Lost in Mystic Creek

Chapter 3

The Lollipop

"Sawyer, god damn it," Kate muttered to herself, shoving another box out of the way. "Will you please come unload the rest of the boxes?'

Sawyer sauntered down the stairs, glaring at her before picking up a box. "Didn't we hire some damn illegal Mexicans t' do this job?"

Kate completely ignored him, dragging another box with her. "Yes, we did. You're just such a freaking pack rat."

"Well, excuse me, Freckles," He said to her, picking up one of the last boxes. "I just pride m'self in holding sentimental value in everything I own."

"We certainly could have done without this bejeweled toe ring from the eighty's," She told him, throwing it into the wilderness of boxes and half unpacked suitcases.

"Ya never know," He whined. "From the looks of the welcoming we got last night, I'm willin' to bet we'll be forced into some Halloween festivities."

"And in your costume you'll be sporting a bedazzled toe ring?" She asked him, finding it again and holding it up for display. "If you are, you definitely need better taste in jewelry."

"Oh, well look at you, Freckles," Sawyer said in a singsong voice. "I'm glad that rock you're sportin' on your finger isn't up to your liking."

"Sawyer," Kate sighed, throwing the toe-ring at him. "Go lift some more boxes. You're looking a little flabby."

"Didn' hear ya' complainin' about it last night, darlin'," He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Kate simply blushed, averting her attention to an un-opened box near a window, where she busied herself sorting through the random items it contained.

"We're not honestly going to sit down and have some sort of a pleasant dinner with that crazy couple, are we?" Kate called out to Sawyer, worry evident in her voice.

"Like anythin's gonna go wrong in this neighborhood," Sawyer said as he rummaged through some more boxes. "Could ya' have picked a more isolated place?"

Kate nodded. "You're the one who wanted to stay in the United States."

"There ain't notin' wrong wit' nationalism."

Kate rolled her eyes, chuckling to herself. "Just finish unpacking boxes, Sawyer."

--

Kate peered suspiciously at the rest of the houses as she dumped the last load of trash into the garbage bins that lined the sidewalk in front of their house. She definitely had an eerie feeling about this neighborhood, and it had started with that quirky couple that had paid them a visit last night. She could tell they were just a harmless twosome that had lived here most of their marriage, but the way they came to welcome them, almost as if they were waiting for their arrival, made her feel more suspicious than she already did about their new living situation.

Looking back at the house, she saw Sawyer inside rummaging through some of the last few things that they still had left to unpack. She smiled softly to herself, recent memories of their honeymoon flashing back to her. Their honeymoon really wasn't much, just a simple trip north to Canada for a weekend ski trip. It had been a sight really, watching Sawyer try and ski, in a place where she knew he felt completely out of his element. The minute they came back, they had arranged to move as soon as possible. Ever since the rescue from the island, she had been keeping a low profile, living mostly with Sawyer in the rural town he liked to call home. They were married not even a month after being rescued, and after the honeymoon they ended up here.

Deciding that Sawyer was all right by himself in the house, she walked along the sidewalk, taking in the neighborhood and all of the houses. As she walked farther along, which really wasn't much, seeing as the neighborhood was just a small cul-de-sac with a few houses, she saw a couple walking with their young kid. The kid was attempting to ride a small tricycle, but it seemed as if he didn't have too much leg power, because he wasn't going anywhere. Waking closer, the adults' conversation came into earshot, and she stopped to have a listen. It wouldn't hurt to find out how the couple acted when they thought nobody was looking.

"Jess," She said to what Kate assumed was Jess, "Who bought James this bicycle?"

Jess smirked. "Liz."

"Let's not send her a thank-you card."

They walked, locked hands, smiling at each other every once in a while. The kid was trailing along behind them, trying to catch up.

"Mommy!" What she assumed was James yelled.

"Yes?" Rory stopped walking, looking back at her child.

"This bicycle sucks," He giggled.

Rory sent a threatening look to her husband and kneeled down in front of the troubled toddler. "Did Daddy teach you that word?" He nodded, even after all of the signs Jess sent to the kid. "Don't say it, it's a very, very bad word and your Daddy is going on a time-out when we get home."

"Alright," James said, putting his small hands on his hips. "But then I get a loilipop."

Rory widened her eyes, "Why? You said a bad word."

"But I used the word Daddy showeded me and he said I would get a lollipop if I said it."

She turned to her husband, smacking his shoulder. "How can you corrupt a three-year-old like that?" She rolled her eyes. "You had to know James' mouth is too big to hold in a secret like that."

Jess placed a small kiss on her pouty lips, putting his arms around her waist. "I just wanted to have a good laugh," he chuckled.

Kate laughed along in her hiding spot, feeling much better about the neighborhood after witnessing the conversation. She kept on watching, entertained.

"Oh, we'll see who's laughing," Rory tried to be threatening, but it only made Jess smirk wider.

They resumed their walk, James now holding a lollipop.

Surprisingly to Kate, they stopped right in front of Kate and Sawyer's house. Rory pointed to it and said,

"Did you know we have new neighbors?" She clutched James' hand.

"Really?" James asked, wide eyed and excited. It made Kate smile. If only he knew what was inside. "That's so cool."

Jess rolled his eyes.

Rory smiled. "You wanna go say 'hi'?"

Kate's heart gave a leap. She wasn't even inside to greet them. Sawyer was alone inside.

Kate saw the boy nod eagerly, before taking a running start towards her new home. She tried to get up and walk through the back of her house, but the couple was standing directly in line with the back walkway.

So, she opted for the safer choice and stayed hidden in the bushes, so she wouldn't look suspicious to them.

The door opened after several rings, revealing a disgruntled looking Sawyer.

"Hello, I'm James," he introduced himself in a polite voice, and a wide smile gracing his face. "My mommy said you're the new neighbor."

"Is that so?" Sawyer said, sticking his head through the door to get a look at the couple standing on the sidewalk.

Both Rory and Jess waved to Sawyer, smiles also adoring their faces.

"Now, what brings ya here to m' house?" Sawyer asked James, bending down to his eye level.

Kate smiled from her spot behind the bushes, admiring the way Sawyer was trying to get along with the boy.

"Well, mommy always says that first impressions are real important," James said to Sawyer, taking a couple licks on his lollipop.

"Does she now?" Sawyer asked, his face showing just a hint of annoyance.

James's eyes lit up, his lips breaking out into a huge grin, as he thought of something. "If I give you a present, mister, will you be my friend?"

Sawyer chuckled softly before looking back up to James. "That all depends on what it is."

James's eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Sawyer assumed he was thinking of what to give him.

James spoke up a few seconds later. "Want my lollipop?" he asked, holding it out to Sawyer.

Sawyer sighed. The kid looked like he really wanted him to take it, but on the other hand, the thing was so wet and drooled on, he hardly thought it was sanitary to even look at it.

"Well, kiddo. Looks like you're in luck," he said to James. "The lady of the house just loves lollipops."

The little boy took on a puzzled expression, not really knowing what Sawyer was talking about.

"Just give me the lollipop, and I'll pass it on to my wife," Sawyer said, almost in an adoring tone.

"Alright…" said James, trying to place the name of the man standing in front of him.

"I'm Sawyer," he said, ruffling up James's hair.

James giggled. "Are you brothers with Tom Sawyer?"

Sawyer looked almost shocked. He wondered how the young boy knew of the book at all. "No, I'm not," He told him.

"Alright," James nodded. "Bye, Mr. Sawyer," James called out as he walked towards his mother and father, waving as he went.

Sawyer smiled, nodding towards the couple, before walking back into the house.

--

Shortly after the couple left, which she now knew were called Rory and Jess, Kate walked into her new home. It was slightly furnished this time, but there were still several boxes placed haphazardly throughout the front hall and living room,

"Sawyer!" She called out to nowhere in particular, walking towards the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Water, some liquor, and bread were the only things they had in the house at the moment. Used to the sometimes-short supply of food from the island, the pair of them didn't really mind the lack of food.

"Yea?" Sawyer answered back. She heard thumps coming from the stair area before seeing Sawyer appear in the doorway of the kitchen.

"We've got some serious grocery shopping to do," Kate told him, displaying their empty refrigerator.

"I've got all the food you need," Sawyer smirked, holding up the still sopping wet lollipop.

"Where'd you get a hold of that?" Kate asked him, walking over to Sawyer. Her face was contorted in disgust as she surveyed the lollipop.

"Some little kid from down the street gave it t' me," He explained to her. "Claims that he'll be my best friend if I took it."

"Getting friendly with the neighbors, eh?" She smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Did it all for you, Freckles," Sawyer said, holding the lollipop in front of her face. "How 'bout it?"

Kate swatted the candy away, grimacing as she did so. "Why'd you even take it?"

"Well, the kid offered ever-lasting friendship if I took it. How could I pass that up?"

Kate giggled, pressing her cheek to his chest. "Of course you wouldn't, you old softie."