The next morning Gil was up early. By the time Catherine and the children were awake he had fixed a large breakfast. He helped John eat as Catherine held Caitlyn while she nursed. Lindsey and 'Little Gil' were on their own. Just as they were finishing, Gil announced that he had a project to do that day and would need Lindsey and 'Little Gil' to help him. Both children were excited. They liked Daddy's projects.
As she helped him clean the kitchen, Catherine asked what the project was. "Oh no," he said. "You don't get to know about it until it is finished. The kids can help me but you don't get to come near it until I say so."
Catherine stared at him incredulously. "What do you mean…I can't go near it? So help me Gil Grissom, if you are getting my children involved in anything…"
Kissing her to stop her rampage, he muffled her words. He held the kiss until he felt her relax and kiss him back. Finally releasing her lips, he held his mouth close to hers. "Please? I just want to surprise you…and I know the kids will have fun with it. Besides, it'll keep two of them occupied all day and give you a little break."
She looked into his face…he was wearing that unbelievably lovable little boy look that he knew always got her. How could she argue? "Okay, I'll give you your space."
He smiled, patted her on the butt, and called to his oldest two children that it was time to go. Picking up the keys to the SUV, he ushered them out, winking at Catherine as he closed the door.
Catherine heard them when they got back a couple of hours later. She heard the truck pull in and then heard noises in the backyard. Glancing out of the window, she saw them carrying things to the far back corner and piling them in stacks. Remembering her promise, she moved away from the window and fought the urge to peek all afternoon long.
Gil and his crew took only a short break for lunch. Once Lindsey came running in to go to the bathroom. She was hot, dirty and tired but gleeful. Catherine tried to pry information from her eldest child, now nearly five, but couldn't get anywhere.
"No Mommy, it's a secret. Daddy said so. If I tell you, it will ruin the surprise." Then she bolted out the door to get back to the guys.
Catherine gave into temptation once and peeked out the back door, but couldn't make sense of what she saw. The kids were digging and Gil was hammering on something. Shaking her head, she turned away in response to a cry from Caitlyn. Once the baby was settled, she sat down to play for a few minutes with John. As Catherine played with her younger son, she thought how much like Gil he was. Named the wrong one after his father. Little Gil is more like me…outgoing and direct…always into trouble. John is more like his father; quiet and thoughtful. I wonder what goes on in that little head of his sometimes. Lindsey is like me too…headstrong. I wonder what Caitlyn will be like?
Late in the afternoon she heard the little work crew at the back door. Lindsey and Gil were jumping with excitement. 'Big Gil' was looking pretty excited too…and very self satisfied. "Are you ready for your surprise?" he asked.
A huge smile broke out on her face as she nodded. He held out a very dirty hand that showed signs of more than one miss with a hammer and took hers. Hand in hand they walked to the back of the yard, three children running and bouncing behind them because John had joined his siblings.
As they got closer, she realized he had built a small gazebo. Her mouth opened in surprise as an "Oooo" escaped. He grinned. "It was a kit. Everything was precut. We just had to put it together."
The two helpers were running around the outside and jumping, pointing at the beds around the walls. "And Mommy there's flalurs," exclaimed 'Little Gil.'
"Yes, I see. Did you plant the flowers?" she asked.
"Uh huh…me and Linsey," he said proudly. "We digged and digged and then we stuck them in."
"I picked the colors," exclaimed Lindsey. "Daddy said they need to be bright so I got red and orange and lellow."
Tears welled up in Catherine's eyes. "They are so beautiful. It is all so beautiful." She hugged the children and hugged John too and thanked him for playing with her. "You kept me busy while Daddy and the others fixed the surprise." John smiled happily that he was included in the excitement.
"Okay kids," Gil said. "Go inside and get your water bottles from the fridge. Then go sit on the patio and cool down. We'll all need baths after this too."
The children ran off, happy with their surprise. Gil turned to Catherine. "You really like it?"
"It's amazing."
"I thought maybe it could be your quiet place…when you need a break. And the plants…they attract butterflies. Later in the summer, it will be like a butterfly garden."
"A butterfly garden? That will be beautiful," she said as she looked at the small plants and tried to envision it in a few months.
"Not as beautiful as you," he said quietly, watching her.
She looked into his eyes, so blue and so full of love. Tears trickled down her cheeks as her throat tightened. "Why a butterfly garden? I mean, I know you like insects and all, but you could have just done a regular garden and it would still be beautiful."
"Because when I think of you, I think of butterflies…small and delicate; beautiful….free and independent. And you bring so much beauty into my life, and…" His mouth closed and he just stared at her; looking like he had yet another secret to share.
"And what, Gil?"
"And…you make me feel like a butterfly. I was in a kind of cocoon…since my Dad died really. I refused to let anyone get too close, thought all I needed was me. And slowly you unwrapped me and taught me to spread my wings. I feel like a very different person than I was before you came into my life."
"You the same man, Gil. Still the same gentle, kind, caring man I met on my first day at the lab. You've just opened up a little and let the world in…let me in."
"I love you, Cath. I love the life you've given me…the kids…everything. It still amazes me that you love me…want to be with me. I still don't understand why."
Smiling, she gave him the same answer he had used on her so many times. "So many reasons, Gil. I have so many reasons."
PUREJOY ALL THE TIME!
Still okay? Don't worry, we'll get to SanFran eventually. It'll be after...well, I can't tell you, it's a secret.