Return To Maine Chapter 12
A/N: The other day, I received an alert that a new review had been posted on "For The Love of Kate." This sweet guest reviewer begged for the story not to end. It is my hope that this reviewer discovers this one and continues on our little journey. As always, my heart felt thanks to all who have reviewed, faved/ followed this story. You guys are amazing.
After their dinner, Amber arrived with their check and as she did so, she handed Rick two pieces of paper instead of just the check.
"Thank you, Amber. You've been more than helpful." Rick said, pulling a $100.00 dollar bill from his wallet and handing it over to her.
"My pleasure, Mr. Rodgers. I hope you have a great time in our city and enjoy your stay."
"Thank you, Amber. I'm sure we will."
Kate's eyebrow rose as she witnessed this exchange. What in hell was going on here? She knew that he was a sweet, kind, generous and giving man. In fact, he could be generous to a fault. She'd seen him tip $20,00 before but never $100.00 and especially at a diner.
She watched as Rick unfolded both pieces of paper and nodded as he read one of them.
Kate removed her hand from his thigh and crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn't jealous. She had no reason to be, especially over one just a tad bit older than his daughter. No. something else was going on here and she wanted to know what. Or did she? She trusted him implicitly , but if she questioned him, he may think otherwise. More than likely it had something to do with his surprise for her. She had decided not to ask about it, but her cop/investigator skills got the best of her.
"What was that about just now?' she asked after Amber had sauntered away.
'Oh. You mean with Amber?"
"Of course , I mean with Amber."
"Well, I wasn't going to say anything about it, yet, but I thought we had dinner plans all set up for us for tonight. But when we checked into the hotel, I learned that those plans fell through. While you were in the ladies room, I asked Amber for some suggestions."
"And did she have any?"
"She sure did! Her husband owns a small charter boat service that takes tourists out on nature cruises around the outer islands and she has just arranged a private dinner cruise for tonight."
"Wow! That's impressive."
"Yes, it is. Her and her husband , Rob will meet us in the lobby at 6:00 this evening and take us to the boat. We set sail at 6:30 and return to the pier at 8:30 to 9:00 pm and have the rest of the evening to ourselves."
"Mmmm, love the sounds of that. Sounds very expensive, though."
He brought the palm of her hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. "No expense is too much when it comes to being here with you."
"I love you." she said softly, leaning into him and pressing a heart felt, but chaste kiss to his lips.
"Now, why don't we go explore that park across the street?'
"I'm ready. Let's go." she said, grinning up at him.
Rick slid out of the booth and waited, ready to help her as she did the same.
Hand in hand, they strolled to the cashier's desk, passing Amber on their way out. Both Kate and Rick thanked Amber for her service and her help.
They had just exited the diner when they heard the braying of a horse, his hooves clip clopping against the pavement and the clatter of carriage wheels rumbling down the street.
Rick squeezed her hand, grinning that dopey sideways grin that she loved so much, his eyes the color of the sky sparkled with excitement at her. "Kate, we've never…"
It was true. Living in a city of roughly 8 million people, where horse drawn carriages abounded and on any given day or evening lined Central Park South between 5th and 6th Avenues and were seen practically everywhere in the city and more particulary around Central Park and they had never indulged in one. They had always been so focused on keeping their relationship on the down low and in so doing, had missed several of the simple joys most couples in love enjoyed.
Fear of discovery and the consequences that carried along with that had definitely withheld some of the simple and basic things that romantically involved couples enjoyed on a daily basis and often took for granted, they had avoided. Not that she needed or required that and she was not complaining, but she had missed regular dating.
She watched as the open carriage, drawn by a stately Shire draft horse pulled to a stop across the street in front of Village Green, the park that she and Rick had planned on taking a walk through. A young man disembarked from the carriage and then turned to lift his companion from the carriage.
"Kate. Honey, please." Rick pleaded. "We aren't home and I feel more free up here."
"Okay." she answered, smiling up at him. Lacing her arm through his, they waited for traffic and crossed Main Street to the carriage.
It was true she thought as Rick dealt with the driver. Up here, they both felt more relaxed and comfortable with their dating status than they did at home. There was a sense of freedom here that had been lacking. She wouldn't trade their private times for anything , but perhaps Rick was right and they needed to inform those closest to them, learn to relax and enjoy their dating status without having to look over their shoulders all of the time. The worst that could happen was that Captain Gates would find out and they wouldn't be allowed to work together anymore. While she hoped that wouldn't be the case, it wouldn't be the end of the world, either.
She was so lost in thought that she hadn't heard what Rick was saying and startled a bit as his hands encircled her waist and she felt herself being lifted up into the carriage.
Her laughter, filled with so much joy echoed through the air as he settled himself on the bench beside her and the carriage pulled forward a little roughly pitching her slightly against Rick's side.
Her joy and laughter was contagious and music to his ears. He laughed along with her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her snug against his side and pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
Their carriage driver was very courteous, well informed, having been born and raised here they learned as their carriage wound through the streets of Bar Harbor taking them through the historical, cultural districts and downtown Bar Harbor proper, hitting the high points of the city.
The ride lasted for an hour and a half and ended in front of Village Green Park next to the town's old cast iron clock.
"That was fun, babe. Thank you." she said, as Rick lifted her from the carriage.
"Yeah, it was, wasn't it?"
The carriage driver pulled away and Kate led Rick to a bench at the curb.
"I've been thinking a lot about what you said about people eventually finding out about us and I know that you're right. So, I've been thinking even about Captain Gates finding out, which she's a smart woman and she will figure it out, too. What's the worse case scenario if she finds out?"
"We wouldn't be able to work together? I don' know, fire you?"
"Exactly. And I would hate it if that happened, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. Just because she found out wouldn't change how we feel about each other. The only thing it would change is our working together, but we would feel more free about it and we wouldn't have to look over our shoulders all of the time. "
"Is this what you want? Are you ready for us to go public?"
"Yeah. I want to go tell Gates when I return to work on Tuesday. That way you'll be out of the line of fire. The way I see it, she may be able to stop us from working together, but she can't stop you from coming to pick me up, or take me to lunch or whatever."
"I'm okay with that, but will you tell the boys then, too?"
She laughed. "Oh no! We are going to do that together. After we play with them for a while. We still need to teach them a lesson."
"Okay. That's what we'll do. Just let me know how it goes with Gates,"
A/N: Going to close this chapter out in order to stick to a once a week posting, even though I am a few days late. Not sure if I'm okay with them coming clean, just yet, but that's where it led. When Captain Gates showed up in the series, she just looked like she suspected something to me. Hoping to begin writing the next chapter, which will contain more Bar Harbor and the dinner cruise on Saturday, but I may not have the chance to even begin until Monday, so there will be a delay. Regardless, hope to have the next chapter up by a week from Friday, which will be December 1st, before then if I am able.
Wishing you all a very happy and safe Thanksgiving if you celebrate.