Love on Ice

Chapter 30

Kate was naked and resting on an equally naked Rick but just couldn't get to sleep. Rick was lying on his back and was giving every indication that he was asleep.

She had her left hand on his chest right in front of her eyes. There was now a second ring on that finger. It was narrow and full of tiny little diamonds so it didn't take up much space on her finger. She had done it! She'd actually done it! She had gotten married. As she lay there she began smiling. She never knew she could feel like this. Staring at her wedding ring, she remembered her wedding.

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Kate put down her phone. "Dad can't make it." She looked at Rick, Maria, and Alexis as they sat in the RV. "He has a scheduled court meeting that he can't get out of." She really did want to get married now but not having her dad at her wedding was making her very sad.

"You know, love, we can just get married again even if it takes us another year. Find the perfect venue, invite all of our friends and family. Your dad will still get his chance. It just isn't going to be tomorrow." Rick had offered to fly him out first class on the first available flight. Even if it was going to cost a small fortune.

Between not having her father at her wedding and listening to Rick tell her he would marry her again, tears began welling up and she was blinking them away. She'd gotten lucky at finding him and she knew it.

"Why you cryin', Mommy?" Alexis was by now in tune with her mother. She didn't so much see the tears as she felt them.

"I'm fine, pumpkin. I just wish my dad could be here." Kate hugged her and kissed her cheek.

Rick had an idea for her to think about. "Your dad and your friends can't be here. What about having them live on phones? We use all three phones and have them on live during the wedding. Your dad, Roy, and anyone else you want."

That had Kate looking at him with new eyes. He really was the perfect man. It wasn't ideal but it just might work.

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All they had in attendance were a few strangers that happened to be in the area and wanted to watch. Maria was sitting right up front with Alexis and was holding two phones while Alexis was holding just one.

Roy, Jim, and Lanie were listening on their phones. Roy was in his office with almost everyone on the homicide floor either in his office with him, in his doorway, or just outside of it.

Lanie was in the morgue and Jim was in his office getting ready for his court appearance a little later. They would all get to see the pictures later as there was a single photographer snapping hundreds of pictures from every angle he could think of.

Caesar, Cleopatra, Roman centurions and soldiers, and handmaidens were also in attendance.

Kate was feeling her heart soaring and she was champing at the bit to say, "I DO!"

The second she did they all heard clapping coming from one phone and the sound of Lanie screaming her delight. Both overpowered everything Jim had to say. He got to repeat it later, though.

While Maria watched Alexis sleeping in the RV, Rick and Kate retreated to a hotel room. Rick had gotten a honeymoon suite in Caesars Palace for them to spend the night in.

They spent most of the night making love to each other and Kate finally screamed and didn't worry who heard her.

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Kate was still looking at her rings when finally she sniffled from her tears, fighting to keep from crying.

"What's wrong?" Rick suddenly asked her. Kate turned to look at him, though he kept his eyes closed.

"Nothing." Actually everything was perfect. "I'm married." Today would be a day she would never forget. Nor was she ever going to forget just how she felt at the moment. She was sure she couldn't be more happy.

"Yes you are, Mrs. Rodgers." Rick grinned wide but kept his eyes closed.

Kate had a satisfied look on her face; she smiled. She wasn't a Beckett any longer. She was a Rodgers now, Mrs. Richard Rodgers. She had signed her marriage license and she was taking his name and making it hers.

"I've got one more thing for you," Rick murmured and still hadn't opened his eyes.

Kate could guess since they had talked about this a little. "A baby."

That had Rick snapping his eyes open. He raised up to look at her. "Are you?"

"No, my period was over two days ago." She was thankful that she hadn't had her period while she was getting married. She was ready for it so nothing would have happened, but that just wouldn't have been right.

Rick turned his head to look up at the ceiling. "We need to get some papers ready when we get home."

"Papers?" Suddenly her heart sank into her stomach. They had only just gotten married and Rick wanted to annul it. He was leaving her. Why hadn't she seen this coming?

"So you can adopt Alexis, if you want to."

Suddenly Kate's heart was soaring again and she was up on her knees and looking down at him as he looked up at her. "You're serious?"

Rick shared what he'd been thinking. "Well, she calls you Mommy so if you adopt her you really will be her mommy."

That had Kate squealing and leaning down to kiss the most perfect man on the planet. She felt a little bad about doubting him but she was way past that now. She was married and she was about to legally have a daughter.

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Kate was first into the RV. "MOMMY!" Alexis hadn't noticed them arriving until Kate came inside. Alexis flew off the sofa where Maria was reading to her so she could end up in Kate's arms.

Kate didn't mean for it to happen but her tears started again. Someday soon this little girl who wasn't really hers, would be hers. Alexis was calling her mommy and in a short time Kate was going to be able to call her daughter.

Rick didn't have any plans for today which was also their last day in Vegas. From there they headed for Salt Lake City. So it was mostly a do-nothing but sit either inside or outside and just be a family. It was maybe a bit boring for Alexis but Rick was ready for that.

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Kate was sitting up front while Maria kept Alexis occupied. Kate read out the address for Rick to put into his GPS. Thanks to construction it took them almost eight hours after a quick stop for lunch.

"Park City RV Resort," Kate said as they pulled in and stopped to find their assigned spot to park and stay for two days. Their spot, like most of the big spots that were large enough for 95 foot units, had a tiny gazebo that had a small table and chairs for two. They had chairs to make it four. They also had their own grill for cooking outside.

Since they were a little late they grilled burgers, veggies, and hobo potatoes, looked at the mountain range that they were parked next to, and waved at their neighbors.

Then they watched a Cocker Spaniel that was not tied down or on a leash come into their seating area and bark at them. "Doggie!" Alexis was ready to get up and pet the dog but Kate stopped her.

An older woman came chasing after her. "Sorry, she got away from us. My husband and I just aren't enough for her."

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Marilyn and Lyle had brought their chairs over and Sable was content as she sat in Alexis's lap was being petted constantly.

"Congratulations!" They had learned that Rick and Kate had just recently gotten married in Vegas.

"Thank you." Kate reached out to take Rick's hand.

Lyle noticed that their dog was totally comfortable right where she was. "It looks like you two are going to need a dog."

"We've talked about it, but can't come to a compromise on just what kind of dog," Kate told them. "Rick wants a really big dog while I'm thinking more Lab or Collie."

To them a Labrador or Collie was a big dog. "Just how big are you talking here?" Marilyn inquired.

"He's thinking Newfoundland or Bernese Mountain dog," Kate frowned.

"I want a dog, not a wind up toy. No offense." To Rick the Cocker Spaniel in his daughter's lap was almost a wind up toy.

Lyle laughed a little. "You mean horse, not dog."

Rick defended his choice. "They're both really good with kids."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "So are Labs and Collies."

"Maybe you should let Alexis choose. Kids have a way of knowing just what's best for some things. Maybe take her to see a puppy of each and let her decide," Marilyn suggested.

"The only problem with that idea is that Alexis will fall in love with the first puppy she sees." Rick didn't think that was going to work. Alexis wasn't going to just put up with leaving one puppy for another and then remember the first one or even the second. It was either going to be the first one she saw or the last one. The others would be forgotten.

"Have you got a home big enough?" Lyle questioned.

Rick nodded. "We have the space and even the yard. We live in Vancouver, BC."

"We live in our Fifth Wheel. We sold our home and move all around the country. When we stop that's where we are," Marilyn shrugged. Their Fifth Wheel did look bigger than the Rodgers' RV. They also had a big truck to pull it with.

"What do you two do?" Lyle asked.

"I'm a defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks. …Hockey."

"And I'm studying for my exam to be an inspector for the Vancouver Police. I used to be a homicide detective in New York City."

"I'm a retired civil engineer," Lyle said.

"You followed your boyfriend to Vancouver." Marilyn loved that. It told her that these two really loved each other.

They eventually went back to their Fifth Wheel and took Sable with them.

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A tour of Salt Lake City on a guided, two hour, trolley tour and they were back on the road again, headed for Boise. This time Alexis was up front, leaving Kate with Maria to have a chat.

"How do you feel, Mrs. Kate?" She wasn't Miss Kate any longer to Maria.

"Amazing!" She was married and had never felt this good in her life. "Rick wants to get papers for me to sign so I can adopt Alexis."

"Alexis loves you. You'll be the only mother she knows. She may someday learn about Meredith but to her she will just be someone she's never met." Maria couldn't see it being any other way.

"So she's never actually seen Alexis?" Kate couldn't understand that. If she had given birth to a child she would at least want to see that child.

"What I know is that Meredith never wanted to be involved with Alexis." She didn't think it was her place to explain Meredith.

"She gave birth to her. You would think she would want to at least know something." Kate didn't understand that. How could she go through pregnancy and not want anything to do with her own child? Granted Rick had told her very little about Meredith but this was just too much to believe.

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They were just outside of Boise. "We're arriving at Country Corners RV Park," Rick called out just before he pulled in and stopped to find out where they would be parking.

There was grass, at least one tree and a fire pit between them and their neighbors.

"Doggie!" Alexis had spotted a dog next door that was on a leash.

"That's a Collie, sweetie." It was one of the dogs Kate was interested in. "Isn't he pretty?" Maybe she could get Alexis on her side.

"He's really pretty, Mommy!" Alexis liked that dog just as much as the Cocker Spaniel. She even started walking toward the dog and they all watched as the dog headed right for her.

"Alexis!" Kate ran to stop her but Alexis had reached the dog first. Just as Kate caught up to the little girl the dog's owner joined them.

She had an I'm sorry look on her face. "His name is Whiskey and he loves attention. We swear he lives to be hugged. Somehow, even though my husband and I don't have children, he's figured out on his own that kids are easy marks."

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That night they merged their tables and chairs and spent dinner with their neighbors. It gave Alexis an opportunity to hug and pet Whiskey who soaked it all up and never left Alexis until it was time to go home.

They also learned what there was to do in Boise tomorrow. They were leaving the day after that and headed for Portland, followed by Seattle, then home.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Rick questioned her as they lay in bed in each other's arms.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kate deflected. She hadn't actually arranged for there to be a Collie right next to them. But…she wasn't above pushing him to get a Collie for them and Alexis.

"Just for that we're going to go see a Newfoundland puppy when we get home," Rick threatened her.

"Bring it on, mister." Kate was sure she now had Alexis firmly on her side.

"That's husband to you, wife," Rick corrected her. Kate grinned and kissed him; he was her husband after all.

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They'd been home for three weeks and Kate had buried herself in her studies to be certain she would past her exam.

Rick showed up and she hardly noticed him. She was deep into trying to read. "Are you ready to go?"

"Go where?" Kate asked absently as she continued to read.

"HighSeas Breeder, we're going to go look at puppies." Rick walked away to get Alexis and picked up the car keys to Kate's car along the way.

"That's nice. …Wait! PUPPIES?" The word had finally made it to her brain. Kate abandoned her book and tried to chase down Rick before he left her behind and got a puppy without her input.

"Where are we going, exactly?" Kate inquired as she got in the passenger seat of her own car.

"Surrey. It's a little southeast of Rogers Arena where I play. They only have puppies once a year and they have one puppy that isn't yet spoken for so we're going to go see."

"A puppy!" Alexis was paying attention and she had learned that she loved dogs and knew what puppies were.

"What kind of puppies?" Kate asked cautiously, afraid it wasn't a Collie.

"You'll see." Then Rick grinned at her which told Kate it definitely wasn't a Lab or Collie.

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Kate didn't see a sign but the GPS said they had arrived. It was a nice house and it was all alone. She didn't see a single neighbor anywhere.

"I'm Rick Rodgers, my wife Kate, and this is Alexis." The lady had greeted them before they could even reach the front door.

She remembered his name. "I'm Sylvia. You're here to see Snow."

"Snow?" Kate queried.

"Snow's a female. She's mostly black but has white front and rear legs. All our puppies are from Jojo and Rio. We're a recognized CKC breeder. Rio has won several showings. If you'll follow me." She led them around the house to the backyard.

"Our daughters play with all our puppies and we breed for temperament. We also make sure none of our dogs have medical problems like thyroid, heart, hips, elbows, patella, and cystinuria. Snow's already had her first shots and had her eyes checked. She's a sweet little girl."

"PUPPIES!" To Alexis even the adult dogs were puppies.

"Those two are Jojo and Rio. Snow is this way." Sylvia kept walking.

"Those are dogs?" Kate was shocked at their size. They were huge! "Just what kind of dogs are these?"

"We only breed Newfoundlands. Newfs love water, children, and can be easily trained to be rescue dogs. They're all about family. You can't find a more family friendly dog than a Newfoundland. …This is Snow." Sylvia stopped at a doggie run and Snow headed right for them.

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Kate knew when she had lost and she'd definitely lost. Alexis was sitting in the grass as Snow bounded all around and over her and tried to lick her face. Finally Alexis got her hands on her, then suddenly Snow was happy to be in her lap and be petted.

Kate didn't even baulk at the cost which, as far as she was concerned, was a lot for a puppy. She'd learned that Snow could be expected to be somewhere between 100 and 120 pounds fully grown. That Snow would be sweet, gentle with Alexis, and easily trainable.

Rick had come prepared with pictures of their backyard and the beach, still filled with driftwood, and the water access that they had.

"Snow is going to love your place." Sylvia was sure of it.

Snow came with a little dry and wet canned food that she was used to. That they needed to slowly work in a different food if they wanted something else. Sylvia gave them Snow's medical history for their vet to give her her next set of shots. Along with a stuffed animal for her to have fun with.

She also gave them some advice. "Stay away from rawhide for baby teeth. It's bad for her stomach. Make sure she has something to do and has time with a family member as often as possible. She should grow up nice and strong and be the sweetest dog ever."

Kate kept turning to look at Alexis and the dog that she was holding onto who seemed content to be in her lap. "A Newfie. …A hundred and twenty pounds. You're sure you don't want a Lab or Collie? They're a lot smaller," Kate asked Rick even if it was too late.

"I warned you I would get you back," Rick reminded her. "Besides, Alexis loves her." Then he cooed, "Just look at that sweet face."

Kate looked at a happy Alexis and the dog. She wasn't sure just whose face Rick was talking about. Snow was as cute as she could be. It was just that that cute little dog was going to grow up to be roughly the same size as a medium-size, female, black bear!

"Does dog food come in 100 pound bags?" Kate wondered, mostly to herself since a 120 pound dog was sure to eat them out of house and home.

Kate found that out the very next day when they were in a pet store looking for all things puppy. Food, beds, flea stuff, puppy pee pads, collar, leash, stuffed animals, pig ears, and dog treats. It only took one trip to get it all to the car thanks to the cart but it took three trips to get it all into the house.

Kate didn't even question where Snow was going to sleep. Everyone knew she was going to sleep in Alexis's room and probably always would.