The police came and pulled Lexi away again. They showed her a letter that made her chin tightened and face turn beat red. Lexi looked as though she could go for blood. Jennifer wondered if the perpetrators that did this actually had left something. Lexi thanked the officers.

"Staff, everyone. Please, I need your attention. I need everyone to come and sit down. As you can see, one person has not shown today." Everyone looked around and saw that it was true. One of the new clerks was not there. "She had just been given keys last week. Well, this letter states how she and members of the local anti-gay activist group were responsible for this. Police are headed to try and arrest her, but they don't know if they will be able to. Come to find out, Jennette had missed work last week and not been to the address she gave us for some time. Either she is in some kind of cult, or she used it just to get in here. We will need everyone's help to clean up the mess. We will build back. And please know that all keys will be changing and, for some time, only management will have them. That means Kelly, Janice, Betty, and I will be the only ones with keys. The four of us will decide who will be the lead clerk and nurse. Those two will have keys too. We have ltoold go forots to do, and none of it can be done today. Go home, take a day to yourselves and come tomorrow in old clothes ready to clean, paint, and do whatever it takes to get us back up and

running."

With that, the staff started leaving. Kelly stayed with Lexi. They were off talking by themselves. Jennifer could not hear and did not know if she should stay. She decided that if there was ever a time that Lexi needed her, this was it.

Chapter Twenty-Five.

I did not know what to think. The clinic that I had worked so hard with the others to build was in ruin. It was feeling surreal. I kept hoping that this was dream, from which I was going to wake up at any moment.

I had to wait on the police and the insurance agent to finish their investigations. I had dismissed the staff and talked with Kelly, and then I noticed the starburst beauty there waiting on me. I made my way to her past Kelly and fell into her arms. I cried for a good time before I pulled back. It felt so good to have her there.

"Thank you for staying with me."

"There's nowhere else I wish to be than here with you."

"I don't know what to do. Everything is happening so fast, and I am lost. I don't know even if we get cleaned and rebuilt if we will survive this."

"Honey, we will take this one step at a time."

"Promise. I know our ceremony is not that far away, but promise me, that we will not cancel it or our trip."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I need something good to look forward to, and that is the best thing I can think of right now."

"Then don't worry, I will take care of the details with your mother, and you take care of here."

"Thank you!"

"I love you, Lexi, and I will do whatever you need me to do."

"I love you too, and you are the best for me."

"Together we are better!"

I kissed Jennifer goodbye and rejoined Kelly. We went to meet the insurance adjuster. We led him around the site, and he took pictures. I ignored snide comments as he was apparently not a supporter of the community that we serve. I hoped that this would not deter him from the decision making on our claim.

When he was done, we were able to start the cleanup. Right now our only concern was to close up the clinic to protect it from any more damage. Kelly and I boarded up all the doors and windows that were broken. Then we worked on the front door, locking it up so that no one could get in. In the morning, with a full team, we could unlock it and start the real clean up.

"Lexi, come get a drink wittoold protech me. It has been a long day," Kelly said when we were finished.

"Only if you are buying, as I still have a ceremony to pay part of and a trip to take."

"Of course I will buy. You and I both need it."

"True it does have a pull to it."

We headed over to our local bar and waited for our drinks. While we waited, we started a game plan for the week. Kelly knew where we could get the equipment, as she was the one who first ordered it. I, on the other hand, decided to work on getting the crew started with cleaning and painting. The only thing we still did not know was what the insurance was going to pay for.

"Lexi, even if they pay for everything and the payroll, we are not going to have the normal income that we are used to."

"The adjuster said we would get that too."

"I just don't trust him to come through with everything that he promised."

"So what are you saying?"

"We need to have a fundraiser."

"Yes, but how are we to get one together?"

About that time, a couple drinks showed up with word that it was on the house from the owner. Lee and his partner John were old friends, and I imagined by now they had heard about the clinic. We sent our heartfelt thanks to them, and Kelly asked if they could join us. I just could not imagine what she had up her sleeve.

"Lee, John, I have a question for you two."

"Yes, Kelly. Anything for you two!"

"Could we have a fundraiser here? And can we have you pull some of those strings with the Kings and Queens to put on a show?"

"Of course you can. We will set it up, and it is no trouble! Say this Sat.u.r.day?"

"Sounds great!"

The boys were off, and I sat in amazement to what had just happened. I did not have it in me to think that quickly. Here Kelly had the bar doing a fundraiser for us in less than five minutes. We were

so blessed to have friends all over, and I was so glad she had thought of them to do this for the clinic.

Afterwards I headed home a very exhausted person who just wanted to die in bed. Jennifer came down to spend the night with me and make sure I was okay. It felt good to have the safety of her to fall into. I told her of the fundraiser and of the plans to rebuild. For the first time in a while, I felt like I came first to her and that she was fully there with me. It was perfect. Mrs. Sandwoman came and took us away, and I hoped she was not quick to let go of her grips come morning.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

"Trey, I was wondering if you could take a few days off from work," Jennifer said to her husband one morning at breakfast.

"One or two maybe. Why?"

"We could use your help as all the electrtoold" heionics need to be put in place again. The girls worked hard to get everything cleaned and painted. The desks came in yesterday, and now we need the computers and TVs installed. Could you please come and help with this?"

"Yes, dear. That should just be a day's worth of time. What else do you want with the rest?"

"I was hoping that maybe after that you would help with also getting the bar ready for the fundraiser. Not everyone can be there as they are working on the clinic."

"I will see."

"Thank you!"

Jennifer and Trey finished their conversation about other things like the kids and then went about the rest of the morning routine. Jennifer was not going to be at the clinic to help at all with the cleanup as she had agreed to go with Lexi's mother to look at the venues for the ceremony and decorations. Jennifer wished that Mary Woodsworth would let her hire someone to do all the planning, but Mary insisted that this was what made it personal.

Luckily, the date they had decided on was available with the local Unitarian minister. She was more than thrilled to oblige and accepted that this was a poly family and that not all the vows would be traditional. They had also decided that it would be outdoors, and that meant there were very few places to look at. Jennifer just hoped one of them would allow them to have it there and also be able to accommodate everything that was needed. The church was going to host the reception, so it also needed to be close to that location.

Mrs. Woodsworth showed right at nine to pick up Jennifer and start the rounds of parks and outdoor venues. She had mapped out the locations and made a route that was from closest to the church out. Jennifer was impressed but also hoped that she would not be forced into a location just because Mrs. Woodsworth liked it. Her thoughts were interrupted midway by Mrs. Woodsworth, who proved to have more on her mind than the locations they were headed to.

"Jennifer, how is Lexi holding up?"

"She is doing better each day the clinic comes back together like a clinic."

"But is she okay?"

"I do believe so. She doesn't really talk about how she is feeling."

"She never did. Please let us know if we can do anything. We can even make a donation."

"Well, I don't know if she will accept the donation, but you could make it at the fundraiser event."

"Good idea. Now, let's see. Here is the first park."

They did not have to pull up to see that it was amazing. It had a gazebo and beautiful old trees. Jennifer fell in love with it right there and could picture the whole ceremony. They located the person in charge of booking it and were amazed to find out it was still free. Then they set off to find someone to decorate it and furnish chairs.

The day was turning out to be pleasant in spite of Jennifer's fears of being with this woman and wondering if she was going to push her will on her as she had witnessed her do with Lexi. She instead made sure that everything was how Jennifer and Lexi wanted and only pushednd eigh when it came to what she wore.

Jennifer found the perfect sundress to wear. She was not one for the full wedding dress and felt simple was best. She found a hat that a veil could be added to and shoes to match. She was getting excited about the ceremony and could not wait to show off her new look.

When the ladies were done shopping and talking to everyone, Mrs. Woodsworth dropped Jennifer off at the bar where the fundraiser was getting set up. Jennifer agreed to pick up the packages later that night when she was pa.s.sing on the way home. She then set off to find Trey inside and help.

The bar was starting to look completely different. There were posters about the clinic everywhere, and decorations were laid in every free s.p.a.ce to go up. Trey was over at the main stage, helping get the backdrop decked out in medical attire. The team had managed to get large stethoscopes, Band-Aids, and other objects found in the exam rooms made out of papier-mache. The clinic had one of the old exam tables that had been broken delivered over to set on the stage. Even though the drawers were missing and the bed did not sit forward anymore, it still looked nice up on the stage. When Trey saw Jennifer, he came down off the ladder to join her.

"What do you think? Is this what you all had in mind?"

"It looks great! I am sure the clinic staff will love it! Thank you, honey! How was the computer set-up?"

"It went good. All rooms are up and going. I also got the tablets on the network too. The girls were so happy. I was actually jealous of them. I wish I had those kinds of computers at my office."

"Maybe one day you will! Those were the replacements from Dell from the insurance money. And, since they did not make the same models any more, they sent the clinic the best ones for the amount the insurance would pay."

"Wow!"

"How was the spirit of everyone there?"

"Lexi was stressed and working in her office. The rest of them seemed to be doing well. They were working outside, painting."

"I better head over there, but first take a break from here and run me home?"

"That would be nice."

The two of them went off to spend a little time together before life pulled them apart again. Jennifer was set to make sure that each partner had at least thirty minutes

of her time in each day to prevent them from feeling neglected. She did not want anyone feeling like their needs were not being met again and just knew that she could pull this off.

Chapter Twenty-Seven.

The staff and I headed over to the bar to get ready to open the doors to the guests. I had not seen Jennifnd ei1> I had to talk to the staff and looked around to see most everyone had made it to the bar. We were going to be the waiters of the night. Just as I walked up on stage to get everyone's attention, explain a few things, and thank them, I saw my starburst beauty and Trey, a newfound hero of mine, walking in. My family right there--minus the kids--and I knew that things would be just right from that point on.

"Attention, everyone! Please come in and sit for a few. I see almost everyone is here, and the others will come in soon. First, before we get into the activities of the night, I want to thank you! This is the best staff of family that there could ever be! You guys are amazing. You worked hard and deserve a lot more than I could ever give, but even so, I did manage to get each of you a small gift card from Kelly, Betty, Janice, and myself. We could not do much, but please know that we are thankful and would have done more if could. Now for tonight, I am going to turn it over to Lee, who will discuss how we are going to actually do this."