Leaping for Your Dreams

***Mari’s POV***

The final event of my League career was done. I had said goodbye for now to my new, OMG, boyfriend. I’d see him again Wednesday. I now stooed in my 1+ bedroom apartment in Downtown Toronto trying to figure out what I need of want. Zhenya said I could take it all or just my clothes, it was up to me. Problem was, I didn’t know what to do.

Geno had shown me pictures of his house looked; can you say French Castle? He said I could change anything I wanted; I was _so glad. I had told him that nothing he showed me was my taste. I swear his eyes lit up. That told me that _she_ had picked it all out.

He said that there were places in the house he never used as he wasn’t sure the furniture would take the abuse he and the guys could dish out. I’d smiled and shown him my little home. As he looked at the pictures I had, a smile spread across his lovely face. We agreed that we would _together_ choose the basic furniture and how we wanted it laid out in the room. From there I could add other touches as I saw fit. We’d also agreed on doing only one room at a time.

As I smiled and remembered that long conversation, I decided I’d take everything. That meant loading, moving across a border and unloading mostly without Geno’s help. Mid-season was not the ideal time to do this, but the team needed me in place in two weeks. I called a friend over to help pack and discuss the best ways to move me.

Lisa came knocking as I was sorting files. I had to give some things back, but not everything. “Hey Lise.” I said as I opened the door.

“You’re gonna do it huh? Move South for a man…” She wasn’t thrilled with losing me. Entering, she began to look around like she was casing the joint.

I shook my head as I closed the door. “He’s not here. Although he’ll be in town on Wednesday.” I wasn’t shocked at all the she insisted on double-checking. “I suppose you’d like to meet him to so you can see how he treats me too.”

Checking my closet Lise came back. “You and how the rest of them do too. I won’t let you be treated badly Mari.” There was another knock at the door which cut off her beginning rant.

“Are you Michaela Krejci?” There was a woman standing there I didn’t know. “I’m Susan Alter from Allied Movers. We’ve been contacted to do your move from here to Pittsburgh in the US. From what I understand we have a short window to get you moved.” She stood outside the door waiting for me to move. Thank god Lise came to the rescue.

“That’s her, she’s just in a bit of shock.” She moved me. “Come on in so we can get this going.”

Susan came in happily with a smile. “I take it I wasn’t expected. I was called by Nathalie Lemieux about moving you quickly and easily.”

_That_ jogged me out of my shock. She’d know who to use out of anyone. “I’m sorry she didn’t tell me she would be doing this. We were about to start going through things ourselves.” Lise nodded behind me.

“And I would encourage you to do so. No sense in moving something you don’t need or want. How many rooms do you have here?” Susan had her notebook out and was taking notes.

“Here, I’ll give you the tour.” I showed her the bedroom and den quickly. She could see everything else. “Most everything will be going. The large filing cabinets are the only things that won’t be, I have to give those back to my last boss. I have to be in Pittsburgh ready for work on the 9th. I know it’s not a lot of time.” I was trying to apologize.

“Mrs. Lemieux made it clear when you had to be in your new location. I actually was coming by to see how much you had and how long it would take my crew to pack and get going. By the size of this place we can do it this weekend with ease if that works for you.”

That gave me 5 days to get rid of what I might not want. Well, 4 really. “This… This weekend?” I squeaked out. I cleared my throat, I was a professional, I could handle this. “That sounds fine. I’ll get the address for you.” I wasn’t sure how I’d get it, but I would.

Again she smiled. “I already have your new address in the United States. Mrs. Lemieux provided it when she called. And if you’re worried about paperwork, it really isn’t difficult.”

It took a couple hours of negotiating and working on paperwork but in the end both Susan Alter and myself were satisfied. My move would be handled professionally by people who knew what they were doing. All I had to do is pack my vehicle with the things we’d agreed on. My clothes, jewelry, electronics I couldn’t live without, and my files for work.

Lise and I now had nothing to do but pack those items, which we and a couple other friends would do on Friday. “Now what do we do?” She asked after Susan left.

I sat in my chair, mentally exhausted from what I had just finished. I had a list of what I wouldn’t take with me, some of which upset me. “Cook a good meal and have a bottle of wine?” I couldn’t take any of the food I had, and only could take a four bottles of wine with me. I loved my wines and hated to part with any of the bottles I had stashed.

“Sounds good actually.” She got up and went into the kitchen. She was an amazing cook. “You sit there and let me do everything.”

After an amazing meal and enjoying the bottle she chose, Lise went home and the reality of everything hit me. I was moving, _really_ soon.