Chapter 19

As always, sections in italics are flashback.

A bath really would have taken too long.

But her muscles would have appreciated it greatly.

It would have taken too long.

And it would have had her thinking.

More.

About...things.

And she just wasn't sure she was in the right mind to be doing such heavy thinking at the moment.

The ride into the village with Alexis had been pleasant. The younger Castle, having been excited to show off a bit as she pointed out the different shops along the main road. They'd chatted about this and that, mostly Alexis told a few stories from years past. When they'd arrived in town, Kate knew of one store that she needed to stop by and figured she'd figure out the rest along the way. As soon as she'd sorted out what it was that she wanted to do. Alexis didn't question her, simply saying with a smile that she, too, had a few errands to run and that she'd meet Kate back at the truck in a couple of hours. No rush.

And Kate felt lucky.

Incredibly lucky. This girl was amazing and Kate would be more than happy to have her be a permanent fixture in her life...and that was a little bit scary. Surely they weren't at that point yet.

Were they?

The little bell above the door to the bakery was enough to draw Kate out of her thoughts for the time being.

While the little store appeared to be vacant, the smells coming from the back told her otherwise. After a moment or two a short elderly lady shuffled her way out to the front, eyes sparkling.

"Um. Hi. Luci? I don't know if you remember me..."

"Don't be silly, child. Of course I remember you, Kate. Hard not to remember the woman who put such a smile on our Richard's face." Her face displayed genuine joy and...was that gratitude?

Kate felt the blush rush to her cheeks. "Yes, um. Well, I'm sure all of the women he's brought around made him smile at the time."

Luci's smile contorted into confusion almost immediately. "Other women? Brought around?"

"His previous wives...maybe a girlfriend or two?" Kate stammered. Surely this kindly old lady would remember something of the other women of Castle's varied romances.

She wasn't daft.

She knew all too well that he had a past. It might be to her benefit to learn something of his past if there were to be a future for them.

Bewilderment.

That was the only word that could describe the older woman's expression. Utter bewilderment. Luci shook her head as if to clear it and waved a dismissive hand in Kate's direction. "Child, I've known Rick since before he built his place up here. Back when he was scouting out a place to build. The only women, or people for that matter, that I've ever seen or heard about are his somewhat eccentric mother and that lovely daughter of his. That is, until this year. You, my dear, are most certainly not a novelty. You must be someone very special."

Kate's fingers itched to be touching something. To be doing...something. Anything that would possibly lend itself to keeping her thoughts from jumping back on the track that she'd only just been able to vacate.

"You mentioned at the Karaoke event that you own the café?"

If possible, Lucianne's smile brightened. She seemed to recognize Kate's need for movement. "Just through here, dear. May I offer you a coffee?" Kate smiled. Yes. Coffee. That would be good.

"Please."

This generous, kindly old lady reminded Kate of someone.

Who?

She fingered the handcrafted coffee mug in front of her. Lifted it to sit just below her nostrils. Inhaled deeply.

Sometimes it scared her just how comforting a good cup of coffee could make her feel. So good. So comfortable. The only thing that would make her melt completely would be if she had Castle's arms wrapped around her right now. The way his fingers...

"I'm sorry," she interrupted Luci mid sentence, "Would you mind repeating that?" Not appropriate to be fantasizing about her...boyfriend...partner while conversing with one of the nicest old ladies she'd ever met.

Luci met her daze with an understanding smile. "I was commenting on the change in our Rick this year, he seems happier than I've seen him in years."

"I'm sure being on vacation is good for him. Being here with his daughter..." Kate found herself pulling excuses out of the air to deflect any wayward attention that was being tossed her way. "Being away from the every day grind probably helps. And this fresh air, so much better than in the city..." Right Kate. Because his job is so demanding. Because he isn't an overgrown child much of the time. Because because because. Her excuses were falling flat and she knew it. It sounded lame to her own ears never mind what this still smiling woman might think.

And then it hit her.

Square in the chest.

This woman reminded her of Castle somehow. Not in a 'they look so alike and have the same mannerisms, they must be related' way. It was more of a 'he must have spent a lot of time with this woman and really looked up to her and absorbed some of her disposition' way. Wow. No wonder she'd liked this lady from the get go.

Luci wiped her own mouth thoughtfully and placed another cookie in front of Kate. "Yes," she agreed, "But those things are true every time he's come up here aren't they?"

Kate chewed and swallowed the bite of insanely delicious cookie before offering her last useless excuse. "But it's Christmas. Does that not usually make him happy?"

The older woman waved her hand dismissively as she took their dirty dishes back behind the counter, "Of course it does! I wasn't trying to imply that he's a downer or depressed on his vacations. He has, since forever it feels like, always brought a light to our little village during the Christmas season. His joyfulness spreads like a cleansing fire throughout any who cross his path. A healing balm to those who tend to get downhearted this time of year. But forgive me, here I am rambling on... I suppose what I was trying to say was that it seems to me that you bring something that had otherwise been unknown to have been missing to the mix. A calming balance if you will. But for the most part," She rejoined Kate at the small table in front of large picture windows that looked out onto the main road, "I can now see where his joy comes from. It's a different kind of joy—just as there are different kinds of love. He has always been filled with the joy of the Christmas season, with the joy of watching his daughter grow up, but this year...the light in his eyes sparkled with something that burns much deeper." Her own dark eyes sparkled as she brushed invisible crumbs from her apron. "Now then, what can I help you with my dear? I'm sure you didn't just come to see me on a whim, eh?"

"No you're right I didn't. I have a little problem..."

"She didn't tell you what she was doing?"

He wasn't worried.

Not really.

Though, the pacing probably didn't do anything to erase the concerned look off of his mother's face. He spun on his heel once more to begin the trek across the kitchen for what was probably the 87th time.

"Darling, she has Alexis with her. Whatever she's up to or not up to..." she waved her hands dramatically in front of her, "I'm sure everything is just fine."

"Oh yes. Peachy," he groused as he fell into a chair and rested his forehead against the cool wood surface of the table. "What am I supposed to do while she's gone?"

His mother's face went from concerned to thoroughly entertained in two seconds flat. "What are you supposed to do? Richard you've been coming up here for how many years without her? And you don't know what to do?"

Castle rubbed his hands over his face and spoke to the table, "It's different. She's—everything is different."

A calming hand to his shoulder brought his head up and his eyes opened. He didn't remember closing them. "Yes. A much better different," she agreed. "Why don't you...I don't know...spruce the place up a bit while they're gone...like when Alexis was little?"

His eyes brightened. "That's a great idea! How long have they been gone? How long do you think it'll take them to get back? Did Alexis take her phone with her?"

Martha's laughter filled the room: joyful and pleased. "They left about thirty minutes ago. They still have to get to the village, run their errands—no don't bother asking I wasn't given specifics—and then drive back. I was told they would be home by dinner."

He clapped his hands together victoriously before he was off pacing again; at first—scheming-and then digging through closets and junk drawers."Perfect! I need my—do you know where—when was the last time we used—"

"No Dad, I'm absolutely certain that that won't be a problem." Paprika...paprika...ah there it was. Paprika. Alexis checked the item off of the list handed her by a nervous but excited looking Kate.

She'd left her alone for an hour and a half. Not quite the agreed upon 'couple' of hours, but close to. Luci had Kate looking relaxed and at home as she no doubt regaled her with tales of the village and, most probably, of her father in said village. When the little bell above the door announced her entry Alexis had wince but continued moving forward towards the two ladies that had, in their own ways, become such important parts of her life.

"I know I'm early," she started explaining her arrival, "I just finished up early and was wondering if there was anything you might need?" Her voice sounded funny to her as the pitch rose in question. Like she was trying to do something to make Kate like her more. It was silly. Illogical even. Kate had not once made Alexis feel unwanted or anything of the sort.

The detective's eyes sparkled. "Actually, Alexis, there is something you could help me with." She'd turned to Lucy and gathered the old woman up in what had appeared to Alexis to be a bear hug (as Kate was nearly as tall as her father and Luci...not so much). "Thank you Luci. For everything."

Luci smiled her grandmotherly smile at the both of them before addressing Kate directly, "Any time my dear, just remember that nothing else matters."

Kate had smiled even wider. "Nothing else matters. Thank you." She had proceeded to steer a bewildered Alexis back out the door and onto the street. "I need to make a stop at the butcher's...and then do a bit of grocery shopping. Would you mind getting a head start on some of these items? I know you probably have everything well stocked at the cabin, but I'd like to do this all...myself. Does that make sense?"

All from scratch. "You're making something? Like a cake?" Alexis wondered aloud.

"More like...a meal. Sorry but the rest has to be a surprise. You get to see some of the ingredients, but this is important. Is that alright?" She looked unsure. Excited, but not entirely sure. So Alexis smiled and snatched the short list from the detective's hand.

She wanted to cook a meal for her dad? For her grandmother? For her? "That sounds great. I'll round up some...well I'll start gathering these things for you. See you in...half an hour?"

Kate nodded and they took off in different directions each with her mission in mind.

"No, I'm not sure what she's up to but it shouldn't be a problem to hold off coming back for another hour or two." Alexis tossed another spice into her basket and surveyed the list in her hand once more.

All items crossed off.

Time to go find Kate.

Perfect.

"Listen Dad, I've got to go. I can give you a couple of hours but we'll be back before dinner ok? Ok. Love you too. Bye."

"Bye Sweetie." He pocketed the phone and continued digging through the closet.

"Well?" Martha approached from behind.

Castle turned to his mother, hair disheveled, extension cords over each shoulder, hammer in one hand and staple gun in the other. A grin spread over his face. "We're good to go. I've got to- will you get the..."

AN: Have you ever been hit by a wave of depression? Yeah...

Sorry.

If anyone is still with me, thank you. I can't promise a time table, but I will see this story through to the end.