Page 23 of Trial By Fire (Hope Runs Deep #11)

Trish woke up feeling groggy as hell. What the hell? Why was she so groggy. Last thing she remembered…oh fuck! Valarie had shot her. Jackson! Was he ok?

“Hey baby. It’s ok. It’s ok. I’m right here.”

“J-J-Jackson?” Trish asked, her voice sounding croaky.

“Yeah, babe. I’m right here. Relax.”

Trish felt his lips kiss her forehead. When she knew it wasn’t a dream, she was able to relax just a little more.

Oh God. The baby.

“The baby?”

“Little one is fine, babe. Fighter just like his momma is,” Jackson smirked down at her.

“Could be a girl!” Trish fired back, smiling weakly at him.

“Yes. It could. Either way, it’s a fighter just like you are. Here. Drink a little bit of water. Sip. Don’t want to get sick from drinking too fast.”

Trish took several sips through the straw. Once she had had enough, she leaned her head back against the pillow. She felt the bed dip when Jackson sat next to her.

“That bitch shot me! In my own fucking yard! Please tell me they caught her,” Trish pleaded with Jackson.

“She won’t be anyone’s problem again. When I saw you go down as I was coming out of the front door, I took her out. Apparently, she was already wanted by the police. They found the bodies of the doctor she was having an affair with and his wife the day before.”

“Oh my God. That woman was deranged. Well, she won’t be hurting anyone else again. Hope she rots in hell.”

Trish was in the hospital for two days to be monitored, along with the baby. Once she was cleared, she went home.

“Jackson?”

“Yes, babe.”

Trish turned her head to look towards Jackson who was lying next to her in the bed. The man hadn’t left her side since day one. She didn’t know what she’d done to be so lucky, but she wasn’t questioning it.

“I want to sell this place. She’s tainted it for me,” Trish admitted, sighing as deep as she could without being in tears from the pain.

“I thought so. I’ve already been looking at a few houses that we can go see when you’re up to it. When you find the one you like, I’ll place a bid for it.”

Trish looked over at the man she now called husband. She couldn’t help but smile at the man. He thought of everything.

“I’m not quitting my job,” Trish told him, point blank.

“Wouldn’t think of asking you, babe,” Jackson chuckled, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

“I know your reenlistment is coming up. Are you staying in? Don’t you dare leave because of me either,” Trish warned him, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Would you be upset if I stayed in for another enlistment or two??”

“Jackson, take me out of the equation. Do you want to re-enlist? I will support you no matter what you want to do. I want you just as happy as you’ve made me.”

“Yeah, I do want to reenlist. It’s a six-year commitment though, babe.”

“Do it. I stand behind you all the way. Your men need you. You’ll know when the time is right to leave. We’ll make this work between the two of us and what kids we have. We’ve already been through hell, now it’s only heaven from here on out.”

And heaven it was. They sold the house and moved into a newer one with a huge backyard for them to have get together with their friends.

Four bedrooms for them to be able to grow their family.

They were happy for once in their lives.

Trish stayed on the force and Jackson relisted for another term.

The biggest surprise for the group was the fact that not only was Trish pregnant, but a few weeks after finding out about hers, they found out that her besties Lola and Tiffany were also pregnant.

Things truly were coming full circle for them. One big happy family.

THE END