One review asked if they will need tissues to read this?
I hope So
Because if not, then I failed in my plan
The applause runs for several minutes much to Kate's embarrassment. When the din of noise finally settles down she turns her face to the podium and she tries to smile and speak, but the emotions in her heart are preventing her from being able to speak without choking back the tears
"Thank you Mr. President for those more than kind words."
Turning to the Attorney General "Mr. Attorney General I honestly do not deserve any accolades. I was just doing the job that had been given to me by your office"
She looks at the beautiful Walnut board with the bronze plate commemorating her service to the nation
"But I do thank you and I will be keeping the plaque, however."
"This will forever hold a place of honor in our home"
She looks down to her notes. Her heart full of emotion. She has now fully realized exactly why the evening went the way it did. There was a driving force controlling the direction of all the speakers, all the words of gratitude poured on top of Beckett.
"I want to thank everyone for being here tonight"
She puts the plaque down on the table
"All my fellow New York officers gave way too much credit to me for the job we all did there together. When I say all together I do mean as a team of officers and our one civilian"
Beckett is struggling to keep her emotions in check. Tonight is the completion of her life's work and it is never easy for anyone to close that door. Especially on a long history such as hers
"When Chief Gates mentioned a person who was a real driving force in my life she brought up Captain Roy Montgomery.
"She is right when she said Captain Montgomery give me a firm foundation to build my career on in law enforcement. But he really taught me more than just that. Roy gave me a lot of great training. But he also gave me some great advice. He left me with something intangible with his words."
Kate has stopped looking at her notes. They have become useless since she would have to try to read them with tear filled eyes
"Roy told me once that for us there are no victories, only battles and the best you can hope for is to find a place to take your stand. And if you're very lucky you find someone to stand with you."
"I was very lucky. I found someone who was willing to stand with me. He has stood with me for all of these years. Thirty five years ago he stood with me in New York. When I came to this city with fear in my heart, he still stood with me but tonight he stood in the shadows leaving me have this spotlight."
She looks to some tables at the rear of the room "Richard Castle I Love You more today than the day we married"
"I wish to close with a quote from a speech once given by my daughter at an event over 30 years ago."
Kate looks down to her script and then pulls out a yellowed piece of paper containing the speech. She takes a deep breath then begins
"There is a universal truth we all have to face, whether we want to or not, everything eventually ends.
As much as I've looked forward to this day, I've always disliked endings.
Last day of summer, the final chapter of a great book, parting ways with a close friend.
But endings are inevitable
Leaves fall
You close the book
You say goodbye.
Today is one of those days for us. Today we say goodbye to everything that was familiar, everything that was comfortable.
We're moving on. But just because we're leaving, and that hurts, there are some people who are so much a part of us, they'll be with us no matter what. "
Beckett has to stop because she is having trouble reading thru the tears. Then she looks up toward the group of tables in the rear of the room. Secluded from the rest. Tables containing her family
"They are our solid ground. "
She has to stop again "Please bear with me just a moment I want my family up here"
The group from this table gets up and starts toward the stage. Richard along with his daughter Dr. Alexis Castle-Hawkins along with her husband, Dr. Weldon Hawkins and their grown daughter, Martha Long and her husband Zachary both currently in medical school
Also Rick and Kate's two children. Their son Alexander and his sister Johanna
After they all arrive on stage, Rick pulls Kate into his arms and holds her as she continues
"Our North Star.
And the small clear voices in our hearts that will be with us"
"Always."
Katherine Beckett-Castle and family step away from the podium as the applause fills the entire hotel
