G. gravitation constant. One of three constants in physics with units M-1L3T-2 [Length cubed divided by mass, divided by time squared]. It describes the attraction between any two bodies in the universe.

Catherine followed the musical beats to Lindsey's room where she watched her for a while. Lindsey seemed happy, she thought, as Lindsey's head bopped unconsciously to the music. The trip, though nothing had been said about it, appeared to have been a good impromptu decision. She decided that she would find out for herself whether or not it truly had been.

She lowered the stereo's volume and raised an eyebrow when Lindsey made no objection from where she sprawled upon the bed. Instead, Lindsey glanced to where Catherine stood and invited her to join her.

As Catherine crossed the room, Lindsey asked, "When are you going to take your vacations this year?"

Instantly curious, Catherine did not answer immediately. She reached for the slim, leather-bound notebook Lindsey offered her when they were comfortably positioned on the bed.

The notebook was a date book covering the length of the New Year and January of the following year. The handwritten scribbles, circles around dates, and stickers appeared at random, but Catherine recognized each event and holiday that Lindsey had highlighted.

"What's this for?" she asked.

Lindsey shrugged, absently taking back the book and flipping through the pages. Catherine frowned slightly; that semi-oblivious attitude was one of Gil's second skins.

"How about one week in February and the third week of August?" Lindsey asked suddenly, continuing doggedly on her earlier train of thought.

"For what, Lindsey?"

Now, she obeyed the tone of command in her mother's voice and pushed herself into a sitting position.

"It's my Christmas gift to Gil." She turned pages as though searching the days for something. "He doesn't have a desk calendar anymore at his office, so I want to give him this. That way he'll still remember all the important dates." She smiled, and it was completely open and happy. "It's a new thing for a new place, Mom. When Gil was in Vegas, you used to write stuff in his desk calendar for him to remember."

Catherine could only stare at the book in Lindsey's hands. There was no way to admit it, but the shock was nearly overwhelming. She had yet to figure out if the shock came from Lindsey's sudden maturity or the realization that the past was just the past.

As though sensing this, Lindsey flopped back onto the bed, mirroring Catherine's body.

She spoke softly. "Gil wouldn't let me stay at his apartment alone. Maybe he thought I was going to start redecorating on him."

Catherine laughed. Nothing could bother Gil more than somebody trying to rearrange his things. Lindsey merely shrugged.

"Anyway, I went to his office with him, and he had all these little notes everywhere. I lost count after two hundred." Giggling, Lindsey leafed through the book until she found a specific date and began to doodle on it, calling attention to its significance. "They were mostly reminders that certain things, reports and stuff, were due when. It's funny, Mom, because he has a wall calendar but he kept reaching for the desk one that you usually get him for Christmas."

When Lindsey's face turned to hers, Catherine confided in her by saying, "He never needed much, but I'm glad to know he needed that."

Lindsey's laughter was contagious. It helped to ease the little bit of uncertainty concerning Lindsey's trip and tipped the balance towards `definitely having no regrets'.

When they caught their breaths, Catherine said, "I'm sorry it's taken me this long to ask, but I didn't want to pry--"

Lindsey immediately closed the book in anticipation of her mother's question. She placed an arm over Catherine's shoulders.

"Mom, Gil said I can come again." Her eyes twinkled. "Anytime I want."

Catherine felt her eyes widen. Then, connections formed between the trip and the date book. Her lips turned into a mischievous smile.

"That's why you bought the date book."

Lindsey smiled as innocently as she could. "I'm going to take him up on his offer, Mom, if you let me. I think I've almost planned out his entire year."

Catherine continued with that Cheshire smile.

"In that case, when am I taking my vacations?" she asked Lindsey, entirely enjoying this benign, sadistic aspect of her daughter's personality.

Right on cue, Lindsey reopened the book and began to search through the pages. "I'll have to double check with the school calendar and Presidents' Week, but that week in February is good. And we can go in August during Gil's birthday. We'll have cake." Lindsey said the last sentence with glee.

"And candles," Catherine added.

Lindsey giggled again. "Ooh, candles. He's going to love us for this."

She gave the book to Catherine to examine more closely than her initial glance. Catherine saw the number of frivolous dates Lindsey had circled; Gil, being the man he was, would honor everything that he possibly could. Or he would die trying.

Another evil thought bloomed in Catherine's mind. Gil would know as soon as he saw the book that this was her idea but, then again, she was her daughter's mother.

When Lindsey handed her the pen, Catherine began to circle alternate Saturdays throughout the year. In the box containing the date, she wrote: "Call home." With any luck, the idea that Vegas--or she and Lindsey--was home would be drilled into Gil's perceptive brain.

Lindsey exhaled a sigh of excitement, understanding what Catherine was doing. "I can't wait to hear what he says when he gets this."

*****

He timed his call very well, knowing when things would be quiet at the lab. His voice sounded amused when he said her name in lieu of another banal greeting; Catherine grinned, finally feeling happy since Gil had left.

"Happy New Year, Gil," she replied, answering humor with humor.

"Catherine, thank you for the date book. I know it's late; could you thank Lindsey for me when you see her?"

It was a given that she would so she did not bother to reassure. Instead, she asked, "Do you like it?"

"I do. It'll come in very handy because I'm required to take vacations."

She burst out laughing, understanding why Gil sounded inconvenienced by such a thing as time off from work.

Then, she said, "I should thank you for letting Lindsey stay with you. She's growing up so fast these days."

"I know." He hesitated but continued quietly. "I bought her a bedroom set for the spare room. I meant what I told her, Cath. She's welcome anytime. You, too."

"Gil, you never say anything you don't mean--in some way." She was deliberately oblique, knowing that he would figure things out. Her mind, already on other things, asked, "Are you annoyed about all the stuff in the date book? I think we got a little out of hand."

She literally could hear the smirk on his face.

"You missed a few things, but I'll take care of those."

Catherine let her laughter float over the telephone line. "Well, we presumed a lot but not all of your vacations."

He hid his yawn well, but she heard it anyway. "Hey, go to bed, Gil. Make sure you call this weekend though; I know Lindsey has some things to tell you."

They said their goodbyes while Catherine savored his promise: "We'll make this work, Cath."

FIN