Unexpected Appearance Chapter 79

From beneath Rick's luxurious high-thread count sheet, Kate stretches, a soft purr emanating from her throat. Propping himself on his elbow, Rick gazes down at her, satisfaction lighting his face. "That was amazing! I've scoped out wedding venues before, but it never affected me like that. But then, you weren't the bride-to-be."

Grabbing the sheet for cover, Kate sits up against the headboard. "Even with Hoss' suggestions, if we're going to make it all happen within two weeks, we've got a hell of a lot of work to do."

"You're right," Rick admits, "we need to start making calls. However, there's no reason why we can't make them from right here – especially if we want to avoid Hoss' inhibiting presence."

Kate trails her finger down his shoulder. "You have a point, but if we're going to be negotiating with suppliers, I could use some coffee."

"That makes two of us," Rick agrees, springing out of bed and wrapping a robe around his otherwise bare body. He enters the kitchen to find Hoss sitting there with a glass and a half-empty bottle of tequila. "You said you're working on a project. I thought you'd be writing."

"I hit a brick wall."

Rick starts loading the coffeemaker. "Been there. Was there until I met Beckett. But booze doesn't break through the blockage. I know. I've tried." He drops into a chair. "Want to talk about it?"

"After the sh*tstorm from those women, one of the actresses on the TV show I did told the press that we had an affair."

"Did you?" Rick asks.

"We had sex a couple of times, but it didn't mean anything – at least not to me. Still, when the story came out, my wife filed for divorce. I haven't been able to write anything since."

"Do you want a divorce?"

"Maybe. I don't think anything could ever be the same between Sai and me again. But I want to be with my kids. Her lawyer is trying to use all the press as evidence that I'm not fit to share custody, and Sai doesn't want me to see them at all."

"Have you considered doing some heavy-duty groveling along with a heartfelt apology for your abysmal behavior?" Rick asks.

"You ever apologize, Rick?"

Rick snorts. "Living in a loft with my mother and my teenage daughter, I have to apologize at least daily. Still, I admit that I had to learn with Beckett. She almost kicked me loose a couple of times when I stuck my nose uninvited into her private business. But listing my wrongs and saying I was sorry went a long way to getting back in her good graces. And a thoughtful gift at the right moment didn't hurt either."

"I've given Sai my share of gifts, but Rick, I've never apologized for anything in my life," Hoss confesses. "The words would never come."

"Then perhaps that's what's blocking your other words from coming," Rick suggests. "If you can say what you should have said all this time to Sai, the rest may follow. But you're sure as hell not getting anywhere hiding out here."

"You're right about that," Hoss acknowledges.

A beep sounds from the counter. "Coffee's ready," Rick notes. "You could use some."

"You're right again," Hoss responds, pushing away his tequila glass. "Looks like I'd better book a flight to Maine. That's where Sai took the kids. They're all staying with her mother."

Rick puts two mugs on a tray, fills a third one with coffee, and puts it in front of Hoss. He adds the coffee pot to his tray. "I'm taking this upstairs to Beckett. I'll leave you to whatever you need to do. Good luck, Hoss."

Hoss cradles the warm mug in his hands. "Yeah, I'll need it."

Rick hands a now kimono-clad Kate her mug. "Beckett, is there anything for which I owe you an apology?"

"Other than letting Hoss Seeton keep a key to your house?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Anything else?"

"Not that I can think of, but then I haven't had my coffee yet. And knowing you, there will probably be something before the end of the day. But watching you grovel can be fun. Why?"

"Just a little guy talk I had with Hoss. Oh, and you will be happy to know he is making plans to vacate the premises."

Kate takes a thoughtful sip from her mug. "That must have been some guy talk."

"I think it was clarifying for both of us. But you and I should get on with the business at hand. What first? Movie supply house, caterers, or your father? Oh, and flowers. I hadn't even thought of flowers."

"If Hoss was right, we'll be depending on the movie supply house for the most stuff. If it's even open on a weekend, we should call it first."

Rick pulls up a search on his phone. "A movie supply house in Long Island City. Got it! Cross your fingers."

As Kate puts a platter with deli cuts on the table in the kitchen, Rick shoves his phone into his pocket. "After at least ten more calls than we hoped, we've lined up everything for a Sunday wedding two weeks from now. That is, everything but the music. Did you want to fortify yourself with red meat before calling your dad?"

"It's not that. I just hate to spring that fast a wedding on him. He's still grieving for my mother."

"So are you, but you've managed to get on with your life since we nailed Bracken. As a loving father, I'd think he'd want to be part of that. If it were Alexis, I would. Why not call him now? Then we can celebrate over lunch."

Kate picks up her phone from the counter. "Yeah, you're probably right. Hey, hi, Dad. No, nothing's wrong. It's just that Castle and I are, I mean I just wanted to ask you…."

"Spit it out, Katie," Jim Beckett urges. "You and Castle are what?"

"We're getting married on the Sunday in two weeks, and I want you to walk me down the aisle."

"I was wondering when you and Rick would finally get around to setting the date. So, where are you going to tie the knot?"

"At his beach house in the Hamptons. I was also hoping you could get Hard Case to play for the reception and maybe something simple when I'm on your arm."

"As far as I know, the band isn't booked for that day. I'll have to double-check, but that's a tentative yes. Um, Katie, there is one thing. I'll, um, be bringing a plus one. There's a lady I've been seeing, and we were going to go to a concert at the Historical Society that morning. But I'm sure she'd love to go to the wedding, especially if Hard Case is playing. That's how we met. She was at one of our gigs."

Kate swallows. "Dad, that's fine! I mean, that's great! I'm glad you're seeing someone. Just let me know as soon as you can about the band. Castle and I are trying to get everything set."

"I'll call you as soon as I know. Love you, Katie girl."

"Love you, Dad."

Even as the call ends, Kate's fingers curl tightly around her phone. "Problem, Beckett?" Rick asks.

"No. Not a problem. It's just that my dad is dating. I didn't know. I mean, I didn't think…."

Rick wraps her in his arms. "This is a good thing, right? Your father is starting to rebuild a personal life for himself."

Kate lays her head against Rick's chest. "Yeah. I'll just need some time to get used to it."

"I get it." He presses a kiss to her forehead. "But in the meantime, let's eat."