"Hey Alexis," Kate said with a knowing smirk when she picked up her phone during their drive home.
"Hey! I said almost, almost get jealous. That does not mean that I get jealous, or that you get to mock me for said almost jealousy." Rick ranted, "besides, that was about asking advise, not talk on the way home from a TV segment."
Kate and Alexis just laughed at his outrage.
Trying to lighten the mood, Kate asked Alexis, "how was the viewing party?"
"About as fun as can be expected given the time, it's now what 10am and you are done. Grams, Gramps and I have all left the loft, I'm heading out to get coffee and be adorable at my girlfriends' workplace." Alexis said with a chuckle.
"Do you want company looking adorable, I've been told that your dad and I are adorable together." Kate asked in a mock serious tone.
"That would actually be nice," Alexis answered honestly.
"All right, see you in a few." Kate hung up and looked at Rick, "we're having coffee with Alexis." She then told the cabbie that they were changing their destination.
"That's nice," Rick glanced at his watch. "I just have to be at BP for a lunch meeting with all the publicity staff to see how they feel the interview went."
"Do you need me at that meeting or …?" Kate left the question hanging.
"Cash or Card?" The cabbie interrupted, followed quickly by Rick handing over a few bills. "Keep the change."
"No, you can relax." Rick said continuing their conversation as they walked in to the coffee shop. "It's just a check in and making sure that everything went according to their wishes."
"Hi, Mr. & Mrs. Castle," Hayley greeted them as they looked away from each other, Kate noticing that they were in fact at their destination and face-to-face with their daughter's girlfriend.
A little startled, but able to control her features, Kate smiled and said softly. "Hayley, hi. We were looking for Alexis, is she here yet?"
"Yeah, she's at a booth in the far corner." Hayley said pointing them in the right direction. "You looked nice on Good Morning. I really like that dress, but please tell me you didn't walk far in those heels." She laughed.
"No, just too and from the stage. They were so uncomfortable, but I didn't think sneakers or wool socks would look as good on TV." Kate chuckled. "Besides, I had Rick there to help me keep my balance."
"Yeah, she's getting a little front heavy," Rick joked. Kate playfully smacked him across the chest, "it's your own fault."
Kate looked in the direction of the booth and made eye contact with Alexis, giving her a slight nod and telling Rick that she would meet him at the table once he had ordered them some drinks. Rick checked if Alexis had a drink before heading off and buying something for everyone.
"Hey bud, how was your morning with the grandparents?" Kate asked as she sat down, glad to be off her feet.
"It was nice, Grams cooed at the TV every time you and dad did something cute." Alexis laughed.
"What did we do that was cute?" Kate asked a little puzzled as to which part of the interview was cute enough to warrant cooing at a TV.
"Oh, the entire thing was cute, but she got even more over the top when you were talking about me," Alexis admitted while a slight blush could be seen rising in her cheeks.
"Who was over the top?" Rick said as he put down their drinks.
"Marta. Grams." They said simultaneously.
"Ah, say no more." Rick joked, "please."
"Alexis was telling me that your mother thinks we are so cute it warrants cooing when we talk about Alexis." Kate recapped.
"Yeah, we are pretty adorable," Rick agreed with a sigh.
"Told you," Kate told Alexis with a laugh.
"Alright, on to the important things." Kate said as she shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable. "How is school?"
"School is going well, I have some interesting classes this semester, and some even more interesting professors." Alexis said, just then Hayley stopped by their table, gave Alexis a quick peck and placed a muffin in front of her.
Hayley jumped in, "I'm on top of it, making sure we have our schoolwork done before we get to hang out and watch Netflix or play games."
"Good, not that we would doubt either of you," Rick said, "but it's nice to be kept informed about these things."
"Babe, just skip the small talk and ask her!" Kate said, half exasperated, half amused.
"Yeah, you're right." Rick said looking from Kate to Alexis with an almost awkward smile. "We were wondering if you would be free for a weekend in the Hamptons soon, preferably this month. I really miss you after you moved out and …"
Rick was cut off by a simple, "dad."
"Yeah, pumpkin." Rick said with a small chuckle.
"How about next weekend," she said with a smile. "You're off, right?" Alexis asked Hayley, who pulled out her phone to confirm it.
"Yeah, I have a long weekend. Friday, Saturday, Sunday off and don't have to be back here until noon on Monday the 16th of September." Hayley said looking up from her calendar app and smiling softly.
"Great," Rick said, clapping his hands excitedly. "Now that you have confirmed, I can start planning."
Kate laughed at her husband, knowing that this was such a big deal to him. Then suddenly realizing that it was Tuesday, glanced at her watch, cursed under her breath, finished the last of her decaf and stood up. "Honey, I'm sorry I lost track of time and didn't realize I had to be at work so soon. Will you be OK here or do you need a ride somewhere?" Kate said as she gestured Alexis to stand up.
"I'm fine here, Hayley was going to help me with some stuff for school during the afternoon lull, so I'll stay here." Alexis told Kate giving her a funny half smile, half shrug.
"Great," Kate hugged Alexis, gently stroked her hair from her face and kissed her cheek. She turned to Rick and asked if he was ready to leave.
"Oh, Kate I have that meeting with BP, so I think I'll just wait here a few more minutes, then head over there." Rick said.
"All right," Kate said as she turned to leave, as she reached the door she looked at them and said, "talk to you later, love you."
Which was echoed right back at her, from her family.
Sooooo … I was wondering if there was anyone out there that felt this story was too fluffy and needed some angst or if I should keep it like this.
I would never go full angst, not for this story at least, so let me know.
This chapter is a little short because there is the surprise story coming in about an hour or so, so keep your eyes peeled.
