Keep It Kasual

Just as we got to Adam and Paula's place my phone rang. It was The Minions' Banana Song, so that meant it was Benj calling. "Hey Benj, what's up?" Kris grinned as he got Alex out of the car.

"You said to call when we hit Oshawa, where are we going from here?" I chuckled. Benj was rather straightforward unless he was trying to be a PITA (Pain In The Ass).

"Do you guys have a GPS running?" I got scoffed at which was a good sign. "Good, bring up my condo address and head there, we're only a few blocks away at Adam's place." I was now out of the car and being looked at oddly by everyone around me. "We'll see you at my place in about a half hour. Don't hop the hedge this time, you scare the bejesus out of me the last time." Benj snickered and promised nothing as he hung up.

Adam came over and hugged me. "Which Minion was that?" I told him and he chuckled. "Well at least you know they still listen to you. You said we have about a half hour right? Let's walk over to your place and I'll lay out my idea for packing tomorrow afternoon." Trust Adam to have a plan.

"Sounds good. The kids have kind of napped but I bet lunch would go over better than walking right now." Not that I could blame them, they had all been in strollers or cat seats for a while now.

Paula smiled. "Fortunately I have that taken care of. Give me a couple minutes to pack a picnic and we can walk over and have lunch on your porch outside. This way your brothers can't make you scream as they pound on the windows, we all get lunch and we can talk over Adam's plan in your place." She then went inside to get the picnic ready.

Adam grabbed me for another hug. "I'm gonna miss you Kals. You gotta promise to stay in touch this time."

Marc came over grinning wickedly at me. "So ‘ow long ‘ave you know ‘er?" He was fishing for dirt I was positive.

Adam eyed Marc carefully. "Well my answer will depend on why you want to know. Cause I gotta tell you, if it's digging for dirt then keep moving. She's truly squeaky clean. There isn't anything she's done that would embarrass her, not even as kids. That's why Kals is so well loved. She keeps confidences, cares for her friends and family without hesitation, and even drives at or under the speed limit. She's kind of sickening like that."

Marc-Andre's jaw was hanging open. "T'ere is no way she is t'at clean, t'ere 'as to be somet'ing."

Kris and I just laughed aloud. "If t'ere was, my lawyer would 'ave found it. T'ere truly is no dirt. It is par' of t'e reason Mario wants to meet 'er family, to find out for 'imself if she really is t'at clean. 'e and Ray seem to t'ink someone like Kalista would be a gift from God."

Alex decided he was bored and began to kick and make noise. I couldn't blame him, I was bored too. Escaping Adam's grip, I took Alex and began helping him step around. He wasn't walking really but he was close. We made it halfway to the garage door before Paula came outside with the biggest basket they had. “Ok so I might need some help...”

Both Marc and Kris went over to help her while Adam and I both just sighed. Adam stepped away from me and looked at Paula. “Hon, you don’t need to feed everyone all the time. They do know what’s good for them this time of year.”

That was a “fault” of Paula’s, the she felt the urge to make sure everyone was eating their best, even if she didn’t know what that was for them. She tried to argue but I stepped in and thwarted her. “He’s right though Pauls, you don’t need to make sure these guys eat right. They already know what’s best for them. It’s something Kris and I have discussed a lot in the past week. Fortunately thanks to my family I already know how to cook for him. Thanks to you I know how to make good meals that will help him get through the season.”

Paula was torn, she wanted to make sure we all ate right but at the same time she didn’t want to mother us. Kris took the basket and spoke. “It sounds like you are out voted. We can find somet’ing easy and good to ‘ave. Maybe you and I can go to t’e store and get some t’ings for salads while t’e res’ go to Kallie’s place. T’is way I will no’ get lost and you get to ‘elp make sure we eat right.”

When she took the basket back in, we breathed a sigh of relief. “She takes her job too seriously sometimes. Adam you need to bring her back from the edge again.” He nodded at me.

“I know, she’s been low on clients lately which has her focused on friends and family. I’m not sure what to do about it either.” He was upset about this, and probably tired of not being allowed to eat as he wanted.

Marc-Andre pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Hey Bernie! Yeah, hey I was wondering if you knew if t’e Leafs had a good nutritionist. No I jus’ made some new friends who live in town and she is one. No way, really? No jus’ call me w’en you know. Oh, t’at’s even better. Yeah give t’em my number and I can do t’e res’. T’anks man you are ‘elping everyone. Au revoir!” He got of the phone and was grinning like a madman. “Do you t’ink she would like to ‘elp an NHL team and it’s prospect eat right all year long?”

Adam gaped a little bit. “Yeah, she’d love to do that. I can’t believe you just called someone and have, wow.” In the few minutes he had known them, he was awed by the good nature of everyone who came with me. They were down to earth and loving people who just happened to play a game for a living.

“T’e ‘ockey community is very small, especially us Goalies. Bernie and I work toget’er in the summers so of course I ‘ave his number. Knowing t’at he is looking for someone to ‘elp ‘im during t’e season and in a new place. It is about knowing who to talk to.” His phone rang just as Paula and Kris came back outside. “Bonjour. ‘ello sir. Non, I am very ‘appy in Pittsburgh I ‘ave a friend who lives ‘ere and might fit well into your organization.” He went on to talk about Paula a little bit and then a grin broke out on his face. “Yes sir righ’ now we are at 12 Langbourne Place, although we will be going to anot’er location soon. No I am no’ sure of it’s address.”

I took his phone. “Hello, This is Kalista Brassard, we’re going to my place. You know where the Shops at Don Mills are? Ok good, my condo is just off of the corner of The Donway West and Overland Dr. If you hit Sanderling or Lawrence you’ve gone too far. Yeah we’re the first right after; yes Flaire Condos. No I’m on the ground floor and we’ll be outside. No thank you, even giving her a shot is something she never dreamed of.”

I handed the phone back after Dave Griffiths had hung up. “There, he’ll meet us at my place so we all better get going.” To make it easier on everyone we didn’t bother walking as we had though of earlier, we drove the short few blocks. Kris and Paula then took off for he store while we went into my very small home.

I unlocked the door and we went inside. “Oh it’s so cute!” Vero exclaimed as we all got inside. I grinned as I put Alex down. She went around and explored what little area I had. “T’is is adorable. I can see ‘ow you would live ‘ere easily Kalista.”

“I _did_ warn you guys it was really small. It’s perfect for a first place, which it is. Until we begin moving things you can put her on the floor, it’s not like she can get into too much stuff.” Alex was slowly crawling around looking at everything too but he was looking for things to get into.

Adam just laughed. “Kals has never needed a whole bunch of space. I think her room growing up is smaller than the one she has here.”

“Yep, I got the smallest room because I was the only girl. I will point out that I had a playhouse that was I spent a lot of time in as well. All year round as well, cause it was normally warmer in there than standing by the rink that Dad made for the boys.” I spent as many hours out there as the boys did on the rink in the winter. I had some seriously fond memories of the place.

We spent the time until Paula and Kris got back, keeping the kids out of trouble and trading stories. That’s all there was to do as Paula and the gang had packed everything else to do up. Even all of my clothes were packed and the bed broken down already. I was amazed and the others, including Adam were floored. “T’ere is not’ing to do but load up t’e trailer and go. T’e guys will ‘andle t’is easy.”

“The guys? Who are you talking about MAF?” I had to ask. I knew that my brothers could handle the couch easy but who else was planning on coming and helping?

“Yeah Kris and I asked t’e guys we worked out wit’ to come ‘elp tomorrow. T’ey were t’rilled to come, alt’ough do not be surprised if t’ey try and dig into your boxes of clothes.” Oh great just what I needed a houseful of NHL players all wanting to see my unmentionables. I groaned and Marc grinned. “Don’ worry too much. If it is t’e way I t’ink is it, Kris will stick close to you to keep t’em away.”

I sighed. “Ok, what do you think you know?” I had to know and correct him now if things were going to go well later. “Better yet, what have you _heard_?”

Marc cackled with delight. “Oh jus’ t’at a certain man was no’ ‘appy t’at t’ey all were crowding you and such. Why? Is t’ere more to know?”

All eyes were now on me. “We’ve agreed that until we get to know each other better nothing serious will happen. Alex has to be the first priority until we’re in a good routine and know each other better. I don’t want to hurt either of them if things blow up wrong.”

Vero was first to latch onto the news. “So if you get along well t’ings might happen?” I could hear her mental wheels turning as I nodded. “Bon. I t’ink t’at t’e girls will love you. As much as Kris loved Cat, in t’e end she was no’ good for ‘im. You, ‘owever, ‘ave only been in ‘is life a week and already ‘e smile is back and brighter. Alex is a ‘appy boy too.”

I sighed. “Just _try_ not to push us together. We’ve got a long ways to go before we’re a _real_ couple.” No need to tell them that we were telling the team one thing and living another.

There was a pounding on my front door, which I just had to shake my head at. “Pick the kids up off the floor, the elephants are here.” I said as I got up, grabbed Alex and headed for the door. Sure enough my brothers were tumbling in soon enough. I welcomed them and introduced everyone they didn’t know. Soon enough we were all cool and waiting on no one as Paula and Kris came in shortly after my brothers.

We went over Adam’s plan with lunch. “Ok, you guys want to go workout in the morning and that’s fine I get it. After lunch though we need to bust balls and get everything loaded into the trailer and Kallie’s SUV. I think most of the boxes should be able to fit in the car Kals.”

Clearing my mouth I wondered aloud. “Just how many people have volunteered to help? If we have enough people it shouldn’t take too long.”

“Without you girls I think we have 15 or 20 guys willing to help. I’ve already spoken to your management and they are willing to let us lift things over the hedge so we don’t have to trample through the lobby for hours. That will cut down on the time. Add in that we can park the trailer just outside the hedge too and we might need an hour to completely empty this place and pack it up.”

Just as he finished there was another knock at the door. Answering it I found Dave Griffiths on the other side. He came in and spend a few minutes speaking to all of us about Paula and asking questions of her. I showed him the cookbooks I had filled with healthy, easy meals even a bachelor could do all gotten from her. That must have been what he needed to hear. “Paula I will need you to meet me at our offices tomorrow so we can go over in more depth just what we will be needing from you this season and hopefully many more to come. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in need of an on staff nutritionist. Someone willing to work personally with the boys and their significant others to make sure they are caring for themselves in the best way possible. There won’t be any travel involved you will be an at home resource for them all. This would be a year round position and you would also be doing the same things for the Marlies as well. Are you interested?”

Paula jumped up off the couch. “God yes! We’re packing this place up tomorrow but I can be in your office the next day.” She looked so happy.

“This can wait until Monday, why don’t you give me your contact information and I can have everything you will need sent to your home. You will be busiest in the fall when all of our pro and prospects are in town. Hopefully we’ll be able to make it clear that the girls can contact you for assistance as well.” He offered her his hand and she shook it. “Congratulations and I’ll see you Monday.”

From there we gave up on planning things. The boys wanted to load up the couch now and get home so they could enjoy it before legends and pros invaded the house. Yes, I told them who would be coming by; of course I was on the phone with mom and dad at the same time. I had to explain that Mario wanted to see who I really was and what my family was like before signing off on me moving south with Kris to help with Alex.

There was no problem loading up the couch with all of us either corralling kids into my room or actually moving the thing. As I thought it fit perfectly in the back of the truck, as long as it was on its side. To keep the couch from getting disgusting we had covered the truck bed and then the couch itself in a couple tarps I ran and got. My brothers all were happy to get the couch and meet who I would be spending time with this coming season.

The rest of us made sure that my place was all ready to be packed, or in the case of my clothes were already packed into my car. I figured that they couldn’t peek into the boxes if they weren’t there to be peeked into. I made sure all of the boxes were labeled correctly so I could find what I needed quickly and easily. I _did_ have some things I didn’t want anyone seeing.

After several hours, and a nap by the kids, we were 100% ready to just load up the trailer the next afternoon. Of course now we were all hungry again. Paula tried to get us to come back to her place so she could make dinner but we put a stop to that idea. “Pauls, let’s just take the kids and go out. They’ve been so good today and deserve the treat.” I knelt down to Ava’s level and blackmailed her mom. “You wouldn’t want to go to The Lakeview would you Ava?” Ok so it was out of the way, but it was one of the places Ava loves the best.

She began laughing and nodding. Paula gave in; she knew she was beaten. We packed up and headed over, fortunately we weren’t caught in traffic. Adam rode with Kris and I while Paula and Ava rode with Vero and Marc-Andre. “I can’t believe you did that Kals, you do realize she’s gonna make me go vegan for a week over this.”

“Oh hush Adam, no she won’t. I have a plan to make her happy. I’ve taken Ava here a few times when you guys have had me babysit. Ava knows that when we get there she has to compromise; she chooses what she wants but I choose what else she has. This way we can round out her meal a little more.” As I divulged my plan Adam just grinned. Kris was laughing at it.

“You trick ‘er into eating healt’y and she agrees to it, can t’is work wit’ Alex too?” He asked as we kept following the GPS.

“Of course it can. Eating right will show him that food can be good for you and tasty. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a cheat day now and again though. Everything in moderation, including moderation.” Kris looked at me and smiled.

Getting to The Lakeview we got seated near the back so that we wouldn’t disturb others. I sat between Ava and Alex, so I could help Ava with her choices. Before even looking for my own meal, I started with Ava. “Ok girlie. What is the rule for going anywhere with Auntie Kallie?”

Being 2 she grinned and pointed to her menu. “C’oose one, den Auntie c’oose and fruit if I eated it all up.” I saw Paula’s jaw drop and the negotiation began. Ava ended up with Scrambled Eggs with veggies on the side and chocolate milk to drink. She was right too; if she ate everything I always got her the fruit cup for dessert.

Paula was blinking at me now, floored by how I handled Ava. I floored everyone else by what I did next. “Ok Ava, what should Auntie have? Should I have Grilled Veggies, a Burger or Eggs like you?” I pointed to them on the menu.

Ava looked and then grinned evilly. “Veggies nummy Auntie, Eggs too.” As much as I wanted a burger, showing her that eating well meant eating a variety of things that were good for you was more important. Seeing that I wasn’t in the mood for potatoes, other than fries, I got The Standard with 2 scrambled eggs and maple sausage. I did indulge myself a little bit and got some Fries too.

While we were all waiting for our food, Kris fed Alex and everyone else asked how I had talked Ava into what she decided on. “Oh that was easy. I made it a rule when she and I went out to eat. She chooses her entrée, I choose the side, we jointly decide on her drink and if she eats it all she always gets fruit as dessert. It’s just how I’ve always done it, she gets a choice in what she has and still has a complete meal. I’ve never had her fight me about it.” Ava leaned into me a little bit, I was gonna miss her.

Alex, meanwhile, decided that papa feeding him was a good thing as Kris made many more noises than I did. Little Man was giggling and eating as fast as he could clear his mouth. That’s when Kris’ phone went off with an alarm I hadn’t heard before. He handed me the spoon for a second so he could check it. Smacking his forehead he spoke. “Je savais que j'avais oublié quelque chose. Nous devons être à la maison samedi soir. Baptême de Alex est le dimanche matin à la messe. (I knew I forgot something. We need to be at home Saturday night. Alex’s baptism is Sunday morning at Mass.)”

The air around us went still. That meant that instead of spending Thursday evening here we would be driving to Gatineau and making sure that Mario would be coming by Friday or early Saturday. Of course it also meant I would have to find a nice dress for it, but I was sure I could as I now had my entire wardrobe.

Vero sighed. “I forgot abou’ t’at. Good t’ing we are going ‘ome so soon t’en.” Then the discussion began on what was waiting for us in Gatineau. “Merde, you gonna be busy.”

To let Adam and Paula put Ava to bed on time we went and dropped them off after dinner, or rather I dropped everyone but them at the hotel and I took Adam, Paula and Ava home. I then booked right back to the hotel.

I came into the suite and saw Marc-Andre and Kris tickling the kids on the couch. The sight of the two of them making those children grin and giggle warmed my heart. I closed the door quietly and took a couple quick pictures of them. They heard the shutter click and looked up to see me, all of them grinning like happy families. Alex shouted happily at me. “Mama!”

I put the camera back in its bag on my walk over to them. “Alex!” I knelt down and covered his face with kisses. “Voulez-vous un bain tiède avant le coucher petit homme? Que diriez une histoire après aussi? (Would you like a warm bath before bedtime little man? How about a story after too?)” I put my bag down and picked him up. “Allons donc petit homme, l'heure du bain pour que nous puissions être propre pour lit. (Come on little man, bath time so that we can be clean for bed.)”

After his bath I let Kris give him a massage with the lotion we found helped him sleep. Getting Alex into pajamas was easy after this. He was ready to sleep soon. We cuddled him between us on the bed and I read one of the stories from Snoozers by Sandra Boynton, ‘I’m not tired’ in fact. When Alex was almost asleep Kris picked him up gently and sang him to sleep with Frere Jacques.

When he was in his portable crib and mostly asleep, Kris came out and sat next to me on the couch. He leaned his head on my shoulder and sighed. “I can no’ believe I forgot ‘is christening. Glad I ‘ad t’e alarm set.”

“We’ll manage. Gatineau is only 2 hours from Montreal we can easily leave even as late as 6 pm and get home in time to put him to bed.” I didn’t know _how we were going to manage Mario’s visit yet, but we’d figure it out. We sat there for I’m not sure how long. When Vero and Marc-Andre joined us, we all sat there kind of exhausted from the day. I looked at my watch and noticed it was 9:30 p.m. “This is really sad but I think it’s bedtime for me too. Tomorrow is going to be busy.”

Everyone agreed that more sleep was a good idea. Vero and Marc went into their room after saying good night. I tried to stand up but found myself locked to the couch. “Come on, I’ll let you snuggle.” I said trying to get Kris to move. Move he did, Standing up and swooping me into his arms.

He carried me into the bedroom and gently put me on the bed. “I will check the doors and windows so you can change.” He slipped out quietly and I found myself changing carefully. I turned down the bed and slipped in as Kris came back. Soon enough he was sliding in and pulling me close to cuddle. As we lay there snuggled up, I felt tension that I hadn’t even been aware I had been carrying, melt away. I felt Kris’ breath on my neck. “I will try no’ to ‘old you too hard tonight.”

I snuggled tighter to him. “I don’t care. I feel so safe in your arms.” Kris laid a kiss on my temple and we slept.