CH26
It was now May 15 and the start of Spring Break.
The problem was the boys didn't start their Spring Break for another week yet. Alexis and Amanda had scheduled their PTO for that same week to coincide with the boys being off.
This put a bit of a crimp in Kate's schedule since she had to be back at the university by the end of the following week. The instructors had to be back early to prepare for class.
They really only had next week off. Problem was none of the Douglas clan had any time off to use. L had just gotten back to work from maternity leave and it was too soon after maternity leave for Jenn to take time off.
Jim and Natalie had wanted to stay on top of the construction schedule of the fighter, bomber and boarding pod/ship. These three were their babies and their careers were on the line.
This left the Crystal clan to wait a week. Not that this stopped Amanda from coming over every night to spend the evening with Alexis. Rick and Kate had gotten use to her being there every night they simply added an extra plate to the evening dinner without thinking about it.
Even the boys were getting into the hang of having another person in the house.
Kate was now about 4 months pregnant and was really starting to show. Alexis and Amanda had gone shopping for maternity clothes with her. This being the Crystal clan, they didn't go local.
Cehavir Mall, Istanbul, Turkey
The complete name is Istanbul Cehavir Shopping and Entertainment Centre and it is also known as Sisli Kultur ve Ticaret Merkezi. It opened on October 15, 2005 and is considered to be the largest shopping mall in the European continent. The mall is located in the Sisli district of Istanbul and features 343 shops, 48 restaurants, 12 movie houses, a show stage, a bowling hall and even a roller coaster ride. With six floors available for retail shops, international brands and fast food restaurant chains have all established a branch in the mall.
It had turned out to be a real eye opener. While their communication disks behind their ears translated what everyone was saying, they could only answer back in English. Good thing Kate's American Express card spoke for them.
"Where did you three go?" Rick notices them coming home loaded down with bags that had some really screwy markings.
"We went shopping for maternity clothes." Kate explains smiling.
"And by the smiles I see it must have been fun." Rick says happily.
"It was amazing. I would have just gone shopping locally in Montreal if it was me. But this transmat wall travel makes things amazing." Amanda tells him happily.
Rick gets a funny look on his face but says nothing. He gives the three of them a quick kiss on the cheek and heads upstairs.
Kate and the girls head upstairs while Kate heads into the master suite. The girls go into the guest master suit. Each unpacks their purchases.
Kate makes it upstairs about an hour later after putting everything away and finds Rick in the living room alone with the TV off. He's already on his second beer.
Kate sits down next to him and he seems to not notice. She attempts to take the beer away from him gently but he resists.
"Talk to me Rick. Let me help you." Kate is worried. But what is it?
Rick however just lifts the beer up and drinks it down.
"Rick, please!"
"It's about Amanda." Rick answers softly.
"What about Amanda. Have you changed your mind about her and Alexis? Please say no."
"No that's not it. Not exactly." Rick answers but doesn't really.
"Rick talk to me. What is going on?" Kate is still worried.
"Did you listen to her just a moment ago? Really listen?" Rick asks.
"She was happy she got to go shopping. What's wrong with that?"
Rick nods his head. "She was happy, wasn't she? …Drunk kind of happy."
Kate suddenly places her hand over her mouth and inhales deeply and stops breathing as realization hits her.
"And it's our fault." Kate whispers out. "We taught her how to use it. We encourage her to use it. We take her on vacation everywhere. We just got back from Turkey shopping. We told her she could use it to come here anytime." Kate gets it.
"And you think or fear she will now use it to go literally anywhere anytime. People could see her do it." Now Kate is worried. "And it really would be all our fault" Kate sees trouble.
"Alexis I need to meet you at the front door, NOW! …. No, just you." Kate is at the front door waiting.
Alexis arrives. "Mom?"
"You're with me sweetie." And Kate opens a transmat wall and drags her daughter thru it.
It is a little over an hour later before they come back.
Alexis runs for the guest master suite while Kate searches for Rick.
Kate finds Rick in the kitchen putting a snack together. She comes up gets him to face her while holding onto him. "Alexis is going to explain it to her. She is also going to introduce her to Lucile. And that her bracer doesn't really open a transmat wall. And if necessary Lucile can prevent her from ever opening one again if she doesn't learn the responsibility of having it."
"Without consulting me? Take over how to handle my daughter and her friend and leave me out in the cold. You choose what is right and what is wrong." Rick looks shocked but sounds mad.
Rick gets up and strides for the stairs. "Rick!" Kate calls after him, but he keeps going.
Kate gets up and races after him just in time to see him go thru a transmat wall and watch it close on her.
Kate sits on the stairs and falls apart crying. "I'm sorry Rick." Kate sobs.
It's hours later that Alexis finds Kate in her bed still crying, and still another hour before she and Amanda can get out of her what's wrong.
"You said Lucile can block my opening a transmat wall. Can she also track where you go when you open one?" Amanda asks.
Alexis kisses her, grabs her hand and drags Amanda to the front door. "Lucile?" And Lucile opens a transmat wall and Alexis and Amanda step through.
Sometime later Alexis and Amanda with Rick in tow, step into the front foyer. "Now go up and apologize dad." Alexis tells him sternly. "You were an ass dad and mom was wrong. Now go apologize!" Alexis states with her arms crossed tapping her foot.
Rick knows from the conversation that got him here that she means it, as well as the threat she made if he didn't. Amanda feels ashamed., thinking she is the cause of all this.
Rick trudges up to the master suite and stepping in finds Kate siting up against the head board with her knees up under her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs holding them in tight, still softly crying.
Kate hasn't spotted Rick yet. Rick takes the moment to stand there and watch his wife and how he has made her feel with just a poor choice of words. He hadn't meant that he didn't trust her with Alexis or any of their children (and in his mind that now included Amanda). Even now he doesn't know where those words came from.
Rick steps up closer to the bed, still un-noticed. "Kate?" Rick calls softly.
Kate looks up and can see Rick thru her tears and launches herself off the bed to crash into him and wrap her arms around him. "I'm sorry Rick, I'm sorry, so sorry." Kate starts crying into his chest in earnest again.
"I'm sorry Kate, I don't know where those words came from. I do trust you with Alexis or any of our children. I was an ass, and I'm sorry. Very sorry." Rick kisses the top of her head.
Kate shakes her head against his chest "I should have talked with you first. You're my husband and I shouldn't have just taken over. I'm sorry." Kate switches to holding his shirt in her fists, not wanting him to leave again.
"How about we make it up to each other tonight?" Rick asks with an ulterior motive.
Kate chuckles, wipes her nose and kisses him. "Where are the girls?"
"Probably upstairs waiting for us, worried. … Where are the boys?"
"Last I knew they were in the game room. Probably still are." Kate answers ashamed that she doesn't actually know.
"How about we go put the girls out of their misery?" Rick offers. Kate nods.
As soon as they clear the top of the stairs and head for the living room, there are two flashes as Amanda crashes into Kate while Alexis crashes into Rick.
"You okay dad?" Alexis asks. While Amanda whispers out very softly. "Are you okay mom?"
Rick didn't hear Amanda. "We're fine pumpkin. It's just been a bad day. Thanks!"
Kate however pulls back from Amanda with a shocked face, then pulls Amanda in to wrap her arms around her tight. "Oh sweetie." And Kate starts crying again.
"You know what would fix all this?" Rick asks Alexis.
"Ice cream?" Alexis answers excited. She runs for the freezer.
Kate lets go of Amanda so she can follow.
Rick turns to Kate and takes hold of her hands with his. "You alright?" He sounds worried since she is crying.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kate wipes away the tears. Seeing Rick's disbelieving face, she says, "Honest, I'm great," as she wipes still more tears away since she is still crying.
"Come on, ice cream fixes everything. Trust me." Rick guides her over to the kitchen.
They finally got to go on their spring break of choice.
Ko Phi Phi Don Island Beaches, Thailand
Brilliant turquoise waters lure travelers to the shores of Ko Phi Phi Don Island, Thailand. Bamboo Island, Laem Tong Beach, Loh Dalum, Koh Phi Phi Leh and Loh Bagao Bay are some of the beaches found around the island, but Long Beach is the most popular and a great spot for snorkeling, too.
They had found someone who would give them a tour of the area and had a van big enough to handle all of them. All of it was typical tourist places meant to take your money by selling you cheap stuff. They all looked out of respect that these people needed the money it generated. But there really was nothing of interest to any of them.
One of the places they stopped was at an ancient temple. It was very simple with a beautiful color combination. It looked like it had been added on over the years but it was still very nice.
"Have you seen your mother?" Rick directs his question at Alexis but unknowingly includes Amanda in his remark.
Alexis and Amanda shake their heads. "We'll split up and find her."
Wat Chalong in Phuket
Wats - or Buddhist temples - are among the most important symbols of Thailand, partly because the majority of Thais are Buddhist and partly because they are so beautiful. In Phuket alone, there are 29 Buddhist temples spread around the island.
Wat Chalong has been extending a warm welcome to visitors for over a century. Locals come to pray and Westerners come to learn something about Buddhism. The temple is open from seven in the morning to five in the afternoon.
Amanda finds Kate first. She is sitting up on the front row crying again. "Mom is something wrong?" Amanda wraps her arms around Kate. However Kate doesn't acknowledge her presence. "Alexis I found her. She's in the church." Amanda doesn't tell her that Kate is crying.
Alexis shows up in no time to find her mom crying with Amanda's arms around her.
"MOM what's wrong?" Alexis sounds worried.
"Should I get Rick?" Amanda asks, but Alexis shakes her head.
"Come on mom, talk to us. Please." Alexis tries again.
Kate wipes a few tears away. "I was just thinking. I was so lost when you and your father found me. If not for you two I'd be dead long before now. …Natalie asked me a question a few weeks ago. …She asked me if my mother had sent you two to save me. …This place is so old and quiet. It seemed like a good place to stop and talk to her. And thank her." Kate only cries harder.
Both of the girls wrap their arms around Kate. "Oh mom! …I don't know if she sent us either. But I do know that if she is watching, she is proud of you. You saved dad after he lost his wife. You gave all of us a home with a mother to love.
Your mother can't help but but love who you are and what you do for everyone – including Jim, Natalie and their sons." Alexis tells her.
"Mom, you told me you were all alone after your mother died. I've been alone for even longer after my parents died. I've been forced to make all my own decisions for a long time. Then Alexis came along and I saw in her what I didn't have and she is so sweet. And a lot of that is your doing. I love her and you.
You and Rick have become the parents I haven't had for a long time. Until now I've been alone. Now I've got a really big family that took me in without hesitation. Even Jim and Natalie have included me. I think you know what it means to have a family to support you and love you.
And Rick/Dad was right. I was punch drunk with what these bracers can do. Without you being mom and dad I would have done something stupid.
Alexis is right, your mother would be proud of who you have become. Did your mother send them? Did my parents send Alexis who in turn got me you? I didn't know how empty my life and heart really were until Lexus and you filled it.
Did our mothers have anything to do with it? We'll find out when we do or don't see them when our time runs out. Until then I'd like to think so. Even if you don't believe what does it matter. We are all still here and lucky to have mothers who love us." Amanda finishes her speech by kissing Kate on the cheek and squeezing her tight.
Kate leans over just a little to kiss Amanda then over to kiss Alexis. "You two are terrific. However there is one thing I think we should talk about. And since we are a big family I'm wondering if we should include all of them. But if you two don't want that than we won't." Kate tells them.
"US?" Alexis asks.
"I'm wondering if it's time for you two to decide who lives where? Or am I pushing too soon?" Kate tells them while still wiping away tears.
"You want me to move out?" Alexis asks.
"No sweetie. Amanda gets off work and comes to us every night. She is spending money on an apartment that she doesn't have to. Does she move in with us and you? Or do you move to Montreal? Or is there another answer? Or do you want to leave it as it is now?
I don't want you two to do something you are not comfortable with doing. But if I'm going to be mom I want you two to start thinking." Kate explains.
"I, ….I don't know. We haven't talked about the future." Amanda tells her.
"Oh sweetie, I don't want you to make a decision you are not comfortable about making yet. But I'm not blind, or deaf." Kate hints. "And neither is your father. Just so you are sure, both of us are comfortable with the two of you. Don't worry about what we or others may think. Besides we have Lucile on our side, and yours."
Now Kate has got Alexis and Amanda crying, which only helps get Kate's tears flowing again.
"Come on you two let's go find the guys and put this vacation back on track." Kate takes the girls with an arm around each of them.
If your imagination is good enough you would just make out three large wisps of smoke rise up from the candles that are burning behind them as they leave, and inside them you would swear you saw three separate smiles that disappear at the ceiling.