"Good morning, Katherine! Rise and shine!" Kate winced as the curtains in the spare room were thrown open, letting in rays of sun.
"I'm taking you shopping today," the voice continued. "You can't show up for a job interview in that! Richard told me all about it, but he is obviously not suited to take you shopping, so I'm taking it upon myself to help you. Up, up!" Martha finished, patting Kate twice on the shoulder. "We leave in an hour!" She exited the room, leaving the door wide open.
Kate rolled over and groaned, looking at her watch. It was 6:45 AM. She'd stayed up past midnight reading the Patterson book she'd borrowed from Castle, and she was still sleepy. Five more minutes, she thought, closing her eyes again.
Seconds later, a pajama-clad Alexis leaped onto the bed, nearly landing on Kate's legs. "We're going shopping, Kate!" she squealed, crawling up to Kate's head. "Gram's taking us shopping! I'm so excited! She even said we could visit the jell-at-oh parlor," she continued, stumbling over the foreign word. "It's fancy ice cream from Italy," she whispered into Kate's ear. "So come on! Breakfast is ready!"
Kate opened her eyes, but didn't otherwise move. So tired, she thought.
Dissatisfied with Kate's lack of response, Alexis rolled off the bed, running to Kate's side and grabbing her hand. "Come on, Kate," she insisted, tugging at Kate's hand. Oh, fine. Grinning, Kate rolled out of bed, allowing Alexis to lead her down the stairs.
Shopping with Martha and Alexis sounded like it would make for an excellent day.
After bowls of oatmeal had been passed out, Rick spoke up. "Alright, Castle family! …and Rodgers, and Beckett," he added, nodding toward the two ladies. "We need to have a family meeting this morning."
Rick and Kate had informed Martha of Kate's decision when they returned to the loft yesterday afternoon, but all they'd told Alexis was that Kate was going to spend the night again. They'd agreed to talk about the new living arrangements this morning. Kate had insisted that Rick do all the talking. She'd admitted to him that it would take some time for her to adjust to all that had happened over the past few days. "When I think of home, I think of my parents' apartment," she had said, eyes brimming with tears. "I just need some time." Rick understood. She had definitely been through a lot this year, and he would gladly do anything he could to help her transition to her new life, including break the news to Alexis.
"Alexis," Rick started, "Do you like Kate being your babysitter?"
"I love it!" the child exclaimed, swallowing a mouthful of oatmeal. "She's my favoritest babysitter ever! Did you know she's my pretend big sister, Dad? 'Cause she is. I like it when she spends the night with us. I hope she can spend the night every night!"
Kate grinned as Castle said, "I'm happy to hear that, Alexis! Because Kate has a little problem that we might be able to help her with. She's h…" He stopped when he saw the look on Kate's face. Her eyes were wide, mouth open slightly, and she was vehemently shaking her head "no."
"I mean…" Castle said, restarting. The word "homeless" must be taboo in this conversation, he thought. "Something happened to her apartment, and she can't live there anymore," he finished.
Kate let out her breath in relief as Alexis' eyes widened. "Oh, no," the child said solemnly.
"So I was wondering, Alexis," Castle continued, "if it would be okay with you if Kate lived with us for a little while."
Alexis leaped from her seat and began to jump up and down, clapping her hands. "This is the best day of my life!" she exclaimed joyfully as she ran to Kate. "Now you're my for real big sister!" She threw her arms around the young woman.
"I take it that's a yes," Castle chuckled as Kate returned Alexis' hug. He had known that Alexis would have no problem with Kate living with them.
Martha suddenly stood up and clapped her hands together once. "I hate to break up the party," she announced, "but the town car I called for will be arriving in forty-five minutes, and neither Katherine nor Alexis is dressed. I will not be seen in public with two young women who are not properly dressed," she finished as the two girls stood up. "That would just be terrible for my image, oh goodness me."
Rick looked at Kate. For a brief moment, sadness creased her face, but she quickly masked it as she followed Alexis out of the kitchen. Damn his mother. She didn't realize how tactless her statement was—Kate had no other clothes than the ones she was wearing. Getting "properly" dressed wasn't an option for her. Poor Kate was already embarrassed about her situation, and the last thing she needed was to be reminded of it through insensitive comments from members of his family.
Rick would have to wait to talk to Martha about it later, though. At the moment, his mother was on her way upstairs with the girls. He could hear her calling them to make sure their rooms were straight and everything was put away before they left. Kate doesn't have anything to put away, though, he thought to himself.
Suddenly, he had a thought: Kate mentioned that she'd left everything she owned, save the contents of her backpack, in her apartment when she was evicted. What had the landlord done with all of her things? Maybe it was possible for her to get some of it back. Of course, Kate probably wouldn't want to let him get it back for her. He'd have to go at it in the most roundabout way he could.
As the three ladies were about to walk out the door forty-five minutes later, Rick pulled Kate aside. "Where did you and your ex live?" he asked.
She tilted her head, a quizzical look on her face. "Lower East Side. We had an apartment at 4th and Avenue C. Why?"
"Just wondering which part of town you're from," Castle answered simply. "I had you pegged as a Manhattan girl."
"Born and raised," Kate answered with a sad smile. "It's hard to leave the place where you grew up." She took a breath, as if to speak again, but paused when she heard Martha's call. She turned slightly, letting out her breath. "See you later," she said, tentatively raising her hand in small wave.
"Later," Castle answered with a nod, watching as his mother ushered Kate and Alexis out the door. He was going shopping today, to buy necessities for Kate's room. Kate's room. The idea of it being hers now, not just the guest room, was exciting. But hopefully, there was a way he could make it feel even more like hers.
The store could wait. His first stop for the morning was an apartment building at 4th and Avenue C.
"Saks Fifth Avenue? Martha, I can't. I mean…"
"Nonsense, dear," Martha said, waving a finger at Kate. "An interview is all about the first impression. If you don't look the part, you won't be hired for the part. A bit of advice from the acting world for you," she added. "Everyone out of the car! Simon, be back in an hour," she nodded to the driver, stepping out of the car onto the street.
Kate remained frozen in her seat, trying to gather the strength to step onto the sidewalk. "Really, Katherine, you must get out of the car," Martha chided, helping Alexis out.
Kate grudgingly ducked out of the car and wandered to the shop's front window, peering inside. It wasn't just the high prices that kept Kate from wanting to enter the store—she had window-shopped with her mother at Saks Fifth Avenue more times than she could count, marveling at the beautiful clothing with exorbitant prices. Never once had she actually stepped foot in the store. Her mom said she'd never been inside, either. "But one day, we'll go in, Kate. And we'll touch every single piece of clothing in the store, just because we can. Our first time to visit Saks Fifth Avenue, together! Won't it be fun?"
Oh, Mom, Kate thought longingly. You never did get to go inside. A tear slipped down her cheek as she gently placed her palm on the store's window.
Kate started when a hand touched her shoulder, and she turned to find Martha and Alexis, eyeing her with concern. "Katherine, are you alright?" Martha asked.
She shook her head. "My mom…" she started, taking a deep breath. "She died in January." She moved her palm from the window to quickly wipe the tears from her cheek, embarrassed by their presence and annoyed by their continuous downfall.
"Oh, Katherine dear, I'm so sorry," Martha said sincerely, moving her hand to Kate's back. "I had no idea your mother was no longer with us."
"It's just… she always wanted to visit this store, and she never got to," Kate said with a sniffle. "And now she never will."
"Ah, but she's here, darling," Martha said tenderly. "She's with you. In your heart." She placed her palm gently over Kate's heart. "You carry her with you wherever you go. So she will visit Saks Fifth Avenue today, as will we. And we will visit in her memory."
More tears began to fall from Kate's eyes, and Martha responded by pulling her into an embrace. Alexis came over and wrapped her arms around both women, and the three stood on the sidewalk in a group hug, ignoring the stares of the people bustling by as the youngest and oldest of the trio lent their strength to the one who needed it.
Kate finally indicated her readiness to enter, and they stepped inside, Alexis holding Kate's hand protectively. They left Saks Fifth Avenue an hour later with two complete interview-appropriate outfits. Martha insisted that it was important to have options. She also insisted on a subsequent trip to Bloomingdale's, where the trio exited with several bags filled with new clothes ("You'll have to wear something to work when they hire you, Katherine!"). Martha gave helpful, albeit unsolicited, interview advice during their car ride home, and insisted that Rick coach Kate through potential interview questions that evening. Kate sat patiently through Rick's interview session, itching to go upstairs to her bedroom and organize all of the new things he'd bought her that day. Castle truly had thought of everything. She now had basic hygiene items, new pajamas, a beautiful pink geranium in a turquoise pot, two new throw pillows for the bed, and a quirky painting that matched the new pillows perfectly. She'd never admit it to him, but he'd managed to pick out things that matched her taste and personality perfectly, down to the blue pajama pants with otters dancing across them.
More valuable to Kate than her new stuff was her deepening relationship with the Castles. The ache in Kate's heart caused by her mother's absence was always present, but she found that it was lessened when she was with the people that were becoming her new family.
Author's note: I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out. Christmas travels and visiting with my family delayed me quite a bit, and I thank all of you for being patient with me. I'm still amazed with the response this story has gotten, and I appreciate each and every review, follow, and favorite I get.
My lovely chapter reviewer/magic fix-it girl, Cathey, is amazing. You guys have no idea how much I owe to her. I can send her something that doesn't make sense, or just a basic idea I need help wording, and she can practically read my mind and give me the exact wording that I'd been wanting, but wasn't able to come up with on my own.
Please leave me a review! I love hearing your thoughts and ideas. I read each review, and they're very helpful to me.