The next morning Rick awoke to three sets of eyes and whispering.
Rick feigned to be still asleep. Kate was missing from the bed. She must have heard Emily and was attending to her. Rick lay still as the whispering got closer and closer. Rick waited until the kids got too close than he sprung up and caught the nearest one which had to be Johanna.
Arrrggh…! Rick said throwing the covers off. The other kids scattered as Rick proceeded to become the tickle monster.
"I have a victim and she is going to laugh for me!" Rick said in a menacing voice.
David and Eric Jr. ran fast out of the bedroom.
Kate was in the kitchen. Both sets of his Parents and Grandparents were sitting at the table.
"So Eric/David did you get him up." Kate asked.
The two boys were giggling and nodded their heads.
"Good here is a gooey Cinnamon Bun for each of you. Don't get it all over you!" Kate admonished.
"Mom… Why did you wake Dad up?" Card asked yawning.
"It is Saturday and after 9 AM he should be up. He was he one to promise the kids a romp in the park today. That is all they have been talking about since they awoke. It is high time he came out and fulfilled his promise." Kate said plating Rick's breakfast. "Can I interest you in some eggs Card?"
"Sure Mom" Card said as she sat down with Juice next to her Sister which had a dreamy look to her face.
"I know someone is happy this morning!" Card singsonged.
"Cut it out Card…Why wouldn't I be I am a happily married woman and with a Man that loves me." Alexis pointed out.
"Card quit bothering your Sister. I swear you two are just as bad as Johanna and David!" Kate scolded from the stove.
Just then Rick appeared with Johanna across his broad shoulder.
"Special delivery…Where do you want this sack of potatoes Ma'am?" Rick said holding on to Johanna with one hand.
"Rick put her down." Kate said laughing.
Johanna was screaming for joy as Rick set her down.
"Daddy I don't want to get down" Johanna grumbled.
"You heard your Mother down you go!" Rick said. "Blame your Mother in spoiling your fun!"
"Rick watch your back!" Kate said smiling.
Rick rose up and snatched a piece of bacon then gave Kate a kiss.
"I missed you last night." He whispered in her ear.
The vibrations of his voice alone made her almost swoon.
"It was not my fault you could not stay awake when I returned from Emily. You are getting old Rick. Now sit down here is your breakfast." Kate said recovering.
"I will show you who is old Kate! Now who here wants to have fun in the snow?" Rick asked.
Both Alexis and Card raised their hands. The Kids hearing Rick talk about fun and snow all rushed to the kitchen.
"I do Daddy! I do!" Johanna and David implored.
"Leave your Father alone Kids we will go after he eats!" Kate good-naturedly said.
"Hurry up and eat Daddy!" David said since he could not wait to get outside.
"Ok David" Rick said laughing.
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Rick finished eating and the whole clan headed out. Eric Sr. came along too. Alexis thought it was important for him to interact with his son.
They got to the park and soon teams were devised. The girls against the boys in a snow fort building contest then after that was done the snowball fight could occur.
Rick was hampered because Eric Jr. just wanted to run around in the snow and not help build the fort. David however, was a natural builder and was right at his Dad's side as they contoured the snow fort.
The women were far more efficient and had their fort done sooner. Kate took the lead and both Card and Alexis followed her plan. Johanna was dogging her Mother's feet. Alexis realized Eric Jr. was no where in sight so she went off to find him. Eric jr. had covered himself behind a bush and jumped out to scare his Mother with a mighty roar. Giggling he ran away from her. Alexis preoccupied left the snowball building to others as she chased her son through the deep snow.
Finally each side was complete. A neutral observer in the form of Jenny Ryan came up with her handkerchief as the way to start the fight.
Rick was about to throw when he was hit from behind from a well tossed ball from a hidden Alexis.
"We are surrounded Men Let them have it!" Rick said as the barrage of snowballs erupted from the fort.
Rick was pushed and fell in the snow by little Enrico.
"What my namesake is turning on me too?" Rick said laughing as Enrico ran for the Safety of Lanie who was sitting next to Jenny.
"Enrico You must have been put up for this!" Rick bellowed.
Enrico once safely next to his Mother gave her the high five.
"That is my son!" Javier said walking up then kissing his wife.
"I though you would be still at work?" Lanie said melting into his side.
"I was well I still am. Ryan wanted to see how the family was doing. We were heading this way so why not stop and say hello." Espo said.
"I'm glad you stopped by Rick is making a fool out of himself." Jenny said laughing.
"Well of course he would" Kevin said kissing his wife. "There is snow!"
At this point a snowball smacked Javier in the face.
"Alright who threw that?" He yelled out then another hit him.
Looking over Kate had a big grin on her face.
"What's a matter Espo you can hit me?" Kate yelled out.
"I'll show you Beckett!" Espo said scooping up some snow to pack it really tight.
Enrico pulled on his Father's leg. He bent down and listened to his Son's plan. He smiled as he threw the snow ball at Kate.
Enrico having pushed Rick in the snow thought he would do the same to Kate but was intercepted by Card who picked him up and tossed him around like an airplane.
After the truce was called, everyone headed to the hot chocolate vendor. It was where everyone got a cup of hot chocolate. Rick of course paid.
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Card and Alexis sat down both a bit winded. Rick sat next to them.
"So how are my girls doing?" Rick said being covered in snow.
"Dad yuck stay away you are covered in snow" Alexis squeaked.
"Here Dad let me help you." Card said brushing off the loose snow.
"Thanks Card here is your hot chocolate." Rick said handing off the two cups he was holding.
"Dad I want to talk to you." Card said.
"Ok my Daughter I'm all ears just for you." Rick said.
Alexis groaned at the corny joke.
"Be serious Dad did you talk to Paula about my Book. I know you have read it Alexis told me." Card asked.
"No Card I did not speak to either Paula or Gina last night. Your group had me pinned down for most of the night. They were mighty disappointed when you arrived to save me. So what is this all about?" Rick asked.
"So you had nothing to do with the book offer?" Card asked.
"What book offer? Card…Were you approached at your graduation party to discuss a book deal? I did not know that." Rick said.
Kate sat down next to her Husband blowing on the hot beverage.
"Hey Mom" Alexis greeted. "Who is looking after the kids?"
"Between Lanie, Jenny and Eric Sr. I think they have them covered." Kate said.
"Kate Card has been offered a book deal." Rick said.
"Oh that is wonderful Card your book is great. They will love it!" Kate said. "I really loved the internal conflicts Betsy was having with her husband. It was quite well done."
"Mom you read my book too? Alexis I thought you only gave it to Dad?" Card said accusingly.
"Card, leave your Sister out of this. Your Father gave it to me. And don't get so worried it s only a few other who have read it." Kate said.
"Who else did you show?" Card asked.
"Well Dad is reading it and so are Martha and Lanie. I think Jenny got a copy too. What I can tell on the site most have high praise for it." Kate said. "However, most think it is Rick who wrote it."
"They do not know it was Card?" Alexis asked.
"Nope I did not tell them either. I did not want to contaminate the real opinions." Kate said.
Rick smiled at his wife then kissed her. Kate continued by swatting away Rick.
"According to them it was wonderfully refreshing. They praised it as one of the better books Rick has written." Kate said with a smile while sipping her hot beverage.
"Imagine that getting praise like that for a book I did not write!" Rick quipped.
"Well in their defense Card you do write much like your Father. If Rick did not tell me it was one of yours I would have assumed it was his too." Kate said.
"Wow Mom Dad that is high praise indeed." Card said. "Thank you I was a bit nervous how Dad would like it once Alexis told me she had given it to him. Hearing it being so well received is like a weight has been lifted. I will be more confident when I have that meeting with Black Pawn on Tuesday."
"Do you want Izzy to look over the contract?" Rick asked whipping out his phone.
"Yeah Dad I would like that." Alexis said.
"Considerate it done oh Daughters of mine…" Rick said as he texted Izzy "Now what time is this meeting?"
"10 o'clock Dad…" Alexis supplied.
"Wait Alexis are you going with Card?" Rick asked "like Moral support?"
"No Dad like Co authorship. Card had extended to me that privilege." Alexis said.
"It is only right Dad since she was a big part of working on the book." Card replied.
Rick just smiled and hugged his Daughters.
"That makes me proud both of you." Rick said.
"Thanks Dad…" they both said.
"Well I hate to be the ogre but we have some very wet kids they need to get dry. Come on let's get back to the loft." Kate said.