On the beach, Catherine was enjoying the sun on her body. It had been so long since she took a vacation. After Sam died, she moved robotically, from home to work and back again, just trying to keep it together. Then all the drama that was Sara happened. After she left it was all Catherine could do to even get out of bed. Too many changes and she was helpless to do anything about them. Las Vegas seemed like a million miles away now as a familiar face came up to greet her.
"You keep in that position too long you're gonna get a souvenir from Mexico that you won't want." Catherine looked up to see Brass, with drinks in hand, sitting down next to her.
"Don't worry," Catherine said. "I've got SPF 45 on. It'll take a meltdown of the sun for it to affect my skin!" She smiled, took the mojito from his hand.
"Enjoying yourself so far?" Jim asked. He looked nothing like the hard nosed detective that Catherine knew. Gone were the suits and instead was a short sleeved shirt, unbuttoned part way, cargo style shorts and sandals that looked like they hadn't seen the light out of his closet for years. He looked relaxed, happy to be there.
"Let's see, on vacation to Cancun, at a resort that I don't have to pay for? I'm having a fabulous time Jim. Thanks." She remembered the conversation they had so long ago, they were at a crime scene and she saw the bottle of tequila on the counter.
It reminds me of Senor Frogs, Cancun. My honeymoon, my dime.
If you ever want to go back, it's on me.
Is that a proposal?
She had blown off his offer at the time. She didn't think he was really serious about it. Then, two weeks ago, Jim ran into her as she was coming out of the locker room after another double.
"You look beat down and put up wet," he was looking at her with a worried expression on his face.
"Thanks Brass, you know just what to say to a girl,' Cath rolled her eyes and tried to walk past him, but he blocked her way.
"Ok here's something better," He handed her a what looked to be a boarding pass. As she read it the words jumped out at her.
"Cancun? Jim, I don't understand…"she tried to put the pass back in his hand, but Jim refused to take it back.
"Cath, you're going on vacation. I made a deal with you awhile back, and I fully intend to keep up with my end of the deal." He wasn't going to be budged on this. "I have all of this arranged. I know you have the time off, and a long weekend will do you good."
It seemed so ridiculous at the time. She didn't think Jim was serious, but she relented and accepted his gift. Lindsey was more than happy that Catherine was leaving. She even helped pack the suitcase for her. Catherine's mother was estatic and even bought her some things to take with her. More than once Catherine had to remind them that it was just Brass that was taking her, it was a friendly trip nothing more than that. Of course they laughed it off. Lindsey was teasing her mercilessly on the scandal that will ensue when they got back, but Catherine knew nothing was going to come of it.
Now, she was sitting at some swanky resort, something she never could have afforded with Eddie back then, with one of her best friends. She thought that it would be awkward being here with Jim, but it felt natural. She relaxed in the lounge chair by the pool, and for the first time in a long time she let her guard down.
"Ok Brass, now what. We're here, just like you said, what do you want to do?"
Jim smiled, "Well first, enjoy the sun, get a tan. I'm going down to the front desk and find a place where we can eat tonight and I will call you later on the details." He patted her hand, got up and walked off.
Catherine looked at him as he walked off. She appreciated Jim more than she could ever say. She smiled to herself, put the mojito down beside her and rolled on her stomach to tan some more. Four days in Cancun was just what she needed, and knowing Brass, he was going to make them memorable.