Laws of Motion – Book 1
Written by: Ms Maggs / Edited by: KJT
Chapter 20
September 1, 2005
San Marino Family Dentistry
10:54 a.m.
"Morning, Ladies," Scott cheerily greeted his front office staff.
"What are you doing here today?" Lily, his office manager for the last twenty years, inquired, "You're supposed to be spending time with your family."
"I am." Taking Tawny by the hand he introduced her. "Everyone…this is Tawny Cooper, Greg's girlfriend…although I have a hunch she'll have a new title by Monday. Tawny, this is Lily, Veronica and Maria. They keep things running for me and my partners, Brian and Dave."
"Nice to meet you." With a sunny smile and a demure wave she greeted them.
"Nice chompers," Lily exclaimed while flashing her smile in return. "Wow…working that public service job really must have boosted Greg's karma because you're quite a catch, Ms. Cooper."
"I think I'm pretty lucky myself," she gushed.
"Can you start a file for her and prep a room so I can examine and clean her teeth?"
"Okay, I'll need a few minutes to juggle things." Lily pointed down the hall. "You can do films right now though. Bonnie is…"
"No films, she already had some this year." Squeezing her hand he said, "I'll show you my office until the room is ready."
As soon as they were out of earshot the girls huddled and Veronica said, "She's pregnant."
"No doubt," Maria concurred. "There's no way Scott wouldn't take films on a new patient…especially an important one."
Veronica chuckled, "Wow…I wonder how Bev is dealing with her precious little boy bringing another woman into his life? Or how she's coping with her baby having a baby?"
"I'd love to be a fly on the wall in their house," Lily remarked while grabbing a new patient packet. "But I'm happy for Scott…now he'll have someone to keep him company when Bev monopolizes Greggy's time."
Performing Arts High School
San Marino
11:01 a.m.
"In the words of Simon Cowell…" Bev faked her best British accent. "If I'm being honest…that was dreadful.I hope you've mistaken this for karaoke because you're drunk, otherwise I pity your eardrums if you actually think you are singing. Never mind a cruise ship, not even a dinner theater would hire you, Gregory."
"What!" He thought, on this sixth run through, he nailed it. "Are you sure?"
"Just kidding!" Jumping up from her seat at the piano she shrieked, "Tawny's heart is going to melt when she hears you sing that to her."
"You scared the crap out of me!"
"Hi, Mrs. Sanders!" Kendall Rios greeted as she entered the rehearsal room with her two senior classmates, Dawn and Cambree. "Sorry we're a few minutes late."
"Who are they?" Greg asked before smiling at the three perky school girls grinning at him.
"My best vocalists and…your backup singers."
"Backup singers?"
"When I re-worked the song from a duet to a solo I needed to compensate. Plus, you can't have dead air while you're popping the question." Bev winked at her surprised boy. "I even arranged for a few other surprises to make it extra spectacular for Tawny."
"Mrs. Sanders…" Cambree took Greg's arm and batted her eyes at him. "You need to update your office pictures. He looks totally different."
"I'll say." Dawn took his other arm and fought for his attention. "He's a hottie."
Bev wasted no time peeling the girls off her blushing son. "Yes, he is. He's also here practicing his marriage proposal, remember, girls? And besides, according to California law…you're jail bait…at least for a few more months."
"I'm not," Cambree reminded her favorite teacher. "I turned eighteen last week."
"Speak, Son," Bev prodded with her voice and firm shove.
"Sorry…" He had been caught up in the old High School fantasy of girls fighting for the chance to date him. "Ladies…if this were 1992, I'd be stoked but…"
"I was only four in 1992," Kendall announced in a giggle.
"Holy shit!" Greg blurted. "When did I get so old!"
"Watch your language, Son." Bev returned to the piano grinning. "It must have happened when you were sleeping. Good thing you'll be getting married next month, Rip Van Winkle." Clapping her hands she said, "Girls…you know your places and your parts. Greg…stand on the red X. I want to run through it twice before the musicians arrive."
"Musicians?" Greg couldn't believe how much arranging she had done.
"Just violins, a cello and a pianist…because I want to be in the audience watching, not accompanying you."
"Oh…" Suddenly tension gripped his body. "Whoa…musicians, backup singers and whatever else you've got up your sleeve."
"And don't forget…you'll be performing in front of a large crowd." When she saw the color drain from his face she reminded him, "How and when was your idea, remember? And really Gregory…why do the most important thing you'll ever do in your life half-assed when you can make it a showstopper?"
"I'm changing my mind." Gulping for air he said, "I'm just going to do it tonight on the beach like I originally thought I…."
"Yeah…I don't think so." Bev started playing the intro. "I went to all this trouble and you're going through with it the way you planned. Your father lectured me for an hour last night on how I'm too easy on you. I've turned over a new leaf, Son…I'm practicing tough love now."
"Mom!" The stage fright consumed him. "Please!"
"Ha! Only I can unlock the dresser and produce the ring so you better sing!" After he completed the first line she commented, "Your nerves are helping your vibrato and look…the girls are melting. See, mother knows best…if you had kept singing, you would have had a date for your prom."
University Trauma Center
11:17 a.m.
"Holy First Date from Hell, Batman!" The painkillers flowing through his veins Nick gave a carefree laugh and pointed to the portable DVD player poised on the table over the bed. "That poor guy, I can't believe he cleaned her puke covered bathroom and brushed the dog's teeth after it licked up her vomit. Then again, I would have done that for you on our first date if you had gotten food poisoning…and had a dog."
Snuggling closer Carrie blissfully sighed, "It reminds me of when you held my hair for me when I was getting sick in Wendy's bathroom after her dog ate Ashley's poopy diaper that night when Gil and Sara came for dinner."
Caressing her cheek he sweetly said, "And right after that, you told me you loved me for the first time."
"And you placed a damp washcloth on my forehead…" In the middle of her swoon she saw the character of Ben waking up in his Boston Red Sox memorabilia plastered bedroom….wearing a t-shirt and boxers touting his favorite team's logo. "Uh…what do you think of that bedroom?"
"I want one just like it in our new house, but Aggie theme of course."
Masking her hysteria she calmly asked, "You do?"
"Mr. Stokes," Darla, the same cute twenty year old dietary tech who delivered liquid breakfast entered smiling. "Lunch time and I've got solids."
"Whoop!" Removing his arm from around Carrie, he prepared to dig in. "I don't care what it is, as long as I can chew it."
"What are you guys watching?" Darla asked as she carefully moved the player to the side of the table to make room for the tray."
"Fever Pitch," Carrie answered in a jittery voice.
"The one about the girl dealing with the shock of finding out her new perfect boyfriend she dated all winter turns into a sports-obsessed man-child during baseball season? Oh my god…that guy is such a loser with his sports themed room and sleeping in logo jammies." Darla noted the attire of the patient a little too late. "But football fans, unlike obsessed baseball fans, are totally cool. Go Aggies! Enjoy the sandwich, Mr. Stokes. Bye."
After pressing pause on the DVD player Nick glanced over at Carrie who was covering her face. "We can openly communicate about child rape and sexual hang-ups, but you can't come out and ask me about my love of football? Have you learned nothing from the past few days? Look at what the lack of honest communication did to Andy and Melissa."
She hung her head in shame. "I know…I know…busted."
"Darlin'…just open your mouth and say what's on your mind."
"I like football, I really do. My dad and Paul watched games every weekend and I've gone to games but…" Taking his hand she gave it a squeeze. "…a sports-themed bedroom, Nicky! Don't you think that's a little immature?"
"Not for our son, ya goofball," he clarified while laughing at her. "I meant for little Garrett's room."
"Oh." Her smile returned. "I'm okay with that."
Shaking his head at her he grumbled, "You're worried I'm going to hole up and watch games all weekend, aren't you?"
"Well…Ryan and Paul pointed out that I didn't know you last season and…"
"Just A&M and Dallas are the must-sees, Sweetheart. I'll watch other games if there's nothing else going on but…I'm not going to ignore you. And if there's a conflict in our schedule, I promise you'll have priority over the Cowboys and Aggies. After all, that's why we have DVR."
"Really?"
"Yes, really." He rolled his eyes.
"Sorry…sorry! They had me completely freaked that I wouldn't see you until after the Superbowl."
Laughing he said, "Perhaps I do need to be a little more specific…if there's a championship spot at stake, or my teams are in a bowl, playoff, or Superbowl game, those are 'must-see live' scenarios unless you're giving birth."
"That's totally reasonable."
"And since we're being completely honest…" He laughed at himself. "…I have been known to get a little loud during critical game moments or bad calls. Sometimes that loudness is accompanied by jumping up and down, throwing a non-lethal object or two, and cursing out the Ref using words my mother wouldn't approve of."
"That's nothing I haven't witnessed my brother or father do over the 49ers and I haven't kicked them out of my life."
"Excellent! So, we're cool." Lifting the cover off his tray he asked, "Is there anything I haven't seen you obsessing over yet?"
"Christmas. I love decorating, so expect to be on a ladder stringing lights all over our new house. And I'll want the tallest tree we can find. Oh! And believe it or not…I even bake cookies. It's the one thing I do really well in the kitchen."
A snicker later he mumbled, "I distinctly remember you doing something else really well in the kitchen one night when I came home from work and you dropped to your…"
"Nicky!" Slapping his arm she scolded, "I know you're giddy from being drugged up, but come on…we're talking about the holiest day of the year and you bring that up!" Her blush was quick and deep. "I still can't believe I surprised you with that while you stood against the fridge drinking a beer. I blame that bottle of Merlot I opened while reading Cosmopolitan's Steamy Sex Tips issue. Ugh…that was so…"
"…unbelievably awesome!" He chuckled while she squirmed. "And under the guise of open and honest communication in our relationship I'll admit that I'm looking forward to the day you surprise me with that particular homecoming scenario again. Even though I didn't think that activity could possibly get hotter than when you asked me to coach you through it your first time…there was something about the kitchen locale that just made it so much more…"
"Taboo?" she answered while shielding her face.
"That would be it…yeah. I think it's because I associate the kitchen with innocent childhood memories like having milk and cookies there when I came home from school." With raised brows he glanced down at his boxers. "Hallelujah! Little Nicky lives! When he wasn't saying hello every morning I was afraid the blood loss had permanently damaged the part of my brain that sends the message, or that damn catheter put a kink in his plumbing." Gliding his hand over his new boxers he verified it felt the same as before the trauma. "Oh yeah, Houston…we have lift off!"
Laughing, she taunted him, "You do remember what your sister said, right? Six weeks…no activity of any kind."
"That will be a personal record since I hit puberty." He shivered at the thought. "I'm not sure how I'm going to survive that."
"Hey! I thought you said you had gone eight months before we made love?"
Upon swallowing his first bite of the dry turkey sandwich he clarified, "I wasn't including self-gratification, Sweetheart. I took care of business before I went to your apartment that night…like I did every time before I went there, knowing I'd have to endure you kissing me without heading for the bedroom. If you factor that in, I had only gone four hours. But don't worry…I'll follow doctor's orders because I'm not taking any chances with my health, remember? Hell, I'll put a rubber band around my pecker and snap it if I have to."
"Good boy." In his ear she whispered, "And to reward your good behavior…as soon as you're given the all clear from the doctor, I'll meet you at the fridge when you come home from work…holding a cold beer and wearing only my cardio strip class stilettos and a tiny apron." While she giggled she thought…Catherine, Tawny and Sara would be so proud of me for coming up with that one on my own.
"Yeah…" Pointing to his boxers he requested, "Let's stop talking about that pronto, Darlin'. Because the more I visualize and think about it, the worse it's getting."
Butterfield Academy
11:41 a.m.
Without warning it stunned Sean…a distinct rise in his khakis. The trigger…Celine leaning over to whisper with her hot breath fanning over his neck and her moist lips brushing against the lobe of his ear.
"Sean?" Celine prodded for the answer. "Do you want to be my partner on the project or not?"
"Uh…" Swallowing hard he squeaked, "Yes. Yes, of course I do. That would great…just great."
"Mr. Blake," the teacher, Mrs. Orion, called out to the supposed genius placed in her history class. "Since you have enough energy to talk, how about coming up to the board and showing…"
The rest of the teacher's words were lost as panic surged through him. Standing up wasn't an option in his condition because he had taken off his blazer and placed it on the back of his chair. The whole class would see his agitated state and Celine would know she was the cause.
"Mr. Blake?" the teacher prompted in a distinctly irritated tone. "We're waiting."
In his darkest moment he remembered Greg Sanders's wise words from the BBQ on Sunday…One year I sat next to Becca, the girl of my fantasies, in English Lit…oh man…I had to summon my most powerful anti-boner thought every day at two-fifteen for an entire year. Have you ever had a pet die on you? Thinking about that works sometimes. Taking a deep breath he focused on the memory of finding his Beta fish floating at the top of his fish bowl with his eyes bulging and his body bloated thick with death in the smelly water.
"Mr. Blake!"
"Yes, Ma'am. My apologies. I uh…had this quadratic equation in my head from earlier and was trying to solve it. Sorry." The depressing image of his decomposing pet having worked like a charm, he stood and headed for the board, making a mental note to thank Greg Sanders for his superior boner-control wisdom.
Performing Arts High School
San Marino
12:15 p.m.
On a spontaneous rehearsal break, sitting alone under a beautiful shade tree in the most secluded spot on campus, Greg sipped from his water bottle and stared at an army of ants. Their frenetic pace reminded him of his life since he met Tawny. Everything was happening so fast. Eight weeks from first date to proposal. Another four and they'd be married. Twenty-eight more and they'd have two kids. Once again fear was seizing him.
After his next sip, Greg's eyes focused on one ant in particular. It was carrying a crumb that he estimated weighed fifty times more than the ant itself. Fifty times its body weight, the maximum ants were known to carry, or so Grissom had told him once when working in a field covered in them. When he asked why ants could bear such a load, the Entomology expert informed him that it was due to their having proportionally more muscle. Suddenly he wished he had spent more time at the gym because the weight on his shoulders was getting greater by the second and he feared he was nearing capacity.
Watching Robbie and Joyce deal with baby Emma all night had been a harsh reality check. Parenting would be an exhausting twenty-four/seven responsibility for the rest of their lives. He and Tawny had thirty-two weeks left as a couple and then they'd be a mother and father whose lives were ruled by two children and it wouldn't end for eighteen years.
He gulped more water and wished he was holding a beer.
Pulling his knees to his chest Greg gripped them tight and watched the ants frantically work, knowing he'd have to work just as hard to keep his family afloat. It would be a breakneck, non-stop pace, working at the lab all day and then coming home to care for two infants and Tawny. He thought of the monthly budget he had developed this morning with his father's help. A budget so tight they would have to follow it to the penny just to make ends meet. No more selfish indulgences, no fancy dates or vacations, no impulsive spending of any kind. No more freedom to do as he pleased, all because he did as he pleased one day eight weeks ago. Lowering his head he closed his eyes, recalling the moment after his big mistake.
"Oh no…" He winced. "I forgot…"
Biting her lip she nodded. "Yeah…"
"It felt so good…you felt so good…I…"
"It's okay," she replied in a nervous whisper.
"I'm really sorry."
Next, his father's words from the previous night's nightmare echoed in his head. It's always an accident isn't it, Gregory…you get a little too hyped up and stop thinking about consequences just long enough to do some serious damage. Isn't that exactly what happened the day you got Tawny pregnant? It was all about what Greg had to have at that moment. Well, this time you're paying big, you spoiled brat. Look at what you caused. As usual, he was absolutely right.
And while Greg loved Tawny with all his heart and looked forward to slipping a diamond on her finger that weekend and then a month later adding a band, all the love in the world couldn't displace the fears and feelings of inadequacy suddenly choking him. Thoughts of mounting bills and mewling babies consumed him and without warning, tears spilled from his eyes.
Fifty yards away, standing behind a tree trunk, Bev watched her son cry while every fiber of her being urged her to run to him. To run to him and embrace him, assuring him that everything would be okay when she wasn't certain it would be. She wanted to lie and say caring for twins wasn't going to be that difficult. That Tawny would always adore him and never scream at him. More than anything, she wanted to open her checkbook and write him a way out of his financial hole. But keeping the promise she made to her husband, her feet stayed glued while her heart cracked in two.
So, with her hands tied, Bev did the only thing she could do…she cried with her son from fifty yards away, feeling his pain as if it were her own and all the while blaming herself for not allowing him to grow up sooner.
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
12:22 p.m.
Her arms nearly bursting from their load, Jillian carried her books to the cashier and dumped them on the counter. "Oh my." When the cashier, a man who she believed to be in his late twenties, glanced at the pile with raised brows she felt compelled to explain, "My forty year old son has a lot of problems and I'm giving him some mandated reading before he returns to his wife tomorrow."
"Ah." One by one the young man scanned the customer's selections. Infidelity: A Survival Guide, Back from Betrayal, Voices of Children of Divorce, His Needs Her Needs, The World According to Mister Rodgers, Tuesday's with Morrie. When he got to the last one he held it up. "Is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets yours too? Because it doesn't seem to match the non-fiction, self-help/meaning of life vibe you have going here."
"Yes, but that's for my good son."
"That hardly seems fair. Why does your bad son get six books but your good son only one? What kind of message is that sending?" he asked while grabbing the Harry Potter hardcover box set from the display behind him. "We have a special going on today. If you buy all six Harry Potter hardcovers you get a gift with the purchase which includes a Hogwarts cloak, a Gryffindor scarf, Harry's glasses, and wand. Maybe your good son would like it for a party?"
"He's not a child, he's thirty-five," she chuckled hard. "So, he won't be trick or treating this year."
The clerk stared at her with contempt. "I meant a Harry Potter Party. I have several costumes to select from when I attend events and I'm twenty-nine."
"Oh…" She read his nametag. "Forgive me, Edmund. I'm an old woman from Texas and didn't realize such things existed for grown-ups. You know…I'm hopelessly out of touch back home on my ranch taking care of steer." Not wanting to insult him further she nodded, "By all means give me the six books and the goodies. I'm sure my little Nicky will love to play dress up. You don't happen to have a costume for girls too, do you? Because he has a girl, and as sickening as this sounds…they like to do everything together. Good Lord, they're even getting matching rising phoenix tattoos."
"See! They're fans." The clerk oozed with excitement as he pulled out volume five. "The Order of the Phoenix. Harry's coming of age story. He realizes life isn't just black and white, when he is confronted with death and struggles with his emotions and insecurities."
"Well now, that's just perfect for my boy, because he confronted death on Monday, realized life isn't just black and white on Wednesday and has been struggling with his emotions and insecurities ever since." Pointing behind the counter she directed, "Wrap it up in some of that striped paper you have back there. I'll make it a get well gift."
Butterfield Academy – Lunch Room
12:31 p.m.
"Dude!" Perry Thompson slapped Sean on the back. "Is there anything you don't know?" Glancing across the table at his team mate Bo, Perry remarked, "It was a stroke of genius bringing this brainiac to lunch. Now I won't catch shit for not doing my math homework."
Sean sat at the table grinning like the village idiot.
"I told you he was cool." Bo flashed a smile at his new found friend who he now realized had more than one use. "I think you've earned a place at our table every day, man."
"Really! At the jock table?" He couldn't contain his excitement. "You should know, I signed up for track so I will be a jock…even though I don't currently look like one."
"Track?" Several of the ball players laughed out loud.
"Don't mind them," Bo assured his scrawny pal. "Some guys don't think it's not a sport unless there's a ball involved."
Sean was quick to point out, "Shot put utilizes a heavy metal ball and it's a track and field event."
"He's got you there," Perry punched Dale Conway in the arm. "And don't you be dissin' my study buddy."
Sean couldn't believe his luck. He was the Porsche of social climbing…going from loser to cool in sixty seconds flat. When the bell rang he stood and said, "So, I'll see you guys here tomorrow?"
"Sure thing, man." Bo nodded. "Tell your uncle I said I can't wait to meet a real ball player."
"Okay!" After dumping his tray Sean proceeded outside to cross the campus for his next class. That's when he saw Lindsay. She was sitting by herself under a tree clutching her backpack and staring into space. The nice guy in him wanted to go to her even though he knew she wouldn't do the same if roles were reversed. He wanted to explain that he felt obligated to tell the truth about her dishonest and disparaging behavior.
From her position under an oak tree Lindsay felt the hair on her neck stand. It always meant that someone was watching her. Glancing up she saw it was Sean. Desperate for a friendly word, and remorseful for her wicked ways the day before, she lifted her hand to wave and smile.
Just as he was about to lift his hand and return the gesture Sean remembered his brother's words from the previous night…Lindsay…she's a poser, Dude…and a big time liar. Two words for ya…steer clear, because she'll make you bleed every time.
When Lindsay saw Sean walk away without so much as a nod she lowered her head. Unfortunately, although she couldn't see what was ahead, she could still hear.
"What's wrong, Lindsay?" Celine taunted. "Couldn't find anyone to sit with at lunch? That's because everyone's afraid of the germs a tramp like you is carrying." When she saw her nemesis take off running Celine filled with satisfaction. "Was it something I said!"
Crime Lab – Grissom's Office
12:40 p.m.
When Gil picked up the phone he heard his dad frantically yell, I don't know what to say! "About what and to whom, Dad?"
"My proposal…to Lina. "
Focused on his work Gil robotically replied into the phone, "Is Alzheimer's setting in? You've done it three times before, just…."
"Obviously I've caught you at a busy time…"
"No…no…" Removing his glasses he took his eyes off the DNA analysis sheets he was studying and leaned back in his office chair. The concept of familial obligation still new he sighed, "Sorry…Sara just reminded me last night that I'm slipping into some of my old impersonal habits. Forgive me. I'm listening."
"I have a plan to surprise her with the ring but, my dilemma is centered around the words I say to her upon finding it. How do I make her feel my asking her to be Mrs. Grissom is special when she's the fourth one I've asked and I've divorced the other three? Do you see the problem?"
"Yes." Biting on the end of his glasses he said, "Really, Dad…you shouldn't be asking me, you should be asking Sara, because you need a woman's perspective to ensure the utmost sensitivity. Sara…she's very empathetic, she'll know just the right thing to say." He was pleased with his caring, yet deflective answer. "She's in the field, but she has her cell so you can call her."
Performing Arts High School
San Marino
12:45 p.m.
When Greg returned thirty minutes later with a carefree smile plastered on his face, Bev handed him his cell phone. "You look much more relaxed, Son," she greeted, not letting on she had seen him sobbing earlier. "Did the walk around campus calm your performance anxiety?"
"Yep!" He kissed her cheek. "It worked like a charm. Sorry to keep everyone waiting." When he noticed the empty room he panicked, "Uh…did they get pissed and leave because I pulled a Diva moment?"
"Are you kidding? They all aspire to be Hollywood Divas one day. I gave them money for McDonald's…free food is the way to any student's heart. They'll be back at one." Next, she informed him, "I handed you your phone because when you left it behind, Becca called. You'll be happy to know I told her to stop bugging you because you had a girlfriend and would be engaged shortly."
"Thank you!" His face lit up with delight when he realized he had one less problem to face. "You're the best, Mom!"
Before he could get his arms around her she stepped back. "I'm kidding. When I saw it was her name on the display all I did was roll my eyes." Bev headed for the door. "Tough love, remember? I'm not allowed to solve problems for you anymore. I'll grab a soda and give you some privacy to return that call."
Plopping down on one of the lumpy couches in the room he flipped open his phone. Fatefully, Tawny's name appeared on the display as the phone vibrated in his hand. "Hey, Princess." He couldn't wait to hear her voice.
"Hi, Sweetie! Are you having a good time with your mom? I hope you are."
Her tone was as loving and supportive as he needed it to be. "Yeah…thanks for understanding about me spending the day with her to ease the pain of her letting go when we get engaged."
"No sweat! I'm having the best time with your dad. First he took me to his office and now we're at IKEA shopping. I'm filling out a sheet with everything I'd like to buy, then we'll bring up the website back at your parents' place so you can give your stamp of approval. After that, your dad will place the order online and have it all shipped to us."
"Cool. What's my dad doing while you're on the phone?"
"He met an oral surgeon from Burbank that he knows and they're chatting about some really gross gum thing, so I thought I'd use the time to check in with you."
His anxiety fading as the seconds passed he asked, "Is he taking you for Swedish meatballs at their restaurant?" It was his father's main reason for shopping at IKEA.
"Yes! That's where we're headed next," she giggled. "He said I'll love them."
"You will…and I love you." Crashing back on the couch he kicked his feet up over the arm and stared at the ceiling tiles. "Tawny, I want you to know…when I propose, if I seem really nervous it's not because I'm uncertain about asking you to be my wife. Seriously, be prepared…the blood will be drained from my face, my voice will be shaking, and my knees knocking, but all of that will have nothing to do with you. The closer the moment gets, the more scared I am that I won't be able to live up to the promises a wedding proposal represents…to be a responsible husband."
"You will, Sweetie…"
From his heart he confessed, "Watching Robbie last night…and after listening to my dad talk about budgets and parental responsibility this morning…I feel woefully unprepared for what lies ahead. And I feel guilty that I'm asking you to marry me under such unstable circumstances. I wish I had the same things Robbie could provide Joyce when he popped the question, or the guarantees my dad could make when he proposed to my mom." His voice dropped to a whisper. "My nerves are all about not being sure I have what it takes to never let you down again."
"Greg…I expect you to let me down again."
"You do?" He swallowed hard.
"Yes! And I fully expect to let you down too. We're human. And it's not going to be perfect…far from it. Get this…I spoke with Carrie this morning and she told me that she had a blow out with Nick yesterday because he confessed that he started the fight with his brother instead of it being the other way around. So there! Even Mr. Perfect screws up with his girl, and since Carrie was screaming at him while he was in the ICU that proves she has her moments of insanity too. Isn't that why marriage vows have that line about for better or worse…because it's a given?" Her voice reaching a soothing pitch she whispered, "And have you forgotten what you wrote to Sara and Gil about their birdhouse? Practice what you preach Gregory Hojem Sanders."
"I love you even more than I did five minutes ago," he informed her while his pulse finally returned to its resting rate.
"Don't worry, Sweetie…what you're feeling is normal. A lot of guys on that perfect proposal show I watch go through this stage right before the big moment."
"Yeah…" Chuckling he replied, "…I'm not sure Reality TV is the best choice for validating normalcy, but maybe that's because we watched My Fair Brady. Those two dysfunctional freaks make us look like the Cleavers."
"Good thing I set the DVR to tape the next episode. We can use it to make us feel better about ourselves." After a quick chuckle with him she returned to topic. "Anyway…I want you to be nervous when you propose. I want to hear a quiver in your voice and see your hand shaking when you hold the ring."
"You do?" he asked through a smile.
"Yep! It means you're emotionally invested. And Greg, even if you get so worked up you vomit afterwards, don't worry…I'll be sure to have mints in my purse just in case."
"Well…I planned to kiss you afterwards, so…"
"What kind of kiss, Baby?"
"I'm going to plant the deepest, longest, most romantic kiss on your luscious lips that you've ever…" Before he could finish his mother grabbed the phone from his hand and disconnected the call. "Mom! What the…" He jumped up from the couch. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I forgot my wallet and I couldn't get my soda from the vending machine." Shaking his cell she blasted, "How dare you talk dirty on the phone with Becca when you have a pregnant girlfriend waiting for you to propose! You're a disgrace! You're sick! No wonder you're having nightmares, Gregory. You should be having nightmares living the secret life you're living. You better call your therapist and…no, you better call the cops because my thoughts are turning murderous!"
"That was Tawny on the phone!" he shouted trying to grab her attention. "Tawny! Not Becca."
"Oh…"
"Yeah! You should feel bad."
Clearing her throat she twittered, "Sorry, never mind what I said then." When the phone she was holding vibrated she jokingly answered, "He's right here anxious to talk about kissing you, Honey."
When Greg took the phone he checked the display and covered the receiver. "Mom!" he snapped. "You didn't look before you spoke. It's Becca!"
"Oh shit!" Her hands raced to her head.
"HA! Gotcha back. And watch your language young lady." He moved out of the way just in time to escape her swat and greeted his caller. "Hello again, future wife."
Laundry-Rama
1:06 p.m.
Taking a break from fingerprinting coin slots, Sara sat on top of a washer counseling her father-in-law. "Since you have a rep as a player, Ron, I think the most important thing is to appear naturally flustered rather than cool, calm and collected when proposing to your future wife. This isn't the time for suave. Be a big spaz…be Greg."
In a chuckle he asked, "Any news from California?"
"The future Mrs. Chuckles called me this morning." She shook her head and smiled. "In spite of Mr. Sanders figuring out the pregnancy secret in the first two minutes and Greg cycling through three nervous breakdowns since arriving, Tawny sounds very upbeat."
"Those poor kids. I have a real soft spot for them because it reminds me of Jillian and me."
"I'd prefer them reminding you of a story with a happier ending."
"They won't turn out the same, Sara," he assured her. "They have two things Jilly and I didn't have…family and friends on their side."
IKEA
1:22 p.m.
"So how's my boy doing?" Scott asked Tawny when they sat at a table with their lunch trays full of Swedish meatballs, salad and apple cake with vanilla sauce. He had seen her passionately speaking with him on the phone prior to entering the restaurant.
"The usual…an eclectic combination of sad, happy, tense and relaxed." Tugging the wrapper off her straw Tawny said, "I have a feeling you're worried that Greg and I make a pretty emotionally unstable combination."
"Well…" Scott lowered his fork. "The truth is…uh…how can I say this without sounding…hmm…I think a woman who couldn't emotionally empathize with Greg probably wouldn't be able to tolerate him. I think that's why he had difficulty finding a good match over the years. So, while I'm definitely concerned that you both exhibit manic tendencies…I also think it's the reason you work well together. When you're both up the good times will roll, but I have to be honest, I wonder what will happen when you're both down at the same time."
"I totally see where you're coming from," she nodded as she forked her first meatball. "And I want you to know that I'm usually a lot calmer and stronger. These pregnancy hormones have turned me into a nutjob. I had a long talk about it with our friend Nick's sister, she's an OB. She believes I'll see some relief once I hit the second trimester, but she told me to have my doctor watch me closely, especially for post-partum depression after the babies are born."
"I used to be an OB student. It's true, with twins the initial flux can be severe."
"Trust me…there's no way I could have survived on my own and handled myself in clubs if I was this emotional. I mean, sure I had my depressed moods…" She rolled her eyes. "...because my life was crap. But, I was a lot calmer before…."
"You met Greg."
"Before I got pregnant," she was eager to correct.
Mr. Sanders couldn't resist the tease. "So, you had a good ninety minutes of calm."
Blushing she brought her napkin to her face. "You got me."
"I don't know how much Greg's told you about his history and I won't take a chance for fear of…"
"I know everything," she quickly replied. "I know more than you. That's something I'd like Greg to rectify but…that's up to him. I think he will in time though, because his therapist thinks it's critical…and so do I."
"I know the circumstances that brought you to us aren't the best but, I'm really glad you're becoming a part of my family." Reaching across the table Scott took Tawny's hand in his. "You're a very special young lady." Leaning in he sweetly whispered, "Thank you for believing in my son and loving him…quirks and all."
"I…"
"Scott?" Lydia Atwell from the club stopped in front of the table and gaped at the young vivacious blonde with whom her friend's husband was holding hands. "Who…"
"Lydia!" He stood to greet her, knowing exactly what she must be thinking. "This is Greg's girlfriend, Tawny Cooper. Tawny this is Bev's doubles partner, Lydia Atwell."
"Greg's…girlfriend?" She found it hard to believe since the quirky boy hadn't brought a date home ever and there were all those rumors about the boy being gay. Plus, the girl was a babe, it was impossible to fathom he could go from unlucky in love to hitting the jackpot since Memorial Day. "Bev never mentioned Greg having a girlfriend. I find it hard to believe she'd keep a girl a secret when everyone at the club…"
"Wanna see our picture together?" Tawny grabbed her purse and pulled out her favorite of the ones Wendy took the previous week. "Isn't he so cute in that one? It was taken in front of our friend's garden."
"Come on, Lydia…" Scott cracked up. "…if I was having an affair with a woman as fantastic as Tawny, do you really think I'd take her to IKEA Burbank for Swedish meatballs?"
"I'll be damned." Lydia returned the photo grinning. "Well…I know what will be this Labor Day weekend's top gossip at the club."
Scott lifted his iced tea to toast the idea. "I guarantee it."
Ely State Prison
1:42 p.m.
"There are no guarantees in life, Mike, except death, taxes and…" Attorney Don Schulze cracked a riotous grin, "…your freedom."
"Sweet!"
"Don't start packing yet, though." Don opened his briefcase. "While I'm highly confident, I still have a ton of work to do and no time frame."
"Take your time, man." Mike kicked back in his chair. "I've got things under control here. Prison isn't complicated once you figure out the system. I had a pretty decent knowledge before, from being in law enforcement, but now I've got every angle down. I even have a woman dropping to her knees for me. So, be patient and do it right."
"Check out my latest find." Sliding the forensics journal across the table he grinned. "Greg Sanders…the DNA Specialist who worked your case just published a very intriguing case study. Guess which case he wrote about?"
Mike flipped to the appropriate page and read the title. "Cutting Edge DNA Technology Cracks Cold Case."
"You know my favorite synonym for 'cutting edge'?" Don asked while relaxing in his seat. "Unproven. My runners up are imperfect, inconsistent and unreliable."
"How convenient of Mr. Sanders to mention that too." He pointed to the highlighted lines in the article where he cited several juries not siding with the technology.
"I've had several experts read through it. It's extremely well written," Don confirmed. "But when combined with everything else I'm hoping to have, it could serve us well."
"Excellent."
"You want some other good news?"
"Can there ever be too much?"
"Stokes is expected to make a full recovery."
"I guess it's true what they say about the power of prayer." Thrilled he wouldn't be down one pawn in the game he beamed, "Atta boy, Nicky!"
University Trauma Center
2:10 p.m.
Nick, Carrie and Ryan were sitting on the bed discussing Harry's venture to Diagon Alley while Mrs. Stokes watched Fever Pitch on the DVD player. Holed up in the opposite corner of the room, Andy ferociously read the first of the six books his mother had ordered him to finish before seeing Melissa the next day.
"I would have picked an owl too," Nick agreed with Ryan. "Cats are annoying, and what the hell is a toad going to do for you except give you warts?"
"That's an old wives tale," Carrie pointed out. "Viruses cause warts, not toads. But toads do produce a toxin in the glands behind their eyes which is harmful if ingested or swallowed. My mom took her home-school curriculum planning very seriously…she had me do a science project on toads in conjunction with an English Lit unit on post-modern interpretations of Fairy Tales."
"You're marrying a walking encyclopedia, Nicky," Andy teased. "How the hell did you get such a smart woman to fall for you?"
Jillian shot her eldest son a look. "You have five books to go after that one, Andrew. I'd keep my nose to the grindstone if I were you."
"Maybe my mom will let me get a pet owl," Ryan commented with a gleam in his eye.
"No can do," Attorney Blake quickly informed him. "Possession of owls is illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It's a felony offense."
"Yeah that…" Nick laughed, "And it could rip open your throat with its talons while you're sleeping, and then snack on your eyeballs."
"Eww." Carrie pinched her man. "You're not going to tell stories like that to our children, are you?"
"Nah…I'll be too busy watching football to talk with our kids."
"Would you drop it already!" Carrie snapped while trying not to laugh.
Laughing at his fiancée Nick said, "Aww…I'm just teasin' ya."
"I'll forgive you if you kiss me."
Ryan felt compelled to point out, "See! You sound just like when my Mom and Dad were busting you this morning. You're sickeningly sweet!"
"Amen," Jillian concurred from her spot in the corner.
"Hey! We've only been engaged a month and I'm still buzzing," Carrie protested. "Sue me."
Jillian was never one to turn down a challenge. "I'll start looking for precedent right after I finish this cute little movie. I'm sure I'll find grounds."
Andy took a chance lifting his eyes from his book. "Maybe there was a diabetic who went into shock from listening to a couple just like them, and he sued for damages."
"Since you're backing my cause, Son, I'll let you get away with that one."
"Mr. Stokes…" The matronly hospital volunteer walked in with a greeting card. "You have mail."
"Drop it on the bed table!" Carrie gruffly ordered.
"Snap your band, Darlin'," Nick suggested as he squeezed her hand.
"Uh…sorry." Smiling at the annoyed woman she explained, "We had a very unwelcome greeting the other day and I'm a little jumpy."
While the volunteer high-tailed it out of there, Jillian and Andy joined Carrie at Nick's bedside to stare at the white envelope.
"Writing looks feminine," Nick stated as he studied it.
Careful not to touch the potential evidence, Carrie pointed to the top left corner. "Why is the return address your office at the Crime Lab?"
He quickly answered, "The person didn't know my home address and wanted to make sure I received it even if I left the hospital before it arrived." Pointing to the counter under the window where his gifts were stowed Nick asked, "Mama…could you hand me that magic wand?"
"You know spells!" Ryan exclaimed, his uncle suddenly earning even more cool points.
"No, you big retard." Then he felt the heat of his mother's stare. "Sorry…bad word."
"Finally Saint Nick is in trouble! Can I get an Amen?" Andy quipped. Then he felt the heat of her glare. "Sorry…not a good time for a joke."
Using a tissue to lift the card, Nick inserted the thin wand through the small unsealed part of the envelope and held it up under the bright light over his hospital bed. "Well, it's not a Hallmark." He lowered it. "It's an American Greetings logo on the back of the envelope and the front of the card is a picture of a fairy princess dancing in the rain saying, 'It's all in the attitude'."
"Tawny," Carrie immediately declared. "Now that I think that, the writing is obvious. The 'S' in Stokes looks just like the way she wrote the 'S' in Sanders when she showed Sara and I how good the name looked with hers."
Still holding the envelope with a tissue, Nick used the wand to tear the seal. A few seconds later the card was open and they all breathed a sigh of relief when Tawny's name was indeed signed at the bottom.
"Where's that box of chocolate?" Carrie asked while her pulse raced. "I need a little serotonin boost after that." When Ryan handed it over she grabbed a dark chocolate truffle and stuffed it in her mouth.
"What the…" Nick opened the folded check and broke into an easy smile. "She sent me ten grand for BPaC."
"What? Where would Tawny get ten grand?" Carrie asked without thinking. Then she saw Drew. "She sold your bracelet." Bursting with joy she declared, "I love that girl!"
"Here's what she wrote," Nick said, "I once was a little girl who had everything and then I lost it all so, I know what it feels like to need a boost. Please take this money for BPAC and put it to work Bringing Peace and Comfort to those in need. I've got plenty in the strong arms of Greg Sanders and in the company of my good friends. Love, Tawny." When he was done reading, Nick locked eyes with Carrie and when he saw her smile and nod he said, "Yep…I think we just got the sign we've been looking for, Sweetheart."
Author's Notes:
In FS, Tawny was desperate for a father, we also know Scott always wanted a child with whom he could easily connect and relate to. I think they're filling each other's needs and thrilled to be gaining each other. Bev is REALLY trying to keep her end of the bargain…but it's only day 1! LOL let's not award her a medal yet.
Tawny jumps in again as the perfect partner for Greg…knowing just what to say to get him to bounce back. Look for the GT scenes to take a decidedly romantic and upbeat turn starting with chapter 21…I think they've earned it.
Another glimpse of the old head in the microscope Gil. I think having Sara was a lot to balance for him but now he has a father taking up more of his time and he's on the verge of having a step-mother. That's a lot of family for a guy who was alone for decades. He's in an adjustment phase again.
Little Nicky lives. I know some of you were worried LOL. Some solid Blake-Stokes negotiating/communication going on, and Nick clearly showing he's learned a lot from his brother's failed marriage lesson.
Sean is like seeing 'what if Greg had a different support system in place back then, how would things have worked differently'? Could Sean be successful in the same scenarios that failed for Greg?
In the end scene, Tawny has paid it forward (no doubt hoping for some good karma in CA!). Her gesture is the catalyst to set something bigger in motion, hence Nick and Carrie's acknowledgment of 'the sign'. But Nick and Carrie won't be in the venture alone…look for the family Grissom to join them.
Lastly, a lot of this chapter was set up for things to come…like getting another glimpse of Mike's attorney at work. You didn't think I repeatedly mentioned Greg being published since chapter 71 of FS for no reason, did you? J And who was it that encouraged Greg to write and who thought the paper was PERFECT? In any case, remember what the attorney said…"it could serve us well." It's very early in that ballgame. Here's a FS refresher…
Chapter 71:
Waving the papers he explained, "Grissom encouraged me to start writing and submitting, so I wrote a paper on using current PCR DNA technology to solve cold cases when evidence is degraded. I used the infamous Mike Rodgers trial as my primary example because of the mold that had grown on the jacket with the blood evidence.
Chapter 72:
"That's fantastic." Gil beamed with the pride of a proud papa. He had encouraged Greg to write the paper and spent countless hours critiquing it with him to achieve what he thought was the perfect final product. "I knew that one would do it for you."
Thanks to Misty-J and Rojaji for leaving reviews. Always appreciated!
Next Chapter: Wendy is shocked by her son's words…Warrick and Jim make Nick an offer they expect him to refuse…Brass gets the call he's been waiting for…Greg and Tawny 'first date' begins…Uncle Nick finds himself squirming…Cath gets a startling phone call and that's only the beginning of her troubles. Posting: Tuesday morning
Have a great weekend! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts,
Maggs