Chris finally found Gail at the lake. It was a favourite spot of theirs.
Her legs were pulled up to her chest, her chin resting on her knees as she stared out at the water as the moonlight reflected off her face.
Chris jogged over the shore and plopped down at her side. Placing a hand on her shoulder he asked, "Hey, why'd you take off like that?"
Gail shrugged him off and stood up, skipping a rock into the water.
"Gail." Chris got up and went to her side, waiting as she chucked another rock in the water.
He placed both hands on her shoulders and spun her around, looking deep into her eyes. "Don't shut me out," he pleaded. "What's wrong?"
"Isn't your mother supposed to be locked up in a mental hospital or something?" She tried to keep herself distant and sounding uncaring and she figured she succeeded when she saw Chris flinch against her harsh words. But she should have known she wouldn't be able to drive him away completely.
"Yeah, she said she's been temporarily released and she wanted to come and see me," Chris beamed, oblivious to Gail's displeasure.
"You don't think it's a little odd?" she persisted, wanting Chris to get the weird feeling that she had deep in the pit of her stomach.
"Do I think it's odd that my mother has come to see me? No," he said, confused.
"But it's been so long…" she said, but it was no use. Once Chris focused on something, it was like he had blinders on. She also hated how trustworthy he was; he naively believed that the world had some good in them. It was times like this where he needed to be like her, untrusting of everyone.
"She's my mother, Gail. Just because you don't have a close relationship with your mother doesn't mean that I don't want one with mine," Chris snapped.
He saw Gail's eyes harden and he knew it was a low blow. "Man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that," he sighed, running a hand over his face.
Gail rolled her eyes and she once again wished that she could just tell Chris what Ryan had said the day she went back to get his statement from the arson crime. But he probably wouldn't believe her, especially now.
She might as well give it a shot.
"Chris?"
"Hmm?" he said, placing one of his hands on her cheek.
"Remember when we saw Ryan the day of the arson crime?" she started gently.
"Yeah," he said, but his voice was guarded. "He was the son of a bitch who put my mom in that mental hospital in the first place," he said, retracting his hand from her face and clenching his hands into fists by his side.
Gail bit her lip looking up at the hurt that was playing all over Chris' face. If he only he knew what really happened that day.
But she decided that it was not her place to tell him; at least not yet.
"Chris, I'm sorry," she said, folding herself into his arms, taking comfort in his warmth. "I'm sorry."
"You don't have anything to be sorry about," he said, sincerely. He placed his arms around her and placed his chin on the top of her head. "It was his fault."
She sighed, holding back everything she really wanted to say.
"Will you come home now?" he murmured with a small smile. He stroked his finger down the side of her face. He was content to leave things where they were, but Gail couldn't clear her head. But if it was one thing she was good at, it was pretending.
"I don't know," she said slowly, teasing him. At the hurt look in his eyes, she hurriedly said," Relax, of course I'll come home." She gave him a reassuring smile, leaning into his hand.
"I don't know what I would do without you," Chris said, before closing the space between their lips.
Minutes later, Chris and Gail walked through the door of the apartment for the second time that night.
As Gail hung up her coat, she could hear Dov sleeping off his drinks in the next room. She let out a little giggle. Things would go back to normal. Chris's mother showing up would just be a little blemish on their life. She was gone now, and they could forget her.
She froze when she heard Chris's voice in the kitchen, talking to someone. She knew it wasn't Dov and it definitely wasn't her and she had a sick feeling as she headed toward the kitchen.
Sure enough, sitting at her place at the table was Chris's mother. Couldn't she just leave?
"Chris, what is she still doing here?" she demanded, not bothering to hide the contempt in her voice. Maybe she would be able to drive his mother out herself.
"Well, she's going to be staying here for a while," Chris said, rubbing the back of his neck, something she knew he did when he was uncomfortable.
"I'm afraid you forgot to mention that," she said through gritted teeth, spreading as much venom as she could through her words.
"I was going to," he protested, but he saw that it was futile. "Mom," he said, deciding that proper introductions were in order. "This is my girlfriend Gail. Gail, this is my mother."
"Please, call me Monica, sweetie," Monica said, holding out a hand.
Gail ignored it, but after a pointed look at Chris, she rolled her eyes and stepped forward, giving Monica's hand a little shake.
Chris smiled, apparently pleased by their tense interaction. "I'm going to go set up the couch for you, Ma," he said, wanting to leave them alone for a little while. He exited the kitchen.
As soon as Chris left the room, Monica dropped her nice act. "Listen you," she hissed at Gail. "I don't like you and I don't like you around my son. You better watch yourself around me."
Gail was at first shocked at Monica's brashness, but she recovered quickly. She walked over and leaned in close to Monica's face. "I know what kind of things you did to Chris. There's only room for one of us in his life and if I tell him the truth, who do you think would be kicked to the curb?"
She straightened up and backed off just in time for Chris to make his way back in. She gave him a brilliant smile which he returned.
"Everything's all set," he said, clapping his hands together. "You guys getting to know each other?"
Gail met Monica's fake smile with one of her own. "Of course," Gail said. "I'm headed to bed," Gail said. "You coming?"
Chris let out a yawn. "Yeah, I'll be there in a few minutes. Just want to make sure that my Mom is going to be okay."
"Okay. Goodnight, Monica," Gail sneered at her from behind Chris's back.
"Goodnight, dear," she called as Gail walked away.
Chris simply smiled as he led his mother into the living room, loving how much they were getting along.
Whoo, it's finally up! Did you like?
I'm sure everyone saw the latest episode of Rookie Blue and was I the only one who saw that something was going to happen to Gail and Dov? Poor Chris :(
Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter :)
