The next morning Mark and Catherine are woken up by Catherine's phone going off at 8am. Catherine leans over to the nightstand and answers. "Willows."
"Mom it's me," says Linds on the other end.
"Hello me," Catherine says jokingly.
"Haha very funny," Linds responds sarcastically.
Catherine asks, "How's Disneyland sweetie? Are you having a good time with Jeremy?"
Lindsey perks up with a very excited response, "Yes! It is so much fun! So far my two favorite things have been the Haunted Mansion in the New Orleans Square and the Indiana Jones Adventure in Adventureland."
"That's nice I'm glad you are having a great time," says Catherine.
"Mom where are you? I called the house first and you didn't answer," Lindsey says almost as if she is the mother.
Catherine pauses for a second, "I'm at Mark's I was helping him move into his new apartment."
"Oh that's cool. Tell Mark I say Hi. Oh hold on Aunt Nancy wants to talk to you," says Lindsey.
After a few moments Nance speaks up, "So you're at the cutie co-worker's apartment. Nice Cath. I knew I taught you well even though I'm the younger one."
Catherine rolls her eyes, "We will talk about this at another time. How's Linds? She isn't giving you too much trouble is she?"
Nancy responds, "Nah she's been no trouble at all. We should be back sometime late afternoon on Sunday is that fine?"
"Yeah Nance that should be fine. Thanks again for inviting Linds on this trip."
Nancy says, "Oh not a problem at all. Well I have to go these two are getting anxious. Talk to you later."
Catherine hangs up the call and sets her phone back on Mark's nightstand.
"So how's Lindsey liking Disneyland?" Mark says in a not very awake voice.
Catherine returns to her position before she was on the phone of her head lying on Mark's shoulder drawing circles with her finger on his chest. "She really seems to be enjoying it, I'm glad Nance was able to take her. Sorry to wake you."
Mark responds his eyes still not open yet, "It's fine I have to be up for the cable company soon anyway so they can hook up the cable and Internet. Besides if we are going to be together I'm going to have to get used to that little blond waking me up for something. I hear kids are really bad about waking up at 5am on Christmas."
Catherine laughs, "You got that right! I've had to tell Linds a few times on Christmas morning that the presents weren't ready yet and she had to go back to sleep. And by the way I know we're not that far into this or know where it's going but I really like that you take Linds into consideration."
Mark responds, "Well I realize you two are a package deal. And you know I was raised mostly by my mother and I know what it's like to be in Lindsey's position when it comes to you dating."
Catherine lifts up and kisses Mark on the lips and then props herself up on her elbow, "Apparently I should have started dating younger men a long time ago, you have so much more going on for you and more maturity than anyone I've dated in the past."
Mark scoffs, "You say that like I'm that much younger than you, besides age is just a number."
Catherine looks at Mark, "How old do you think I am?"
Mark laughs, "This conversation sounds like I'm about to get in trouble. Do you seriously want me to guess your age? If I go too low you'll think I'm dodging and if I go too high I'm a dick, I know how this works."
Catherine looks at him, "No I'm serious. How old do you think I am?"
Mark opens his eyes and rolls over to face Catherine and looks at her, "Hmmmm … 35?"
Catherine gives a Cheshire smile, "Apparently I still got something, I'm 40 by the way. Now for the real question, how old are you?"
Mark says, "I'm 32."
Catherine shrugs and rolls over to lay on her back, "Well I'm not robbing the cradle that much … I guess I can deal with it."
At that moment Mark says, "Oh you can deal with it huh?", and smacks Catherine in the face with his pillow.
Catherine laughs, "Oh you are in trouble mister!" She returns the smack with her pillow and they enter into a 25-minute wrestling match.
Catherine and Mark emerge from the bedroom to find Kerri and Elizabeth sitting at the kitchen counter having coffee. Kerri looks up and smiles, "Hey you two, would you like some coffee?"
Mark declines.
Catherine says, "Oh yes please, my morning is not complete without coffee." Elizabeth hands Catherine a mug.
Elizabeth looks at both Mark and Catherine and asks, "Would you two like to go to breakfast?"
Mark replies, "I have to wait on the cable company. They are coming to set up cable and Internet, they should be here anytime, they said between 8 and 11"
Kerri shakes her head, "Don't you just love their time tables? It's like no I had nothing better to do with my life besides sit here and wait for you!"
Everyone laughs. Marks turns to Catherine, "If you would like breakfast why don't you join them. So you girls can go off and secretly talk about me … which I know you're dying to do!"
Catherine rolls her eyes, "You seem to think you're that special." Catherine kisses Mark. As they separate Catherine says, "Hmmmmm … yeah on second thought maybe you are."
Kerri laughs, "Awwww puke! What do you say Cath 20 minutes?"
Catherine nods, "Yeah sure let me go get ready."
Catherine walks into the bathroom and shuts the door.
Kerri and Elizabeth both look at Mark. Elizabeth teasing says, "So what was all that racket in your room for about 20 minutes before you guys came out? Get lucky huh? I thought you too were taking it slow."
Mark slightly blushes, "We are taking it slow. Nothing happened last night or this morning for your information. There was a disagreement, we had a pillow fight/wrestling match end of story."
Kerri and Elizabeth at the same time, "Uh huh … oh sure."
Mark rolls his eyes, "Do you really think I would have sex with you two in the next room listening?"
Kerri scoffs, "Why not we did!"
Elizabeth blushes slightly as Marks looks at her as he responds, "We have gotten way too close when you guys openly tell me when you've had sex now."
Elizabeth laughs, "We really just wanted to break in the guest room for you!"
Mark jokingly says, "Yeah well you broke it alright. Now I'm going to have to clean the damn thing with a HAZMAT suit on."
Kerri sticks out her tongue, "Haha very funny. You better watch it or I'm going to tell your new girlfriend all of our relationship stories!"
Mark puts his fists up and Kerri does the same as Mark says, "Bring it bitch!"
Elizabeth laughs, "You two look so ridiculous right now. I'm taking a picture of this and putting it on Facebook."
Catherine comes out of the bathroom as this is going on and laughs, "What the hell is going on? You two look crazy!"
Elizabeth looks at Catherine, "That's because they are. Don't worry I took pictures of them that I'll show you at breakfast."
Catherine laughs, "Haha sounds good. I'm good to go whenever you guys are."
Kerri looks at Mark, "You want us to bring you something back asshole?"
Mark says, "I love you too, that would be great. Whatever is fine, you know what I like."
At breakfast …
The girls ended up at IHOP for breakfast. They were all enjoying their coffee and chatting while waiting on their food.
Catherine says to Kerri, "Mark told me you two have been friends for a really long time."
Kerri says, "Yeah we went to school together as far back as I can remember. We also played sports together, mainly softball. We would hang out occasionally but we never really got close until we were in college. I was a freshmen and Mark was a sophomore at different colleges even. I went to Wright State and Mark attended Miami. Mark might kill me for telling you this but we bonded over very similar relationships we had that were very off and on again. Somehow we became each other's relationship therapists and we share this interest of finding songs that remind us of relationships we've had."
Catherine says, "Mark has had bad luck in relationships? He seems really nice and understanding, somehow I'm not thinking he was the problem."
Kerri shrugs, "Not really, but you should probably let Mark tell you the story when he's ready. It's not something he openly shares with a lot of people. I think he only told me because he figured I had/was going through a similar situation. I hate that he had to go through all he did but in a way I'm happy about it because if it wasn't for that I'm not sure Mark and I would be as close as we are and I just love him."
Elizabeth nods, "I've known Mark as long as I've been with Kerri and I don't even know the complete story of the relationship that made him and Kerri so close. I love Mark don't get me wrong but Mark and I didn't see eye to eye the first few years Kerri and I were together so I'm not sure he confides in me as completely as he does Kerri. Mark and I are great now I love him, but if he doesn't tell you the whole story right away don't hold it against him. He will tell you when he's ready and from what I can tell he really likes you. He is a great guy but I will warn you a steady relationship would be a new thing for him, so if he gets standoffish at any point remember it has nothing to do with you, it's stuff he's trying to work through."
Kerri nods in agreement. Their food comes soon after this.
Catherine looks at Elizabeth, "So Mark mentioned last night that you are studying for your detective test?"
Elizabeth says, "Yes, I'm scheduled to take it next month so we will see. It would be a nice bump in pay and as much as I enjoy being a beat cop a change of pace would be nice."
Catherine asks, "Is there any particular specialty you'd like to go in?"
Elizabeth responds, "Homicide seems like the biggest attraction in our department but there's a waiting list to get in, so I wouldn't mind going with Burglary. I imagine out here in Vegas you guys get an abundance of calls."
Catherine nods, "Yes we do. There's a lot and hardly any of it is the same which is nice, it continuously keeps you on your toes."
Kerri looks at Catherine, "Do you specialize in anything or do you do a little bit of everything?"
Catherine responds, "I can do a little bit of everything but in my department I have the most knowledge in blood spatter analysis."
Back at Mark's …
The cable guy says, "You are ready Mark call us with any problems."
Mark says, "Thanks I appreciate it."
Mark shows the cable guy out and at the same time the girls are coming back in from breakfast.
Kerri hands Mark a bag, "We went to IHOP I got you that breakfast platter thing you like."
Mark takes the bag, "Thanks you're the best."
Kerri responds sarcastically, "Yeah don't get used to it, I'm not your delivery man."
Mark scoffs, "Pa-lease like you could ever be a man."
Kerri smacks Mark on the chest.
Elizabeth says, "Are we going to have an Xbox marathon tonight?"
Mark taking his food out of the bag replies, "Hell yeah we are. I need to see Kerri's amazing Rock Band/Guitar Hero skills again."
Kerri laughs, "Oh my God yes! I love it when you sing!"
Catherine chimes in, "You sing?"
Elizabeth answers for Mark, "Yes he does. Now he's tries to play it off but he was in a real band for a while, he sang and played guitar."
Mark looks at Catherine, "Don't believe a word she says, it's all lies."
A little after one Kerri and Elizabeth are fighting over the remote. Kerri wants to watch Dawson's Creek and Elizabeth refuses.
Catherine laughs, "I hate to leave all of this fun but I'm on shift tonight so I need to go get some rest."
Mark says, "Come in the bedroom for a sec."
Catherine follows Mark in the bedroom not really knowing what to expect. "Hey everything ok?"
Mark looks at her, "Yes I just wanted to have a proper goodbye without an audience."
Catherine teases, "Oh are you shy?"
Mark laughs, "Not really I just don't like to give them more ammunition than they already have."
Mark and Catherine start kissing and it starts getting a little out of hand. Mark stops and laughs, "You should probably go if you want to continue to take this slow."
Catherine laughs and her and Mark exit his bedroom.
Kerri looks at them both, "Were you two having sex AGAIN?!"
Elizabeth chimes in, "I hope not because if so that was the fastest sex ever." Elizabeth looks at Catherine, "If you were having sex I'm sorry."
Catherine shakes her head and walks to the door, "I'll see you guys later."