A Different Shade of Pale

Chapter 38

Guests were just starting to arrive for New Year's Eve. Castle and Kate had invited an eclectic mix, smaller, but not greatly different from the guest list for their wedding. Kate's closest co-workers were there, Esposito, Ryan, and Karpowski. Lanie, in sleek and sleeveless red satin, was in her glory. Castle had invited his two groups of poker buddies and pluses, Captain Montgomery and Evelyn, Cannell, Connelly, Patterson, Judge Markaway, and Mayor Weldon. The gathering was rounded out by Martha's latest beau Bert, and by Jim Beckett.

Drinks, alcoholic and otherwise, flowed and Castle had provided a coffee corner with Lucas the super barrista, for those requiring aid to stay awake until the midnight hour. Alexis hovered near Lucas, with an intense interest in the details of foam art providing an excuse to ogle the handsome server. Jazz flowed unobtrusively from speakers in the great room and couches and chairs had been moved to provide conversation groups and a comfortable nest in front of the fireplace.

Castle circulated among the guests assuring they were happy with the food, drink, and company, while Kate grabbed Lanie and retreated to the bedroom. "What's up girlfriend, taking me away from the party?"

Kate cleared her throat nervously. "Lanie, I have a problem."

Lanies head bobbed side to side as she regarded her friend. "Girl, you've always got a problem. What's going on Kate?"

"I went overtime on my implant. It was due to run out a couple of months ago and things were so crazy with Castle's illness and everything that I just didn't think about it. And since I wasn't bleeding anyway I didn't pay much attention, but the last week or so I've been sick in the morning and my breasts are tender so I bought a test. It was positive. And before you ask, yes I did see my gynecologist and she confirmed it."

"Did you tell Castle?"

Kate shook her head. "I'm not sure how. I told him we were safe and then... Damn! We're not even getting married for five months. It's going to show."

"Seems to me that's the least of your worries. Look Kate, he's going to know soon anyway. He has a daughter. He knows what pregnancy looks like and he's going to notice you're upchucking your breakfast. If I were you," Lanie counseled, "I'd tell him before he figures it out for himself. He'll probably be happy. He loves kids."

"But Alexis is already a teenager," Kate protested, catching her lower lip between her teeth. "What if he's past wanting another little one?"

"Well then it's better if you find out now, isn't it? You really want to start the new year with that hanging over your head? Why don't I just get him in here now?"

Kate shook her head. "No Lanie, it's my problem. I'll do it. You go out there and have a good time. I noticed Javi's eyes were pretty much riveted to your cleavage."

"What can I say? Men love the girls. Okay, we'll go back out there together, but I better see you grabbing Castle before the ball drops."

"Lanie, I think it already has, but I will. I'm sure he's finished his rounds as the jovial host by now."

Castle spotted Kate rejoining the party and held out a glass of sparkling cider.. "Here, you haven't been into wine tonight. Or would you rather have one of Lucas' foamy creations? He has decaf. I've noticed that's what you've been drinking lately."

Kate drew a calming breath. "Yeah Castle, I kind of need to talk to you about that. Can we?" She pointed toward his office.

Castle's brow quirked at the nervous look on her face and he put down the glass. "Sure Kate. Of course."

Kate led the way through the office and into the bedroom, perching on the edge of the bed. Castle sat sideways next to her, studying her face. "We're here Kate. Talk to me."

Kate ran her fingers down the side of his face. "Castle, the wine, the coffee, it's because I'm..."

"Pregnant," Castle finished.

Kate stared wide-eyed. "How long have you known?"

"Maybe before you did. I know you, Kate. I know your body, what you like, what you don't like. You don't drink de-caf and you don't eat Saltines®. You also don't take off for appointments in the middle of the morning. I was almost a hundred percent sure but I was waiting for you to tell me."

"And you're all right with it, Castle?"

All right with it?" Castle repeated incredulously. "Kate, a baby from you and from me. What could be more perfect than that?"

"If I got pregnant after we were married?" Kate suggested.

"Kate, this isn't the fifties. We're a committed couple. Nobody, well almost nobody, cares about that anymore, especially since we're getting married anyway. I'm not sure how your father's going to take it. We could move the wedding up if you want to. We'd lose Van Amstel's, but we could do it. Or we could do a quickie at City Hall and then have the formal ceremony in May for reaffirming our vows. Whatever you want."

Kate expelled more air than she knew she had in her lungs. "Dad will be fine. He may be set in his ways about baseball, vinyl, and what he likes to eat, but he's always been adaptable to social change. If he wasn't, he never could have married a force of nature like my mother."

"You want to tell him now? You want to tell everyone? It would make for a hell of a party."

"Dad should hear it before anyone else does. So should Martha and Alexis, especially Alexis. She's going to have a brother or sister. How about if we call an impromptu family meeting? I can have Lanie herd everyone in. She already knows."

Castle shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "I figured she did. What woman wouldn't tell her best friend? Sounds like a plan."

"Hardly news dear," Martha proclaimed during the small assembly in Castle's office. "I've seen your skin taking on a distinct greenish hue after Richard's morning scrambles for a while now and he hasn't even put any chocolate or marshmallows in them."

Jim Beckett drew his daughter to him. "I'm happy for you, Katie. I just hope you'll keep my grandchild out of the line of fire."

"I will, Dad," Kate assured him. "N.Y.P.D. regs will have me riding a desk soon and I know those are regs Captain Montgomery will enforce."

Alexis stood quietly, her arms crossed across her chest. "Hey, what's on your mind, sweetheart?" Castle prompted.

"I'm glad no one's going to be shooting at Kate, Dad, because it means no one is going to be shooting at you either." Castle reached out an arm, but his daughter stepped back. "But there've been a lot of changes happening very fast. Kate moving in, your engagement, the planning for the wedding, now this, it's just a lot to take in. I need some time to deal with it."

"Of course you do," Castle acknowledged. "I get it. But you'll see, this is going to be the best family ever!"

Alexis nodded gamely. "Yeah Dad, I'm sure you're right. Congratulations, to both of you. I think I'm going upstairs for a while now."

Martha touched Castle's arm as he stared after his daughter. "Don't worry, I'll check on her. She'll be fine. She always is. Now go and give the news to your guests. I'm sure they want as many excuses as possible to down your obscenely expensive Champagne."

As midnight approached, a mostly joyous crowd squeezed into Castle's office to view the happenings in Times Square on the big screen. Kate and Castle watched, fingers tightly entwined, as the countdown reached zero. The crystal sphere dropped, heralding all the promises of a new year.