Hope you guys like this! It was eating at me all day until I finally wrote it down! I'm hoping we get to meet the now infamous Aunt Teresa, I'm still pushing for Betty White that would be awesome!
They sit at the coffee shop. Jim Beckett nursing a coffee and a onion bagel with cream cheese. Kate has her latte and a bear claw. She's smiles as she reminisces all of the crime scenes he's brought her a bear claw with her coffee.
The bell above the diner door jingles and both Kate and her father look at the new customer. Jim turns just in time to sneak in an eye roll and "here comes trouble" look towards Kate.
Coming through the door is woman in her early 80's. She's smartly dressed, though the colors are an odd combination. She's got thick heals on that don't quite match the outfit, and a huge pocket book that probably has Jimmy Hoffa stashed in it. Jim has always thought she resembled a slightly pudgy Betty White!
She spots them and waves, "Jim, Katie, it's me Aunt Teresa. I'm here. Just a minute these old bones don't move as quickly as they used to, you know." Loud enough for everyone in the diner to hear. Jim bows his head in resignation, while Kate smiles. They both stand when she finally approaches the table.
"Hi, dearie, look at you. I love your hair, you don't look so butch anymore. I used to tell your father, that if you didn't look more feminine soon, you'd be bringing him home a wife. Not that there's anything wrong with that if that's the way you swing." She says still rather loudly. She's about 5 feet tall in her healed shoes, and they both have to bend to hug her. She kisses Kate on the cheek leaving bright red lips imprinted on her cheek.
Kate can feel the blush rising from her neck. "Hi Aunt Teresa, it's so nice to see you again."
"Well, your Dad and I have been talking about you and that good looking author fella you're engaged to. I haven't seen much of you since he started to come around. He's a looker that one. Much better than those dirty long haired freaks you used to date."
Aunt Teresa turns around and taps the gentleman sitting behind her. " she's a looker now huh?" The man smiles and shakes his head. Aunt Teresa continues, " She's a homicide detective and is dating that big shot author Richard Rook or something."
"Richard Castle, Teresa and let the nice gentleman enjoy his food in peace." Jim pleads as he gives the man an apologetic smile.
"Oh yeah, Richard Castle. You know Katie I saw in the paper he might be getting together with his ex wife." She whispers across the table.
"Aunt Teresa we talked about that. Remember you put it up on your Facebook page, and I called you to take it down, because it wasn't true." Kate bites her lips trying desperately to keep a straight face.
"Oh that's right, dearie. I was so glad to hear it, my friend Beatrice's granddaughter is marrying Johnny Depps's second cousin, and that's all I hear about. I was so glad to hear your wedding was still on."
The waitress approaches the table. "Kate, Jim can I get you anything else? Ma'm would you like to order something?" She says politely.
"How about a blueberry muffin and some warm tea, not hot tea, I don't want to burn my tongue, please?" she orders then turns to Kate. "Nice being almost famous and having people recognize you."
Jim smiles, "No Teresa, Katie and I have been coming here once a week for years. I doubt they have any clue who she is marrying."
Aunt Teresa looks at Kate her lips pursed together, contemplating Jim's words.
"So, have you started planning that beautiful wedding of yours yet? Have you got a dress? You know Katie, you should try to out on a few pounds, men like something to hold onto." Aunt Teresa wiggles her eyebrows, and Kate practically spews her coffee across the table.
"I'll get working on that, Auntie."
"I hope that handsome rich man is paying for this so Jim here doesn't have to pay that bill," she whispers the last part, still loud enough to be heard by the other patrons. The man sitting behind her actually chuckles and tries to cover it up with a cough.
They sit and talk about weddings, book signings, and some of the tamer murder cases. Teresa eats it all up, making loud gestures and comments to the delight of some of the other patrons.
The talk turns back to the wedding after about an hours or so. "Katie dear, do you know where you'll be having this big shindig?"
Kate purses her lips and nods. "No idea yet, Auntie. Castle suggested the Coney Island roller coaster yesterday."
"Oh my goodness, I hope he was kidding!" The look of horror that crosses her face is comical. Kate laughs as she says "No", "I nixed that since its not big enough for everyone."
"That seems to be the problem right now. Between, Martha, Castle, Dad and me we have almost 600 people! That's insane!"
Kate and Jim watch as Aunt Teresa hauls her bag onto her lap and reaches deep into it. "Well, then another 12 won't be that big a deal then, right?"
She smiles sweetly before she continues. "My canasta ladies are dying to meet your handsome rich fiancé, and I told them I'd get them an invite. Some of them actually stood in line for his autograph at his last signing in the city. Surely you wouldn't mind?"
Kate's mouth drops open and she can't get a word out. Her father doesn't know whether to laugh or kick the old bag out. Aunt Teresa continues talking about the ladies buying new dresses for the event, when she stops and looks at her watch.
"Oh dear, I've got to go. I'm meeting Lilly at the hairdressers in twenty minutes, have to get my mani-pedi and eyebrows done. She's going to be so excited about going to the wedding! Katie dear, I'm sure with you being almost rich and all, you can pick up the tab?" Aunt Teresa gets up adjusts her girdle and bends over to plant another kiss on Kate's cheek. She reaches over and squeezes Jim's hand.
"It was nice to see you again, Aunt Teresa." Kate says as she watches the woman head towards the door.
"You too dear, and Jim next time we meet for lunch it's your treat." She winks as she heads out the door.
Both Jim and Kate let out a heavy sigh and begin to laugh.
"I can't believe she's related to mom. There's got to have been some mix up at the hospital." Kate laughs as Jim wipes his eyes he's laughing so hard.
"You know Katie, Rick's going to kill you. You were supposed to have politely uninvited Aunt Teresa to your wedding, and now you're adding her back in plus 12 more." Jim's eyes go wide as he tries to suppress his laughter.
"Yeah, big help you were, dad. I should make you pay for her and her canasta group."
Kate drops her head into her hands and nods. "Oh, he's just going to love this. Maybe we're just better off eloping, or better yet the Coney Island roller coaster might not be such a bad ideas after all."
Thanks for reading, please review if so inclined!
Follow me on Twitter glo1196 and on my Castle board on Pintrist at glo11962 :) If you like this story try "You Were Always With Me" an extension of 6x17 where Beckett's PTSD returns. s/10161500/1/You-Were-Always-With-Me