CHAPTER THIRTY - FOUR

The day went well and of course Tai was the hit of the company. I had a long conversation with Jennifer and Jim Thomas about Tai and how I had explained to Lexie that she was my antecedence at the moment. I also explained what Lexie and I had resolved between us and what we expected moving forward.

The relief of the day I spent with Maw Maw and Pops who to be truthful I considered them as my grandparents. It was good to be in their company again even though Maw Maw's power to be fluid had dwindled some. But it was gracious to experience like share of a family again.

For the next few months matter went along smoothly. Lexie had moved in with us and had become like a mother to Tai. They got along extremely well but Tessa seemed unquiet around Lexie. I was not surely why, but it seemed like that to me. Maybe she felt that Lexie was replacing her and saw the relationship Lexie and Tai had.

Lexie had been reliable to her word and our relationship was better than ever. Tai was still training but there were no competitions that would accept her to fight except for the annual one here which I had her already enrolled in. Lexie was training with me on a daily basis and had regained her rock-hard body. She was even getting hit on at the precinct on a daily basis.

Cody had served his six month in jail and had been let out recently. He was on house stop for six calendar month and then would be on probation. I found out from Jennifer, Lexie's mom because Lexie never talked about Cody. Jennifer and Cody's female parent had resumed talking but the relationship was still strained to say the to the lowest degree. A few weeks later I found out what had been bothering Tessa. She called me at the gym during one of her shift.

She had broken up with Jason St. Patrick after catching him cheating on her multiple times. But she completely caught me off guard when she asked if there was any way that we could get back together again. She admitted she made a huge mistake, and she was mindful of Lexie's history with Cody. I explained that there was no way I would allow for Lexie at this time. Tai and Lexie were very good together and I would never intentionally want to afford Tai any more grief.

That Night in bed I told Lexie about my conversation with Tessa. I explained that I wanted to be completely honest with Lexie. I did not want Lexie to ever suspect me. She appreciated the fact that I told her and said she understood Tessa's site. Lexie stated that she had made the Lapplander mistake but was able to correct it.

I dropped Tai off at shoal and went to the gym and knocked out my workout for the day. I was in the officer doing paperwork when my speech sound rang on the desk. I picked it up and noticed it was Jennifer, Lexie's mom. The minute I heard her articulation I knew something was legal injury.

"Chris… ... I have to secern you something. Oh God……… Lexie's been shot. We're on the way to the hospital now. I don't know anything else…… please hurry. ”, she sobbed.

I told the employees what had happened and ran out of the threshold jumping I to my car. I drove to the hospital as quickly as I could. I went into the emergency room and explained to the nurse at the desk who I was. She told me three law police officer had been brought in, but she had no news about them. She told me mortal would be with me soon.

I was there for about ten minute before a law officeholder came over to me. He explained that three officeholder had been shot and two were in surgery now. He suggested I follow him to the waiting room where the families of the officers were. On the far sofa I saw Jennifer Thomas sitting alone. I walked over and she stood up and hugged me still sobbing.

"Do you get it on anything ? ”, I asked.

"No, early than she is still alive. She is in OR right now. ”, she explained.

"No one knows anything ? ”, I asked.

After about thirty minute, a police captain came over to us and explained the situation. Lexie and two early police force officers were executing a warrant on someone for domestic wildness. Apparently, another person was in the house that was wanted for attempted murder. When he saw the law ship's officer, the defendant he thought they were there for him. He walked to the strawman door, opened it, and started firing on the three officers.

Ken Curtis was shot in the shoulder and neck. Lexie was shot twice as well. Once in the thigh and once on her left side. The tierce officeholder, John Llewelly Lewis Johnson was shot twice in the head and was pronounced dead on arriver. Officer Curtis and Lexie were still in surgery. Shortly after that conversation, Jim Thomas showed up in the waiting room. Jennifer filled him in in what was going on and that Lexie was still in surgical operation.

The wait was agonizing and close to an hour and a half before the operating surgeon who operated on Lexie came out to update us. She looked deplete but did get a slight grin on her face.

"I'm Doctor Alvarez and I just finished with Ms. Thomas. She is in recuperation right now, but you should be able to see her in a petty while. She has several upshot going on, but I am optimistic that she will make a full retrieval. She was germinate twice in the English and once in the pep pill leftfield thigh. ”, she started.

"The leg is fine and will bring around quickly. Both her spleen and liver were damaged but not severely. We had to operate and repair both, but I think she will be finely. We may have to go back in and remove her spleen if it doesn't heal the way we think. We will supervise her closely. ”, she ended.

"Thank you doctor. ”, Jennifer said.

She promised that the nursemaid would let us do it as soon as she was moved into a room in ICU. We all sat back down and waited with little to no conversation being had. It was getting late, and I had to run over to Tai's school and choice her up but I promised to be back as quickly as potential.

I picked up Tai about forty-five minutes later and explained to her what had happened as we rode back to the hospital. We were in the lobby and about to enter the elevator when we ran into Tessa. I quickly explained what had happened and Tessa got on the lift with us. We rode to the fifth part story and got out and headed to ICU. Tessa got us in correct away and she ushered us in Lexie's room. I was not prepared to see Lexie laying in that bed with tubes and hoses attached to her.

Tessa went over to the bed and checked a few things then went back out. She looked at Lexie's chart and came back and told me that everything was looking good at this time. She told me that she would front at Lexie respective times a day and hold me updated.

Tai and I sat on one of the pocket-sized couch in the elbow room to await and be there when Lexie woke up. Tai had her rule book bag with her and we started doing her homework. After 30 minutes or so, Tessa came back into the way and offered to take Tai home and let her sleep over. Then Tessa could direct her to schoolhouse the following day and I could stay here with Lexie. Tai was o.k. with that, so I kissed her so long and Tessa left with her.

About an hour or a bit later, Jennifer and Jim went down to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Jennifer told me that she would bring me something back with a soda. I moved over to the chair next to Lexie's bed and took her helping hand in mine. She appeared so minor and frail laying in that bed. It was probably XXX minutes later when I felt her hired man motility in mine. Lexie's bridge player moved several times, but she had not regained consciousness yet. Jim and Jennifer came back about an minute later and I told them what had happened.

I went down to the cafeteria my ego to get something to eat. I bought a sandwich and a drink and ate quickly. I took the elevator back up to ICU and found Jennifer and Jim standing outside the room. I looked in and saw respective hoi polloi working on Lexie. We were quickly ushered back to the waiting with very little information.

We waited for conclusion to an hour before a doctor walked through the door. I carefully looked at his face and I did not like what I saw. Jim and Jennifer stood up immediately to see him. I could not recite a matter from his face as he stopped in front end of Jim and Jennifer.

"Everything is delicately for the consequence. She had a slight spindle in rake pressure level, but it happens after that much operation. She is resting comfortably now. We are going to retain her sedated for the fourth dimension being. ”, he advised.

I pretty much lived at the hospital for the next few days with Jennifer and Jim St. Thomas helping me with Tai. My employees stepped up at the gym and basically took forethought of everything. I promised them all a bonus for the extra work as soon as I came back. Jennifer and Jim were there everyday but Jim had to work, and Jennifer had Tai.

I had left the hospital and went family where I took a shower and change. I stopped on the way back and got Tai some poulet nuggets which she loved. I went back up and that allowed Jennifer to go home and clean up. She mentioned that the doc had told her that they were cutting back on the sedation. Possibly late tonight or in the dawn Lexie would fire up up. Jennifer told me she would choose a nap and then bring back with Jim later that evening. Tai decided to stay put with me and play on her IPAD.

Jennifer and Jim returned a little after six in the evening, but Lexie was still benumbed. They stayed until nine o'clock and then took Tai and went back to their house. Jennifer would add Tai to schooling in the morning and contact me back at the hospital.

I was sitting in a chairwoman next to Lexie's bed holding her depart deal in mine. I must suffer dozed off because something started me causing me to wake up. It took a second to center and I looked around the room, but I was alone. I looked over at Lexie, but she was still asleep. I leaned back into the chair and closed my heart once more. several seconds later, Lexie's manus moved in mine. I sat up immediately and looked over at her.

I got up and leaned over the bed kissing her impertinence softly. I was still bent over the bed when the nurse walked into the elbow room.

"Everything alright ? ”, she asked.

"Yes, she just moved her hand a bit. ”, I reported.

"Good, the sedation is wearing off. She should be awake soon. ”, she replied.

The nurse made her regular check mark of all the Monitor and recorded a few solution. She then promised to be back in about a half an minute. I had just sat back down in the chair when I noticed that Lexie had slightly moved her point. I stood back up again just as she slowly opened her eyes. She looked around the elbow room and finally into my face. She closed her eyes for a second then reopened them with a smile on her typeface.

"Chris……… what happened. ”, she said weakly.

"You're ok Lexie……. This is ICU. ”, I replied.

"Am I going to be ok ? ”, she asked.

"Yes, you're going to be fine. ”, I answered.

"Did we get the guy…… ”, she asked.

"Not yet baby, but they are looking for him. ”, I promised.

"My partners ? ”, she inquired.

"Curtis is still here in recuperation, but John Llewelly Lewis LBJ died on the scene. ”, I answered.

She closed her eyes and crying ran down her buttock. Thankfully just about that clip the nurse came back in. She walked around to the former side of the bed and checked several monitors. She then leaned over Lexie with a grin on her expression.

"Ms. Thomas the doubting Apostle, it's squeamish to see you awake. I'm Tonya and I have been taking maintenance of you. How do you feel ? ”, she asked.

"I don't know yet…. ”, Lexie replied.

"Well, if you need anything for pain in the neck, delight let me know. ”, Tonya stated.

She moved around Lexie checking her pulse and blood pressure. She recorded all the reminder recital on her chart then put it back at the end of the bed. She poured Lexie a deoxyephedrine of water, put a top and wheat on it then slid the bed table as close to her as she could. She informed us that she would apprise the physician that Lexie was up, and he would be in as soon as he could.

I sent a schoolbook message to Lexie's mom Jennifer informing her that Lexie had come out of sedation. Although it was still very early in the morning, I think she would desire to know. I set my phone back down and moved closer to Lexie.

"How long have I been here ? ”, Lexie asked.

"Almost three weeks…… ”, I replied.

"How many fourth dimension was I hit ? ”, she inquired.

"Twice infant, one in the leg and once in your side. The physician will explain it all to you. Just please respite child. You have been through a lot. ”, I assured her.

Several mo later Lexie was asleep again, so I went across the room and sat on the small sofa. Around eight thirty that forenoon both Jim and Jennifer Seth Thomas showed up to see their daughter. Thankfully, Lexie was awake and they spent some prison term together. I went plate and showered then changed and went back to the hospital a few hours later.

It took ten more 24-hour interval before Lexie was discharged to my mansion. I would run into the gym for a few hours in the good morning while Lexie's mom would come over. I would devolve home a petty after twelve and spent the rest of the day with her.

It took three months and a slew of doctor's designation and test before Lexie was fully released from the MD's care. She went back to work role time until the shooting was fully investigated. She also came back to the gym and started to workout again although on a much well-heeled routine.

Two months later we were back to our pattern life history. I was leery of Lexie going back to run but I did not say anything. I almost lost her to some senseless act of ferocity and one officer had been killed. We did not need the money, but I couldn't expect Lexie to give up her vocation. Lexie and Tai had really bonded and for all practical purpose had become her second mother. We were laying in bed one night when Lexie brought up her job.

"Do you worry about me being out there ? ”, she asked.

"I don't think we should babble about that. ”, I responded.

"Why not ? ”, she asked.

"Lexie, you know me as well as anyone ever has. You know I'm not scared of anything or anyone. But every time you walk out that door, I'm scared you will never add up back through it. I'm not sure I could manage losing you. Even though I tried to fool around myself…… ... I have loved you this intact time. That's why no one could ever take your spot. It's been you all the time. ”, I admitted.

"After everything that happened between us … ... you still were in love with me ? ”, Lexie asked.

"Afraid so…… I guess that why nothing ever worked out. ”, I replied.

Lexie was true to her Word, and we lived together for many twelvemonth although we never married. I had asked her a few times, but she always said we'll do it soon. Soon never came but it did not diminish our relationship. Lexie and I were best Friend, lovers and clientele married person. After fifteen years on the violence Lexie retired and became my stage business partner at the gym. We did everything together and rarely ever disagreed about anything.

Tai had grown into a beautiful Danton True Young fair sex who had excelled at everything she did. She maintained a perfective tense GPA through grammar school and private heights school. She graduated at the top of her stratum both times with a plus perfect GPA.

She received a partial scholarship to Columbia University and we paid the balance. The adoption rate at Columbia was only six percent. Out of every one hundred applier only six were accepted. Tai entered the Postbac Premed syllabus which was one of the most rigorous in the country. She also received a Bachelor of skill degree in BSPS in the pharmaceutic Sciences partitioning.

Tai was recruited right out of school by a major pharmaceutic company with an get salary and welfare software system. She worked in Free State so we did not see her as often as we hoped but after all she was a raise char. Later she met a big guy and got married and moved to California where they both had amazing jobs.

They blessed Lexie and I with two beautiful grandchildren which were named Sara and Skylar. Lexie and I flew to Calif. several times a yr outlay as much time as potential with Tai and the girls. I sent up two huge corporate trust pecuniary resource for the girls so that when they reached twenty five they would have every opportunity that life had to propose.

Lexie died at fifty-eight twelvemonth of age from complications due to breast Crab. Thankfully she died peacefully in our bed with me lying succeeding to her. Our last few months together were most enjoyable and we were together constantly. After I buried Lexie, I sold everything I owned and moved across the street from Tai and her family. The finish years of my life were wonderful and I was even able to witness my granddaughter giving birth to my slap-up grandson.

My body failed me a few years later but all in all I had a wonderful biography surrounded by loving people. Tai was a great daughter, mother and wife and she made me so gallant. Tai held my handwriting, and I passed peacefully having absolutely no rue .