Scene Twenty
Leaving the winery, Gil and Heather stepped out into California's early afternoon sunlight hand in hand. Choosing by unspoken agreement not to take the shuttle back to the chateau, they set out on foot; preferring the privacy of their own exclusive company to that of the group traveling back to the octagonal shaped villa by vehicle. For a time they walked slowly along the meandering foot path in the contented silence that exists between true companions. Only after he let go of her hand and paused just long enough to extract a small trinket from the hip pocket of his jeans did she feel compelled to break their silence.
"What exactly are you going to do with that?"
He shrugged one shoulder as he pursed his lips thoughtfully and ran the pad of his right thumb gently over the logo that was burned into the wine cork. He tossed it gently into the air, stalling while he made up his mind, caught it, and sniffed it before answering. "I'm going to put it in a small shadow box and keep it next to my favorite picture of Dad."
She thought this over for a moment; a soft smile gently lifting the corners of her mouth. "A place of honor?"
He nodded and draped an arm loosely around her shoulders as he carefully placed his new momento in the palm of her upturned hand.
She used her thumb to roll the small wine stained trinket gently against the tender flesh in the center of her hand. She studied it intently for a moment and then turned her gaze up to meet his; something obviously on the tip of her tongue.
When she reconsidered and chose not to voice her thoughts, he smiled. "What?"
She snuggled closer in his embrace and shook her head. "Nothing… it doesn't matter." She said softly; returning the cork to his hand once more and using her touch to curl his fingers around it protectively.
"Does to me."
She shook her head again before resting it on his shoulder. "I was going to suggest a trip to what I'm sure is the B & B's very well stocked gift shop for a more typical, and no doubt higher priced, souvenir, but this is better… more your style."
He tucked the cork back into his pocket. "We can go in there if you want to. I don't mind… But I've got all I want."
"Yes, I know." She brushed a tender kiss against his lips.
"Gift shop looks pretty big. You could probably kill an hour or two in there." He teased; his blue eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Mr. Grissom, are you making fun of my passion for shopping?"
"I am." He declared undaunted by her raised eyebrow
"Gil, based on what I've seen just passing by the windows, that shop is nowhere near big enough or impressive enough for two hours; 45 minutes maybe… But that's pushing it."
"Is the square footage of the store directly proportional to the amount of time you can spend in it?"
She smacked his chest playfully. "No, of course not. It could be a dusty, cramped, little hole in the wall and I would spend days in there if they offered the right treasures."
He chuckled almost inaudibly. "That's one of the things I just don't understand about you Heather. When I go shopping, I know what I want, I know exactly where to get it, I go in, I get only what I intended to get, then I get out and go straight home. By the time it's over, I'm usually in a foul mood. I hate shopping. But you… You'll leave the house right about the time I'm falling into bed, you come back 6 ½ hours later with a big smile on your face, even if you haven't purchased a single item and you returned home empty handed. And that's the part that puzzles me most of all. I've seen you come home with your arms weighed down with overloaded shopping bags, and I've seen you come home from a ½ day shopping trip with absolutely nothing. No matter which, you're always smiling like you've just indulged in some decadent guilty pleasure."
She simply shrugged.
"Yes!" he pointed an accusing finger at her enthusiastically. "Same smile! Right there. See… just thinking about it makes you happy."
"I'm not as bad as some." She objected laughing. "If I don't find what I want, I don't have to buy. I can come home empty handed… I'm okay with that. You just don't understand the fine art of window shopping. Or more aptly, you haven't put in the right context yet."
"The right context? Where's the fun in spending hours looking at things you have no intention of buying?"
She paused to think for a moment; choosing her words. "Just think of it as delayed gratification… A concept I know you understand very well. She paused to offer him a sexy smile before supplying a more detailed example. "I'm not going to buy this today… But maybe someday… Gives me something to look forward to."
"Okay, if you say so… Come on. Let's go." He smiled; his blue eyes laughing at her as he made the turn that would take them to the gift shop rather than back to the chateau.
"I don't know." She laughed. "I don't think I want to go shopping with you Gil. You're enjoying poking fun at me a little too much. You might spoil it…" she held up a finger, silently asking him to wait a moment when the cell phone in the pocket of her skirt alerted her to an incoming call with the sound of a delicate wind chime swaying in the breeze. Without glancing at the display screen she answered politely, "Yes Ma'am?"
Grissom watched her face and waited while she listened to whatever the caller was saying in response to her greeting.
She smiled at him as she talked to the person on the other end of the line. "That's because Hayden grew up with caller ID. He thinks, like most people his age, that just because he knows who's on the other end of the line phone etiquette shouldn't matter."
Grissom raised an eyebrow.
Heather mouthed quietly. "Nana Zoë."
He nodded and waved.
"Yes. It was breathtaking; exhilarating. Don't think I've seen a more glorious sunrise. Gil says hello…" She frowned and there was uncertainty in her voice when she continued. "No, we hadn't planned on it. Are we expected?" After a brief pause Heather nodded theatrically for his benefit. "Of course, you're right. Forgive me. It was thoughtless of me. We'll be there in about an hour. Should we bring anything? Alright we'll see you soon."
She disconnected the call, slipped the phone back into her pocket, and took him by the hand. With purpose in her stride, she changed direction, heading once more for the chateau.
"You've been granted a reprieve. No shopping today. I'm in hot water with my grandmother. Your presence has been requested."
He squinted. "She's upset with us?"
Heather flashed him a warm smile and shook her head. "Not us… Me… You're fine."
His curiosity piqued; Grissom followed without question.