24 Friday - The Big Move

They'd retired early last night at the hotel in preparation for an early morning on Friday. The days were short at this time of year and each load to be delivered to The Lion would need to wait for the freight elevator to make the round trip before another load could go up. In view of this the removals team had arranged for a series of smaller trucks to arrive at each house in a staggered schedule so that there would be no bottleneck of goods waiting to go up to the new flat or gaps when the freight elevator would be idle. Today the only goods moving were the items designated for The Lion. Next week the remainder would be taken to the storage depot until it was wanted.

The first empty truck of the day arrived at Kate's. Will was given charge of seeing that the correct items moved to The Lion from there. Kate and Laurence were to open the new flat and direct the incoming deliveries, while Caroline supervised proceedings at Conway Drive. Kate had been delegated to the new flat because it would be the warmest of the three locations since all doors opening to the outside would be downstairs and not leading directly into the flat.

Caroline had seen to it that there was a truck packed yesterday from Kate's house with a load, which could be delivered first thing this morning. It contained, among other things, the comfortable furnishings from Kate's sitting room so that there would be a place for her to relax in between directing the movers. In the meantime Kate and Laurence perched on the wide windowsill and alternatively surveyed the view and the bare structure of their new home.

Laurence had been given the same instructions from Caroline that Will had received the day before, to save Kate all that he could and to keep her from lifting anything. He wasn't sure just what that meant or what exactly she expected him to do should Kate decide to do something she shouldn't.

He had not spent much time with Kate up until now. They had been part of the same general family groupings but other than the night his Mum had told him and Will that she and Kate were planning to be together from now on, they had had little conversation expressly between them.

Laurence wasn't sure he liked McKenzie. Sure, he called her Kate to please his Mum but in his mind he still called her McKenzie. He'd never been in one of her classes, knew her only by rep at school, many liked her, some didn't. She was OK, he guessed. Only sometimes he caught her looking at him in a way that made him uncomfortable, like she knew something about him that he didn't know himself. She wanted watching that one. At the moment he liked her Mum, Edie, more than he liked McKenzie. At least she came out with it and you knew where you stood with her.

It was all very well for Will to like McKenzie so much. He was going off to Oxford again soon and would be well out of it all. It was going to be him, Laurence, stuck here in a flat with McKenzie and his Mum, all on his own. Oh yeah, and a baby before long. What did he know about babies? Nothing. He only knew that the guys at school with little brothers and sisters didn't seem to like them very much. It all had the potential to get very weird very fast and he was in it alone once Will left for university.

Today, McKenzie explained the removal company system of numbering to get things into the correct rooms since he had been away at rugby the day before. Then, she did it again. She was giving him that strange look.

Deciding that he wasn't going to be intimidated by that anymore, "What?"

She continued to look at him for a moment. Then confused, "What do you mean?"

"I dunno, you look at me sometimes and I don't know what you are thinking."

She smiled then, "I'm thinking pretty much the same thing about you. You don't say much, I wonder what you really think about all of this." Lifting her hands, "All of us moving here together. The baby. Everything."

Shrugging, looking down at his feet as he swung them back and forth one at a time, "Doesn't matter what I think."

Watching his face until he looked up at her, "It does matter what you think, Laurence. You may not have been given an out and out choice but you did agree. The night we all talked about this. The night you asked me the hard questions about making your Mum happy." She watched him think this over. When he didn't respond, "It does matter what you think. You can help us to make this a happy home or you can try to bring unhappiness to it." Hearing the voices of the moving men in the foyer, Kate rose, still looking at him, "I hope you will choose happiness. I am." Turning, she crossed the room calling out good mornings to the movers as the first load of boxes cleared the door.

Still seated on the sill, Laurence watched her walk away. Maybe she was more like her mother than he had thought.

By mid-morning the stream of movers had not slowed, nor had there been a pause. The lift had been working non-stop and the empty flat was steadily filling. Everywhere stood stacks of boxes. Dismantled beds leaned crazily against bedroom walls and other oddments that were too difficult to box had been rolled into mover's blankets which had been unrolled upon arrival leaving things in odd places.

Kate had directed placement of the living room furniture upon arrival and other large pieces in the various rooms with the hope that they would not need moving again. Kate and Laurence mainly worked at staying out of the way of the ant-like stream of workers moving in and out of the flat, offering directives for various pieces that filed by. Once the stools from the island at Conway Drive began appearing, seats at the breakfast bar provided the perfect vantage point for Kate to continue to oversee the progression of belongings coming in.

At mid-morning Edie arrived with a thermos of tea, one of coffee and a luscious looking coffee cake. This she set out on the breakfast bar pulling disposable tableware from another bag. "I thought you might be needing a fresh cup of tea by now."

"Mum, you didn't need to do this."

Smiling as she kissed her daughter on the cheek, "I know, but I like to, my little contribution to the move. Besides, I wanted to see for myself that you weren't overtiring yourself."

"Well, I am grateful but you've already invited us to dinner tonight. You'll be overtiring yourself next."

"I'm fine. Better than fine." Giving Kate a meaningful look, "I'm very glad that you have Caroline to look after you now. I can relax, I know you're in good hands."

Kate, growing weary of everyone treating her as if she were an invalid said, a little testily for her, "Mum. I don't know why everyone thinks I need looking after. I'm a grown woman I can take care of myself. I'm fine."

Edie, had turned away during this, calling, "Laurence. Would you like some coffee cake?"

Turning back she patted Kate's hand, saying only "Right."

"Wait. How did you know Laurence was here?" Edie, busily cutting into the cake did not respond immediately. "Mum?"

"When I spoke to Caroline this morning she told me that you and Laurence were here at the new flat."

Suspiciously, "Why were you speaking to Caroline?"

Becoming exasperated "I just wanted to know how you were doing today."

Fully irritated now, "So you call Caroline? Instead of me, your daughter?"

Pausing from serving cake to Laurence, to give Kate a very direct look, "I wanted an unbiased opinion."

Laurence had appeared promptly at the prospect of coffee cake. Now at the tone between these two he was torn between giving this conversation a miss and the offering of cake.

"And you think Caroline is unbiased?" Then, "Is this what I have to look forward to from the two of you?"

Pouring tea now Edie replied calmly, "Apparently, if your going to get yourself pregnant at age 42 with a health history like yours."

Laurence snorted at Kate being told off by her Mum and risked a glance to see her face, which was open mouthed at the moment.

Regaining her voice, "Mum!" and tilted her head in Laurence's direction.

Edie exchanging an amused look with Laurence, "He's old enough to know the facts of life now."

Realizing that the better part of valor in this situation was to let the matter drop, Kate sat sipping her tea and listening to the conversation between her Mum and Laurence concerning the night's menu and the possibility of a rummy rematch. Grumpily she observed that Laurence never talked with her like that and acknowledged that she was a touch jealous of both of them just now, which did nothing to improve her mood.

After Edie left, Kate got up to clear the counter. Tired of sitting all morning watching others work, she began to open boxes around the kitchen peering into them and then at the empty cupboards deciding what should go where. Laurence returning from a conversation with one of the movers, a university student who played rugby for York, had found Kate busily filling cabinets from boxes on the floor.

"Um, I don't think that's a good idea."

Her mood still not improved, Kate went on with her task, saying coolly "No?"

"Mum specifically said-"

Turning on him now, eyes flashing, "Well, your Mum isn't here now is she?"

Holding his hands out in front of him and taking a step back, "Whoa, you're the one who said you wanted a happy home. All I'm saying is, if Mum comes in and sees you doing this, that is not what you're likely to have."

A ghost of a smile crossed Kate's face at the truth of this statement. Relenting a bit, "I can't just sit around all day doing nothing." Looking at him appealingly, "Perhaps you could find another box to put under this one to make it more accessible?"

Looking doubtful, Laurence complied reckoning that he wasn't likely to be able to stop her.

"Thanks." Meeting his eye, "would you like to help me?"

Considering for a moment, Laurence shrugged, "Why not?" He knew if he wanted to stay on his Mum's good side he had better at least try to keep Kate from as much as he could. Of course, he was probably already stuffed that she was doing even this much. What the hell, she was right, it was better than wandering around trying to stay out of the way. He'd never been much for idleness.

When Caroline came in quietly through the open door of the flat she found Laurence pulling pots and pans out of the dishwasher and handing them to Kate, seated on the floor industriously arranging them into the lower cupboard drawer. Leaning over the breakfast bar she said softly, too softly, "What's all this?"

Laurence froze, he knew that voice, it was a set up, the calm before the storm. They were both in for it now. Straightening, he forced cheeriness into his voice to cover his nervousness, "Mum, there you are. Um, we were just putting a few things away. Here in the kitchen." Seeing her face, he began again, reasonably, "We couldn't just sit here all day doing nothing could we?" Following his Mum's gaze to Kate seated on the floor, he saw that she looked a little scared too and embarrassed at being caught sitting on the floor. Seeing that she was moving to her knees and preparing to stand he hurried to assist her to her feet.

Both standing now, uncannily alike, nervously running the palms of their hands up and down the sides of their legs. Caroline was secretly charmed by the pair of them but maintained her serious inquiring demeanor. She couldn't have them thinking they could disregard her with impunity. Standing on one leg, a hand on that hip and the other on the breakfast bar, brows raised, she waited.

Desperate to fill the silence, Laurence stepped forward and went on, "I did what you asked Mum, I didn't let her lift anything heavy. She just did the light stuff, I moved the boxes and unpacked all the dishes and pots and pans."

The sight of Laurence standing slightly between her and Kate, defending them both but mainly Kate, had Caroline choked up and she didn't trust herself to speak just yet. Looking from one to the other she was finally able to manage a normal voice, "Laurence, why don't you get washed up. Pizza will be delivered shortly."

Only too glad to escape he was gone in a flash. Regarding Kate, still standing in the middle of the kitchen, hands on her thighs, Caroline pointed to the stool beside her, giving Kate a look that said they weren't finished with this conversation yet.

Seating herself on the stool, "Caroline, did you hear him defending me?"

Chin in the air, "So, using my son against me now, are you?"

Quickly rejoining, "No more than you using my Mother against me."

A tie. Neither could keep up the pretense of annoyance for long when they sat this close and it wasn't long before their underlying happiness rose to the surface. The endless trail of movers, having become so ubiquitous this morning that they were completely unmindful of the parade as they drew together for the kiss which was inevitable since they had been apart for over four hours now.

Laurence returning just then, hopeful that the pizza had arrived saw the looks these two were receiving from the movers and came to stand just behind them to shield them from curious eyes, "Um, you do realize that we are not here by ourselves today, don't you?"

Amused, "Caroline looked up at her son, "Are we embarrassing you Laurence?"

"Not really, I'm getting used to it. But I didn't like the look on that one guy's face so if you don't want me to change it for him you might want to find somewhere more private for now."

Will came in just then, announcing, "That's everything loaded from Kate's house." Seeing the three of them gathered so close, he wondered, "What's happening?"

Caroline, standing and turning Laurence by the shoulders toward the kitchen entrance, "Nothing. Laurence is just going to show me where everything is so I won't be lost in my own kitchen,"

"YOUR, own kitchen!" burst forth from Kate.

Blue eyes twinkling, "Well, alright, if you want to do all of the cooking."

Brown eyes twinkling back with still a trace of indignation, "Yeah, how likely is that?"

xxx

"You're getting very cheeky in late stages of pregnancy, you know."

"Hrumph. If I weren't being bossed around at every turn, I might not be so 'cheeky'."

They were staying the night in the flat for the first time. The movers had assembled the beds before they left, Caroline had unpacked the linens and they had all spent Friday afternoon putting their own bedroom to rights and stocking the bathrooms with toiletries. Once their bed had been made, Caroline lost no time insisting that Kate lie down and rest for a while. Even though she had protested strongly, it hadn't taken long for her to drop off to sleep as Caroline quietly went about creating order in the room. Finally, bedrooms more or less completed they had set off to Edie's for the promised supper. She had instructed them not to worry about changing but to come just as they were, it was only a family tea and they would all be tired.

Caroline had been the first to yawn that night while they were still at Edie's. Apologizing for making an early night of it they had returned to the flat knowing that there was still plenty to accomplish in the next two days before term began.

Caroline, already in bed watched Kate, seated at her dressing table, brushing out her hair. Her impatience to have Kate join her prompting this last exchange. Eyeing the seated figure in a light blue wrapper pulled tight over an increasingly ample belly, the fabric so clingy that it did little to conceal any of Kate's lovely curves, Caroline tried a new tack, "Kate. You're very beautiful."

Smiling her appreciation to Caroline's reflection in her mirror, Kate also gauges approximately how long before Caroline comes out of the bed for her.

"Come to bed My Brown Eyed Girl."

Meeting blue eyes in the mirror, "You've never said that before."

Throwing back the covers invitingly, "Come to bed and I'll tell you about it."

Wrapper to the bench, "Oh, Kate." Full, luscious breasts, light and shadow playing there, nipples puckered, she isn't the only one excited then, finally, Kate snuggling close.

"Tell me."

Looking bashful, "Ever since I found out that you had a pet name for me it felt wrong that I didn't have one for you. The thing is, in my family we just didn't use them. Your name was your name. It never occurred to me to call you anything but Kate." With a shining smile, "And really that evokes so much for me. Your name. Kate. It's your essence, conjures you in my heart. Then, when you are touching me, to say your name… that's… its… its everything I feel for you."

Brown eyes admitting, "I hear it in your voice. I love it when you say my name as we're making love. It thrills me. It… drives me." Eyes on lips they are drawn together, breathing faster, this kiss is tenderly stirring, velvet, promising.

Brown eyes move to blue, the words coming out breathily, "You were saying…"

Blue eyes still caressing perfectly curved lips, "Hmmm?" Belatedly, "Oh. Right." Smiling again, "My Brown Eyed Girl." Resuming, "It didn't seem right that you had another name for me and I didn't for you. But I didn't want to just make up something. I wanted it to have significance. Evoke you the way your name does for me. Then on the way here, this afternoon, Van Morrison came on the radio, and I realized that is what you are to me. My Brown Eyed Girl." Unable to keep the shy smile from her face, "My heart's always 'a thumpin' for you."

Going on, "It was your eyes that stayed with me when we were apart. Your eyes I missed. Once you wouldn't look at me anymore it came to me that the thing about you was that you always saw me. Even before I knew you saw me, you were seeing me, I think. Out of all the people I would meet in the course of a day it was you who saw me. And once we started…, well, then I think you saw right through me, didn't you? Just the way you do now. And being seen, that is what I missed when we were apart. Your eyes on me, your eyes meeting mine. My Brown Eyed Girl. So, is that… too sappy? Too contrived?"

Laying lips on hers, "It's beautiful, Dear Heart. I'll always remember what you just said."

With a hand in the middle of Kate's back Caroline holds her tighter. "It is still so raw, our being apart. It tears me up to think that we could have missed this. Being here together in our own home. God, Kate."

"Shhhh. Don't think of that now." Kate laid sweet lips on Caroline's, after a long moment Caroline's ardor returns and she raises on an elbow to kiss Kate searchingly. After a time, "I thought you were tired."

Pausing only long enough to murmur, "I'm not that tired." Then, "K-aa-te."