Adventures Of Kate and The Sitter
Chapter Eleven – Erica Arrived
Kate is a little taken back that she has been put in timeout for phone usage. This is the first time that she can remember that her mama has punished her. Of course, there have been other times, however in a four-year old's mind, anything negative that may have happened more than a day or two is a long time ago and could be easily forgotten. Of course, if it is something that they are excited about they might remember it forever.
Kate was still hyped up because Erica will be coming in a few days to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. Several times Angela had stopped by making sure that they wanted to have Thanksgiving at their house. Jane and Maura kept telling her yes. Angela insisted that she was coming over to cook. She didn't want her girls to spend that much time away from their babies. She wanted them to concentrate on them. She knew first-hand how quickly children grow up.
Plans had been in the works for weeks. Frankie and Tommy were bringing their families. It would be a house full and Maura was looking forward to it. Korsak and Frost were bringing their families as well. Constance and Arthur had claimed all of them as 'family' and loved spending time with each and every one of them. This year Korsak's son, Josh, would be attending as well. He hadn't been to Boston in years so everybody was looking forward to seeing him.
There would be quite a house full of extended family for Erica to meet. Kelly was a little nervous about that as Erica was a little shy around new people. She was arriving on Wednesday and Kelly was really excited about that.
Just before 2 AM on Tuesday morning Maura got up early and went to the kitchen so she could get a bottle of water. She had a headache, so she quietly got out of bed making sure not to wake Jane. She very carefully put her pillow in Jane's arms as she slid out of the bed. She knew that had worked in the past but not for long, eventually Jane would realize that the pillow was not Maura and she would wake up.
After she got her bottle of water out of the refrigerator, she noticed that the light was on in the guest house and she could see Kelly pacing around the living room. It was 2 AM so she was concerned. She tightened her robe and strolled out to the guest house and knocked lightly on the door. She saw Kelly look to see who it was before she answered the door.
"Maura, please come in." Kelly said as she stepped aside so she could come in, not sure what exactly Maura would need at 2 AM in the morning.
"I'm sorry to come over at this hour but I saw the light on and that you were pacing and I thought you might need someone to talk to." Maura said as they sat down on the couch.
"Thank you, Maura that is so sweet. Actually, I would like to talk. I'm having a little bit of an anxiety attack. Erica and I haven't seen each other in person in over four months. I know that I shouldn't be nervous but I really haven't done anything that we agreed that I should do before she arrived. I feel as though she might be disappointed in me when she gets here."
"Kelly, you have told me what you were supposed to do and I believe you have accomplished everything on your list. You started school part-time like you wanted. You found a place to live, I know you like living in the guest house and we told you that Erica can stay there with you. It has two bedrooms, so if Erica wants her own room, you have it. You found a part-time job, even though it has turned into more of a full-time job than part-time but we can work around any hours or days that you need to take off." Maura paused to take a drink of water. She wanted to finish the bottle before she went back upstairs.
Maura put the bottle of water down and then continued, "You asked Jane to help you purchase a car but then we let you use one of our cars so you really didn't need your own. You are actually saving money because you don't have a car payment or have to pay for car insurance. I'm sure I can continue to find other things but I think you get the point. You have done what you set out to do." Maura explained and she could see the relief in Kelly's facial expression. Kelly hadn't thought about some of those items.
"As far as the break in your relationship, what Jane and I did when we had to be apart or when we stopped seeing each other for a while we took our time and communicated and rebuilt our relationship. We took each day and tried to be positive. We knew we loved each other and we were both committed to our relationship. We loved each other we just had a bad few weeks and we didn't let it ruin our relationship. So just keep talking and try to understand each other." Maura knew she was sharing a very personal time in her and Jane's life and she knew that Jane wouldn't mind if it helped Kelly ease her anxiety.
By the time Maura left the guest house Kelly was feeling better. Her anxiety level had decreased and she was happy. Maura finished her bottle of water and then went upstairs and crawled back in bed with Jane. Jane immediately curled into her and a little while later Maura was fast asleep.
Normally Kelly would have called Erica when she felt anxious but because her anxiety was brought on because of her separation from Erica and her pending arrival, Kelly didn't feel comfortable calling Erica. She was so happy that Maura had come out and talked with her.
When Kelly picked up Erica at the airport Wednesday afternoon, she gave Erica that news that Jane and Maura had gifted them a night's stay at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Boston with dinner as well as the car service to take them to the hotel and pick them up at noon the next day to take them to their house. Erica was excited. No one had ever shown her this kind of hospitality. Kelly had been telling her how wonderful Jane and Maura were but she hadn't realized it until now when those amenities were being extended to her. To someone they hadn't even met in person yet.
Erica and Kelly had enjoyed spending Wednesday night at the hotel before Erica met the family. Jane and Maura thought it would be good for the couple to spend at least one night away from the family before Erica was bombarded by Kate and the rest of the family. Jane and Maura had a feeling that Kate really would pull out her list of questions and ask Erica as soon as she laid eyes on her. Kate could be so cute at times but having been separated a time or two from each other Jane and Maura knew that at least the one night away from the Rizzoli-Isles house would be good for Erica and Kelly.
Erica had brought a few nice outfits as she knew that she and Kelly would probably go out while she was there, she just didn't think it would be her first night there. They had 8 PM dinner reservations and it was only 3 PM so Erica grabbed Kelly and walked her over to the bed. They spent the next three hours reacquainting themselves with each other and then took a shower together so they could get dressed for dinner. They both indulged in a nice steak dinner and then went back to their room and continued to reacquaint themselves, starting with a nice hot relaxing bath.
As anticipated the town car arrived at noon to take them to the Rizzoli-Isles house in Beacon Hill. Erica was a little anxious as she was meeting Kate in person. She knew she had to pass the Kate test if they were going to stay in the guest house and if Kelly was to keep her job. She also realized that it was funny when she thought about Kate's personality.
She had skyped with Jane and Maura and felt totally comfortable with them. Even though she had skyped with Kate and the other children she was still a little nervous about Kate's reaction to her being Kelly's girlfriend. She was happy that the family knew that they were together, because they wouldn't have to keep their relationship a secret. She already loved the children just as much as Kelly did. She was looking forward to spending time with them.
On Thanksgiving it was going to be chilly and a little overcast so Jane and Maura would have to make sure they had enough seats for everyone inside the house. There would definitely be a kid's table or two set up. Maura had one goal for Thanksgiving Day and that was to keep Chloe out of the kitchen. It was great having a sister-in-law that was a chef but Chloe spent so much time at her restaurant that Maura wanted to make sure that Chloe stayed away from the kitchen.
Chloe had a surprise for Kelly and Erica that she wanted to present to them before dinner. She knew how much Jane and Maura loved Kelly and were so thankful that they had found her to help them with the children.
Every time the doorbell rang, Thursday Kate got excited. She wanted to meet Erica. She ran to the door every time and was disappointed if it wasn't Kelly and Erica. When Frankie arrived, he picked Kate up and swung her around, "So wait, you are not excited to see your favorite uncle?"
"Uncle Frankie, I do not play favorites. Uncle Tommy, Frost and Korsak might be upset if I say that you are my favorite." Kate announced as Tommy and his family walked in the door.
"That's right Frankie. I am her favorite uncle over you." Tommy said as he tickled Kate while Frankie still held her.
"Mama, help, please." Kate shouted for her mama to come rescue her from her uncles. Jane immediately came to Kate's aid and when Frankie put Kate down, she ran off to play with her cousins. Until the doorbell rang again. Then Kate ran back to the front door. Disappointed once again when it was her grand mére and grand pére.
Kate quickly hugged her grandparents and then went back to playing. Kate didn't know that Kelly and Erica had went straight to the guest house so that Erica could put her luggage away before she met the family. Kelly gave her a tour of the guest house. They spent about half an hour in the guest house before entering the main house through the side door.
Jane was the first to spot Kelly and Erica. "Hey, it's great to finally meet you." Jane said as she hugged Erica. "Welcome to our mad house." They all laughed and then Maura approached. They talked for a little while. They started walking around and introducing Erica to the family.
Kate noticed Kelly. She ran up to Kelly and gave her a big hug. Then she noticed someone holding onto Kelly's hand. When Erica turned around, she noticed she was standing near Kate. Kate just looked at her and looked at Kelly's hand. Erica smiled at Kate and offered her hand as she said, "Hello Kate, I'm Erica."
Kate stood there and just looked at Erica and then said, "You were supposed to come in through the front door so I could greet you properly and welcome you to our home."
Erica leaned down so that she was at Kate's level and said, "I'm sorry, Kate. Kelly took me out to the guest house so I could put my luggage away. I didn't know I was supposed to come in the front door. I am very happy to meet you." Erica stated as she extended her hand again and waited for a response from Kate. Erica was laughing inside here she was standing there waiting for acceptance from a four-year old. But she knew the situation and knew that Kate had to accept her for her and Kelly's new life to fall into place like they had planned.
Kate finally took Erica's hand and shook it and then hugged her. Erica stayed down at Kate's level as Kate pulled out her list of questions. "I have some questions to ask you, Erica."
"Really, what type of questions?" Erica asked as she sat down on the floor so she would be more comfortable.
"Kate, can your questions wait until tomorrow? Erica just got here and we will be eating dinner soon." Jane asked her daughter. Kate was determined to get her questions answered but she agreed she could wait until after dinner.
When Erica was introduced to Tommy and Chloe. Chloe handed Kelly an envelope. "What's this?" Kelly asked.
"Open it and you will see." Chloe stated.
Kelly opened the envelope. Inside was a nice card which Kelly read out loud and then she saw a gift certificate for Chloe's restaurant. Kelly passed the gift card and gift certificate to Erica as she gave Chloe a hug. "Thank you so much Chloe. I love it. The food at your restaurant is so delicious."
"You can use it anytime, just let us know and we will make sure we have a table available for you." Chloe stated.
After all of the introductions were made, Angela announced that it was time to sit down and eat. Everyone took their seats and after everyone joined their hands together, Arthur rose to lead them in a short prayer of Thanksgiving. Once Arthur sat back down, Frank rose to make the first cut of the turkey. After he made the first cut, he passed the knife to Frankie. Frankie removed the turkey platter from the table and took it to the kitchen island so he could continue carving up the bird. Tommy smiled knowing next year it would be his turn to carve the turkey.
A few minutes after they starting eating dinner Kate started to get a headache. She moved her plate and put her head down on the table. Kelly leaned over and asked her if she was okay. Kate told her, "My head hurts." Kelly was very familiar with the start of a migraine, as Erica also suffered from them. She told Jane and Maura that she was going to take Kate out to the guest house so she can get away from all the noise. Erica of course went with her, bringing their dinner plates so they could finish eating.
Once Kelly was situated on the couch, Kelly removed Kate's glasses and just let her snuggle up to her. Erica went into their room and pulled out her green light and also saw that Kelly had a panel room divider so she pulled that out and placed it in front of the front door. She arranged it so that when the front door opened the light wouldn't come into the living room.
After a little while Jane and Maura excused themselves from the table and went out to the guest house to check on Kate. They were happy to see Kate snuggled up to Erica who had a protective hold on Kate as she had closed her eyes. The green light in the room gave off enough light for Kelly to navigate around the room. Kelly had handed Kate off to Erica when she had to use the restroom. Kelly had sat and finished her dinner while Erica and Kate had their eyes closed. All of the noise and bright lights had taken its toll on Erica also, which is why she had her eyes close while she was holding Kate.
When Jane and Maura arrived to check on Kate. Kelly stepped outside to talk with Jane and Maura. She knew Kate was secure in Erica's arms. Kelly explained that Kate told her that her head hurt and Kelly knew that she was coming down with a migraine. She said they would come back in as soon as Erica and Kate woke back up.