A/N: Can you all believe the movie is almost here?! My excitement builds with each commercial or mention of the movie. It's going to be amazing. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
"That's all of it.", Kate sighs. Her green eyes are taking in each corner of her now empty bedroom. Elliot just left with her dresser, the last thing left in the room. Kate was going to go with him but decided to stay back a while longer. I sidle up next to her and share the emotions she's feeling.
"It's kind of bittersweet, huh?"
"You could say that. I remember moving in here and wondering how I was going to decorate the place. I had so many ideas, and then you helped me. You were with Bryant at the time, but part of me secretly wished you had moved in here with me."
"You never told me that.", I murmur. She turns and smiles slightly.
"You were in love or at least I thought you were. I didn't want to rain on your parade. Then when you broke up and moved in here, I was thrilled. My best friend and I were in the same apartment. It was hard when you moved out, but this feels different. It's like leaving a big chunk of our lives behind." Wiping away a tear, I step in front of her.
"This apartment does hold a lot of good memories and a special place in our hearts, but it's also what I see as a page in the book of our lives. There are so many wonderful things ahead." Something else seems to be weighing on Kate. "Is there more that you're not telling me?"
"I've never lived with a boyfriend before. Moving in with Elliot is unchartered territory. What if things don't work out?"
"Stop.", I tell her. You sound like me when I was moving in with Christian. Even though I had already lived with Bryant, I was more nervous about living with Christian, and it was because of the depth of my feelings. My relationship and feelings for Bryant were nothing compared to the way I felt for Christian. The stakes were higher. I thought to myself, "What will I do if it doesn't work?" Then Kate..then a lightbulb came on but not in my head. It was in my heart. My heart told me if I wanted it bad enough I needed to do whatever it took to make it happen. I couldn't allow those fears and paranoia stop me, and neither should you." The confidant smile she usually wears reappears.
"You're so damn right.", she says, pulling me into a hug.
"Am I interrupting?", my mom asks. Kate and I twirl around and see her standing by the door. "If the two of you need another few minutes..."
"You're not interrupting. Carla, thank you for not only being my roommate and mother of my best friend but also a good friend. I've enjoyed sharing this place with you." My mom moves further into the room until she's grabbed by Kate's arms tugged into an embrace by Kate. I stand back and watch them, only stopping when both of them reach for me. Soon, we're standing in a giant hug in the middle of the room.
"A Kodak moment.", Christian laughs. His attention shifts soley on to me. "Elliot called and said he just got to Elliot and Kate's. The dresser might have come loose in the back of his truck." Kate breaks away from my mom and I and stomps towards Christian. "He said there are only a few scratches on the left side, but they're not very noticeable."
"I'll notice them!", Kate hisses. "That dresser belonged to my grandmother who passed away when I was sixteen. It's always been a reminder of her." Christian actually looks afraid of Kate while she glares at him.
"It was an accident.", I say. Kate leaves the room with everyone following behind. She grabs her phone from her pocket and begins pounding her fingers against the numbers.
"Christian told me about the dresser.", she tells Elliot after he answers. "You know how much that dresser means to me." No more words escape her mouth as she listens to Elliot. "I know. Yes. Fine. I love you too. Bye." Her face and body once again calm down. "Elliot's sorry."
"That's it? You're not going to threaten him with bodily harm?", Christian asks.
"Contrary to what you may believe, I'm not always a bitch. I realized I can't be upset with Elliot over an accident."
"Good. He and Ray should be back soon." My dad offered to help Elliot with the dresser. It's nice seeing the interraction between him and my mom. Like both have said, even though they're not married, they're still good friends.
"What's next on everyone's agenda?", I ask everyone.
"I need to start putting things away at the apartment.", Kate answers. "But I also need to start working on the marathon article."
"The marathon that's making you buy Daniel's lunch for a week?", my mom teases.
"That would be it."
"I'm probably going to watch some tv and go to bed early.", my mom replies. "Ana, Christian, how about you?"
"I kind of like your idea of going to bed early.", I say. "Yet, I think we might take Dad out to dinner. How about you go with us? We're much better company than the tv." She contemplates my suggestion.
"I'll go with you."
"Ray, when are you returning home?", my mom asks my dad. He glances up from his plate that's just arrived at our table in Terra Plata.
"I was thinking not until Monday morning if that's ok with Ana and Christian."
"It's fine.", I reply, looking to Christian for his confirmation.
"Ray, it's perfectly ok.", Christian smiles.
"Thanks. I figured I could leave at the same time you and Ana leave for work."
"I'm happy about spending more time with you, but I bet Rebecca can't wait to see you.", I say, dipping my roll in the ketchup I asked the waitress to bring. Christian snarls his nose while watching me. "This isn't gross. It's delicious."
"If you say so."
"Rebecca understands that I want to spend more time with my daughter.", my dad shrugs. I feel a hint of evasiveness which Christian appears to also catch, but I'm not going to push the subject. Everyone goes back to the food, but the silence is broken by Christian's phone.
"I'm sorry.", he mutters. "I'll put it on silent." He pulls the phone out, but before he puts it on silent, he stares at the screen with a smile. "It was Gail who tried to call. Instead of leaving a voicemail, she texted me with some of the best news I've heard in a long time. Taylor's being released from the hospital tomorrow."
"That's wonderful news.", my mom sighs.
"He's still got a long road ahead but being out of the hospital is one step forward."
"This day keeps getting better and better.", I say. "It's been a day filled with family and friends, old and new."
"New being Nicholas. He and I didn't get to have the long chat I would have liked, but he did seem to be an ok guy." Mia and Nicholas only stayed around briefly after the marathon was over, but both Christian and Elliot did well with not being harsh on the guy.
"Do I sense a but coming?"
"I'm just not going to give my full approval until I know for sure the guy is worthy." He places the phone back in his pocket but then reaches into another one. Bringing his hand up, he holds out to me a small black box. "I'm hoping this will go with our good day."
"You got me a gift? Why?"
"Because I love you." I take the box and see my mom and dad looking on in anticipation. My hands are trembling as I open the box. Inside is a heart shaped locket with my initials. "Open it." When I pull out and open the locket, I gasp. On the inner right side is a photo Ethan took of Christian and I. It's the one in which we were on the ground in the park. The other side is blank. "You can put a photo of Oliver in there after he's born."
"Christian, this is beautiful." My shaky hands hinder me from being able to place the locket around my neck so Christian takes the lead and does so. I run my fingers down the chain and admire the locket. "This definitely goes with the good day."
"Dad, you're up late." He turns to where I'm standing by the sofa.
"It's only ten thirty.", he chuckles as I sit down in the chair across from him. "I didn't wake you, did I?"
"No. I woke up on my own, and when I couldn't get back to sleep, I decided to get up for a while. Dad, are you and Rebecca ok? I'm only asking because at dinner when I mentioned her name you acted like things might not be ok."
"We broke up two weeks ago. I wanted to tell you on the phone when I called the other day, but I didn't want to add to the stress that's been hovering around here lately. I know you were fond of Rebecca and were happy she and I were dating."
"So the part of her being understanding about wanting to spend more time with me wasn't true?", I ask as he nods. "I was happy you were dating, but you still could've told me. What happened?"
"Nothing. There are times where the relationship just doesn't work, and that was the case with us. It was mutual. After you brought up her name at dinner, I decided to tell you tomorrow, but you beat me to it." I stand and move to the spot on the sofa next to him.
"I'm sorry Dad."
"It's ok. I'm not bitter about it. Rebecca was the first real relationship I had after your mother, and even though I was nervous at first, I can now say I'm no longer afraid to put myself out there."
"Even though I liked Rebecca, I know there's someone out there for you.", I tell him, feeling his arms go around my shoulders. "You're a catch Ray Steele."
"Maybe I'll audition for that reality show The Bachelor.", he laughs.