntie Mavis…” My dad’s gaze shifted over to the Doctor which only appeared to fill his usual mild expression with even more confusion.

 The Doctor looked exceedingly uncomfortable as though the next words either of my parents uttered would bring our whole world crashing down. On the other hand, I was very glad to find out that I was still alive…Well at least for the time being.

 My mum who had been very quiet up to that point, narrowed her eyes in deep concentration and stared intently at me, she was about to say something but then stalled thinking better of it as she began a reasonable safe observation.

 “Your hair Anna, it’s touching your shoulders, it couldn’t have grown that much in a week…”  

 Mum stared at the Doctor and then the TARDIS as though they were a bewildering entity that shouldn’t be here. I glanced over at the Doctor, suddenly aware my mum had worked it out but also anxious that the next thing my mum might say would reveal something about the future.

 “Now think very carefully Mrs Bailey about what you say next and you Mr Bailey.” The Doctor breathed cautiously as he raised a finger to his lips in warning.

 “You knew didn’t you Anna? That you were coming here today, that’s why you packed your bags and went to the seaside to spend a few days with your aunt Mavis.” My mum blurted out and on the verge of hysteria she placed a hand to her mouth with the realization of what she was seeing.   

 The Doctor beamed at me and patted me on the back.

 “Ah…Clever thinking Anna!”

 “Yeah thanks Doctor.” I beamed back and raised my thumbs sarcastically, it was weird to be taking praise for something I had yet to do.

 “Could someone please explain what’s going on here? And what are you doing here if you don’t mind me asking Doctor?” My dad shook his head and was still none the wiser.

 “David don’t you get it yet?” My mum sighed with exasperation and then her face quivered with a bizarre array of emotions raging from joy to sadness. “This is our Anna from a year and a half ago. Anna from 2008!”

 “Oh my word!” My dad began to laugh and then wiped a tear away from his eye, he approached the Doctor and shook his hand. “Good to see you again!” And then smiling at me. “And you too darling!”

 My dad was about to hug me but my mum beat him to it as she gathered me up in her arms and held onto me so tightly that she took my breath away.

 “Our Anna’s here, she’s actually here. My God, we’ve got our old daughter back!”

 “Steady on mum!” I laughed awkwardly. The Doctor cleared his throat and my mum and I separated.

 The words had sent a shiver down my spine, what could she have possibly meant? Was my future self so altered, had something terrible happened?

 “Now Caroline Bailey, what did I just say a moment ago?” The Doctor chastised and then glared darkly at my mum.

 My mum mirrored the Doctor’s glare and I was sure she was going to say something back in retaliation but rather uncharacteristically she stood down as she uttered.

 “Sorry Doctor.” My mum had actually apologized and to the Doctor of all people.

 I gave my dad a quick hug but was unsure of what to say and do next. The Doctor was right we should have left straight away but the Doctor had other ideas as he glanced over at the city’s museum and art gallery.

 “Mr. and Mrs. Bailey…” The Doctor frowned then pulled a long face. “Can I call you David and Caroline? Can’t be doing with formalities.” My parent’s both nodded and then the Doctor beamed delighted. “Good. I take it you’ve just been to the Staffordshire hoard exhibition?” The Doctor breezily enquired in his most nonchalant manner but I knew something was brimming in his brilliant mind.

 “Oh yes, it was worthwhile queuing for an hour wasn’t it Caroline?”

 “Of course David but the reappearance of Anna and the Doctor, it’s eclipsed the experience somewhat.” My mum sighed with good natured indulgence at my dad and then took my hand and smiled blissfully.

 I felt myself blushing, a part from comforting me during times of heartbreak I had never seen my mum behave this affectionately in public.

 But there was no stopping my dad once he was on his favourite subject as his eyes lit up, suddenly animated as he recalled the exhibition, over the years our household have sat through countless episodes of Time Team…

 “It’s an impressive collection, all that intricacy and workmanship Doctor. The largest collection of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever discovered on a farm near Lichfield all by one man and his metal detector! I wish it had been me.”

 “Good old Mercia!” The Doctor boomed enthusiastically. 

 “Though I daresay you’ve actually visited Anglo-Saxon England Doctor?” My dad lowered his voice discreetly and then went all misty eyed as his awe filled gaze briefly rested upon the TARDIS and the thought that the Doctor could transport him to such a time.

 The Doctor gazed up in contemplation as he strived to recall.

 “Err not recently… Anglo-Saxons…Hmm” The Doctor reached for the right set of adjectives. “Quite a violent lot but brilliant artisans…Speaking of which.” The Doctor pointed towards the Victorian grandeur of the museum and art gallery. “I wouldn’t mind a look myself.”

 And so the Doctor had made up his mind as he strode off and we were left to follow him, it was always your choice to follow the Doctor but none of us had anticipated quite how events would unfold. Was the Doctor secretly in pursuit of adventure or a quiet afternoon at the museum? Looking back, it’s difficult to tell. But pretty soon we were all about to make an important discovery.