Hope you like this exchange. Of if you don't, that's okay, too. Just let me know what you're thinking if you have time. Thanks and enjoy!
Chapter 11 – Revelations
On the ride back to Rick's loft, Kate learned Sheryl was a transplant from Georgia. She has two kids—a son and a daughter and five grandkids from ages 2 to 10. Her kids and grandkids still live in Georgia, outside Atlanta where they grew up. She's divorced and moved to New York twelve years ago. For a while, she missed her friends and job as a regional bank manager. She lives with her sister, Margo, and her husband, John, not because she has to, but just because they like the arrangement. Together, they own a bakery over on West 8th Street, in the NoHo district. Rick stressed that Sheryl does not bake, she runs the café and manages, while doing some cake decorating.
Kate didn't ask any questions on the ride home, just listened. Rick fell silent in the elevator, unable to think of anything else that Kate would want to know. She asked just one question. "Do you know how long or how they met?"
He paused outside the door. "Didn't come up, Kate." She took a deep breath and nodded that it was okay to open the door. He guided her through the door.
"Richard, Dear! Thought you'd gotten lost."
"Had to stop for gas." Rick lied. Kate knew Alexis would know this wasn't true as well, but she just announced that they were just in time.
"We were debating the merits of Peter Jackson's King Kong over the original."
"Or vice versa," Jim states.
"Peter Jackson's. Hands down." Kate and Rick said at the same time. They stopped and looked at each other, slightly pulsed that it had happened again. Martha and Alexis are getting used to it by now, but Sheryl's laughing and Jim's just staring.
"Apparently your dad and Gram like to kick it old school."
"That's not what we're watching, though, right? It's like three hours long…and I don't think I can sit for two hours without any action tonight."
Kate rolled her eyes. Alexis blushed. Jim wondered what the hell he was getting at. Sheryl stared.
"Really, Richard. You'd think you'd have a better way with words."
"What? The whole first half is boring."
"It's character development, Dad. Gives you a chance to connect. You'd think you of all people would appreciate that."
"Little too much of a good thing."
"Patience, Castle."
"But it's King Kong! He's supposed to be tearing up New York, crunching cars, causing utter devastation and fear in the hearts of men!"
"Castle. Cut the melodrama. If you don't want to watch King Kong, what do you want to watch?"
They moved into the living room. Castle and Alexis started going through their movie selection, calling out titles to pique their guests' interests. Kate wanted to speak to her father, though. It was the real reason she was here. To get him alone, apologize, figure out how he felt about Sheryl. Before he sat down, she touched her father's arm.
"Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Of course."
She led him to Castle's office. She glanced at Rick to make sure he wouldn't mind, even though she knew better. He just encouraged her with a smile.
Jim turned to look at his daughter. Kate wasn't interested in hem hawing. She dealt too frequently with suspects who'd prevaricate and do all they could to make it harder to find answers. She wanted answers, but she knew she couldn't treat her father like a suspect. Best to start with her own admission.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I…you…I was caught off guard. I had no idea you were dating someone. I mean, you never mentioned anyone. I didn't even know you were dating."
"I'm sorry too, Katie. I managed to make you each uncomfortable. Sheryl knows all about you and yet it was obvious to her that I never mentioned her to you, the most important person in my life."
"So you care about her?"
"Very much so."
"How long?"
"How long have I been dating or how long have Sheryl and I been together?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes. Sheryl and I have been dating for about five months, pretty serious for the last three."
"But you dated before her."
"It's been a long time, Kate. I was lonely. I couldn't always intrude on your life or depend on Bill."
"How long?"
"I don't think you really want to know, Katie." Kate stared at him, demanding an answer. "I'm not proud of some what I did early on, but after I sobered up…It was a long while before I dated again. I've dated four women since then. None longer than a couple months."
"I can't believe I didn't know."
"It's a two-way street, you know, Katie. You don't tell me about your boyfriends. I've only known when you're dating someone. I haven't met a boyfriend since you brought home that one fella, Will. And then, I only met him once." It was his turn. And he was curious about Richard Castle.
"I found out about your shadow from Lanie. I didn't know you two were dating, until tonight. I'm glad to see you've found someone, though. It's obvious how much he cares about you."
"What? Castle and I are not dating."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Dad, I'm pretty certain that if I were dating Richard Castle, playboy extraordinaire, I'd know about it. So would half of New York. The press would be all over it."
"Really? I thought…He just seems so…" In love. Jim took a moment to look over the man's office. Papers clipped by clothes pins hung around the room. Everything seemed to be in order, though, except the man's desk, which was littered with photographs. He looked closer thinking they were of his daughter. He picked up one, realizing it was Johanna.
"Kate? What is this?
"It's…I was going to surprise you with it on Mother's Day." Every Mother's Day, her father took care to be there for her. It was a hard day for Kate. Harder than Christmas. The one day set aside to honor your mother and Kate only had a few memories, a few stories and a short lifetime of photos. On Mother's Day, Kate would visit her mother's gravesite and then go to her parent's house. She and her dad make dinner together. Sometimes they'd reminisce; sometimes they'd just sit together, maybe watch a movie.
Kate shuffled the photos around until she uncovered the invitation wording she and Castle had worked on. She held it out to him to let him read it.
"Castle set up a scholarship in Mom's memory." Jim looked at his daughter. Clearly, they'd been working on this project a while, but he could see that she was still overwhelmed by the thought of honoring her mother in such a way. Castle was giving her something that he hadn't known she'd needed.
Kate could see that he wanted to ask 'Why?" just like her Aunt Nadine had. She tried to explain about the case they had. How Castle was determined to find out what everyone would do if they had a million dollars. How he'd shown up at her door, asking if he could host a fundraiser. How he'd already contributed more than her bank account would ever have to worry about accommodating.
Jim didn't know what to say. He knew she was trying to explain why Rick was doing this. Money was one thing. And it was clear Richard Castle had more than enough money. One glance around his loft told him that. The man could support any cause. Donate to an existing scholarship. Instead, he's immersed himself in creating a new one. Helping his daughter sort through photos, planning what looked to be a 5-star event. How could his ridiculously perceptive daughter be so blind?
"It's amazing, Katie. It's really…geez, I don't even know what to say. Grand? Phenomenal? Definitely unexpected."
"Yeah. I've had a hard time wrapping my head around it, too." She gave a small laugh and hugged her dad's side. "But it's happening. That's what Castle does. He's good at making stuff happen. Even these photos…his idea to digitize them for a slideshow."
"I have some at home I'll bring over. They should be included." Jim wrapped his daughter in a bear hug. "I'm happy you're so happy. Thank you for telling me now." Then he pulled back to look her in the eye.
"What, Dad?"
"Well, I'm going to try not to hurt you again by keeping stuff from you. I'm going to be more honest…accessible when it comes to us talking about our relationships. And I do have something to run by you, because I promised I would, but it's completely up to you. If you want me to stay, I will."
"Stay?"
"Sheryl has invited me to go with her to meet her family, stay for a week."
"But?"
"She's leaving this Thursday. And we'd be gone through the following Sunday. I wouldn't be here on Mother's day."
"Oh." Kate bit her lip and thought momentarily. "Well, you should go. I'll be fine here, Dad. Really." She didn't want him to go, but she could see he wanted to.
"Are you sure, Katie? Because you know I'll stay if you want me to." And he would have if he could see any indication in her eyes that she wasn't all right with him going to Atlanta.
But Kate forced a smile to her face and the shine in her eyes was not from any hurt she was expertly hiding from the man. "Go, Dad. They're gonna love you." She pulled on his arm. "Now let's go see what movie we're watching."
So, what do you think? Do you like the pace? Shopping with the girls is coming up next.