September 21, 2016

The story continues in Part III.

Imbedded in Part III is a complicated back story that will (hopefully) explain everything to your satisfaction. This story is alternate universe. Thanks for suspending your disbelief and playing along.

Enjoy.

Bren Williams

SITTING IN A TREE, BACKWARDS

This is an excerpt from Part III

Mystery

Prologue

The white, sandy beaches seemed endless.

Rick walked along the water's edge, searching for something or someone. He heard splashing behind him and turned to find Kate approaching, her golden skin glittering with water droplets. Her bikini was alluring. He wanted to wind his fingers through her long hair and pull her against him, but she moved away, dancing into the shallow waves.

She seemed unaware of him, and yet… the sounds of the waves breaking on the shore faded into music growing louder…. marimbas, guitars and tambourines… Kate whirled and danced, her bikini became long, full skirts with layers of ruffles, like a Mexican dancer's. She faced him again and he gasped. A skull's hollowed eyes stared back with teeth bare and even, grinning like a specter of death. Her long, flowing hair was interwoven with enormous marigold blossoms. Her breasts were golden and beautiful, and her limbs as strong and smooth as ever, but the face… chilled him.

She came to him, laughing, teasing, "Remember me…." She circled him, shaking her hips in time with the music before twining her arms around him and pressing her bony mouth to his, clutching at him in sudden desperation.

Rick awoke and sat upright in bed, staring into the darkness around him, panting. Kate lay beside him, sleeping peacefully. All was quiet, just the pale light from the porthole window above their bed and the gentle rise and fall of a cruise ship at sea. He pushed his hands through his hair, taking deep breaths. The disturbing images of his dream still danced through his thoughts.

That dream again. What does it mean? He lay back against the pillow, blinking in the darkness. "Remember me," he murmured, rolling to his side to face his wife. He brushed her hair away from her cheek, feeling the whisper of her breath against his chest as he eased himself nearer. "Like I could ever forget you." His voice was barely audible. He traced the line of her jaw with one finger, the dream still captivating his thoughts.

"Sorry." Her voice was soft.

His finger hovered near the tip of her chin and pulled away.

"Kate?"

But no response was forthcoming, and he lay beside her in the darkness, waiting and wondering until sleep claimed him.

The Real Story Begins

CHAPTER ONE

The Brooklyn Bridge roadway was built in segments, causing a ker-thunk at precise intervals.

Kate peered out the taxi window, watching for the Statue of Liberty, a beacon in the darkness. Somehow, she never felt like she was home until that moment when they crossed the halfway point into Manhattan. When she was little, she used to salute Lady Liberty, now she settled for a long look. She turned to share a long look with her husband as well, grabbing his hand for a quick squeeze.

"Almost home!" she announced. "Did you text Alexis yet?"

Castle met her gaze briefly but he nodded and turned away. "Yeah, she's expecting u—me."

If Kate noticed how he stumbled over the last word, she gave no sign. "Are you doing anything special tonight?"

He stared out the window, his brow furrowed. "No, ah, just a family dinner." He swallowed. You're supposed to be there. There was a long silence before he added. "You could come, stay the night." Move in, he wanted to add, like you're supposed to.

"Oh," She turned back to him, her eyes wide. "I hadn't thought—I mean, I could… but don't you need some time with your family? I mean it's been two weeks and….

You are my family now, he wanted to remind her.

"No." He shrugged, "Alexis, well, she'll spend all of 20 minutes with her dad, then she'll be off with her boyfriend, Ashley. Mother, you know what she's like. So…."

Kate watched him, her face all too somber.

A moment ago she was smiling, he noted, a sick feeling taking root in his belly. "But whatever, you know. Two weeks is a long time to spend together and… it might be good to have some space too." He looked away, his hands clenched into fists.

"Yeah, she agreed slowly, hesitantly. "I need some time to catch up on life. Laundry, bills, see my dad…." Visit Hannah… she added silently.

The lines on his forehead deepened at the last but Kate, fiddling with her phone, missed it.

"When do you start back at work?"

"Monday. Give me a couple of days to catch up on some things and we'll get together later in the week."

"Later in the week." he repeated slowly.

She shot him a quick glance, but her phone pinged the arrival of another text and Castle watched her break into a smile reading it. His frowned deepened as his eyes wandered from her face to the phone.

"Lanie?" he asked.

"Uh, no. That was my dad." She smoothed the smile from her face and switched the phone into standby mode, tucking it away.

Castle raised one brow. "I didn't know a text from your father could make you smile like that." He watched her intently.

"Oh, umm… Actually—" She glanced out the window. "Damn, here already," she muttered, then turned back to Castle. "I'll have to fill you in later." She tucked her phone into her bag and checked her carry on for loose items. When all was secure, she looked up to find Castle staring at her.

"Hey, cheer up. We're home." Leaning forward, she brushed a kiss on his lips. He gathered her closer, deepening the kiss as the cabby pulled up to her building.

"All right, yo fuhst stop." He flicked on the dome light and glanced back in his mirror. "Oh fer the love of Pete! Wouldya get a room already?" The cabby swore under his breath and stamped out of the car to unload the bags from the trunk.

Kate pulled back, searching Rick's eyes. "Hey, Castle, are you okay with this?"

He attempted a smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

She looked unconvinced. "It's just for a couple of days while we get caught up on life."

"Right," he agreed, climbing out of the car. On the curb, he grabbed the larger two suitcases. "I'll take these up for you."

"Oh, fer…" the cabby spit in the street. "You're not gonna stiff me with mah metah runnin'. I wasn' born yestahday."

"I'll be back down in a minute," Castle told him with exaggerated calmness.

"Oh sure yah will. Like I nevah heard that befoh. How do I know you ain't gonna disappah into one o' them buildins, laughin' at the suckah with his metah runnin'?"

Castle tried not to let his irritation show. "One, because you have my suitcases. Two, I generally tip well for extra services, and—" he snapped a photo of the license plate. "Three, because I'll come after you if you disappear with my belongings."

The cabby blinked and stepped closer, throwing his shoulders back. "You threat'nin' me?"

Kate, who'd not bothered to conceal her irritation, stepped in. "NYPD, and trust me, that wasn't a threat. Be waiting for him when he gets back or he'll prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."

They stalked away, their cabby blustering behind them as Castle muttered, "This is why I use a car service."

"And then some." She fumbled for her keys. When Castle didn't answer, she looked up at him. "Castle?"

"Kate…" he paused, his voice quiet, and he stared straight ahead, not meeting her eyes. "I want you to come home with me."

There's much more to Chapter One, but you'll have to come find it in Part III of Sitting in a Tree, Backwards.

It's up now. See you there!