Love on Ice

Chapter 25

Kate was watching the movers coming and going. They were packing up the kitchen and all of the bedrooms as well as carefully packing everything in the basement. There were six of them in total and a nice large moving van that was going to have them and one other person's belongings in it.

It was going to take them ten days to reach Vancouver and the house Rick had purchased. Well, almost purchased. He was meeting to finalize the paperwork today and get the keys. This house was had been sold furnished save for everything in the kitchen, bedrooms, basement, and the garage.

Maria and Alexis had flown out yesterday. It was up to Kate to make sure they packed and loaded everything. Her car was already gone. Once the movers were done today she was going to be sleeping with Lanie in her old apartment, then be driven to the airport for her flight to Vancouver. She was scared and excited all at the same time. She didn't even notice that she was standing there and watching the movers while playing with her engagement ring.

She had resigned from the NYPD the day before then watched as her car was loaded into an enclosed trailer for the trip yesterday.

The food in the refrigerator and freezer had been donated yesterday, meaning she didn't have anything to eat today. Kate was betting she and Lanie would be eating out tonight.

Tonight was going to be bittersweet. She was leaving her best friend behind in favor of a husband and a daughter. That thought had Kate bringing a hand to her mouth and blinking back tears. This choice was definitely the biggest one she had ever made.

Part of what had gotten her to this point had been her memory of what her life had been like when she was actually in a coma. She'd made it past being called Mom and had sworn to herself not to mess this up. However, her desire to find her mother's killer had almost done just that. She still didn't know just how she was going to find him while living in Canada but she was determined to figure it out.

February had come and gone and it was now early March. The Canucks had won just one game this month while losing two. But they were in first place of their division at 39-18-10-1. Rick wasn't even in Vancouver. He was in Toronto playing the Maple Leafs later today. Then he was home for three straight games which included one against the New York Islanders. Kate couldn't believe he was going to have to beat his old team. He still had friends who played for the Islanders.

They were all going to be living in his extended stay hotel until their stuff arrived. Alexis was going to get the hide-a-bed sofa while they got the bedroom. Maria would have her own room.

The kitchen was finally done and Kate was watching as box after box after box filled with stuff from the basement come up the stairs and out to the truck. Most of it was bottles of wine and other alcohol. She had no idea just where it was all going to go since the new house didn't have a wine room but they would find a place for it. Or have one built if necessary.

"Last one, ma'am. If you would look around just to make sure," one of the movers said to her. Kate hurried into the kitchen where she opened everything to make sure it was all gone. Then upstairs to check the bedrooms and bathrooms. Finally she was down in the basement. After that she took the elevator up to the roof just to make sure since most all of it stayed. At last she went out into the garage and found it totally empty. Closing the garage door and going back inside, she looked around at what had been home for months now. She was going to miss it. She was going to miss Captain Montgomery, the guys, and Lanie. And her job.

"Satisfied?" one of them asked.

"Yes, you guys can go." Kate handed over three one hundred dollar bills just as Rick had asked her. $50 tip each.

"Thank you, ma'am. We'll close up and be gone shortly." He gladly accepted the tip and went outside. Their van was taking up a lot of the road out front of the house and since it was during the day the neighbors hadn't complained. They just had to turn and get out the gate to the main road.

They'd actually finished a little early which required Kate to sit down and wait for her ride. Finally she heard a buzz. "Yes?" she queried since it could be anyone trying to get in and while she wasn't going to live here any longer that didn't mean just anyone could come in.

"I made it." Kate buzzed him in, went to the front door, and waited.

"Thanks, Dad." Kate hugged him and invited him inside. He'd never been here before and was never going to see it again. "Would you like a tour before we leave?" He might not be interested.

"Show me where you've been living." Jim truly wanted to see it. Next thing he knew he was walking thorough each room, ending up on the roof. The breeze ruffled his hair. "Do I want to know how much this place cost him?" Jim knew Rick made good money but this place was really nice.

"Somewhere around five million if I remember correctly." To his credit Jim didn't cough at that amount.

"And your new house?" Jim asked.

"It has a yard; this one doesn't. And it even has a beach but there's no dock for a boat. Four bedrooms and three bathrooms and it's actually smaller than this place. But it's mostly two levels instead of three plus a roof deck. I've only seen pictures. It looks nice, though." Kate couldn't wait to actually set eyes on it and walk it. Only Rick had done that. "It even cost half of this place." She was quite happy about that.

"So Vancouver is less costly. I might need to think about moving." New York City was horribly expensive and getting out of the city didn't make it that less expensive, it seemed.

"Really?" Kate was shocked at that and stared at him.

He shook his head. "It takes too much to learn Canadian law and be able to handle clients. I just wish the city was less expensive. But don't worry, I'll fly out for a visit."

"You'd better." Kate was moving far away but she didn't want to lose her dad. She'd fought hard enough to get him back after all his drinking.

"I promise. …Wow! It has an elevator." Jim was still wrapping his mind around that part of this house.

"We actually used it a few times," Kate admitted. "The new one doesn't. What it does have are a lot of stairs. Rick isn't overly concerned about them. Alexis has done pretty good with these stairs so I guess we'll see."

"Listen to you," Jim teased her. "You sound just like a mommy."

"Stop, Dad. Are you ready to go or should I drive myself?"

"Well since I have the keys…" Jim smiled back at her since she was scowling at him a little. "Fine, let's go. You get to sleep on your old sofa for a night. That sounds like fun." Jim wasn't done poking at her.

"Let's go before I forget that I love you." Kate walked to the front door leaving a chuckling Jim behind her.

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Jim watched Kate look at her home for one last time as he drove past it out on the main road. It was sweet and he liked that she was in love with someone as good as Rick. They had talked a lot about how to get Katie past this move and her mother's murder. He was still amazed that Roy had even helped.

It was over an hour, thanks to traffic, until he parked his rental car and escorted Kate up to her old apartment. "KATE! JIM!" Lanie was home and waiting for her. "Come in, come in." Lanie stood to one side then closed and locked the door behind them. "I have Chinese for all of us and lots and lots of coffee." Lanie had skipped the wine since Jim was going to stay even if he didn't want to.

"I know you, Kate, and you haven't eaten and probably don't have any coffee in your blood and you," Lanie pointed at Jim, "if you leave before eating and drinking coffee I will hurt you."

"Sounds like I'm staying." Jim caved in quickly partly because he was hungry and he liked Chinese food.

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"So when's the wedding?" Lanie asked her.

Kate shrugged. "We haven't talked about that yet."

Lanie noticed her playing with her ring. "You nervous?"

"No…yes, maybe. I'm moving to Canada and won't have a job for an entire year. I'll be home schooling myself on Canadian law so I can pass my exam to be an inspector." She still needed a plan. She was playing it by ear for now.

"And getting married and officially becoming a mommy." Lanie was so happy for her.

"Yeah." For so long she was convinced she wasn't going to be either of those things. Now she wanted to be married so very badly. Being a mommy was technically something she already was. Rick came with Alexis and she understood that from the start.

"So when's the first baby?"

"Lanie!" She wasn't even married yet. Of course she knew what it took to get pregnant and they'd certainly worked really hard at that. Save for all the condoms and birth control pills she was still taking.

Lanie rolled her eyes. "So kill me. I want to be a godmother. And Jim wants more grandchildren, don't you, Jim."

"I'm sleeping on my old bed if you don't stop," Kate threatened.

"Fine, be stubborn. See if I care. So how many bedrooms are in this new house of yours?" Lanie was thinking about visiting one of these days.

"Four. Maria gets one and Alexis gets one so that leaves one guest room. Unless you want to sleep in a tent out on the lawn." Kate tilted her head smiled at her.

"I'll pass, thanks." Lanie was not a camping girl. She needed a bed, bathroom, and comfort. "Now if you plan on parking one of those 45 foot RVs in your driveway, I'll happily sleep there."

"I don't know about that but I think Rick is considering adding a dock and getting a boat. Not so sure about an RV." She wasn't even sure where the garage was or exactly where the front door was let alone space for a huge RV. Now she had something to ask him about.

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"I'm happy for you, Katie. Rick's a really good man and you deserve someone special." She'd been through a lot and she deserved to be happy. Jim hugged her tightly and Kate hugged him back.

"I love you, Dad," she whispered, "and I'm going to miss you." She wasn't going to be close enough to have lunch whenever she wanted.

"I love you too, my Katie-bug and I'm looking forward to walking you down the aisle with your mother right up front watching it all." He knew she would be there even if no one saw her.

"Thanks." Kate hugged him again and watched him leave. She only closed the door when she could no longer see him.

"Now that he's gone it's time for some wine." Lanie needed to loosen Kate's tongue so she could get some straight and honest answers. It might take more than one bottle but Lanie was prepared.

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Lanie was hugging Kate and her eyes were flooded with tears. "Don't, Lanie, or you'll get me started." They would no longer be working together and even seeing each other was going to take a plane ride.

"I can't help it. My best friend is going away to start her family. Just remember to send me a wedding invitation." Lanie would do whatever it took to attend her wedding.

"I promise and I expect updates on your search for the perfect guy."

"Well, maybe I should go buy clothes more often," Lanie teased her and Kate laughed.

"Whatever works, Lanie." Kate let go of her as she grabbed her lone suitcase and walked out to her waiting taxi where her bag went into the trunk for the drive to the airport. She watched as her friend got smaller and smaller and farther away until she was gone.

It wasn't until Kate was settled in her seat in the first plane with a layover in Chicago that she started to breathe and calm down. Thanks to Rick's money she was flying first class which was new for her. The seats were bigger; they weren't even off the ground yet and she was being offered something to drink.

Her next gate turned out to be right next to the one she landed at. She walked around to find coffee. She really needed some.

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Kate saw a man standing there with her name on a sign. "I'm Beckett." She was thinking about a taxi to get to the extended stay hotel since Rick still didn't have keys yet. Besides their furniture wasn't going to be here for another ten days.

"A pleasure, Ms. Beckett. You have a suitcase?" He was going to help her with any suitcases she had.

"Just the one."

"This way then." He turned to walk to the baggage claim. "Your first time in Vancouver?" He was willing to make small talk.

Kate shook her head. "I was here a few months ago for a scenic train trip to Toronto. We spent two nights here. It was lovely."

"Vancouver's a beautiful city. So what brings you here this time?" He was naturally curious plus it was still small talk.

"My fiancé was traded to the Canucks recently. So we had to move."

"Rodgers?" He was the only one he knew of that was new.

"Yes, actually. You follow the team?" Kate asked him. They stopped at the baggage claim and waited for it to begin spinning.

"All of Vancouver follows the team. This is a hockey city. Actually all of Canada is hockey. You'll get used to it. The Canucks are on a winning streak. Just a little stumble with the Flyers and Blue Jackets. They'll recover." His hockey team was doing really well and headed for the playoffs.

"They're in Toronto tonight. 39-18-10-1 and in first place." Kate had started keeping track right after Rick had been traded.

"Rodgers was a good addition. We needed more defense."

Kate saw her bag. "That's mine, the one with the blue polka-dotted ribbon." She watched him take it off the turnstile and followed him out to his car for the trip to the hotel.

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"Good luck, Ms. Beckett, and say hello to Rodgers for me. All of this city is watching him." He was here to help them not just reach the playoffs but win the Stanley Cup.

"Thank you and I'll tell him." Kate took her bag and went inside to find what room she was in and get a key.

Kate had just gotten the room's door open. "MOMMY!" She barely had a chance to let go of her bag and kneel down before Alexis was in her arms. Damn but if it didn't feel good to be able to hug her again.

"Welcome to Vancouver, Miss Kate." Maria was right behind her. "Have you eaten anything yet?" Kate had actually gained time but it was still a long flight.

"Just coffee." Kate had to let go of Alexis to drag her bag into the room. "Is there anything close?"

"Not within walking distance. However, Mr. Rick's car is here and it has GPS if you're willing to drive."

"Give me a chance to get washed up and we can go." Kate left them and looked around for a bathroom. It allowed her to see some of her temporary new home. The kitchen was bigger than she expected. White sofa and a purple chair. Windows and two bedrooms each with their own bathroom.

"I'm ready, where should we go?" Maria and Alexis had been here longer than she had so they must be eating somewhere but didn't question if Maria was cooking.

Maria pointed in opposite directions. "There's seafood and chop house one direction and a Japanese BBQ the other."

"How far is the ice arena from here?"

"Not far, actually. Too far to walk but about 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic," Maria answered. "And by the way, the hotel has free breakfast each morning. It's hot, too." It meant it wasn't just cereal meant for Alexis.

"I feel like seafood," Kate decided. She could try the BBQ place another day.

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She wasn't used to driving Rick's car. She found it was three short blocks one way and one really long block the other. Kate read the sign, "Joe Fortes," then parked.

It was good seafood and they were soon back in the hotel room. Maria stayed to help Kate with Alexis who was being her normal can't-sit-still self. Even more so now that Kate was there.

Kate had Alexis in her lap and was reading one of her books to her. When that book was done Alexis had a question. "When are we going home?" This room definitely wasn't home.

"About two weeks, sweetie. Your dad has to have a home game so he can get the keys. Then we have to wait for the truck to show up and unload your bed so you have something to sleep on. We'll have to stay here for a while.

"Have you driven past the new house?" Kate directed her question at Maria who shook her head. "We can't get in but maybe we can drive past it tomorrow. Get an idea just where we'll be living. Perhaps find out how far Rick has to drive to get to his hockey game." Kate was curious and maybe it would help Alexis.

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It turned out they had to go north, over two large bridges, then west. It took them about thirty minutes to reach the house. Problem was the area was filled with trees and their new house had plants and bushes all around it. However, Kate could tell that there wasn't anywhere to park a 45 foot RV. She was still thinking tent camping in the backyard for Alexis.

The driveway was really short that led to a two car garage with wooden doors that had the top part filled with glass. There was barely any room for guests to park their cars.

The address was Pilot House Road but the entrance was on Piccadilly South so Kate kept going back and forth until she figured it out. "Where's the truck going to park?" An 18 wheeler moving van with all their stuff was going to show up soon.

Piccadilly South was looking like the only place for them to park. It was definitely going to turn the road into a one way road. She was going to leave it to them as to how to get back out again. The house itself was almost totally hidden from the road. She couldn't even see the front door.