172. Chapter 172

Chapter 172

"Collins' Diner?" Castle read from the window as they drove up. "Is this the local hot spot?"

"If you're looking for a meal, it is," Kate answered. The Collins sisters have run it for as long as I can remember."

"Katie Beckett, is that you?" someone called out as the couple walked in.

"Yes it is, Miss Melanie."

Kate was wrapped in an enthusiastic hug and returned it with a big smile. About that time another woman approximately the same age came from the kitchen.

"Katie Beckett? I can't remember the last time you were here. Bless your heart, Baby, I'm so glad to see you."

"I'm glad to see you, too, Miss Vivian. I brought my husband to introduce him to your fried chicken."

Then both women noticed Castle, who said, "She's been singing its praises. I'm looking forward to it." He was standing a couple of steps behind the hugging and was smiling and absorbing the atmosphere of old friends.

"This is my husband, Richard Castle…Rick," she told them.

"Well, Katie, you got yourself a pretty one, didn't you? I might have to hug him, too." Castle laughed as Miss Vivian pulled him into the same kind of hug and then passed him on to Melanie.

"Anybody Katie loves is welcome here," Melanie said as she released Castle from his second welcoming hug. "Come on and sit down and let's get you two some of that fried chicken."

"I thought you told me your dad was the only one who had permission to call you Katie," Castle teased.

"Hey, when I was little, there was way more than once that these ladies helped me wheedle my father into letting me have dessert or treats. They get a pass," she answered. Looking hopeful, she asked, "Do you have any of that coconut pie today?"

"Yes, ma'am we do," Melanie happily reported as Vivian retreated to the kitchen to see to the fried chicken.

Kate did a quick little happy dance in her seat in the booth and said, "We're going to want a couple of slices after the chicken. You'll love it, Castle. The crust flakes and just melts in your mouth, and the filling…I challenge you to find words. Can we have coffee while we wait, Miss Melanie?"

Melanie handed them menus in case they wanted to consider something other than chicken, said "Coming right up." Then she much more calmly greeted the next customers who came in.

"They love you," Castle said with a smile that stemmed from the welcome the women gave his wife and the out of character public happy dance for what must be her favorite pie.

"I love them, too. They're part of my childhood memories. When we stayed at the cabin, we'd always eat here at least a couple of times. And I'd always be happy to go into town with either one of my parents to run errands. Each one of them would stop here for pie or ice cream while we were out, sometimes pie with ice cream; and whichever one it was would say that I shouldn't tell the other one. And I didn't. I knew a good thing when I saw one."

"Sneaky little rascal, weren't you?"

"What can I say? I was a smart little kid, and sugar was important."

"Still is," he answered, lifting her hand to his lips to kiss the back of it. "Tell me more. What else is in town?"

They talked until their meal was served, and when Melanie had a free moment or two, she would come over and catch up with what Kate was doing and the two would talk about their children.

"Did you know her children when you were a child?"

"Her children and Miss Vivian's. Miss Melanie's daughter, Claudia was my age, and we spotted each other one day and got to be friends. I knew all the others, and they were nice to me; but they were all older and not interested in spending a lot of time with a five year old."

"Their loss."

When they finished their meal, Castle left a good tip on the table, and as they stood at the counter to pay the bill, he called out at the pass through window to the kitchen, "Miss Vivian, my complements to the chef. I believe that might be the finest fried chicken I've ever tasted, and the pie was amazing."

"Thank you, young man. You take good care of our Katie."

"I'll do that."

"We'll be here again before we go back home," Kate promised before they went outside.

"Now, let's get those groceries and get back to the cabin," Castle said as he started the SUV. "I have snooping to do,"

As they entered the cabin, Kate said, "Okay, Snoopy, have at it. There are framed pictures sitting around, and the photo album of our summers here is on the far left on the bookshelf."

Castle wasted no time in going through the framed photos on the mantle above the fireplace, taking his time with each one. "I'll bet this is what Jo looks like by the time you semi retire. You were adorable." Then he zeroed in on another picture. "You had braces," he said with absolute glee.

"You've seen pictures with braces at Dad's place."

"Oh, no. No comparison. Those had glimpses of braces. This is a full frontal wire grin. I love it."

Kate laughed. "It was a good day. Dad and I took the boat and went fishing, and everything was biting that day. Did you notice that mass of fish we were holding up, or were you too dazzled by the wire grin?"

"There are fish?" he teased, looking back at the picture, and they both laughed.

"I'm going to put away the groceries and walk down to the lake while you snoop. Take your time. If you want to join me, there's a path through some trees near the back door and it goes down to the dock. Have fun."

Later, he came out and found her sitting on the dock, leaning against a post and looking as relaxed as he'd seen her in a long time. "Scoot up," he said, standing where he could slide in behind her. He took her place at the post and she settled in the vee of his legs and leaned against his chest.

When he wrapped his arms around her waist, she sighed contentedly and said, "It felt good to be out here before, but this is even better. Have you finished your explorations?"

"No. I just missed you," he answered, brushing a kiss on her head. I have a couple more days to explore."

"I was hoping you'd come out here with me."

"Your wish is my command." He leaned to her side, and she turned her head so he could kiss her cheek. Then they sat quietly and enjoyed the sun, the spring breeze, the warmer than average day, and the sound of the small waves lapping up on the narrow shore. "This feels like a real luxury," he said a while later. "This was a good decision for us."

"I'm glad you like it here."

"It feels as peaceful as you said it would. I feel like my mind has dropped enough of its turmoil to let me relax. Having you in my arms doesn't hurt, either." When he kissed her neck, she moved up to her knees, sat straddling his lap, and kissed him. Her arms were around his neck, her fingers sliding through his hair. "Mmmmm… If this is part of your relaxation technique, I like it," he whispered.

They stayed there a little longer, leisurely making out, before Kate suggested moving their party indoors. "There won't be a wire grin, but we can probably arrange the full frontal."

"I'll cope," he answered with a grin, stood, and took her hand to walk back to the cabin.

After a gentle session of making love, they slept for a little while, had dinner, and then called home and talked to Jamie, getting a report on his school day. They told him to give Jo a kiss for them, and he promised he would. Then they went and sat swaying back and forth in the swing on the front porch, just leaning against one another and being together.

Spending leisurely time to themselves was all they needed for the next couple of days. Castle continued to delight in finding occasional new pieces of Kate's past, she delighted in seeing him unwind and allow his mind to go to better places than it had been for the past week, and they both delighted in making love and simply being uninterruptedly alone together.

On the morning they were to return to the city, they loaded their sparse luggage into the SUV. It was a little after the morning rush when they stopped at Collins' Diner for breakfast.

"Claudia?" Kate asked when she saw the dark haired woman who was waiting tables.

"Katie?" she squealed as if they were still teenagers and rushed over to give her a hug. "Mom told me you were in town, and I was hoping I'd see you before you left. This must be your husband."

"Richard Castle," he answered, offering his hand, since he hadn't been bowled over by a hug yet.

"Oh no. Nobody that Katie calls family gets out of here without a hug." He laughed and hugged her back before they were taken to a booth next to the front window.

Since there were only a couple of other customers who had already been served, Kate asked Claudia to sit with them while they waited for their breakfast. They talked, Castle now and then asking a question about Kate's childhood adventures when something came up. Pictures of their children were appropriately shared and commented on; and Miss Vivian came out to take a look at Kate's, bringing the breakfast plates with her. Claudia checked with the other customers on her way to get the rest of the Castles' breakfast order and brought coffee for all three of them. They had a nice conversation until Castle looked at his watch and reminded Kate they needed to leave if they were going to pick Jamie up at school.

"Well, I certainly don't want to be the reason you disappoint that adorable little boy in those pictures, so I should let you go," Claudia said. "Don't be such a stranger, Katie."

After another hug, the couple headed home and met Jamie outside his school as promised, collecting some special little boy hugs when he saw them.

After coming home, life seemed a little more relaxed, but the city held things that triggered memories of their last case, and they still emotionally clung to one another for support.

Kate was back at work the next day, and Castle was back into the routine of taking Jamie to school and writing while Jo slept. The best side effect of the trip to the cabin was that Castle managed to wrestle his mind into being willing to write again. They had another appointment with Dr. Burke the next morning, and felt good that they had even a small piece of progress to report.

xxxxx

Their time with Dr. Burke was productive. He talked them through their feelings about what had happened. Then he emphasized the ways they were internalizing it and offered more positive options without making any effort to sugarcoat what had happened. They discussed the effect of their trip away from the city and the specific kind of community service Castle would be responsible for.

"That has the potential of being a good outlet for the negative feelings you have right now. It appears to me that you're looking forward to it, Rick."

"I think I am. I enjoy kids, and I've mentored a couple of younger writers over the years."

"He's a natural teacher," Kate offered. "He can pull things out of the air and turn them into teaching moments. And the wealth of things floating around in his head is like an encyclopedia."

"Your community service may be a way to channel the negative feelings into something more positive. If you can make it a good learning experience for the students and see progress in the results, you'll be able to see something worthwhile come from the overall experience. It isn't going to eliminate the underlying issues, but it may temper their effect…eventually help provide a balance."

"And Kate? What will help her?"

"Kate's entire involvement in planning the break in at the barn was to help you cope with a trauma from your childhood. And as you said, neither of you could have predicted that the doctor would be there. I think seeing you come to terms with this new trauma will lessen hers, too. Kate?"

She looked at Rick and said, "There may be something to that. I guess time will tell. I don't like to see you hurting."

Castle nodded. He was less than convinced but willing to consider the idea.

"The two of you have been through trauma before." Dr. Burke pointed out. "I know some of that comes back now and then, but unless there are things you aren't telling me, it isn't too often anymore. Another case of being tempered, relegated to a much smaller place in your memories. The two of you provide each other so much strength and your family provides you so much support... I have no doubt that you can tame this problem, too; but like the other situations, it will take some time. Work with the things we discussed this week and set up once a week appointments for the next month. If we decide they aren't necessary, you can always cancel."

Rick and Kate left feeling somewhat better. They weren't out of the woods yet…a pun from Rick that had Kate slapping his arm at the dark humor, but they knew they would manage it together.

xxxxx

Castle's first community service day was something of an orientation at both the college and the high school. At the college, he met with the Dean and the head of the English department. At the high school, he met with the principal and the teacher whose class he would be working with.

Rick met her at the study door when he heard the door open.

"How did it go today?" Kate asked when she got home.

"It should be good, I think. For all practical purposes, the college class will be mine until the end of the semester. The original teacher will be there and will give the final grades based on what he's already done and what I give him. On Fridays, he'll be there for a writing session to give them time to work on their assignments. He'll observe my Tuesday and Thursday classes and make suggestions if he thinks it's necessary, but he's retiring at the end of the school year, and I think he's perfectly happy to sit somewhere in the corner of the room and let me do the rest. The high school teacher sounds like he's going to be easy to work with and seems enthusiastic about the projects. I hope that's more than an impression.

"I hope so, too. And I hope the students are interested enough to make it worth all the effort that I'm pretty sure I see you getting ready to put into it."

"Well, the college students are taking the class because they're working toward a major in English, and the high school students are part of an advanced class. That says most of them are going to be interested. Now if I can just be interesting enough to hold on to that…"

"Babe, I don't think anybody has ever accused you of not being interesting," she teased.

"Funny, Mrs. Castle. Very funny."

"Ryan said, if we need it, Jenny is willing to help with babysitting on the days you have to be out of town. And I can use my lunch time to pick Jamie up from school and deliver him to whoever is keeping Jo that day. We're pretty lucky to have the family we have."

"John offered to take Jamie to school when we need him to, but I think I can still do that. And he said he can stay with Jo and pick our boy up when Mother has to work. He doesn't need to be at the store as much as he used to, and he said he'd work it out around what we need. For him, part of being a father was pitching in and taking care of his grandson, and he's definitely laid claim to our little Castles." He paused, looking thoughtful. "He told me I have two parents now. He feels like a father…your dad, too."

"They both love you, and you've earned their trust and respect."

"It's a good feeling."

"I know. You've earned mine, too, for what it's worth."

"It's worth everything." Castle framed her face in his hands and kissed her, and Jamie came downstairs as it happened. "You're kissing again?" he asked, somewhat dramatically placing his hand over his face, fingers splayed. "You're always kissing."

"What do you think, Mommy? Should we kiss him, too?"

"Yeah. But we have to catch him first." Jamie squealed and took off for the study laughing. They had played this game before.

Before Kate came home, Jo had been playing with a toy hanging on the side of her play space, and Jamie ran in and hid behind the portable crib. Stalking his son from one side while Kate came from the other side, Castle asked, "You think your baby sister can save you?" Jo was now squealing and laughing, too, since her brother was down on her level and creating some excitement. The two parents closed in on Jamie, Castle picked him up, and they kissed him multiple times from both sides, smushing his face between them. He was still laughing but squirming to get down.

"We didn't forget about you, either, Baby Girl," Kate said, picking Jo up where they could do the same to her, but more gently. "Jamie, why don't you help me with dinner and tell me about school today?"

"Okay." Jo's face had been a bit smushed, too, and their son was still chuckling.

"I'll help, too." Castle said. "We'll put Jo in her swing, and she can supervise."

xxxxx

Castle had two texts from Black Pawn on the first day he was teaching, one from Gina about the next Nikki Heat book, and one from Brad about the next Girl With Red Hair book. He had done enough writing in the past year that he had a second Heat book coming out in the summer with plans for the one he was currently working on to be out in late November, in time for the holidays. The other children's books were mostly a matter of working with the production team and the illustrator again. Meetings with Garrett for the children's books and with Gina and Garrett for the Heat book were arranged for the following week.

He was thinking of things to add to his original teaching plans at least once a day. In just the short, introductory assignment he had given the college class on the first day, he had already identified a few students who showed some promise. Dr. Burke may have had something in thinking the teaching work might help.

Mason Brigham, nicknamed Mace, the high school teacher Castle was to work with, was in his early thirties with an energy and enthusiasm similar to Castle's. For their classic literature project, they decided on Shakespeare's, The Tempest. With a backstory of wrongs done, added to a monster, an unexpected opportunity for revenge, political plotting, spirits, magic, young love, and attempted murder, there seemed to be some point of interest for any teenager. The two men had a great time bouncing ideas back and forth, and having someone who was excited about Shakespeare to share it with only made it better. They intended to include a little acting now and then and planned to be a part of it themselves. And Castle already had an idea for the first creative writing project.

The class groaned at the thought of Shakespeare, but with the knowledge and enthusiasm shared by the two men working with their class, they gradually came around. Castle even talked Martha, with her endless energy, into visiting the class one day. The idea was that she would act the parts with some of the students; but during the entire class, nobody would speak to the teenagers using anything other than Shakespearean English, including the joking around that both teachers couldn't seem to repress. There was groaning again at the beginning of the class, but by the end of the two hour block of class time, the teenagers were getting the hang of it, they had expanded their vocabularies, and a couple of them were even insulting each other in fourteenth century terms. Martha was in her element, and the students who had initially looked askance at her dramatic flair had warmed to her underlying loving nature and the way she made the scenes with the students come to life. She had watched proudly as her son and Mace worked so well with the students and Castle had made assignments for the next class. Before she left at the end of class, one of the young men even bowed, kissed her hand, and thanked her for being there…in acceptable Shakespearean language.

"Oh, you darling boy. That was charming," she exclaimed. Pointing a finger and waving it back and forth at the other males in the class, she told them, "Take lessons from this one. A little chivalry now and then never hurts." Then she thanked Mace and the class for a wonderful afternoon and left with Castle when the bell rang.

When he returned for the next class, Mace told Castle that other teachers reported a trail of Shakespearian speech following their students all over the school, and strangely enough, it seemed to be catching on.

That day, they finished their unit on Shakespeare and The Tempest, and Castle gave the class their first creative writing assignment…a creative synopsis, no more than three thousand words, of the play they had just worked on.

"You can present it in whatever format you want, in the point of view of whoever or whatever you'd like, animate or inanimate, but don't limit yourself to what I mentioned. Use your own imaginations. I want to see both your creativity and your understanding of the play. Come back with something to impress me," he said as the bell rang and the classroom emptied.

As he waited at the traffic light at the edge of town, he made a call to Kate at work to let her know he was on his way home.

"You're absolutely loving this teaching thing, aren't you?"

"I am. Working with the college students is great. I'm getting some good writing from them, but the high school has been amazing. Mace is great to work with, and it's been a rewarding trip to see them go from groaning at the very thought of Shakespeare, to understanding the language and the twists and turns of the plot, and actually enjoying it. I can't wait to see what they turn in for their first creative writing assignments."

"Maybe you should be a teacher when you grow up," she answered, and he could practically hear the smirk she was wearing.

"If I grow up? Is that what you mean? I hear you muttering now and then about being married to Peter Pan," he said good naturedly.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Lover Boy. I'll probably be home about the same time you are, so we can order takeout."

Rick was usually home around three-thirty, and Kate had been going in an hour early every day and leaving an hour or so early on the days when he might be later than that. Both of them knew the blessing their family gave them in helping with babysitting, and they were trying not to push any harder than necessary.

"Don't worry about takeout," Rick told her. "I'll call Arturo's and order our favorites."

"Arturo's doesn't do takeout."

"He does for me. He gets it ready, I call him when I get there, and he smuggles it out in a Macy's bag or something so it looks like a customer is coming to pick up something they forgot, It wouldn't do to be seen as playing favorites."

"I suppose you do favors for him, too?"

"He calls when he and his wife want tickets to a show, and I talk to Mother. She usually comes through. She gets takeout, too. I'm pretty sure he still has arrangements with a few others, but I know it's a very small club. I think his wife contributes the bags from Macy's and Bloomingdales, and…"

"I get it. Arturo's is better than what I had in mind, anyway. Don't forget dessert. Jamie would be disappointed."

"I suspect he isn't the only one. See you soon."

Rick got home about four-thirty complaining about traffic…and with a Saks Fifth Avenue bag full of fine Italian cuisine, including dessert. Kate had left the precinct a few minutes after talking to Rick, picked up the children from Alexis and JD, and had the little ones settled at home and the table set when Rick arrived; and they immediately sat down for dinner.

As they ate dinner, Castle brought up Memorial Day weekend. "April is almost over, so it's time to think about it."

"I've thought about it a lot lately. That's awfully close to the time I took off for your birthday, but I think I can manage Saturday and Sunday. That would have us together at the beach for our secret anniversary. Not alone, but together. I could come back early Monday morning. I've talked to Captain Dohrman, and he said one daughter's family will be here for a week in June and the other for a week in mid-July. I'm going to be on call for him while his children are here. He said he'd be on call for me Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and for the July fourth weekend. If I'd been faster, he would have covered Memorial Day Monday, but his wife has a big cookout planned and wants him home. I think after July I'll save most of my vacation time for the end of the year holidays."

"You really meant that you were going to use your vacation time, didn't you?"

"Did you doubt me?"

"No? Maybe I thought it would take a little more talking through it, though."

"Didn't think I'd plan ahead on my own?" she challenged, but she was smiling.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... You're always there when I need your support…like you've been lately. I do know I can depend on you. And family…I mean you spent most of last year with us full time."

"Well, Jo gave me enough excuse to manage that. I know I spent years being obsessed with the job, but I'm a changed woman now. Five years…less than five years now…and then I plan my time entirely around family. For now, I'll do everything I can. We're important, Richard Castle…us and our little Castle babies." Castle leaned close and kissed her.

Dinner was early, it was a nice, spring afternoon, and the daylight hours were getting longer. "Should we take them to the park?" Castle whispered to Kate while his lips were close to her ear.

"Yeah. A short trip so bedtime isn't too late."

"Anybody interested in going to the park for a little while?" Castle asked, and his son was clearly willing.

"Can we go now?" Jamie asked.

"Give us time to clear the table and put the food away. Get your jacket and Jo's and get an extra diaper while you're in her room."

"Okay. He went upstairs making sing-songy sounds about the park and was back in no time with everything he was supposed to bring."

"Good job, Buddy," Castle praised.

Kate was already getting Jo into her hoodie and her tiny little soft boots, and Jamie was putting on his jacket, They settled Jo into the stroller, and the family walked to the park, each of them enjoying it their own way and for their own reasons, and content to be together for that.