Charlie IV
Chapter 24
It is one month later, early August
Jim was at work and Jo was home with Charlie. She was sitting at the dining room table with Charlie laying on the floor close to her. She'd brought work home with her so she could keep Charlie company. She was reading something when suddenly Charlie lifted his head at a sound he heard but couldn't place. "Are they home, Charlie?" Jo tried to look outside. She thought she saw something so she got up and Charlie went with her.
Sure enough she saw Rick's truck and the RV right out front. So she opened the front door. "Go get 'em." Jo watched him walk out the door. Then finally Kate opened the passenger door and all at once Charlie took off running flat out, barking the entire way.
Jo watched as Kate got the full Charlie treatment and Jo knew without a doubt that Katie was truly loved by at least one of them. But when Rick came into view Kate got abandoned. Now Charlie was whimpering and doing all he could to get Rick to pet him.
Eventually all three were on the front porch. Yes, Jo still had the door open and was letting all the cold air out but she didn't care. "I think next time you should consider taking Charlie with you," Jo told them as she let them all inside.
Rick and Kate only made it as far as the living room and now both of them were taking turns petting Charlie who was still seriously happy to see them.
"So how was the trip?" Jo wanted information.
"Pretty good mostly," Kate said. "Key West is amazing and thanks to the breeze not really all that hot. Disney, though, was baking hot. You should try standing in line waiting for hours just so you can ride a ride that lasts just a few short minutes. We both bought these bottles you fill with water that have a battery operated fan attached."
"I couldn't eat the ice cream that looked like a Mickey head fast enough," Rick told Jo and Kate laughed as the picture of him trying to eat it while it melted all over his hand came to mind.
"Rick took us house hunting. I'm still not sure just what he was thinking," Kate said.
"That one was a really nice house. The paperwork they handed out is in the trailer. Four bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 floors and it was right on a canal with a boat lift and the ocean was just right there." Rick used his arms to show RIGHT THERE!
Kate fought back yet again. "It was almost 2 million dollars, Rick!"
"So it was a little on the expensive side. Two wrap around decks on different floors. The third floor had that open beam wood ceiling." Rick had loved that part.
"That was nice but that exposed bedroom in the loft was not nice." Kate had shot it down for that as well.
"It had a pool table and a pool," Rick reminded her.
"For 2 million dollars it should have gold plated faucets or something. I like Key West but I didn't like it that much." Kate had made up her mind.
"Okay, Key West was nice and Orlando was hot. Anything else?" Jo asked.
"He took us to a house in Orlando, too. Something about getting to go to Disney every weekend." Kate rolled her eyes.
"It had a boat lift and a place for 2 jet skis," Rick said.
"IN. THE. FRONT. YARD!" Kate had given that house a bad mark for that alone.
"That was a little weird, but it was covered," he added.
"The interior was ugly! The master bedroom alone was as big as the living and dining room here combined. It even had a fireplace way over there." Kate pointed at the far wall in the dining room.
"It wasn't that bad. You did like that closet," Rick reminded her.
"That's true, I did love that closet. It was huge and had one entire glass-enclosed wall for nothing but shoes. It even had an island in the middle." Kate gave Rick points for that.
Rick sighed. "It had a pool and a hot tub, too." Kate just glared at him and said nothing more about that house.
"We have to empty the refrigerator before taking it to storage for now. We used up all of Rick's vacation time," Kate mentioned since they weren't done yet.
"Have you made a decision about classes yet? You need to sign up for classes soon whatever it is you choose," Jo reminded her daughter.
"We talked about it," Kate admitted. They had actually done a lot of talking along with a whole lot of love making on this trip. "I'm going to sign up for veterinarian classes." Kate had finally made her choice. "I'll finish two years at Jones and I can transfer to a full college to become a vet. If I'm still here it can be either MSU or UM. I need to look that up." Kate didn't know where she would be living in two years.
"Before I forget, you two have mail." Jo got up and retrieved it from the dining room table and handed it- out.
"Jones County Community College?" Kate looked at her mother.
Jo stopped her from going off on her. "I only asked them to send information. I didn't sign you up for classes or anything."
"Black Pawn, twice!" Rick selected one to open and handed the other one to Kate to open.
"Let's see what they have to say." Rick read his letter to himself. "They're sending me edits for my book, In a Hail of Bullets. Once I've completed those and they're happy, we'll go through the cover options and then send it to printing." His second book was going to be printed. That was certainly good news.
"Two letters!" Kate chose one, handed it to Rick, and read the one she kept.
"A CHECK!" Kate looked at that first. "Not as much as the last one but nice." She held on to it for now. "You made the best sellers list for one week, Babe! I guess that explains why the check is smaller."
"They want me in New York City! And it's in two weeks during my next two days off. They're sending two plane tickets," Rick told them.
"I get to go? What are the dates?" She was starting school in about 3 weeks.
Rick handed her the letter so she could see for herself. Kate looked it over. "I can make it, just barely. We still have to figure out how I'm going to get to college."
"Your dad and I have already taken care of that problem but we need you to look at it before we buy it for you to use. It's used and it's not much but it runs and will do the job."
"A car?" Kate was thinking she had the greatest parents ever. "What is it?" She could always shoot it down and keep looking.
"It's an '88 Honda Accord. It has a lot of miles on it and it's here in Laurel," Jo told her. "It's kind of a burgundy red color with a black interior. We can afford it and the insurance but the gas is up to you."
"I'm not picky." If she had managed to do it before ending up in a coma she would have a Harley Davidson to ride to classes with. But her life had changed. While she was happy with her life now it had taken a lot to get to this point.
"We can take you to see it tomorrow. Maybe you'll drive home with it. How are you with cars, Rick?" Maybe he could work on it for her.
"Lost, totally lost. I can't even change the oil. Maybe the air filter and pour in water or antifreeze but that's it." Rick used his arms to show the kill it mode with both hands. "Now that Fifth Wheel that I bought, that I can work on. I was the go-to guy for a lot of things when I lived in the trailer park. I still had limits but not many."
"I get to go to New York City!" Kate was happy about that. "Can we go see your mother? You've met mine so it seems only fair."
"Let's find out." Rick got up and headed to the kitchen to use the phone.
[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]
"After I finish my book signing Mother's going to meet us once she gets out of her play. She said she's looking forward to meeting you." Rick sat down next to Kate and petted Charlie who hadn't left her.
"One evening with your mother. I guess that will have to do." Kate didn't see where she had a choice. "Maybe this will work. She's an actress on Broadway, right?" Kate tried to remember what he had told her about his mother.
"I grew up backstage of every play she got a part for. We lived in some of the lowest dives you've ever dreamed of. But I never went hungry. Wore secondhand clothes for nearly everything save underwear or socks. But I was loved. One word of warning, though. Mother doesn't have a filter from here to here," Rick said, pointing at his head and then his mouth.
"In other words she's just like my mother." Kate grinned at her mom.
"Just for that I'm making homemade chili that will catch your hair on fire," Jo threatened in retaliation.
Kate arched an eyebrow and smiled. "Bring it on, Mom."
"I'm going to go to PDI to get a burger," Rick told both of them. They could fight it out without him.
[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]
"Have a safe trip, you two. We'll take very good care of Charlie. He'll miss you both," Jo told them while Jim went into work to open the office. Their plane was leaving at 6:20am and landing in NYC at 2:35pm. They had a layover in Houston of all places, both going and coming on United.
"This is going to be a long day. We land at 2:35pm if it's on time. Start the book signing at 4:00 at Strand Bookstore in the East Village for 4 hours, probably closer to 5 hours. Meet Mother at 10:00pm and stay with her for as long as all of us can stay awake. Then go find our hotel and turn around and go home where we land at 9:43pm tomorrow." Rick wasn't sure he was looking forward to this. Especially since he had to go to work exceedingly early the very next day.
"Maybe, but I get to meet your mother!" Kate had been happy ever since she learned of this trip. Worried, Kate looked at him. "What if she doesn't like me, Rick?"
"Knowing Mother, she'll love you the instant she sees you." Rick was sure of it. He hugged her with one arm. "When was the last time I told you I loved you?"
Kate smiled. "Yesterday, but you can tell me again because I love you, too."
"I can solve that problem." Rick gave her a quick kiss. "I love you and so will Mother."
[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]
A one hour and 48 minute layover in Houston gave them just enough time to find something really fast to eat.
"Starbucks!" It was where she was interested in going.
Rick offered a fast food option. "Wendy's."
"I'll get the coffee while you get the burgers. Just a single for me, please, and a diet something." Kate gave him a quick kiss and hurried to Starbucks.
Since Kate was last or so she was betting, she went in search of Rick close to Wendy's. She finally saw him and sat down across from him. "They're slow!" Kate complained.
"Wendy's was fast." Rick's was easy. "Thanks." He took his coffee and began eating his burger.
They stayed right where they were till the food and the coffee was gone and then they hustled to their gate to take the next plane.
[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]
"I'm Rodgers." Rick saw a sign after landing in New York that had his name on it. He had to show his ID as did Kate before the driver would take them to his car and then drive them to the bookstore.
The bookstore, they soon learned, was huge and Kate was talking enormous. It even had two floors. One was a basement and they didn't just sell books. They also sold shoes, tote bags, even vinyl records. Did she mention books?
"Mr. Rodgers, I'm Gina Cowell. I'm here to represent Black Pawn and make sure everything runs smoothly."
"I see. This is my girlfriend, Kate. She'll be sitting in on this with me as well."
"I'm afraid that will not be acceptable. No one told me anyone was coming with you," Gina informed him.
"Black Pawn paid for her airline ticket so yes, she is." Rick looked at the owner of the store. "Do you have a phone?" Rick asked and saw him nod his head. "Good. Take me to it, please." Rick stared at Gina coldly. "Then you can call Black Pawn and be told what is and isn't acceptable," he told her and followed the store owner.
[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]
"He wants to talk to you." Rick handed the phone to Gina who appeared to be more and more angry as she listened. That was so far as Kate could tell since between the two of them she was the only one watching.
In the end Kate was sitting right next to Rick and watched him greet each and every person. She saw him write the person's name, add something, then sign his name. He thanked them and did that over and over again.
Since Gina only provided one glass of water, Rick drank some of it and gave the rest to Kate who smiled at Gina; the blond still looked extremely angry.
Eventually Gina stopped it at 8:30pm and blocked the line. Then Rick spent the next 30 minutes signing his name on as many of his books as he could manage during that time.
"Your car will be waiting out front to take you to your hotel room for the night. The Standard in the East Village," Gina said to Rick while she avoided even looking at Kate.
"We're taking a taxi to meet my mother while we're here, but thanks. It's been a pleasure," Rick told her even if meeting her wasn't.
"May I ask a question? Why small town Mississippi? You could sell a lot more books living in this city," Gina pointed out. It was obvious to her.
"I do not like large cities. I grew up in this city and know firsthand just how dirty this city can be. My mother loves it for her own reasons. Thank you for your help." Rick took Kate's hand and walked away from her.
"We'll just have to see about that," Gina told his retreating form. He was an up and coming hit for Black Pawn. She intended to be his editor and not only make him very famous and earn her a lot of money, but to also get some much deserved accolades for herself within Black Pawn.
[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]
Rick gave the address to the taxi driver that they came upon right out front and watched him take off out into traffic. The Ambassador Theater turned out to only be 20 minutes away and didn't really cost them all that much.
"MOTHER!" Rick got out and saw her right away. They met halfway and hugged each other.
"Richard, you look marvelous. Lucky for you I like staying up all night." Martha did not like getting up in the mornings but she was more than willing to stay up all night long.
"Mother, this is Kate Beckett. Kate, this is my mother, Martha."
Suddenly Kate found herself tongue-tied and could barely get out, "Hi."
"Katherine!" Unexpectedly Kate was being hugged. "She's lovely, Richard. I think I approve. You two have to be hungry. I believe Junior's Restaurant and Bakery will work for us. It's open till 1:00am. You're buying, Richard." Martha hung onto Katherine and led them off to Junior's.
It was one block down and one block over so getting there took very little time. Kate saw that the place was very bright and not just because of the lights that were everywhere. It was bright because this place loved the color ORANGE!
"You have got to try one of their sandwiches, they're to die for. Then cheesecake for dessert. You haven't lived till you've had their cheesecake," Martha told Kate and Kate watched as a sandwich left the order area and was brought out to the seating area. It was HUGE! She was never going to get her mouth to go around that thing.
"I'll take the Baked Onion Soup, the Roasted Turkey Sandwich, and a medium Diet Pepsi, please." Kate hoped for the best and listened to Martha order a Bacon and Cheese Omelet and orange juice. Kate didn't even know she could order breakfast.
Rick, though, ordered a roast beef sandwich with a black cherry soda. That had Kate looking at the drink list again and even saw a diet black cherry soda. But it was too late now.
"So tell me everything." Martha ate her omelet slowly and was full of questions.
"COMA! Oh, Katherine." Martha reached across to take her hand and hold it.
"So what's in Laurel, Mississippi?" Martha questioned the two of them.
"My medical bills were horrendous and my parents couldn't afford to stay in LA. I still don't know why they chose Laurel but it's a very nice small town," Kate said.
"Jim and Johanna, Kate's parents, talked me into going with them so Charlie could help her." Rick made it simple for her.
"Your Therapy dog." Martha knew that much. Rick took a picture of Charlie out of his wallet to show her.
"A collie. He's handsome and you can't live without him?" Martha questioned Kate.
"I couldn't live without him. He's really smart. He knows what Mom and Dad's car sounds like so we know when they're home before they even get out of the car. He's learned what Rick's truck sounds like, too. He knows lots of words and he hates squirrels. You can't even spell that name now." Kate's smile got wider while talking about Charlie.
"Charlie is loved by everyone who meets him and he loves everyone he meets. We're a big hit in every hospital and assisted living facility we visit in Laurel," Rick said.
"Sounds like a worthy cause. You're a good man, Richard." She was proud of him. "Now tell me about this Black Pawn that got you out here." Martha was ready for that.
[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]
They didn't leave the place till 12:30am that night. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Katherine, and I expect a wedding invitation handed to me personally," Martha told both of them. That had Kate blushing from her neck up and she tried to look away.
"I'll see what I can arrange, Mother." Rick was used to his mother, unlike Kate.
"Do not lose this Black Pawn, Richard. It sounds like writing books is who you are."
"Katherine, I look forward to meeting your parents. They have raised a wise daughter. You two are perfect for each other. Even if you don't move to the City." Martha hugged Kate tight for a moment. "Call me and tell me everything. Come back for a visit, Richard, and bring Katherine with you."