Adventures Of Kate and The Sitter
Chapter Nine – Aftermath
Kelly had missed her girlfriend, Erica, terribly since she had moved to Boston. Erica was a semester behind her at Georgia State and she needed to stay behind and finish her degree. They had both been accepted at BCU and although it was painful for both of them, they agreed that Kelly should go ahead and move to Boston and get things set up for them and start her degree.
Kelly said she only wanted to go part time for the first semester so that she wouldn't be too far ahead of Erica. She also wanted a slight break from college, to take a breather and relax a little bit. She was still dealing with the death of her mother and the fact that both of her parents were gone now.
She had known Erica since they were in elementary school and they had been friends, then best friends and now girlfriends. They knew they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. Meeting Jane and Maura had been such an inspiration for Kelly as she could see that you could be a successful same-sex couple and have it all.
She hoped that Kate would love Erica as much as she loved her. She knew it would be Kate that she would have to be careful around. Kate didn't want to share Kelly. Kate who was very outgoing, normally didn't latch on to people so quickly. But she had liked Kelly as soon as she met her and they formed a quick bond.
Kelly needed to talk with Jane and Maura because Erica would be coming up for a visit for Thanksgiving and then moving to Boston when the semester ended. If she had to move out of the guest house and find an apartment, she would but she would rather stay right where she was if they would let her, or rather if Kate would let her.
Kelly recognized that Kate was the boss in the family. Not that they catered to her, just that Kate's personality was bossy. She was a very loving child but knew what she wanted and didn't like being told no. Kelly wondered what Kate would grow up to be. Whatever it was she knew that Kate would be successful.
She hoped that she hadn't ruin her relationship with Jane and Maura with her teasing. She was just having fun with Jane and Maura was teasing her also. Kelly liked to have fun and she enjoyed spending time with the Rizzoli-Isles family.
Kelly called Erica to explained what happened. Erica tried the best she could to calm Kelly down after yelling at her, "Kelly, what the hell did you think you were doing teasing Jane like that? You could have lost everything you had built up to that point with the family."
Kelly replied, "I know, I was enjoying the banter with Jane and Maura. Maura and I just got a little carried away and forgot to take in Jane's state of mind." Erica knew Kelly could get emotional at times and it was one of the traits that she loved about her. Kelly was very loving and she loved Jane, Maura and all of the children.
They continued to talk for a while and Erica told her to just have a chat with Jane and then, if necessary, chat with Maura. She had a feeling everything would be okay, but Kelly was still unsure. She wished that she was there to comfort Kelly. Seeing her with tears was hurting Erica also.
"Kelly, just remember if they are still upset about how you teased Jane yesterday and ask you to leave, we will be okay we can still go into campus housing. From what you have told me though I think everything will be okay once you talk to them." Erica said as she smiled at Kelly. She knew Kelly was still a little upset with herself. She could see it in her facial expressions. She knew Kelly would stay that way until she talked with Jane and Maura.
"Thank you. I feel better now that we have talked. I promise I will be more careful. I love this family so much and they give me hope that we can be accepted as a same sex couple. Massachusetts seems to be a little more accepting of same sex couples." They ended the video chat and Kelly got ready for bed.
Kelly didn't sleep well. She tossed and turned all night. She was still worried. She knew they hugged before she left the main house but she still had her doubts. When she woke up in the morning after the little bit of sleep that she did get, she went into the main house like she did every morning. She sat down with a cup of coffee. When she finished her cup of coffee, she started getting breakfast ready. She had her back turned to the staircase and didn't hear Jane come down the stairs. "Good morning, Kelly." Jane said as she approached Kelly.
Kelly froze. She didn't know what to do. She turned around slowly and noticed that Jane was smiling at her. "Good morning, Jane." Jane could see the tired look on Kelly's face and knew that she probably didn't sleep well knowing that she had upset her the day before.
Before Kelly had a chance to say anything further Jane spoke up, "Look Kelly, I know that you are probably still upset about what happened yesterday, but please don't be. I was out of line by leaving. I did more harm to my family then the teasing from you and Maura did to me. I am not upset with you. I just need you to watch my mood before teasing me. In the past I had anger management issues and since meeting Maura they have been under control. Yesterday was the first loss of control I have suffered in almost ten years. It's not your fault and we probably should have told you in advance about that but it hasn't been an issue in so long and I didn't think it would be an issue. Now that you know about it, I just ask that you check my mood before teasing me."
"I was so worried that I had blown my relationship with your family. I thought I might lose my job and have to find a new place to live." Kelly spouted off so quickly.
"Whoa, slow down Kelly, I can't keep up with what you are saying if you talk that fast. Your relationship with our family is just fine so please don't worry about that." Jane reassured her.
Kelly slowed her speech down and said, "Well, I do need to speak to you and Maura about Erica." Maura came downstairs and heard the tail end of their conversation. The children were all still upstairs getting dressed. They enjoyed the fact that the children liked to get themselves dressed for school.
"What's going on?" Maura asked.
"Well, I was going to talk to you about this after you met Erica but she is getting a little concerned so I figured I would speak to you now. Erica is moving to Boston when school gets out in December. She has been accepted at BCU. I came here early to get everything set up for us, but now that I am living in your guest house. I will have to find an apartment for Erica and myself to live in." Kelly admitted nervously.
"No, Kelly. You and Erica are welcomed to stay in the guest house." Maura stated. "You don't have to move. Jane has already ran a background check and cleared Erica. I mean sure we would like to meet her but don't worry about your living arrangements unless Jane doesn't approve."
"I don't see why I would disapprove. Of course, I would like to meet her but she will be here in a few weeks so we will meet her then." Jane offered.
"I could set up a video chat with her if you really need to meet her before you make your decision." Kelly offered. She knew Erica would be fine with that.
Maura quickly replied, "That is not necessary Kelly. I am sure we will like her. We can wait until Thanksgiving."
"Thank you, you don't know how much of a relief this is for me."
"I don't want you to be stressed Kelly. We are fine, okay, don't worry about yesterday or your housing situation. Everything is fine." Jane told Kelly as she walked up and gave her a hug. Maura joined in the hug as the children walked downstairs.
"Why are you hugging my best friend?" Kate asked as she walked up and joined in the hug. Hugging one of Kelly's and one of Jane's legs and squirming her way so that she was standing in the middle of the three adults.
"Because, we love her and wanted her to know that." Maura told Kate.
"Okay!" Kate said as they broke the hug. Kelly and Maura continued to get breakfast ready. After breakfast Jane and Maura said their goodbyes and then went to work. Kelly took the children to school.
Kelly didn't have too much on her list today. Maura had given her a grocery list so she was going to do some grocery shopping and read some of her class materials and respond to some of the online assignments.
Kelly dropped MJ, AJ and Lilly off at school first and then Kate. When she went to drop Kate off, the lady that opened the door to let Kate out reminded Kelly that it was a half day today. Kelly had forgotten all about that. The impromptu half day had not been added to the family calendar. Maura had mentioned something about a half day coming up but nobody had added it to the calendar.
Because it was a half day at school for Kate and Kelly needed to go grocery shopping, she just took Kate with her. She had her list from Maura. When they arrived at the grocery store, Kate decided she wanted to push her own mini grocery cart. She walked side by side with Kelly as they both pushed their carts. A few times when Kelly turned to get something Kate would add items to her cart.
Kelly pulled the list out so she could make sure that she was getting the correct groceries and Kate looked at her and said, "Do you have my list?"
Kelly thought for a minute and then pulled out a piece of notepaper from her purse and wrote a few Kate related items on the list and handed it to her. "Here you go."
"Thank you, mommy always gives me a list when she knows I am going shopping with her." Kate informed Kelly. Maura didn't know that Kate would be joining Kelly on this trip so she hadn't provided a list. Kelly will always carry a small notebook with her for such occasions.
When Kelly went to pay for the groceries, she had to set things aside that they would not be purchasing. Kate watched as Kelly put the items aside and just smiled and didn't say a word. At least she tried. It had worked once in the past when her mommy was distracted and several times with Jane because grocery shopping was not her thing at all.
Kelly thought to herself, 'I am going to have to watch this little one, she is a character.' When Kelly was sidetracked Kate tossed one of the small candy bars back up on the conveyor belt and it was rung up before Kelly saw it. Kate just smiled at the cashier and the cashier smiled back. The cashier knew this little girl as she had been in with one of her mommies while she was on shift. She knew that Kate always tried to slide something on the conveyor belt. She felt that it was not her place to stop Kate from doing that.
When they got home and were unpacking the groceries Kate tried to find the candy bar before Kelly did. She almost got away with it. She had the candy bar in her hand and was in the process of excusing herself from the kitchen when Kelly said, "Stop! What do you have in your hands?"
Kate looked at Kelly and Kelly raised her eyebrows at Kate without saying another word. Kate caved and handed over the candy bar. It was a Milky Way and Kelly loved Milky Way, "I will let you have the candy bar if you split it with me and if you sit right here at the kitchen counter and eat it."
"Okay." Kate said with the biggest smile Kelly had ever seen. Kate loved her candy just like Jane. When Kelly told Jane and Maura later that evening when they got home about what had happened with the groceries, they both smiled.
Maura then told her, "I am sorry, we hadn't told you about her escapades when grocery shopping because we didn't think you would be taking her grocery shopping.
Kelly wasn't watching the clock and all of sudden her phone rang with a video call request from Erica. "Is it okay if I go to the guest house and take this call?"
Kate walked up and tugged on Kelly's pant leg, "Is it Erica? Can I say hi to her?"
"Yes, it is Erica." Jane and Maura nodded okay and Kelly hit the button to accept the call.
Before Kelly could say anything, Erica said, "Hi Babe, I love and miss you."
Kate popped on the screen with Kelly. "Hi, Erica. You love my Kelly?" Kate was confused. Erica called Kelly 'babe' that is what mama calls her mommy. She said she loves and misses her, that is what my mommies say to each other when they are not able to be together.
Kate asked Erica, "Are you my Kelly's girlfriend?" Both Kelly and Erica were quiet.
Jane walked over sensing that this is not a conversation to have right now, "Kate, why don't we let Kelly talk to her friend."
"But mama, I need to know." Kate pleaded with her mama.
"Is it okay if Kelly has a girlfriend that is her age? She can still be your best friend." Jane asked Kate.
"Will she still do things with me?" Kate asked and Jane nodded her head. "Then, I guess it will be okay. Erica seems like a really nice person. She will be here for Thanksgiving."
Meanwhile Kelly left to go to the guest house to talk with Erica. She knew she would have to talk to Kate. Hopefully Jane will be able to smooth things over. She could see Kate sitting with Jane and Maura talking as she left. She didn't seem upset so that was good. She would still need to talk to her though, four-year-olds were very fragile and she didn't want Kate to be upset with her or for her relationship with Erica to affect her relationship with Kate.