AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The surgeon had explained to me that the internal healing had to be complete with no scar tissue present in order for the colostomy to be reversed. He was confident that I would be a prime candidate for the reversal, and it was fairly minor. I was to see the physician he referred me to in a few weeks for a re-check and pre-operative consultation.
Mom was getting out of the hospital today. Grandma had been taking care of Bryce at their home. Slate had been running himself ragged. I had visited her in the hospital the day we returned, but she had been heavily sedated. I wasn’t sure if she was even aware of my being there.
I dressed in sweat pants, which was my usual garb these days with the colostomy bag attached. At least there was only one now. I had learned the second one was simply for the post-operative drainage. The surgeon had closed that one off a couple of days prior to my release. All I needed to do for it was to keep antibiotic cream on the sutures until fully healed.
Taz was a nag about all of that stuff. He reminded me of a mother hen at times, but I liked that he fussed over me. I felt safe with him. We cuddled all of the time. When we slept in his bed, he was always curled around me protectively. He didn’t let me out of his sight.
I did insist on privacy in the bathroom. I didn’t feel comfortable showering with him any longer because of the obvious. He rolled his eyes at my insistence, but I held my ground.
I pulled one of his clean FBI hoodies from the drawer and put it on. It was big, bulky and it swallowed me up, but it made me feel secure at the same time.
I brushed my hair and surveyed myself in the mirror. Most of the scars had healed on the outside. The marks from the beating Kyzer had given me with the belt had faded into nearly invisible lines. The scars inside were going to take a lot longer.
Taz had asked me several times if I wanted to talk about it with him. I had declined. I knew he thought it was therapeutic, he was a Psych major for Chrissake, but it was too soon, the memories were too raw. He told me when I was ready he would be there to listen. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure I would ever be ready, and if I was, I wasn’t sure Taz would be the one I needed to tell.
He popped his head into the bedroom, he was already dressed and waiting.
“Ready, babe?”
“Yep,” I replied, smiling.
It was the first part of March and the hint of spring was in the air. It had seemed like a lifetime had transpired in the last six weeks. I was anxious to see Bryce, Grandma and my mother.
It seemed as if Bryce had grown inches when I saw him. He was running around, excited about all the attention he was getting. I figured Grandma had been spoiling him rotten since she had been here.
Mom immediately came to me, hugging me tightly to her. She seemed fine. Her pregnancy was showing.
“Oh, Lindsey,” she said, kissing my cheek, “I was so scared, honey. I am so very sorry for the way I behaved with you. Will you forgive me, please?”
“Mom,” I said, my eyes welling up, “there is nothing to forgive. You were under a lot of stress and you were ill; I understand that.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. She immediately turned to Taz.
“Trace,” she said very solemnly, “I will never be able to show my gratitude to you. You saved my daughter’s life. I am convinced of that. How can I possibly thank you?”
“You just did, Sammie,” he said, giving her a warm hug.
“And what is this Slate tells me about you leaving the bureau? That’s crazy, Taz.”
My head snapped up immediately to look at Taz.
“What?”
My mother immediately realized I wasn’t clued in.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “I didn’t realize.”
“Lindsey, I’ll tell you about it later when we’re at home.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up. Mom was still mourning the loss of one twin, but she placated herself with the knowledge that the remaining baby was no longer at risk, and her pregnancy was going to be fairly normal from here on out.
She informed everyone that she carried another boy. Her due date was July 26th, close to my birthday.
Grandma announced that she had purchased a condo in Falls Church. She intended on spending more time with family. She was keeping her condo in Indy so she could spend time there when necessary.
She was now Chairman of the Board at Banion, and hinted that she was hopeful I would consider taking an executive position with the company upon graduation. The board had appointed an interim President and General Manager on a two-year contract.
