Once Lost But Now Found

Chapter 14 – Storm Clouds

Richard Castle had become a millionaire after writing six novels that wound up on the NY Times best seller list. His novels "Flowers For Your Grave" and "Death Of A Prom Queen" had set records for longest times staying on that list. With the publishing of "A Rose Forever After", he had hit the $55 million level on his bank account. Still, he had not yet become a 'multi-millionaire', the accepted standard being a bank account in the 'hundreds of millions' category. Then he created Derrick Storm, his first two novels bringing him close to that multi-million mark. Now with his new Storm Novel finished, the expectations were it would put him over the top into the rarefied status of multi-millionaire authors. His competitor, mentor, and friend, James Patterson, was one of the few pop culture novelists to claim that title. Now Rick was poised to join his friend to those ranks, thanks to this latest novel.

Paula, his publicist, had set up a full-on blitz of a PR campaign to increase interest and sales of his new Storm novel. He was scheduled for a three week book launching campaign including talk show appearances to promote the novel. The three week scheduled book tour was to go coast to coast.

Fortunately between Martha and Jim Beckett, his daughter's paternal and maternal grandparents, his absence would be covered for the caring of their daughter, Alexis. Kate could be there for their daughter in the evenings and 24/7 on the weekends assuming she did not have a serious case that took away her weekends. Martha, Jim, and their sitter could cover the hours she could not.

The campaign blitz was to start with an appearance on the local NYC channel 3, Kristina Coterra Morning Show, to announce the beginning of the tour. Everyone at Alpha knew of Rick's appearance, so their TV, normally put on for news, was now on for that morning show.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my extreme pleasure to introduce my celebrity guest to the show, best selling author, and master of the macabre, Richard Castle ", Kristina makes the introduction.

"Well thank you Kristina, it is an honor to be on the show."

"So we understand that you have finished the newest novel of your now popular Derrick Storm series, and are starting a coast to coast campaign for the novel. Your first two Storm Novels were big and on the NYC best seller list for weeks. I hear from the grapevine that this novel will beat those records for sales and staying power on the best seller list."

"I certainly hope so. I think my fans will enjoy this novel. It confronts Derrick with a situation that is utterly mind boggling and one of his toughest to date. The book goes on sale the beginning of the month."

"So fans, be on the alert for the novel and get yours before it sells out", proclaims Coterra, "Now for some personal insights on you Rick. We know of your recent divorce and were sadden by it."

"Well, thank you, Kristina, it was a difficult separation and one I am still coping with, but fortunately, as a novelist, I threw myself into this latest novel, and that helped."

"It should be noted that before your marriage, you were listed no. 8 on the NY Post's ten most eligible bachelors' list, and then came off the list during your marriage. As of yesterday, you have appeared again on that list, but this time as eligible bachelor no. 3. You've moved up and that is an example of 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. I know it shows how your fans, particularly your female fans, myself included, feel about your single status."

"I am certainly flattered by that remark, it was a difficult breakup, but as I stated, it gave me energy to complete this current book. And hopefully all that time spent on this current novel will lead my fans to enjoy it as probably my best Storm novel to date."

"Are you dating anyone Rick since the divorce?"

With that question, everyone in Alpha turns to look at Kate.

Quickly Kate responds to the looks, "He'll say no. He won't disclose publicly my identity or that of our daughter."

Rick takes awhile to respond and then answers with, "No,... no..., Kristina, I have not been seeing anyone significant." Subconsciously Rick adds, 'I have no need to.'

"I hear by your slow answer to my question that being divorced and out of the dating scene for a while has thrown you off that dating horse. You know they say, that the best way to beat being tossed off your horse, is to get back on it. Otherwise you may never get back in the saddle again. So, let me help you with that, Rick Castle. I will start by asking if you would join me in a dinner date this Saturday?"

Rick is ambushed by the question. He was not prepared for a good response. He wonders if Paula has set him up with Coterra on this. Was it a publicity gimmick to start his PR Tour? Quickly recovering from his thoughts, he replies, "I can't think of a better person to help me get back in the saddle than yourself Kristina, I would love to join you on a dinner date."

"There you have it fans, I have a Saturday dinner date with bachelor no. 3 of the most eligible bachelor list for NYC. Please, tune in this coming Monday for a special edition of my morning show, titled, "A Date with Rick Castle". The whole show will be dedicated to that."

Everyone in Alpha is surprised with what had just happened. In particular, Brent Edwards, who has a smirk on his face after hearing Rick respond to Coterra's invitation to have a dinner date. This could be an Achilles's Heel for Castle. Edwards could use it as a way to get Kate to date him. With this he could sow the seeds of doubt in Kate's mind on her unorthodox union with Castle. Brent was intent in potentially recapturing a place in Kate's heart with this Coterra incident.

After the Morning Show

They are sitting in Paula's office.

Rick is angry and says, "Did you and Cottera set me up on this date request?"

"No Rick. I knew nothing about it. She did that on her own. I knew her ratings were falling. She had told me that when I made the request for a guest slot on her show. She welcomed your appearance as a potential boost to her ratings. But, in hind site, it was brilliant. This is great publicity, and it benefits both of you. I could not have thought of a better gimmick. If you're worried about Kate, she'll know this is all for promoting your next book."

"The problem is that I knew nothing about it so I could not tell Kate in advance that it was coming. We are both honest with each other on dating others and I would have appreciated the chance to let her know beforehand rather than springing a surprise on her. This could be a bad situation for me with Kate."

"Rick, I didn't know, so how could I have let you know? Kate will understand. She's a big girl and a cop. She can handle this little surprise."

"I sure hope so. I hope it is like that. Otherwise it is a blow to the trust I have tried to build with her."

"Rick, if it comes to it, I will tell her we didn't know about it."

"No, that may make it worst. She may think that as your client, I put you up to it. Let's just see what happens from this."

"I'm sorry Rick."

"Apology accepted, but it wasn't your fault, you have nothing to apologize for."

To date Rick had been true to their agreement to let Kate date others if the circumstances came about. He had not been dating others on the thought it would show Kate that he was not pushing her to be with him. Pregnancy included in that thought. He had hoped it would send a signal to Kate that she was his only one. This thing with Coterra could set him back.

Why was he not romancing Kate like had the other men in her life? What was stopping him? He had held back. Rick had thought that letting the unconventional union proceed like they were doing would let Kate see that he was her one. He had wanted their unusual union to reveal to Kate they were compatible and that as his wife, they could create a lasting family. They might also have the chance of adding to their brood if their union blossomed into a marriage. Was that what Kate wanted? He had thought so. He wanted their 'living together' to show to Kate that they were meant to be in a lasting relation and not the tenuous union they had presently.

Had he taken Kate for granted? Had he misjudged her? He knew that Edwards was pursuing her aggressively, but she was keeping it friendly. Kate had revealed this to him. But Rick had not treated her in a similar fashion as Edwards. Rick had thought their first night together spoke for his feelings towards her. What if Edwards did manage to recapture Kate's heart? How should he proceed then to continue to remain the one who had her heart? Maybe he needed to be as aggressive with Kate as Edwards was doing. Maybe his approach was all wrong?

This Coterra situation might just ruin it all for Rick. On the other hand, it just might be the catalyst for them to truly become a couple. An exclusive and committed couple known by all in their inner circle and to the wider public. To date he had avoided forcing the issue, thinking that Kate would eventually come around to his expectations for them. Maybe it was time to declare openly to her what he had kept only to himself. Time to be transparent about it with her, instead of being silent about it, hoping she would see it by herself. Maybe, just maybe, he should become more active on letting her see what he saw in her and what he wanted with her.

Later That Afternoon On Patrol

They had drawn a patrol assignment later that day. So, they were cruising in their patrol car passing the time in talk. It had been a slow afternoon after the morning's excitement on what had happened on the Kristina Coterra Morning Show.

"Brent, I tell you, Rick knew nothing about Coterra requesting that date. We are honest with each other on such matters and he would have told me."

"Are you sure Kate? I mean, Rick has given you his approval to date others, and you have not taken him up on that. I saw in you what appeared to me as a jealous reaction when Rick said yes to the date. That tells me you care more for him then you let on. Since Rick and you have agreed to an open relationship, how do you know this is not the start for him seeing other women? I mean, up till now, he has only been with you. Maybe he is just doing what you both have agreed to, seeing other people."

"Rick was blindsided. After all, if he was planning on seeing someone, then he would have told me before hand. For all you know, this is a PR gimmick to increase sales and also to avoid exposing Alexis and myself from becoming known to the public. That is precisely what Rick and I have agree to, protecting our daughter from the paparazzi. I mean, her father is a well-known and popular author. He makes page six in the papers often. Rick and I are avoiding that same public exposure for our daughter... and also for me. We don't need the notoriety."

"Well, what you say does makes sense, but then, why did he not tell you before hand? Maybe he thought that since the two of you have an open agreement, there was no need to tell you about the date. The way it was done certainly appeared to be a surprise, but how do you know it was not scripted? But why not add another layer to Rick's move. If you really want to hid in plain view, what better way than to date others. It lessens suspicion that you and Rick are a romantic couple. With both of you dating, it lends creditability to the situation the both of you have created. Dating others would make it appear that the two of you are not an exclusive romantic pair but just raising your daughter together for the present."

"Well, there is some logic to what you say", Kate had to admit to Brent.

"My invite for a dinner date is always open Kate, anytime you want it. Just let me know. If you want to continue your cover of not being romantically involved with Castle, dating me would help you there. We have a history so dating ne would seem reasonable to the public. You could be hiding your situation in plain view of that public", Brent knew he was making a good argument for Kate to date other men, specifically himself.

Kate could not respond back to Brent. He had made several good points in his remarks. Additionally, subconsciously, she was thinking that maybe she should start dating others. It would make it easier to get back on that dating horse, as Kristina Coterra had spoken of, if it did come to pass that Rick and her did not become an item. If Rick did get seriously involved with another women, other than herself, she could move on and get back in that saddle as Coterra had mentioned. That way it would be easier for her to get back to the dating scene. If nothing else, dating other men would lessen suspicion that Rick and her were an exclusive couple. Hiding in plain view as Brent had said.

This whole event had preyed on Kate's insecurity with Rick. Since the start of their union, she had subconsciously thought she was out of her league with Castle. That hidden doubt, she had kept to herself. This was her thought that she would speak to openly! That doubt that she could not hold Rick's interest had always been there from the start. Her insecurity was now speaking of it loudly to her . Although she had defended Rick's actions to Brent, it had awoken a disturbing matter that Kate had, until now, refused to address.

'Stop it Kate', her conscious mind was screaming in her head. 'Rick has been with you all this time and it will continue', it spoke.

Still, Kate's fears and doubts were awaken. She needed to talk to Rick on this whole matter when the opportunity presented itself. She could not wait for Rick's book tour to be over. She need him here by her side to dispel her doubts. Oh yea of little faith, thy name be Kate!