New to Me

          As far as dream locations go, upstate New York was not at the top of Kat’s list.  She had always hoped she would find her forever home somewhere warm.  Preferably with a coast line of white sand and blue water.  But, she was just grateful she would finally be able to call somewhere home. 

          Robert paid the movers and climbed into the passenger seat.  He had offered to fly the family as he always did.  He had always argued saying, “It is so much easier to fly.” To have the offer quickly denied by Kat.  She loved to drive.  She found peace in leaving miles in the rearview.  She was also a sucker for road side attractions.  Robert use to love them too.  He would laugh at her need for a t-shirt from every stop.  Of course, she needed a shirt from Roswell, New Mexico. No duh, she had to have one with a photo of the biggest ball of yarn.  She had even paid someone for their sweaty, beer stained shirt from burning man years ago because the vendor had run out.  Robert had sighed and emptied his wallet handing the cash over to the guy.

“I paid more for that stinky shirt then it would have been for a new one!” He yelled over the music.

“Its new to me!” Kat yelled back with that smile.

The drive from Detroit to Rochester did not provide much in the way of entertaining road side attractions.  They would be pulling into their new home by late this evening.  Robert would need to be showing up for his first shift by Thursday morning.   Only giving him all of about twelve hours and a decent night’s rest between now and then.  For once Kat was all for driving straight through.  Most of the drive was through Ohio and felt like it dragged on for days.  An hour out the kids fell asleep.

Great, Kat thought. They are NEVER going to sleep tonight. Jude still had the reminents of barbeque sauce in the corner of his mouth from his happy meal.  How could something so small snore so loudly? Ray always looked like sleeping beauty, for now she was peaceful and happy dreaming of far off places or a universe where she didn’t have to leave her friends.

“You’ve been quiet Kathrine.” Robert grabbed her spare hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss it.

“I’m just zoning out enjoying the ride.” Her gaze not leaving the road.

“I know we have been distant; I hope this move helps. I miss you Kat.” His voice choked a bit.

Kat.

            Her eyes began to water and she was thankful for the darkness.  She didn’t want him to see her cry.  Shit she didn’t even know why she was crying.  It had been ages since he called her Kat.  The past couple years it had felt like they were strangers.  Now here she was holding her husband’s hand onto the next chapter of their lives and he felt somewhat more familiar.

“I’ve missed you too.”

Turn left and in a quarter of a mile arrive at your destination.

Kat followed the prompt.  It had her turning off the main highway onto a rural road.

“Robert. Is this right?” She asked.

“Yep. It’s on a full 5 acres, don’t worry it’s not far from town.”  He reassured her.

The sound of crunching gravel woke Ray.

“Are we here?” She asked rubbing her eyes.

“Just about princess.” Robert replied.

            The high beams cut through the dust on the road.  Kat could see the drive was lined with thick trees. 

“It is going to be impossible to find Jude in here if he wonders off.” She glanced worried at Robert and back at the barbequed covered boy.

“Don’t worry babe. There’s a gate around the property itself.” He rubbed her shoulder.

“Well this isn’t creepy or anything.” Ray snarked.

“Its only creepy because its dark RayRay.  Things always look different in the dark. It’s just new, new always feels uncertain, until it’s not new anymore.” Kat smiled back at Ray through the rear view.

“Besides,” Kat beamed “the home looked beautiful online.”

           Pulling up to an old Black Iron gate the lights from the two story home stretched out across the pebble driveway, illuminating an old fountain sitting right in the middle.

“Ohp. Hang on just a second. This is one of the first things I will be fixing.” Robert climbed out of the car and fumbled with his set of keys.

          His breath turned to smoke as he unlocked the gate and pushed it open, first the right and then the left side.  Kat drove through the gate and Robert pushed the huge thing closed.  When the two sides met again they made a loud bang. Robert ran to the passenger’s side and climbed in.  His strawberry blonde hair a mess from the wind.  He was any woman’s dream.  He kept up with himself at the gym, even with his busy schedule.  Years of being a college athlete and surfer were evident in his appearance.  But, his eyes were a gentle blue.  The kind of gentle that calmed his patience and made every physician assistant blush when he would say their name.

“He’s probably screwing his P.A. and that’s what’s wrong with your sex life Kat.” Kat’s mother had told her the last they had spoken on the phone, just three weeks ago.

            “Mother. Just because your husband was a Doctor and cheated on his wife with you. Does not mean every Doctor cheats on his wife.” Kat had barked.

            “Well, that was uncalled for.  I’m just saying no man goes for Eight months without it.  Sometimes pretty isn’t enough to hold a man’s attention.” Her mother always knew everything and had a habit of putting her nose right in everything.

            “I appreciate your concern for my marriage and my sex life mother.  But we are just a little lost.  We will find ourselves again.  But I will talk to you soon, send love to Trevor.”  She didn’t wait for a response and hung up the receiver.

            There was something refreshing about him tonight.  He was just as refreshing as the cool air he brought in on his jacket.  He blew in his hands placed them in front of the heater vents and looked at Kat with a boyish grin.

            “That will be electric as soon as I can find someone to do it.  It’s too cold for this in and out shit.”

            Kat had always had a thing for old things.  Robert loved his technology, anything that could “make life easier” he had to have.  The photos online had excited Kat to the point she could explode.  He had most definitely keep her taste in mind when picking the home.  It was an old colonial made of white brick with beautiful shutters.

“What do you think? Did I do good?” Robert watched as Kat leaned forward to take in the house from the driver seat, her mouth ajar.

“It’s not a new home, but it has good bones and with your touch.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed with a smile.

“It’s not new but, its new to me.  It’s beautiful Robert, really” For the first time in about a year she felt her trademark smile grace her face and tears well in her eyes.  She placed her hand on his and pressed her check against his cold hand.

“Welcome home family.” Robert leaned back.

Welcome home.