CH11
"How goes work on the new fighter and or bomber?" Kate asks them.
"All of the sub-contractors have been selected and should have started construction of their components by now. Boeing was selected to construct the frame for both. Final construction of the prototypes for both should be done about a year from now, give or take." Natalie tells them. Crossing her fingers for all to see.
"We had a little trouble with the brass about where the designs came from since we didn't use the people they have grown accustomed to using." Jim tells them. "A lot of the negative stuff they came up with and forwarded on paper seemed to somehow just disappear so their remarks never made it into the final evaluation." Jim finishes.
"I wonder who has the ability to do that." Kate states sarcastically.
"No one I know." Lucile informs them. Which gets everyone laughing.
"Everyone in for our Christmas outing." Kate asks changing the subject.
"I knew there was a reason why I liked you Kate." Natalie tells her.
"You know how to pick'em mom." L tells her.
"Well actually Lucile gave me options and I selected from those options based on what she told me." Kate explains not wanting to take all the credit.
"Well thank you Mom and Lucile." Jenn tells them.
"Hot dogs are ready." Rick tells them. "All of the fixings are on the counter; I've even got left over homemade chili in case anyone wants some." Rick explains. And everyone can see Kate shake her head as she is standing behind him.
Don and Tom know what that means. They have heard enough horror stories about some of Rick's cooking from their wives. Natalie and Jim however are on their own. Luckily for them neither select the chili to go on their dogs.
After they are done eating. "Hey what are you doing with my chili?" Rick asks hurt.
"It's been in the refrigerator long enough. Anyone eats it after today is going to end up sick." Kate tells a white lie as she dumps it into the trash.
"Or sick tomorrow." L comments softly. Getting a questioning look from Natalie.
"I'll explain later mom." Tom tells her softly.
"How did the honeymoon trip go?" Natalie asks changing the subject.
"Alexis told us it went great. They both are working the graveyard shift this month and maybe longer than that was the hint." Kate explains.
"How is Alexis doing? We haven't seen her in months." Natalie asks.
"She's the head Administrator and primary care taker of the elephants at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a non-profit zoo in Powell, Ohio. This zoo has been named the number one zoo in the United States on multiple occasions. Currently home to 793 different species of over 9,000 total animals, the zoo enjoys over 2.3 million annual visitors. The zoo has gained its world-renowned status from its own conservation program and extensive funding to outside programs as well. The 580 acres of land is home to the zoo itself as well as Zoombezi Bay and Jungle Jack's landing, offering multiple attractions on its grounds.
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Continuing Education is dedicated to providing the highest quality educational excellence in animal care and technology to the animal health community. The office has been offering conventional continuing education courses since its first conference for veterinarians in 1926. Today, the office conducts over 35 conferences annually for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, breeders and owners, ranging in a wide variety of topics. In addition to providing conferences, the office launched its online continuing education program in late 2008. The office is under the direction of the College's Associate Dean for Administration and Curriculum, Dr. Ray Thornton, DVM."
"Sis always was unbelievably good with animals. She is so much a natural at it." Jenn tells them.
Kate nods her head agreeing. "Even when she was five years old what she could do with animals was amazing. Jenn is right, she is a natural."
L is also nodding her head. "What she could get the collies to do when growing up was amazing. I don't think I'm going to have her luck with ours." As she turns in her seat to find her puppy crashed on the floor next to her brother who is also crashed. And both are crashed next to Guinness and Maggie.
"I may have to bring her over more often just to get her worn out playing with these two and give me some peace." L finishes.
"I hear that!" Jenn agrees.
"You send them over anytime you please, Rick will be happy to dog sit." Kate offers up her husband.
"Oh I will, will I?" Rick is not so sure about this idea.
Kate just pats his arm. "Not to worry Guinness and Maggie will be doing most of the work for you."
"Oh, and are they also going to pick up after them?" Rick wonders.
Kate leans in and whispers in his ear. "OH! Yes, bring them over anytime." Rick says smiling.
Natalie starts laughing guessing incorrectly what Kate had just told him.
"Christmas reminds me of something, Rick and I want you two to have something. I'll be right back." And Kate gets up and goes down the stairs.
Natalie looks at Rick for a little help, but all he does is just smile.
Kate comes back a moment later and holds a key in her fingers in front of Natalie. "What's this?" Natalie asks confused.
"It's a key." Kate tells her leaving off the 'DUH'
Natalie just gives her a glare that makes Kate see the face of Lanie. "I'm doing it again aren't I?" Natalie tells her. "You and I are going to have to have a talk soon." Natalie tells her.
Kate shakes her head to clear her vision and smiles at Natalie. "This is a key to our home in Montana, custom crafted whitefish lake home. It has 5,500 square feet of living space. It has a massive fireplace in the great room. There is even an SUV in the garage. It is presently shut down for the winter but all you have to do is give Lucile about an hour advance notice and she can have the heat on and water in the piping.
We thought you might like to celebrate New Year's out there. There should be at least 20-inches of snow on the ground." Kate tells her, winking.
"You can even go buy fireworks, the good stuff and shoot it off legally at the house." Rick adds.
"The car keys are in a safe. Lucile can tell you where it is and how to get in it to use the car." Kate adds.
"I, … I don't know what to say?" Natalie manages to get out.
"You can say yes." Rick tells her. "You are welcome to go with them." Rick points to Tom and Don. "But that is up to your parents. This is from us to you." Rick points out to Natalie and Jim.
Jim takes the key from Kate's hand. "We'll talk and let you know." Jim tells them. And gets a kiss from Natalie.
"Where are the boys?" L finally asks.
"There was a late night event at their school that they wanted to go to. We need to leave and go get them in about half an hour." As Kate looks at the time. "They are going to be sad that they missed out on the puppies." Kate adds.
"You can ask our daughters any question you have; they've all been there a lot growing up." Rick tells them.
"Well we should get going so you can go pick up your sons. I'm not sure how we are going to get 48 satellites up into orbit so the fighters can pick most of them up and take them out to the asteroid belt, but we'll come up with something. It's not like we can't do this." Natalie tells them all.
Everyone says their goodbye's at the front door while Kate and Rick continue on to the garage to go pick up the boys.
The Crystal and Douglas clans were all on Sixth Street to watch the Thanksgiving parade. Levi was on Rick's shoulders while James was on Jim's. They each had a balloon tied to their wrist and were each busy eating popcorn. They were sitting in the stands and could see everything. The boys soon needed down to get more comfortable and stop blocking the view of the people behind them.
After it was all over they all meet at Rick and Kate's house to start making dinner. Rick was banned from the kitchen. It had been almost unanimous. Only Natalie and Jim had abstained and had withdrawn from the voting.
Since the men were banned they went downstairs to put Rick's game room to good use. Rick had provided sweats for everyone so they did not mess up their good eating dinner in clothes.
Tom was a much better at basketball then Don so he got teamed with Rick. Jim who was more his equal got Don.
Problem was Rick sucked at this game and he and Tom were getting creamed. After two games Rick and Tom called a timeout and asked for Levi and James to join them in their team. From the pool room where they were playing against each other.
Jim and Don were gracious and let them add the boys secure in the fact they knew they were still going to mop the floor with them.
It soon became more fun as both sides did what they could to get the boys to score. In the end both sides decided it was a tie to appease Levi and James.
After a quick shower for everyone they all went upstairs to watch a movie and steal snacks from the kitchen.
ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES. One of the comedic highlights of this surprisingly superior sequel (a true rarity) is the Thanksgiving pageant, where Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) plays a vengeful Native American who goes all firestarter on the Pilgrims' asses.
By the time the movie is over dinner was ready. After the women make sure everyone has washed it is all laid out on the dining room table.
To share these blessings,
For the generosity of our hosts
That make this possible.
Bless those who are here
And those who are in our hearts,
And all those who are not
As fortunate on this day.
Amen.
Since the men were banned from the kitchen the turkey arrived to the table pre-sliced by the women. Not that the guys were complaining. Most of them knew the skill of Kate's cooking and that she had passed it down to her daughters.
With so many people and four grown men as part of the group who ate way too much, the turkey was all but gone. Which actually make Kate happy. It meant she wouldn't be eating turkey sandwiches at work for the next week.
Since the women had made the mess they decided it was only fair that the men clean it up.
This gave Natalie an excuse. "If I remember you have a hot tub on the roof." Natalie tells Kate.
"It's freezing outside!" Kate reminds her.
"That's why it has the word HOT in hot tub. Now go get changed and meet me at the door upstairs."
"Ok but you are nuts." And Kate heads for the master suite to get changed.
Kate meets Natalie at the door to the roof with a towel wrapped around her. "You sure about this?" Kate gives her a chance to change her mind.
Natalie's response is to open the door and have the cold air and wind slam them in the face.
Stepping over to the hot tub. "Does it take long to warm up?" Natalie asks.
"Just a few minutes." Kate tells her.
"Good, we stay out here much longer my ass is going to be frozen and fall off." Natalie tells her while laughing.
Soon they are both in the hot tub. "Oh yea, this is much better. I love bubbles." Natalie tells her.
Kate immediately blushes as she remembers what bubbles can do to her when Rick is around.
"OK Kate talk. You are already blushing and all I did was mention bubbles. I've been saying something the last few days that has you all misty eyed, so talk before I slap you silly." Natalie tells her.
Kate immediately gives Natalie that very same face at that comment. "And there it is again." Natalie moves in closer to Kate so neither has to talk very loud to be heard over the bubbles. "You are my best friend, next to Jim, so talk to me." Natalie has a pleading look in her face.
Kate takes in a deep breath. "A long time ago when I was only 19 my father and I came home from a restaurant that we had been waiting for my mother to meet us at. But she never showed. There were NYPD detectives there waiting for us. She had been murdered in some alley not too far from the restaurant.
The detective had chalked it up to random gang violence. Mom and I were close, really close. Her loss destroyed me. I didn't believe what the detectives had said so I joined the NYPD and worked my ass off to become a homicide detective. I wanted to find who had killed my mother.
I was spiraling down a really deep and dark hole with no way out. Then by chance I got a case that took me to the front door of my most favorite author on the entire planet." Kate pauses with teary eyes.
"Rick?" Natalie guesses. Kate just nods.
"Over the next several months Rick and his then 5 year old daughter wormed their way into my life. In that time I slowly fell in love with both of them. They took away the darkness and filled it with light. I was alive but I wasn't living. They changed all that.
I had only a few friends at that time. Kevin Ryan, Javier Esposito and Lanie Parish. Kev and Javi worked with me as homicide detectives. Lanie was the medical examiner. Lanie was the best friend I've ever had. She knew things about me no one else on the planet knew. She pushed me and teased me to be more involved with Rick and Alexis. She saw something in them that I didn't or wouldn't.
I would try and shut her down and she would go along but tell me 'This is not over girlfriend' or 'If you don't talk to me I'm going to slap you silly'."
Natalie breathes in a deep breath. "That's what I've been telling you the last few days?"
Kate just nods. "You say something and I can see her face and hear her voice instead of yours."
"I take it she is gone now?" Natalie is not really asking since it sounds like she is long gone.
"The group of us found out who had my mother killed and with Lucile's help we brought Bracken to justice." Kate tells her.
Natalie is shocked. "You and Rick were involved in that Bracken mess?" Kate just nods.
"Jim and I were involved in that while at Everett. We worked with Hank who was working with Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie of JAG. She was Chief of Staff." Natalie explains.
Kate knows Sarah but did not ever know Natalie or Jim was involved.
"What happened to Lanie?"
"They wouldn't allow my friends to undergo the same testing I did or let them have nanites. I got to watch her get old while I didn't. I got to watch her die and I attended her funeral. A little piece of me died that day." Kate is crying now.
Natalie moves in and wraps her arms around her. "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry. So very sorry." And now she has Natalie crying.