Ch. 30 Love Heals All Wounds
Kate moved around Rick as she let him shut the door. She clasped her hands in front of her and turned to all the faces that were crowded together in the conference room. She let her eyes wander over all the people affected by Jared and Joe Conway.
"I've asked you all to come here today because you all have one thing in common; you have wounds that haven't healed yet. Everyone in this room has lost someone they love from the killer, you all now know as, Jared Conway and Joe Conway. I have learned that wounds won't heal without love. My wounds were just recently healed. You can turn to your left or your right and that person is going to heal your wound. You are all connected, now stay connected by helping each other heal. Hopefully you can love one another, by talking, express how you feel, let your chains go. Let love in and be freed." Kate smiled then waved to them. "I believe you all have some talking to do."
Rick opened the door for her and followed her out. "You did good Kate." He grabbed onto her waist and spun her around to face him. "You honored the victims, by not only getting everyone involved with the murders but by letting them heal each other." He drew her closer to him and the skirt of her dress flowed around her legs.
She laid her hand on his chest and gently pushed him a bit back. "Not at work. It's very unprofessional." She rested her forehead against his chest and let him hold her.
"I do believe that you aren't on the job, technically." He waited as she withdrew her head from his chest.
She smiled and grabbed his face in her hands. "I do believe you are right." She pulled him into a kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her off her feet and spun her in his arms.
The cheering happening in the precinct, made him let her go. Their cheeks were bright red as he led her out of the building. When they stepped out onto the sidewalk, he spun her around once more and delivered a sweet kiss to her lips.
She grabbed the skirt of her dress and curtsied to him. "Why thank you Mr. Castle." She laughed as she linked her arm through his. Her pink, lace and chiffon, dress blew through the gentle autumn breeze. The black bow fastened to the dress was her own personal touch and the black tights matched to a key. Her brown, lace-up, boots click-clacked with every step she took.
She let him lead her to wherever he had planned. She even made sure she dressed up for it, whatever it was. His jeaned legs matched every step she took, evenly. He had worn a red cashmere sweater, one he hadn't worn in a long time. He was even wearing dress shoes. She was unsure where he was taking her and when he flagged a cab down, he just smiled at her.
Kate had no idea where he was leading her but the last place she imagined, was her father's grave. She hesitated a bit when he offered his hand to help her out of the cab. He was beaming and that only frazzled her nerves more.
"Rick, what the hell are we doing here?" She tried not to let her anger show but he saw right through her.
"Don't get mad but I came here the other day to see your dad." He stopped when he realized she stood frozen. "Come on Kate."
She crossed her arms across her chest and became angry, this time not bothering to hide it.
"Don't be angry, especially when you look that adorable." He made his way back to her and tugged her to follow. "I had to talk to him about something important. I am old fashioned as you know. I needed to ask him something."
She dropped her anger and let him go on. She rested her arms at her sides and tried not to cry.
Rick knelt down on one knee, right beside her father's grave. "Kate, I had to ask his permission for your hand in marriage, I do believe he gave it to me." He smiled and watched her laugh.
"Kathryn Louie Beckett, I fell in love with you the minute I saw you. And after all we've been through, all the tears and worry, I found myself falling in love with you all over again. I had a wound I didn't know I had until you filled it. If you would marry me, I would get a chance to fall in love with you every day. Please, Kathryn Louie Beckett, make me the luckiest man to ever walk this earth and marry me." He slid out a fourteen karat, rose gold ring with round diamonds set in the band with all leading to the diamond in the center of the ring. The ring sparkled in the afternoon sun and he waited out her answer.
"Yes! Ohmygosh Yes! I would love to marry you, Richard Edgar Castle." He got up off his knee and slid the ring onto her finger. She smiled and pulled him in for a kiss. She let her hands wander and felt him melt into her. When she let go of his lips, she leaned away, ever so slightly, and just smiled lovingly at him. "I didn't think I could love anyone as much as I loved my dad but…" A tear slid down her cheek and he immediately swiped it away with his thumb. "But, I love you so much. To the moon and back."
"Infinity and Beyond!" He pulled her lips back to his and enjoyed the moment that would change his life forever.
When Kate changed out of her dress back at her apartment, she slid into a high-waisted, brown skirt and a red long sleeved shirt. She kept her tights on and completed her look with a brown and red, plaid, blazer. As she was lacing up her brown boots, Rick slid behind her and pulled her close to him.
"I know you want to get to work today, I get it. But can't we enjoy your yes just a little bit longer." He whispered in her ear, "I can make you say a lot more yeses if you let me."
She laughed and removed herself from his hold. But she turned around and laced her fingers behind his neck. She leaned towards him, so close that they were sharing the same air and she watched as his eyes closed, ready for a kiss, and just as she grazed his lips with hers, she let go.
Rick slid forward out of habit and hope and caught her smiling, slyly at him. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her on top of him, they fell back into the chair and almost fell off it. When they caught themselves she pushed on his chest.
"I need to go and you are too horny right now." She let her eyes travel down to his crotch, "You think you two can hold out a little longer."
His eyes wandered to himself and he smiled. "I don't know, we are hungry."
"Pervert. I still can't believe I said yes to you." She laughed and he matched her.
"You couldn't resist me if you tried."
"Watch me." And she closed the door on him.
"Girl shut up!" Lanie left the autopsy she was working on and went into her little office. She slid herself comfortably in her chair and listened to Kate gush.
"Yes! And Lanie, you should see this ring! I feel like a millionaire!" Kate stopped at the red light and waited the traffic out.
"I can't wait! You know what we have to do don't you? We need to start planning."
"Lanie, chill, I just got engaged!"
"Can I say something now?" Lacey waited while Lanie and Kate quieted down and then she let them have it. "Holy Fucking Shit!"
"Lacey Lynn Levy, you have never sworn like that in all the time that I have known you!" All three girls laughed and Kate had to wrap it up. "I'll see you guys later but I need to go back to work."
After she hung up, Kate took a deep breath before entering the precinct. Espo cheered for her and then remembered that they were cops, so he changed his attitude within seconds.
"Big deal. If that's the reason you were late, you don't want to know me." He winked at her then gave her a quick hug before pushing her away.
Kate turned to Ryan and saw that he wasn't so hurt. She wanted to say something to him but the words wouldn't allow her to form a sentence.
"Congratulations Kate." He gave her a hug and she didn't let it become awkward. If he could live with his feelings, and keep them on silent, then she could move past the uncertainty she fought to stop.
"Thank you." She beamed at her ring then slid it, and the chain it was on, back into her blouse. She wanted to jump right back into work but her mind was wandering to the imperfections that made her relationship with Rick completely perfect.
"Hey!" Captain Montgomery sped walked towards Kate's desk and pulled her out of her chair and into a hug. "Congratulations Kate! I am so happy for you." He let her go and smiled proudly down at her.
"Thanks Cap. I can't believe it myself." Kate happily returned to catching up on some paperwork while the rest of the day faded out as any other simple day but it held pure significance.
As she grabbed her bag to leave, her phone quickly rang and the frantic cries made her laugh. "I know! I wanted to tell you in person." Kate listened as Alexis squealed with happiness.
"I'm sorry but I dragged it out of him. Don't be mad at him. Be mad at me." Alexis pushed Scott off her and tried to focus on Kate.
"I'm not mad at any of you. But in the spirit of happiness, how are things with Scott after our little talk?" Kate flipped off her desk lamp and slid her bag over her shoulder.
Alexis looked at Scott, who had only one thing on his mind and who was determined to get it. "Much better. I am happy." Alexis smiled to herself and let her eyes watch Scott try to get her. She smiled at him and gently kissed his cheek.
Kate unlocked her car and listened to Alexis's smile that was clearly making its way through the phone. "Glad to hear. You seem and sound very happy." Kate set her phone on speaker and started the heat in her car.
"I got to let you go because, um, yeah because I do." Alexis laughed then jumped away from Scott. "Bye!"
Kate laughed as she knew exactly what was happening back at that apartment. As she made her way home, she kept feeling the weight of the ring that was around her neck. She thought back to everyone she had shared the news with and forgot someone who should have been a key person, her mom. She cursed herself for not telling her first. Even though they weren't on the most solid of terms, she was trying to be better and form a relationship with Kate. Kate let her eyes wander, for just a second, to the phone that rested on the passenger seat. She tried to reach it but it fell to the floor.
"Shit!" She slapped the steering wheel and waited for the light to change and pulled over. She undid her belt and grabbed her phone off the car floor. She wanted to stay put in the car but it was growing too cold. She looked at the street, where she parked her car, and saw Alice's Tea Cup.
How appropriate, she thought. She grabbed her keys and made a dash inside. As she sat alone at a table that looked out to the window, she quickly dialed her mom.
"Kate, give me one second." Johanna was popping in Alice In Wonderland for Elsie. As soon as the movie got going, she grabbed the phone back and walked into the kitchen. "Hi honey. How are you doing?"
Kate planned out her words but they all sounded impersonal so she went with her heart. "Very well actually. Um, I would like to tell you in person but I can't wait." Kate waited the silence out and let the minute get its bearings.
"Are you going to tell me or what?" Johanna laughed to herself as she prepared some milk and cookies for Elsie.
"Rick proposed and I said yes!" Kate ignored the looks she got from everyone else in the place and went back to celebrating with her mom.
"Kate, I am so happy for you! Congratulations honey!" Johanna caught Elsie walking towards her. "Hold on Elsie." Johanna screwed the lid back on her sippy cup of milk then handed it down to Elsie.
"How is she doing?" Kate quietly ordered a cup of Rooibos St. Mark tea and some Alice's' mores to go.
"Very good actually. When do I get to see you?" Johanna bit into a cookie herself and pulled out a chair from the dining table. She was very happy for Kate but couldn't help but feel to be the last to know. She tried to keep the hurt out of her voice and not spit out words that she would later regret but too late. "How come I was the last to know?"
"Wait, what?" Kate set her cup of tea back onto its saucer and once again, caught the look from everyone in the place.
"I am the last one you told aren't I?" Johanna grabbed a napkin and began to dab her eyes.
"I didn't mean to tell you last, honest. Though I know how it sounds. Mom, I am sorry. It just happened that way. I was going back to work today and I just let all my colleagues know first because they would have seen anyway. I didn't even tell Alexis right away. It was a surprise and I got flustered and very excited. I am truly sorry." Kate held up her index finger to the people that were being way too easily impatient.
"I understand but if I didn't tell you that I was hurt then it wouldn't be good for either of us. Please, understand where I am coming from. You get engaged and who is the first to know? If Jim was still here, he would be the first. Am I wrong?"
"No." Kate held her head in her hands and stared at the warm tea growing cold.
"Ok then. Who would be next? Your best friends and coworkers. Then your captain. Stop me if I am wrong. Then after all of that, who would be last? Me. Face it honey, you have grown too used to not having me around and that is my fault. But I am around right now. I am here right now. And I am not going anywhere." Johanna looked at the clock on the stove and listened for Elsie to be making noise.
"You're right. And once more I am sorry." Kate caught the last of the nasty stares and hurriedly paid for her tea and cookies then left. She stepped right out to the chill of the Autumn air and breathed in the crispness.
"Forgiven and forgotten. Now, when do I get to see the ring?"
"How about next week. Grab lunch?" Kate started her car and turned the heat on full blast.
"Sure. You pick the place and time and let me know." Johanna switched the movie off and tried to end the conversation she never wanted to actually end.
"Will do. Love you mom."
"Love you too honey."
Back at her apartment, Kate found Rick asleep on the couch with the Food Network on. She slid the remote from his hands and switched the T.V. off. She watched him lay there then slid the ring off the chain and slid it onto her finger. She watched the moonlight catch on the ring and figured she would surprise him. She quietly tip toed into her bedroom and slid out of the days clothes.
She opened her closet doors and went about flipping through her dresses. She wanted the perfect fairytale moment dress that had inspired her to fall in love. She had always wanted the perfect moment to wear the dress and what better than getting engaged. She felt lost and just as she was about to give up, she pulled out a beige, chiffon dress with long, lace, sleeves and the back of the dress was lace with white buttons going down the middle. The skirt of the dress swished back and forth when she moved and she smiled as she slid into it.
After Kate brushed out her hair, she tied a white, satin, ribbon in her hair and quietly tip toed back into the living room. She opened the lid of the record player and placed her Patti Page record on. And when "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" came on, she watched Rick stir.
He sat up on the couch and watched Kate slowly shake her hips side to side. He smiled and made his way to her.
"Hello my love. Would you like to dance?" He bowed and she curtsied.
"Why, I'd love to." She followed his lead as he pulled her to the middle of the living room. He pulled her into his arms and held her right hand in his left. His right hand held her by the waist and she placed her left arm over his shoulder and leaned her chin on his shoulder.
They swayed and danced around the living room. She bit her lip, anxious of how the rest of their lives would be. He whispered to her and she didn't quite hear him.
She pulled back and stopped to look in his face. "What?"
"I would follow you anywhere." He gently kissed her cheek.
"I'm kind of looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you." She leaned in and delivered a slow kiss to his lips. He pulled her back in his arms and they continued to dance their love's dance.
Shall the music never stop and the dance never end.