Chapter 3
Gary woke up to the sunlight streaming through the front windows. He rolled over and looked at the clock. It was a little before 6:30. He reached over and shut off the alarm before it went off. He got up on his elbow, his head in his hand, and watched Kaitlyn sleep.
He knew how lucky he was to have her back. Before when they were together his heart was constantly struggling with his mind. In his heart he knew that he loved her more than anything but, his mind kept telling him not to trust that love, because in the end he would loose it. For a short time he thought he did. But, now as he lay there watching her sleep his heart and mind were completely in sync looking forward to what the future brought.
Meow. Thump. Hearing that all-familiar noise, Gary quickly got out of bed, pulled on his jeans and t-shirt, and headed downstairs. When he opened the front door, he found the cat sitting on the paper.
"Meow." The cat came into the house and jumped up onto the chair in the living room.
"Hey keep it down will ya." Gary whispered. He picked up the paper, quietly shut the door, went over to the chair, and picked up the cat. "And stay off the furniture!" He dropped the cat to the floor and the cat walked over and headed up the stairs.
Gary sat down in the chair. He knew that when Kaitlyn and the girls got up he would be distracted and chances are he would end up forgetting about the paper. Unfortunately, he had learned that lesson the hard way. He opened the paper to find out what his day entailed. After looking through it twice, he headed upstairs.
When he walked into the bedroom, he found the cat curled up next to Kailtyn on his pillow. He gave the cat a disgusted look and checked to make sure he hadn't woken up Kaitlyn. She was still sound asleep, wrapped up in the quilt. Gary laid the paper on the nightstand and headed for the shower.
Kaitlyn rolled over and reached for Gary. What she felt was the cold spot on the sheets where he no longer lay. She looked up and saw the cat on Gary's pillow. She gave him a quick scratch on the head and rolled back over. She knew Gary was in the shower because she could hear the water running. She got herself out of bed, realizing that her robe was in the bathroom, she grabbed his flannel shirt off the chair, and put it on. As she buttoned it, she saw the paper laying on the nightstand. Though she was tempted, she didn't touch it. Instead, she headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Kaitlyn had put on a pot of coffee and was in the process of opening a can of cat food when she felt Gary's arms wrap around her waist.
"Good Morning." He whispered as he kissed her neck.
"It is a good morning." She said.
"You know I never knew how sexy a flannel shirt could be." He whispered into her ear. "But, I think you out of the flannel shirt would be even sexier." He smiled and went back to kissing her neck.
Kaitlyn closed her eyes, her heart beating faster with each kiss. In the comfort of his arms was where she knew she would spend the rest of her life, hoping that his touch would always effect her this way. As soon as she turned herself around in his arms, their lips met. She didn't want him to stop, but she knew that he had too.
"The girls will be getting up soon." She said breathing heavily as she pulled away from him. "Want some coffee?"
"Coffee would be good." Gary smiled, letting out a breath. He turned his attentions toward the paper.
"What does the paper have planned for you? Nothing dangerous I hope." She asked noticing that Gary was looking at the paper. She poured them both a cup of coffee.
"Actually it looks like it's going to be a pretty light day. First, I have to stop a mugging in the park. Then I have to stop a kid from drowning at the aquarium. Those are both later this morning. Then around 5:00 a guy is going to try and beat a train through a railroad crossing and if I don't stop him he's not going to be successful." Gary said.
"That's what you consider a light day? You know I can help you with paper." She said.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Gary said shaking his head.
"Why not?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Because the paper, it's not an easy thing to deal with and," Gary stuttered trying to find the right words.
"Gary, I see marriage as a partnership. That means that we need to be there for each other. That paper is a part of your life. If you intend to share your life with me, well that includes the paper. So you need to let me help you." Kaitlyn argued.
Gary knew she was right. He had spent the last six years dealing with this paper on his own and it was hard for him to let go.
Kaitlyn saw that he was struggling with what she said. She walked over to him and put her arms around his neck.
"Gary, I know that this isn't easy for you. You are going to have to get used to the fact that what this paper brings to your life is something we have to face together." She reached up on her toes and kissed his lips. "I love you. Besides, two heads are better than one."
"I love you too." Gary leaned down and kissed her. They were interrupted by the sound of the girls coming into the kitchen.
"Gary!" They screamed in unison both running to his waiting arms. He hugged them both and then picked up Casey.
"We've missed you." Casey said as she kissed his cheek.
"Well I've missed you too." Gary said.
How about I make us some breakfast." Kaitlyn smiled and kissed Jessica on the forehead.
"Can we have pancakes?" Jessica asked.
"Pancakes it is." Gary said as he set Casey down.
"I'm going to run upstairs and put on my robe. I'll be right back." Kaitlyn headed upstairs.
A few minutes later, when Kaitlyn came back downstairs she found Gary holding the box of pancake mix in his hands and reading the preparation instructions. Jessica was getting the griddle out of the cabinet.
"You guys need some help?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Mommy, Gary doesn't know how to make pancakes." Casey said.
"Well we're just going to have to teach him then aren't we." Kaitlyn said.
"I can figure it out." Gary said.
"A cook, you're not." Kaitlyn teased as she took the box out of his hands.
"I'll admit to that." Gary said. Then he leaned in and whispered in her ear. "There are other things I'm better at." He kissed her cheek.
"Well then maybe you should concentrate all of your efforts on the things that you're better at." Kaitlyn smiled as she playfully elbowed him in the stomach.
"Oh, I intend to." Gary smiled.