Chapter 15
After leaving FAO Schwarz Rick continued to surprise Kate, by bringing out the child in her. They ate hot dogs in Central Park, before he challenged her to a friendly competition of 'who will land the farthest after jumping off the swing'. He splashed her while they caught their breath, sitting on the edge of the Bethesda Fountain, she retaliated quickly, their screams of laughter had people taking a second glance. They rode the Central Park Carousel until the operator threatened to kick them off, they ran when he started toward them after another round, laughing until they were out of breath. Hand in hand they continued their way through Central Park. He bought her a rose from a old man advertising everything that mattered in the world was love.
As the sun began to sink lower and lower in the sky, the shadows becoming more mysterious. The couple left the park, walking toward Rick's car in silence. Kate stopped and looked up at him.
"I'll miss you." She whispered.
"I'll miss you too." He moved back to her.
"Will you come see me off tomorrow?" She asked, she looked scared, like she was preparing herself for him to say 'no'.
He wrapped his arms around her, placing a kiss in her hair he whispered, "Always."
X-X-X-X
Kate was standing in front of her gate at the airport. Jim and Johanna were with her, each giving her advice, neither was saying good-bye yet, their daughter was distracted and they knew why.
He promised he'd be here! She thought to herself as she scanned the crowds of people in the JFK airport.
"Maybe he forgot or got caught in something." Johanna glanced around.
"No! He promised he'd be here!" Kate demanded.
Johanna looked up at her husband, he shrugged, Kate had inherited Johanna's stubborn attitude without a doubt.
Kate was the verge of giving up, when she was startled by a whisper in her ear.
"Sorry I'm late."
She turned and nearly jumped into his arms. She loved the feeling of his strong grasp holding her close to him. Her head fit perfectly into the crook of his neck, his arms around her waist, hers tangled around his neck, she was on her toes. The hug ended to quickly for her liking.
"I...uh... brought you this. But don't open it here." He handed her a beautifully wrapped package. "Wait until you're on the plane."
"Thank you. You didn't have to get me anything." She flipped the box over in her hand, smiling up at him.
X-X-X-X
Jim and Johanna said their good-byes, giving her hugs and kissing her forehead. Rick stood back and waited. The couple walked to him next.
"Thank you Rick." Johanna said.
"For what may I ask?"
"Just thank you." She smiled and hugged him.
Jim waited, then grasped Rick's hand in a firm shake. "You're a good man Rick."
"Thank you sir." He said as Jim moved away with Johann, leaving the couple to say their good-byes.
Rick walked to Kate. She was playing with the ribbon on the package he had given her.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hey."
Silence fell between them. Neither knew what to say, the last time Rick had said good-bye to a woman he cared for with all his heart, he had never seen her again.
"Will I see you again?" He asked, the words falling off his tongue without his recollection of even thinking them. He felt his face becoming hot, as Kate looked up at him, a pink tinge covering her cheeks.
"Maybe we could lunch while I'm here on Christmas break." She whispered shyly.
Rick nodded, "I'd like that."
An announcer called over the noise that it was the last call for Kate's flight. Rick looked back down at her, he could see in her eyes that she didn't want to leave his side, he didn't either. Her face softened as she saw the sad expression on his face, that she knew she was desperately trying to mask.
"I should..." She started, but didn't know what she was saying, instead she broke, letting loose all of her self-control. She threw her arms around his neck, burying her head in his shoulder. She felt his arms around her waist in seconds, holding her as close he could. His cologne filled her lungs, she could never place the scent, but knew as one thing, him. She knew the tears she had held back from her parents were on the verge of rolling down her cheeks, she didn't want to cry, she couldn't cry, not in front of him, maybe when she was safely on the plane, but not here, not now.
He held her for an eternity. Breathing in deeply the scent of her, her perfume, her shampoo, there was a hint of cherries, but it was her, and he loved that about her. He would miss her, the soft touch of her lips when they kissed, her gorgeous smile that brightened even the darkest of rooms, they way their bodies melted perfectly into one another, her gentle touch, that laugh that she used only around him. Everything. But he stayed strong now for her, he knew he would break later, in the confines of his own home, where he could have a drink or struggle to write. But with her in his arms like this he knew he couldn't break here.
Finally she pulled away. She didn't even realize she was still holding the package he had given her, until she felt it's weight in her hand again. Leaving her arms around his neck she looked up at him. He gently unraveled his arms from around her waist and moving his hand he carefully wiped away a stray tear that had fallen.
"Of all the girls holdin' drinks, in all the cafes', in all the world, you bumped into mine." She smiled at him.
Before Rick could open his mouth the announcer called for the final time for Kate's flight. He looked down at her the ghost of a smile playing over the corners of is mouth.
"I told you, that's the only way I can pick up girls." He whispered before kissing her sweetly one last time. When he pulled away, Kate removed her arms from around his neck, pushing away from him. She turned and grabbed her carry on bag, but before moving away she turned again and waved at her parents then to him.
It took every ounce of his effort not to run to her and beg her to stay, but instead raise his hand in a good-bye. She smiled and turned. He watched her back disappear among the crowd of people.
X-X-X-X
Kate sat down in her seat, her carry on was secure above her, but the package Rick had given her was still clutched tightly in her hand. She looked down at it. Her fingers ghosted over the wrapped edges of the box. The blood red ribbon was still tied perfectly around it. She was hesitant to open it, but curiosity got the better of her. She pulled lightly at the ribbon, it gave way easily. She felt it slacken in her fingers, as it fell like water to her thigh where it rested. She gently lifted the top of the package. White tissue paper rustled beneath it, waving gently as if in a rare summer breeze.
She knew she could have just torn through the process of opening the package like a kid at Christmas, but opening it slowly allowed the tension to build, and her mind could wander, trying to think of what it could be, that was resting beneath the wrappings, it was something she had always done, according to her parents.
She moved the tissue paper away carefully. Her brushed the object hidden in the depths of the small parcel. The touch allowed her mind a new exploration of what it could be. But her thoughts didn't get far, before she saw what is was.
A book. Brand new, hard cover, she looked at the title at the bottom of the dust jacket, In A Hail Of Bullets. She remembered hearing the title what seemed like a life time ago when Rick had told her about his first book. Dragging her eyes up the cover, she looked at the name on the top, in large white print, RICHARD CASTLE. Her heart skipped. He had used the last name she suggested, laughing at the memory of the conversation behind the name.
"Say it fast and it sounds like asshole. Rick Asshole."
She opened it carefully to the first page. The same as every book it was the title and author repeated. But turning the page to the dedication her heart skipped again as she read it.
Here's looking at you, kid.
To the girl who I will remember.
Always.
She flipped the page once again, to the second title page, but there was more on this one. A handwritten note to her.
Kate,
I swore to you that I would never use your name anywhere in any of my books. I held true to my promise, I never once used your name, but I know you're smart enough to know that I dedicated this book to you, adding a special touch from our first date.
I will always remember how you looked that night. Your hair a gentle cascade over your shoulders, the way you pushed a strand of hair out of your eye after a calm breeze disrupted the gentle curls, your soft lips on mine as I kissed you for the first time, your radiant, yet gentle smile after I kissed you, the sparkle in your eyes, that I hope you never lose, your contagious laugh. I could go on for pages, but I refrained.
I hope you noticed that I used the last name you suggested. Like everything in universe there is a reason, it now has a story to go with it. You.
Rick C.
The book fell limp in her hands, she flipped to the next page, his letter had covered three pages. Curious to see if there was a post script she flipped the page, looking down she saw a picture. She remembered when it was taken, they were together in the park, enjoying a French pastry from a shop down the street. She was cuddled into his side, despite the summer heat wave. They had been teasing each other, laughing at something long forgotten, when someone snapped a Polaroid. The person handed it to Rick and told him "Never lose her, she's a keeper." Kate flipped the photo over in her fingers. Written in his thin hand writing was one word, Always.
She felt a tear roll down her cheek, smiling at the small picture in her hand.
"Always." She whispered, wiping away the stray tear.
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Don't worry there is more to come. :)