Charlie IV

Chapter 13

"How's work?" Jo was curious. Rick had been at his new job for a week. She got a kick out of how Charlie knew he was home before anyone else did. He would bark and race to the front door from wherever he was at the time which was usually wherever Katie was. He'd spin and whimper when Rick finally opened the front door.

"Pretty good. Though I'm not used to giving orders. I'm used to getting them."

"Good. I order you to clean up the table when we're done eating." Jo grinned at him. Jim broke out laughing and Kate choked on what she was eating when she tried to laugh.

"I do have some news. I'm going to New Orleans tomorrow for a project." He had Saturdays and Sundays off so Black Pawn had arranged for a book signing on Saturday. "Quick drive down, stay for a few hours, and then drive back." Actually it was a minimum of 4 hours doing a book signing but he needed to get there early and he was betting leave late, so longer than 4 hours.

Kate's eyes lit up. "Can I come? I've never been to New Orleans. My PT session isn't until another three days."

"It may be personal, Katie." Jo tried to tamp down her enthusiasm for going. Also it would mean Rick would have to do everything for her. She wasn't using a catheter any longer so someone needed to move her from her wheelchair and onto the toilet. And if she came along he would have to push her everywhere he went.

"I'll be nice, I promise," Kate wheedled. "You and Dad can watch Charlie."

"It is a bit personal and it'll be boring if you go." Rick wasn't sure if he even wanted her to go. Right now only Black Pawn knew he was Richard Castle. However, with this book signing that was about to change. But no one at the bookstore was going to know his real name was Richard Rodgers.

"I'm bored here so why not be bored there. So where in New Orleans are we going?" Kate automatically included herself in his trip.

"It's located in the French Quarter," Rick admitted since he didn't want to lie to these people.

"Now I know I want to go. Is there a parade?" Kate could dream.

"That's the boring part of this trip. Go to one place, stay for a while, and come home." He shook his head. "And there's no parade. Mardi Gras isn't tomorrow."

"Well shoot!" Kate was bummed. "But it's the French Quarter. Please? I promise to be nice and not be a problem." Kate looked at Rick since it was up to him and not her mother.

"If you really want to." Rick needed to figure out what to tell her. Let her talk or ask her to keep his secret.

"YES!" Kate was victorious! She was going to get to see the French Quarter in New Orleans. Living in Mississippi was finally looking up.

[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]

Rick had Kate's wheelchair in the bed of his truck on top of a backpack for both of them that held a change of clothes for them if they needed it. He even had Kate in the passenger seat and she was buckling herself in place.

"Call us if something goes wrong," Jo told Kate after Rick closed the door.

"MOM!" Kate wanted to know just what she was thinking here.

"If the truck breaks down or something," Jo explained.

"Oh." Kate felt better now.

"Honestly Katie, if we didn't trust Rick you wouldn't be going at all. So if you need something call and we'll work something out. Have fun." Jo stepped back as Rick started his truck.

"Bye Mom, bye Dad, bye Charlie." She waved at them. Of the three she was going to miss Charlie the most.

Rick handed her the Rand McNally map that he had used to get to Laurel. He backed out and went down the street. "You're the navigator. So if we get lost it's your fault."

Kate flipped through it till she reached Mississippi. "This is easy. Just get on Interstate 59 and drive south. Hattiesburg is first then a place called Poplarville. Where do people get some of these names? Then Interstate 10 South. It looks like there's a really big bridge to reach New Orleans going this direction." Kate set her map to one side since it was all Interstate and decided to look at the scenery.

"Have you ever been out here before?" Kate asked him.

"Never, this is going to be all new."

"Me too. So are you going to tell me why we are going to New Orleans?" Meaning why he needed to go. She had invited herself for this trip.

"Nope, it's going to be a surprise."

Kate frowned. "Did I tell you I hate surprises?"

"Nope."

Kate stared at him for a while but he kept his attention on the road and went up the on ramp to reach the Interstate. He put it in 4th gear finally and just drove.

"Rick?" She wanted to know since she didn't want it to be a surprise. "Where are we going?"

"The French Quarter. That's what got you to come." Rick stole a quick look at her and saw her staring at him. "Well, it was." He went back to watching where he was going. He wasn't the fastest by any means but he wasn't the slowest, exactly, but close.

Kate tried again. "Rick?"

"Are you afflicted with Are we there yet syndrome too?"

"NO! Not since I was a little girl. I was awful when I was little I'll admit, but not now. So why is it a surprise?" Maybe if she could get him to talk about it he would tell her or she could work it out for herself.

"Because it's a secret. Actually you're going to be the first person to know my secret."

"REALLY!" Now she really wanted to know. "So what's your secret?" She was going to learn eventually it sounded like, so she wanted to know now, not later.

"That's why it's a surprise. It's going to shock you." Of that he was pretty sure.

"Do I get a clue?" Maybe if she had one it would help.

"You mean like is it animal, vegetable, or mineral?"

"No. More like what's our destination. Besides New Orleans." Kate didn't think that his idea was going to work.

"I'm not sure it's going to help you any but if you really want to know, it's called Faulkner House Books." It was her one and only clue.

"Faulkner House Books. …We're going to a book store?" Kate looked at him questioningly. She couldn't imagine why go to New Orleans just to go to a bookstore. She knew Laurel had at least one bookstore.

"Bookstore." Kate started trying to think about that. "Do I get another clue?" She had nothing.

"Nope."

That had Kate going back to thinking about why a book store. Bookstores only had books. "A signed book?"

"Pretty close, actually." So he gave her a second clue.

"I'm close?" How could she be close and wrong at the same time? "So it's a book and I'm close. …You know this would be a lot easier if you would just tell me."

"Where's the fun in that? Consider it a challenge. You like a challenge right?" Rick took a quick look at her and grinned.

"I'd rather know," Kate pouted; Rick was being a pain. Then after Hattiesburg she came up with a new plan.

"I'll let you kiss me if you tell me." Kate looked at him for a reaction. "Not just a little bird peck but a real kiss."

"You've already kissed me once out in the backyard while playing with Charlie."

Kate thought about that. His lips had been right there so she had kissed him, but it was quick and he hadn't even kissed her back. "That wasn't a kiss, that was a peck. I mean a real kiss."

"And what are your parents going to think about this kiss you're offering?"

"I'm 18 years old. I don't need their permission to kiss someone. Didn't need their permission when I was five, either." Of course kisses at 5 years old had been pecks and not real kisses.

"Hmm." Rick needed to think about that. "What if I want it to be a surprise? Surprises are good."

"Surprises are bad!" Kate countered.

"Let me think about it and you need to either change the channel or turn it off." They were losing their station.

[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]

They were past Poplarville finally and about half way there, more or less. Kate thought it was interesting that I-59 was kind of pink-ish south of Hattiesburg around Lumberton.

"Why I'm going means that much to you?"

"Yes." Kate looked at him hopefully.

"Fine." Rick would tell her but he really wanted it to be a surprise so he upped the cost. "But I want two kisses and a date." Let's see her say yes to that was what he was thinking.

"A date?" Kate didn't even bat an eyelash at two kisses. She was ready for that. But a date? "I'm in a wheelchair, Rick." She hadn't even had her first PT session yet. That was next week. Three visits a week.

"And your point? …You don't want to be seen in a chair being pushed around by me?"

"No. I mean yes, I mean… I'll be in a wheelchair and not walking yet." Kate was actually willing to go on a date with him but in a wheelchair? Not so much.

She didn't even know what was in Laurel that was suitable for a date. Let alone one that could accommodate a wheelchair.

"Fine! One date and two kisses. NOW, why are we going to New Orleans?" Kate really wanted to know.

Instead of answering her question he asked one of his own. "What did you think of the Richard Castle book?"

"What?" He was throwing her a curve and she wasn't ready for it. What did that book have to do with anything? "It was nice. I wasn't at first so sure about a murder mystery but I liked it. Now give!" Kate glared at him. She had agreed to his deal. Being in a wheelchair for this date was the only sticking point.

"Just liked it or loved it? Want-to-read-another-of-his-books nice?"

"If he has another one I would read it. What does that book got to do with anything?" She wanted her answer and not questions about a book. "Wait! Book, bookstore." There was a connection there but she wasn't seeing it.

"I'm Richard Castle, Kate." Rick took a quick peek at her and saw shock on her face followed by disbelief.

"Your name isn't Richard Castle. It's Rodgers. …OH GOD! Are you wanted for murder or something? I'm trapped in a truck with a murderer." She would be lucky to even crawl away.

"I only murder people in my books. Your room isn't that far from mine. What do you think I'm doing in my room with that typewriter?"

Kate thought about that. "I don't know. I guess I never…" Her eyes opened wide. "You're writing a book! You really are Richard Castle?" Her mouth fell open.

"Yup. Richard Rodgers is my real name but Black Pawn didn't like it and they wanted me to change it. I resisted actually changing my name so they came up with a pen name. I write under the Richard Castle name but stay Richard Rodgers. Everyone at the bookstore will think I'm Richard Castle. It's the only name they'll ever know. My picture isn't on the back of my book."

It was true, there wasn't anyone on the back of the book like some other books. Not all but some. "So what are we doing here?"

"Book signing for roughly 4 hours or more. Get something to eat and drive home. Black Pawn arranged this. They ship a lot of books to the bookstore, set up a table and chair, and I sign my book for people that want it. It's been advertised in New Orleans for days."

"You're a writer. But you work at UPS." Kate sounded puzzled.

"I make money at UPS. This book cost me $1,500. If it sells enough Black Pawn will start sending me money. If it sells enough they'll offer to publish another of my books. So I'm writing book number two when I find the time."

"And my parents don't know?" Kate watched him shake his head. "There's Interstate 10." She pointed at the sign so that they didn't miss it.

"I'll keep your secret for now. So do you want your date in New Orleans or in Laurel?" Kate asked him.

"If we date in New Orleans it might be too late to drive home so we'll need a hotel room." That was a potential problem.

"Just so long as it has two beds. I'm not sleeping with you," Kate told him. "That didn't come out right. I mean I'm not sleeping in the same bed with you. That still didn't come out right."

"I get the point and I won't take it personally. I'll just talk you into another date in Laurel." Rick grinned at her.

"Oh you will, will you?" Kate grinned herself. He was willing to date a woman in a wheelchair. It was just they lived in the same house. Even when they moved they would still live in the same house. But he had Charlie and she loved Charlie something fierce.

"I'll let you try and talk me into it," Kate told him.

[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]

Rick finally found a place to park. He got the wheelchair out of the bed of the truck and moved it to the passenger door; he carefully lifted Kate out of the truck and settled her into her chair. Closing the door after moving her a little, he snagged the backpack and put it on.

"They open at 10:00am on Saturdays so we have about 15 minutes to find them. Finding a place to park took too long." Rick began pushing while Kate directed him, using her map in her lap.

[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]

"This is interesting. I see two blue doors." Rick stopped them in front of the doors. No one down this entire street was open yet. "Guess we knock."

Eventually a redheaded woman opened one of the doors. "I'm Richard Castle. You should be expecting me."

"Mr. Castle. Come in, come in." She opened the other door.

They both watched as she opened not just two solid blue doors, but also two inner white doors that had glass in them. Just inside they saw shelving all the way to the very tall ceilings along with tables between each of those. There were books everywhere. And on a table just inside each of the doors were piles of Rick's book. Flowers for your Grave.

"I'm Kathleen. Follow me, please. We have you way in the back of the store. Does your chair fit?" Their rows were really tight.

Kate kept her arms inside her chair and let Rick push her till they reached an empty table. Kathleen smiled and left them with the owners.

"I'm Rosemary James and this is my husband, Alan." Kate saw an older woman with golden blonde hair, dressed in a black dress and pearls. Her husband had silver hair and a receding hairline; he was wearing a black jacket and a black bow tie.

"We've been expecting you. We spent last night setting all this up. We're hoping for a lot of people," Alan told them, meaning he also meant high sales.

"I think we can set your chair here." Alan pointed. He wasn't expecting someone in a wheelchair. Black Pawn hadn't said anything about it but he could fix this. "This is your chair, Mr. Castle, and we have lots of pens. Just greet them, be pleasant, and sign their book. We have water for you both and if you need a break just tell us."

"I'm going to go open the doors, honey." Rosemary went back to the front doors and opened the bookstore for customers.

[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]

Rick's heart beat a little faster. Everything was ready for his first book signing. He didn't have a line leading outside and around the building they were in but once he started he never really got to stop. He wasn't keeping track of the number of books he was signing but the bookstore owners were. Kate sat there and smiled and watched how it all worked. She had never seen anything like it before.

Rick would greet whoever it was and ask for a name. Write the name, write something simple, and sign his name. He occasionally got an "I love your book" because they brought their own book instead of buying one in the store.

He was asked how long he had been writing. Was he married? Where did he live? Was he writing another book? On occasion Kate was asked a question since she was sitting there. Was she his girlfriend? Were they married? How long had they been together?

[:] o-0-O-0-o [:]

It was 2:30pm and the owners actually closed the doors to keep people out so that Rick could finally stop.

"Thank you very much." Alan was quite pleased. Having Mr. Castle here had meant he sold a lot of books. He still had a number of Richard Castle books that he could sell. He had bought them to be sold, after all.

Rick left Kate at the table and went up front to the books not yet sold; he proceeded to sign his name just inside each one. It wasn't the same as the ones that were personalized for fans in it but it was better than nothing.

"Thank you for coming and signing those books." Alan and Rosemary shook his hand.

"It was an adventure. I enjoyed it. Any guess on how many books you sold?" Rick was curious.

"We purchased 120 books and we have 39 left, all with your signature inside them. They might all be gone before we close up later today." Alan was hoping so at least.

"We had planned to drive home now, but maybe we'll stay. Can you recommend a hotel? One that's not too expensive and relatively close? Our map is only just so big." Kate had talked about staying and he was willing.

"Let me think." Alan tried to think of one they might like that didn't cost an arm and a leg. "You need to get out of the French Quarter first. Anything in here is expensive." He sighed. "How about La Quinta? Map!" He raised a finger and found a pen and paper.

"This is us, and you want to get to here." He wrote in street names and tried to show each turn. "It should be under $100 a night and it's just outside the French Quarter."

Rick shook his hand. "Thank you."

"Yes, thank you," Kate told them both. They hadn't even batted an eye at her or complained that she was here and in a chair.