Fate's Surprises
Chapter 11 - The Date
Tom had called Team Demming together to devise a plan for his date with Kate.
"I think you should go all the way with her that night", his one friend tells him.
"It's our first serious date together and I do not want to be too aggressive. It might scare her off, or worst yet, brand myself as a predator causing her to dump me completely", Tom replies to the suggestion given.
"So you are willing to play the long game. Is that what you are saying here Tom?"
"I am. I believe she is worth it."
"Are you that much attracted to her?"
"She's the one, my whole being tells me that."
"Despite, I think you should push the boundaries here, but be prepared to back off if you sense it is leading to the wrong outcome."
"How will I know when I hit that envelope here?"
"No one can tell you but yourself. You know her, know her tells, and what she wants, the rest is trusting your instincts with her."
"I can do that."
"Tom, just keep in mind what you are going for here, that should motivate you and provide some inspiration on this."
"Thanks guys, wish me luck."
"No luck needed, you got this Tom."
Tom was not fully confident in that last statement, but he appreciated the morale support from his team and that encouraged him to get on with it.
Date Night Saturday
Tom Demming picked her up from the Beckett Brownstone at precisely 8PM, like he had told her. Kate wore her black sequined dress with low revealing neckline showing off her the sides of her bare bosom with her skirt line being just mid-thigh. Kate had not worn this outfit in a long time, but tonight she wanted to make it special for the date. She wore with the LBD her four inches stiletto heels that accentuate her long legs that were shown off by the mid-thigh length to her dress. The outfit made her feel sexy and she had not felt that way in a while, so long had she been out of the dating game. When Tom saw her, he was truly impressed with her beauty.
"You're stunning Kate, that dress does you justice. It is enough to hold any man's attention, I am sure we will be stared at tonight because of you. You are simply gorgeous."
Kate blushes at his compliment, but with it, Tom has made her feel special and brand new. He is wearing a blue Cartier suit with white pin stripes and the suit fits like a glove giving hint that it is tailored and not bought off the shelf. It also shows off his manly profile and gives hint to what is underneath. Jim was taking care of Lily tonight, but made sure they were both out of sight, so as to allow the couple their alone time together when Tom arrived to pick her up.
Tom had made reservations at a high end dinner and dance club. The dinner was exquisite, fillet mignon, grilled vegetables, rice pilaf, and a nice side salad. Appetizer was fried zucchini. Tom had made sure to have lots of wine, if it should loosen Kate up for their date, all the better. The dessert was a French dessert of a multi-thin layered cake with frosting to die for. Being a French treat, Tom was going for snob appeal in his efforts to impress Kate.
The restaurant had it's own DJ who played several genres of music. For the most part, they went for the popular hits to dance to, avoided most of the rap numbers, but Tom made sure to dance all the slow numbers with Kate. During the slow numbers, Tom held Kate close. So close he could feel her breathing and Kate responded by also holding him even tighter against herself as they danced.
"Kate, it could be like this for us all the time."
"I know, but I am not ready yet for a commitment to any man."
"And why is that Kate?"
"So many more goals I want to achieve and also I am a single parent."
"Not so single, Castle is helping you with that, is he not?"
"Yes, he has been a big help, but that does not give Rick any more of an edge than you. I treat both of you with equal affection, but not yet at the stage where it goes beyond that fondness."
"I am willing to wait Kate till you are ready and also, Lily is part of all that. Know that I accept you and her as a pair."
"Thank you Tom, but for now, let's just see where it goes with us. I do consider you a special friend."
"As special as Castle."
"Both of you are, so let's just leave it at that for now."
They dance to several more songs and consume the remainder of the wine. The atmosphere is romantic, and that was something that Kate had not experienced in a while. They continue to enjoy the date together and they go well into the night.
It is getting close to Midnight time to end their date. Despite being a Saturday night, Kate has a child to care for that morning,
Tom is aware of Kate's situation as a single parent, and so he tells her, "Well, I need to get you back to the brownstone. Can't keep you out too late, you might turn into a pumpkin at midnight", says Tom jokingly noting the hour.
"I promise not to Tom, turn into a pumpkin, that is. I'm not Cinderella. But I do feel like I have just been to the ball with a handsome prince. This night has been special and we should do it more often."
"I want that Kate and more."
"Let's not ruin the night Tom, just know I am fond of you, but I still want to keep it friendly."
"I'll change your mind on that Kate."
"You are entitled to do so. Let's just see where it goes for now, but this was the best date we've had so far."
Tom gets Kate home before midnight and they part with an affectionate kiss. It had been a memorable date, one event that Tom intends to continue with others. As he drove home, he is in good spirits. This is a great start for a more serious relationship with Kate. Tom had been proposing it to her from some time now. She always put if off, just like she had again done on this date, but maybe she is changing her mind. Maybe more such dates will convince her to accept him exclusively. He was pleased he had got her to date him in this manner. It had been the most romantic date the two had ever had and it now encouraged Tom to continue down the path that he wanted the relationship to take.
He is truly happy tonight by the date, despite Kate still being reluctant to move forward with him. He had not pushed the envelope as team Demming had suggested. She once again confirmed that Castle and him were equal in her affections for them. Was part of that reason for her reluctance to commit because of one Rick Castle, father to their daughter? Despite her declaration that Rick had no advantage as her baby father, Tom consider if Kate herself was denying her true feelings for Castle.
Tom however would not let Castle's presence in her life now lessen his resolve to pursuing Kate for an exclusive and intimate joining. Castle apparently was in the same situation as Tom. So for now it seemed it was a level field both men were on. To the man who managed to persevere, the rewards were significant. Tom vowed to be that man and this date had all but renewed his efforts and zeal about his quest for Kate's heart.
After Her Date
Kate is pondering the date in her mind. Tom was pursuing her more seriously and any other woman would have accepted quite readily his intent to be exclusive. Why then was Kate so hesitant to let it develop further with Tom? Again, her standard reasons came to mind. One, she still had other goals she needed to achieve, like solving her mother's murder, and there was no room for distraction from such goals, which a romance would do at this time. Second, there is Lily to consider.
Kate wonder what it would be like if she and Tom did become exclusive and eventually marry. Even though Tom accepted her daughter Lily, if Kate were to have another child with Tom as a result of a marriage, would Lily then be the lesser child with a half sibling from a step father? Would Lily feel left out, if overshadowed by future half siblings? This was one main reason that held Kate back from committing to any man.
And yet, with Castle, should they get serious and become a married couple, that would not be that issue. Lily was accepted by not just her father, but also his family. Rick's eldest daughter loved her younger sister and Martha adored her youngest granddaughter. So despite her claim that Castle did not have an advantage as Lily's dad, in all practicality, it is significant. Marrying Rick gave her an instant family. Marrying Tom introduced Lily to a situation of being shared by two families, one of which she may become the lesser child,
Still, with Rick back in her life, it introduced more complexity to her situation. Had Castle not reappeared, would the situation be that she settles for Tom, the safe and secure bet. Tom being the only man interested in her who did not shy away because she is a single parent. So until the re-appearance of Castle, Tom had no competitors. No one to be judged against or compared to in his quest for Kate's heart.
Kate had known of Castle's playboy image before they had slept together. But the Rick Castle she knew that night was the opposite of that image. She saw him as warm, considerate, empathetic, passionate, and definitely hot! The chills she got when she saw him in his glory! His toned and sculptured body had aroused her, like no other man had ever. She could not deny the attraction, or was it just lust? She knew Rick was a risk! A risk to her heart if she fell for him and he lost interest in her. Certainly with both men in her life, both were pursuing her in earnest, and both were doing their best to court her. A woman could not ask for more from potential suitors.
With Castle, circumstances had kept them apart after their one night together, but what they had that one time she could not deny. There definitely had been something between them and despite the years in between before they were reunited, Kate had never forgotten those feelings she had for Rick during that night. Truth of the matter was she had often had lustful thoughts about Rick and their one night together.
Kate had been in past relationships, but none of those men had ever made her feel like Rick had done that night. She needed to know where it could lead with Rick. With Tom, there was a fondness, but not like the overwhelming desire she had for Castle. Tom was safe and so secure as a suitor. Rick was risky but also one who would always satisfy her libido. The sex had been great with Rick, the best she had ever had. That last measure for a suitor being unfair to Tom as she had not slept with him and had not known him in carnal union.
Still, Kate knew that life with Castle would be exciting, adventurous, and interesting. Rick would fulfill her lust filled desires for him. Life with Tom would be different: bland, ordinary, but affectionate, safe, and secure. Given how her life had been changed so drastically with the murder of her mother, Kate longed for safe and secure as Tom would not lose interest in her... but could he hold her interest! That thought got to the heart of the matter.
But as Kate ponder these questions in her mind, another equally nagging thought surfaced. It had been buried deep in her subconscious about her situation. But now as she considered her circumstances, that thought screamed out at her loudly. Was she keeping Tom on hold as her plan B if things did not turn out with Rick? Is Kate using Tom as her back up plan. Is she without intention leading Tom on?
Or…. maybe…. the reverse is true. Maybe Rick her plan B! Was that what was creating this three way romance?
These conflicting ideas battled in her mind as she pondered her dilemma and she was disturbed by them. She realizes in the end, one of these two men could be badly hurt and possibly both men. Her situation was precarious with them. Then another dark thought came to her. What if in her reluctance to make a decision about these two men in her life, ….what if…. she lost them both! That thought now gave her a sense of urgency that she needed to make a timely choice so as not to lose her opportunity with either of the two men. Time was of the essence in her situation. But independent and confident Kate would not be rushed. She is intent that her situation have the time and sufficient thought to resolve the matter.
As Kate thoughts continued to battle in her mind, she fell into a restless sleep. Her thoughts played out and carried into her dreams. In her dreams she lost them both and lived her life as a lonely solitary woman. That situation came about as Lily turned adult and left her mother to make her own life. Kate then truly became a lonely and solitude figure. The dream was as close to a nightmare as one could get.
Kate still did not see that Castle was her best choice. That one night they got together had indeed been two lost souls seeking comfort in each other. She had never felt so connected and Rick had made her forget for that one night that grief she had in losing her mother. But Kate was looking for a sign from Castle, a sign that it was his feeling for her and not those for Lily alone hat drove Rick's desire that they become a committed couple.
Still, Tom's persistence with her was wearing her down and tonight he had shown Kate what it could be like, and perhaps more, if they committed to one another. Tom was ready, Kate was not. It was a restless sleep for Kate that night and clouded her dreams. When she awoke to start her day, there was with a deep foreboding of how her life could turn out; of how her life could become tragic! Kate had to make a choice , and soon, time was running out and she could possibly lose both men! That was her unspoken fear about her current situation and she prayed that Fate give to her a good outcome for the three of them.