Notes: Sorry I didn't get anything posted yesterday. Gotta love last-minute Christmas shopping, LOL!

Lindsey is fifteen in this fic. Just wanted to say that again, since I got a couple reviews asking how old she was. )

--Chapter 5: Plans in Motion--

December 20, 3:30 p.m.

I didn't get a chance to ask Mom about the tickets yesterday. By the time I got home, she had left for work. So I asked her today. Here, I'll write about it. This might not be exactly how it was, but pretty close.

At about 2:30, I fixed her breakfast, which was a late lunch for me. We ate and talked a little before I brought it up.

"Hey Mom." I almost always started like that when I was going to ask her a question.

"Yes, Linds?"

"Trevor's parents gave us two tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the twenty-second. Since you are not working that night, did you want one?"

She thought for a second.

"Why did they give them to us?"

"They had four tickets, but just the two of them were going to go."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I don't know." Okay, so maybe I knew, but it wasn't like I could tell her that.

"Okay. Well, that sounds like fun. But I didn't know you liked their music enough to waste a night going to their concert."

"It wouldn't be wasting. But that doesn't really matter, 'cause I'm not going. I already gave one to Uncle Gil."

She looked surprised.

"When did you do that?"

"Yesterday."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You had already left for work by the time I got home."

She pondered that for a few seconds.

"Okay. I guess I'll just meet him there, then."

I hesitated.

"Well, he's kind of coming here."

"What do you mean kind of? Either he's coming here, or he isn't."

"Well, I told him that you two could ride together. I was supposed to give him the ticket when he got here, so he didn't lose it."

A smile crept up on her face.

"True. Okay, that sounds like fun. We haven't done anything like that in years. Not since we went to that science convention when you were 9."

I rolled my eyes. Only Mom and Uncle Gil would liken a concert to a science convention. Oh well. As long as they had fun.

I finished my sandwich and stood up from the table, turning back a second later.

"Did you want the ticket now, or...?"

"Just set it on my dresser."

"M'kay." I said, and skipped off to do as she asked.

And that was the last time we talked about it. Well, I have to go change clothes now; I am meeting Trevor and Cassandra in half an hour. As far as I know, I am not going to write until the twenty-second, unless something comes up.

December 22, 5:50 p.m.

Okay, one thing I have to say: Mom is being so obvious, it's almost hilarious.

No, scratch that. It is hilarious. And I don't just mean the fact that she has been in her bed/bath room for the last hour, primping. I mean the fact that she barely attempts to cover up how happy she is...either that, or she is trying and completely sucking at it. What kind of woman or girl takes almost two hours to get ready for a "date" that isn't even a real date? I mean, unless you really like the guy, of course.

Why am I going on about this when it's already obvious that she not only likes, but loves him?

So, anyway...

Mom has been acting very happy, Uncle Gil hasn't called to say that he can't make it (Even though I am sure both Mom and I expect him to. I even caught her glancing at the phone two different times, though I didn't say anything. I knew what she was thinking, though. I can only hope that he doesn't back out at the last minute.), and everything seems to be going well.

Mom just called. I will be back in a couple minutes.

Ten minutes later

Mom just wanted my opinion on her outfit. She looked just as good as I had figured she would. Oh, I just heard a car pull into the driveway. I went to the window to check. It was Uncle Gil, as I had expected, looking pretty spiffy for another person going on a "friendly outing," as Mom put it a few minutes ago when I commented on her outfit.

I ran downstairs as soon as I knew it was him. Fortunately, I got to the living room before the bell sounded. It rang only seconds later, and I jumped in front of the door just as Mom reached for it. My thundering down the stairs must have alerted her.

"Hey!" It was more of a startled exclamation than a rebuke. But her expression was clearly asking why I had done that.

"Mom," I said, stretching out the word into two syllables instead of one the way I loved to. "I'm supposed to open the door so you can make your grand entrance. Don't you know anything about going on a date?"

"Linds, for the last time, we-"

"Excuse me. Going on a 'friendly outing.'" I said in a mocking voice.

"Lindsey." She said my name warningly, and I knew it was time to back off.

"All right, all right." I replied, giving up, but I still pulled open the door, though there would be no "entrance" as she was standing right in front of the door, next to me.

"Hi, Lindsey. Cath-" It was a good thing he called her that nickname often, or it would be totally obvious that he was rendered speechless by the site of her.

I surpressed a huge grin - I seem to be doing that a lot lately - at his less-than-subtle reaction to her dress. Or more accurately, the site of her in the dress.

I have long-since gotten used to seeing my mother in such "sexy" clothes. It doesn't really even feel weird to me anymore. I say "anymore" because I didn't used to like it. What really bugged me was back in sixth or seventh grade: a lot of the guys would sing that song, "Stacy's Mom," but change the words so that it was "Lindsey's Mom." I really hated it when they did that. But even if they did that now, I wouldn't really care. That's just how she is.

Anyway, Uncle Gil just stood there for several seconds, not moving a muscle even to blink. Somehow, I got the impression that he especially didn't want to blink. Another curbed smile as I noticed that Mom was just as affected by the site of Uncle Gil.

He was wearing a suit - a pretty rare occurance -, and he looked pretty nice, if I do say so myself.

"Come on in. I like your outfit, Uncle Gil." I said, breaking the silence, and therefore, the trance that seemed to hold both of them.

"Thanks, Linds, but no. We have to be going or we'll be caught in traffic."

I shrugged. "Okay. Here's your ticket." I said, retrieving the slightly rumpled ticket from my pocket.

Mom turned to me and listed off all the rules. I had them memorized by now, so I don't know why she even bothered. Must be a mother thing.

"...I'm not sure when I'll be home, so don't wait up."

"Okay. Have fun!" I added, as they walked out to the Denali.

I shut the door, and finally let the hidden smile burst forth. Then I went to call Cassandra and tell her all about it.

TBC...