"Mommy? When's daddy coming back?"
"I don't know, baby." Kate admitted to the child in her lap. Truth be told, she hated these trips. She admitted to Martha and Alexis that at first she was okay, and even happy when Castle went off on his book tours, but now she hated them.
She knew she should feel happy about how Ashley felt about her dad, but she also was flummoxed.
"I don't need to go," he told her. She shook off his concerns. It was only a week afterall, and if push came to shove, she could always call Lanie or Alexis.
"Do you think we could call Alexis? Maybe Lanie? Have a girls night?"
"I don't know," Ashley replied furrowing her brow. The newest addition to the Castle clan, like her half sister, seemed mature for her age, but there were moments were she was who she was.
Like now.
It wasn't until after she had been tucked into bed that the little girl asked again. "Alexis, I miss daddy."
"I do, too." She admitted. Alexis knew it wasn't the first time her younger sibling had a bout of speration anxiety and though a part of her thought Ashley would have been over it, she understood.
"Should we call him?" Alexis asked.
After a firm nod from her younger sibling, Alexis dialed.
"Castle?"
"Hey dad."
"Alexis? Is something wrong?"
"We just wanted to hear your voice. Ashley misses you."
"You don't?"
Alexis rolled her eyes. "Of course. But let me her on. It's getting late."
"Daddy?"
"Yes, munchkin?"
"When are you coming home?"
"Not for a few days." He responded, giving a quick glance to his calendar.. Though they claimed to understand, Gina and Paula both insisted that a longer tour would do wonders for energizing his fan base."
"Sweetie? It's getting late? How about we sing the sunshine song before bed?"
After their impromptu performance, Alexis sighed. "I miss you too, Dad. So hurry back because we need another movie night."
"Always, Pumpkin."