My Hometown Love

Chapter 22 – Closure

Lexie’s P.O.V

I stared at my phone curious but at the same time, terrified. Kevin sat next to me, nudging me to pick up the call. Finally, I took a deep breath and answered the phone.

Lexie: “Hello?”

Caller: “Hi Ms. Cooper. It’s Ms. Lee from Human Resources.”

Lexie: “Oh, Hi Ms. Lee. How are you? How come you’re working on a weekend?”

Ms. Lee: “I’m doing good, Lexie. I’ll be on emergency leave next week so I wanted to tie up some loose ends before I go.”

Lexie: “Oh, I see. Did you need something from me, Ms. Lee?”

Ms. Lee: “Well Lexie, what you went through more than a month ago was tragic and unfair. I am calling to let you know that Mr. Thomson is no longer working with us and has been severely dealt with. However, the reason and necessity of what was done are true, despite the harsh manner it was handled. Therefore, the company is offering an official apology letter and a compensation of $5,000, in exchange for an agreement that you wouldn’t sue the company.”

Lexie: “Ah, I see. It was truly unfair, Ms. Lee. In a single day, my life was turned upside down. Not just me, but others too. I deserve more than this.”

Ms. Lee: “I understand, Ms. Cooper. Just hear me out okay? I don’t condone what was done to you but I had no power to go against the order or to object. But, now I have managed to squeeze the company’s wallet as much as I can to help all of you get back on your feet. I want to help all of you truly. If you need a reference letter or a recommendation, just let me know and I’ll get it done.”

Lexie: “I know it wasn’t your fault Ms. Lee, but thanks anyway. I have to take some time to think about this. Can I call you later once I have made a decision?”

Ms. Lee: “Sure, Lexie. Before I let you go, I just want to let you know that everyone else who got laid off, has signed the agreement and taken the compensation. You’re the only one left, choose wisely, your decision can affect everyone.”

Lexie: “Thanks, Ms. Lee. I’ll let you know when I have decided.”

Ms. Lee: “Sure. Goodbye.”

I stuffed my phone back into my bag as I sighed deeply, my shoulders heavy with another tough decision.

**************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I quietly watched as Lexie talk on the phone with her old employer. She seemed so confident and poised as she uttered every word. I was in the presence of yet another part of Lexie that I haven’t seen before.

She eventually ended the call and sighed deeply as she turned to look at me, pouting sadly.

“Everything okay?”, I asked.

“Yeah. That was the Human Resources department. The company wants to apologize for unjustly firing me and to inform me that they reprimanded the person that rudely and harshly carried it out. They want to send me an official apology letter and monetary compensation.”, Lexie said as her eyes looked far into the distance.

I desperately wanted to say something comforting or to advise her but the truth is, I didn’t know what actually happened to her. Lexie must have caught the quizzical look on my face because she suddenly turned her whole body trunk towards me.

“Wait, you don’t know what happened do you?”, she asked.

“Nope. All I heard was you got laid off or fired or something, and that you were coming back to town.”, I said as I leaned back against the window.

“Well, here it goes.”, Lexie said as she began narrating the events that led up to this stage right now.

I watched as she carefully described everything that happened to her, from greeting her usual receptionist for the last time to her flight back home.

“Wow. I can’t believe you went through all that, in such a short time. You’re a superhero.”, I said as I gazed at her in awe.

Lexie just replied with a small smile.

“So, what are you going to do?”, I asked.

**************

Lexie’s P.O.V

“Honestly, I don’t know. At first, I was ready to sue the company for everything they had. Plus, I thought I could get the rest who got laid off to support me as well. But now, they all have signed the agreement not to sue and have accepted the compensation. Maybe, I can still sue them, but by myself?”, I answered in confusion.

“Woah Woah Woah. Why don’t you take one step at a time? Don’t rush into decisions like this.”, Kevin replied as he calmed me down.

“Tell me what to do?”, I replied, pouting my lips sadly at him before knocking my head lightly against the window behind me.

“Okay, say you want to sue. You do know if you do that, your friends who received their compensation have to return them until the case is over right?”, Kevin explained.

I shook my head, signaling No.

“Well, how certain are you that you can win against all their barricade of lawyers? And can you afford to get a lawyer and to fight this case?”, Kevin continued.

I shrugged my shoulders as I didn’t know the odds of that happening.

“And can your friends live without the compensation money? Do they have a security pillow to cushion their loss of compensation? And if they were to join your cause, can they afford the whole trial cost?”, Kevin asked as he drilled my consciousness with questions he asked.

I thought of how Raj was working as a receptionist to support his kids’ education, how Abigail was a single Mom with a new-born baby, and how my family was at peace now. And so was I.

Kevin must have realized that all these questions got to me deep down. He quickly switched from the ‘lawyer’ role to a friend role.

“Sorry, I watch a lot of law and crime shows.”, Kevin says apologetically.

“No, it was good. If you weren’t a doctor, you would be an amazing lawyer.”, I said as I patted his knee.

Kevin beamed with pride as took a deep breath, contemplating everything he just said.

“But, you’re right. About everything. Thanks for doing that. Now, I just need time to think it all through and discuss it with my parents.”, I replied with determination.

Kevin just smiled in response as we both gazed at the market winding-down.

“Let’s get you home, shall we?”, Kevin said as he jumped down from the car and offered me his hand to help me down.

I took this hand and jumped down, turning to look at the market before getting into the car.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

The car ride back home was pin-drop silent. Lexie was staring out the window, definitely thinking hard about the decision. I hope she doesn’t plan to sue. Courts and lawyers are not a ride in the park. Plus, I don’t want her to go back to New York now. We’re just getting started.

Soon, we were back in the same old neighborhood and it was time to go our separate ways. I dropped off Lexie and lowered the window as she popped her head in.

“Thanks for a great and memorable day Kevin. I had so much fun.”, Lexie said as she twirled the sunflower in her hand.

“Thank you for joining me and saving me. You made a mundane thing such a blast.”, I replied.

“See ya around Kevin.”, Lexie replied as she slowly reversed herself before fully turning around and walking up to her door.

“Bye Lexie”, I whispered to myself before continuing my journey home.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V

As soon as I reached home, I sat my parents down after lunch and told them about the offer. They both mentioned almost the same points that Kevin did, but at the end of it all, they declared that they would support me, no matter what I choose.

Grateful, I returned to my room to think about it, only to have a wave of exhaustion wash over me, forcing me to take a nap.

Hours later, I woke up to my phone ringing. I look up to the screen to see a video call from my New York Fantastic Four group.

Amy: “Lexie! How are you girl? How’s everything in Oregon?”

Lexie: “Everything is great babe. How are all of you?”

Jimmy & Lydia: “We’re great!”

Amy: “So Lex, I bumped into Michelle from your office. She said that the guy who got you fired got sacked and that they were offering compensation? I just wanted to know if you knew?”

And so, I filled them in with the conversation between me and Ms. Lee, between me and Kevin, and between me and my parents.

Lydia: “So, what are you going to do now?”

Lexie: “Kevin made some valuable points and so did my parents.”

Amy: “Who is this Kevin you keep mentioning? You two seem chummy.”

Jimmy: “Wait, is this the same Kevin that you hated? The one you said you despised deeply?”

Lexie: “Yeah...about that?”

Hence, I told them a short version of him, from the beginning to the state we were in right now.

Jimmy: “Oohh…interesting. We need to meet this doctor one day.”

Lexie: “Yeah yeah, dream on.”

Lydia: “Anyway, coming back to more pressing matters, what are you going to do?”

Lexie: “I think I know what to do. I’ll let you know once I have done it. Thanks for all the love and support, you guys! Love you, bye!”

I was determined and my mind clear as still waters. I grabbed my phone and tapped on my recent incoming call.

“Hello, Ms. Lee? This is Lexie Cooper. I have made my decision.”