Life at Christmas
Chapter 19
"So what's the plan?" Jim was curious. They had been outside and ended up standing where Rick could best figure out where he had set up. Unfortunately his location was presently under their parking lot out back. Worse there were four American flags stuck into the ground.
Kate had a problem. However, she had four she could start with before moving on the others. "I have to wait. There's nothing else I can do. The ground's too hard to accurately dig and I can't risk causing damage. It means waiting until sometime around late April or early May when the ground thaws out well enough," Kate answered, her frustration evident.
Jim asked, "Then what? How do you find out if what you think happened did indeed happen?"
"Get whatever I find to Lanie. Hopefully there's enough there for her to tell me what happened." She was sure Lanie would help her.
Jim took a good look at her. "And if you're right? It means one of two things."
"I know and that's the part that scares me the most." If she was right was that enough? She wasn't going to get a confession. Everyone involved had been dead for almost a century and a half. The only one still around was Rick.
"Do I never see him again? If I don't is it because he can't come back? Or did he move on? Or is it because I haven't solved it sufficiently to release him?" She was never going to know unless he got to come back. And then just when was he going to get to come back? Immediately after solving it or would she have to wait until December?
"I do have a question, though. Say you're right. That one of the students was doing what she was told and maybe being paid for. Why isn't…" Jim looked around and lowered his voice. "Why isn't she here, too? Why just Rick?"
Kate hadn't really given any thought to that but her dad had a point. "Not strong enough, maybe. Knew what she was doing so she was forced to go somewhere else." Kate meant going to hell instead of being a ghost and haunting the inn.
Jim had more questions. "So why can't Rick go somewhere? Why is he stuck, trapped, as he calls it?"
"We may never know that. We're talking about something I don't think either of us know anything about. Maybe it's because who he is. This is where he was so this is where he stayed." Kate had no answer for that question. "I just know it's going to be a long four to five months." Kate was going to hate this amount of time without knowing anything. Or worse. What if December rolled around and he was still a ghost?
"Just focus on the fact that you love him. I remember I was so scared that your mother wasn't even interested. She barely even spoke to me. I was beginning to think that she had one of those never date someone you work with policies. Then I finally got up the courage to ask her and she wanted to know why I had waited so long." Jim chuckled. "She was about to give up on me. I guess what I'm trying to say is that don't give up on him just because you don't see him. If you truly do love him then you wait for him. Think of yourself as being married to someone in the military that has been deployed. Your job is to wait. His is to not get killed."
"Wait for someone I love to come home? It's not going to be easy." Kate knew she wasn't good with waiting for anything.
"I do have another question. How long do you plan to keep your other job or are you thinking of trying to keep both?" He knew his stubborn daughter might just be thinking of keeping both. But she surprised him.
"Just until Lanie tells me something if I find him." After that she would tender her resignation, sell her apartment, then get everything shipped here and into storage if necessary.
"Good, I only want what's best for you, Katie. You've been smiling ever since I got here and I don't remember you doing that at home. You've found the right place and we have Abigail to thank for it." Jim took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I didn't even remember her. I don't remember Mom ever even talking about her," Kate admitted.
"Your mother and her sister weren't really all that close. If I remember correctly that one visit when you were little was the last time they talked. Or at least the last time your mother admitted it. As to why, she refused to say. I know their parents ended up divorced so maybe that had something to do with it. I don't know." Jim was only guessing.
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Kate was standing next to Rick who was becoming a little more see through now. Kate had already tried to see whether she could touch him and while there was some resistance, mostly her hand went right through him. It meant making love to him again was out. Hell, she might not even get to kiss him before he totally vanished.
Right now they were both watching Jim look through the binder Abigail had left Kate. "Where did she get some of these pictures?" Jim didn't look up to see Kate shaking her head; she had no idea. He kept turning pages until he reached an envelope. She gave him permission to read it even if it only had her name on the outside.
The look on his face kept changing as he read. Then suddenly there were tears that he wiped away almost as fast as they showed up. His hands shaking, he folded it up, put it back in the envelope, and closed the binder.
"I never did know where the money came from and you wouldn't say." He was sober because of Abigail and because of Rick's money. Though where he got the money since he was dead was a mystery.
"Neither did I so I chose to say nothing. I just wanted it to work. To finally work so I could get my dad back," Kate said.
"I know I've said it before but I'm still so very sorry, Katie. I never really thought one drink could lead to the next and the next and then never be able to stop. Soon I was drinking to forget that I was drinking. There was never going to be an end." It was why nothing worked until suddenly he was in a different clinic that did things differently.
Kate walked over to him so she could hug him. "I'm glad too, Dad."
Rick was lost though Jim talking about drinking might mean he'd been a drunk. But it wasn't his place since he was a gentleman so he said nothing. He couldn't think badly of him. After all he was a common thief.
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Kate was walking her dad through what was going to happen around here while Rick was up front making life miserable for two women before the night crew showed up and took over.
"That bump out is going to go. Then build a new one separate from the main inn. Out here somewhere is going to be the propane tank and the temporary water heating system. I still don't really understand just how that's all going to work.
"The oil tank needs to get dug up. But all of this is contingent on being able to buy the lot across the street for the new parking lot." Kate pointed since they were both out back in the cold.
"Sounds like you have a plan." Jim looked around. The parking lot out back was quite large but she had 63 rooms plus staff and it looked full at the moment. "You have money for this?" He saw thousands needing to be spent for all of this. Not to mention if that oil tank was leaking oil into the ground.
"Rick gave me twelve Confederate bills and I took eight of them to the two different auction houses that you found for me. One ended the day after Christmas. That one alone earned… are you ready for this?" Kate delayed a minute, wanting to see the look on his face. "$890,000."
She smiled as she watched his mouth drop open. "The next one's tomorrow so if it does as well as the first I should have more than enough money. And I have four more bills I can use." She wasn't sure she should tell him that they'd dug up all of the other bills. Mostly because she didn't want her dad to not like Rick because he had stolen the money before he was killed.
"Over 1.5 million dollars. Sounds like it should get you a lot." Jim was still stunned.
"There's one more thing." She walked him over to an outside wall. "The other side of this wall is my bedroom and bathroom. This window's in my bathroom. The idea is to remodel most if not all of it and come out here into the parking lot and create a lot more space. Maybe even add a tiny kitchen." Kate walked back over to join her dad.
"What I don't get is how that is going to work with everything." Kate spread her arms wide.
"That's what architects and engineers are for, to solve that problem. It does sound like you're going to have a small house inside the inn. I suppose if you can use the inn's kitchen you won't need much. So how big are we talking here?" Jim was curious because if it was big enough maybe he would be a grandfather one day.
"Two big bedrooms and two bathrooms or maybe one big bedroom and two little bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bath. I don't know," she shrugged. "That was what the sketches the architect showed me."
"You have sketches?" Jim didn't know why he was standing out in the cold and blowing a small cloud every time he took a breath when they could be inside where it was nice and warm.
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They'd thrown their coats onto Kate's bed and were now standing in one of the conference rooms where she had left the sketches.
"Looks like they're trying to help you make a decision," Jim mentioned since he was seeing more marks on one than the other. "The small bedrooms with a Jack and Jill is winning."
Kate smiled again and shook her head. The staff had found the architect and he had made these two rough sketches for her. She couldn't believe the people who worked here. This place was nothing like New York City. No one in the precinct would've even thought about doing this for her.
"I see what you mean by change. He plans to go out into the parking lot pretty far." Jim flipped each of them around so he could get a better or different look at them. "You really are going to need the other lot to make all this work."
"Yeah, I don't know what plan B is or if there even is one," Kate admitted. It really did all come down to that vacant lot across the street. The only good thing about that lot was that it was huge.
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Kate took Jim upstairs where they saw yet another Christmas tree and they found one of the housekeeping staff working on a room. It was what Kate was looking for since she wanted to show him one of their rooms.
"Bailey!" Just her luck it would be one of her rooms.
"Hi, Kate." Bailey stopped working and went up to both of them.
"Bailey, this is my dad, Jim. This is Bailey, one of my new best friends." Kate had a soft spot for Bailey.
"Mr. Beckett, a pleasure." Bailey shook his hand. "Have you talked her into moving out here yet?" Bailey wasn't shy in the least little bit.
"You don't talk Katie into anything until she talks herself into it. I learned that lesson long ago. She's stubborn," Jim told her and saw Bailey smile.
"Thanks a lot, Dad." She would have poked him for that but he was her dad.
Jim let her in on a secret, "Besides I think she's already talked herself into it. She just needs to figure out when," then he watched Bailey almost squeal as she hugged Kate tightly.
"I knew this place would get to you. I knew it! So when are you moving?" Bailey would help her pack and move here.
"Maybe May at the earliest," Kate said and found herself smiling. Somehow seeing Bailey happy made her happy.
Now Bailey wasn't quite so happy. "Why so long?" May gave her enough time to change her mind.
"I have to finish something and I can't do that until the ground completely thaws," Kate explained.
"Does this have anything to do with all those flags outside?" Bailey asked. She was more than a little curious.
Kate raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to be a nurse? You're starting to sound like an investigator."
Bailey smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. It's what I want to be."
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They were back in Kate's room. "She seems to really like you," Jim said, glad that there was someone like Bailey in Katie's life.
"Bailey's turned into a really special friend. Her enthusiasm is infectious. Today's the 31st so there is something I need to do today since a few are taking tomorrow off. Vacation time."
Jim watched her take a box of envelopes out of her armoire. "What are those for?" Jim was curious but was formulating his own idea.
"Those Confederate bills gave me a lot of money so I'm giving all of the staff a year end bonus," Kate explained and her dad beamed at her.
"You really have adapted to being the owner of an inn, haven't you?" Jim was proud of her.
"I'm getting there," was all the further Kate was willing to go.
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Jim followed her as she gave out each envelope. Each of them said thank you as Kate explained why the envelopes and every one of them smiled. On more than one occasion he heard them sound out their surprise.
"ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS!?" Jim was even more proud of his daughter.
Then Jim found out that Bailey was going to be last for now. Kate would have to wait for the night staff to show up to finish.
"What's this?" Bailey was in yet a different room doing cleaning.
"I'm giving everyone a year end bonus check and this one is yours." Kate knew her check was different from all the others. No other member of the staff meant to her what Bailey did.
Jim watched her as Bailey clapped her free hand over her mouth and began crying after opening it.
"I want you to get the education that you're working so hard for." Kate was instantly enveloped by the young woman who just kept on crying.
Bailey managed to get out a, "THANK YOU!" between sobs.
"You deserve it," Kate said with a soft smile.
They eventually left Bailey sitting on the bed that still needed new sheets as she wiped away tears and just stared at her check.
Jim knew it wasn't any of his business but he had to ask. "How much did you give her?"
"Thirty-five thousand. If I find out it's not enough I'll give her more." Jim stopped her as they went down the stairs and gave her a huge hug.
"I'm so very proud of you!" Jim held her tight and felt Katie squeeze him back. "Your mother would be so very proud of you. If this is what this place has turned you into you need to stay here for a very long time. You've become an amazing woman." Jim was sure he couldn't love her more no matter what else she did in her life.
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Jim was tired but he knew Katie and Rick were going to need some time. It was approaching midnight on December 31st. While everyone else might be celebrating the coming of the new year and maybe even setting off fireworks, for them it was a sad time.
Rick almost wasn't there at all. "Good luck, son. I hope it all works out. For both of you." Jim left the bedroom and made his way to the TV room he'd seen earlier.
Kate stood there looking at what was left of Rick. The man she knew and loved was almost invisible and was just moments from being that possibly forever.
She tried to embrace him and yet she couldn't feel him any longer. It was like hugging air and she hated it. "I love you. I'll be here. I'm going to solve this."
Kate never thought to close her eyes; she watched as he slowly vanished from sight, leaving her all alone. She hadn't heard him say anything for hours. But a few moments before he was totally gone she could read his lips. She broke down and started to sob.
He'd told her that he loved her.
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The next day went by in a blur. She had escorted her dad back to the train station with Amelia doing the driving this time. When he had asked when she was leaving she had told him tomorrow. Her vacation was ending tomorrow.
"Let me know if there's anything you need, Katie. Anything at all. Just don't lose hope. He isn't really gone." Jim hugged her.
"I know, Dad. It just isn't going to be the same." Kate stood there long after his train was gone. She would be back here herself tomorrow for the trip back home. Except her apartment didn't feel like home any longer.
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"You didn't have to do that," Amelia said since she'd found out yesterday the amount of money Kate had given her daughter.
"Yes, I did. Bailey has a dream and I'm going to help her achieve that dream. She's become a good friend.
"I was…I was someone else before my mother was murdered in New York City. After she was murdered I wrapped my heart in steel. A wall, if you wish. I kept everyone out. No one was ever going to hurt me like that again.
"Then out of the blue I get this message that an aunt I didn't even remember had left me an inn in some tiny little town I didn't even know existed. I was just this girl who didn't even want to be here when my parents came here to see her.
"Mom died in November but we already had Christmas stuff out. I had given up on Santa when I was little. He didn't exist. Then her service was just a few weeks before Christmas.
"Christmas wasn't fun any more. It was a day that had more in common with hell than life and happiness. I'm not sure I really hated Christmas. It was just that Christmas was just another memory that my mother had been killed." Kate paused since there was more to the story.
"And here you are in a town dedicated to Christmas and owner of an inn that's all about Christmas." Amelia could feel her pain.
"Then I ran across all the people that worked there. They didn't understand how anyone could not like Christmas. Even worse, I ran across a letter Abigail had left me. Right after that I ran across Bailey, a young woman who believed everything about Christmas." Kate still wasn't totally sure what to think about how Bailey could so strongly believe.
"That's Bailey all right. My husband and I give her presents from Santa. And yet every year she shows us a present that she swears is from Santa. A present my husband and I know we didn't give her. All of them are small and cost next to nothing but she cherishes each of them even today," Amelia shared.
"Between the staff, you, Bailey, and what Abigail had said, they all started to reach me. Then I met someone. Even with my heart encased in steel behind a wall meant to keep everyone out, he got in. Now I love him more than anything," Kate admitted to someone other than her own father.
Then Kate huffed out a bitter laugh. "Now I don't want to go home, but I have to. I have to wait until it gets warmer. There's something I have to finish first. I have to." Kate knew she had no choice. Her life was gong to be put on hold until she found Rick's body. A year of therapy had taught her to let go of her mother and her case. Now what was left of her heart needed for her to solve who had killed Rick and where his body was buried. Then pray that he could back.
"I guess that explains why Bailey said there was something she had to do. Something about a late letter to Santa that she had to deliver." That had Kate looking at Amelia a little shocked. She knew she had actually written one, but she had asked for it to be mailed, not given to Bailey.
"She came back without that letter. My husband and I have no idea what she did with it and she won't say, not that we asked very hard. She's a good kid. Somehow she just knows instinctively what the right thing to do is. Now if I could just get her younger brother to follow her example my husband and I would be very happy." Amelia laughed at herself.
"If you want a life that you weren't sure you were ever going to have, you've come to the right place. Things that happen in New York City don't happen here. It's the perfect place to live. You'll see if you let it happen to you. Just come back, Kate, that's all you have to do. This place can fix anyone's heart."