Late evening at the loft Kate and Alexis were watching a movie and Jim was dozing in the chair. It was possibly the most normal an evening that they have had in a very long time. Martha has been holed up in her room for the past few days. No one wanted to brook with her. Even Rick's attempts of communicating were laid flat at his feet. No one knew what to do. This was uncharted territory Martha Rodgers the woman so up beat and the life of the party was suddenly withdrawn and untalkative. She only appeared for meals but even those brief appearances were somber affairs.
Rick was in his office for most of the evening. The family had no idea what he was doing in there but Kate not wanting to intrude held back Alexis. Rick was on the phone with the Child Protective Services. Since Caroline was going to be technically an orphan. She would need some one to look out for her. Rick was wondering if this was the right thing comforting his enemies' grandchild. Rick had discussed it with the family and they all agreed it was the right thing to do. Kate would welcome a 15 year old to the household. They had Dr. Burke's number at the ready. According to someone close to the family she was the one who sent word where Carmine her mother was going. This poor child having Carmine Bracken as a mother was heart breaking.
Rick was still apprehensive it had been 3 days with no word. Each day that passed the mood in the loft grew more pensive. His Mother was deeply worried. Then the brief text from Colin saying Jackson's mission was a success and would be seeing them in the morning. Rick could not wait to tell everyone. But first he needed to speak to his mother.
"Mother it is Richard may I come in?" Rick asked as he knocked gently on the door.
There was no answer so Rick pushed the door open and found his mother is a frightful state. There was evidence that she had been crying. A pile of used tissues stood on the corner of her night stand. His Mother was dressed in an old NYU t-shirt it was threadbare and faded. Looking up Rick could see the red rimmed eyes and puffy face.
"Hello Richard I must look a frightful mess…" Martha said.
"No Mother I have seen you worse… Like the time in the Hampton's where you thought it was a good idea to drink that fifth of my finest whiskey." Rick said.
"Richard you were barely 21 there was a celebration on your first book success. It was also the night I introduced you to Meredith!" Martha said.
"Well I guess you knew what a train wreck that was going to be." Rick quipped.
"No Richard that was not the reason. It was the day I learned of your father's marriage. He came to see me and told me. Naturally I was devastated. I was so happy when he appeared in the middle of the celebration." Martha said.
"So you were never honest with me about him." Rick stated.
"Yes Richard I wanted to keep all our rendezvous to myself." Martha said. "Now I do not know if there will be anymore to look forward too."
So Mother how many of these encounters did you have over the years? Rick wanted to know.
"Richard…There were at least 20 maybe more." Martha said.
20? Rick felt hurt. He could have met his father much earlier in life but somehow his mother kept him from ever meeting him.
"Mother was he that bad of a man that you needed to protect me?" Rick asked.
"No on the contrary Richard he was just like you. So I could see you getting attached quickly and then he would be gone. It would have been too disruptive." Martha said.
"Even after I got older?" Rick asked.
"By then I left it up to him but I really did not want you two to ever meet." Martha said.
"Why Mother why did you not want me to meet him?" Rick asked with a cry to his voice.
"Richard my sweet boy I felt he would lure you into his world and then both of you would have disappeared from my life." Martha said. "You might or might not have survived but you would never been the father to Alexis or the great novelist which I knew you could be."
"So you were selfish?" Rick asked.
"Yes Richard I wanted to keep my experiences with your father to myself and I wanted to keep you with me too." Martha said.
"I see Mother I forgive you. This is not why I came up here though it has been a most enlightening conversation." Rick said. "I wanted you to see this."
Martha looked at the message on Rick's phone then she burst into tears and hugged him tight.
"He is alive and coming home!" Martha said hugging Rick.
"What do you mean coming home?" Rick said offering his Mother a tissue.
"Richard your father has decided to resign from the CIA. He has decided to live with me." Martha said.
"Wha…" Rick could not get out the words. His father resigning it did not seem possible?
Martha hugged him even tighter and cried even harder.
Rick finally getting his words together spoke slowly.
"Mother when were you going to tell us?" Rick said then he spotted the sapphire ring it was her birth stone and it was on her left hand.
"He wanted to surprise you when he got back. Oh dear he will have to forgive me I have let the proverbial cat out of the bag!" Martha said being contrite.
Rick slowly removed himself from her embrace.
"I'm so happy for you Mother. I must go and tell the others. They have not seen this news yet. Since I knew you were feeling poorly I would show you first." Rick said.
"Richard you are always a good Son." Martha said as he left the room.
Martha had told him more that night than any night previous in his life. He was confused. He would talk to Kate in their bed later. She always had such a level head when it came to these sorts of things. That was one of the reasons of many he loved her. Walking in to the room the movie credits were playing.
"Hi all" Rick said.
"How is your Mother Rick?" Kate asked lying on the couch looking so beautiful.
"Kate she is doing better since I showed her this" Rick said then placed the phone where Alexis could see it.
"So they made it? I'm going to have a foster sister after all?" Alexis asked.
Rick wrote on the white board.
"Yes Alexis she will be here in the Morning. Be careful she has lived with a very wicked person for 15 years. So we have to show her what a loving family is Ok Pumpkin."
"Yes Dad" Alexis said shaking her head. She was so excited.
"So I wonder who this guest Colin is referring is?" Kate asked.
"I do not know Kate I guess we will learn that in the morning. Come on Ms. Castle let's go to bed." Rick said.
"Yes Rick let's go" Kate said.
Kate wrote on her iPad
"Alexis good night we are going to bed but first we must change those dressings please go and get the supplies?"
Alexis dutifully got the supplies and in their bedroom Kate changed the dressings and gave the young woman a kiss. Rick did the same then Alexis made herself comfortable in her chair.
Getting ready for bed Kate could see Rick was troubled about something. Getting under the covers and comfortable Rick finally spoke.
"She knew Kate" Rick said.
"Who knew what Rick?" Kate asked as if her husband could be any more cryptic.
"My Mother she always knew how to contact him and through my life she had been seeing him." Rick said.
"Rick I am so sorry how do you feel about this revelation?" Kate asked mimicking her sessions with Dr. Burke.
"Well at first I was surprised then I learn she had purposely kept him away from me for at least 20 times 20 times Kate!" Rick was trembling.
Kate wrapped him in a hug and that calmed him down. He really did not know how lucky he was to have this warm woman sharing his life.
There there Rick let it go. I know it hurts but it is in the past and Jackson is still with us, Of course you can not get back what you have lost. He will be around so that you can make new memories." Kate said.
"Kate I love you" Rick said appreciating his wife even more.
"Always Rick Always." Kate said then they kissed and the kisses were more passionate and longer soon they were making love. Sated they fell asleep in each other's arms.