Page 80 of Awaiting
“Bexley, wait!”
Bexley turned to see Alex rushing down the stairs and security guards hurrying to catch up.
“I’m sorry,” Alex told her when she stood in front of her. “I reallydohave to go. I have some things to take care of back home, but I also think you could use some time without me hanging around.”
“I never said that,” Bexley replied.
“You didn’t have to,” Alex said. “I will be back, though, I promise.”
“Okay.” Bexley nodded. “You should go. You don’t want your plane taking off without you.”
Alex moved around her, nodded to the chauffeur standing by the door of the car, and he moved out of the way. Alex opened it for Bexley and motioned for her to get inside.
“I’ll see you later,” she said.
“Will you call me?” Bexley asked. “When you land, can you at least text me or something?”
“You want me to text you when I land?” Alex asked, smirking at her.
“Don’t get a big head about it. I just want to know you’re safe,” Bexley replied.
Alex laughed and said, “I will text you when I land, and I can do the same when I get home. Would that be all right?”
“Yes, thank you.”
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“I have a bone to pick with you,” Bexley stated.
“Bexley?” Alice spoke as Bexley rushed into Alice’s office. “I’m so sorry,” she added to the man sitting across from her. “Dr.Bexley Woods, this is Prime Minister Oskar Abraham.”
“Oh,” Bexley uttered.
When Alice stood up, the man stood up as well.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Dr.Woods. Her Majesty has told me you’re volunteering your time in Kleinland to help us get a speech therapy program up and running.”
“I’m sorry. There wasn’t a guard on the door. I just walked in,” Bexley said.
“It’s quite all right. Her Majesty and I were just wrapping up our weekly meeting,” the Prime Minister replied, smiling sweetly at Bexley. “I would love to know more about what you’re working on if you have the time later this week.”
“Me?” Bexley asked.
“If you’re available,” he said.
“Me?” Bexley asked again, wondering why the Prime Minister of a country would thinkshewouldn’t be available for a meeting.
“Of course. We had a war here not all that long ago, and then there was the civil unrest when we overthrew the old government. Unfortunately, with the war often come injuries that impact the lives of soldiers and civilians. Her Majesty explained that you’re not just teaching students; you’ve also put together a plan to help us serve the people who have injuries that impact their speech.”
“I did, yes. You have a few speech therapists in Kleinland already, and they have the training and experience, but they don’t have the facilities and funding. I’m working with Al–” She stopped herself. “I’m working with Her Majesty on creating a long-lasting program in Kleinland, putting the focus on helping those who were injured in the war or more recently first. This past week, I met a soldier who had a stroke while on the front line of the war years ago. He’s not been able to speak clearly since, but we’re going to work with him during this program and help him with that. I believe, he’s likely to recover seventy to eighty percent of his–” Bexley paused her rambling. “I’m sorry. You probably don’t need to hear all of this. I interrupted your meeting.”
“No, I’d love to hear more, actually. I was a captain in that war. My son and daughter were both corporals. My daughter took shrapnel in her shoulder and upper chest. She’s all right, but the medic told me back then that if a piece of metal had lodged centimeters over to the left, she could’ve died or, at least, lost her ability to speak. I care deeply about what you’re doing here, Dr.Woods, and I’d love to help however I can. Perhaps, my daughter would even join us and tell you what happened to her. She’s a captain herself now.”
“Of course, if you have the time,” Bexley replied.
“I’ll make the time,” he promised.
They exchanged their goodbyes, and the Prime Minister left them alone in Alice’s office.