Let Your Heart Be Light - Chapter 5
"You're sure?"
Her father sighs. "Yes, Katie. I'm sure. I was sure when I agreed over breakfast, I was sure when we had to referee the Great Castle Rumble of 2022, I'm sure now. Go. Go out to dinner with your husband and relax for a few hours."
She huffs, covering her face at the reminder of the knock-down-drag-out fight the kids had had earlier over, of all things, the homemade placemats on the table at lunch. Reece had wanted Jake's, Jake had wanted Lily's, Lily had just wanted her food, and all three of them had been overly tired from an early wake up and a morning spent learning to ride their new bicycles (with and without training wheels). They'd managed to break it up before it had gotten too out of hand, taking everyone aside and letting them cool down before removing the placemats altogether and putting an adult beside each child to keep them from further sniping at each other.
"They've been something today, Dad. If you need anything-"
"Katherine," her father says, his voice teasing and soft despite giving her the full first name treatment, "I raised you. In all your chaotic and a little spoiled-"
"I wasn't spoiled!"
"Sweetheart, you were - and continue to be - your mother's and my pride and joy, our only child; you were a little spoiled."
She huffs, adjusting the collar on her wool coat. It hugs her a little tighter than it did the last time she wore it, but that could just be the fact that she's been wearing loose cardigans and Rick's sweatshirts since taking her vacation.
"Fine."
"My point is, I handled you quite well, I think. I'll be fine with your miniatures for an evening. We'll ransack the house, have a little food, eat some dessert, maybe make another mess, and then clean it up and watch movies until we fall asleep."
Three eager faces appear over the top of the couch at that, their smiles bright. She laughs, covering her face with her hand.
"Okay, okay, okay. Fine. You're good to go."
"We are, Katie. Now you should be good to go, too."
She shifts from foot to foot, glancing toward her bedroom. "Maybe one day I will be. If Rick ever stops primping."
Her father chuckles.
"It's not primping when I'm washing icing out of my hair," Rick calls from the other room.
"Which you got in your hair because you were being ridiculous," she says without missing a beat. "Now hurry up, I'm starving."
"Almost done," he assures, but she knows by that tone that it'll be another five minutes at least.
"Okay," she says, turning to her kids and holding out her arms. "While I'm waiting for Daddy, come give me hugs."
All three clamber over the arm of the couch to her, slamming into her legs from nearly all sides. Kate rocks, but doesn't fall, and she makes a show of pulling them closer.
"You three will be good for Grandpa tonight." She leaves no room for argument when she says it, kissing each of them for emphasis. "I don't want to hear anything about you arguing with each other or with him. You hear me?"
The boys nod seriously. "Yes Mama."
"Yes, Mommy," Lily echoes, leaning her cheek on Kate's belly.
"Good girl. Good boys," she praises. "Now, I want you to have fun and kick Grandpa's behind at some board games."
They giggle, nodding eagerly. She squeezes them once again, holding on until Rick steps out of the bedroom.
"Go give Daddy a hug, too, and then we're going to get out of here."
The three of them tear over to their father, tugging at his arms and hugging his waist. Rick makes a show of swaying under their weight, dropping noisy kisses on their heads.
"We'll be back, you crazies. Remember, it's not a wild party unless there are two noise complaints, but three are excessive and will get the cops called."
The kids cackle.
"Bu' then Uncle Javi and Uncle Kevin might come!" Lily grins, tilting her head back.
Kate refrains from telling her that likely won't happen unless someone dies.
"Maybe," Castle fibs, tapping her nose. "Be good, Sprout."
"I will, Daddy."
He tickles Reece's neck, then Jake's. "You too, Peanut Butter, Jelly. Be good."
"Ya, Daddy."
"Ya!" Jake repeats, practically running back to the couch. Reece follows, launching himself beside his brother and cackling when they both bounce.
Lily joins in after a quick glance at the adults, giggling at their cleverness.
Rick makes his way over to Kate, taking his coat from her hands and shrugging into it.
"Thank you again, Jim," he says.
Her father smiles, waving them toward the door. "Go. Eat, walk around, see a show, whatever you want to do. Enjoy your night. We won't wait up for you."
Her cheeks heat at the implications but she just lifts her chin and reaches for her husband's hand. They can be adults here.
"See you later, Dad."
Once they're outside and making their way down the sidewalk, Kate exhales. She loops her arm through her husband's, sidling closer.
"I meant to tell you before we left, but I was a little preoccupied with getting out of there: you look beautiful," Castle says, pressing a kiss to her knuckles before he slips their joined hands into his pocket to keep warm. She knows they should be wearing gloves, but this is so much nicer than even the best leather can offer.
"Charmer. I barely made it out of sweatpants today; it's a miracle my hair is even brushed."
He laughs. "I only tell the truth, Kate. And honestly, knowing that makes you look even better. Now, I made reservations at that little hole in the wall Italian place, but I might be changing my mind about where to go. You should be seen, not tucked away."
"Mmm," she presses her lips to his cheek. "But if I'm tucked away, then I can get away with so much more, and I know you like that."
Maybe he expects her touch, or maybe he just recovers quickly, but to his credit, he only jumps a little at the skim of her hand over his backside and the press of her body to his.
"Keeping the reservation, it is," he announces as she giggles into his shoulder. "Let's just get a cab and we'll be on our way."
"I think that's a good plan, babe. I think that's a very good plan. And then after dinner, we can decide what we want to do. Maybe get some gelato, maybe find somewhere that has music and sit and listen for a set or two, maybe get a hotel room for a little while. I'm flexible. I'm very flexible."
Apparently, that's all he needs to hear, because after that, he pulls her to the edge of the sidewalk and hails a taxi.
Once again, thank you for reading! Thank you for your kind words and your encouragement, and generally being great. I hope you liked this chapter.