Fate's Surprises

Chapter 1 - Waiting In line

Why was she here? She had been waiting in line for almost two hours just to get him to sign his latest book. She had not even known about him till that one day about a year ago. It had happened quite by chance.

A Year Ago

She was packing up her mom's things. Her mother had been untimely taken away from them: herself and her father. Her mother the victim of a mugging gone wrong, or so had said the two NYPD homicide detectives handling the case. Johanna Beckett was found stabbed in an alley with little clues as to what had happened. The NYPD had declared it a mugging gone wrong with murder, but Kate knew otherwise. The detectives who were on the case had already made up their minds, but Kate knew better. There was more to her mother's homicide than what was ruled on the case finding. After months of not finding the murderer, the case became a cold case.

Unable to cope with the death of his wife, Jim Beckett had spiralled into alcoholism. He was in rehab for a second time, relapsing after his first attempt. But this second time, he had managed to stay away from drink for six months. Maybe this would be it. Maybe he had beaten his alcoholism and was on the road to recovery and sobriety. Kate had hoped for the best.

So Kate had been left to deal with her mother's loss all alone. Her dad in a recovery program and no one but herself to carry on with the surprises that her life had given to her. She was left to pack up her mom's things as a start to bring normality back to both her and her father's lives. She had transferred from Stanford to NYU to be close to her father and to take care of him as best she could. She was living off the insurance money from her mother's death, and was also part time waitressing to make ends meet. He mom's 401K and her father's medical insurance was paying of her father's rehabilitation and all cost associated with it.

Fortunately, the family brownstone was free and clear, inherited from her deceased maternal grandparents who were the original owners. As additional income, she rented out the former home office of her parents in the basement of their brownstone. She also part time waitressed for added income as needed. So for now, financially, Kate was getting by. But her life had changed so much with the murder of her mother.

The once care-free college student from Stanford was now struggling to keep afloat. This now was a more serious Kate, focused on getting her NYU Criminology Degree and then entering the Police Academy. She had switched her major from Law to Criminal Science. Her goal currently was to become a homicide detective and solve her mother's cold case.

As she packed the boxes of her mother's things to be placed in the basement storage closet of their family brownstone, she comes on to several of her mother's books by the same author. They look like they had been well read, numerous times, the book spine showing its age, pages well worn with some passages underlined, the cover showing it's age from both time and use. She looks on the back of the cover of one book to get info on the author, who appears to have been a favorite of her now deceased mother.

"Richard Castle, best selling crime author", Kate reads as part of the bio on the back cover of the one book she had taken to look at for information.

She eyes the author's photo and views a handsome man with the bluest of eyes. Then rather than box her mother's books for storage, she places all the Castle books in another box. She wants to read them all and find out what her mother had seen in Castle's books.

She reads the first novel that night.

In the margins of some of the pages, she reads the comments her mother wrote on some of the specific text in the novel. Portions of the text highlighted, either underlined or marked with a high liner. It was like her mother was there for her, telling Kate her thoughts on the Castle novel. For Kate, her mother had become alive to her as she reads the novels, complete with the notes from her mom. Remarks written in the margins of the pages and on little stick em notes left on them, provided her thoughts on the passage. Thru Rick Castle's books, Kate's mother, Johanna Beckett, had remained alive to Kate. Her mother was alive in those written comments.

Book Signing

So that is why Kate was in line to get Castle's latest novel signed. She had read all the Castle books her mother had purchased. It had taken her months to finish them all. It was like her mother was there for her, reading the novels with Kate, and giving to her those remarks on her mother's thoughts on the words written there. She wanted to keep the collection of Castle books up to date, to keep her mother's presence in her life. So Kate had purchased the latest novel. Not so much purchased, but renewed the account of her mother's in the Castle book club. She transferred the account to her name and kept up the subscription. In this manner Kate would always receive Castle's latest works. His books a reminder of her mother, a solid fan of the author.

She comes out of her throughts as she makes it to the head of the line.

"And who should I make this out to?", asks the author.

"Kate, you can make it out to Kate."

Rick Castle looks up to see a very attractive young lady with beautiful but sad eyes.

"Have you been a fan for long, you seem young to be a fan? Most of my fans are older than you. Women who are in their late twenties up to their thirties, and older. Some beyond that target age group. You don't seem to fit that profile."

"I am flattered that you think I am so young. Actually, I found you only months back, after reading all my mother's collection of your novels. She was the fan but I inherited all her books."

"Inherited?"

"Yes, my mother passed away almost a year now."

"I am sorry to hear that and is that why your eyes are so sad but hauntingly striking."

"I...", but before she can fully respond, Castle hands the book back to her, signed.

"Thank you for being a fan."

"Thank you Mr. Castle for the autograph.

"Rick, call me Rick , please Kate."

"Well then, thank you Rick for signing my book."

"You're welcome, Kate", he tells her as he hands her back the book.

Kate makes her way to the Cafe found in that Barnes and Noble hosting the book signing. She gets a coffee and then a table, to read the inscription Rick had written in the book.

"Kate, your eyes are so beautiful but sad. Please, be happy, your mother would have wanted that for you", signed Rick.

It is a lovely sentiment and Kate starts to read the new book. She had only started her reading with the introduction, but now began reading the other chapters in earnest. She reads for a little less than two hours, so engrossed had she been, until she looks up from her reading to see Rick Castle entering the cafe.

He buys a coffee and then looks for a table when he spots Kate.

"Kate", he says, "I thought you left hours ago, but you are still here. I just finished the last autograph and came for some coffee."

"You have kept me occupied for two hours Rick with this new novel. I could not put you down."

That brings a smile to Rick's lips, and then he says, "Well, I am glad I kept you so engrossed in my novel. Mind if I sit?"

"Yes, but of course."

He takes the spot next to hear.

"Thank you for the inscription, did you mean it?"

"Yes, of course I did. You have stunning eyes that should be filled with happiness and not the sorrow that I saw in them. You are burdened with the loss of your mom, but also feel her presence when you read my books. And knowing that is why you read my books is something I cherish. So what is your story Kate, if you don't mind me asking?"

Rick Castle was always interested in the story. That's what he attempted with all his writings. To find the story...why those people, why those crimes. There was always a story, and Castle always wanted to know it. He was intrigued by Kate, so young, and yet so sad.

Normally Kate would have avoided answering such a question, but she finds herself so very comfortable in Rick's company.

"She was killed Rick. A mugging gone wrong said the police."

"Oh, now I am so sorry for prying, please forgive me."

"Don't be Rick. It's been more than a year and I finally can speak about it. Somehow I feel at ease with you and can just open up and be honest with you."

"Thank you for those words Kate. I too feel free and familiar in your presence. Have you had dinner? It's almost that time, and my hotel has a great restaurant. Can I invite you to dinner?"

"Yes, I would like that", Kate surprises herself with her agreeing to the dinner. Normally she would have refused, but she feels this connection to the author.

His hotel is a quick walk away and once they get there, they head for the restaurant. He orders for both of them.

"Their steak dinner is the best in town, so I ordered it for us."

"Thank you for that, but mind if I ask a question?"

"No, you answered my question so sincerely, so I need to reciprocate."

"Why the hotel room? I thought you are an NYC native."

"I am, but have been living in Los Angeles these last several years with my soon to be ex wife. She is an actress and we are going thru a divorce."

"Oh, now I am the one sorry for asking."

"Don't be, she cheated on me with her producer."

"Oh Rick, I am so sad to hear that."

"So, can you see, I too have gone thru a loss, but mine thru a betrayal. So I saw in you that same sorrow that I have now, that sense of loss. I saw that when you came up for the signature."

"Look at us. Two people commiserating in their loss and sorrow."

"Well, misery does love company, or so the saying goes."

"So what next Rick?"

"Tomorrow I go house hunting to move back to the city I love."

"Just you Rick?"

"No, I have a young daughter from the marriage. She's back in L.A. with my mother, also an actress, so I will be looking for a place for all of us. My ex will stay in L.A. I gave her the home in L.A. for her consent for full custody of my daughter."

The waiter just then comes to their table to fill their now empty wine glasses. Rick had ordered a bottle for the dinner which they now were finishing off. They talk about their lives and it is a conversation that both enjoy. In a short time, both feel like they have known the other for a while, it is such a connection. Neither has ever been so attracted and comfortable with a new aquaintence.

As they finish their wine, Rick asks her, "Do you want to go to a more private place so we can continue our discussions? Too many ears in here that we can be overheard."

"Sure, lead the way Rick."

He takes her hand and leads her to the elevator where they will head for his private luxury suite. The night for them is not yet finished, and holds promise for so much more. Normally accompaning a man to his hotel room would send up an alarm for Kate. But she finds herself so comfortable and protected in his presence. Had it been that in their both shared deep loss, the two had clicked together so well. There is a sense of trust here, yet another unusual event for Kate and for Rick. It is a connection like no other for the two.

Castle's Suite

The suite was a luxury suite and confirmed for Kate that Rick Castle had become financially secure from his writings. The suite had a separate living room, complete with a mini-frig, bar, microwave. The couch was comfortable and there they sat getting to know each other better.

"NIce accommodations!" , she says to start their talk.

"Paid by my Publishing Company. One of the perks of being a high grossing best selling author. Mind if I ask how old you are Kate? I know you are not supposed to ask a lady her age, but you are younger than most of my female fans."

"I just turned twenty Rick."

"You are so young, but you are an old soul Kate. Your life experience has matured you beyond your given years."

"One gets that way when having to deal with the surprises fate throws your way. This last year I have had to deal with my mother's death, my dad's acoholism as a result of the murder, all while trying to finish my degree. I had to grow up fast. I can no longer be that care-free college student I once was."

"When are you headed back to college?"

"I transferred from Stanford to NYU to be close to my father. I switched my major from law to criminal science. I want to become a police offer, more specifically, a homicide detective, and bring my mother's killer to justice."

"Ah yes, the Bruce Wayne syndrome."

She gets his message and is surprised how well Castle knew about pop culture. His knowing of Bruce Wayne was interesting for a man of his age and status. There was a simple child like nature to him that he still enjoyed comics. What other little things will she learn about him?

"Was my 'Bat Signal' on full display?", she responds jokingly to his comment.

As they continue to talk, Kate notices the time.

"Rick, it's getting late, I have to leave."

As she stands up from the couch to leave, Rick grabs hold of her hand to stop her.

"Please stay Kate, this has been such a great evening."

"I really shouldn't do that, stay, I mean", she says realizing that she finds Rick Castle very attractive. She does not want to fall in love with him. There are too many things she still has to do. There is no time for a man in her life. She doesn't want to fall in love with Rick Castle.

But Rick enters her personal space, takes her in an affectionate embrace, and lands a passionate kiss to her lips, with lots of tongue.

That was the spark that lite the fire. Now the two are hurriedly shedding their clothes. Once both of them are completely naked, Rick takes her bride style to the bedroom and places her on the bed. What follows is a night of passionate love making. Kate had not had a steady boyfriend in a while, and Rick was getting over a divorce that had him in a sexual drought. They go at it like this is there first and maybe last time together. What was so amazing for them both is that it ended with mutual spontaneous orgasm for the couple. A very first for either of them.

Despite the mind blowing sex, Kate wakes up early. Still exhausted from last night she knows she must leave. Rick is still sleeping. Kate feels guilty, never had she ever been with a man so quickly and so completely. One night stands had not been her style. Still, she gathers her clothes, gets dressed and then leaves Rick with not even a note of good bye. It had all been too much for her.

She did not want to fall in love with Rick Castle, that would be so easy, given how they had connected. No, she did not need a man to complicate her life. That was not what she needed right now. She had things to do, wrongs to correct, and there is no time for love in her life. She had to remain focused on finding her mother's killer and getting her dad well. That for her would become her all consuming tasks. She needed no man to mess it up for her.

She leaves Rick's suite knowing she will never see him again, and yet, she would remember this night with him for a life time.