*Bonus chapter. don't worry, this little bit of background will very important a little later, and it's just a fun little chapter!*
Kari stood outside the bookstore and paced for what seemed like eternity. She kept turning the ring Spencer gave her around and around on her finger. She was so nervous she was starting to get dizzy. No less than two months ago Spencer asked her to marry him. It had been so romantic, kneeling in front of her in the hospital room with her F.B.I family looking on. She felt overwhelmed and happy and terrified. Completely terrified. Spencer told her he didn't want a long engagement and today she was meeting him to decide on the hose they wanted. Kari was OK with commitment, but when it came to decisions...
A house. A large, non-refundable purchase. A forever purchase. Kari started hyperventilating again.
"I told you", Spencer said, walking up to Kari with Penelope. "She's hyperventilating again."
"Kari?" Penelope said, reaching out for her friend.
"Penny!" Kari said, enveloping her in a death grip hug. "Thank you for coming."
"Sweetie, are you OK?" Penelope said with concern. "You do want to get married, right? I mean you and Boy Wonder here are made for each other…"
"Not it's not that", Kari said. "I love Spen more than anything else in the world. I'm just…" Kari started to wheeze again.
"OK, head between your knees young lady", Reid said, smiling. "Penelope, she's not like you. Or most people for that matter. Putting down roots for a woman who's spent most of her life on the road, living out of tour buses, sleeping in hotels, this, this…"
"Is scary", Kari said, coming up for air. "Half outta my mind, Penny."
"That's why we're here", she said. "Mecca for writers. We're going to buy a whole lotta books, Hon."
"Books? This is going to help me pick and buy a house?" Kari said.
"It will", Penelope said.
"I don't believe you", Kari said.
"I'm having doubts myself", Reid said.
"O' ye of little faith. Trust me guys, You'll see." The three of them walked into Barbershon's Book store. The place had a nostalgic feel about. Rickety wooden book stacks taller than Reid lined the wall. You could smell the dust and mildew. Kari's eyes grew wide with excitement.
"Crime section, please", she said, grabbing Penelope's hand and leading her to the back of the store. Reid was already lost in the 1st editions section.
"This one, and this one, and I need this one again because I wore the pages out, and this one…" Penelope just followed behind her with a hand held cart. Kari could shop small, and somehow you have to start small.
When the group finished, they brought the three carts full of books to the counter.
"Well, y'all had fun, huh?" The cashier said.
"Maybe we should put some back", Kari said, reaching for one of the carts.
"Nope, no you don't. You touch em' you buy em'", Penelope said.
"That'll be $345. 87."
Kari took out her amex card and bought the books. As they left with the bags to deposit the books in the car, Penelope told her the next stop.
"IKEA?" Kari said.
"Where are you going to put your new books? Hmm? You got room for them?" Penelope said laughing.
Searching for a book case, the trio spent most of the day in IKEA, picking out bookcases, which went with bedroom furniture that went with kitchen tables that went with dining rooms sets. Kari left feeling very satisfied.
"We picked out some nice stuff, you and me", she said, nudging Reid.
"Now last but not least", Penelope said, as they sat down to dinner. She pulled out her Ipad.
"Genius over here already sent me the links to the two house you guys have to chose from. "This one, or this one?" She said, flipping between the 1920's Craftsman, and the 1960's ranch.
Kari looked at Reid. "Craftsman."
"That's the one I wanted too!" Reid said, grabbing her hand. "How do you feel?"
Surprisingly OK," she said. She turned to Penelope. "Thank you so much."
"Aww, you're welcome Sweetie", she said pulling her into a hug. "Now, when are we planning the wedding?"
Kari's eyes got big as saucers and the subtle wheezing came back.
"Here we go again", Spencer said chuckling. "Waiter, hot tea, please!"