The reality of Caroline the poor docile creature is much more than Kate originally thought. She recalled the conversation.
"Jackson says when they capture Carmine that there is a young girl who looks like Alexis." Rick said.
"Rick what are you doing?" Kate asked lying on her side in the bed.
"What do you mean? Kate?" Rick asked.
"You know what I mean." Kate answered.
"What arranging for this orphan to stay with us? Kate are you so heartless?" Rick asked.
'No Rick are you not thinking of the ramifications?" Kate asked.
"Like what?" Rick asked getting a bit upset at his recalcitrant wife.
"I don't know what about space?' Kate asked.
"Space there is a spare bedroom now." Rick said.
"Rick twins? Remember they will need a nursery." Kate said.
"Not right away they will be sleeping in our room for awhile. Kate don't worry it will work out." Rick said.
"Right it will work out is your idea? Face it Rick if she did not remind you of Alexis you would not be doing this. I mean she is 15 years old…" Kate said.
"A 15 year old who never got to play dress up. Who was regimented into something presentable to Carmine? Don't you forget I met that disgusting woman? I can imagine how her child was treated." Rick said.
"Right and so this poor sheltered waif will become our problem? Rick look around we have not had a proper honeymoon and now I am flat on my back. It is all too soon." Kate said.
"Right so what should I do tell no to Jackson my Father? He was trying to make up for of time spent away just because we do not have space for a nursery? Rick argued.
"No Rick of course not." Kate said. "But if, she is so sheltered. We are going to have to consider who will take care of her?"
Alexis knocks on the door.
"Come in Pumpkin." Rick said tabling the discussion for the moment.
Kate rolled her eyes at him.
"Did I hear you are going to be sponsoring a female foster child?" Alexis asked excited.
"Yes Alexis we are considering it" Kate said.
"Do I get have a say in this discussion?" Alexis asked.
"Yes it will affect everyone" Kate said hoping Alexis' cooler head would prevail.
.
"I say yes I want a foster sister. I have always wanted a sibling close to my age and this is it." Alexis said. "I would love to be the big sister I knew I could be. I love to show her everything."
Rick looked triumphantly at Kate. She looked between the two pairs of blue eyes and she knew she could not stand in the way.
"Ok Rick I was being silly make the final arrangements. Alexis you are getting your wish. But this girl is very sheltered. You are going to have to explain everything to her. She has been catered to all her life. Someone has done everything for her. So she will probably know how to dress and clean herself but not much more. She was being conditioned to be something an Evil woman wanted. She might even be a bit clingy. Everything she knows will have been ripped away from her." Kate said.
"Yes Mom I realize that." Alexis said.
"Of course you do I should have know you would be prepared." Kate said. "No matter how prepared you will be there will be things which would make you think. What I am saying you need to expect the unexpected."
"I will" Alexis promised.
"Now one thing I will not stand is acting if she is different. She is going to be part of this family and we will not change one aspect" Rick said.
"I won't dad no matter how strange I feel she is. I will welcome her with open arms." Alexis said.
"Kate?" Rick asked with one eyebrow raised.
"Yes Rick of course no difference" Kate said then Rick kissed her.
That's my girl! Rick said kissing her again.
"EWWWW please guys let me leave the room!" Alexis said.
Rick just chuckled.
Kate's memory faded. The reality was much more than they had thought. The poor girl was very docile and pretty much did not have an opinion about anything yet. But she is a very good girl though very passive. No wonder they needed to protect her. But…Sophie…really…? Kate did not ask for the price only the access. Now the price is Sophie.
\\\\\
The dinner was finished and Rick asked Card to step in to his office.
Card followed Rick into his office.
"Caroline I have some bad news." Rick said.
"You are going to send me way? Did I do something bad?" Caroline started to cry.
"No nothing like that you are as good as gold. You are like my other daughter to me. This concerns your real family." Rick said. "It is about your grandmother…"
"What about my grandmother?" Caroline asked.
"She is dead." Rick solemnly said.
"Oh" Caroline said as she accepted it as fact which it is but she showed no emotions.
"I thought you would like to know. I'm so sorry for your loss." Rick said.
"Why are you sorry? I really did not know her. If I am not sorry why would you?" Caroline asked.
"Well I guess it is just something polite to say." Rick said.
"Oh right thank you for your concern." Caroline said as if she was repeating something she learned from rote. There was no emotion or any inflection to her voice.
Now that she was certain she was not going to be turned out into the cold.
"Alexis said you have a train set? Could we put it together?" Card asked.
Rick lit up at once.
"Yes my dear that is an excellent idea let's go find it." Rick said exiting and shepherding Card out the door.
A few moments later with Alexis' help the right box was found and both Rick and the two girls put together the train set. Card was allowed to be the engineer.
"Toot Toot" Rick said while pulling on an imaginary steam whistle valve.
Both girls giggled as they watched the train move around and around.
Kate watched them interact they were very similar Alexis and Card. She felt foolish for ever voicing any opposition. She was very glad that Caroline came to stay.