Fate's Surprises
Chapter 4 - Moving Ahead
Weeks pass by for Kate and Rick. Two weeks after that reunion night, Kate has Rick, his daughter, and his mother, to the brownstone for dinner. Rick wanted it at the Loft, but realized that Lily would feel more comfortable and secure for the event with more familiar surroundings at her family brownstone. Present also that night for the dinner is Jim Beckett.
Kate and Rick prepared the dinner which they started the preparations for on the previous night and then did the cooking and final touches the night of the dinner. Rick had come early to Kate's brownstone on both days to help her. His mother and daughter arriving at the start of dinner using the Car Service Company of which Rick was a partner. They set up the dining table and it is ready by the time Alexis and Martha arrive.
On hearing the knock on the door, Rick is the one to answer.
Introductions are made, but the most memorable one is between the two sisters.
"Lily, I want you to meet your big sister Alexis", Rick says.
"Hi, Lily", says Alexis with such enthusiasm, "just call me Lexy."
Lily looks at Alexis, one set of deep blue eyes greeting the other.
"Hi Lexy, are you really my big sister?"
"As real as your eyes and my eyes are blue."
Lily also sees the blue eyes of her grammy Martha and her daddy Rick.
"I guess we all share that, but why is not my hair red, like you and grams?"
"Because you get your hair color from your mom, Lily. And you are a mini-me of your mom."
"Lily why don't you show your sister your favorite books?", suggests Kate.
"So what books do you like, Lily? We can read them together", asks Lexy.
"I have all the books of Winnie the Poo?"
"Really, so do I", replies Alexis, "show me your favorite one and we can read it together."
The two sisters go to Lily's bookcase in her room, while the adults stay and get to know one another.
"So, what a surprise to learn that Rick's mom is none other than Tony nominated actress Martha Rogers. My wife and I saw you in the play that gained you the nomination. You should have taken one that year."
"Well, I am up again this year. I may get it this time."
"We Becketts will put our bet on you!"
As the two grandparents get acquainted, Rick and Kate are feeling happy that things are going well. The dinner is a big success. It was followed up a week later with a Sunday brunch at the Loft, then a visit to Cooney Island afterwards. The two sisters enjoyed the rides, the hot dogs, cotton candy, and just the thrill of being there.
A 12th Precinct Robbery Case Celebration
Robbery uniform, Officer Tom Demming, makes it to the homicide floor. He is there to see Kate.
"Hey Tom, what's up bro?", greets homicide uniform Officer Esposito.
"Just came to invite the homicide uniforms to a case celebration for Robbery Division at the Old Haunt. Is Kate around?'
"She's down at the ME's getting a lab report for the Detectives and then to drop off other samples at the FBI lab."
"In that case can you let her know about the case celebration? I can come by later and pick you all up. I got my 'Stang and she's all ready."
"Can't believe how well you have maintained her. She a beauty, a 500 GT, Shelby Mustang!"
"It was my dad's, so I keep it in shape to honor him, and to have a good set of wheels. It was a gift I inherited from him when he passed."
"You could probably sell her for way more than your dad bought it for?"
"No way, how many uniforms can boast of owning a 1968 Mustang 500 GT?"
"Only one I know of, and that is Shelby Mustang to be precise."
"Right on that Espo, and I will continue to own her. So pick you guys up later?"
"We're cool. Roz and Kate will be told, so see you then."
The Case Celebration
At The Haunt, the celebration is festive. Tales are being told of who came up with what leads that broke the case. Kate had called her father who would relieve the baby sister later to let him know she would be late. The baby sitter picked up Lily from school and then stayed with her until her father took over. Although he worked at their brownstone most of the time, he was busy with work, so the sitter stayed until Jim was ready to take over.
Everyone at the celebration is enjoying. Drinks are being served treated by the robbery detectives from the group. After a while, who should appear but Rick Castle, owner of The Haunt. He sees the police crowd and knows it's for a successful case closure celebration. The restaurant was fast becoming a favorite of many of the NYPD. There in the crowd, Rick sees a familiar face.
"Kate!", he calls out to her, "nice seeing you here."
People look toward the voice and a majority do not know him.
"Rick", she replies, and comes up and gives him an innocent 'welcome' kiss to his cheek. All now are staring at them. Kate sees everyone is looking and realized Rick is a stranger to most of them.
"Guys, I'd like you all to meet Rick Castle, the owner of The Old Haunt."
Everyone is surprised but most specifically Tom Demming. Espo and Karpowski recognize the man from their one case and know of his connection to Kate.
"Rick", is heard again, but this time it is coming from Syd Brisco, lead robbery detective, "this is a surprise, how do you come to know Beckett?"
Rick looks at Kate, and she gets his look. She is the one who should answer Brisco's probing question, "Rick is Lily's father."
There is a brief startled pause from the bar crowd.
"Well son of a gun Beckett, you have been keeping that secret!", says Brisco.
Everyone in the group but the homicide uni's are surprised by Beckett's reveal.
"Actually, Rick and I kind of lost contact and recently were reunited", she says to everyone.
"There's got to be a story there, but we can save that for a later time", that generates a laugh from the police group.
That is, all but Demming, he is looking a Rick with a serious gaze, studying the man.
"Well, I will leave you all to your celebration, but since you have Kate in the group, drinks are on me! I will pickup the tab on this one."
That generates a big cheer from the crowd. The crowd let's out a cacophony of "thank you's" to Rick.
As they all now start to reorder their drinks, the bar staff then comes in with snacks: chicken wings, potato wedges, carrot sticks with ranch dressing, and bowls of roasted mix nuts.
"We didn't order these", says Espo.
"It's on Mr. Castle", says Brian the bartender.
"If this is because of Beckett, she has a open invite for all our celebrations at The Old Haunt", the response from Brisco to the free treats that has the crowd nodding 'yes' to his remark.
The party continues till around 10 that night and then everyone departs knowing they have work the next day. Demming drops off all the homicide uni's, Espo and Karpowski first, and then Beckett last. She is the farthest away, but still on the way home for Demming. They are just two now in his mustang so Demming starts up the conversation. He needs to know more on this Castle guy who has returned to Kate's life.
"So Lily's dad is back. That came as a surprise Kate", he tells her, "where's that leave me? You know I have wanted to get more serious with us but have held back since you wanted to keep it just friendly."
"Should not change anything Tom", she replies, "Rick is Lily's dad and is there for his daughter. Yes he wants it to get serious between us, but we are just seeing where it goes. We are not exclusive and for now it is an open dating agreement, same as you and I. We can see and be with others if we so choose, no different from what you and I agreed on before, at least for now."
"In that case, I want to put it on the record, I want us to get more serious too, unless you say otherwise", Tom declares.
"Tom, we have been friends for some time now, out together on occasions, and I know you have dated other women as you have let me date other men. We are not exclusive, but that concession to date others, I have not taken you up on until now. We are not in a committed exclusive relationship. So I want to date both of you for the time being and just see where it goes. If that is agreeable, then we are good, otherwise I ask you to move on."
"I'm fine with that Kate, but let me know when that status changes. I take it that Castle has a similar understanding with you".
"That would be correct. For now, I do not want a serious man in my life. I am not ready for a commitment. I have too many other things I need to do that must come first. But I do need the company and want male friends outside of work. Right now I don't need those friendships to be no more than just that. I will know when I am ready for a change to that status, either for you or for Castle. Do we have an clear understanding on that?"
"Absolutely Kate".
"Well then, we're good. That's my house up front, so see you again soon."
"Right on, Kate."
Tom leaves Kate in front of her brownstone, but now knows he has strong competition to Kate's heart from the author, Rick Castle. He knows Castle is a strong contender for Kate's affections, given the author's wealth and celebrity. But Demming takes solace in knowing that will not affect Kate. She is not impressed by money or fame. She is that kind of woman. A woman of substance and Tom would have it no other way. He is more committed now to winning Beckett's affections.
The Beckett Brownstone
When she enters her home, her dad is there, watching the Late Night news.
"Lily asleep?", she asks of her dad.
"About 90 minutes ago. She asked for chicken nuggets for dinner, so we went to McD's".
"How about you dad?"
"Had my favorite quarter pounder with cheese. We shared a large fries. Coke for me and milk for her and she loves the dipping sauces. So I made her shower and get into her PJ's when we got home. Then we did homework and then she went to bed after that".
"Thanks Dad".
"It's my duty as her grandfather Katie, so no need to thank me. So Tom at this case celebration, held at Rick's Bar."
She had phoned her father to let him know she would be late arriving. She had told him of the case celebrations at The Haunt, and Jim knew that the bar belonged to Rick as its sole owner.
"Yes, he was and Rick saw us and greeted our group. Everyone but Espo and Roz were quite surprised. They all knew nothing about Castle, as I have kept that in our homicide group. Both Rick and Tom were introduced to each other.'
"That must have been interesting."
"For Tom it was not, we had a talk when he drove me home."
"Tom still wanting the two of you to become a committed couple? He made that clear when he stated his intentions to me. Kind of old fashion letting a father know about being serious with his daughter, but I admire Tom for that. So what's the deal for these two men now in your life?"
"I've told both I am not yet ready for a commitment to any man, but am content to see where it goes with both of them. They are on equal ground as far as I am concerned."
"Don't you think Tom will be intimidated by Rick? Rick is after all rich and famous and Lily's father."
"Both Tom and Rick know I am not impressed by wealth and celebrity, so they are on even playing ground. At least as far as I am concerned."
"Well, I hope you know what you're doing here Katie. But consider that Tom will feel he is the underdog here, especially given that Rick is Lily's father. That must have been a total and surprising revelation for him."
"I have thought of that Dad, but Rick's paternity is not a deciding consideration here. If Tom turns out to be the one, so be it. Tom did not ask for details about Rick, although I know he wants to know more. "
"I sure wish your mom were here to advise you from a woman's perspective."
"Dad, let's not jump the gun here. As of today, I am seeing two men. If one of them becomes exclusive, then so it will be."
"Okay Katie, I trust you on this. But if you need to get a man's POV, we can always talk about it. Just know this is a complex situation you are getting yourself into. I know if something similar had happened between me and your mom, I would be perplexed and stressed by it."
"Thanks Dad for telling me, but I already considered that, so let's get some sleep".
She kisses her dad good night and heads for bed. Her dad stays up for a while before heading to his bedroom. The brownstone had three bedrooms now all occupied. The basement studio was now back to being a home office for Jim, now that he is back to his Legal Consulting Business. Between Kate and her father, they were not hurting financially, as had been the previous situation when her father was in rehab with no income.
Still, Kate had managed to keep her head above water back then and renting out the basement office was part of that. When the lease on it had expired, it went back to being her father's office. With her dad sober and starting work again, their situation became better. She now split living costs with her father.
Jim Beckett finally retires for the night after having contemplated his daughter's situation. Katie had not had a serious boyfriend since her pregnancy. Rick Castle had been the only man she been with even when Tom Demming started to show interest in her and made his intentions known.
Tom had followed Katie's wishes and just kept it friendly. The unexpected reappearance however of Rick Castle back into his daughter's life and her mother's, had change the whole dynamics between Tom and Katie. Jim realized how complicated his daughter's life had become and he prayed to the universe for a good result.
Jim had to remain neutral in this matter with her, but subconsciously, he was in the Castle camp. Tom Demming, although a suitable man for his Katie, was not who had her heart. Jim knew about the connection she had with Rick that one night they were together. He had heard her story many times and was surprised that Katie could not see what it meant and what he saw. Rick Castle was her one!
He hoped his Katie would eventually come to see that. Or maybe she had and was being cautious, testing both men by dating them. Jim knew he could not count Tom Demming out. Not after Tom had stayed with her even after Kate told him that she wanted to keep it just friendly. Both men would be good for his Katie, but Castle was also good for his grandchild. Although Demming had realized Kate came with a daughter, Jim wondered how it would work with Tom raising a daughter not of his blood. Jim wanted not just the best for his daughter, but also for Lily his grand daughter. Still, Jim hoped this new situation would not turn out badly, but knowing that both men were decent and honorable men, he saw it could end well. The one downside is that one of these men might be hurt by all this.
' Oh Katie, what have you gotten yourself into?', was Jim Beckett's final thought as he fell into sleep.