Chapter 43

I slept peacefully through out the night. Never once having a bad dream. In the morning, I woke up to the sunshine coming through the window. It was 8 o'clock so I decided to get up. I wanted to enjoy the morning. I kissed Kevin's nose and then got up. I didn't want to wake up Kevin since I knew he loved to sleep in when he could. And this was one of the rare times that he could.

I got up and walked out onto the balcony. As soon as I opened the door the cold air came rushing through. I walked back into our room and found a blanket. Then I went outside on the balcony and sat in a chair wrapped in my blanket.

After I had been sitting there for a while I began to get cold, even with the blanket. So I decided to go in. I opened the door and walked in. Kevin was still sleeping, so I went downstairs. I grabbed the cordless phone and sat down on the couch. Then I called my mom.

"Hello," my mom answered.

"Hi Mom."

"Oh hi sweetie. What are you doing?"

"Oh nothing really. I'm just enjoying the morning since Kevin's still sleeping."

"Oh that's good. So where are you?"

"Kevin's house, or actually our house. I'm going to be moving in with him."

"That's wonderful. I'm so glad you two are together."

"Thanks Mom. So how are you?"

"Oh, well I have my good days and bad days, but nothing too serious."

"And today?"

"It's a good day."

"I'm glad."

"So what do you and Kevin have planned for today?"

"Well I'm hoping to go shopping for Christmas stuff. We have to decorate the house," I said. "What are you doing?"

"Well not too much. But I think Ann and I are going out for lunch."

"Oh that's good."

"Well I better let you go sweetie. I'm going for my daily walk or at least I'm going to try to."

"Okay, be careful. Bye Mom, love you," I said.

"Love you too sweetie, bye," she said.

I hung up the phone. Then I looked at the clock and it read 11:30 am. I was starting to get hungry so I decided to make breakfast. Then I realized we had no food in the house. So I went to go bug Kevin. I walked in and sat down on the bed.

I just watched him sleep for a while, then I decided to wake him up. I began to run my fingers through his hair. After I did that for a while he slowly began to wake up. He smiled and pulled me next to him. I rolled over and began to kiss his chest. Then I moved up to his neck. I gave him light kisses and then moved to his neck and then to his mouth. I opened my mouth letting his tongue in to explore. He wrapped his arms around me while continuing to kiss me. We just laid there kissing one another until the phone rang.

"Ignore it," I said, continuing to kiss Kevin.

"Okay," Kevin said.

We continued to kiss as the phone continued to ring.

"Janel," Kevin said.

"Yeah," I said.

"I have to answer it," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"It could be important," he said.

"Oh okay," I said as I sat up.

He got up and answered it.

"Hello," he said.

"Hi my baby," Ann said.

"Oh, hi Mom," he said.

I smiled at Kevin. Then I kissed his forehead and got up. I grabbed clothes and went to take a shower. I figured that he would be on the phone for a while.

I came out and brushed my hair. Kevin was still lying in bed.

"Do you plan on getting up today?" I asked.

"Yeah I was just relaxing," he said.

"Well get your lazy bum up because it's almost one," I said as I sat next to him.

"Oh I guess I better get up then," he said as he sat up.

He kissed my forehead and then got up. He got clothes and then went to take a shower.

I continued to get myself ready while he was in the shower. I made the bed and then he came out.

"So what do we have planned for today?" he asked.

"Well, I'd like to go Christmas shopping for your, I mean our house," I said. "But if you don't want to, that's fine."

"No, that sounds good. It'll be our first Christmas together," he said.

I went up to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I placed my lips on his giving him a kiss.

"But first we have to go somewhere to eat because I'm starved," I said.

"Okay," Kevin said.

I grabbed my purse while he got his wallet. Then we headed to the truck. Kevin went to my side and opened the door for me and closed it. Then he went around to his side.

He pulled out and then drove to McDonald's. We drove up and ordered our food. Then we parked in the parking lot. We decided to stay in the truck and eat our food. We sat there watching the cars pass by.

"You would not believe how much I'm enjoying this. Just the little things," Kevin said.

"Do you miss the quiet life back at home?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's amazing how much I miss home and my personal life," he said.

"Well today is just a normal day. If you don't want to go shopping that's fine," I said.

"No, I want to go shopping. I haven't been shopping in forever. Plus it'll be fun, just you and me shopping for Christmas," he said, smiling at me.

"Okay," I said.

We finished our food and gathered our trash. I got out and threw it away. Then I got in the truck and we drove off.

We walked into the store and Kevin got a cart. He pushed the cart while I wrapped my arm around his. We walked down the aisles looking at everything and anything. We were enjoying our time together. Then we made it to the Christmas aisle.

"Well here we are," Kevin said.

"Yep," I said as I stared at all the Christmas decorations.

"Well go ahead, pick out the things you like," Kevin said.

"No, you mean we'll pick out the things we both like," I said.

"Okay," Kevin said.

We walked down the aisles picking out our decorations. We picked out some of the weirdest decorations but they were the prettiest. Then we went to the lights. We picked out Christmas tree lights and then lights for the house.

"You're going to have fun decorating the outside of the house," I said.

"What are you thinking? You're going to help me," he said.

"I don't think so. I'm too short," I said.

"That's not an excuse. I'm sure I can find a job for you," he said.

"That's okay. You don't have to," I said.

"It was your idea to decorate," he said.

"Fine. I'll decorate the door," I said.

"Oh, that's cheating," Kevin said.

"I know," I said smiling.

We gathered the rest of the decorations and then went to the check out lane. We paid for the stuff and then left. We loaded the things in the truck in and left. While we were driving Kevin noticed that these girls were following us.

"A car's following us," Kevin said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yeah. They've been following us since we left the store. I noticed them, but I didn't think they would follow us," Kevin said.

"Is that why we haven't gone home yet?" I asked.

"Yeah, I didn't want to take them directly to our house," Kevin said.

"So what are we going to do?" I asked.

"We're going to the movies," he said.

"The movies?" I questioned.

"Yeah. We'll buy tickets to a movie that has just recently started. We'll sit in the front and then leave out the exit in the front," Kevin said.

"Are you sure?" I asked, worried.

"Yeah, it'll be okay," he said.

Kevin drove to the closest movie theater. He parked as close as he could to the movie theater. I got out and looked in the side mirror. I could see the girls searching for a place to park. We quickly walked up to the line. Kevin bought tickets for a show that had just started. Just as we went in the girls got in line. We quickly went to theater #5 and then sat down in the front. I held Kevin tightly while I tried to watch the movie. I kept looking back to see if they had come in. Just as I relaxed I heard voices.

"Is that them?" I whispered to Kevin.

"Shh, it's okay. Just watch the movie," Kevin said as he put his arm around me.

I rested my head on his shoulder and stared at the screen. It was the longest two hour movie in the world. I thought it would never end. Finally the credits began to roll. Kevin quickly grabbed my hand to get up before the lights came on. We got up and walked out the opposite exit that everyone else was. We quickly walked to the 4-Runner and got in. Kevin put his keys in and got out quickly. I kept my eyes on the side mirror to make sure they weren't following us. After we got far enough away without spotting them, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wow, that was not fun," I said.

"Yeah, it wasn't. Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It was just a little nerve racking," I said.

"Yeah. I know what you mean. Now that we don't have the bodyguards following us everywhere we have to take a few more precautions and be a little more aware of things around us," Kevin explained.

"Yeah, I guess I never really thought about that," I said.

We pulled into the driveway and got out. We went around the backyard and got out all of the bags. Kevin opened the door and we threw them on the floor. I closed the door and walked over to Kevin. He had collapsed onto the couch.

"I'm going to go grocery shopping now. You can just stay here," I said.

"Oh, you don't want to just stay here and order in," Kevin said as he reached out for my hand.

I took hold of his hand.

"No, because then we'll have to go tomorrow morning and I'm sure you don't want to shop every day you have off," I said.

"Please stay," Kevin said as he pulled me closer to him.

"No," I said sadly. "I won't be gone long."

He pulled me onto his lap and began to kiss me.

"It's not going to work Richardson," I said as I got up.

"Fine then. Just leave me here all by myself," he said.

"I'm sure the poor baby will manage," I said.

"I guess," Kevin said.

"I need the keys and money," I said.

"Geez, taking my stuff already," Kevin said as he reached into his back pocket to get his wallet.

"Yep, I enjoy taking your things," I said as he handed me money.

I took the money and put it into my purse.

"Keys," I said.

"They're hanging by the phone in the kitchen. You can take the car," he said.

"Okay, I'll see you in a while. And if there's anything you need or want me to buy, just call me. My cell will be on," I said as I walked into the kitchen.

"Okay," Kevin said as he turned on the t.v..

I grabbed the keys and then walked into the garage. I admired Kevin's silver Lexus and then got in. I drove to the nearest grocery store. I got down and got myself a cart.

I went in and bought everyting we possibly needed. I stood in the check out lane waiting to pay. Once I paid I loaded the groceries in the car and drove home. I pulled into the driveway and another car was there. I grabbed a few bags and went in.