Chapter 13
The chilly November breeze bit at Kate's exposed skin. Even thought the distance she had to walk was short she wrapped her scarf around her nose and mouth, leaving her eyes to brave to the cold. She pulled her hat down further on her head, covering her pink ears. Thank God the heat is on and working. The previous night the heat had broken and she and Rick were left to grab all the blankets they could scrounge up and use each other for warmth, not that they minded staying close all night. She thought as she stepped into the apartment building. When Kate walked into the loft she pulled off her scarf, hat, and jacket.
"Castle?" She called as she pulled off her boots.
"Back here." He said. Kate walked toward the sound of his voice. He was sitting in his study at his desk with his laptop open, but when he saw Kate in the door he hurriedly closed it.
"Writing?" She asked walking to him and sitting down on him.
"No." He said adjusting himself so he and Kate were more comfortable, but turning his chair so that their backs were to the desk. "I need to ask you something."
"What?" She asked, thinking it strange for Rick to ask permission.
He smiled taking it as a good sign that she didn't roll her eyes or raise an eyebrow. He turned the chair a little and opened a desk drawer. Kate's heart skipped while Rick's hand groped in the drawer. Rick turned to look at her, "Close your eyes." This time Kate narrowed eyes, but obliged. A moment later Rick said, "Okay. Open your eyes."
Kate opened her eyes, but Rick wasn't holding what she expected, instead it was a leather dog collar.
"I think we should get a dog." Kate must have looked disappointed because Rick asked his smile fading, "Do you not want a dog?"
"No I do, I do. I think it's a great idea." She said masking her disappointment.
"I think it should be a Labrador." His smile was back as he turned the chair back to the desk and opened the laptop.
As the chair turned Kate caught a glimpse of the open desk drawer, inside was small light blue box tied with a white ribbon. Her heart skipped again, but she turned her gaze back to the computer. On the screen was a picture of a Labrador.
"There is a breeder upstate. He says right now you can get good deal. The puppies are on sale."
"Hold on. What gender are we talking?"
"We can pick. Females are $300, males are $250."
"Male."
"Money isn't a problem." Rick said.
"I know. I've always wanted a dog, I just want a male dog; you can give them cooler names."
"Oh okay I see. But now we have to decide on a name."
"I have to see him first. See what name he fits."
"Okay. You're off work tomorrow, we can drive up then."
"Sounds good. But I think we need some name choices."
"I agree. My first is Sherlock."
"Hemingway." Kate shot.
"Vader." Rick said.
"Atticus."
"Bourne."
"Satchmo."
The rapid firing of names continued for the rest of the night.
The next morning Kate and Rick loaded up and drove with the help of the GPS to the breeder.
"They'll have to stay here for a couple more weeks." The man said to Rick as Kate climbed over the small fence and sat with the puppies. "Have you decided on a gender?"
"Male." Rick and Kate said in unison.
"Well you can pick out a puppy today; I'll put a tag on him so no one else can take him."
"Thank you." Rick said climbing in with Kate. The breeder walked away.
"I love them all." Kate said.
"I know." Rick said bending and picking up a puppy that was pawing at his shoe. "I like this little guy."
Kate looked up. "Aww. He is so cute." She stood.
Rick handed her the puppy. "Hello." Kate said to the yellow dog.
"You two look adorable." Rick said snapping a picture with his phone. "I think he looks like a Hemingway."
"Me too." Kate nodded.
"I think we found our puppy." Rick said wrapping an arm around Kate's waist and petting the lab with his other hand.
"We did." Kate said kissing Rick. "This is Hemingway."
"Do you like your name, Hemingway?" Rick asked. The small puppy beat his tail against Kate.
Kate sat on the stainless table while Lanie leaned against the wall.
"He hasn't proposed yet?" Lanie asked.
"Nope."
"But you two are getting a dog."
"We pick him up tonight." Kate smiled.
"You two are so weird."
"What's wrong with a dog?"
"That's something for after you're married."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
"Are you sure you saw something in the desk drawer and it wasn't you imagination." Lanie asked this question the first time Kate brought up the Tiffany box.
"Positive."
"Waiting for the right time I guess."
"How long have you two been together?"
"Over a year."
"Javi and I have been together for two years. At least your boy is moving faster."
Kate smiled. Lanie had no idea that Javier had just asked her opinion of a ring for Lanie. Kate's phone trilled. "Sorry Lanie. Got to go."
"Bye Girl. Have fun Writer Boy and your dog."
The tags in Kate's lap jingled as she and Rick drove to the breeder.
"Here he comes." The man said.
"Thank you." Rick said as Kate bent and put the collar on the lab. The dog had tripled in size.
"Come on Hemingway." Kate said holding the leash the puppy had to sniff everything inside and outside the car.
When they got home Rick released Hemingway and let him wander around the loft. "He did go to the bathroom outside right?"
"Yeah. But I think we need to keep an eye on him until we know for sure he's trained."
"I agree completely. And what did we decide furniture or no furniture?"
"Furniture, but once he's trained."
"He is so cute." Kate said as Hemingway bounded toward, apparently deciding this was the perfect new home.
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