CH28
Since the Grand Turk Inn was only 5 suites they had to travel for their breakfast. So they went driving and prayed.
Alexis was the first to spot something since Rick was mostly watching the road and Kate was site seeing and not really watching for restaurants.
MANGO REEF Restaurant & Bar on the Beach
The Alexandra Resort, Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales (649) 946-8200
Turks & Caicos Breakfast $18
(available Friday to Sunday)
Grits and Eggs
Add: Bacon, ham, sausage, corned beef or hash brown
Served with : Coffee or Tea Fruit Salad & Plain Yogurt
10oz Tropicana Orange Juice
Grits turned out to be an acquired taste however the rest was good.
Now it was time for some site seeing. This is when something caught Alexis's attention. "Please daddy?"
Horseback ride on the beach
Provo Ponies is the operator to call when you want a romantic horseback ride on an isolated beach, or just to take a friendly gallop across our pristine white sands and through the waves. Guided tours and instruction available.
After they were done they strolled the beach. "It's gorgeous here Castle. Simply stunning."
"Can we build a sand castle?" Alexis asks.
"Maybe tonight when we have our swimsuits on pumpkin." Rick offers.
Kate notices she is trudging threw the sand. "Come here sweetie." And Kate picks her and carries her.
Rick moves in and puts his arm around Kate as they continue down the beach carrying their shoes.
Lunch time snuck up on them and they had to decide on a place for lunch.
The Conch Shack
Rick ordered the Seafood Sampler Platter - $13
Fish, Conch Fritters, Fried Shrimp, Island Fries
And shared it with everyone
Kate ordered Fish & Chips - $10
tavern Battered Cod
And shared hers with everyone.
Rick had them back in the car in no time. Off on the next adventure. "Castle you can slow down you know. It is a vacation." Kate tried.
"No, no, have to see things. Everything. What's the point of going on vacation is you don't see anything? … Besides we can rest in the evening." Rick countered.
Kate didn't know how to respond to that. Kate thought a vacation was about doing nothing. The exact opposite of what you did at home. There was that word again.
Suddenly Rick pulled off the road and stopped.
Dive down in a real submarine
The Underseas Explorer is a semi-submarine that lets you see the reefs without getting wet. One hour tours leave from Turtle Cove Marina.
It turned out to be a submarine alright. Just not the WWII submarine Castle was hoping for. It was smaller, crowded and had viewing portholes on both sides. Initially the trip was beyond boring for Castle. There was nothing to see, he had to sit since there wasn't the space for him to stand. In fact he took up so much space he was the first one in and the last one out so people could get past him in the submarine.
They finally reached where they wanted to cruise when suddenly the sea came alive. There was so much color and fish were everywhere. Suddenly a Manta shook itself out of the sandy bottom and glided off. Kate was pointing out everything to Alexis.
Once back on shore. "That was cool Kate." Alexis was all excited.
"Yes it was sweetie. This is turning out to be a terrific trip." Kate agreed poking and prodding Alexis making her giggle.
All of this interaction had gotten Rick trying to figure out how to keep this going.
Back in the car looking for the next adventure. After the last one, even Kate was feeling more in the mood that Rick was trying to create.
Bring the kids to Fun World TCI
Min golf and a grand prix style go-kart track are the highlights at David's family-friendly outpost on the east end of Leeward Highway. Video game arcade and a full service restaurant and bar, too. Join the adult fun at Saturday nights, too, when karaoke breaks out and the next Turks and Caicos Idol is crowned.
It turns out Rick sucks at golf. Really sucked! So he spent his pain cheering Alexis on in her competition with Kate.
Alexis was too small for the go-karts so she had to stand on the side lines while watching.
Kate and Rick both got red flagged for bumping into each other too much. Ignoring the rules that they were given before they started.
"This is your fault." Kate told him.
"My fault?" Rick answered back shocked.
"If you hadn't hit me we would still be racing and I would have kicked your ass." Kate answers with her arms crossed.
"Oh really. So that wasn't you who hit me in the ass and forced me into the tires so you could pass me?" Rick questioned back.
"Well if you weren't so slow and a road hog and let me pass. …." Kate counters.
"So I should let you win and that would make you happy?" Rick asks.
"Yes it would! ….. No." Kate looks confused.
Rick steps up to Kate and kisses her while placing his arms around her.
After breaking from the kiss and stepping back. "What was that for?" Kate asks him.
"We just had our first fight and that was our first make up kiss." Rick explains. "In case you are keeping track of such things."
"Oh." Kate responds starting to blush.
Alexis comes running up. "That was fun dad. Too bad you got kicked out." Alexis adds softly.
"I didn't, …. Yea." Rick tells her looking at Kate who also looks guilty.
Back in the car came a search for dinner.
Le Bouchon du Village
They thought it looked nice from the outside so they went in. Looking at the menu posted out front they didn't understand any of it, but thought they could try it.
When they sat down they were seriously under dressed. They were given menus and left to look them over. They all started looking at the food that was being served around them.
"Dad?'" Alexis asks with a worried face.
Rick looked to Kate who also had a similar face. Rick put down his menu and stood up. "Come on we are out of here."
Alexis gets up with a smile on her face even Kate looks happy for a moment. "What do we eat Castle?"
"We'll find something. Hot dog stand McDonalds maybe." Rick places a few dollars on the table for their trouble and everyone walks quickly to the car.
"DAD!" Alexis points and Rick hits the brakes.
Thai Orchid Restaurants
Fresh Flavorful Friendly
Pad Thai
Chicken, shrimp, fried tofu, and bean sprouts with rice noodles and egg in our famous Pad Thai sauce topped with ground peanuts
Lemon Grass Chicken
Lemon grass marinated chicken breast grilled and topped with peanut sauce
Stir Fried Ground Chicken and Shrimp with Crispy Basil
"You are brilliant Alexis." Kate tells her.
Alexis just grins with her mouth full.
After going back to the hotel they were now sitting on the beach watching over Alexis as she builds a mini-sand castle.
"This has been a lot of fun Castle." Kate tells him embarrassed.
"You're not mad at me for talking you into this trip?" Rick is searching for something.
"NO!"
"Good because I have one more thing for you." Rick sounds scared.
Picking up on the sound of his voice. "What Castle?"
"Well you remember our original bet?" Rick asks.
Kate has to think for a moment. "The part about taking the wall down?" Kate is guessing.
"That's the one. I've had three architects in to show me their designs. I had to throw everything they brought into the trash. It was just all wrong." Castle tells her.
"You just need to keep looking Castle. I'm sure there are more than three architects in the city." Kate leaves off the DUH part.
"Yes I know that but it got me to thinking. None of these people know us and how we live. Therefore they don't know what we need." Rick explains.
"So you want your architect to live with you first." Kate is lost and doesn't believe her ears.
"Well yes as a matter of fact I do. …. I want you to design up our new space." Rick tells her.
"ME? Have you lost your mind? I'm a cop Castle." Kate really does think he has lost his mind.
"You've lived at our home. You know by now what we need. The kitchen is kinda small. We barely use the breakfast nook. And why does Alexis's room have a kitchen." Rick ticks off items.
"Have you lost your mind Castle? I'm not an architect." Kate thinks he's flipped.
"I'm not asking you to do it alone. But I want you to work with an architect that will work with you. You've lived at our home. You know what we need and what we don't.
Right now it's more of a bachelor's pad, well except maybe for Alexis's room.
What it needs is a woman's touch. And trust me, you are all woman." Rick tells her leering.
"Castle that could take weeks, months even. I have a job. I don't have time to be an architect, or his assistant or whatever I would be. Besides your money could get you anyone."
"Kate, money doesn't buy you happiness and money might buy a person a house but it doesn't buy him a home. And that's what I'm asking from you. Design us a home." Rick pleads.
"Castle I, …. I mean you want me to, ….. why me Castle?"
"Because I trust you, Alexis obviously trusts you, and my mother likes you. So you make the perfect choice. Or would you prefer that Meredith do it?" Rick asks her.
"Oh that's playing dirty Castle."
"All's fair in love and, ….. Besides to make this work you need to be available during design and construction." Rick tells her all happy.
"Available? What does that mean?"
"Well to get the best design you would need to be there a lot. Sort of live there if you will."
"Wait, you want me to live with you while I design your home?"
"Well not mine alone it'll be ours but yes, you would need to be there, so much it would be easier if you lived there. …. You already live there."
Kate shakes her head. "I'm only staying there as part of a bet."
"Which I've already told you at least once, you could get out of and I wouldn't say a thing. And yet you stayed. Maybe it's because you are dedicated to paying off a bet. Or is it because you wanted to stay? …. So stay Kate, just a little longer."
Kate shakes her head, can't begin to think of what Castle is asking. It's at this moment that she notices that Alexis had stopped making her sand castle and was standing only feet away. Standing there starring at Kate with tears running down her face.
Kate just sits there in the sand starring at Alexis as her tears run down her face and her lower lip quivers. Those blue eyes of her asking her a question. Begging Kate for an answer.
Kate had left work for her. Something she had never dreamed of ever doing. He time with Alexis in her arms had kept the monsters in her sleep away. It was the first time in a long time that she felt whole again.
The pain of losing her mother is still with her but it feels better somehow.
Kate is starting to hyperventilate and finds it hard to breath. It has taken her focus off of Alexis for a moment when she looks back Alexis is standing directly in front of her.
Kate can't just see her tears she can practically feel her body quaking.
It's more than Kate can stand and she takes Alexis in her arms and squeezes her tight. It only takes seconds for Alexis's tears to become Kate's tears.
Rick says nothing and just watches them. When they seem to have calmed down some. "Let's go back to the hotel. It's been a long day."
The trip to the hotel was done in silence and Rick decided not to interfere in everyone's thoughts. Once in the room Alexis and Kate took a shower to save hot water for him, Kate explained.
Rick slipped into bed and moved over to wrap his arms around her and pull her in close. Kate only Hummed and melted into him a little.
Rick's hands were soon roaming over Kate leaving behind goose bumps in their wake. When one finally made it to her breast, Kate put a stop to it. "Castle your daughter is in the next room." As she takes his hand and moves it away.
"What did you expect me to do? I've got the most beautiful woman on the island in my arms and I want to make love to her." Rick reasons with her.
And soon Rick's hands have started roaming again. This time her leg, thigh and stomach are getting the treatment.
"Castle stop." Kate tells him and turns to look at him. "I want to make love to you too." Especially after Castle's hands have gotten her interested. "But I'm not going to traumatize Alexis with my screams. So behave yourself." As Kate slaps his wandering hand.
Rick pulls his wounded hand away, then cuddles in behind Kate with her back into his chest and reaches his arm around her and places one of her breasts in his hand, while not doing anything else.
"Better?" Rick asks into her ear.
"Better, now go to sleep." Kate tells him. Not that it was going to be simple for her. Now that Castle had her wound up a little. And getting her mind to shut down after earlier was going to be even more of a challenge.
They all showered in the morning and Rick had Kate put on her dress. Then they headed for the same restaurant as last time for breakfast. Only had something else this time. Grits just wasn't what they wanted.
Buy some local art or crafts
Locally made arts and crafts make a great souvenir to bring home. Try the Middle Caicos Co-op at Conch Bar in Middle Caicos where over 60 local artisans are represented with a wide variety of hand-crafts including straw hats, conch shell crafts, paintings, model sailboats, wall hangings, palmtop bags, dolls and animals, paintings and much more.
Pay for your vacation by hitting it big at Casablanca Casino
A full gaming parlor featuring black jack, roulette, craps, slots and even poker tournaments, Casablanca Casino — and sometimes profitable– place to hang out. Free shuttle from most hotels. Coming soon – sports book and horse race wagering.
Open from 10 a.m. until 5 a.m.
Starting September 1st opening hours are 1 p.m to 5 a.m
They had seen something Kate really wanted to try but was way overdressed for it so they made a quick trip back to the hotel, before moving on.
Sky Pilot Parasail Ltd
Is a parasail operator on the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos Islands offering a quality,safe,reliable and friendly service in the Grace Bay Beach area.
The roar of the boat prevented Rick and Alexis from hearing Kate's screams.
Back on shore Kate was grinning wide. "Have fun Kate?" Rick asked even though it was written all over her face.
"That was fantastic. You could see for miles. Everyone looked like ants running around all over. The water was so clear." Kate launches herself into Castle's arms. "Thank you." And gives him a quick kiss.
"You two ready for lunch?" Rick asks them.
They did just one final thing before flying home so Kate could go to work and Alexis back to school.
Middle Caicos Caves (Conch Bar Caves)
The largest chain of limestone caves in the Carribean, the Middle Caicos Caves (also called the Conch Bar Caves) provide a unique perspective on Turks & Caicos. With recorded history of the caves dating back to the 1880s, this chain of limestone wonders tells the story of the TCI's guano-mining period; carved names and dates from that era are visible inside the caves today. Based on discoveries of artifacts from the Lucayan people (the island's inhabitants circa the 1400s) in and around the caverns, it is believed that these caves may have once served as a shelter or religious site.
The Middle Caicos Caves (located about 24 miles east of Grace Bay) have a gated entrance and lack clear walking paths or light systems — you'll need a guide to show you the way. On a tour, you'll get the low down on stalagmites, stalactites and real-life bat caves found in the oily walls. Recent visitors to the caves recommend wearing non-slip shoes and warn that tight spaces may not fair well with claustrophobes.