Scene 4
The two women sat in comfortable silence at a small table that was tucked into a corner inside the deli taking the first few bites of their orders. Catherine ordered her favorite sandwich with no bacon, no mayo, extra tomato, and a diet Coke. Heather's order was a grilled shrimp salad and a cup of tea.
"So," Heather began first. "The dance studio; what's it called…that's new… right?"
"No, not the business itself; the owner just recently moved to this location. Her first studio was across town. It was smaller than the one here and about the same price from what I understand. It's called The Powerhouse Dance Academy. I was paying my daughter's monthly tuition.
"I see, and how is Lindsay?"
Catherine smiled happily; pleased that Heather remembered her daughter's name after she had only heard it once long ago. "She's fifteen…"
Heather laughed at the aggrieved pause in her voice. "Enough said."
Catherine laughed and nodded. "Where does time go? It still feels like yesterday that I told you she was almost eight, and you told me that Zoë had just started her freshman year at Harvard…"
Catherine paused when she saw the flicker of dark shadow that passed through Heather's eyes, belying the smile that she somehow managed to keep on her face. "Heather…how careless of me. I'm …"
Heather held up a hand to stop her words. "Please, don't finish that sentence." Shehalf commanded, half pleaded in a hushed tone.
When Catherine chose to remain silent Heather breathed a deep heavy sigh. "Thank you Catherine."
"Why on Earth are you thanking me?"
"Because we moms like it when someone remembers our child's name; don't we?" Heather gave her a pointed look.
Catherine smiled again as she thought of how it had pleased her seconds before to discover that Heather still recalled Lindsay's name. "Yes. We do." She admitted.
"And…It's so much more important after you loose that child; believe me. Now that Zoë is gone; it's like there's some unwritten rule. The few friends I had before her death that still come around will jump through hoops to avoid motioning her name. I know they mean well, but it's feels like they all got together and decided that if they dared to utter her name I might go into hysterics. Catherine people who knew her will avoid saying her name in my presence at all cost; as if she never existed at all. And…she did."
Catherine watched helplessly; unable to think of a single thing to say as two tears slid down Heather's face.
"She did. And, damn it, the people who knew her; the same people who watched her grow up can't wait for a polite reason to leave the room if her name comes up in conversation. I have no words to tell you how badly that hurts me. It helps to hear her name and know that someone remembers her; even if you didn't know her. The fact that you barely know me and can still recall her name is a gift. So please don't ever feel that you shouldn't say Zoë's name, or feel that you should apologize if you do."
"I promise I won't from now on." Catherine assured.
Heather pushed the remainder of her salad around with her fork; suddenly completely uninterested in finishing it. When she looked up again she found Catherine staring at her half-eaten sandwich with the same lack of desire.
Catherine eyed her and made an attempt to break the awkward silence that had fallen over them. "So… Grissom made an offhand remark sometime back, I think it was around the first of the year, that you'd closed up shop; no more Dominion?"
"Nope; I sold with the legal provision that I'm still entitled to fifteen percent of its earnings, because the buyer wanted to keep the domain. I sold the business out right, and the house is paid for. It's not the dominion any more, but it's mine free and clear. "
"Sharp business decision; it sounds like your sitting pretty." Catherine commented.
"I am. I've made some good investments and as long as I don't become a show off I'll be fine for life."
"You; become a show off?" Catherine asked wryly.
"My grandmother says that a person can only legitimately use so much money. The rest…" Heather smiled her trademark 'cat that swallowed the canary' smile. "The rest is just for showing off."
"I think I like your grandma." Catherine smiled. "So…do you miss the job?"
"No. I'm too busy to miss it."
"Doing what?"
"Going back to school, and keeping up with a precocious soon-to be-three year old."
Catherine's eyes suddenly got very big. "You're what?"
Heather sighed. "I see Grissom failed to mention why I closed the business."
Catherine gave her head an incredulous nod. "Soooo…you...you…what? Had a baby?"
Heather covered her mouth with her napkin, to smother the laughter that bubbled up in her throat. "No; she's my granddaughter, Allison. She was born a few weeks before Zoë's death. Gil found mention of her in Sneller's journal. It took a while to find her. She was in the care of Clark County's Child Welfare Department."
Heather I know this is unpleasant to say the absolute least; but I know about Zoë's case. Is Allison alright?"
Heather gave a sad smile in appreciation for the tenderness in the strawberry blonde's voice, and then, by way of reply, reached for her purse, withdrew her wallet, opened it and passed it to Catherine.
Catherine reached across the table wit a mix of curiousity and uncertainty, but once he had the wallet she understood why at once. Inside; protected under plastic film, she found a photo of a sandy-haired little girl with an inquisitive happy face who was sitting in Heather's lap on a lush green lawn and staring in awe at the bubbles her grandmother was blowing through a child's bubble wand.
"Heather, she's beautiful." Catherine admired the photo for a moment longer and then handed the wallet back to Heather; who then tucked it away and returned her purse to its previous spot under her chair before speaking again.
"Her pediatrician says that she is fine; normal, healthy, and happy."
"Thank God for that." Catherine said more as a relief than as a piece of advice.
"I do; every day. Now…what do you do in your spare time?"
"When; you mean the four hours out of twenty-four when I'm not caring for my daughter or working a Vegas crime scene?"
"Yes, what do you do then?"
"Heather that's when I do a very frivolous thing." Catherine joked.
"Oh, do tell!" Heather played along even though she was certain she knew the answer.
"I sleep!" Catherine declared with gusto.
"I figured," Heather chuckled. "Hey! Let's find out if this place has ice cream." She suggested.
"Okay, let's do." Catherine smiled perking up even more.
Heather made eye contact with the young girl behind the counter, and Catherine marveled at the power her lunch companion wielded so effortlessly. Heather didn't speak one word; just simply made eye contact with the girl and she immediately stopped what she was doing, walked across the room, and delivered a quiet "Yes Ma'am?"
I don't suppose my friend and I could get a couple bowls of ice cream; could we?"
"Well, Tony does keep some in the back freezer, but he doesn't sell it to the customers Ma'am."
Catherine watched Heather silently hold the girl's gaze. After a few seconds of silence the young lady gave in and, to Catherine's ears she sounded apologetic rather than annoyed. "Your choices are really limited; chocolate or vanilla, that's it."
"Chocolate." Both women answered in unison.
When she left to get their treats Catherine asked, "How do you do that?"
Heather gave her a slight smile, and lifted one shoulder in a shrug as she brought her tea cup to her lips. "It's not usually difficult. Most people want to please other people."
"Now, you wanted to ask me something?" Heather prompted.
"Yes. I wanted to know if you and Grissom are eh- involved with each other?"
"Have you asked Grissom this question Catherine?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because Heather, it doesn't matter what the answer to the question is. Whether it's yes or no; if I ask him he'll only find a way to reply without actually answering. He makes me crazy the way he does that."
When Catherine saw the barest hint of a smile play at the corners of Heather's mouth she grinned. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You've seen him do it too."
"I have; more than a few times." Heather took a deep breath before continuing, "My father is a die-hard Marine Corps General, and let me tell you Catherine; General Howard Harper could learn a thing or two from Gil Grissom when it comes to the fine art of evasive maneuvers."
Uncontrollable laughter erupted from Catherine's mouth. She tried without much success to quell it when the young woman delivered their ice cream, and began to giggle slightly herself even though she had no idea what had tickled Catherine's funny bone. As her laughter began to die down she smiled at the girl who had returned to her post behind the counter. "Laughter is contagious I guess."
"It is." Heather concurred stifling the last of her own laughter with a spoonful of ice cream. Catherine watched her close her eyes and savor the sweet treat. When she opened them again she smiled with a sigh and announced "There, that's better."
Heather caught the amused quizzical look in Catherine's eyes. "Chocolate makes anything just a little bit better. Chocolate is a 'band-aid' no matter what they say."
"Words to live by." Catherine agreed taking a bite of her own. "Hey." She said suddenly; her eyes first going wide, and then narrowing suspiciously, "You never really answered my question about you and Grissom. Is he rubbing off on you?"
A tiny smile teased at Heather's lips. "Yes. We're spending time with each other." She confirmed.
"I guessed as much when you showed up two months ago at the hospital after Warrick was shot and then a few days later at the funeral. I just wanted to hear one of you confirm it…and Heather… I was embarrassed that you received such a cold reception there."
"You all weren't cold. You were grieving, and I suspect you still are." She said eyeing the strained quality of Catherine's face."
Catherine nodded. "God, I miss him."
"You aren't the only one."
"He never talks about it."
"Yes, Catherine, he does."
"Really; Gil talks to you about Warrick?"
Heather watched her lunch companion and nodded as shock gave way to acceptance in her eyes.
"Well good; I'm glad he talks to someone. I worry about him."
"And he worries about you too Catherine; and Nick, and Greg, and Brass, and Riley, and Archie, and Wendy, and Dave, and Al, and even David Hodges. Although, it seems he worries about Hodges for an entirely different set of reasons." Heather confided.
Catherine smirked, "Don't we all? I swear Heather sometimes I honestly think he's in love with Grissom."
Before Heather could form a reply she hurried on. "It's nice to know he talks about us. Thank you for telling me that. It means a lot. What did you want to ask me?"
"Ten days ago, Gil informed me that he intends to take me somewhere nice for my birthday. We hadn't exchanged birthday information with each other, and I was surprised that he even knew my birthday was near. That is, I was surprised for all of two seconds, until I thought about it and realized that as many dealings as I've had with CSI over the years, I'm bound to have a file there somewhere. So, obviously, he just looked it up. Since he went to the trouble to research it; I didn't want to just come right out and ask him when his is. Can you help me out here?"
"Oh boy, am I glad we bumped into each other. Heather, his birthday is the 17th. When's yours?"
"Oh good Heavens! Really? Mine's the 24th and I guess my shopping isn't done yet today after all."
"Given the dress shop I saw you leaving I guess you were looking for a dress for whatever he's planning?"
No, I'm not looking for a dress. I was in for a fitting. I went into Derek's the day after he mentioned our going out because I couldn't find anything at the other places I shop that I wanted. All Gil will tell me is that formal attire is required. The last formal gown I purchased I wore to a function I attended with Dad. It's entirely wrong to wear for a birthday celebration out with Gil. So, I decided to treat myself by calling on Derek, and having a dress made. There are just a few minor changes to make now. It will be ready in time. All I have to do now is figure out what to get him for his birthday; and fast."
"Relax; Gil is easy to buy for. Even if you have absolutely no idea what to get him, you can't go wrong with a bug or a book about bugs."
Heather laughed at what she knew was the truth and stood up slowly from her chair; wishing she could linger a while longer as she picked up the check from their table.
"I hate to Catherine, but I've got to run. I'll take care of the check. Can we do this again some time?"
Catherine nodded enthusiastically. "I'd love to."
"Great; thanks for the company. Just ask Gil for my number when you're free to meet. "