Very Castle Celebrations

Chapter 12

Kate is sitting at the other end of the couch as she and Castle face Bob Stimpson. Jackson is dozing in his carrier between them. The two of them decided on a strategy before arriving in the church counselor's office, now they just need to play their roles. Stimpson urged them to concentrate on their own feelings. Kate is following that instruction - sort of - pouring out her supposed feelings about Castle. "This new series of stories Rick's doing. First of all, it's taking a lot of time; time he could be spending with Jackson and me. And his heroines! I know he bases them on real women. Nikki Heat is supposed to be me. And Clara Strike? I won't even describe the bitch he based her on. But I don't know where these new ladies are coming from. I can't help wondering if he's cheating on me."

Castle snorts. "Just when would I have time to cheat on you? When I'm not writing, which is what puts a very expensive roof over yours and Jackson's head, I'm changing diapers or walking the floor with him while you sleep. You may be feeding our son, but I feel like the nursemaid. I haven't had more than four hours of sleep a night since Jackson was born. I do everything for you and the baby. I'm tired - tired of hearing nothing but complaints. So maybe I spend some time thinking about women who might give their man some respect and maybe even some love. Is that too much to hope for from my wife?"

Kate swipes at the tears she manages to squeeze out of her eyes. "Rick, I do love you. If I didn't, I wouldn't care if you paid more attention to your fantasy females than the mother of your child. But I'm tired too. And I feel like you look at me like I'm nothing more than a cow you keep around to feed Jackson. I'm afraid that in a few months you'll put me out to pasture."

Castle turns to face her. "Kate, you're no bovine, and I'd never put you out to pasture. You're the love of my life! You, Jackson, you're the reason I work so hard at putting those femme fatales on the page. I want to give both of you the best life I can. Is that so wrong?"

Kate leans over the still sleeping Jackson to cup Castle's cheek in her palm. "And if I asked you to work a little less hard so I can spend more time with you? I'm not Ryan or Esposito. I don't lust after your Ferrari. I don't care about the house in the Hamptons or expensive wine. I just want a husband who'll be there for me."

"And I just want my wife with me." As their bodies form an arch over their sleeping son, their lips meet. Bob Stimpson pushes up from his chair. "I'll give you two a little privacy."

Plunging their fingers into each other's hair, Kate and Castle pull each other closer. When Stimpson is gone, Kate gives a little shake and pulls back. "Castle, our plan worked! This is our chance!"

Castle rubs his finger over his lips where he can still feel her kiss. "Yeah right!" He gets up and begins to search the church study for clues, as Kate cautions him not to disturb anything. He wonders if Kate was serious about being willing to give up the house in the Hamptons.

She assures him that she was about that, but he'd still better have enough in his bank account to afford the red wine that makes her feel all…

As he promises her that he'll keep that in mind, he notices a series of bound journals, not unlike his own, occupying a bottom shelf at the end of a wall of bookcases. When he pulls one out to look at it, he realizes that they are handwritten chronicles of the history of the church. And there's a volume missing - 1989. Could that have been what the chemical weapon assault was about? What happened in the church in 1989? He and Kate can research that when they get home Unless Bob Stimpson expects them to be making love on the couch, he'll probably be back soon.

A knock on the door signals just that. Stimpson comes in with worksheets that they can take home with them to further explore their feelings for each other. He also reminds them that they are blessed to have each other. Jackson wakes up and immediately lets out his characteristic demand for Kate's services. Stimpson suggests that Kate can use the rocking chair in the nursery to take care of Jackson's needs before the family departs the church.


"What are you smiling about?" Kate asks as Castle slides behind the wheel.

Memories swirl through his mind as he confesses that he's just experienced the best counseling session he's ever had. He explains that he and Gina had tried professional intervention, but it had never ended up like that, in or out of the counselor's office.

When Kate asks about Meredith, he can only offer that once your wife has gone off to California and had an affair with her director, counseling isn't of much help. As much as he loved taking care of Alexis, Meredith had abandoned them both. He forgave her for walking away from him, but how she can just blithely flit in and out of the life of a child she is supposed to love, is something he still can't quite wrap his mind around. He can't understand how Meredith can just treat Alexis like a girlfriend to accompany her on lunch and shopping trips.

Kate shakes her head, the faint lines in her forehead deepening to grooves. She admits that before she had Jackson, she didn't really understand how strong parents' attachment to their children could be. It had always amazed her that no matter how casual Castle may have been about other things in his life, Alexis always received his full attention. But now she understands.

Castle reaches across the console to take her hand. He really needs to order a case of that wine. Kate won't be nursing Jackson forever.


Castle scans through news items from 1989. There are a lot of mentions of Stimpson's church. Most of the blurbs were just to keep the congregation up to date. What now goes up on the website or goes out on Twitter or Facebook, used to be posted as mentions in the religion section of The Ledger. Most of the information isn't too interesting. There are weddings, funerals, births, deaths, and the formation of softball and bowling leagues. But then there is the fundraising drive to replace the boiler that exploded- and a prayer vigil for an injured church member, Harley Granger. No cause was given for the explosion. Could what happened at the church on Easter be related to the tragedy in 1989? Why did the boiler blow up and what became of Harley Granger? Castle believes that if he can find out, he'll be hot on the trail of whoever caused the worshipers to weep. The next thing he and Kate need to do will be to dig up the fire department's report on the catastrophe. Hopefully, Kate's connection to the task force can help with that. A 1989 case should be right up its alley.