A/N: Thanks for your reviews!
Chapter 3
Jim had just dropped the newspaper on the table when his phone rang Sunday morning.
"Who's calling at eight on a Sunday morning?" Johanna asked as she tended to the eggs in the skillet.
"Your daughter," he replied as he picked the phone.
"Must be about your text."
"Let's find out," he said as he accepted the call. "Hello?"
"Grandpa!" an excited little voice answered.
Jim smiled. "Good morning, sweet pea."
"Grandpa, I got to talk to you and Grandma," McKenzie told him.
"You need to talk to me and Grandma?" he asked.
"Uh huh. Where's Grandma?"
"She's cooking breakfast, let me put you on speaker phone so she can hear you, okay?"
"Okay!"
Jim put the phone on speaker and moved closer to his wife. "Jo, our granddaughter needs to speak with both of us."
"Sounds important," she said as she turned down the heat on the stove. "Good morning, McKenzie. Did you have sweet dreams last night?"
"Yes," she answered. "Did you have sweet dreams, Grandma?"
"I did," Johanna replied. "I'm glad you did too."
"What do you need to talk to us about?" Jim asked.
"Guess what!?" McKenzie exclaimed.
"What?"
"I can go to vacation with you and Grandma!"
"You can?" he asked. "Did Mommy say so?"
"Yes, Mommy said I can go with you. Can we go today?"
Jim laughed. "No, not today, sweet pea. Grandma and I haven't even had breakfast yet. We'll go in a few days."
"Grandma, I get to go with you!" McKenzie said as she hadn't heard her grandmother comment on her big news.
"That's great, sweetheart," Johanna replied. "I'm glad you're coming with us because you know I miss you when we're away."
"Is Scarlett still coming with us?" her granddaughter asked.
She gave a soft laugh. "Yes, darling, Scarlett is still coming with us. She'll be in her carrier on the backseat next to you. She'll be glad to have you there to keep her company on the car ride."
"I will take care of her," McKenzie stated.
"I know you'll watch her and make sure she's fine while we're in the car. Where's your mommy at?"
"She's here with me," McKenzie replied. "Her belly don't feel good."
Concern flicked across Johanna's face. "Maybe you better let me talk to her for a minute so I can see if she's okay."
"Okay, Grandma. Here, Mommy."
"Hello," Kate said as she got on the phone.
"McKenzie says you're not feeling well," Johanna stated.
"My stomach is upset that's all," Kate answered. "I don't know if it's coming from the headache I had all day and night yesterday or if I'm trying to come down with something…and if I am, then it's probably best for McKenzie to be off having fun with you."
"I hope you're not going to start getting migraines like me," Johanna replied. "You know sometimes they make me feel sick for days. I always worried you'd get saddled with those because they say it can be hereditary. I was glad when they didn't appear when you were a teenager."
"I know; I'm not sure I'd classify it as a migraine but it did nag the hell out of me all day and evening…and the medicine didn't work for long any time I took."
"Oh, sweetheart," she sighed. "You had one; it might not have been as bad as I get at times but they aren't always as intense as some of mine are. I thought you were in the clear for them but I guess I was wrong."
"It's okay…I wasn't going to blame you," Kate replied a touch of lightness in her tone. "You know what they say…things change as we get older…as much as I hate to say those words."
"Let's pretend that you didn't say them," Johanna said. "I might get depressed."
Kate laughed softly, her arm wrapping around McKenzie as she snuggled against her. "I might get a little depressed too."
"Katie," Jim said, putting himself back in the conversation. "I know it wasn't easy for you to agree to let us take McKenzie with us but maybe it'll be good for you. Maybe you can make some time to get some rest and relax while we have her."
"Yeah, that's what Rick said too…and maybe I do need it," she admitted. "Just promise me you'll call every day and send tons of pictures."
"We promise, Princess," he told her. "You can call anytime you want to if you're missing her too much to wait for us."
Unexpected tears stung her eyes. "Thanks, Dad."
"No problem," he told her. "You know…it wasn't always easy for us to let you go without us sometimes too. We worried and missed you despite needing a little break at times…it's only natural."
"That makes me feel better," she said blinking rapidly to hold the tears at bay while silently cursing whatever it was that was making her weepy all of a sudden. "I'll let you get back to your breakfast before it gets cold but she couldn't wait any longer to tell you her news."
"That's alright, we don't mind," Jim said with a quiet laugh.
"Feel better, Katie," Johanna told her. "I'll call and check on you later. Kiss McKenzie for us."
"I will. I love you."
"We love you too," she replied before they ended the call.
"See," Jim said. "I knew if we presented our case better we'd win."
Johanna smiled as she shook her head at him. "It's too early in the day to be smug."
"But I was right so I've earned smugness…so you better produce some bacon with those eggs, sweetheart."
"The eggs would be cold by the time the bacon was finished so I'm going to have to veto your celebration of rightness."
He eyed her. "Fine…then I say after breakfast we take the newspaper and go get back in bed to read it and be lazy like we used to do a long time ago."
Johanna pressed a soft kiss against his lips. "Now that's an idea I'm agreeable to."
"Good," he replied. "I'm glad the women in my life are being agreeable for a change."
She smirked at him. "You better mind your manners or I'll go be lazy by myself and you can just sit down here with no breakfast and think about it."
Jim nodded. "I withdraw the statement."
"I thought you would."
"I'll just sit here and quietly bask in my victory while you finish making breakfast," he quipped.
"Good idea," Johanna replied. "I'm glad you're happy though…I know how much you want to get away this week so I'm glad it worked out."
"Me too," Jim replied; his text with the official offer had either been better than he thought of not feeling well had worn down his daughter's defenses faster. He didn't want Katie to be sick…but he was glad for her change of heart.
Later that morning, after they had settled back into bed and the newspaper had been discarded on the floor while a sitcom played on the television, Johanna opened her nightstand drawer and took out a notepad and pen.
"What are you doing?" Jim asked, her movement stirring him from the sleepy haze he had been falling into.
"Making a list."
"Of what?"
"Things that need done for our trip."
He gave her an amused smirk. "You and your lists."
"Let's remember that I always put you on one of my lists," she remarked coyly with a side eyed glance.
"Hopefully at the top where I belong," he quipped.
"I'm going to have to divide my attention this trip so I can't guarantee you a number one spot."
"That's harsh," Jim replied lightly. "I'll just have to rework your list when the moment strikes for me to be number one."
"You always do," she laughed. "I have in the past had to make up a few lies about while I was late for work."
"You could've told the truth; I wouldn't have minded."
"I didn't want to get fired."
"I made enough to take care of us," he said lightly, shifting to brush a kiss against her lips.
"Don't go getting any ideas," she warned, amusement tinging her tone. "I want to plan first."
His brow rose. "First? So it can be construed that you're open to ideas later?"
"Yes…as long as you help me plan."
"You got it, what do you want to plan first?"
"The grocery list. I know we'll need the usual staples, bread, eggs, milk, juice, butter…"
"Better get some cereal for McKenzie," Jim remarked. "You know she doesn't like to go too long without some Fruity Pebbles."
"That's true," she said as she made a note of their granddaughter's favorite cereal. "Sometimes she likes it as a snack too. I'm going to get things for sandwiches…a pack of chicken…"
"Pork chops," he added. "You said you'd make them while we're up there."
"I will," Johanna promised as she made a note of it. "I'll get the stuff for us to make our own pizza, McKenzie will like helping with that."
"Sounds good. We'll need snacks too."
"Yes, and McKenzie will need her juice boxes and I'll get her some Kool-Aid. I want soda and you'll want your coffee. I'll get some iced tea too. I better get her some mac and cheese cups…"
"Maybe some of those kids meals in case she doesn't want what we're having," Jim said.
"Good idea," Johanna replied. "We could get some frozen dinners for us too; it won't hurt to leave what we don't use in the freezer there."
"That's fine. We could go ahead and stock up on canned goods too and then we'll have them for weekend trips in the fall and winter."
"Okay, I think we have a pretty good list here," she said. "Now we'll start on the next one."
"Wait," Jim said. "Add what we need for burgers. If we're going to take our granddaughter to the cabin, she has to have the full experience…her first Beckett Burger."
Johanna nodded as she smiled. "That is always a staple of our summer trips. You better make her a small one though. I don't think she's ready for the full size."
"Don't worry, I'll make her an appropriately sized Beckett burger."
Johanna turned the page of her tablet. "Okay, on to the next list…non-grocery stuff that we need to buy since we're having a little guest."
"Some toys," Jim remarked.
"Yes, definitely some toys…a few storybooks."
"We said we'd get her a little tricycle."
"I'll get her a few bathing suits."
"Floaties," Jim added. "Sunglasses too for when she's outside."
"Yes, and sunscreen. It might be best to get a fresh supply of things for bug bites, skinned knees and anything else that might come up," Johanna commented.
"Good idea, better to be prepared. I know we're going to teach her to swim down at our secret spot but I was thinking about getting her one of those little kiddie pools too…the porch is big enough that we could put it in the corner and she'd be in the shade while playing in it and we can sit there on porch."
"I like that idea," she replied. "On the porch she could even get in her little pool early in the evening if she wants."
"We'll get one. Better get her some bubble bath, you know how much she loves that."
"Just like her mommy," Johanna said with a smile.
"And her grandma," Jim quipped. "You've always liked yours too."
"That is true…I can think of a time or two when I've convinced you to take one with me," she said coyly.
He smiled. "I remember…you want to take one when we go up there Tuesday to prepare?"
She laughed. "As appealing as that sounds, it wouldn't be conductive to us getting things done, now would it?"
"Probably not," he agreed. "But we can keep it in mind if we get everything done early enough."
"We can keep it in mind but don't count on it," Johanna said as she jotted down a few more things that needed to get. "I'll have to get Scarlett a fresh supply of cat food and treats too while we're shopping."
"Of course, we can't forget about her grocery list," Jim replied. "I'm surprised she didn't follow us up here."
"She likes laying on the kitchen floor during this heat wave," she replied. "The linoleum is cooler for her than the carpet. She'll probably be glad to go up to the cabin too."
"She probably will be. I was thinking last night, with our room downstairs at the cabin and McKenzie's being upstairs…maybe we better take the baby monitor. We can show her how to talk into it if she needs us at night."
"I like that idea," Johanna told him. "I know she's used to that setup at home but she's not used to the cabin and having that setup with us. We'll take the monitor and we'll make sure she can find her way around. I'll get a few little nightlights to plug in so if she comes downstairs to find us, she'll have some light to make her way. I'll leave the bathroom light on for her upstairs."
Jim nodded. "That will be good too. I'll get the baby monitor out of the box today so we can make sure to pack it."
Johanna sighed a little. "I better get started on the packing later today…we can take our stuff on up Tuesday and I'll unpack and then clean McKenzie's room and touch up the rest of the house if it needs it. I did clean a little while we were up there last weekend."
Jim heard the note of wistfulness in her voice and he took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'll help you."
She smiled softly. "I know you will."
His gaze turned serious as he continued to hold her hand. "I know that by insisting on this, I've taken away your break," he told her quietly. "I want this, for us, for her…but I feel like in a small way I've been selfish. You are entitled to a break…and now I've pushed it to our trip in August…"
Johanna shook her head. "It's okay."
"Is it?" he asked.
"Yes. I know I hesitated at first because you're right, I don't always like change…and sometimes I do like a break…because as much as I hate to admit it…I'm getting older…and sometimes I do get tired," she said with a soft laugh. "But I'm not harboring any bad feelings about it. I'll have you all to myself in Hawaii and that's fine with me. I want us to have a nice time with McKenzie. I want her to enjoy the cabin and the things we'll do there. I want her to know why it's special to you…to us. Maybe if she likes it there, maybe it's somewhere we can take her again…maybe for a few days every summer so she'll have those memories with us. So don't feel bad about my break…just going away from the city for awhile is enough of a break for me. Things are different there; slower, quieter, peaceful…and that's all I really need and I can have those things with McKenzie there too. You know I miss her when we're away from her for a few days anyway."
"I know you do," he said with a smile. "I just wanted to make sure you're really okay with this."
"I am," she replied as she laid her tablet and pen on the nightstand before turning toward him and slipping her arms around him. "Now we've done enough planning…and it's too early to get up and start packing and all of that…so if you want to have ideas…now's a good time."
He laughed quietly before capturing her lips in a kiss. "Knowing you're open to ideas makes me feel better about the state of things…if you were upset, you wouldn't want to hear any of my ideas."
"That's true…and you know, we do have to celebrate you winning your case for this vacation," she said lightly. "Celebrations have always been a staple of our relationship."
"Good point; no sense in changing a good thing this far into the game," Jim quipped before kissing her once more. Things really were working out in his favor, he couldn't help but think.
"How are you feeling?" Castle asked later that afternoon as he moved into the living room where Kate was stretched out on the couch as their daughter played on the floor near her.
She sighed softly. "The headache seems to have finally let up but I'm still a little queasy…and tired."
"I think you're trying to come down with something," he remarked, brushing a kiss against her forehead.
"I just hope she doesn't get it," Kate said with a nod at their daughter.
"We'll keep our fingers crossed…because if she doesn't get to go on her trip after we said yes, we're going to have a very angry child on our hands," he whispered.
"I shudder at the thought," she said with a soft laugh. "Her wrath is…"
"Lethal like yours," Castle finished for her as he perched on the edge of the sofa.
"I'd like to deny that but it's true…it is an inherited trait."
Castle nodded. "And we know who to blame for yours."
Kate smiled. "Yeah, we do…and Mom knows it too; she doesn't even bother to deny it anymore."
"It's hard to keep denying it when it keeps popping up in the gene pool," he chuckled.
"True."
He brushed a lock of her hair back from her forehead. "Are you sure you're still okay with her going on vacation with your parents. I don't want to feel like I forced your hand."
"No," she said with a shake of her head. "You didn't. I want her to go and have a good time…and honestly if I am coming down with something, it'll be better for her not to be here around it. You have a busy week coming up, I've got whatever this is going on…she's going to be better off with Mom and Dad for the week. Things will be stable and they'll plan all kind of things for her to do. I'm going to miss her like crazy but it'll be okay. I just hope she'll really be okay the first night there."
"She will be," he replied. "I have no doubt in my mind…and if she's a little nervous, I'm sure she'll be allowed to spend the first night with her grandparents in their room."
"Yeah, I'm sure they'll make sure she's comfortable."
He nodded. "And the cat will be there…remember, that's a big deal to little miss."
"Scarlett's a good sport," Kate laughed.
"She is very patient," he agreed. "Listen, I know you're not feeling well…and she knows it too and she's sticking close because it worries her when Mommy isn't feeling well; so I was thinking about taking her out for a bit so you can go take a nap. What do you think?"
Kate met his gaze. "Honestly a nap would be nice if you're finished writing for now."
"I am. We'll go out for a bit and when we come back, we'll bring dinner."
"Sounds good but you better see if your date is willing to go," she said lightly.
"No problem. Hey, jellybean; come here."
McKenzie abandoned her toys on the floor and hurried to her father's side. "What, daddy?"
"How about me and you go out for awhile?" he asked.
"What are we going to do?"
Castle smiled and leaned close to her. "We're going to break the rules and have ice cream before dinner."
McKenzie's eyes lit up. "Can I get strawberry!?"
"You sure can…and then, maybe we'll go into a store or two and find you a new suitcase to take on vacation with Grandma and Grandpa."
"I want a pretty one!" she exclaimed.
"We'll find you a pretty one," he promised. "When we're done shopping, we'll go get dinner and bring it home to Mommy, okay?"
McKenzie glanced at her mother. "You not coming, Mommy?"
"No, baby, I'm going to stay here."
"Mommy's stomach is still upset," Castle said. "Just you and me will go this time. We might even have time to stop and play on the swings for a little bit if it isn't too hot out."
"Okay, daddy. Will Mommy be okay by herself?"
He nodded. "Mommy will be fine, and if she needs us, she'll call."
McKenzie glanced at Kate. "You'll call, Mommy?"
"I will, but I'm going to be fine. It's just a little stomachache. You go with daddy and have fun, okay."
"Okay, Mommy. Let's go, Daddy. I want sprinkles on my ice cream."
"Then sprinkles you shall have," he said as he rose from his place and scooped her up. "Let's go get your shoes on and then we'll go."
"I have to kiss Mommy first!"
"Of course," he said, lowering her down so she could kiss her mother's cheek and then he followed suit as well. "Get some rest, Kate. We'll be back in awhile."
"I will," she promised.
"I'm going to get a new suitcase for my vacation, Mommy," McKenzie told her.
Kate smiled as she snuggled into her pillow. "Get a good one, baby; whichever one you like best…and then you can use it again when you go on vacation with me and daddy."
"Don't worry, we'll find the best McKenzie fabulous suitcase that the city has to offer," Castle declared. "And then we'll feast to celebrate."
She gave a soft laugh as she accepted the soft throw he draped over her as he held their daughter on his hip. "Have fun," she murmured before he moved away to get McKenzie ready. She sighed deeply, wishing her stomach would settle.
After her husband and daughter had left, Kate reached for the phone and hit her mother's number. The ling rang several times before Johanna's sleepy voice finally sounded across the line. "Hello?"
"Are you asleep?" Kate asked. "It's afternoon."
"I was being lazy and dozed off," her mother replied. "That's what Sundays are for."
"Is that what they're for?"
"Yes, that's why it's called the day of rest. How are you feeling, Katie?"
"My stomach is still queasy."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Have you tried a cup of tea to settle it?"
"No, not yet but it's on my agenda…and honestly, so is a nap."
"Is McKenzie going to let you nap?" her mother asked lightly.
"Rick just took her out for a little while so I think I'll be able to manage it. I called because I was thinking earlier, I know you're going to have a lot to do to get ready to go to the cabin…and since you'll be leaving on Thursday, I thought I'd take off starting Wednesday that way I can spend the day with McKenzie here at home and you'll have time to get your stuff done."
"If you have enough personal days, why don't you take the whole week off and shake this bug that's got you, Katie. Rick can still bring McKenzie over tomorrow as usual and you could rest for the day and take care of yourself."
"I admit that the idea is appealing," Kate murmured.
"Then do it. Take some time off if you can. I know you're going on vacation in August but take some time now if you're able."
"Maybe I will," she said with a sigh. "I feel like I need it…which makes me feel like I'm getting old or something."
Johanna laughed. "You're not old…you have a full-time job and a three-year-old, being tired is just your life now, sweetheart."
She laughed despite herself. "Thanks for your support, Mom. How about you, do you feel old yet?"
"Once in awhile…like you, I still have that notion in my mind that I should never get tired…but I do once in awhile."
"I know the feeling…are you sure you're okay with taking McKenzie on vacation with you?" Kate asked.
"Yes; I'm looking forward to having her with us. We've been planning all morning and we're going to go up on Tuesday and get the groceries brought in, get some things for her, clean and we're going to go ahead and take our bags up and I'll unpack. That way everything will be ready for us to head up on Thursday with her and the cat."
"Sounds like you've got it all planned out."
"As much as we can…you know I hate to be unorganized."
"I know…I remember all of your vacation organization lists," Kate quipped.
"You're just like your father," Johanna replied. "Making fun of my lists but I get everything done, don't I?"
"You do," she agreed. "You're the queen of list making and crossing things off of them."
"Do you want me to make you a few lists?" Johanna teased.
Kate laughed. "Don't tempt me to have you make lists…because honestly, we could probably use some at times."
"Say the word and I'll make you a list," she said lightly before turning serious. "Are you sure you're okay with us taking her? Because I want to know that you don't have any doubts or feel like you've been made to say yes."
"I'm sure. I wasn't forced into making that decision…I want her to do all the things I did there when I was her age. It'll be nice for her and it will be cooler up there, she can get out in the air more. I'm fine…I guess I just wanted to make sure that you were…and to let you know that I wasn't going to have you still babysitting on Wednesday when I know you'll have things to do to get ready."
"I'm fine, Katie; and I understand you wanting to keep her home Wednesday, everything is fine. We're looking forward to having her with us and I think the break will do you good too. I'm going to get up and get started on the packing, you go take that nap while you have some time alone, okay?"
"I will. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay. Feel better, sweetheart; get a cup of tea when you get up."
"I will," she promised before they ended their call.
Kate sighed deeply as the silence of the loft wrapped around her, a nap sounded wonderful…she hadn't been this tired since she was pregnant with McKenzie. That thought jerked her eyes back open. Could she be? Kate scoffed aloud, of course she could be…but she wasn't sure of it…and honestly she and Rick had been so busy this month that she hadn't paid much attention to the calendar…and she had a feeling that she better go look at the small calendar she marked her cycle on in the nightstand drawer…she had a feeling this month didn't carry it's usual mark yet.
She sat up and scrubbed her hand over her face; she could just be jumping to conclusions though…she very well could have a stomach bug or just the aftereffects of a migraine. She'd check her calendar…but she'd still give it a few days to see if her symptoms eased before she brought up the possibility to her husband. If she wasn't feeling better by the end of the week when her daughter was on her vacation with her grandparents, then she'd bring it up and take a test. For now she was going to operate on the assumption that she merely had a bug…but a little part of her inside couldn't help but wonder if there was a baby…and how in the world she'd learn to juggle two kids and her job.
Kate breathed deeply and shook her head. Maybe she'd take the nap first before she counted up her days…the nap might make her feel better and then there'd be no need to start worrying about juggling kids and telling her husband.