For starters, my husband insisted I name this chapter "I'm on a Boat!" when I told him what it's about. Here's why: [http: / www.] Youtube .com/ watch?v=avaSdC0QOUM Apparently, they also do "I Just Had Sex" and "Jizz in my Pants." (not appropriate for younger /sensitive audiences)
Second, I'm sorry this has taken so long. The reason is at the end. I appreciate your kind thoughts and prayers, but also, I like comments on the story…so, you know, if you want to mention my kid, that's okay…but story?
It's been so long I'm not going to do a real re-cap. That little back button might be useful. Here's what you need to know for the boat. Haven't seen Amanda in a while…she's Rick's event planner, helping out with the Johanna Beckett Jamboree as well. At Rick's surprise party, there was a story about Lanie and Kate in Miami and we learned there's photographic evidence. Hope you're not too disappointed, but this chapter doesn't touch much on Kate and Rick together…more scene setting. Alexis' gift to him will be in the next chapter…plus the more intimate moments between Kate and Rick that I honestly thought would be in this chapter.
Want a visual for the boat? It's based on this: [http: / www.] lexingtonclassiccruises .com/
Chapter 51 – I'm on a Boat!
Kate and Madison were running late, so they took a cab to the marina. They arrived just as the last of Castle's guests were emerging from the shuttle he'd arranged for them. He insisted that his guests not be inconvenienced. Castle's goal for the evening was to ensure that everyone had a good time. It may have been his birthday—but this was also a social event.
As Castle stood there greeting his guests, answering their questions, introducing them to the ship's captain and reminding them that there was an open bar, he couldn't help but think back on past birthdays.
This one was different, though. This one had the guys from the 12th. He felt less like he had to one-up or show-off or impress than he had in years. The group celebrating with him tonight had never been more real. Sure, he normally had a few people he was close to each party, but never so many that he respected. Never so many that he wanted to show a good time and that he knew didn't normally enjoy luxuries like a yacht or a cruise on the Hudson. It was a definitely a mixed crowd tonight. He was sure some of the guests from years past would be shocked when learned they were partying with some of New York's finest…but, hell, maybe they'd learn something themselves and show a little appreciation for the people keeping their streets safe.
Castle didn't celebrate big all that often—only on the fives. Thirty-five had been more for the loud crowd. He'd rented out a club and opened it up to everyone he knew and didn't know. Alexis wasn't pleased with his choice because she didn't get to go. And Martha worried he was having an early midlife crisis, but enjoyed the party anyway. Thirty—when Karamagi and Steph met—had been a formal dinner and a private concert from Rockapella at the Bowery.
His date had been a seven-year old Alexis. Her hair had been redder then and she'd had a splash of freckles over her nose and cheeks like a summer in the Hamptons always produced. She was so excited to be wearing her fancy dress and new shoes, with the little heel. He'd given her a wrist corsage which she'd promptly put in her new, gleaming white purse so that it would have something in it. He smiled at the memory of her opening up her little purse to show their guests he'd given her flowers.
He glanced up, looking for his daughter. He found her leaning onto the teak railing talking to her date. Ashley. Ten years ago, he'd been her date. He'd had a friend take her to the salon to get her hair done. It had been curled and piled and pinned on her head, stiff with too much hair spray—something that he hadn't liked undoing. But she'd been thrilled with the little white rosebuds they poked into her hair. Still had them saved in her desk drawer, even.
Tonight, was different. From behind, you wouldn't know she was still on the cusp of womanhood. You'd just think she was a petite, small-framed woman. But Castle suspected she was still filling out. She'd get taller. Her shoulders would broaden some, like Kate's. And she wouldn't have a huge…, but when she was older, there'd be more distinction between her waist and…like Kate. Her hair, though. Somewhere along the way, she'd picked up a confident elegance…like Kate. Her hair hung loose and straight below her shoulders, in sharp contrast to the black of her sleeveless dress. She seemed older, wiser, more womanly—especially tonight—and more put together than her years should allow.
Kate took in the long, sleek-looking boat. Well…Castle kept saying "boat party," but this wasn't just a boat. Castle didn't own it—much to her and Lanie's amusement when they'd teased him about not owning a boat. But, of course, he had a guy everywhere. And one of his guys just happened to be the captain of the Lexington—a yacht. Or cruise ship.
She wasn't sure where one drew the line between yacht and cruise ship…but, well, it floated and was going to be responsible for their trip down East River. They'd edge around the tip of lower Manhattan and sail between Ellis and Liberty Islands before getting the tourist's view of Lady Liberty and making their way back. It was safe to say she was excited for the outing. She'd lived in Manhattan her whole life and couldn't remember a time since her elementary days that she'd purposefully set out to see the Statue of Liberty—and at night? Only in pictures.
Kate's eye followed the walkway, which wrapped fully around the main level of the yacht. Further down, toward the stern, she saw Alexis and Ashley wrapped around each other, leaning on the polished railing. On the other end, toward the bow, she could see people milling about, walking easily from various open archways off the main dining room to the wide-open deck that was lit up with white string lights.
Movement above her caught her eye, and she looked to the space above the main dining hall, where there was a smaller, but still quite large, open-air bridge deck. Honestly, she was hoping to spot Castle before he spotted her, but it was Lanie, half-waving and half-beckoning her up, or to hurry up. Kate smiled and waved back to her friend who looked to have a fruity little number already in hand.
Kate turned back to answer Madison's question, but was distracted his voice. Even leaning to the side to peer surreptitiously around Maddie, she couldn't see him past the others lined up along the ramp. She didn't know how many people were in front of them, but she could hear Castle greeting each guest. Tuned in as she was to him and him alone, she didn't even hear Maddie's next comment.
"Laura. Exquisite this evening. Glad you could make it."
"Gina. You're looking great. JP. How're you doing?"
"Dean-a-rino! My man!"
"Chuck. Welcome aboard. I think the Captain and Connelly were waiting on you to start up a poker game. Check the lounge."
"And your better half. Mrs. Markaway. Looking lovely this evening, I must say."
"Ah, Tami. You look beautiful. How're the horses? Keeping you busy? Ah. I told you…no gifts, but it this is your new book, I'll take it!"
"Paula. You look wonderful. Amanda. You are positively glowing. Who knew preggers could look so good, huh?"
"Madison. You're gorgeous as ever."
Kate had been staring at their feet, just listening to him charm everyone. She hadn't realized they'd moved, but hearing Castle say Maddie's name startled her head up. Immediately, she found Castle's brilliant blue eyes.
"Thank you, Rick," Madison replied. "Sorry, I'm getting your girl here late. She wanted to get here early, help out, but I had a mini shoe crisis. Becks came through with a pair of killer heels, though." She kicked a heel up for effect.
"Well, she's certainly the one for that," Rick said, looking down only because they were Kate's shoes and he had an ongoing mental inventory. He took Madison's left hand and guided her down the final step onto the yacht. He let go of her as quick as was polite and turned back for Kate.
"Ka-ate." Castle breathed out her name, like he was relieved to finally be saying it. He reached for her hand, but instead of letting it go when she stepped down, he gestured to the man across from him. The man she had seen while waiting on the ramp.
"Captain Kershaw, I'd like you to meet New York's finest. Detective Kate Beckett." Kate shook hands with the man, amused when he brought her hand to his lips. It wasn't his greeting so much as that she now found herself with her arms spread across the entryway, a man holding each hand. Castle had stepped a little closer, so it wasn't as awkward as it could have been, but when she'd tugged to pull her hand free, he only tightened his hold.
She made the requisite small talk with the older man and tried to move away, but Castle lightly tugged her back toward him. He leaned in close. "Find me a drink, will ya?" His warm breath feathered over her ear. "Have a feeling I'm going to need it tonight."
Kate smiled and squeezed his hand. He could get his own drink, she knew. She'd seen multiple servers walking around with hors d'oeuvres and champagne. But it meant he'd be joining her soon—not that he needed an excuse. He probably saw her more than anyone else here—except for Alexis and Martha, and still she was first on his list of people to seek out. She didn't mind one bit.
He let her walk off this time, but couldn't help but watch as her dress swished at the back of her legs. He held on, his heart rate staggering at every flex of her calf muscles.
He felt like a damn fool. He'd complimented every woman on board tonight. He'd had to dig deep a few times—one woman's perfume threatened to send him overboard. Another obviously had her Castle claws out—he'd be steering clear of her. Or maybe sic her on one of Weldon's donors. Another had pointed out her recent nose job, and really what does one say to that? Then, when the one he was waiting on—the one more stunning than all the others combined…when she shows up, he can barely choke out her name? Smooth move, Castle.
Kate stepped into the main dining room. Immediately, she spotted the dance floor, quite empty for the moment, except for a few small clusters of people standing around talking. Kiddy-corner from where she stood, just off the edge of the dance floor stood a baby grand piano. She nodded to Eddie, realizing Castle must have talked him in to playing tonight. A long, low sofa ran the length of the wall to her left. Beyond that, a mix of tables, some high, some low, some larger than others were scattered around the room. She headed to the bar, just on the other side of the spiral staircase. She'd get their drinks and then go find Lanie.
She recognized the bartender right away. Castle must have staffed the party with the crew from the Old Haunt. Well—not the servers. She didn't recognize them—and there were too many of them to have come from the Old Haunt.
"Hey, Brian. Get a new gig?"
"Detective!" Brian said with a smile. "Looking mighty fine, tonight."
"Thanks, Bri," Kate said, smiling back. "Got any Jameson back there?"
"For the boss man?"
Kate nodded.
"Always. And for you?"
"Surprise me?"
"My pleasure."
Kate leaned back on the bar and looked around while he worked. She smiled at the poker table. Half of Castle's Gotham City crew with Connelly, a woman she didn't recognize…and was that Tami Hoag? And shit! Alex Conrad. What is he doing here?
"Rick had me hunt down a new cherry liqueur for you," Brian said from behind her. She turned as he was uncapping an old looking, green bottle. He held it out to her, and she leaned in to smell it. Poor guy. She really wasn't trying to tease him with the view.
"Best one yet, I think," he continued. Based on smell alone, she'd have to agree. "So, I've been working on a new drink for you. Really show off its flavor."
Brian held out a lime-garnished highball to her, heavy on the cherries, still stemmed like she preferred. "I call it Cupid's Delight. A little variation on a Cupid's Cocktail."
Kate skipped the cherries—definitely saving those for Castle—and took a sip. "Mmm. This one's a keeper. Fresh, not too sweet." She paused, eyes widening.
"A little heat?"
"Mmm. Yeah."
"That's Rick's touch. Like it?"
"It's really good."
"Well, if you like it, it gets added to the books. Rick wants to call it the 'Beckett Meets Heat," but I told him you'd shoot him."
"Good call. Cupid's Delight. Have you seen my friend, Madison?"
"Hottie in the red dress, red heels?"
Kate nodded.
"Upstairs."
"Thanks," Kate said, grabbing their drinks from the bar and turning for the spiral staircase. She knew Lanie was still waiting for her.
"You could give me her number, you know?"
"I know," Kate called over her shoulder, laughing. She turned back, stopping short before she knocked over the woman in front of her.
"Ah, Detective Beckett," Gina said, touching her arm lightly. "I was just coming to see you. It's been a while."
Kate groaned internally. She did not want to make small talk with Castle's ex-wife. With Meredith, she'd had Alexis and Mother's Day to be concerned over, but what was she supposed to say to Gina? Did the woman never wear anything but pink? Kate wondered, taking in Gina's flawless figure. Blonde hair framing her face—shorter than it had been the last time they saw one another. White skirt, bright pink top. Matching heels.
"It's Kate, Gina. Please. How are you?"
"Doing well. Been busy, you know? Getting Heat Rises ready for press."
Kate nodded.
"Actually, I was hoping to introduce you to some of Black Pawn, if you have time. Give a face to some of the names you might hear from Richard? I know they all want to meet you."
"Oh, uh, sure." Truthfully, outside of Gina and Paula, Castle didn't refer to anyone from Black Pawn by name very often, but she followed Gina across the dance floor to the other side of the room, answering each of Gina's polite questions along the way.
Gina pulled up next to a tall man whose arm immediately snaked around her waist. Gina smiled affectionately at him, before turning to the rest of the large group.
"Everyone. I have a surprise for you…" She gestured to Kate. "Detective Kate Beckett." Gina smiled broadly and genuinely.
A man stepped forward, looking to shake her hand, but as she held both Rick's drink and her own, she simply tilted them in his direction. Undeterred, he leaned forward, hands on either side of her waist and kissed her cheek. Personal space, buddy! Yeah, she didn't like him.
"Ah, Nikki Heat. I've wanted to get my hands on you. I've got another author—I think your insight would be invaluable to."
He's stepped back a bit, but he hadn't let go. Kate turned out of his grasp, giving him a murderous look.
"It's Detective Beckett—"
"And she's not interested, Ed. She's got a real job. Not to mention her hands full with Richard—and she's done an admirable job keeping him on task. When has that ever happened?"
Dammit! She's nice.
"Creeper, here, is Edward Sulks, another of Black Pawn's publishing agents. He knows how to separate fact from fiction, so I don't know what the hell he's thinking." She finished with a glare in Edward's direction.
"Death wish, if Richard…" Gina nodded in agreement with the woman to Kate's right. Ed sneered at the two women and stalked off. Kate relaxed a bit.
"Gretchen Young," Gina introduced. "Your chief editor. Well, Rick's."
"We're blurring the lines between fact and fiction, finally getting to meet you." Gretchen said. "But it's a pleasure."
Gina continued with introductions, and Kate enjoyed talking with them, even if it was a bit uncomfortable at first. She couldn't stop herself from looking over her shoulder though, wondering where Rick was. She spotted him once from across the room, and made eye contact. They had a silent conversation about when he was going to come get his drink. She saw him excuse himself, and then he was headed her way, but he was stopped while crossing the dance floor. In a moment, he was dancing and apologizing to her from across the room, each of them still talking to other people.
It wasn't long before Kate herself was interrupted, but this time it was Alexis.
"Hi Kate," Alexis said, sliding under her arm to hug her side.
Kate left her arm around Alexis shoulders.
"Hey, Sweetie. Having fun?"
"Yeah, just came down from upstairs. Lanie's looking for you." She nodded toward the group. "I see you've met everyone from Black Pawn and Hyperion. Hi guys! Gina. It's been a while."
"Alexis! We never see you anymore!" Gretchen said.
"Yeah, Dad doesn't have to drag me along with him like he used to."
"Well, you're welcome to tag along anytime, Alexis. We always love seeing you there."
"Thanks, Gina. Oh! I see Dad. Please excuse me. Gotta steal his iPhone for upstairs. Mine funked out."
Alexis gave Kate another squeeze. "When you get a minute, I want to introduce you to a friend." Then she leaned in closer, just for Kate. "And be forewarned, Ashley's mom's lurking about, hoping to find you."
"Thanks for the warning."
"She's a good kid," Gina said.
"The best," Kate agreed, before the man across from her launched in to another series of questions about how involved Rick actually gets in their casework. He seemed surprised to learn that Rick wasn't exaggerating. She told them a few stories, before she was interrupted again. This time by Martha—who actually walked through the circle of people standing there to get to Kate.
"Kate, Dear," Martha said, her hands squeezing Kate's upper arms. She could hear Martha's necklaces and bracelets jangling as she greeted Kate with a kiss to each cheek. Martha stood back, admiring Kate.
Expecting the night air to be a bit cool and preferring not to have to keep track of a shawl, Kate had chosen a long-sleeved dress. The smooth jersey-like dress draped over her curves, clinging in all the best places, before hanging loose past her hips. It was so dark a midnight purple, that it seemed black. It veed low between her breasts, but not wide. It was short—it definitely didn't meet the 'must extend past fingertips' rule they'd imposed in high school, but it was not so short that she wouldn't wear it in front of her colleagues. Obviously. She'd paired it with the perfect pumps: straps of metallic silver and black. Her hair was in loose curls, the sides pulled back at the nape of her neck and held in place with the antique-looking hair comb Castle had given her for her last birthday.
"Absolutely stunning."
Kate laughed a little, feeling decidedly singled-out. "Thank you, Martha," Kate said, thinking that what was really stunning was how the woman managed to pull off a sequined gold top and a near neon-green skirt without calling to mind Vegas showgirls.
Martha hooked her right arm through Kate's left. Before Kate could protest—she had plans for those cherries!, Martha had pulled Kate's near-empty glass from her hand and set it on a passing server's tray.
"Gina. Mark. Gretchen." Martha nodded her hellos to everyone and then, "I hope you don't mind if I pull our gal here away."
"Not at all," Gina said. "It was a pleasure to see you again, Kate. I hope we'll catch up again soon."
Kate shook hands with everyone and allowed Martha to lead her out onto the deck. It was much darker out now. She hadn't realized how much time had passed.
Martha stopped beside a woman with thick, dark, shoulder length hair, who smiled broadly at the pair.
"Kate, I'd like you to meet a very dear friend of mine, Ali Wolterman. Alice, this is Detective Kate Beckett. Richard's…the woman Richard's been working with."
"Oh, Detective Beckett. It's a pleasure to finally meet you! I was so jealous when Joe told me he'd met Rick's inspiration for Nikki Heat. I love those books. I gave him hell when he killed off Derek Storm, but your character? That Nikki? Beat's Derek any day."
"Well, I don't know about that," Kate said.
"So, do you know anything about this new book?" Ali asked. "Rick's being awfully close-lipped."
"Sorry, Ms. Wolterman. I'm anxiously awaiting the manuscript as well. He won't even let me peek at it until final edits are done."
"Shame. And it's Mrs. Torre—I mean, if you're going to insist on calling me 'Mrs.' Just 'Ali', though, among friends, kay?"
Mrs. Torre? Joe? As in Joe Torre?
"Ya—you're Joe Torre's wife?" Kate ground out the incredulous question. And you've talked about ME?
"Well, now, see? That's why I go by Wolterman most of the time. I mean, I'm his wife, yes. But not just his wife."
"Oh, no, I—I'm sorry." Kate mumbled sheepishly. God, didn't she hate being treated this way as well? As Richard Castle's muse? Nikki Heat's alter ego? "I didn't mean…I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Honey. I'm just teasing you. Trying to break the ice. Joe said you were…a fan."
"A mumbling buffoon of a fan. And he was so casual, so normal. I mean, I'd never met someone so famous."
"Well, Rick," Ali answered, smiling.
"What? Yeah. No comparison."
"Don't let him hear you say that, Dear," Martha laughed.
"What? Oh, he knows, Martha."
"It's funny. To me, Joe's just Joe. I can see Rick's the same for you. But we all get star-struck sometimes. My Joe? He's not a big reader. Big joker, thought. After he met you, he came home teasing me with a 'Guess who I met today?'—because he knows how big a fan I am of yours. Of Rick's. Of Nikki and Rook. Or 'Rookie,' as Joe affectionately calls my obsession. To me, it's just fascinating."
"We feel the same way about baseball—my dad and me."
"You know…" Ali paused and cocked her head, like she was about to share am amazing bit of gossip. "Both Joe's father and brother were NYPD officers. Rocco, his brother, would have loved these Nikki Heat books."
"Really?" Kate asked, impressed. "I had no idea. I'll bet he would have recognized a lot of what Castle puts in. He has an eye for detail and he really keeps it true to the scene. Except the paperwork. There's always more paperwork than is truly depicted."
"I've wondered. Everything seems so real as I'm reading…more so than in the Storm novels, and you know, I just have to think that comes from following you around."
"Well, I like to think it's not a complete waste of time."
"And is he helpful, like Rook is to Nikki, or just a pain in the ass?"
"Both. But if you tell him I said—"
Ali Wolterman Torre tuned to Martha. "She really is good for him, isn't she?"
Martha simply hummed. Kate flushed, and took a sip of Castle's Jameson and Ginger. Where was he anyway? It didn't take her long to spot him on the dance floor with a different woman. Time to make her escape, find Lanie. Maddie. The boys.
Upstairs, Kate first spotted Jenny, chin on Ryan's shoulder as they swayed together on the outskirts of the dance floor. Jenny gave her a little wave and nodded to her right. Kate followed her direction and found Maddie leaned up against the side of the bridge deck talking to Lanie and Esposito.
"Girl, where've you been?"
Kate smiled. "Talking with Joe Torre's wife." Lanie wouldn't get it. Instead, she looked at the man sitting beside Lanie on the low, blue chaise lounge. "Did you know his brother and his father used to be NYPD?"
"Dude. No way."
"No joke. She's downstairs. So's Mo Vaughn."
"¡Vete a la verga!" Lanie backhanded his chest. "Is there anyone he doesn't know?"
Kate shrugged, and lifted Castle's drink to her lips, but before she could enjoy a sip, a large hand appeared in front of her face and plucked the glass from her hand.
"I believe that's mine, Detective."
"What am I? Your barmaid?"
Castle gave her a look that let her know exactly what he was thinking before he threw his head back, closed his eyes on the stars and gave in to the image she'd planted in his head. Ice clinked his lips, and he drew the glass back looking at it. He realized he hadn't tasted anything but cherries. Damn woman. She shouldn't say shit like that to him. She did it on purpose. He knew she did. Cherry lip balm and bare toes. Naked legs.
"Need another," Castle said with a dazed look. He left them all there without even bothering to see if anyone else was up for a refill—which was quite unlike him.
Kate turned from watching everyone crowded on the dance floor to watching the shoreline in the distance. The bridge deck was loud and crowded and she just wasn't really in the mood for it tonight. Not when she'd spent so much time downstairs where Eddie was playing the piano and people were dancing—really dancing.
It was pretty up on the bridge deck. There was no doubt about that, but downstairs, it was beautiful. It reminded her of something out of a Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movie. It wasn't like that exactly, but the walls and furnishings were rich. Everyone was dressed up. The lighting was perfect. And people were floating across the dance floor in pairs—literally cheek to cheek. The music wasn't bad up there—straight from Castle's iPod, in fact—but the dancing, the overall atmosphere? You could find that every night of the week in New York. Downstairs, it was something special.
She jerked a little feeling something vibrate against her thigh. She was leaned against the wall, and everyone around her was engaged in conversation, so she lifted her dress a little and tugged her cell phone from under the band of her thigh holster. It wasn't made for cell phones, but she'd had her grandmother modify it for her.
Wondered where it was.
She looked around for him. She knew he had to be at the bar. That's where his phone was.
Got your gun, too?
She smiled at him and shook her head, but he couldn't tell if she was shaking her head at him or if she meant 'no.' He was betting on the former—but probably only because he liked the idea of her gun strapped to her thigh.
Kate felt arms wrap around her then, and she was lifted from the floor. Castle laughed at the shocked look on Kate's face. Of course, he'd seen Ajax coming.
Kate's head whipped around. If it hadn't been for the amusement on Castle's face, she'd have immediately resorted to bodily harm. But, oddly enough, Castle thinking it was funny settled her in a way. When she realized it was Ajax, she settled on a sharp elbow and yelling at him.
"Ajax!" All her friends were looking their way now. Wondering who this kid was that was getting away with this.
Ajax laughed.
"What the hell were you thinking? You know I can take you down." She'd done it easily while they were camping.
"Aww. Take it easy, Kate. I couldn't resist. Besides—"
"Besides nothing. What are you doing here?" Kate asked, smoothing a hand over her hair. She was taking in the crisp white shirt and black vest. The same attire Brian wore downstairs.
"New bartender. Rick hired me for the summer before I head off to Purdue. Figured I could learn a few tricks and he works it around my ball schedule."
"Yeah. That's great. He mentioned. But shouldn't you be, uh…tending bar?"
"Nah—Rick wanted a go at it."
Kate looked to the bar again. Rick was juggling limes. Of course. He juggles. And he was drawing a crowd.
"Who's your boy toy?" Madison asked. Kate was pretty sure she'd asked that earlier, too. It hadn't come from Lanie. She'd ignored it the first time, but this time...well, she might as well introduce him.
"This is Ajax, Ashley's friend."
"Who's Ashley?" Maddie asked, not keeping up.
"Alexis' boyfriend," Jenny answered.
"We're going to be betting on him in the Big Ten next season," Kate continued, mostly to Ryan and Esposito. "Purdue."
Ajax shied a little, but was obviously proud. "I only hope I get some floor time," he answered while Espo and Ryan congratulated and asked about other schools he'd looked at, the recruiting process, etc.
When the conversation turned to Ryan's ineptitude when it came to filling in the brackets, Ajax turned his attention back to Kate.
"So, gonna dance with me?"
"What? No."
"Ah, come on. I'm trying to impress a girl."
"What girl?" Kate asked skeptically. Except for Alexis, she was pretty sure every woman here had a good ten years on him.
"It won't matter. They'll all be impressed if you dance with me."
"Ooh, he's smooth," Lanie said. "Taking lessons from Castle, did you say?"
"Can't hurt," Jenny said. She nodded to the bar where Castle was still charming the crowd. They saw a cocktail shaker sail into the air.
"Hey!" Kevin cried, in mock offence over his fiancée's comment. But, it was obvious she was just trying to get a rise out of her man.
Kate rolled her eyes. The boys were so easy.
"Hey. If she won't dance with you, I will." Maddie said, uncrossing her long legs.
"Down, Cougar." Lanie laughed half joking, but in an all too commanding voice. She still wasn't happy with Madison and the way she'd insisted Josh was hotter. Or that she had a picture of Kate's boyfriend on her phone. Or that she always seemed to take an interest in anyone who was interested in Kate.
Kate cocked her head to the side and looked up Ajax. He was definitely taller than Castle. Maybe he'd grown even taller over the last couple of weeks. Ajax shimmied his shoulders back and forth, inviting her to dance again.
"Ah, what the hell," she said. She wanted to dance. She liked the song that was playing. It was Ajax. Castle wouldn't be holding that against her. "One."
Ajax grinned. "Good for me."
One dance with Ajax, just as she promised, and Kate excused herself for the main deck. She couldn't resist the atmosphere of the lower deck. Apparently the boys had felt the need to move about as well because she now found them talking to Karpowski and several other officers from the precinct. She joined them, wondering what had happened to the girls?
Nelson—she honestly didn't know his first name; Rick probably knew his whole life story—was in the middle of telling an off-color joke when suddenly he stalled and sputtered. His pale, ruddy, freckled face, his ears—his whole round head, made visible under short-cropped hair, reddened considerably. Some of the group stiffened and stood straighter. Others shifted uncomfortably. Kate turned to look over her left shoulder at the new presence she'd felt arrive.
"Your honor," Esposito said, having risen from where he leaned against the window ledge.
"Detective Esposito," Mayor Weldon answered. Esposito looked a little stunned that the mayor knew his name.
"Sir. Your honor, Sir."
"Relax," he chuckled. "Please. Carry on with your joke, Detective."
"It's Officer, Sir. Nelson. Tommy. Uh, I mean, Officer Tommy Nelson." It was the mayor's turn to look a little surprised, but he hid it better.
"Well, Tommy, I'm Bob. How 'bout I tell you my own joke?"
Kate smirked. Like anyone is going to tell him no.
"So…a lawyer, a politician and a priest walk into a bar…"
Whatever it was, Kate was sure she'd heard it. From Rick. They'd been barraged with 'a guy walks into a bar' jokes after he bought The Old Haunt. She looked for him in the direction she'd last seen him, and spotted him again. This time dancing with his daughter. All his attention focused on her, and she could see the big grin on Alexis' face, laughing at something her father said. Kate smiled sweetly at the picture they made. She wished she'd thought to grab her camera, but then she saw Martha circling the edge of the dance floor with the same video camera Castle had pulled out for Alexis' prom.
"So? How about it, Detective Beckett?"
"Hmm? I'm sorry, your honor."
"Talked your Captain into a poker game. The boys are up for it. And Ms. Karpowski."
"Detective." Kate corrected him. She let some people get away with it, but the mayor should get it right.
"Be great to play with those trained to spot our tells. See if we can pick up a few tricks of the trade."
"Oh, umm. No thanks. Not for me. Not tonight."
"Beckett. You can't tell the mayor 'no.'" Ryan hissed at her. She gave him that 'and just who do you think you are telling me what to do?' look she'd perfected early in life.
"Of course, she can. None of us are here in an official capacity. I know I'm not."
Kate sent Ryan an 'I told you so' smirk.
"Not that I don't appreciate the offer. Another time?" she asked politely.
"I'll hold you to it. Get Rick to set it up. Maybe we can do it at my place next time?"
Kate nodded, wary of the invitation and the perception it created among her colleagues. It wasn't just that his statement implied coupledom—it was also that he was the mayor and he was inviting her to his home. Some already felt she had 'favored' status. And maybe she did. But it only made her want to work harder to prove that it wasn't because of Richard Castle or Nikki Heat.
"'Til then, how about a dance, Detective?"
Kate hesitated again, knowing she wouldn't have if he'd asked her outside of the watchful eye of her colleagues.
"Come on," Weldon prodded, holding out his hand. "You can't turn me down," he teased. "I'm the mayor."
Kate smiled and put her hand in his, thankful for his easy manner and the 'in' he'd given her. "In that case, I'd be honored, your honor."
Again apologies that this took so long. I haven't responded to reviews either. I hope to get to that, but make no promises for the last chapter. Here's the rambling explanation…
I DO feel an obligation toward you all and I'm not ignoring this story, but since many of you have wondered where the update was, I feel I owe you a bit of an explanation…plus, I have a feeling at least someone out there might know what this is like or feel like they're the only ones. It's not like my co-worker whose daughter was born with a disease that means she has developmental issues and likely won't live to her teen years, if she makes it that far. So, I have perspective. We're all blessed in unique ways.
Some of you know my little guy's underweight. So, early January, he sprained his hip and knee. We don't know how, but it was pretty painful for him, especially moving from one position to another. Docs go, "hmm, that's somewhat unusual for a 4 year old…and he's underweight, right? Wonder if they're related?"
Of course, Momma's been concerned for a while that there's something more serious going on, but we haven't hit that 6-month reevaluation mark. Log his BMs (bowel movements). Nothing conclusive. Then they go, "Oh, wait. You said he frequently has dark circles under his eyes? Let's check his iron levels." Maybe a little low, but not serious. A few nutrition tests. A food allergy test. Nada. "Oh, and he gets bloody noses frequently? Let's run a blood test. Test for anemia."
Red flags for Momma. Too much Lurlene McDaniel as a kid. Doc says, "You said he's not fatigued, right?" Momma says, "Correct, but like I said, he seems to bruise easily. Were you not paying attention?" Red flags are jumping and flapping in the wind. Doc says, "Why don't we just go ahead…check his platelets at the same time? Just rule out the possibility?" Yeah, Momma saw that one coming. Fretted about it to Daddy and Grandpa over and over. But, it would be better to know than to worry and wonder, right?
You know? There are some things that can set a parent off faster than others. Nutrition test? Safe. Kids teasing one another? To be expected. Bumps, scrapes and bruises? Eh, you're fine. Child molester two houses down? Panic. Hole in the heart (VSD)? Panic. Cancer screening? Panic.
Anyway…after a couple blood draws, a dye test and another scan (they didn't call it an MRI) but it was like that…no discrepancy between white and red blood cells. And no tumors. Thank God! (Over and Over and Over—Always.) Still don't know what, if anything, is up with him—he's a happy, energetic kid—so maybe it's just how he is? Once that seed is planted that there's something wrong, though, it's like…can't explain. But, you want answers now and you can't have them. And then when you do get them and they point to nothing, you're stuck wondering 'what if they're wrong?' It's hard to know what to trust. Tests? Intuition? That he seems fine? (Except for the laundry list of things that don't seem fine?) I don't know. He sees a naturopath soon.