Moving Forward (Completed)

Chapter Twenty Seven

Katherine waved at Amanda as she approached the table Katherine had been sitting at for maybe five minutes. They had planned to meet at two for lunch, but Katherine had ended up getting there a bit early.

"Am I late?" Amanda asked checking her watch.

"No, I was packing a box, trying to figure out what else could go in it before sealing it and after twenty minutes of just staring at it, I finally moved the box aside and decided to leave a bit early. I should have told Raf I'd move in July or something..." Katherine grumbled.

"You'd still have to pack if you moved in July." Amanda chuckled.

"Yes, but I wouldn't have just finished packing up my classroom... there would have been a break between cramming crap in boxes."

The school year had ended less than a week before and while Katherine had finished finalizing her classroom, her apartment was proving to be a bit more challenging. They had spent the better part of an evening moving all of her clothes and toiletries to Rafael's so she could start sleeping there without having to go home for anything. It was easier to sleep at his place now that she was no longer on a schedule.

"Are you getting rid of stuff?"

"I'm pairing down a bit as I pack, but I've always been better about getting rid of things I don't need when unpacking vs. packing." Katherine shrugged.

"That makes no sense."

"While packing I always feel rushed and end up throwing things in boxes. When I unpack I'm more relaxed and that's when I will take the time to actually go through things."

"I guess." Amanda smiled.

"How's Nick doing?" Katherine asked as the waitress sat down the margarita she had ordered.

Amanda eyed it and ordered a water, both of them going ahead and placing their lunch orders.

"He's good, for the most part... the knees a problem when it comes to work." She sighed.

"Yeah, but they have desk jobs... it's not like he can't keep working."

"No one wants to be on indefinite desk duty. Well... except maybe Fin." Amanda chuckled.

"What's he going to do then?" Katherine took a sip of her drink and Amanda huffed slightly.

"You know you could avoid alcohol while I'm pregnant."

"Why, I'm not pregnant." Katherine grinned.

"Because it's not fair."

"You'll live." Katherine chuckled, taking another sip. "So... Nick?"

"He's going to retire." Amanda shrugged while tearing at her napkin.

"Retire? Isn't he a little young?"

"He can keep part of his pension this way and he's planning on working private security once he gets to California."

"He's leaving?"

"It's where his kids are." Amanda shrugged again, this time dropping little bits of her napkin on the table.

"I'm sorry Amanda..."

"Eh, it is what it is."

"You ok?"

"What does it matter if I am or I'm not... he's excited about the move." Amanda grumbled, while wadding what was left of her napkin into a tight ball.

"I'm sorry."

"I'll survive... we had just gotten back to a good place I guess. It's probably for the best since we're both too stubborn for that to have lasted."