Soulmates | Kate & Ana

Chapter 5 - New Home

When we arrive back home to Seattle, Kate carries me over the threshold and through the doorway of our apartment. She insists that it's only right to do so since we are officially a newly wed couple coming home for the first time since our wedding day. I can't stop giggling as she carries me from the doorway to our living room. When she sets me down and my feet touch the floor I take a deep breath, taking a moment to look around the room. It's strange being back after staying away for so long but comforting just the same. Kate and I are both exhausted from the long trip back from our honeymoon, but determined to make the most of our last night together before we have to go back to work. While Kate transfers our luggage to our bedroom and unpacks everything, I decide to make dinner for her. We don't have much food at the house since we were away for our honeymoon, I'll have to go to the store tomorrow, but we have some steaks in the freezer that are still good and I'm sure I can find something to pair it with. It takes a while to go through the process of thawing and cooking the steaks, so during the wait time I decide to catch up on my reading for work tomorrow. I made sure to have all my work done ahead of time so I could relax over the honeymoon, but a refresher couldn't hurt. When the timer for the steaks goes off, I'm immersed in the book on my lap and the sound nearly scares me to death. I hop up from my seat and make my way over to the oven. Oven mitt in hand, I bend over and pull the steaks out just as Kate is entering the room. I glance back at her with a smile. "Perfect Timing." I move the steaks onto two plates along with a side salad for each of us. I then bring the plates over to where Kate is sitting and set hers out in front of her on the table first, then mine in the spot next to her. "Just the way you like it." I kiss her forehead as I pass by her to sit down as well. "Thanks, baby." She brings her hand up to caress my cheek, then drops it down to rest on my lap while she uses the other hand to slice off a bite of her steak. She pops it in her mouth, chews and swallows. "Perfect." She compliments my cooking and I beam at her. "What?" She asks, seeing my expression. "Nothing. I'm just happy." She smiles back hugely, sharing my good mood. "I am too." She takes the bite of steak on her fork and holds it out to me to eat, but when I try to bite into it she pulls it away. "Hey!" I purse my lips at her and her smile widens. She does the same trick again and again I fall for it. I huff, annoyed at her teasing. Then she holds it out again and this time I bite down fast enough so that she can't pull it away.

When I arrive at the office, I'm greeted by nearly all of my coworkers as I walk though the door. The greetings don't stop all the way down the halls until I finally reach my office and close the door. Hannah, my assistant, follows me in. My office has been completely redecorated to better fit my tastes, rather than my old boss. That could only mean that it's been officially made my office. "Is this?" I look at Hannah, eyes wide. "Yep, all yours!" She confirms and we both squeal with delight. "Mr. Roach set this up. He thought it'd be a nice way to start off your first day back." She informs me, then proceeds to update me on everything that's happened at work since I've been gone. "Is there anything you need?" She asks, when we've finished catching up. "Actually yes, if it's not too much trouble I'd like to change my name on the company emails from Ms. Steele to Mrs. Steele-Kavanaugh if that's okay." I like using the hyphenated last name at work even though I prefer to just use Kate's last name in my personal life It's important to use my maiden name at work. "It's no trouble at all. Should I call you Mrs. Kavanaugh, now?" She asks, half-joking. "Just Ana. Although if anyone asks tell them to use whichever last name they want. I won't be offended by either." She nods. "Okay. Anything else?" I shake my head and set my handbag down on the desk. "I'll get right on it then." I wave to her as she exits my office to go set up my name change, then I get straight to work. I've got loads of catch up to do if I want to keep up with everyone else at the office.

When the work day is over, Kate picks me up outside the office. "Hey!" She gets out of the car and meets me halfway. We kiss briefly, then pull away so we can walk together the rest of the distance to the car, holding hands all the while. She's set up a meeting for us with Gia Matteo, to look at a house we can consider buying. Kate met her through Elliot, so I know it must be expensive, but there's no harm in giving her a chance I suppose. Besides Kate seems excited about it, so I want to maintain an open mind about whatever house she's chosen to show us. When we arrive at the house, Kate parks in the driveway next to Gia's car and I get a chance to see the exterior view of the house as we exit the car. It's big and old-style, yet homey and absolutely gorgeous. As Kate takes my hand and leads me up the path towards the house, I'm aware that the house in front of us could soon become our new home.