Chapter Seven: Setting The Stage.
Kate returned to work on Tuesday still a little giddy over the weekend's events. If someone had told her, last Tuesday that she'd see her deepest desire fulfilled she'd have scoffed at them. She still wasn't quite sure how it had all come about, she only knew that the chance for happiness had been given her and she had grabbed it with both hands. She had just set put her purse in her desk drawer when her friend, Gabrielle smirked and said: "Jesus, girl you can't come to work on Tuesday looking like that."
Kate raised an eyebrow. "Looking like what Gabby?" Gabby grinned like she'd just caught Kate out. "Looking like you just got laid. I swear you were walking bow legged when you came in." Kate blushed scarlet and huffed. "I was not walking bow legged."
Gabby laughed merrily. "Okay so you weren't walking bow legged but you still look like you just got laid and I didn't hear you deny it." Kate's blush faded and a soft smile touched her face. "I can't deny it Gabby, but it's so much more than getting laid. I'm in love, we're in love."
Gabby's jaw dropped. "You, in love? I can't believe it. Friday you were damning Josh and now you're in love? I don't believe in love at first sight. Lust at first sight, oh yeah. I've had that a lot." Kate laughed at her. "It's not love at first sight Gabby. I've known Rick since I was ten years old. I'll tell you the whole story at lunch. He's a captain in the army. Kate reached into her purse and took out her wallet. "Here's a picture of him. Just taken yesterday."
Gabby's eyes got wide. "Oh my God Kate, haven't you seen the trailers for the new movie Hawk's Nest your guy looks just like Hawk!" Kate laughed.
"He should Gabby, He's the man that wrote the book and the screen play. He was also military advisor on the movie. The producer picked an actor that looked like him. The difference is that Rick is a real serving officer and those medals are the real deal. How would you like to go to the premier of Hawk's Nest?"
Gabby stared at Kate as if she'd told her she could fly. "Where would you get tickets? The premier is only three days away."
" I just told you that Rick's the author. He's got about a dozen to give away. Ten are spoken for but there are two left I see you flirting with Charley all the time. Why don't you ask him to go with you." Gabby kept staring at Kate for a few seconds then let out a whoop. "Oh yeah. Oh thank you Kate, Charley's gonna freak. Wait, you've got your ticket right?" Kate grinned. " I don't need one I'll be with Rick."
Kate had a hard time focusing on her job that day, her thoughts filled with Rick. Fortunately she didn't have an active case at the moment she was just doing routine paperwork. She called Rick on her breaks and at lunch. He was busy with meetings but promised to pick her up at work. She'd taken the subway in. Gabby wasn't the only one that noticed her attitude and her distraction. Gabby was so elated for her friend that by the end of the day the whole office knew about it.
When Kate talked to Rick on her afternoon break he asked her where she'd like to go to dinner. She told him that she wanted to spend the evening in and she would cook for him. She really wanted to see if Lisa's reaction to Rick was a fluke.
Rick knew that most children liked bright colors and Kate wasn't particularly fond of his uniform so he stopped during the day and bought a couple of polo shirts. One in red and a yellow one. Kate was waiting for him on the sidewalk when he pulled up. He got out of the car and opened the door for Kate. She hadn't noticed Gabby, Charley and a couple of her other colleagues watching from the lobby. She leaned over and kissed him as he got back in the car.
"OMG he's so handsome." Gushed Gabby. "Look at that car, it's a Viper!" said Charley. "You would notice the car first wouldn't you Charley." Gabby was annoyed with him. Charley shrugged. " What do you expect Gabby? I'm a guy I'm not gay so I'm not going to go gaga over another guy." One of the other co-workers Snickered. "That's a lot of g's in one sentence Charley."
Kate sighed as she relaxed in the seat. "I'm glad the day's over I missed you Babe." He glanced over. "I missed you. But it's kind of silly isn't it? We talked several times."
She rolled her eyes. "No it's not silly, we talked but we couldn't touch. I was so long without you I want to touch you all the time. I want you to touch me." She grabbed his free hand and held it resting against her leg. After a couple of minutes he slid his hand under her skirt and gently caressed her thigh. Her breath caught and she said; "Stop that, Rick. You're getting me all hot and bothered and Lisa's awake and we can't do anything till later." He grinned at her but moved his hand outside her skirt.
Kate smiled loving the feel of his hand on her leg, just not on her bare skin at the moment. Later, yes and a whole lot more than her thigh. "We need to stop at the market Babe. I need to pick up a couple of things." That was something new for Kate. She'd never used any kind of pet names before with anyone and never liked them for her. That had changed, rapidly. Their trip to the market was quick, she knew exactly what she needed.
Entering her apartment Kate was met by the usual energetic charge of her daughter and the "Kiss Mommy" demand. Lisa snuggled in against her mother. "Did you have a good day Baby Girl?" "Lisa smiled that adorable smile most little girls have." "Yes Mommy, I had a nice day."
Then Lisa caught sight of Rick. She held out her arms. "Kiss Rick." Kate handed Lisa to Rick. "I've got to go change and start dinner. Entertain Lisa will you please?" Rick gave Lisa the kiss she'd asked for then set her down. Rick said; "Do you like stories Lisa?" Lisa nodded her head. " Well why don't you go get your elephant and I'll tell you a story about her.
Lisa ran and got the toy and came running back. Rick picked her up and sat her on the couch. "Does your elephant have a name yet?" Lisa shook her head. Rick picked up the elephant and held it to his ear. "She says her name is Emily. Do you want to hear a tory about Emily?" Lisa nodded eagerly. Rick handed the toy back to Lisa.
"One day Emily the elephant was walking through the jungle. Emily was very sad. Emily was a baby elephant and there were no other babies to play with. She said I want a friend. She saw Minnie the monkey in a tree. She said; "Minnie the monkey will you play with me and be my friend?" But Minnie the monkey said; "I'm sorry Emily the elephant I live in the trees so I cannot play with you." Then she saw Sally the snake and said; "Sally the snake will you be my friend and play with me?" But sally the snake said; "I'm sorry Emily the elephant but I live in the grass and you might step on me so I cannot play with you."
Well, this went on all morning but none of the baby animals wanted to play with Emily. Emily was getting sadder and sadder till just before lunch, She saw Lisa the little girl and she said; Lisa the little girl, I am very sad. Nobody wants to play with me." Well Lisa was about to have her lunch which was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a banana. Lisa knew that elephants love peanuts so she said; "Emily the elephant, I will love you and play with you forever and my mommy will make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And so it was. Lisa's mommy made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for them and Emily the elephant went to live with Lisa and her mommy and was never sad again."
Lisa was giggling by the end of the story. She leaned against Rick and said; Papa Jim tells me stories too." Kate had stopped changing and watched as Rick told the story. Lisa was enthralled. Kate smiled and finished changing. She doubted if her friends would believe her at first if she told the story. One of the world's foremost fighting men sitting with a child not his own, making up a story to make the little one happy. Whether they believed it or not, it totally reassured her.
Kate planned a simple meal that had been a favorite of hers for years. Corned beef with fried potatoes and green peas. The corned beef was pre-cooked so all she had to do was heat it up. She put it in the oven and began peeling the potatoes. Rick walked into the kitchen with a giggling Lisa perched on his shoulders. "Look Mommy, she called I'm bigger than you." Rick set Lisa down and said; "Do you need any help, Love?" Kate thrilled at the endearment.
"Yes please, open the peas and start them for me then wash your hands and set the table." Rick did as she asked, even washing Lisa's hands and letting her put the napkins in place. Rick was used to having coffee or beer with his evening meal but Kate served sparkling apple juice for them and milk for Lisa. Watching Rick slip so easily into the domestic setting confirmed for Kate that there was absolutely no other course for her. This was her destiny and his.
After dinner Kate snuggled up to Rick on the couch as he told Lisa the story of Emily and the peanut man. It was time to bathe Lisa, so Rick relaxed on the couch. Bath time over Kate put Lisa to bed. Lisa held up her arms. "Good night Mommy, kiss." Kate kissed the little girl. "Good night Baby Girl, sweet dreams." Lisa said, sleepily, " Kiss Rick?" Kate called Rick into the room. He leaned down and kissed Lisa's forehead. "Good night Lisa."
As soon as Lisa was sound asleep Kate asked; "Will you stay the night Rick?" He took her in his arms and said; "There's no place I'd rather be." They sat on the couch watching a movie or rather there was a movie playing but they weren't paying any attention to it. When she had changed from business attire she hadn't changed to her usual t-shirt and yoga pants but a button up blouse and A-line skirt. They had been kissing rather heavily when Kate managed to whisper; "Remember where your hand was in the car? Put it back there." Trembling from the sensation of his fingers on the silky skin of her inner thigh, she let her legs fall open in invitation, gasping as he caressed her through the thin material of her panties. Moaning softly and panting she barely managed; "Bedroom Babe."
She awoke in the morning again snuggled up to Rick, feeling happier than she ever had. She gently caressed his chest, shuddering slightly when her finger tips encountered the puckered skin of his bullet scars.
Thinking about the scars brought her back to his status with the Army. She wanted him out but she also remembered his statement: "It's not just what I do it's who I am." It might be a fight she couldn't win. Just in the past couple of days she had realized that she had to be with him in or out of the Army. She was hoping that if she couldn't convince him to leave the Army that at least his PTSD combined with his old wounds would keep him out of combat.
She didn't like the idea of moving around the country every few years but if it came to that, as long as he was safe and they were married she would accept it as the cost of keeping him.
She felt him stirring so she leaned over and kissed him. He smiled as his eyes opened meeting her gaze with a loving one of his own. It was strange, wonderful but strange. Somehow he felt safer, more secure with her than he had since he'd left home. Not his physical safety of course but his emotional one. He'd really been on his own emotionally for most of the last ten years, it had taken a toll.
He returned her kiss and deepened it. She almost got lost in that kiss but pushed away and laughed. "Oh no Babe, I have to go to work and I both have to get ready and get Lisa ready for the day. But come shower with me and we'll have breakfast." She caught sight of his grin.
"Shower to get clean Babe, no shower sex. She giggled. Not that I'm against the idea we just don't have time this morning." Rick had brought a small bag in his car with his shaving kit, fresh underwear, socks and a clean shirt. In this case the yellow polo. Once showered and dressed Kate started to prepare breakfast.
Rick said; "Don't disrupt your morning routine for me, I'll grab something on the way back from dropping you off at work. I don't want you riding the subway anymore." Kate gave him That look. "No you won't grab something. I still remember your horrible breakfast habits when Mom or Martha weren't watching you. Four greasy fried eggs and eight strips of bacon along with four cups of coffee. That if it wasn't two bear claws. Not going to happen. I am going to keep you healthy in spite of yourself. Please put the coffee on while I go dress Lisa."
It only took Kate a few minutes to dress Lisa. She was not a fussy child, usually cheerful and cooperative in the morning. Lisa caught sight of Rick. She chortled ,held out her arms and said; "Kiss Rick." Kate chuckled. She knew that Lisa, like most children sometimes obsessed on new things and would settle down in a few days. Her affection for Rick was obvious. Like all the Beckett females.
Kate took three bowls out and three packets of oatmeal and began preparing the cereal. Giving Rick another smile she said; "Rick would you please get the brown and serve sausages out of the freezer and put them in the microwave? Three for you, two for me and one for Lisa."
Rick complied with her request, shaking his head, halfway between amused and annoyed. After all he'd been an officer for the last six years in command most of that time. he'd been making decisions for himself for most of his life he wasn't sure that he liked this aspect of Kate. It was almost as if she'd read his mind. She looked at him shook her head and said;
"Look Babe, I don't want to be the boss I'm not that type but when it comes to your own well-being you're a very careless man. I'm in love with you so if I have be a little bossy to make sure that you eat right and take care of yourself I will." She'd continued to prepare the cereal while she talked. When the oatmeal was ready she added milk, butter, cinnamon and raw sugar.
Setting the bowls on the table, she turned and plated the sausages, poured their coffee and got Lisa's juice out of the refrigerator. She sat and they ate quietly, Rick thinking about stopping at Charley's diner after he drops Kate off. Steak and eggs sounded about right.
Lisa's baby sitter arrived just as They were finishing breakfast. In all the time she'd been working for Kate Sarah had never seen a man at Kate's apartment other than Kate's dad. To find one here eating breakfast was beyond surprising. The scene was far too domestic to be anything other than what it was. After she got over her initial shock Sarah grinned from ear to ear. It was about time.
Kate stood up from the table and looked at Sarah, her eyes dancing and a smile on her face. "Sarah, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend; Richard Rodgers. Richard, Sarah Wagner."
It took Kate only a few minutes for Kate to finish preparing for work, Kiss Lisa goodbye and leave. Kate leaned over and Kissed Rick. Getting out of the car she leaned back in and said; "I should be done about five. Oh and Rick if you're thinking about stopping and getting a "real breakfast" Please don't."
Please review.