One Year
Twelve hours ago; on the eve of their first anniversary, Rick and Kate got ready for bed. At that moment in time they were a few hours away from celebrating their first year of marriage with the people that had witness it when it happened. Alexis came home from school for the occasion. Martha cleared her scheduled as did Kate's parents; Jim and Johanna.
At 8:30 in the morning on November 10th, 2015; Rick Castle woke up to the beauty of his wife lying beside him. Kate was still somewhat asleep when Rick woke up and she knew full well that Rick was completely mesmerized by her in that moment.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Castle." Rick said as Kate's eyes opened up to welcome in the day.
Just as it had a year ago when he had first called her Mrs. Castle; Kate grinned from ear to ear.
"Good Morning, Mr. Castle. Happy Anniversary."
"Happy Anniversary, Kate."
The duo stayed in bed together for a bit longer before they joined Martha and Alexis. In the kitchen; the family matriarch and her twenty-something granddaughter got breakfast together. Tonight was the dinner party they were having with their family. Friday night; Rick and Kate would celebrate their anniversary with Ryan, Jenny, Lanie and Espo.
"Good Morning, darlings and happy anniversary." Martha said as she caught her son and daughter in law out of the corner of her eye.
"Thanks, mother."
"Thank-you, Martha."
"Happy Anniversary." Alexis said echoing her grandmother.
Rick and Kate shared their thanks.
In the back of her mind as she helped with breakfast before they all sat down together; Kate was still trying to wrap her mind around the detail that not only was she the wife of famous mystery writer, the daughter in law of an actress and a spy; she also had a step daughter that was only a few years younger. As they sat down for breakfast; Kate noticed that their framed wedding vows had been relocated from their bedroom to the kitchen island counter.
"Thank you for putting these here." Kate said.
"You're welcome, kiddo."
After breakfast; Kate and Rick would run errands together as Martha and Alexis got the loft together for the dinner party.
"It's hard to believe all of this started six years ago at the Storm Fall launch party." Alexis said as she did the dishes with her grandmother after her dad and step mom left to run errands.
"Well dear there was magic between ever since they first met."
"At the book signing for Unholy Storm."
Martha nodded and they continued on. Rick and Kate were on their way to the corner market to get dinner, then they would stop at the local liquor store after checking on the Old Haunt. Their last stop would be one of the many florists in the city where they would pick up a nice bouquet of flowers for the center piece at dinner that night.
As Kate and Rick walked the streets of Manhattan on the cold November day; they both thought of the secret they were waiting to tell their family and friends.
"We should pick up something at the market for me to drink tonight; babe."
"Way ahead of you on that one."
Kate smiled as they rounded the corner before the market.
She had been Mrs. Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle for a whole year and that was only the start of a life time with the man that was once a thorn in her side.