March 13th 2016 South Beach Florida
The sun had just gotten to that perfect position where it is not too hot but not too cold either. Martha dressed in her caftan which showed off her eclectic fashion sense walks into a boutique looking for some unusual sunglasses. Her last pair had wandered off to who knows where. While she was in the shop she spotted a familiar face standing outside the boutique. After making her purchase she exited the shop. She was standing in front of Jim Beckett.
"Jim Beckett as I live and breath"
Jim turned around and spied Martha in her full regalia.
"Martha! It is good to see you!"
"Jim fancy meeting you here in South Beach. I had not seen you since the trial in 2013. How are you doing?"
"I am doing well Martha."
"How is that daughter of yours? I have not seen her since the verdict was read and she disappeared into that crowd of reporters. Richard was so worried nobody knew what happened. Rick was inconsolable for the longest time. He would not eat nor would he write. For 2 years he searched finally he gave up."
"I am so sorry Martha but I guess that was my doing. Kate was so upset that I had a friend spirit her away from the craziness that was NY. I tried to make her contact you or Alexis or even Lanie but she refused. She said it was good she disappeared. She could not stand the limelight. It brought back too many bad memories."
"I do understand Jim but Rick was looking forward to the kids and marriage and then this happened."
"I know Martha."
Jim looked down as if he found something interesting on the ground.
"You know Katie once she makes up her mind there was nothing you could do to tell her otherwise, To be honest she was so tired of being compared to Rick's creation. I know she never let on but after the brush with the crazed fan twice and the finality of the Dragon's downfall. She just wanted a change. I had left NY. The weather there was too much for my old bones. I thought she would hide out for awhile letting the hoopla die off but then other things got in the way. She never went back. Eventually she changed her name and got a position here in Fl. She is still a detective but the cases here are different.
Martha was intently listening to Jim's narration.
"Jim, why don't we sit over there at the café. I sure need a drink."
"I would love to accompany you to the café. They have a very rich Cuban coffee which Katie can not get enough of."
Martha and Jim sauntered over the open table. Martha and Jim both ordered the coffee.
"I am finally a Granddad. Her name is Holly. She is the prettiest thing."
Jim handed over his smart phone which showed a little girl which looked so much like Alexis when she was little but with the greenest emerald eyes she had ever seen.
"That is Holly. She is my pride and joy. She is about 3 now. Her birthday will be in a few days. That was the reason I was down here today to pick up her present. Katie is unable to do so due to her job. I suppose her partner Jim could have but she did not want to bother him on his day off."
Martha sneakily sent the pic to Richard's Phone and one to Alexis too.
"Well it was great catching up but I really must go. I hope to see you again soon."
"You too, Martha, it was great to see someone from the City down here. Take care of
yourself."
Martha got a text from Alexis
"Gram, who is this?"
Martha sent a text back
"That is something I want Richard to find out."
"I am heading back to the hotel Dear meet you there."
Martha caught a cab back to the Hotel. Rick was on his first Book Tour since the ending of the Trial. He had a new Muse and it was Alexis.
Alexis met Martha at her room.
"Ok Grams Spill who is she?"
"I met up with Jim Beckett he showed me her picture. Her name is Holly and she is about 3 years old. She is his grandchild and Kate's daughter. "
"Kate has a daughter? Wait until Dad learns about this."
"What I am suspecting it is his! The picture looks so much like you when you were that age. Martha brought up that special picture of Alexis and Rick walking in the park. The two pictures looked identical except for those Green Eyes."
"You think Kate disappeared so that Dad would not know his child?"
"I really do not know what to think but whatever your father does. It must stay out of the media. This would be disastrous for the young girl."
"But Grams, it is so unfair. Kate did not even tell him she was pregnant before disappearing."
"I do not think Kate wanted to disappear. I think she was overwhelmed by the publicity of the Dragon's Trial. Eventually, it must been too hard to consider going back."
"Yes, that trial was horrendous in the way the media handled everything. I could see her fleeing from that. But what I do not understand is leaving us behind."
"Maybe we were just collateral damage Alexis. Sometimes the people we love get hurt."
"Grams, I loved her she was unlike my own mother. Well I am glad the mystery of her disappearance has been solved. I am sad it took such extremes though."
"Well you do know she was captured by the crazed fan a few months before the trial. It is possible that unnerved her. Perhaps she no longer felt safe and needed to distance herself from Richard's fame. Especially if she knew she was pregnant."
"Her face was plastered everywhere so I suppose she felt like a target. I guess she needed space. Too bad she did not discuss it with us. I know it would have been better."
