There was something new ready to explore in the Castle household from Gramps Jim talking about baseball with Kate to the latest Fashion talk between Martha, Card and Alexis with a certain comment from Rick or Kate. Then there is Rick working on a new book which was originally meant for Card but as Rick worked he had the idea to separate them into 3 or 4 chapter short stories then combine them for the whole novel. He got this idea when his publisher split up his last Derrick storm into 3 e books. This way they had to cooperate to read it all. But their section would be satisfying too.
Kate was getting used to the need to be quick on her feet to retch in the commode. So it was no surprise in mid sentence with her Dad she bolted to the bathroom.
Rick was concerned about Card's reaction to his announcement. She was petrified she was going to be turned away. If anything he wanted to adopt her never turning her away. But the coldness of perfunctory statement dealing with the news of her Grandmother's death was unsettling. Kate was right we are looking at something more. Perhaps Card would be amiable to speak to a professional?
He would discuss that with Kate later. Right now Erick the Bold one of Eric and Greg the bumbling detectives had gotten his attention. Rick quickly slipped into their world.
Card was bored with the fashion talk. It was ok but after 20 mins she was looking for something else to do.
"Bored?" She sent Alexis.
Alexis had to admit being deaf had some advantages. Not having to listen to her Grams ravings about fashion was one blessing. Looking around she excused herself and saw that the office door was open. Her Father was deeply involved in another one of his books.
"Is Dad always like that?" Card sent.
Alexis looked at the message and frown.
"Let's go to my room to discuss this." Alexis said.
"Ok." She sent.
Card was curious. She had not explored more than her room and the Bathroom upstairs.
"Oh you have not had the grand tour well I think I need to remedy that." Alexis said grabbing her hand and led her upstairs.
"To the right is another bathroom it is for guests. Then here is the linen closet. It also has the vacuum to vacuum your room if you do not want Cassie to do it." Alexis said.
"Cassie?" Card sent.
"Yes she is our maid. You'll like her. She comes every 2 or 3 times a week to do general housekeeping. Between times we do it ourselves. Dad wanted to instill the sense of responsibility for keeping things clean." Alexis said.
"Like the dish washing?" Card wrote.
"Yes just like that. You can refuse Cassie entering your room but you would be responsible for the cleanliness." Alexis said.
"Oh? I could never refuse anyone who knocked at my door. I had to let them in. Normally it was just the guards. But sometimes it was other people." Card wrote.
Alexis was worried was poor Caroline had been sexually assaulted? This was way out of her realm. So she changed the topic.
"Ok now this is Grams and Gramps room." Alexis said.
She knocked at the door. Jackson who was taking a snooze awoke to see two Redheads staring back at him.
"Hi Jackson." Card said brightly with a small smile.
"Hey Card what are you and Alexis doing?" Jackson asked.
"I'm taking Card around to acquaint her to some of the other rooms in the loft." Alexis said. "May we come in?"
"Sure come on in it is not much to look at I suppose it looks like your room Card dimension wise but Martha does have a lot of unusual items lying around." Jackson said.
Card went looking around then found the makeup.
Makeup? She wrote.
"Oh yes Grams has lots of the stuff. She is a broad way actress and for people to see them the actors have to wear makeup." Alexis explained. "Would you like to see what you looked like with make up?"
"Yes Please" she sent.
"Ok when we get to my room we will do a little makeup party. I have some but not as much as Grams." Alexis said. "But now we have taken too much of Jackson's time. We need to continue the tour."
"Girls drop in anytime." Jackson said shepherding them out the door.
"I will Jackson." Card said.
"Bye Gramps" Alexis said hugging him Card too did the same.
Leaving Grams and Gramps room is the Guest room currently occupied by Kate's father my step Gramps Jim. He is still down stairs so we can not go in but since you have seen Grams. And your room they look about the same. Alexis said.
"Ok" Card sent.
"Here at the end of the hall is another set of stairs." Alexis said.
Climbing them they came to three doors.
This is Dad's weight room. Do you know about lifting weights? Alexis asked.
"Yes the guards did them. I could watch." Card wrote.
"Ok well you can use this room anytime. It also has a sauna and hot tub. But the hot tub you can access from the roof garden too. Right now the roof garden is full of snow. So we can not go out there."
"This door is Mom's stuff. Right now she can not use it but once she can walk again she hides up here. So if you ever need to find her this is her place. Now through this door opens on to the roof garden. Alexis said.
Climbing down the stairs she stopped at the bottom.
"Oh I forgot that door is your room and across the hallway is mine." Alexis said opening the door.
Card looked in wonder how Alexis' room was covered with dolls and pretty things. There were two single sized beds along one wall which was painted purple the other walls were white with her desk and dresser on one wall a walk in closet then a door into the bathroom. Card marveled over so much space.
Alexis got out her make up. Soon she and Card were practicing make up techniques.
Card had a keen eye for detail but her control was a bit off. Looking in the mirror Alexis looked a mess. They both giggled. They cleaned it off and tried again.
"Card you need to not be afraid of the brush. Hold it like a pencil. I know you know how to do that." Alexis said. Right that is the way, now hold my skin taught with your thumb and draw the line.
Card followed Alexis' instruction and with Alexis looking at the mirror Card's second attempt it was far superior to her first. With practice she could become quite good.
Their session was interrupted by Jackson knocking at the door.
Alexis answered.
"Who wants Ice Cream?" Jackson said,
She looked at his face she waited for Card to send a text.
"Ice Cream…?" Card sent.
"Oh yeah let's go Card leave the mess I'll clean it later." Alexis said have the same enthusiasm for the frozen stuff as she saw on Jackson's face reminding Alexis of her own Dad's enthusiasm for the stuff.
Card looked at the clock.
"It is after 8 I need to go to bed." She wrote.
"Ok Card see you later." Alexis said hugging her sister.
Card dutifully followed her regiment and soon she was asleep.