CHAPTER 2

Martha watched as her granddaughter followed her father upstairs, each giving the other a warm hug at the upper landing, and then each turning in opposite directions toward their respective bedroom. Martha waited until she heard two doors close, and then she turned to the newest Castle houseguest.

"Okay, the kids are off to visit the sandman. Detective, would you like a night cap? Would you like to join the adults, okay, the remaining adult, in an alcoholic beverage? A nice glass of red wine, perhaps? I know there is also sherry somewhere. . ." Martha was already heading into the kitchen toward the butler's pantry where her son maintained a full selection of wine for his mother's indulgence.

Beckett shook her head. "Martha, can I take a rain check until tomorrow? It's been a very long day for me, too. I think I just want to get some sleep. Would you mind terribly? Besides, I have my tea. . ."

Martha looked at Kate Beckett. "I'm so sorry, Kate, I'm not thinking clearly. You have had a long day, haven't you? Let me show you the upstairs. . ." and Martha took Kate's elbow and literally pushed her up the stairs. "There are seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, the billiards room, the nursery, and an upstairs parlor. There is an upstairs balcony that accesses all of the bedrooms facing the ocean which are all located on this side of the house. The upstairs parlor has a fully glassed-in wall with a circular stairway that leads up to the widow's walk on the roof: perfect view of The Sound after the sun rises in the morning, if you are into early mornings. I, of course, am not. Alexis sleeps in the master bedroom at the far left end of the hall, since it was the only room large enough to hold all of her stuffed animals and, well, Richard's toys. . ."

Beckett smiled and paused on the steps they were climbing. "More laser tag?"

Martha suddenly showed an expression of exasperation. "The laser tag stays in Tribecca. However, the Star Wars toys rule in the Hamptons." The tall redhead rolled her eyes. "That is Martha's Prime Directive. Just pretend you don't know about it." Beckett almost made a comment about the inappropriate usage of Star Trek's Prime Directive as being applied to merchandising from Star Wars, but realized that might demonstrate how attentive she had been to learning about science fiction programming since meeting Richard Castle, so she let the comment pass by.

The two women were now standing at the top of the landing. "Just in case if you are interested, Detective, my Richard sleeps in the bedroom at the far right end of the right hall. I sleep next to Alexis' room on the left. Way over there. . ." Beckett smiled to herself, as if she didn't notice Martha's none too subtle attempts to steer her and Castle into a weekend tryst at the far end of the hall opposite from the rest of Castle's immediate family. Martha, confident that she had made her point, continued the mini tour of the upstairs. "Okay, now that you have the general layout of the terrain . . ah. . . let's see exactly where Richard chose to put your bag. . ."

Martha was making it crystal clear that, with every open bedroom door that proved to be empty as they proceeded down the right hand side of the building, Beckett could see the homey décor of each room. Not to mention, that as they passed another unoccupied room after another, they were getting closer and closer to Castle's bedroom. On the third door to the right, they found Beckett's sole piece of luggage sitting on a large wooden chest at the foot of a four-poster bed. A hurricane lantern on the small bureau had been lit and was the only source of light in the room, casting a soft flickering glow. Beckett stepped into the room feeling like she was entering the eighteenth century, noting the soft floral wallpaper, the hand-painted antique furnishings, and the plush oriental carpets on the cherry hardwood floors.

Beckett then saw the set of double French doors that opened onto the second floor balcony. "Martha, this room is stunning. Is there a reason that this isn't yours?"

Martha slightly shook her head. "It once was. Bad memories." She paused for a moment and then forcibly returned a smile to her face. "Time for a new tenant. I'm sure Richard assigned it to you for just that purpose. You'll get the mid-day light in here. Feel free to sleep in, with this angle of exposure, the sun won't wake you up first thing in the morning . . .which is rapidly approaching, so I'll just say goodnight right here, and right now, and I will see you some time tomorrow. . . The bathroom is through that door." She paused again. "And, Detective. . . "

"Kate. Please, Martha, call me Kate."

Kate. Richard's room is the second set of French doors to the right off the outside balcony. . ." Martha smiled at her. "Good evening, Kate. And, sweet dreams."

"Good evening, Martha. And, thank you." As Martha walked out of the room, Kate couldn't help but notice Castle's mother making a final hand gesture to indicate the direction of her son's bedroom, just in case Beckett needed an additional reference.

Smiling with that memory etching itself on her brain, Beckett opened her suitcase, pulled out her sweatpants and a T-shirt to sleep in, and made her way to the bathroom. Within ten minutes, she had emerged, walked over to the French doors and cracked them slightly for some fresh ocean evening air, and then poured herself into the large four-poster bed. Detective Beckett was asleep within moments of climbing between the crisp sheets and pulling the 100 year old goose feathered quilt up to her chin.