I'm Sorry for What I said While We Were Trying to Park the Camper
Part 3
Author's Note: Sorry it's been a while since I wrote this one. I got distracted by my other WIPs.
Let me know what you think.
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"All I'm going to say is that you wanted this," Ressler said as he looked at her coming out of the washroom.
She shook her head. "I'm not saying a word."
"Oh, you're not, are you?" Ressler asked, teasing her as he walked toward her and plucked her toothbrush from her hand and shoved it in his mouth.
"Uh, that's my toothbrush," Liz said, aghast.
"I forgot mine," Ressler admitted with a smirk.
"And I didn't offer to share mine," Liz said as she placed her hands on his hips.
"And I didn't ask," he chuckled.
She leaned in and kissed his cheek. They heard a knock on their door and both their heads turned to look at it.
"Agnes?" Liz asked as she walked toward the door.
"It's me Lizzie," Reddington's voice said from the other side.
"Reddington?" Ressler asked as he walked past Liz and opened the door.
"Hello Donald," Reddington said as he walked into their room followed by Dembe. "My, isn't this rustic."
"Agnes is in the RV with Ressler's parents," Liz said as they shut the door. "We decided to not sleep all cramped up with everyone."
"And now you're wondering if that was the right choice?" Reddington asked as he looked around the plain room.
"Something like that," Ressler said.
"Well, Lime City has limited accommodation that also allows for RVs," Reddington said with a chuckle.
"How did you find us?" Ressler asked, annoyed.
"I came to congratulate the two of you," Reddington said. "On your recent nuptials."
"Thank you," Liz smiled at him. "And you came all the way to Lime City Iowa to say that?"
"No, I came all the way to Iowa, for the corn and pork products," Reddington joked.
Liz sat on the edge of their bed and sighed.
"I came to give you your wedding present and tell you how happy I am that you two kids have finally decided to legalize this union," Reddington said.
Ressler chuckled and sat next to Liz. "Red, we don't need a present from you or anyone."
Reddington placed his hand on the dresser and nodded toward Dembe. Dembe removed an envelope from his jacket pocket and walked to Liz handing it to her.
Liz looked between the envelope and Reddington.
"Open it," Reddington encouraged her.
Liz opened the envelope and looked at a real estate one sheet on a cottage on Lake Jackson in Manassas Virginia.
"155 feet of waterfront, cedar siding, a large deck, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a beautiful stone fireplace, a custom dock…"
"Red, we can't accept…"
"Hear me out Donald," Reddington said.
"No, we can't…" Liz started.
"I have engaged the services of an organization for single mothers in the DC region," Reddington said.
"Excuse me?" Liz asked.
"The cottage belongs to you and Donald," Reddington explained. "But it'll be used by single mothers and their children for 12 weeks a year as an escape from the city. The cottage will be stocked with food, and the mothers and children who normally don't have opportunities like this can enjoy the great outdoors and give their children…"
"Wait, what?" Liz asked.
"The ownership is held by you and Donald, and you can visit it anytime outside of those 12 weeks with Agnes and the new little one," Reddington said. "So, it's not just about you, but really about mothers who can use the support of…"
"Like a charity?" Ressler asked.
"Yes Donald," Reddington nodded. "I have an agency that will manage the property, the maintenance, the shopping, have the kayaks ready…that sort of thing. But otherwise, it's yours to use. And you need to name it, for the program and the brochures. The first set of applicants will be able to stay there this summer."
Ressler and Liz looked at each other surprised.
"These moms are single and…?" Ressler started.
"Inner city, poor, single and their children will have a week of cottage bliss," Reddington said with a smile.
"You know how to play this," Liz chuckled as she put down the one sheet. "You know we can't turn this down…"
"Maybe," Reddington nodded his head from side to side.
Ressler sighed.
"Could we give it to them, to this organization, every week?" Ressler asked.
Reddington sighed. Leave it to the two of them to approach it this way.
"You could," Reddington said. "But I'd hope you'd use the cottage that is yours for a week or two a year with your own children. Let them see the good that it does for others and experience the joy of jumping into a lake, outdoor campfires, catching frogs…"
Ressler and Liz exchanged a look. He was right, the kids would like it.
"Thank you," Liz said.
"Red, it's too much," Ressler said. "But we appreciate that you're helping others."
Reddington nodded and started for the door.
"Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon, and please don't book anything in Kearney," Reddington said. "I've booked all of you into this charming Inn that overlooks some vineyards."
"Excuse me?" Liz asked.
"I knew you'd want to visit your old house and this lovely Inn is closest to it and, as it so happens, one of the top places to stay in Nebraska," Reddington said. "You two need at least one nice place to stay on this…odd choice for a honeymoon."
Ressler chuckled; he was right about it being odd.
"And Agnes will like the pool there," Reddington said as he reached for the door handle.
Ressler approached him and extended his hand.
"Thank you," he said.
Reddington shook his hand. "You're a good man, Donald. Well deserving of Lizzie and Agnes."
Ressler gave him a small smile and nodded. "And I'm lucky to have them."
Reddington nodded in agreement and left with Dembe.
"Leave it to him…" Ressler said as he shut the door and turned to Liz.
"He bought us a lakeside cottage close to DC and, knowing we wouldn't just take it, tied it to a charity so we couldn't not take it," Liz chuckled.
Ressler shoved her toothbrush back in his mouth.
"Like I said, leave it to Red," he said. "You okay with this?"
"I think we need to be," Liz said as she followed him toward the washroom and leaned against the door frame while he brushed his teeth.
He mumbled something as he brushed.
"I know," Liz sighed as she looked up at the wood bean ceiling and hoped it didn't rain tonight. There were gaps. "He shows his love through grand gestures."
Ressler spit and rinsed.
"Agnes would love jumping in the lake," he said, wiping his mouth.
"She would," Liz smiled.
He turned and leaned against the sink and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Do we take a week?" Ressler asked.
She nodded. "I think if she finds out we own a lakeside cottage that she hasn't ever been to, then we'll have hell to pay."
He chuckled.
"And it was a very nice gesture," Liz smirked as he pushed off the sink and walked toward her. "Single moms…right to my heart."
Ressler laughed and leaned in and kissed her.
"Mmmmm," Liz said. "Minty fresh."
He kissed her again, and again, and again. And, despite the rustic conditions, they enjoyed a romantic night alone together and were on the road, headed to Nebraska with Agnes riding with them the next day. She prattled on about sleeping on a bunk, all of the features of the RV that she liked, and Nana making her waffles in the morning. Liz shifted uneasily in her seat; today she was going back to the house where she grew up and, as much as she was excited to share that with Agnes and Ressler, she was also nervous about going back there for the first time since cleaning out the house after Sam died.
To be continued…