God Said

Chapter 8

Kate had a problem. Rick had suggested dinner at a restaurant for their final date. That was her problem. She had arrived with the intention of having fun. While she'd had fun, she didn't have a dress for a formal date to a fancy restaurant. She lived in New York City so she didn't even have a sun dress. Worse, Sophie wasn't her size so she couldn't borrow anything.

"MOM! KATIE NEEDS A DRESS FOR HER DATE!" Her date wasn't until tomorrow so they had time to go find a new dress.

Jamie walked in and showed both of them the keys to the car. However, before she could say anything the house phone started ringing. Jamie left and answered it.

"KATIE! IT'S FOR YOU!" Jamie yelled. She handed over the phone and smiled at her.

"Hello?" Kate didn't know just who to expect. Her mother or father hadn't yet bothered her and left her alone.

"Hello, Kate, it's me," Rick told her. "I was just calling to let you know not to dress up. We'll be eating outside, hopefully under an umbrella on a patio. And to remind you that Sophie will be babysitting again."

"Oh, okay." That solved the dress problem at least. "I'll remind her. Do you still want us there at 6:00?"

"Yes, please. Would you like to drive the car to the restaurant?" Rick hadn't failed to notice that she had totally enjoyed riding in his car.

Kate sucked in a breath and clapped her hand over her mouth. She had never in her wildest dreams ever dreamt of getting the chance to drive a Ferrari. A convertible Ferrari, no less.

"I'll take that as a yes." Rick's grin widened since watching her drive was going to be fun.

However, before Kate could say yes or no she heard Alexis crying. "I have to go. I'll see you two tomorrow at 6:00." Then he hung up on her.

Kate walked back to the bedroom in a daze. "He canceled on you." Sophie tried to interpret that face but watched her shake her head.

"He's going to let me drive," Kate murmured.

"HE'S GOING TO LET YOU DRIVE THE FERRARI!" Naturally Kate had told Sophie nearly everything about their date.

"He owns a Ferrari?" Jamie was back and standing at the door. She hadn't pressed Katie for details. She just wanted to know if she'd had fun and if her daughter wanted to babysit his daughter again.

"I'm dating all the wrong boys!" Sophie couldn't believe this and fell back onto her bed. Then she sat back up. "Do I still get to babysit?" At thirteen dollars an hour.

"I don't need a new dress. He said we'll be outside on a patio," Kate said to them both.

"Sundress! Let's go shopping, girls. I'll get Johanna to reimburse me for the dress. Grab your IDs and let's go." Jamie was going to get Katie a new dress for her date. If she was going to be driving a Ferrari she needed to look the part.

oO{}O{}Oo

Sophie and Jamie had shot down most of them. However, Kate was coming home with a new dress. She could wear her white tennis shoes with it, that wouldn't be a problem.

"Are you two sure this is the right dress?" Kate held it up again to look at it.

It was a fully lined with each section being translucent, pull over the head, sleeveless, with adjustable, narrow, spring green shoulder straps and sequins throughout. The first section was a soft spring green with wine colored sequins. The aqua section was next with purple sequins. Peach was next with purple sequins. Watermelon was last with orange sequins. And throughout the entire dress there were shiny iridescent sequins. The bottom edge of each section flowed into an airy ruffle with the final section ending just below the knee. It was beautiful.

"This is LA, Katie, and you're going to be driving a Ferrari. Maybe braid your hair and coil it behind your head this time so your hair doesn't fly all over. You will be driving with the top down right?" Jamie just knew it was perfect.

"It was a hundred seventy-nine dollars plus tax, Jamie!" Kate looked at Jamie like she was an alien or something.

"I'll get your mother to reimburse me or I'll never talk to her again. Now hang that dress up and don't damage it. I want to know where he's taking you. Maybe I can talk Ray into taking me. Sophie can talk her boyfriend into going wherever it is when she finds one!" Jamie gave her daughter an evil eye.

"All my bras are either white or black and I don't have a strapless bra," Kate moaned at Sophie since her mother had left them.

"And you're bringing this up now? I guess you'll just have to do without. You can bounce for him. Men like that," Sophie teased her and ignored the glare Kate instantly gave her.

The only good thing about doing without was the fact that she finally did have breasts. She wasn't a flat-chested teenager any longer.

oO{}O{}Oo

Kate was standing there in her new sundress, with no bra, and wearing her tennis shoes. She felt she should be wearing heels but she didn't have any that went with this dress. In fact she had only come here with one single pair of heels. She didn't need heels at school so why bring what she had?

"You're perfect, now let's go. I want my thirteen dollar an hour babysitting job and I still think you should get a hotel room for the night." Sophie couldn't even begin to think how much money she was going to earn if Kate did. She did that and this would be the best visit ever!

"WOW!" Ray was waiting for them since he knew where to go and was impressed with her new dress.

Kate began to blush. "Thank you."

oO{}O{}Oo

"You two know the drill. Call for anything and let me know when you're ready to come home and have fun, Katie. I want to know everything about this Ferrari." He was never going to be able to afford one so he wanted to know everything about it.

"Knock!" Sophie glared at her and waited with her arms crossed over her chest waiting for Katie to knock this time.

"LADIES! WOW! Now that is a dress!" Rick looked her over from head to toe.

"Thank you." Kate felt like her face was on fire now.

"Come in, come in. Alexis is awake and in her crib. You know where everything is." Rick grinned at Sophie. "I even bought double the amount of strawberries."

Now it was Sophie who was blushing. "Thanks, Rick."

oO{}O{}Oo

Kate at first made the mistake of heading for the passenger seat till Rick stopped her. "Keys." He held them out for her to take. He was actually going to let her drive.

Kate got behind the wheel, looked everything over and put her foot on the clutch. She made sure the stick was in neutral and then pressed start and instantly heard it roar. The entire display lit up and she was sitting in the driver's seat of a Ferrari sporting wide grin.

Then she watched Rick unlock the roof, press the button, and the top came down. Thankfully she was ready for it this time. She even had a brush in her purse.

"Map." Rick took it out and unfolded it. It was just the directions to get from here to there. He didn't think they needed anything else. Besides ice cream again after this he already knew how to reach. However, he did have an idea of something to talk her into.

"Go out of the garage, turn right, and then right again," Rick advised her and watched Kate adjust the mirrors to her and put it in gear and backed up.

"Sorry!" Rick had squealed the tires and Kate had just left black marks on the concrete. This car had far too much power.

oO{}O{}Oo

"Where are we going?" Kate queried as she kept driving and turning where he told her to.

"It's called Nobu Malibu. 22706 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Right on the coast." Rick had tried to select a place that had a view. He didn't really know anything about the place so he was as much in the dark as she was.

"What kind of food is it?" Kate asked.

"Japanese Peruvian Seafood. You do like seafood?" Suddenly Rick was worried.

"Yes, I like seafood. I like Chinese more but I like seafood." She wasn't sure just what Japanese Peruvian food was but she was sure she could find something.

"I'll remember that," Rick told her which had Kate looking at him for a moment. This was their last date. She was going to Stanford in just two days so what was he thinking?

oO{}O{}Oo

Kate found a place to park and tried to hand him back the keys but he didn't take them. So she reluctantly put the keys in her purse. Rick had made reservations and they soon were seated outside, right next to a railing with the beach right there.

"Drinks?" their waitress asked them.

"Just water for me," Kate said.

"Same for me, thanks." Rick focused his attention on Kate. "How was the drive?"

"Scary." Kate leaned forward not really aware that she was now giving him a view. "It's a Ferrari. What if I scratch it or worse?" Kate kept herself leaning toward him, waiting for an answer.

It took all Rick had to take his eyes off her breasts. "Then I put it in the shop and have it fixed. No big deal." Rick might care if she totaled it but not anything else.

Kate leaned back and unknowingly denied him his view. "That's easy for you to say."

"Kate." Rick reached across and took one of her hands in his. "I'm not afraid. It's just a car and I really love that dress." She was so very colorful. She finally looked like she belonged in California.

Kate smiled. "Thanks. My aunt chose it. She said it was perfect. And said she was going to get Mom to reimburse her for the cost." Kate leaned forward again and this time she saw where his eyes went. "It cost almost two hundred dollars including tax." Kate started to grin since she had his eyes glued to her breasts.

"I'll give her twice that for helping you," Rick managed to tell her as he watched her sit back up but didn't take her hand back.

Their waitress was back. "Ready to order?"

"You trust me?" Rick asked her and Kate nodded. "Two shrimp and lobster and two bowls of mushroom soup."

Since Kate had her menu open in front of her she quickly searched for that and her jaw dropped open and watched her menu being taken away. Now she was leaning forward again and grinned since his eyes were back on her. "That was fifty-two dollars. Each!"

Rick raised an eyebrow at why she was concerned over the cost. "And your point?"

"I balk at buying a six dollar cheeseburger," Kate confessed and watched him laugh.

"Is it a nice, juicy, greasy cheeseburger? It's important," Rick questioned her. He'd had his fair share of cheeseburgers early in life.

"Naturally," Kate said and sat back up again.

"I knew there was a reason why I liked you." Rick grinned at her and it made Kate laugh. "So where are you staying at Stanford?"

"A dorm room somewhere. I won't know which building till I get there. I won't know who my roommate is till I meet her or even what floor I'll be on," Kate replied.

"Classes?" Rick inquired.

"Those I have a little more control over, just not when the class itself will be. Some classes are mandatory while I get to choose others," Kate answered.

"I have faith that you'll be great. I'd hire you," Rick told her.

Kate seriously doubted that but he was sweet. "So flying there, I suppose?" Rick questioned.

"Yes, I have an early morning flight already paid for," Kate said. "Then a Super Shuttle to reach the college. Just one suitcase and one carry-on so I'm fine."

"You have it all worked out. See, you're going to make a great lawyer," Rick told her. "Now I know I need to meet your parents. You never know when you'll need a good lawyer."

Kate had felt her heart skip a beat when he said he wanted to meet her parents. It only started beating again when he had finished that sentence.

Their waitress was back. "Your soup. The rest of your food will be ready shortly." She was back immediately to fill their water glasses.

oO{}O{}Oo

Kate was wide-eyed at all the food that came with Rick's choice. It looked great and she loved seafood enough to eat it but this was so much food. She was going to need to work all this off somehow.

They both declined dessert. Rick paid the bill and added his tip.

"The car is that way." Rick had her hand and was walking them the wrong way.

"We're going to walk the beach since we're here," Rick explained.

"OH! Okay." She was soon walking in bare feet through the sand while carrying her tennis shoes just like Rick was doing. She was even holding his hand as she walked.

"Twenty-eight, huh?" Kate asked him just to make sure.

"Is that a problem?" She hadn't said Alexis was a problem.

"No, not really." He was ten years her senior at the moment. Her birthday was coming up so that would change to nine years before turning back into ten again. "I'm only eighteen, is that a problem?"

However, Kate didn't know why she had even asked that question. She was going to Stanford in two days and never dating him again.

"It was a little at first but you sound a lot more mature than you actually are so no, I don't mind. Now I just have to figure out how to get to you so I can take you out on another date." That had Kate stopping in her tracks and looking at him. Since she had hold of his hand he had to stop as well. "You don't want another date?" Two dates and she was dumping him already?

"No, I mean yes. San Francisco isn't even close to here." Kate was still staring at him.

"That's the part I need to figure out. If it was just me I would fly out or drive up and get a hotel room but I have to think of Alexis. I'm not sure I want to fly anywhere with an infant." Though he did want out of LA. He didn't want to risk running into Meredith by accident. She had divorced him so he was done with her.

"You would..." Kate was still gaping at him and watched him move closer, lean down, and suddenly kiss her. She let go of his hand so she could wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him back.

This kiss was just as magical as all the others and Kate realized she didn't want to stop kissing him. When he broke from the kiss she leaned into him while moving her arms to go around him and let him hold her.

She wasn't going to ask him to move just for her, though she knew she was going to miss him after she left here. She had found someone and she really didn't want to lose him, but her school came first. She couldn't help but wish...

oO{}O{}Oo

Kate was driving again and going where Rick told her to go. "Ice cream again?" She knew this place.

"Just a cone this time then we can go get coffee. I think I'll skip the pumpkin bread this time, though. I'm stuffed." Rick was sure he would burst if he ate something.

"Me, too." She was afraid she might be up half the night from all she ate.

oO{}O{}Oo

Eventually she was smiling while she sipped her coffee and watched, seeing Rick only had eyes for her. He was amazing. She had no idea what Meredith's problem with him was. She was just stupid. He was a keeper, except she just didn't know how to keep him.

oO{}O{}Oo

This time Rick took the keys when she offered them after she parked in his garage. She stopped at his door and he took her into his arms. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

Once inside they saw Sophie with a wide awake Alexis on the changing table putting a new diaper on her. "Hi, guys. Can I keep her? She's an absolute angel. I'll let Mom worry about how we're going to afford her."

Kate laughed and Rick chuckled and moved over to Alexis and kissed her head. "Miss me?" Alexis's answer was to start kicking and moving her arms. As soon as Sophie was done he picked her and held her to his chest.

"Oops."

"Already? I only just changed that diaper." Sophie complained.

"Not her, me. Here hold her." Rick gave her to Kate instead of Sophie and walked into his bathroom, closed the door, and turned on the light and fan.

"You can't break her, Katie," Sophie said, chastising her for the way she was holding her. "Like this." Sophie adjusted her arms for her, stood back, and looked them both over.

Sophie beamed. "See, she likes you!"

Rick was gone long enough that both of them had moved to the living room. When he finally came back he saw Alexis in Kate's arms so he sat in a chair and watched them.

Alexis, he noticed, only had eyes for Kate and was very quiet. She usually only cried when she wanted something, however, she was nice and quiet now. Then he looked at Sophie who was grinning at Katie.

oO{}O{}Oo

Sophie was at the door and watched those two kiss their goodbyes and go downstairs to wait for her dad to pick them up.

Sophie stated the obvious. "You like him."

"Yeah." She looked up at the building and the 15th floor. She was going to miss him.

"Good!" Sophie was happy for that and saw Kate looking at her with a question written on her face. "You can thank me later."

Kate didn't get it but Sophie could keep her secret.

oO{}O{}Oo

"Paul, I need a house for rent in San Francisco as close to Stanford University Law School as you can get it. And I don't want some student apartment. It needs to be nice. Furnished would be best but if not, I can rent all the furniture. Just get a package deal. Get back to me when you find a couple for me to see by tomorrow morning," Rick asked him.

"Okay, I thought you were talking about moving to New York City where your mother lives." He was looking for places there already.

"Plans change. Take your time. I still need to talk with Black Pawn about this change." He knew they were expecting him in New York City as well. What he didn't know was what they were going to say about this change in plans.

"You know what I'm willing to spend," Rick said. "I need a place for the car is the only big thing."

"I'll get right on it. Give me maybe a couple of hours since you're willing to rent furniture and I'll send over what I find and you can choose. So what's in San Francisco?" Paul was curious.

"Not what but who. Thanks, Paul." Rick hung up and went to Alexis. "You want to see Kate again, don't you, my little pumpkin?" Rick cooed at her.

Rick was positive this was a good idea. He was used to making snap decisions. It was how he got involved with Meredith in the first place. He was also bad at learning from his mistakes. But this time the decision to move to San Francisco didn't feel like a mistake.

Suddenly Rick looked around. It felt a bit like someone had just slapped him but it was just him and Alexis and Alexis certainly hadn't done it. Still he was looking forward to what Paul found for him.

He did have a phone call to make but not till after Kate had moved to San Francisco.