By the time Veronica got a call from Logan to meet him down stairs in 5 minutes, it had been almost an hour. "What took you so long?" she asked.
"I returned the car," he said. "I figured we could walk. It is only about fifteen minutes."
"Okay," she replied. "Here, you can carry this then." She handed him the bag in which she had tossed their overnight stuff.
"No problem," he replied taking the bag with a smile. They walked leisurely toward their new home. At some point in their walk, Logan placed an arm around Veronica's shoulder, and she rested her head on his.
When they reached the house, Veronica raced up the stairs with Taser, who seemed to sense that something different was happening. "Hold on a minute," Logan said as Veronica unlocked and opened the front door. "I have a surprise for you."
"Really?" she asked, stopping in the entryway.
"Yeah." He bent down and unhooked Taser's leash letting the dog run off to explore the new house. "Come on." Logan took Veronica's hand and led her up the stairs. "Close your eyes," he said once they reached the top. He led her carefully to a bedroom door and opened it. "Open," he said.
"Oh Logan," she said with a grin. He had set up a makeshift bed with an air mattress and had a bottle of champagne cooling in a bucket with ice.
"To toast our next step," he replied. "Should I open it?"
"Definitely," Veronica agreed. "I have a surprise for you too," she added.
"Oh yeah?" he asked as he opened the champagne.
"I took tomorrow off work," she said with a smile.
"That is an excellent surprise," Logan said pressing a glass of champagne into her hand. He held his glass up toward her and said.
Veronica held her glass up in turn and said, "To our new house."
"To our new house," Logan agreed clinking his glass to hers. After they sipped their champagne, Logan took her glass from her and placed it on the floor by the mattress. At her questioning look, he just smirked before grabbing her around the waist and falling onto the mattress bringing her with him.
She laughed aloud and rolled over so she was mostly on top of him. "This is good," she said decidedly.
"What is?" Logan asked kissing her forehead, just above one eye.
"Our house," she said. "Our life." Logan smiled at her and continued to kiss her. Just then there was a thump against the bed. They both looked down and saw Taser attempting to climb on the air mattress. They both laughed and Veronica leaned down to help him up. She lied back against Logan while Taser nuzzled next to her. They stayed like that in silence. She rubbed Taser's ears while Logan ran his hand along her arm. "You know what Logan?" she asked.
"Hmm?" he replied relaxed.
"I'm happy." For most people, that wouldn't have been much of a revelation, but Veronica had spent most of her life believing true happiness would always elude her.
"I'm glad," he replied kissing the top of her head. "I am too."
Moving didn't take as long as Logan or Veronica had expected, mainly because they had hired movers. Unpacking was an entirely different story. Veronica was still digging through boxes for things as she packed her bag to go to Neptune for Thanksgiving. "Logan?" she called. "Where is the box with my travel stuff in it?"
"How on earth would I know that?" he called back up the stairs from where he was trying to find all the stuff they would need for the dog. "Did you try the boxes in the bathroom?"
"Yes!" she hollered in exasperation. "Ugh," she groaned. "Whatever, I'm bringing a full sized bottle of shampoo then. We aren't flying. I don't have to stay within the 3.4 ounces."
"That is fine," Logan said. "Can you check if Taser's leash is in the office? I think I might have left it there after our walk last night."
By the time they made it out the door, it was an hour later than they had planned. The rental car trunk was full, and Taser was lounging in the backseat, taking up all the space. By the time they made it to Neptune, they were both exhausted. Only Taser seemed to have any energy.
Linda had ushered them into the house to feed them, but Logan had asked if he could shower first. Veronica sat in the kitchen talking to Linda while she cooked. "I was surprised when your father told me you wanted to come down here," Linda said. "I would have thought you and Logan might have wanted to host Thanksgiving again. This time in the new house."
"I might have if we had moved earlier," Veronica replied. "The place is still a disaster. Boxes everywhere, you know."
Linda smiled and nodded. "That is understandable. You're very busy."
"Yeah," Veronica replied. "If it was left to me, everything would probably still be in boxes. Logan has unpacked most of it." She laughed to herself. "I just realized how funny that is. It took him forever to unpack when he first moved to San Francisco."
"That doesn't surprise me," Linda stated. "He is probably doing it for you now, not for himself."
Veronica smiled and reached to the ring hanging around her neck. She noticed Linda's eyes follow her hand and land on the ring. Quickly, she let go of it so it fell back behind the fabric of her shirt. Linda began to open her mouth in question, but she stopped herself as Logan entered the kitchen.
"Oh good," Linda said. "You two must be starving." She set a plate in front of each of them at the kitchen island as Logan sat down next to Veronica.
"Did you and Keith already eat?" Logan asked digging into the food on the plate.
"Oh yes. Hours ago," Linda replied. "You know how he can be when he is hungry," she added with a smirk at Veronica.
"What are you saying about me?" Keith asked coming inside from the garage where he had been moving things to the extra fridge for Linda.
"Nothing Papa," Veronica replied with a smile.
Keith washed dishes, and he and Linda talked with Veronica and Logan while they ate. Afterward, they retired to the living room and relaxed. Eventually, Logan said, "I should take Taser out before bed."
"I'll join you," Keith said.
"What was that about?" Veronica asked as the men went outside.
"No idea," Linda replied with a shurg. She looked at Veronica curiously.
"Go ahead and ask," Veronica said. "I know you've been wanting to?"
Linda laughed. "So the ring?" she asked.
"Logan purposed to me when we went away for our anniversary," she said.
"Wow," Linda said. "That was months ago."
"I know," Veronica replied. "I said no."
"I assumed if you had said yes, we would have heard about it sooner," Linda replied. "So what's the deal with the ring?"
"He asked me to wear it like this. He thought maybe I could move it to my finger if I'm ever ready."
Linda was nodding. "Do you think you will?" she asked.
"I really am not sure," Veronica replied. She reached for the ring again. "I find I do this a lot." She looked down in silence. Looking up again, she added, "Especially when I am thinking about something sweet he has done." Linda just nodded again, and Veronica was glad she wasn't pushing the topic.
Logan and Keith were walking around the block. They had turned the first corner in silence. Then finally Keith said, "Logan, I need your advice."
Logan was surprised. He still had the instinct that when Keith wanted to talk to him it was because he had done something wrong. "About what?"
"Veronica," Keith began. "Do you remember last year when you asked me about her mother?"
"Yeah," Logan replied.
"Well, Lianne contacted me a few weeks ago. She wants to see Veronica. I haven't known how to bring it up to her," Keith replied with a sigh.
Logan sighed in return. "Keith, I don't know. You're her father you know what is best for her."
"Not always," Keith admitted. "I never thought you would be. Yet, here we are, and I've never seen her happier."
Logan smiled. "I appreciate you saying that. I still don't know what to tell you. I guess the best thing would be to tell her, and let her make the choice herself." He and Keith stopped in front of the house. "She always has liked to make her own mind up."
"I just don't know if I can tell her," Keith admitted. "It was hard enough on me to get the phone call."
"Would you like me to talk to her about it?" Logan asked. "I'm more removed from the situation."
"I'd really appreciate that Logan. Thanks."
That night, Logan sat nervously on the edge of the bed while Veronica was changing into her pajamas. "What's up with you?" she asked. "You've been weird since you and my dad came back from the walk. Did he say something to you?"
"Nothing like what you're thinking," Logan replied. "There is something I need to tell you though."
"What's that?" Veronica asked. When Logan didn't say anything, she turned and looked at him. "Logan what?"
"Here sit down." He took her hands and tugged her down so she was sitting on the bed facing him.
She crossed her legs underneath herself and said, "Logan please. You're scaring me."
"So your dad asked me to talk to you about this," Logan began. "He didn't know how to tell you."
Veronica relaxed a bit as this comment relieved a number of her concerns, but almost as quickly, she tensed again as an equal number of new hypotheticals filled her mind. "Just tell me Logan. Pull the Band-Aid off."
"Okay," he said. "Your mom wants to see you."
Veronica stared at him in silence. She didn't seem able to process the information. She honestly hadn't thought she would ever hear from her mother again. She looked down at the bed and drew her finger over the design on the comforter. "Veronica?" Logan whispered.
"I just…" she began. "Where? When?"
"She called your dad a couple weeks ago. She is in the LA area," Logan explained what Keith had told him. "Veronica," he said slowly when she still hadn't looked up. "You don't have to see her."
"Can we just go to bed?" Veronica asked. "I need to think about all this."
"Of course," Logan said. He scooted back on the bed and pulled the covers down on Veronica's side. "Here crawl in," he said. She did. He pulled the blankets down on his own side and joined her. He adjusted the pillow and reached over to turn off the light. As he lay down in the bed, Veronica scooted over and into the nook between his arm and his body and rested her head on his shoulder.
As Logan wrapped an arm around her, she murmured, "Thank you."
"Of course," Logan replied. Kissing the top of her head, he added, "I love you."
"Me too," she replied.
The next morning, Veronica and Logan both got up early to help Linda with Thanksgiving dinner preparations. After helping for a while, Logan took Taser for a walk while Veronica helped Linda with a couple last dishes.
When Logan came back in, he checked the kitchen for Veronica, but Linda and Keith were sitting at the kitchen table alone talking over a cup of coffee. Logan turned and went upstairs to the guest room. It was empty. Eventually, he found Veronica sitting on the steps of the back porch. "Hey," he said sitting down next to her.
"Hey," she replied.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Thinking," she stated, petting Taser's head as he pushed his way between Logan and her.
"About your mom?" he asked. She nodded. "What have you been thinking?"
"Would you go with me?" Veronica asked.
"Of course, if you want me to," Logan replied. "So you've decided to see her?"
"At first, I thought I wouldn't be able to do it, but if you are with me, I think I'll be fine. Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Why would I mind?" Logan asked. "Veronica, I'll always be there for you."
"Thanks," she replied. Logan smiled. "What?" Veronica asked.
Logan seemed reluctant to answer. When Veronica looked at him pointedly, he finally said, "I just like it that you feel comfortable relying on me." Veronica smiled at him cautiously. "So when do you think you want to do this?"
"Tomorrow or Saturday I think," she replied. "I'll talk to my dad about it tonight. I guess I'd rather go tomorrow than on the drive home Saturday." Logan nodded. "Can we just sit here for a moment?" she asked. Logan nodded again.
After they had eaten Thanksgiving dinner, Veronica sat down with Keith. Logan was helping Linda deal with dishes. "Logan talked to me," Veronica said as she sat down on the couch.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about it myself," Keith said. "I just…"
"I understand Dad," Veronica replied. "I decided I would call her and set up a time to meet for tomorrow if she can do that."
"Are you sure?" Keith asked. "You don't have to see her."
"I'm sure," Veronica said. "Logan said he would go with me." She sighed. "I figured I don't have to stay too long if things get weird."
"True," Keith agreed.
"I guess I need the number to call her," Veronica said.
"I'll grab it." Keith got up and walked to his desk. He came back with a scrap of paper with a number scrawled on it.
"I guess I might as well do this now," Veronica said. "I'm going to go upstairs to call."
"Okay," Keith replied. "We'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."
Keith walked into the kitchen as Veronica went upstairs. "Veronica's calling her mother now," he said. Looking at Logan, he added, "You might want to check on her in a bit."
"You sure you don't want to?" Logan asked.
Keith looked sad. "No, I think you should," he stated. Logan looked at him questioningly but didn't push the matter.
After a few minutes, he went upstairs and listened at the guest room door. He entered slowly when he didn't hear anything. "Hey," he said.
Veronica was sitting on the end of the bed staring ahead of her. She turned at the sound of his voice. "Hey," she replied. She was chewing on her bottom lip.
"How'd it go?" he asked sitting next to her.
"Adequately," she replied. "Honestly, I couldn't really tell you. I told her I could meet her tomorrow. She said that would work for her, and we agreed to meet at a Starbucks near where she is living." She handed Logan a piece of paper. "That is the intersection. We are supposed to be there at two."
"Does she know I'm coming?" Logan asked.
"No," Veronica replied. "I didn't really want to get in to all that."
"I understand," Logan replied wrapping his arm around Veronica's shoulder as they sat in silence.