AUTHOR'S NOTES: A thousand apologies for the long wait. I know it's tough to wait for a chapter to be uploaded (aherm Saturniia! Add chapter 8 to Ice Castles!). Driver's Ed is over but school is here, so I'm writing whenever I can. I'm still not entirely sure where the story will head from here, though.
A NEW LIFE – CHAPTER FIVE – A NEW HOME
"You're leaving?" Aubrey Williams wailed over the phone. "You can't leave, Kaley!"
Kaley sighed. "I don't have a choice, Aubrey." She said to her best friend. "Gordon's got a job out there, and it's legal for him to take me."
"But the Royals won't be the same without you!" Aubrey argued. "You won't be playing hockey anymore."
"Gordon told me Minnesota's like, Hockeytown USA." Kaley said. "I'm sure there's a team there I can join."
"So you're just following him to Minnetonka?" Aubrey asked incredulously.
"Minnesota, Aubrey." Kaley corrected. "And he's got a job out there."
"Doing what?" Aubrey challenged.
"Playing minor league hockey." Kaley answered.
"Kay, aren't you just a little suspicious about this?" Aubrey asked. "I mean, the guy shows up out of the blue and says he's your father? He could be an axe murderer for all you know!"
"You've been watching too many spy movies, Aubrey." Kaley said tiredly. "He's listed as the father on my birth certificate. His driver's license goes with everything that's listed on the birth certificate. He's the same age as my mom, went to the same college, lives in the same state. And he's the guy in the picture my mom has."
"So?" Aubrey continued. "He could be your father's evil twin brother! He could take you all the way to Taiwan and I'll never see you again!"
"Aubrey, stop it." Kaley said. "He's not my father's evil twin brother, he's not an axe murderer, he's not a crook. He's my legal guardian. I have to go with him."
"So go to a foster home." Aubrey said. "Just…geez, Kaley, I want you to stay here!"
"I know, I know." Kaley said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I don't want to leave either. But I'll be here for another month-"
"Kaley!" Kaley jerked her head up and saw Gordon making a slashing motion across his throat. "Get off the phone!"
Kaley nodded. "OK, Aubrey, I have to go." She said. "I'll call you later, OK? Bye." She quickly hung up the phone and turned to Gordon. "Sorry." She apologized. "Aubrey can really talk."
"Yeah, I noticed that." Gordon said, picking up the phone and dialing a number. As he did so, Kaley wandered into her mother's bedroom and closed the door. She began sorting through what to bring to Minnesota, what to give to Goodwill, and what to throw away. Ashley's bedroom set would be dismantled and sent to Minnesota so Kaley could use it. Sitting down on the floor, Kaley debated whether or not to bring any of her mother's clothes with her in case she ever grew into them. Ashley hadn't been much over five feet tall, but Kaley was well under it. Opening a drawer, she pulled out the blue and white sweater Grandma Heller had knitted when Kaley was three. Kaley folded it up and placed it in a cardboard box by the bed labeled TAKE TO MINNESOTA.
On top of the dresser was Ashley's jewelry case. There wasn't much in it, but Kaley decided to take it anyway. Grandma Heller's bridal set was in there. Ashley had always said Kaley could have that when she was older. Well, I guess I'm older. Kaley thought. The box also contained the necklace Ashley had gotten for her high school graduation. Kaley placed the silver box on top of the sweater.
Then there was Ashley's senior picture. The back of the frame read Ashley Marie Heller-October 14, 1979. Kaley put that on top of the sweater.
After about ten minutes, Kaley had packed nearly everything in the room. The box labeled TAKE TO MINNESOTA was full, but the one labeled GIVE TO GOODWILL was completely empty. Well, I can't take all of this. Kaley thought and began re-sorting through the box.
The four weeks Kaley had left in Baltimore passed quickly. She had managed to sort some things into the box for Goodwill, but not much. She'd never considered herself a sentimentalist, but now she found it extra-hard to get rid of anything. The little teddy bear she'd gotten for her fifth birthday, which had sat in Ashley's closet for the past four years, was now a precious possession. Gordon had managed to convince her to give it to Aubrey, since it was really no good anymore. Kaley figured Aubrey's brother Travis might have fun with it. The Royals had given Kaley a going-away party, which had been fun. They'd given her an eleven-by-fourteen framed photo of the team. Kaley placed it in her suitcase and fervently hoped it would survive the trip to Minneapolis
As Kaley settled onto the fold-out couch for her final night in Baltimore, it suddenly hit her that she was leaving the only home she'd ever known. She'd never left Maryland, and she'd only left Baltimore occasionally to play against teams from other towns. And she had no idea what Minnesota would be like, either. Baltimore had stifling summers and temperate winters. Kaley knew Minneapolis had cold winters, but what about summer? Well, she'd find out tomorrow.
Kaley rolled onto her back and sighed. Well, I'll miss a whole lot of things, but I sure won't miss this blasted bed.
At five-thirty AM, Gordon's watch beeped. Why couldn't I have gotten a later flight? He thought, hitting the "off" button. With Ashley's bedroom set on its way to Minneapolis, Gordon had slept on the floor that night. It certainly hadn't been restful.
After changing quickly, Gordon went into the living room to wake Kaley, who lay curled into a ball under the covers. "Kaley." He said. "Kaley, come on. It's time to wake up."
Kaley sat up and groaned. "What time is it?" She asked.
"Five-thirty." Gordon answered.
"What time's our flight?" Kaley yawned.
"Six-forty-five." Gordon answered.
Kaley groaned again and got up. "OK, OK." She said.
"You go get ready." Gordon told her. "I'll fix the couch."
Kaley nodded and went into the bathroom. Gordon knew how to fold up a futon, but this one was a little harder than most. The frame was bulky and cumbersome, and the hinges were rusted tight. The years of being folded and unfolded were definitely taking their toll. Gordon shook his head. How many kids had to fold up their beds before school every day?
Kaley emerged from the bathroom wearing blue jeans and her Royals jersey. "All right." She picked up her suitcase. "I'm ready."
Gordon placed the last cushion on the couch and grabbed his own suitcase. "OK, let's go."
Kaley had never been on an airplane before. As she settled into her seat, she realized she had no idea what it would be like. "Is flying scary?" She asked as the stewardess began her explanation of how to use the seat belts and oxygen masks.
"Not really." Gordon replied. "Ever flown before?"
Kaley shook her head. "Nope."
Gordon buckled his seat belt. "It's not too scary." He assured her. "This should only be about three hours. And it's nonstop."
"So we don't have to switch planes or anything?" Kaley asked.
"Not this time." Gordon said.
The engines started up and the plane began rolling down the runway. It rolled faster and faster until he nose lifted and the plane shot into the air. Kaley closed her eyes as she felt an uncomfortable pressure against her chest. "What's that?" She asked Gordon.
"What's what?" He said.
"Why do I feel like someone's sitting on my chest?" Kaley said.
"G-forces." Gordon said. "Don't worry, they won't hurt you."
Soon the plane leveled off and the pressure eased. "Hey, Kaley, look out the window." Gordon said.
Kaley opened her eyes and peeked out the window. She was greeted by a blue sky and fluffy white clouds. "Wow." She said. "It looks so different."
"Pretty cool, huh?" Gordon asked.
"Definitely." Kaley said, leaning her face against the window. Baltimore had long ago been left behind, so she couldn't see it anymore. So long, Baltimore. She thought. I'll see you around.
The plane began its descent into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Kaley chewed her gum even harder to keep her ears from popping. Geez, on the way up it's G-forces, and on the way down it's popping ears. What's next? Altitude sickness? "Does this always happen?" She asked.
"Yeah." Gordon answered. "But I hear the more you fly, the less you feel it."
The plane touched down smoothly on the runway and the pilot came on the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Minneapolis." He said. "Outside, conditions are sunny with a light breeze and a temperature of seventy-three degrees. Thank you for flying US Airways and we hope you'll think of us next time you need air service."
After getting off the plane and claiming their luggage, Gordon and Kaley headed out to the parking lot. It wasn't as cold as Kaley had expected, and when she told Gordon so, he said, "It's only September, sweetie. Wait until November and then tell me how cold it is."
When they found Gordon's car, Kaley put her bag in the trunk and got in the passenger's seat. She forced down her fear of riding in the front seat. Nothing will happen. She told herself. Gordon's a safe driver. Just relax. Everything will be OK.
As she rode through Minneapolis, Kaley discovered it wasn't all that different from Baltimore. It was still a big city, and people still walked around wearing clothes from different countries and speaking different languages. Kaley was glad for that. She hadn't wanted to live in some cow town in the middle of nowhere. She was the ultimate city girl.
"Here we are." Gordon pulled up in front of an apartment building. It was slightly smaller than Kaley's had been in Baltimore. Gosh, I sure hope the apartments aren't any smaller. She thought, getting out and grabbing her suitcase from the trunk. As she and Gordon rode the elevator to the fifth floor, Kaley pondered her situation. Three months ago I was a normal kid. Now my mom's dead and I'm stuck in a strange city with a guy I barely know. Shouldn't I be a little more stressed out? Is there some huge blowup on the way? I hope not. I've had enough of that lately.
Gordon led Kaley down the hall and stopped at an oak door. He fumbled with a set of keys for a moment, then opened the door and stepped inside. Kaley followed, not entirely sure what to expect. What she found was a clean, sparsely furnished apartment. It was pretty clear only one person had occupied it until now. One armchair sat in the living room, with a TV set on the other end. The living room alone looked bigger than Kaley's entire apartment had been in Baltimore. A dining room set was behind it, but it looked as if it was used rarely, if ever. Papers were piled on top of it. So many, in fact, that some had overflowed onto the chairs. The kitchen was a larger version of her old one-a refrigerator, an oven, a stove, counters, and a sink. To Kaley's left was a long, skinny hallway. On one side were three doors-one a coat closet, and the other two were closed so she couldn't see what they were. She guessed one of them would be her bedroom. On the other side of the hallway was a bathroom and Gordon's bedroom. On the end of the hallway was a laundry room.
Gordon cleared his throat. "I'm, uh…going to get the other bags." He said. "Go ahead and…um…make yourself comfortable."
Kaley nodded and sat down on the armchair. He obviously doesn't have a whole lot of guests. She thought, looking around and blinking back tears. How will this ever feel like home?