Alice rolled over in bed only to find an empty spot where Tasha had fallen asleep beside her. Since Tasha started the LAPD academy Alice had become accustomed to waking up alone.
Some mornings, like this one, Alice just did not have the energy to wake up before sunrise to see Tasha out the door.
She rolled to her side and smiled as she stretched her arms. Stamina +9 points should be added to the pro side of her list for Tasha. She had no idea how after a full day of physical training, defensive tactics and academy life her girlfriend was still able to make such wild and reckless love to her at night....and still be up before dawn to do it all over again.
She thought back to some of the most memorable and awkward days over the last 6 months of Tasha's training. She'd never forget the first week of hell Tash endured. She remembered rubbing Ben Gay into Tasha's muscles and watching her fall asleep as she contemplated why the hell Ben Gay was Ben Gay and not Ben Straight or anything else.
She remembered the first time Tasha came home in her recruit uniform rather than her business attire. She also remembered that Tasha barely protested about the uniform being freshly pressed when that uniform ended up in a heap on the floor.
She remembered the day Tasha came home after being pepper sprayed. She also remembered,painfully, that pepper spray can remain on someone's skin even after a shower.... ouch.
She recalled the first day that Tasha came home from the range smelling of gun smoke. And she remembered that she hoped to never smell that smell again.
She remembered Tasha's smile as she came home from driver's training, talking a mile a minute about pursuits and lights and sirens.
She also remembered the day Tasha came home with tears in her eyes over the day the recruits learned about child abuse investigation. She remembered that this day was the first one she was truly proud of Tasha and what she was doing.
Lastly Alice remembered watching the news. She found herself looking for stories about the LAPD just as she had looked for stories about Iraq when Tasha was in the Army.
Alice stood up and wrapped a soft robe around her body headed to the kitchen for some orange juice. As she opened the refrigerator it amazed her seeing the red 'x's' on the calendar counting down the days until Tasha's graduation. She had one week left.
She heard her IPhone ringing in her bedroom so she rushed to pick it up. It was Shane.
"Shane, what's up?"
"Hey Al, can you meet me at the Planet...say in an hour?"
"That depends if your shadow is gonna be with you." Since Shane and Jenny's hookup they had been almost literally attached at the hip.
"Yeah Al, Jenny's in Seattle this week remember? She's doing that writer's workshop."
"Okay, I'll be there."
"Kay."
They hung up simultaneously.
Alice's phone rang again.
"Fuck me!" she exclaimed.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Piescewki?"
"Speaking?"
"This is Ofc. Lewis with the LAPD how are you today?"
"Um fine I think..."
"Ma'am the reason I'm calling is that Recruit Ofc. Williams is slated for graduation and all of her paperwork seems complete, but she has you listed on some forms here as her beneficiary and emergency contact."
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed fearing the worst.
"No no ma'am Recruit Williams is fine, but she neglected to add your date of birth on a few forms here."
"Oh, thank God. You scared the hell out of me."
"I'm sorry about that."
Alice gave the officer her date of birth and hung up the phone.
She sat down with her head in her hands. She and Tasha had been through some rough times. They had ultimately concluded that they were certain they were better together than apart...but being listed as officially connected to Tasha spooked Alice to say the least. Tasha hadn't even asked her if it was okay. Part of her wanted to be thrilled that Tasha believed so strongly in their relationship, but the other part of her was agitated that she wasn't consulted.
Alice rubbed her hand on her forehead and walked slowly into the bathroom. She needed a shower, a cup of coffee and advice from her closest friends as soon as possible.