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“Yeah around seven o’clock in the morning, so maybe an hour from now? I’ll be at Union Station probably by a quarter to seven, what time will you be there? Or do you want to meet us at a restaurant for breakfast?” Kate asked her Uncle Lenny over the phone as she folded clothes from her closet and put them in a box. She was holding the phone between her shoulder and her ear, balancing it, as she continued packing up her belongings to move entirely over to Derrick’s house.
She had been up most of the night packing. She didn’t like being alone but she figured that she could survive one night without his sensuous, strong arms around her. After all, she did have a lifetime of nights with him to look forward to. So she had spent her time packing instead which had worked in keeping her busy.
Derrick had left yesterday morning for a case he was handling up in New York City and was there all day Friday. Then he planned to ride the train down with her sister, Annie this morning. They had already texted her and told her that they were on the train safe and sound. She was excited to see Annie, even though she had been pushing her away the last two months since the attack. She didn’t want to put any of her problems on her sister. She had spent her entire life protecting her and she still was even now.
The plan was for Lenny and Kate to meet Annie and Derrick and then they would all go have breakfast together. She was excited because this would be the first time that Lenny would be meeting Derrick and also the perfect opportunity to tell Lenny and Annie together about their recent engagement. Kate looked down at the glistening ring on her finger and smiled, feeling a warming sensation tingle through her limbs at the thought of Derrick.
“How are you doing, little Katey? How are you feeling?” Lenny asked her in a softer tone. He had been trying his best to avoid the topic of her attack but he always made special care to ask her how she was feeling and she knew that he was still worried about her.
“I’m doing fine, Uncle Lenny. You really don’t need to worry about me. Derrick has just been so wonderful taking care of me and the police are really hopeful that they will solve this. Liz, the lead detective, called me earlier in the day yesterday and said they were closing in on a suspect. They may have already gotten closer for all I know. So things are going well, you know? I am not letting this take over my life. Derrick and I are doing well and I decided to start applying to social work programs. I am moving forward.” Kate said, trying her best to sound more confident than she really was.
She wasn’t lying because she really was doing all those things and trying to move forward with her life, but that didn’t mean that the fear or memories were gone. They crept up on her unexpectedly at any time, the middle of the night all alone or even in a crowded room during the day. Just little triggers brought her back to that moment like a flood engulfing her, the undertow pulling her down making it impossible to climb out until the wave shoved her back up and it was gone.
Sometimes it was a smell, like a copper scent reminiscent of blood, that reminded her of the brutal attack. There had been so much blood, so much blood that even the color red could remind her of him. Cameras, those were her worst enemy now. She was afraid of what she would see in every photograph that she looked at or every flash that went off.
“I am excited to meet this Derrick I have heard so much about. If he is half as wonderful as you describe him, I am sure I will love him.” Lenny told her and Kate smiled at being reminded of Derrick.
“He really is wonderful, you will love him.” Kate reassured him.
“He still will never deserve you though.” Lenny commented, only being a little sarcastic.
“You say that about everybody I have ever dated, Uncle Lenny.” Kate laughed and switched the phone from one shoulder to the other, loosening the tension in her bent neck.
“Well, it has never stopped being true, Katey.” She could hear him smiling into the phone and she found herself getting excited for the upcoming breakfast. She would be together with the only family that she had in the entire world, and now Derrick. He was the best addition and hopefully their breakfast would be the first of many family occasions.
“Well, I can’t wait for you to see him today. You know, if you wouldn’t mind, could you just come pick me up on your way so we can ride together and I don’t have to drive? I’m sure it will be fine if we are a few minutes late.” Kate asked her uncle.