October 1, 2017
The moment we met, my life became extraordinary.
It only took Kate and Rick twenty minutes to get lost in the cornfield. It was Castle's idea. He found the largest cornfield in New York, and decided it would be a fun, family outing. Turned out, the pumpkin and apple picking was a success, not so much the maze. Castle and Beckett usually aren't this directionally impaired. Castle holds up his phone to the sky, trying to download a compass app. "I should've downloaded this before," he pouts. Lily is toddling forward, with a hand in her father's. She looks just as confused as her parents.
"This was your idea, Castle," Kate reminds him. She takes out her phone, seeing she doesn't have reception either. Kate stands, pulling the wagon full of pumpkins and apples that they've spent the day picking. Today's events tiring all three of them.
"Castle!" Lily mimics.
"Hey, you're a Castle too, young lady," Castle informs Lily as he picks her up.
Lily moves her dark hair out of her face, giving her dad a pouty look just like Beckett. Over the last few weeks, Lily has developed a stumbling walk, which she works at everyday. Her first steps happened under Alexis' watch, much to her parents' displeasure they were both gone, but in the past month Lily has grown in to her own little person. Her vocabulary includes: Castle, Beckett, mama, dada, Lex, no, yes, and fish. Her favorite thing to do is ride on her dad's shoulders and she hates taking naps. She points to pictures during her bedtime stories and she recognizes more and more everyday.
"We really should find our way out, I've got a surprise waiting for you at home, Beckett," Castle says.
"Oh, what kind of surprise?" Kate wonders aloud. She gives Castle a small smile, deciding not to be mad at him for making them do the maze. All in all, it was a pretty good day.
"Fish, fish!" Lily interrupts before Rick can answer. Kate takes it at her cue and digs Lily's clownfish out of the diaper bad. Once she hands it to Lily, Lily caresses it.
"Silly Lily," Beckett tells her daughter, smoothing her wild hair back.
The walk to the car seemed farther than before, even after they made it out of the maze. Castle hoists all the pumpkins in the trunk while Kate buckles in Lily—Lily's eyes closing as she yawns widely.
"She's exhausted," Kate observes.
Castle laughs and shuts the trunk, coming up beside Kate. "Me too. Go to sleep, sweet pea," Castle tells Lily.
"Dada!" Lily giggles aloud.
Kate shakes her head and climbs into the driver's seat. "You're a clear favorite today. When she refuses to sleep and cries all evening, that's all you," Kate responds. For the most part, Lily is a clam baby. She's an observer. But she hates to take naps with a passion and even putting her to bed at night is hard. The tantrum stage is already beginning, both Castle and Beckett can see it coming. Kate always says it's because both she and Castle can go days without sleep. Lily's their little insomniac.
Nonetheless, despite her attitude towards sleep, Lily is so tired from the orchard that she passes out as soon as they get on the road.
The ride home is uneventful and by the time they get home, Lily is still asleep on Rick's shoulder. "It's a miracle," Kate whispers as she looks at her sleeping baby. She looks adorable in her overalls and matching yellow bow in her hair.
Castle almost trips on a package because Lily is laying across his chest. "That's the surprise!" Castle whispers excitedly, careful not to wake Lily.
Kate looks at him questioningly and picks it up. Kate gives him a look as she feels the package. "It's your book!" she exclaims.
Lily stirs but falls back asleep. "Let me put her down," Castle says.
Castle rushes to the nursery to put Lily in her crib. He always gets excited when Kate looks at his books for the first time. The dedications have become a set of surprises for Kate. All of the dedications after their meeting all those years ago have been dedicated to Kate in some capacity.
Castle runs back into the living room, rubbing his hands together excitedly. Kate pats the seat next to her on the couch. Rick sits and nods for her to open the package. Kate doesn't need to be told twice.
The book is bright and beautiful. The cover shines with a picture of two girls holding a magnifying glass. Never did Castle see himself writing a children's series. But then again, he never imagined he would remarry or have any more children.
Kate runs her hands over the book and smiles. The artwork is so beautiful, he had searched forever to find an illustrator to work with. Kate takes it in and then runs a finger over the name at the bottom: Richard Castle. "Open it," Castle encourages with a smile.
Kate's stomach knots in anticipation.
Here's to angels—to my angels:
To Kate, the joy in my heart.
To Alexis Harper, who will eternally be my little piece of redheaded sunshine.
And to Lily Jo, who has filled my life sweet giggles and infinite happiness.
This one is for my girls.
Always.
Kate didn't even realize she was crying. Rick puts an arm around Kate and they fall backwards onto the couch. "I love you," Kate tells him as she reaches to kiss his cheek.
Rick smiles. "I love you too," he answers.