God Said

Chapter 9

Sophie raced to the phone when it started ringing. She had her wish. She wanted it to be Rick saying he needed her to babysit Alexis because he had another date with Katie even if she was leaving tomorrow.

"Hello?" Sophie got her wish instantly.

"Sophie, Rick Castle. I need to talk to your mother, please," Rick said to her.

"Okay, you're sure you don't need a babysitter?" She loved his thirteen dollars an hour. She actually had money to spend now.

"Actually, I could use you for two or three hours tomorrow. Say noon and then we'll see." Rick suddenly thought he should probably do this in person instead of over the phone.

"Great! I'll tell Dad and I'll get Mom." Sophie covered the phone. "MOM! PHONE!" she yelled and waited for her to show up. She handed over the phone and went looking for her dad so she could get a ride tomorrow.

"Hello?" She needed to talk with her daughter about telling her who was on the phone.

"This is Richard Castle. I have a favor that I need and need to talk you through this. I need your approval for something."

"Okay, about what?" Jamie inquired.

"My plan is to move to San Francisco instead of New York City. I'd really like to keep dating Kate. However, I have a plan and I need your approval. I've found a four bedroom house to rent. There's a pedestrian/bike bridge just a little down the street that goes straight across to the Stanford Law School.

"I want to offer her one of the four bedrooms to use free of charge. I'll even do all the cooking and pay all the utilities. I can drive her to her class if she needs it," Rick told her and waited for her to think about that.

"You want…" Jamie looked to make sure Kate wasn't close. "You want Katie to move in with you?"

Rick tried a different explanation. "When you say it like that it sounds like a bad thing. Think of it as I want to be her landlord who isn't charging her anything. Built-in babysitter."

Jamie began smiling. "You must really like her."

"After just two whole dates. I know what that sounds like but if I don't do this I'll never know," Rick said.

"I'm not sure it's up to me, Rick. She's not my daughter. Even if we were talking about…" Jamie checked to make sure she was still alone. "Sophie, I would need to talk with my husband first."

"That's why I need you. Get a pen and some paper, I'll wait," Rick told her and waited for her to say ready.

"This is my phone number for you to give her mother since she'll want to talk to me. And this is the address I want you to give Kate. 309 University Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025.

"If her parents approve of this I want you to give Kate that address to give to the shuttle driver at the airport. I'm leaving tonight and plan to greet Kate at the house when she arrives if I can get her parents to agree."

"And you want me to give Johanna my recommendation that she allows this?" Jamie grinned again.

"When you put it like that…" Rick's voice trailed off. "Think of it as telling her what you know about me and what Kate thinks of me. Ask Sophie. I've got another babysitting job for her in a couple of hours. The house comes empty so I'm going to a rental center to arrange for a delivery tomorrow so I need her to babysit for a bit."

"That'll make Sophie happy. Okay, I'll call her but I can't make any promises. Johanna will probably have questions for you. And knowing Jim, he'll have his own questions," Jamie warned him.

"I would expect nothing less. I'm asking them to let me live with their daughter. As a future father of a teenager I would have a lot of questions. Maybe even want money placed in an escrow in case I was arrested." Rick laughed a little and got Jamie to laugh a little with him.

"Anything else? Oh wait, I need to get Sophie." Jamie put the phone down and went looking for her.

"HI! Dad said he would give me a ride. Noon. I'll be there. Do I bring Katie with me?" He could kiss her again.

"No, just you. Thanks, I'll be waiting. It looks like I have to go. See you later." Rick hung up.

Sophie noticed a piece of paper on the counter that had an address in Menlo Park in her mother's handwriting. "MOM!"

oO{}O{}Oo

Sophie hurried down the hallway to his door and knocked really fast, waiting impatiently while bouncing on her feet. The second the door opened and she saw Rick, she jumped at him and hugged him.

Rick was totally shocked and didn't know why she was hugging him.

"You are a devious man and I approve. A four bedroom, three bath home. Just you, Katie, and Alexis. You are such a devious man. I've already begged Aunt Jo to say yes, so hopefully! Now take me to Alexis and you need to get out," Sophie told him.

Then suddenly Rick found himself being hugged again and Sophie went to his bedroom to get Alexis. Rick stood there and chuckled. At least someone liked his plan. He still hadn't heard from Kate's parents so he was putting the cart before the horse.

Sophie saw open suitcases on the bed filled with clothes. Most of it was men's clothes but some of it was onesies for Alexis.

"You're going to San Francisco and will be taken care of by Katie from now on. What do you think about that?" Sophie picked up Alexis and cuddled her. "And you have a wet diaper already." Sophie laid her down on the changing table and got to work. She was planning to keep her instead of putting her back in her crib. She wanted to spend time with her. This might be her last chance.

oO{}O{}Oo

Rick realized that it would have been easier if he had done this in San Francisco. However, these people called a local office there and verified that they had the same package he had just selected and was willing to pay extra to have it all delivered tomorrow.

He only needed living room, dining room, everything for the kitchen, and two bedrooms. That still left him with the problem of the bathrooms. He was going to need towels and everything that he wasn't packing. Not to mention going to the grocery store to get food.

oO{}O{}Oo

Sophie still had Alexis when his home phone started ringing. That left her with a choice. Did she answer it or not? It might be Rick with questions so she answered it.

"Hello?" There was silence on the other end at first.

"I'm looking for Richard Castle," the woman said hesitantly.

"Aunt Jo? It's Sophie. I'm babysitting." Sophie was really happy she knew that voice.

"Sophie!" Johanna went back to breathing again. If Rick had a woman at his place and wanted her daughter to stay with him she was going to send her husband out there to kill him. Johanna put her hand over her heart.

"Where's Rick?" Johanna asked her.

"He's out arranging for a furniture rental package according to Mom. Can you believe it? After just two dates? If Katie doesn't want him I'll take him. I'll be happy to move in with him," Sophie informed Johanna all over again and listened to Johanna laugh.

"When will he be back?" Johanna queried.

"He said two to maybe three hours. Which reminds me, I need to check his refrigerator and eat his fresh produce for him." Sophie giggled a little. He always had something in there. "It's kinda late there already, isn't it?" Sophie made a face that Johanna couldn't see.

"Three hours from now it will be but I'll call back," Johanna told her and was ready to hang up.

"So are you going to let her? Please say yes," Sophie begged. "She really likes him. I can tell."

"Not until your Uncle Jim and I have a chance to talk to him," Johanna said firmly.

"I thought he was your favorite author?" Sophie asked her.

"He is but that doesn't mean I'm going to let Katie be his roommate. So where's Katie now?" Maybe she should call her and talk to her but according to Jamie this was meant to be a surprise. But she knew her daughter hated surprises. She had no idea what Katie was going to think of this one.

"As soon as Dad got back home he was supposed to drive her to the dentist. She said she should go see the dentist before she left." Sophie didn't know why but it made sense, she supposed.

"Okay, I'll give him three hours. Thanks, Sophie." Johanna hung up.

"What do you think she'll say, Alexis?" Sophie asked Alexis who immediately began wailing. "One bottle coming up." Sophie moved into the kitchen to get started.

oO{}O{}Oo

Rick was putting the last of everything in his Ferrari. All he needed now was Alexis. He had bagged everything and given it all to Sophie to take home with her from his freezer and refrigerator. What she didn't take went into the trash. It was mostly open bottles of this and that.

"You ready, Alexis? This is going to be a long trip for both of us. LA to San Francisco with no motel stops planned. Just fuel stops, food stops, and diaper changing stops." He even had a plan on how to get her bottles heated up if they would do him a favor.

"Up we come." Rick lifted her and held her close. He had no illusions about how easy this was going to be. He was betting this would be hell. Worst case his car broke down and since it was a Ferrari who was going to fix it and he didn't have time for that with his schedule.

oO{}O{}Oo

Kate had her ticket and dropped off her checked bag. She rejoined her aunt, uncle, and cousin and was instantly crushed by a teary aunt.

"We've truly enjoyed having you, Katie. I don't know whose idea this was but it was a good one and we're going to miss you." Jamie let go of her and wiped away her tears.

"Katie." Ray was next and hugged her. "If you need anything just call us. We'll think of something."

"Katie!" Sophie hugged her hard. "Just when I got used to having a roommate." Sophie wiped her tears.

Now Kate was wiping away all of her tears. "Thanks, guys. I've had a great time! Maybe next summer I can come back," she said hopefully.

"We'll be glad to have you." Jamie hugged her again and wiped away still more tears.

They were soon watching her walk away with her carry-on bag.

Sophie looked at her mother. "What did Aunt Jo say? Please say she said yes. Rick's definitely a keeper. So is Alexis, she's so cute." Sophie was going to miss all three of them plus the thirteen dollars an hour babysitting job.

"She called back and we spoke for almost another hour. In the end she agreed but she was going to call Katie almost weekly. If she sounded at all unhappy she was flying out to move her personally," Jamie told her.

"YES!" Sophie celebrated a victory. "I still almost can't believe he did that. Men like him aren't just around the corner."

Jamie put an arm around her daughter. "I think it was mostly you that convinced her. You know Rick better than we do."

"YES!" Sophie celebrated again. "She better not screw this up or I'll fly out and kill her myself. And then steal Rick from her." Sophie grinned at her mom who laughed a little.

"Let's go home. We can stop and get pizza along the way. You're buying," Jamie informed her.

"MOM!" She had plans for her babysitting money and it didn't include buying pizza for her parents.

oO{}O{}Oo

Kate already missed Rick. She was finally in San Francisco and he was in LA. So far today had been a disaster. Her flight was delayed, then delayed yet again. They had even deplaned everyone and had them sitting in the concourse for the next two hours before getting back on the plane and finally leaving LA.

She was now over four hours late reaching San Francisco. So it was a ticked off and tired Kate waiting for her bag to show up in baggage claim. "It had damn well better show up." She did without her checked bag and she was going to be furious after all this time.

Finally with both bags in hand she made her way to ground transportation and showed the guy the address she wanted to go to. Jamie had been kind enough to write it out for her and hand it to her.

She wasn't the only one in the van but she turned out to be the last one off since she was eventually all alone.

He was going down a residential neighborhood street when he stopped. "This is your address," he told her. He got out, opened the door, and picked up her bag and set it outside for her.

"But this isn't Stanford," Kate said nervously.

"This is the address you gave me, Miss. Your address is across the street." He pointed across the street. He couldn't park there because the driveway was blocked by this big truck.

He left Kate standing there with her bags. She was definitely in the wrong place but she walked over to find out why he thought she was in the right spot. She could find a phone and call for a taxi to take her to Stanford.

The first thing she saw was a red Ferrari parked in the driveway. Second, she watched two guys come out of the house and take furniture encased in plastic off the truck and into the house.

It was only seeing that car that got her to go to the front door. "Set that one there," she heard a male voice tell someone.

"Rick?" She knew that voice. But that voice wasn't supposed to be here. He was in LA. Kate made it to the door, took a step inside, and literally saw him. "Rick!"

"KATE!" She was finally here. He didn't know why she was so late but it had worked out in his favor so he would take it. Rick left the movers, hurried over to her, and swept her up in a big hug. "You finally made it."

"What are you doing here? And where am I?" Kate questioned him.

"Please don't be mad," Rick began to say but suddenly Alexis started crying which made him leave her to find out what Alexis needed this time. Kate followed him since she needed answers.

Kate watched Rick pick up Alexis who just kept crying. "Dirty diaper." That had him taking her to the closest bathroom that he was actually prepared for and put her down and began to change her diaper. He also turned on the exhaust fan to pull out the smell.

Rick handed Alexis to Kate who dropped her carry-on bag so she had two hands. "Here, hold her. I still have a lot of furniture to place."

Kate followed him with Alexis in her arms. "Rick, what's going on?"

"I moved to San Francisco. I got someone I know to find me a home to rent. There's a pedestrian bridge just down that way that goes over the road and straight to Stanford Law College. You can use it to get to and from your classes each day," Rick explained.

"You're my roommate." Rick smiled a huge smile since his plan looked like it was working out.

"I'm your what!" She had arrangements to be in a dorm. "You moved to San Francisco?"

"Yup…bedroom, please. That's her bed," Rick told the mover who walked in with part of a bed frame.

"My bed? Do you know what's going on, Alexis?" Kate certainly didn't so someone needed to explain it to her.

Rick took a deep breath. "I talked to your aunt. She talked to your parents. Your parents called me and talked to me. Then Sophie talked to your parents and they called me back and said that they would call you every week and if you weren't happy, they'd fly out and move you somewhere while your dad killed me.

"Your aunt gave you this address so you would come here instead of the university. Sophie watched Alexis for me while I went out and made arrangements for a furniture rental."

"Aunt Jamie and Sophie did this? They didn't tell me anything. Wait? You talked to my parents?" Kate was still in shock and only now was catching up.

"I certainly wasn't going to make you my roommate without their approval. I just have to get the phone connected and give everyone the number so they can call you and check on you. So you better tell everyone that I'm being a good boy. Or bad boy if that's what you want me to be." Rick arched an eyebrow a couple of times.

"RICK!" He was talking about sex and they had only been on two dates.

"Bedroom." Rick pointed since it was a dresser followed by a mirror that needed to be connected. "It's a good thing you're late. The furniture movers are late. Which is a good thing. You want to know how much fun it was driving from LA to here in a Ferrari with a baby?" Rick asked her.

"More bedroom." Rick directed the mover as a dresser drawer came in.

"I'm your roommate and my parents agreed to this?" Kate was still in shock.

"When we get a phone – that might be a few days, by the way – you can call them and talk to them. And your aunt and Sophie and anyone else you want to. You just have to walk across the living room to talk to me.

"I'm on this side and you get that side." Rick gestured in each direction.

"That's the last piece, sir. You're all moved in," one of the movers told him as he rolled up some plastic some of the pieces had been wrapped in.

"Thanks, guys!" He gave each one of them a twenty and closed the door behind them.

"OH!" Rick retrieved two things from the kitchen where he'd left them. "Your key. It's supposed to unlock all the doors and this is the code for the security system. The panel is just inside the front door." Rick pointed at it and Kate actually looked.

"What do you think?" Rick spread his arms wide. All the rooms the two bedrooms were now full. There were even a few living plants up against the glass so they got some sunlight. "Do you have a green thumb?" Rick was afraid he was going to kill them.

"I just need to find a grocery store or we're going to starve. And get laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and cleaning supplies. I'm going to need a bigger car." Rick saw a whole lot of things they still needed.

"I'm your roommate." Kate was still stuck on that.