"You can stop keeping tabs on me, Catherine. I'm fine."
Catherine halted her approach into his office and cocked her head to the side. "How did you know it was me?"
Grissom spun his chair around to face her. "You have been no more that three feet away from me since she left. Call it a lucky guess."
"Ah, there is the moody Gil I expected to see. Where have you been?"
"Funny. Is there something you needed?"
"No. You're right, I am keeping tabs on you," she said as she dragged a chair over to sit beside him. "How are you? And don't say fine."
"Dandy."
"Gil," she admonished.
"I'm ... missing her."
Catherine reached over and squeezed his forearm. "It has only been a couple of days."
"Yeah, a couple of days away with this guy who apparently loves her, who makes her happy and takes her away to a bed and breakfast in Venice. That is practically my hometown – my goddamn hometown, Catherine."
"I know."
"I should be taking her there, showing her where I grew up, showing her my favorite spot on the beach, sharing with her the things I ... taking her to meet my mother."
She studied her friend beside her. This was a side of Gil that she had long since given up on seeing again. "Maybe one day you still can."
"I thought you said that I was too late."
Catherine shrugged, "I did. I also seem to recall that you ignored that and talked to her anyway. Are you serious about this – about Sara?"
"Very."
Catherine was taken aback by the determined tone in his voice and she knew then that he was not going to back down. If Sara was who he wanted, then he had her full support. "Then I'm behind you. You know that, right?" At his answering nod, she continued, "Did you get to talk to her again before she left?"
"Yes."
"So, how did it go? I mean, I know that it didn't produce the outcome that you wanted, obviously, but something must have happened, right?"
"Yeah, something happened. It wasn't good but it wasn't bad either, it was ... something." Catherine watched as Grissom replayed the conversation in his mind. While she couldn't place the expression on his face, there was enough sadness there to worry her. When he didn't continue, she gave him a slight nudge. "Something?"
"Listen, Catherine, I really don't feel like sharing that conversation."
"Hey, no problem. I'm a little surprised that you shared this much."
"Sara doesn't trust me anymore, which shouldn't be a shock, but..." Taking off his glasses, Grissom gave a tired sigh and ran a hand over his face. "Anyway, I need to prove to her that she can trust me again. In order to do that I need to not only change my relationship with her but also my relationships with others."
Catherine had to raise her eyebrows at that. This was definitely a different Gil. "Wow. Don't get me wrong here, but all this insight seems a little sudden."
"Does it? You know that my mom has a gallery in Venice, right?"
"Yeah," she answered, not knowing where he was going with this.
"So does Sara. I told her the morning she left."
"Huh, really?" She looked over at Grissom whose was returning her gaze with a slight smirk. You sly dog. She couldn't help but smile back. "Good."
-----------------------------------------
It didn't take Sara long to find out which gallery belonged to Grissom's mother. She didn't need to spend the afternoon flipping through the phone book and making calls, the woman sitting in the small courtyard in front of the gallery was enough. There was no mistake --- it was her.
She passed by the courtyard contemplating her next move. Should she talk to her? Should she go into the gallery? The past few sun-soaked days, along with the change in their sleep schedule, finally caught up with Alex. She was supposed to be shopping while he was napping – not pacing the sidewalk.
"I shopped," she said to herself, looking at the shopping bag hanging from her wrist. It was from the bookstore across the street, and the only reason she bought it was because of the strange look the owner gave her. She supposed he didn't care too much for her impromptu stakeout.
She turned around and passed by again. This time when she glanced over, her and the older lady made eye contact. Sara looked away quickly and continued walking. Shaking her head at her silliness, she made the decision to head back to Alex.
The decision was made for her, however, when she turned in the direction of the bed and breakfast and came face to face with the blue eyes she would know anywhere. Oh, God.
"Excuse me, miss? Are you lost?"
"What?"
"Are you lost?"
It took a moment for Sara to recognize the timbre, but when she did, her lack of surprise was what surprised her --- she was deaf. Several unanswered questions over the past few years were beginning to unfold.
Sara opened her mouth to speak but when nothing came out she promptly shut it.
"Its ok. I can read lips, just keep your face turned toward me."
"Yes, of course. " She didn't bother telling her that she had already learned that lesson. "Um, hold on," she said, holding up her hand and put her shopping bag on the ground.
Sara gave her an anxious smile and brought her hands up to introduce herself with the gestures she learned years ago. She was so nervous that her hands wouldn't stop shaking and she was sure that she was doing it all wrong.
"Hello, Sara. I'm Eva, Eva Grissom. You know how to sign?"
"No, actually, I don't. I just know that and a few ... colorful expressions," Sara replied, sheepishly.
"Good, because you are not very good at it," Eva said with a smile and a wink.
Sara barked out a laugh and bent down to pick up her bag. This was definitely Grissom's mother.
"Would you humor an old lady and come have a seat? I would love to have you explain why you are wearing a hole in the sidewalk."
"Uh, sure."
Once Eva turned her back to lead her into the courtyard, Sara started to panic. She had no idea how to explain the reason for her stalker-like display. This was not how she expected to first meet Eva Grissom. It was then that her breath was stolen from her. She was with Grissom's mother – his mother. This was the woman who carried him for nine months. This was the woman who gave birth to him, loved him, and raised him. She was the woman who kissed for scrapes and scratches and nighttime wishes. Sara suddenly felt like crying.
"I'm guessing that you are here on vacation," Eva said as they sat down on the bench.
"Yes."
"Alone or with someone special?"
"With ... my boyfriend."
"Is that who has you pacing the sidewalk?"
Sara bowed her head and was not too sure how to answer that question. Turning her head towards Eva so that she could see her mouth, she replied, "In a manner of speaking."
"I'm sorry, that was a little forward. You don't need an old bat hounding you with questions. We'll talk about something else."
"Do you do this often? Engage in conversation with crazy girls wandering the street?" Sara asked, trying to change the subject.
"No, I can't say that I do. You, however, have been quite entertaining – I couldn't resist."
Sara smiled at the familiar gleam in Eva's eyes. She reminded her so much of Grissom that she couldn't keep her own eyes off of her.
"What book did you purchase across the street?" Eva asked, gesturing to the shopping bag.
"What?"
"Henry, the bookstore owner, called here and told one of my employees that there was some odd girl in his store that couldn't keep her eyes off my gallery. I'm guessing that's you."
"Yeah, that was me." Before she could embarrass herself even more, Sara bent over to retrieve the bag she had placed by her feet. She'd had grabbed the first book closest to her and purchased it to appease the store owner. She was curious herself, to find out what she bought.
She pulled out the book and stared in horror. "Oh fuck," Sara said, turning her head away from Eva's line of sight.
"Overcoming Impotence: A Doctor's Proven Guide to Regaining Sexual Vitality," Eva read. "Is this what has you so stressed? I'm sure that you and your boyfriend can work things out."
"That is not my book. I mean, it is, but..." Sara let out a frustrated sigh and dropped her head in her hands.
Just as she thought this meeting with his mother couldn't get any worse, she felt a tap on her shoulder followed by the one question that completed her mortification.
"Sara, does Gil know that you are here stalking his poor old mother?"
TBC...