Chapter 3
Gil stood in the lobby waiting on Sara and Gily. He had picked up a rental car, actually it was an SUV. Gily wanted a high car like his teacher Mr. Wilson drove.
Gil wasn't surprised to here someone call his name. He was at a forensics convention. He turned in the direction of the voice; a smiling Julia stood a few feet away from him. Her lovely face was open and pleasant. Her hand touched his arm. He stared at it and then removed it from his bicep.
"I'm so glad I caught you. Gil we need to talk. This divorce thing is just lunacy."
"Julia what are you doing here?" Gil's voice was like steel scrapping across gravel. She stepped back a little.
"I called the office and talked to Sofia. She said you were here because Catherine fell ill. I thought that we could take a drive home, talk about things, and maybe stop at that little inn."
She was plaintive and sweet. A few days ago he might have signed up for the roller coaster again. He had not been particularly interested in getting a divorce but neither was he particularly interested in staying married. Julia came and went as she pleased. He had no investment in it one way or another.
There was a soft pat on Gil's calf muscle. Gily stuck his head through Grissom's legs and
gave him a sweet grin. They were wearing the Gilbert regulation uniform of khaki pants and denim shirt. Gil had been unable to find matching loafers.
"I was sneaking up on you."
"You were huh? Well you can't sneak up on someone if you are going to warn them. You'd make a very bad criminal and mommy and daddy would catch you."
Gily giggled and his father pulled him through his legs and hoisted him to his shoulders.
"Did you buy a high car?"
The sharp intake of breath came from Sara. She was remarkably poised and her eyes narrowed a bit as her mouth pushed forward. Some perception came across her features.
"Julia."
"Sara."
Sara took Gily from his father and said, "We'll be sitting over there."
Grissom heard what she was thinking and he pulled the rental key from his pocket. "The truck is out front. It's a silver Cherokee."
Sara looked at him. Her mouth was close to his ear. He turned and kissed her softly on the lips. He had not meant to do it. He saw tiny frown lines that had not been there five years ago. "Are you sure?"
"I'm right behind you."
Julia watched the other woman go, her chin jutted out hostilely. "That woman just won't go away will she?"
Gil Grissom's eyes found his wife's. "She's the mother of my son. She doesn't have to but then you know that don't you dear." The words were hard and biting. For the last five years Gil Grissom had paid penance to his wife for the indiscretion that she would not let die.
He hadn't blamed her, had understood in fact. "Julia you knew what my father leaving did to me so you knew that I wouldn't let my child grow up without me."
She had known more than that. Julia Grissom had found the well appointed house that her husband had paid for with a few key strokes and a city map. Julia was not surprised to find him there. It was his house, his lover.
The domestic scene had caused her to pause. Gil sat on the couch reading the paper and sipping a drink while Sara's worked on framing something or another. He loved her. He did not love Julia.
Julia had not been sure why he stayed but she had triumphed in it. She had kept her husband. She stood her ground and Gil had chosen her. Only he had not. Julia had learned that brave stalwart Gil Grissom could be cowardly in the matters of the heart. Julia was the least complicated choice, the choice that didn't require sacrifice.
If Gil had known about his son, he would've left her. It would have been the nail in the coffin. She wondered if he knew how many times he had called her Sara or how many times he had referred to a memory that they did not share.
Grissom spoke again. "I had Jim change the locks. The signed papers are at your attorney's office. I suggest you sign them. You don't want to drag this thing into court."
Sara sat in the Cherokee one finger jammed in her mouth. She chewed nervously. Gil sat in the driver's seat and pulled on his seat belt. He smiled at her as he pulled the finger from her mouth. "Ready?"
"Are you sure Gil? You don't have to do this. I won't keep Gily from you."
Gil turned to his son who sat watching wide eyed from the back seat. "Don't you have a t-ball game in the morning?"
Blue eyes sparkled. "Yes."
"And the coach says that they can't win without you right?"
A head nod from the back seat.
Grissom turned the key in the ignition. "Well we better get moving because the star player must be well rested."