As soon as the door clicked shut behind her she instantly regretted her decision to leave Rick without telling him why they were leaving. She was grateful for the clothes he had given her, but her ID and cash was still back in the rectory of the church as far as she knew. At her father's insistence, she followed him out the door and had not looked back. Right now she could care less about Will and the trouble he was in. Rick had been her knight in shining armor as far as she was concerned.
They left his building and got into her father's car. He drove with a purpose, one she thought was too critical for the task at hand.
Does he think that I'm going to reconsider getting back with Will? If he does he's sadly mistaken. We're over.
"Dad, why are you driving like my life depended on us getting there?"
"Katie, while I'm very appreciative of Mr. Castles efforts, he was wrong in taking you away from the church. You should seriously reconsider marrying Will. He's stable, has a great job, and from what I can tell he still loves you even after the stunt you pulled yesterday afternoon!"
"His name is RICK! Dad and he's a friend NOT a business acquaintance. And if you think that Will is such a great provider, then why don't you marry him?! I for one really don't want to be with him anymore. He does not have all the qualities that you mentioned, just to be clear! He's terrible in bed, he's a controlling, jealous, egotistical, scheming jack ass! Kate was now boiling at what her father wanted for her, so she told him like it was.
"Katie, come on he can't be that bad…right?" Jim said.
"PULL OVER! NOW!" Kate demanded.
He did as she asked, but gave her one more thought as he slowed down.
"Katie, see to reason here! He said he was sorry, and I believe he meant it."
"Dad, he threatened to arrest Rick. He went off halfcocked with no clue, not realizing that I went willingly. Even after I told him he still demanded that I go back with him. No, we're done. This almost wedding will not happen now or ever! So, if your so hell bent on getting him out of this predicament, then you're more than welcomed to do it on your own. Me, I could care less. Good bye dad!"
Kate opened the door and slammed it hard. So, hard that her father had shook from the motion of the door closing. As he pulled away heading to FBI headquarters she thought, she was now not that far from the church she was supposed to get married in. She had hoped that her cell phone, cash, and bag were still in the care of the church officials. She walked with a brisk pace to the church and found the rectory was open. She stepped in to find the secretary sitting behind her desk. Approaching the desk the woman looked up and her face that was happy that second had changed to a sad look in the next when she noticed Kate standing there.
"Can I help you dear?" She asked.
"Maybe you can. I was here the yesterday afternoon about to get married by father O'Connor."
"Yes, I know. What was it dear hmm cold feet?
"Well, yes you could say it was something like that" Kate told her.
"Here dear, I have all your belongings in my lower desk drawer. I had a feeling that you'd be back today"
The woman opens the drawer and removes Kate's bag, her wallet, her phone and a small overnight bag and places the items on the end of her desk. Kate picks up everything and offers a heartfelt thank-you to the woman. The last item she takes is the overnight bag. She knows that she did not pack it or bring it to the church. It had to be Lanie. She's unzipping the bag as she turns away from the desk and looks inside, in it was a note that said:
"Kate, this is for your wedding night! I expect to hear the pitter-patter of little feet soon. Love, Lanie
She pulled out a lace teddy and matching panties. Both in red. She quickly shoved them back in the bag. She opened the door and left the rectory feeling a little embarrassed with the contents of the bag while she was in a church.
She was not far from the D train at Rockefeller Center. It would be a short walk so she set out for the station. Descending the stairway, she could not believe her father. His reasoning was all wrong. Sure, he might have offered to pay for her wedding but it was actually Will and herself who released him from that duty. They had paid for everything together. He was still working, but with the death of his wife, most of his savings went to funeral costs and related purchases. It left him almost broke. He still had his retirement account, but now he would need to work for another 10 years at least to live comfortably.
The subway cars ground to a halt in front of her and this drew her from her thoughts. Stepping in she wondered to herself as she sat if her mother was looking down on her would she be disappointed in the events that unfolded yesterday. She had a long ride ahead of her. By the time she reached Middle Village she had her mind made up. She would change into a decent set of clothes and pack a week's worth of clothes. She only hopes that she will be welcomed back into Rick's loft. About 40 minutes later she is back on the D train heading for Manhattan. She'll need to take a cab from Bleecker Street to his place but she had her Debit card and cash so money was no longer an issue.
Rick was almost to a point of losing it in front of Alexis, and wearing the carpet out in front of the couch at the same time. If he was honest with himself, he was worried about her more than anything else. Time for him seemed to drag on and on. He knew he was probably wrong because every time he looked at the clock another 20 minutes had ticked by.
"Dad, you need to calm down. I know that she'll be back. Just give her the time to get her head straight."
He looked into eyes that mirrored his own and calmed a little.
"How can you be so sure Alexis?"
"Dad you'd have to be blind not to see the fact that she likes you… Right?"
"Alexis, we just met yesterday! I think that knowing someone before you like them is more my speed. That's how a relationship works. Start out slowly and gather their likes and dislikes to see if we are compatible together."
"Dad, have you ever heard of love at first sight?"
Just as he was about to respond there was a soft knock on the door. Both father and daughter locked their eyes on each other's frozen in place.