Finding a Date Ch. 3. The Loft Christmas Eve
She exited the steamy bathroom dressed in just her lacy underwear and pulled a pair of newly laundered jeans and a dark green slinky top from the spacious closet. She put her hair up in a loose chignon, curls escaping to frame her face. Often she padded around the loft in an old pair of comfy walking socks but that wouldn't do this evening and she tucked her feet into a pair of soft mules.
A light touch of make-up applied she reached to strap her father's watch around her wrist. He was due to arrive any minute for Christmas Eve dinner. She thought back to the previous day's events which had led to him accepting the invitation.
Expecting to be in court most of the day on a murder trial she'd been called to the stand quite early and had given her evidence firmly and clearly. So compelling was she that the suspect's lawyer had persuaded him change his plea to guilty in hope of a lighter sentence. The Judge had released her thanking her for her service and she'd decided, as she wasn't expected back at the precinct, to have an early lunch at home with Rick before returning to work.
Unwinding her scarf from around her neck as she closed the door she'd been surprised to see the three members of the Castle family staring at her from the kitchen, Alexis having temporarily moved back to the loft for the holiday. Rick suddenly looked uncomfortable and knowing him as she did she realised he'd done something that he wasn't sure of her reaction.
"What's up?" she asked moving towards them. They looked at each other sheepishly.
Inevitably it was Martha who spoke first. "Katherine, darling" she began, "Richard told us why Jim turned down our invitation to Christmas dinner. We're so sorry. It just didn't occur to us how difficult it would be for him."
As she took a breath Alexis jumped in "So we discussed it," she said, looking at her Grams and her Dad for confirmation, "and we decided it was a choice between having your Dad's company on the one hand," she held out one hand as if balancing something on it "or alcohol on the table," she held out the other hand. "And we took a vote and decided we wanted to see your Dad." she finished, raising that hand in the air.
Martha and Rick solemnly raised their hands, nodding in agreement. Her fiancé came towards her, slipping his hands under her open jacket he held her by the waist; she could feel the warmth of his palms through her shirt. "If we make the loft an alcohol free zone, would he come for dinner?" He questioned, hopefully.
"I can't ask you to do that!" Kate gasped, overwhelmed once again by the genuine concern for her and her father.
"No darling and you didn't," Martha continued, "we offered. Even I can manage one dinner without a drink!"
Rick looked pointedly at the already half empty bottle of wine on the counter. "You might need to practice that." he said. Martha slapped his hand away as he reached for the bottle. "Now its open it'll only spoil!" she responded incorrigibly.
"Are you sure?" Kate regarded them each in turn,
Alexis nodded. "Please ask him again. We'd love to have a proper family dinner." Her face fell, as she realised her boyfriend wouldn't be present. Kate eased herself from Ricks grasp. She was not a naturally demonstrative person but she' d observed the by-play and been on the receiving end of so many loving gestures from this family, she felt ready to offer her own. Taking one of Alexis' hands in her own and reaching across to hold one of Martha's, she spoke sincerely. "Thank you, thank you all," glancing at Rick, "I will ask him, but he may already have made his arrangements. "
After a light lunch she'd called her Dad from the precinct. "You know my phone's been ringing all afternoon?" Jim stated, after they had exchanged greetings.
"Who?" Kate wanted to know.
"All of them!" asserted Jim, laughing. "Martha, Alexis and Rick each called to invite me to dinner tomorrow - apparently there will be no booze." She could hear the unspoken question in his voice -´who's been talking about me? ´
Kate grimaced, knowing how his affliction continued to embarrass him. "It's all right," he said, "they mean well."
"Yes," she replied, "they do and they draw you into their warm, loving circle until you wonder how you ever existed without it. "
Jim thought himself blessed that his daughter had found such a family when their own had been cut down by tragedy.
"Will you come, Dad?" She asked. "It'd be so nice to spend Christmas together again."
"Yes," he confirmed, "I've already called Theresa and asked if it's ok if I drive up Christmas morning. She'll be busy at her church service anyway."
Kate nodded, grateful he was ready to change his customs as she had done the previous year.
Now it was time for new traditions on Christmas Eve. Giving herself a quick check in the mirror she saw Rick come in to their bedroom from his office. "Everything's ready," he said, "the booze is put away and there's water and juice on the table -oh, and that Elderflower cordial you wanted to try."
Kate nodded her thanks. She swung round from the dresser. "Wow!" He exclaimed. "You are beautiful. Lucky me!" His large hands cupped her jaw and he kissed her, nuzzling the sensitive spot behind her ear. Even after all this time Kate still found it difficult to accept his heartfelt compliments, but she returned his kiss enthusiastically.
"With everyone together tonight it might be a good time to discuss wedding dates." She hinted, fully intending to have the necessary conversation with Alexis but not wanting to surprise him.
"Good idea! " Rick agreed. "Are you ready?"
She looked at him inquiringly, then realised he wasn't questioning her preparedness for their future together but reminding her that the door buzzer had sounded which meant her father had arrived.
"Almost!" She promised, quickly picking the chain and rings lying on the dresser. She slipped her engagement ring off the chain and placed it on her fourth finger, lifting the chain with her mother's ring over her head and tucking it under her top.
Rick took her hand in his, raising the ring to his lips and grazed a kiss across her knuckles.
"Thank you!" he breathed, and Kate knew it was for so much more than openly wearing her engagement ring. As he turned to lead the way towards the living area she called after him "Hey Rick," he looked back "you're rather special yourself!" He was also dressed in jeans with a bottle green dress shirt open at the neck, his sleeves partly rolled up his well muscled arms. As well as thinking alike these days their synchronicity seemed to extend to their colour schemes. He'd left the shower first to finish preparing the dinner and she hadn't known he'd also chosen green. It suited him.
"I knew you'd realise it eventually!" He grinned triumphantly. She rolled her eyes at him smacking him lightly on his rear as she pushed him through the door.
Her father was being greeted with a swift hug from Alexis. Martha wafted an air kiss on both his cheeks before Kate caught up to him, putting an arm around his waist as she led him to the dining table. It was a magnificent spread and Alexis fetched warmed plates to the table.
They all sat, passing around the dishes and swapping stories. Alexis asked about Jim's class action against a company using one of the chemicals thought to be involved in the reduction in bee populations. "Come over and see the research reports I've got," her father offered, "bring Pi along if he's interested."
Kate was thankful that her father seemed to accept the young man was part of Alexis' life. She knew from her own experience that obvious disapproval would only drive the girl further towards her choice of boyfriend and less able to admit her mistake if the relationship didn't work out.
Kate absorbed the family atmosphere like breathing in air fresh with scents of spring. She saw Jim and Martha laughing over some theatre story and Rick regaling his daughter with some exaggerated version of an arrest one of the uniforms had made. None of the hilarity seemed at all diminished by the absence of alcohol.
Eventually Jim sat back in his chair. "That was a wonderful meal" he said "thank you all. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much." There was a moment's silence around the table.
Jim quickly eased the tension patting his stomach. "I'll need a new suit for your wedding Katie," he told her, "this one seems to have shrunk in the wardrobe." They all laughed.
"Speaking of weddings" she said flicking a look at Rick, "now we're all together we ought to discuss dates. "
She looked over the table to Martha, "Any plans for theatre tours or dates we need to avoid?" She asked.
"Nothing that can't be changed," the older woman assured her, "your wedding is one show I don't intend to miss!"
"What about you, Dad?" Kate leaned towards her father. "I want you to walk me down the aisle. Anything on next year?" She had not expected him to have commitments, so was surprised when he answered "Actually yes. This case I'm working on, the European courts are investigating too. I intend to go over for the hearings in October but I could always fly back for a weekend." he added.
"No Dad. I'm sure we can avoid October now we know. "
"Alexis, "she turned to the girl sitting alongside her, placing a hand on the girl's arm, "I'd very much like you to be one of my bridesmaids, if you want to, that is?"
The redhead blushed, her mouth dropping open. "Really, you want me?" She gasped. "I mean I'd love to, I've never been a bridesmaid!"
"Lanie will be there too" Kate reassured her. Alexis fiddled with her napkin "I don't want to miss it," she admitted, "but I have a chance for another field trip. I mean, I don't have to go. I'd rather be at the wedding!" She finally met Kate's eye. Kate patted her arm.
"When is it?" she asked casually, hiding the fact that she already knew.
"Um... Easter," the girl replied," Easter break"
"Fine!" Kate observed. "It could be difficult then to get leave from the precinct as others will want family time. So not Easter and not October" She looked at Rick. "I think we can work around that."
He was looking at her adoringly, delighted that she had given his daughter such an important role, particularly as Alexis had not been so friendly towards her since their engagement. He knew they'd talked things through after the Innocence Review case and he was aware his fiancée thought he'd overreacted with Pi but he wasn't really sure how things lay between his two favourite girls. It seemed they were OK. Very OK.
Rick transferred his gaze to his daughter who was bouncing on her chair like she had as a four-year old. "Whee! I'm going to be a bridesmaid!" She exclaimed, eyes shining.
"And don't worry about the fee for your field trip, my treat for standing up with me," announced Kate.
"Oh no, it's too much!" Alexis protested. "Kate, you can't," remonstrated Rick, at the same time.
Kate posed as if really annoyed, her hand on her hip and a glare in her eye "Can't?" She raised an eyebrow at him "You don't own all my worldly goods just yet!"
"Um..." he swallowed looking around the table for help. As usual his deflection technique came to his rescue. "Jim, you told her I was only marrying her for her pension fund didn't you?"
Jim played along "'Fraid so, Rick," he agreed, "that and her body!"
"Dad! " Kate exclaimed. "Eww!" cried Alexis. Martha choked her mirth down, enjoying the teasing between them and thrilled to see the joy on her granddaughter's face.
Alexis pushed her chair back "Excuse me," she said, "I must go and tell Pi the good news. "
She made to pass behind Kate's chair, then, pausing threw her arms around Kate's neck and leant her chin on Kate's hair. "Thanks Mom," she whispered. "Love you!"