Changes

Chapter Eleven

Rick and Kate had a lazy day the next day as they wandered around Perth. There was plenty to do, so they climbed the bell tower, went for a walk through King's Park and went for a cruise on the Swan River. Kate did some shopping, and bought some souvenirs for the team.

As they sat down for lunch, Rick's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and smiled.

"Alexis," he said to Kate, before answering the phone. "Hello, darling."

"Hey, dad! How are you?"

"I'm very well, how are you?"

"Missing you, of course," Alexis replied. "But that's not why I called. I just wanted to know when you'd be coming home."

Rick frowned, suspicious. "Why?"

"Well, Ashley has invited me to go with his family up to Toronto for a week, and I figured I'd ask you first."

"He wants you to go to Canada? Why?"

"Holiday." Even over the phone, thousands of miles away, Rick could sense his daughter shrugging. He sighed.

"We're still going to be another two weeks or so. Yes, you can go. Just don't get into any trouble!"

"Dad. This is me."

"I know, sweetie. I love you."

"I love you too, dad. All my best to Kate. And thank you!"

"You're welcome."

Alexis hung up pretty quickly, leaving Rick slightly bewildered.

"Well, Alexis sends her love," he said as Kate took a bite of her sandwich.

"Canada?" Kate asked.

"Uh, yeah. With Ashley and his family."

"You leave the country and she only calls to ask if she can do the same?" Kate chuckled at the thought.

"Well, she's quite independent nowadays."

"Ain't that the truth?"

"You're in a good mood today," Rick observed as Kate continued eating.

"Yeah."

"Any particular reason?"

"No."

Rick smiled at his wife, and she stuck out her tongue at him in return.

Once she'd finished her sandwich, she looked up at Rick with a curious look on her face. "So what's next, oh great one?"

It was Rick's turn to roll his eyes and chuckle, but he answered, "We're going to hire a car, and tomorrow we're going to drive down south and visit some wineries. I've been told there are lots."

"So we're going to be carting wine back to New York?"

"Probably," Rick replied with a shrug. "Or I'll just get it sent ahead of us."

"That could work."

"Indeed."

Kate reached across the table and rubbed the back of Rick's hand. "I love you, you know."

"I know," Rick replied, smiling. "I love you too."

"Good."

Rick was still smiling when he pulled Kate to her feet, and they went to go hire a car.

Driving out of Perth was nice, Kate decided. While she had loved the city, it was nothing compared to the open countryside. There was a mix of bushland and farms as they followed the Albany Highway towards Albany. Kate figured that's where they were headed, and six hours later she was proven correct. They pulled up into a caravan park next to the beach, and checked in to a cabin. It was small, but had everything they needed – bed, bathroom and a couch. Rick assured Kate that they'd be out more often than in anyway, so the size didn't matter. Kate, despite having been with Rick for a few years, was still not always accustomed to large hotels and extravagant spending, so a small cabin in a caravan park was fine to her.

It was early afternoon, so they drove around the small city and visited a few touristy sites before heading north to Mt Barker to visit some wineries. True to his word, Rick bought a few cases of wine, and instructed them all to be sent back to his loft in New York.

"Sending wine halfway across the world, wow," said one of the people at one of the wineries they visited.

"Well," Rick replied, "It's just that good." He smiled, and the woman behind the counter smiled back.

"It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Rick," she said.

"And you, Carol," Rick replied. He wrapped an arm around Kate's waist, and they walked out into the fresh air.

"I love it out here," Kate said as they walked back to the car. "It's so much nicer than New York. Don't get me wrong. New York is home, and I love it, but it's nice to be out in nature sometimes."

As they hopped into the car, Rick reached over and grabbed one of Kate's hand, holding it over the centre console. "I know what you mean." He kissed the tips of Kate's fingers, causing her to smile. "Same here."

"So where now?" Kate asked as Rick started the car. She agreed to let him drive, deciding that she didn't want to risk driving on the wrong side of the road.

"Well, how about back to the caravan park, and then dinner?" Rick asked. "Lazy day?"

"I like that idea." Kate grinned, before leaning across the car to kiss Rick lightly on the lips.

"Well then, let's go."

They sat across the table at dinner, neither saying very much. They'd found a grill just off the main road of town, and were enjoying a meal. Rick was devouring a steak, while Kate had grilled chicken in pesto sauce. They ate in content silence, shooting glances at each other, smiling happily every once in a while. Two weeks into their honeymoon, and Kate was more than relaxed. She was having a great time, and being able to spend time with her husband without the constant presence of death hanging over them. As they finished up their meal, and went to pay, the left the restaurant and went back to the car.

"Can we go for a walk?" Kate asked as they drove back towards the caravan park.

"Sure," Rick replied. "Where do you want to go?"

"Well, there's the boardwalk, isn't there?"

"That around the corner from the caravan park," Rick replied. "Sure. We'll go drop the car off and then walk."

"Okay."

They parked in front of the cabin, and then walked hand in hand down towards the beach, and then onto the boardwalk which follows the edge of the ocean along towards the port. There were a number of people around, various people jogging, couples walking hand in hand, and this caused Kate to smile. She and Rick walked side by side, laughing occasionally and leaning on each other while they did. It was the perfect way to finish the day.

A/N: Thanks for reading :)

The details of the trip are going to get a bit shorter, mostly cos I want to get them back to New York so I can finish the story off. But hopefully you'll still enjoy the last 2 weeks of the trip.