Life Goes On
Chapter 37
Despite her lack of physical stature, the shadow of Mirai Tanaka fell heavily over Benny Patero as he squirmed behind his desk. "We are very disappointed Mr. Patero. The passage of the city ordinance limiting the use of our drones will result in a considerable reduction in TK's profits. That is not the outcome you led us to expect."
Benny pulled at his rapidly dampening collar. "I know, Ms. Tanaka, and I'm sorry. It's just Advocate Beckett and that damn husband of hers, they attract the press. You know? They were swarming like flies. This wasn't like one of our meetings that ends up as a story on the back page of a section of the Times that nobody reads. Everyone was watching, just waiting for the vote. There was no way I could vote against it without being bombarded by questions neither one of us wants answered."
"Nevertheless, Mr Patero, you must redeem yourself," Tanaka pronounced. "I understand from a source in Ms. Beckett's office that she is continuing to push Ms. Jones' agenda for paid family leave. I doubt that I have to tell you how that will adversely affect the bottom line of a number of companies in which my group has holdings. I am told that a revised version of the bill will be up for consideration at the next council meeting. That bill cannot be allowed to pass, Mr. Patero, regardless of how many members of the fourth estate are present. Do I make myself clear?"
Benny pulled at his collar again. It suddenly seemed two sizes too small. "You do, Ms. Tanaka," he agreed, his voice squeaking from his throat."
"And get a damn cough drop or something," Tanaka commanded. "You sound like a sewer rat." She turned to go. "The media will not be the only ones watching, Mr. Patero," she called over her shoulder, and closed the door of his office firmly behind her.
Benny rose shakily to his feet and crossed the room to a gleaming mahogany cabinet. Jerking it open, he pulled out a bottle of absinthe, poured three fingers and downed it in a gulp.
Architect Sarah Needham arrived at the loft just after Kate had left to start her day at the office. "Honestly Rick, I'm flattered that you called me, but I don't think you need an architect. Any good contractor could put in a nursery for you. With the open construction of this place, it's not that difficult a project."
"I'm not concerned with the difficulty, Sarah," Castle explained. "I just want it to meld with the ambiance I've already created here. I also want it to be the perfect environment for the new baby. It should be stimulating, yet peaceful enough that she doesn't keep us up all night - after the first three months, anyway. I want her to feel secure yet challenged."
Sarah looked at him doubtfully. "Secure yet challenged. Alright Rick, I'll see what I can come up with. It's been a while since I've been here and I never left the great room except to use a bathroom upstairs. You want to give me the grand tour, so I can get some ideas about how we can do this?"
"Just follow me," Castle invited, leading her up the stairs.
"Your mother and Alexis have moved out, haven't they Rick? Have you considered converting one of the rooms up here?" Sarah inquired.
"Alexis and Mother still return from time to time," Castle explained. "I'm keeping the door open for them, which won't hurt if Grandma or Big Sister develop a yen to do some babysitting."
Sarah nodded knowingly.
"And," Castle added, "Kate and I both agree that we want the baby close to us. We'll have her in a bassinet in our bedroom for the first month or so, or until she grows out of it. That will make nursing a lot easier for Kate. But after that, we still want to be able to hear her, even if the monitoring system fails for some reason. I will be putting cameras with audio and video in the nursery, so I can always check the feed on my laptop or my tablet and Kate will be able to see her when she's at work. The room should be designed to accommodate that."
Castle led the way back downstairs and through his office to the bedroom he and Kate shared. "I was thinking the nursery would have two entrances." He pointed at one wall. "One from there and the other one from the great room. That way we can get to the baby quickly if anything happens. And it should have it's own bath too."
"That should be doable Rick. We'll back the baby's bath up to the master so it won't require much extra plumbing. None of the walls will be weight bearing so you can put doors wherever you like," Sarah noted. "What about dimensions? Most people go pretty small with nurseries, often not more than a hundred square feet or so, but once you get a crib, a dresser, a changing table and a rocker in there, that doesn't leave much space and you'll be losing one wall to windows. The way the room will be need to be constructed won't accommodate a closet, so you're going to want some other kind of storage. That can be custom built in or made in modules, so you can adjust to her needs as she grows. If you're planning the second option, you will have to allow even more space for it. I would judge that we could do twelve by fourteen or even sixteen easily without a major intrusion into your other living space."
"Well then let's go as large as we can," Castle decided. "I don't need as much space for entertaining now."
"Sound's like you're really settling down," Sarah observed. "Next you'll be telling me you don't need room for laser tag anymore."
Castle held up a hand. "I would not go that far. Alexis is still good for an occasional game and her sister may very well pick up her mantle, but she'll probably have to be at least finished teething first."
Sarah laughed. "Nice to know Rick Castle isn't disappearing completely into adult domesticity. Fine, I'll draw up the plans. When is the baby due?"
"Right now the doctor is projecting mid April," Castle responded.
Sarah winced. "That's not much time. Most of the contractors I work with are pretty heavily booked right now. There could be a hefty premium for getting this done on time."
"Whatever it takes," Castle declared. "This is going to be the best nursery ever."
Leaning against the tiled wall in the ladies restroom Charisma Clarridge drew her cell phone from her Gucci knock off purse. Noting a missed call from Mirai Tanaka sent a shiver through her body. Ms. Tanaka would not be pleased. Charisma hurried to return it. "Ms Clarridge, Tanaka's voice came sharply, better attention to your duties is required. What have you discovered?"
"Beckett is continuing with a number of things Tish tried to do," Charisma responded. "Other than paid leave, there's nothing you need to be concerned with at the moment. I understand she is working on something regarding childcare, but I don't believe your operations will impacted. I'll keep you apprised."
"I expect you will," Tanaka remarked, "or you may suddenly find the bills for your college loans reappearing in your mail box. I trust next time you will answer your phone or return my call immediately."
"Yes ma'am." Charisma confirmed, wiping her palm against her skirt. The call was terminated.
Charisma wobbled to one of the sinks. Dampening a paper towel, she wiped it across her face before tossing it in the trash. She drew a deep breath before using the exit.
From her stall, Alexis carefully let down her feet. She had drawn them up to the seat when Charisma started her call, in case the other woman checked under the door to make sure she wouldn't be overhead. She needn't have bothered. Charisma was too anxious to answer her mistress' call to even consider that there might be someone else present. Alexis had noted that Charisma often glanced at the screens of other staff members' computers, but had allowed that she might be merely curious. Now Alexis knew better, and soon Kate would too.