Standard disclaimers apply.
Second Chance
Before Gary knew it, it was the beginning of September. He and Kaitlyn had been seeing each other for three months now. The paper had gone easy on him during this time. Kaitlyn had actually been with him for a few saves, she being unaware of what he was doing. He had only had a few instances where he had to lie to her about being late or why he couldn't meet her at a certain time. Those times bothered him because he didn't want to lie to her about anything, but he wasn't quite ready to tell her about the paper. Not yet anyway.
Kaitlyn was lucky; she never had to testify against her attacker. The rape victims were able to identify him and he received the maximum sentence.
Gary had developed a great relationship with Kaitlyn's family. He enjoyed Sunday dinners at the Kelly home. Jessica and Casey became very much attached to him. Both girls liked him a lot. Gary shared a special bond with Casey. It grew stronger when he learned that they shared the same birthday, September 17th.
He spent his time with them going to ball games and the park. One Sunday afternoon they even went to the museum. On a few occasions, they had dinner with Marissa and Emmitt.
They spent a majority of their time at Kaitlyn's. After dinner, they would play in the yard until it got dark. The part of the day Gary looked forward to the most was the evening when he and Kaitlyn would put the girls to bed, reading them a story. Gary and Kaitlyn would then snuggle up on the couch and watch television and talk. As the weeks went on it got harder and harder to say goodnight. However, they did, neither he nor Kaitlyn were ready to take that next step.
One night, Gary insisted that she go out with her mother and sister to dinner and a movie. Kaitlyn came home to a quiet house, finding a pizza box on the kitchen table. She went upstairs and found Gary and the girls asleep on her bed with the "Wizard of Oz" playing on the television. She stood in the doorway and looked at them sleeping so peacefully. Casey had her head on Gary's shoulder and he had his arm wrapped around her. Jessica was lying at the foot of the bed her head resting on Gary's legs.
She walked in and gently woke Jessica. She picked up Casey and took the girls to their room. When she came back in Gary had rolled onto his side. She didn't have the heart to wake him. She covered him with a throw and got herself ready for bed.
When she climbed into bed she felt his arms instinctively go around her as if that was right where they were always meant to be. She smiled and closed her eyes as the sound of his breathing lulled her to sleep. Gary awoke in the middle of the night, only to have Kaitlyn tell him to go back to sleep, which he very easily did.
The next morning Kaitlyn came downstairs to find Gary and Casey sitting at the kitchen table. Gary's cat was in Casey's lap. Gary was reading the paper and he and Casey were eating the left over pizza. Kaitlyn was greeted by Casey saying, "Morning Mommy. See Gary and I both like to eat pizza for breakfast. Mommy look cat came to visit."
Gary looked up from his paper with a smile on his face. "What's wrong with pizza for breakfast. It's nutritional. It's got pineapple on it." He gave Kaitlyn a little boy look as he pleaded his case then turned to Casey and winked.
"Where did he come from?" Kaitlyn asked pointing towards the cat.
"He has a tendency to track me down where ever I am. I think it's a food thing." Gary said.
"You hungry kitty." Kaitlyn asked the cat while scratching his head. "You want some tuna?"
"Yeah, spoil him why don't you." Gary groaned. The cat started to purr and jumped on the table. Gary picked him up and held him so they were face to face. "How many times do I gotta tell you, you're not allowed on the furniture." He said sending the cat to the floor.
After setting the can of tuna on the floor, Kaitlyn gave Gary a kiss. "Boy aren't we grumpy in the mornings." She teased.
"I was having a wonderful morning until he showed up." Gary said pointing towards the cat. Much to Gary's surprise, Kaitlyn never asked about the paper. She just went about her day, as she normally would have.
Gary, Kaitlyn, and the girls had taken a few trips to Hickory. Both his mother and father were glad to see him so happy. Seeing how Gary interacted with Kaitlyn and her children made Lois' heart swell. She had started not only checking up on Gary with a weekly telephone call, but giving Kaitlyn one as well. The girls had gotten into the habit of calling them Grandpa Bernie and Grandma Lois. Something that Gary noticed made his parents very happy.
It was Thursday and Gary was heading back to McGinty's after taking care of the paper's work. Gary's parents were expected today. They had booked a room at the Drake Hotel. This was the first time during a visit to Chicago that they were not going to be staying with him. His mother said it was because there was not enough room in his loft. Gary knew she was using that as an excuse. It was just her way of giving him the space he asked for. They were looking forward to meeting Kaitlyn's family. Gary had told them so much about everyone.
Gary walked into McGinty's and saw his father talking with the new bar manager Jeff. His father was trying to explain to Jeff the finer points in gnocchi making. His mother and Marissa were seated at a table looking on in amusement.
"Gary, honey, there you are." Lois said as she got up from her seat and walked towards him with a smile on her face. She grabbed him kissing his cheek and giving him a big hug. "I was wondering when you were going to get here."
"Mom you're squishing me." Gary stated. Bernie walked over to the two of them and said, "Lo, give the kid some air." Lois let go.
"How ya doing son?" Bernie gave his son a quick hug. "How have things been going with your little special delivery." He winked at Gary. "You need any help with anything you let me know."
"No, no Dad everything is under control." Gary winced.
"I was just telling Jeff here that we need to get gnocchi on the menu." Bernie smiled.
"Dad this is a bar, gnocchi is not bar food." Gary shook his head.
"Come on Gar, it will be a great addition to the menu." Bernie pleaded.
"Bernie, enough with the gnocchi." Lois instructed. She turned her attentions towards Gary. "You know we are really looking forward to meeting Kaitlyn's family." Lois smiled.
"Well actually, she wants to make dinner for everybody tonight at her place. I just need to change my shirt and then we can head over there now, if you want?" Gary asked.
"Well get goin', you mother is chomping at the bit to see the girls." Bernie teased.
"Listen, can I talk to you guys for a minute in the office." Gary whispered.
"Sounds serious." Bernie said.
They went to the office. Gary closed the door and started to pace. "I just want you to know that I, well I haven't told Kaitlyn yet about the paper. So you have to be careful what you say when you are around her. Dad, you especially." Gary pointed his finger at his father.
"Me." Bernie gave an innocent look to his son. "I happen to keep a secret very well. Look how long I kept your secret from your mother." Lois gave him a look.
"Gary, I don't agree with the fact that you haven't told her yet. You obviously care about her quite a bit. You need to be honest with her." Lois was always the logical one.
"Mom, it's just…well…too many people already know about this thing." He waived the paper in the air. "I don't wanna tell her until I'm sure."
"Sure of what? Jeez' Gar you've been dating her for what three months?" Bernie observed.
"Dad!" Gary rubbed his hand on his forehead. "Just don't say anything, okay." Gary headed for the loft. "I'm gonna go get changed."
After he left the room Bernie said, "Jeez talk about gun shy?" Lois rolled her eyes. "What?" Bernie asked innocently.