Savior
Chapter 97
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Cate sang along with the music playing through the apartment as she worked on the gift bags for her bridal party. She had each piece set out across the kitchen table and island; she was currently at work writing out her handwritten notes to each of them.
She felt like she needed to pinch herself; it was all finally coming together. It was the final countdown. As soon as she finished the bags, she knew she had to get ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight.
Derek was expected home from work soon - he was going in for the morning to make sure that Rossi's testimony in court sealed Jade's fate. Rossi and Hotch worked closely on pulling together all of the information and keeping Derek as far away from it as possible. They were not taking the chances of the courts finding it tampered with if Derek knew about anything.
She pushed all thoughts of Jade and the trial from her mind as she busied herself boxing up the customized robes she ordered for her bridesmaids. She had a matching one in white in her suitcase that was coming to the hotel with her tonight. Cate also had custom tumblers made for each of them with the wedding colors as well as jewelry for the wedding. Flip flops and a bottle of wine completed each bag.
Madison's was special though; instead of the bathrobe, she had a zip up sweatshirt made for her in the same style as the robes. Her jewelry was more age related and she made sure to include some of her favorite snacks in lieu of the wine she gave her bridesmaids.
She had the music playing so loudly that she did not hear Derek slip through the apartment door. "Celebrating your last twenty-four hours as a Miss?" he asked as he slid up behind her as she danced in front of the kitchen island.
Startled, she pulled back from his grasp, but laughed when she turned around to see Derek standing in front of her. "The final day," she said with a grin. "It's finally here."
Derek's grin matched hers. "The last few days took longer than the two and half months you took to plan this."
"I didn't do it all by myself," she said as he pulled her close to him. He cut her off by kissing her. Cate felt herself relax in his arms as he deepened their kiss. She pulled back in desperate search of air, but a smile crossed her lips.
Derek kissed her forehead before pulling her tight to him. "I am so lucky," he mumbled next to Cate's ear. He could feel her grin grow against the fabric of his t-shirt. "What time are you meeting your mother?"
She shrugged. "Whenever I get there," Cate said with a laugh. "Jackie is coming by to grab my bags shortly."
Derek nodded. "I'm really not allowed to see you after dinner tonight?" he asked as Cate stepped back and just out of his grasp. Derek's hand lingered on her waist. "That's not fair."
The frown crossing his face caused Cate to laugh once more. "It's just one night," she bartered. "We'll be in the same hotel, but different floors."
Derek's face never changed. "I don't like it," he said swiftly.
"You have your own room," Cate said in a sing-song tone. "Just think – for once, you get the bed all to yourself."
His fingers slid through the belt loops of Cate's jeans. "What if I don't want to?" The way in which he asked the question caused Cate's heart to beat faster. "I want to spend every moment with you that I can."
Cate had to purse her lips to calm her heartbeat. "After tonight," she said with a wink. "C'mon, it's tradition."
"Tradition," Derek recited with a scoff. "To hell with tradition."
Cate snickered at his words as she snuck out of his hold to finish her work. "I need to get these done before Jackie gets here."
"You trust her not to look through them?" Derek asked with a laugh as he stepped around the kitchen island.
Cate shrugged. "If she looks, she ruins her own surprise," she said justly. Derek rested back against the counters and watched Cate get back to work putting the finishing touches on the monogrammed tote bags. "It's just less for me to forget when we leave later."
Derek nodded as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. "Is your dad still at the courthouse?"
The brunette slowed her work as she heard Derek's words. With a nod, she forced a smile to her face and finished the work in front of her. "He is," she muttered.
"Rossi just sent me a text – the jury is expected back after lunch." He watched Cate tense up at the mention of the trial. The Italian had promised to stay until the end of the trial and keep an eye on Ted Johnson. Teddy vowed to not miss a second of the trial.
She pursed her lips as she slid the tote bags in to one oversized reusable shopping bag. "Dad expected that," she mused as she moved around the kitchen area, tidying up the mess she had left in the wake of putting together the gifts. "I don't really want to know."
Derek nodded. "Okay," he answered softly. He couldn't blame her. It had taken long enough to get her mood to change after spending the day in court. Derek was not willing to put her through it again if he did not have to. The court had everything saved for the trials of Jade's two accomplices and Fred Hanson. She was not going to have to relive it in another court room.
She accomplished her goal of proving her strength in front of Jade. Her goal was to not break down in front of the blonde who tried her best to ruin her life. But Cate got the last laugh – she was walking out of that court room and not going to a jail cell like Jade was.
"I need to finish getting my stuff together," Derek muttered from his spot against the counters. "You're all packed, right?"
Cate nodded. "You can't sneak a peek at my dress," she joked. "My mother has it."
Derek laughed. "I think I can wait one more day," he said as he started to walk towards her in pursuit of the bedroom.
"You better cry," she said to him with a pointed look.
The black man chuckled before dropping a kiss to Cate's shoulder. "Don't hold your breath, baby. I don't cry."
Cate shrugged. "Mhmm," she muttered as she watched him start down the hallway towards the bedroom. "You owe me if you do!" she called out after him before laughing and finishing up what she was doing.
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