It had been a couple days and Lauren still hadn't made her decision about Jake, Lux was still ignoring Jones and Tasha, Cate and Ryan weren't talking to eachother, and Baze was really busy trying to get everything perfect for Christmas. It's two days before Christmas, so Cate, Lauren, and Lux are in the living room decorating the tree.
"How come we waited two days before Christmas to start putting up the tree?" Lux asks them.
"Because Mom is a procrastinator, and/or she just forgot." Lauren replies.
Cate looks at both of them. "Hey! I did not forget. I've just been really busy." She tells them. They both rolls their eyes, laughing. "And anyways, I didn't see you two dragging the tree in here."
Lauren shrugs. "We've been busy, too." She says when the doorbell rings.
"Saved by the bell. I'll get it." Lux says, running over to the door, but before she could open it; Tasha was already coming through. "Tasha."
"Surprised? Lux, what is going on with you?" Tasha asks, annoyed. She had been trying to get in touch with Lux ever since Lux slammed the door in Jones' face. "I've been trying to reach you for three days now. What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Lux tells her. She tries to walks away but Tasha grabs her arm.
"No. It's not nothing. Lux, Jones told me you slammed the door in his face when he tried picking you up for your date."
Lux felt her anger rising up once again. "So, you talked to Jones?"
"Of course. We're all friends, Lux. He's worried about you."
Lux laughs, walking away to the kitchen. "Yeah, I bet."
Tasha follows her. "What's that suppose to mean?"
By this time, Lauren and Cate had stopped what they were doing and are watching them.
"It means I thought you were my best friend!"
Tasha looks at her confused. "I AM your best friend, Lux."
"Really? Then why was my best friend sneaking around the mall with the guy I liked? The guy I was suppose to go on a date with and make things official with. Hm?" Lux asks her.
Tasha freezes and looks at Lux. "What?"
"I seen you and Jones at the food court, Tasha! And don't try to do deny it because Cate and Lauren seen you, too!"
Tasha looks at Cate and Lauren and laughs. Cate and Lauren jump up and turn around. "I think you need to talk to, Jones, Lux." Tasha turns around and walks out the back door.
Lux turns around and leans on the counter. "She's right, Lux." Lux looks up at Cate. "You need to talk to Jones. Find out what really happened."
Lux sighs and turns away. She knew Cate was right and she knew deep down inside that Tasha was right, too.
At Open Bar; Baze and Math are at the bar.
"Dude, this Christmas thing has to be perfect for Lux."
"Man, I don't think Lux is going to care if it's perfect. It's her first Christmas with her mom and dad. I'm sure she'll be fine with whatever." Math tells him.
"Yeah, but I want it to be perfect. Okay?" The bar door opens and a woman walks in. "Oh, we're closed."
"That's fine. I'm here for the bartender position. I found your ad." She tells him.
Math looks at the girl then back at Baze. "Dude.."
She's wearing a small skirt and a small top that showed her cleavage and some of her stomach. She is real tall, very skinny, but fit, and she has dirty blond hair.
"Uh, yeah okay. Lets talk." Baze tells her.
"There's not much to talk about. You need a bartender and I need a job. I can show you what I got tonight, if you're interested."
Baze and Math look at eachother. "Um, yeah, sure. Nine o'clock?"
"Sure." She says heading back to the door.
"Hey, you got a name?" Baze asks her.
She turns around and smiles. "Paige." She says, walking out.
"She's hot." Math says.
"Yeah, she is." Baze says, still staring at the door.
At Cate's; Lux decided to take a break to do some thinking so she went up to her room leaving Cate and Lauren downstairs to finish decorating the tree.
Cate takes out a paper ornament that Lauren made at school when she was five. It is shaped like a christmas tree with her picture in the middle of it. "Aw, Lauren. Look! Do you remember making this?"
Lauren looks at it and smiles. "Yeah. I was so excited to show you and Dad, then you and Dad actually had a real fight about who was going to take it home. You won, of course."
"Of course." Cate laughs, putting it on the tree.
"Do you regret it?" Lauren asks.
"Regret what?"
"I mean if you wouldn't have gave Lux up for adoption then she'd probably have a paper christmas tree with her face in the middle of it, too. And maybe Dad would have that one, but do you regret it?"
"If you mean do I regret putting her up for adoption? Yes. I do. But things happen for a reason. I mean if I didn't then I probably wouldn't have had you, and if I didn't then Lux wouldn't have went through whatever she went through. I wish you and Lux could have grown up together."
"Me too." Lauren says, sadly.
"So, have you thought more about you and Jake?" Cate asks.
Lauren shrugs. "I don't want to get hurt."
"Why do you think you'll get hurt?" Cate asks her, confused.
"Ryan hurt you, and Jones hurt Lux. I'm almost certain I'll get hurt, too. I mean he pretty much already did."
Cate quickly stops what she is doing and takes Lauren to the couch. "Lauren, listen to me. Don't base your decisions on what you see. Ryan and me, we'll be okay."
"Will you, Mom? I mean you can't even tell me what he did that is making you so mad at him."
"It'll be okay." Cate tells her again.
Lauren pulls away from Cate in frustration and stands up. "Stop saying that! I've been avoiding him for you and I don't even know why!"
"Lauren, I never told you to do that."
"I know! But I was doing it for you. I don't want someone in my life who has hurt my mom. Or who has hurt my sister, or my dad!"
Cate smiles softy and stands up in front of Lauren. "Sweetie, we are going to be okay." She says looking sincerely into Lauren's eyes. "But you need to do something for yourself. You've been through so much that a thirteen year old shouldn't even go through. You and Lux both. And I want you two to do things that will make you happy."
"You're not happy."
"I am so happy."
"Okay. Put me and Lux aside, Mom, you're not happy."
"It's just complicated right now, Lauren." Cate tells her as she walks back to the tree.
"Then uncomplicate things! But do it fast; before it's too late." Lauren says walking out the room.
Cate takes a deep breath and stares back at the picture of Lauren in the christmas tree.
Lux knocks on Jones' front door and he opens it.
"Lux, I've been trying to call you for three days now!" He walks outside.
Lux sighs. "Um, I know. I saw you and Tasha."
Jones looks at her confused. "Okay? We were with her everyday."
"No. I seen you and Tasha at the mall the other day. In the food court. Jones if you like Tasha, then just tell me. Don't go behind my back and take Tasha on a date, too." Lux says bitterly. Jones starts laughing. "What's so funny?"
"Come with me." He says leading her to his door.
Upstairs; Jones and Lux walk into his room.
"What are we doing up here?" She asks him.
Jones walks over to his dresser draw and takes out a small jewerly box. "This is for you." He says handing her the box.
Lux takes it and looks at it. "What is it?"
"It's what me and Tasha went to go get for you. I know she's your best friend so I wanted her opinion. Lux, I wanted that night to be perfect." Lux opens the box and reveals a necklace. It has two hearts attached around eachother. "And this screamed your name."
Lux was speechless. She was standing there staring at the necklace trying to find the words. "It's beautiful, Jones. But I don't deserve it. Here." She says trying to hand it back.
Jones shakes his head. "You didn't know. I should have told you. But this necklace is for you, Lux. Who needs a date? We can make it official right here." He moves closer to her. Lux smiles and looks up at him. "Lux, will you take me to be your boyfriend."
Lux laughs. "You're so cheesy. But of course. I'm sorry."
"It's okay." He kisses Lux gently on her lips. "I forgive you."
Lux laughs and they start kissing again.
Later at Open Bar; Cate and Lauren walk in and Baze is wiping down the counter.
He looks up and smiles. "Hey, kid."
"Hey, Dad. I'll be upstairs." Lauren says running towards the stairway.
Cate rolls her eyes and sits down at a bar stool. "What's wrong with her?" He asks.
"She's just upset with me. Long story."
"Where's Lux?" Baze asks, looking around.
"She'll be by later. She had some stuff to clear up. I thought you were hiring someone to help you around here?" Cate asks.
Baze looks up just as the front door is opening. "We'll see." He says smiling as Paige approaches them. "Hi."
"Here to show you what I got." Paige tells him.
Cate turns around and is immediately stunned. "Paige?"
"Cate?" Paige says, confused. "Why are you here? Where's my brother?"
"Wait. You both know eachother?" Baze asks, curiously.
"Uh, yeah. Paige is Ryan's sister."
"You're Ryan's sister?"
Paige smiles at him. "What? You've met my brother so you're changing your mind?"
Baze laughs. "No. I'm just glad you look nothing like your brother." He throws the towel to her. "Get to work." He says, walking away.
Paige laughs and turns back to Cate. "So, again I ask. Why are you here?"
"I came to drop off my daughter with her dad." Cate tells her.
"Hold up. Baze is Lauren's dad?" Cate nods her head. "That's cool. So, where's my brother at?"
"Um, me and Ryan aren't together anymore. I figured he would have told you that."
"I guess you've forgotten that big bro doesn't tell me everything."
"Do you know anything about Julia?" Cate asks, hopefully.
Paige laughs. "You mean Ryan's ex girlfriend that he almost married? Yeah, I know her."
Cate looks at her wide-eyed. "He almost married her!"
"Oookay. I've said too much already." Paige says making her way behind the bar.
"No, no. Tell me everything you know about her."
"I am not getting into this Cate. I just came here to get away and get a job. And that's what I'm doing."
"Come on! This whole Julia thing is driving me crazy! I just want to know what happened between my fiance and this woman that I know nothing about. I want to know when it happened, where..."
"..how many times."
"Yeah. How long were he and Julia dating?"
Paige starts laughing. "Nice try." Cate rolls her eyes. "Yeah, see, my brother and I probably haven't talked in a long time, but I'm not going to sell him out. I mean if you want the dirt ask him yourself."
"Look, if I knew Julia's last name I would just google her, but I don't. I'll give you hundred dollars if you just tell me everything you know about her." Cate begs.
Paige smiles. "No. I told you I am not getting involved. Ryan could be into midget size hookers and you wouldn't hear it from me."
"You're right. It is not fair to put you in that position."
"Thank you."
"But, um, what are you doing tonight? This?" Cate asks.
Paige looks around. "Uh, yeah. I want this job. I'm an awesome bartender."
"Well, how about I come back tonight. I'll get a few drinks and we can get to know eachother better. I mean we should know eachother better."
Paige stops what she is doing and looks at Cate weirdly. "Why?"
"Aw, come on. After your shift I'll buy you drinks!"
"Alright. Fine. If you're buying; I'm consuming."
"Well, then I'm buying." Cate says, proudly. "See you tonight!" Cate walks to the door while Ryan walks through.
"Cate?"
"Hi, Ryan. I just came to drop off Lauren and visit your sister." She tells him. "See you tonight, Paige!" Cate jumps up in excitement and runs out.
Ryan takes a double take at the bar. "Paige? What are you doing here?" He asks, walking over to her.
Paige puts a glass of beer down on the bar. "Bartending."
Upstairs; Baze walks in to find Lauren finishing Baze's tree.
"Hey, kiddo. I was going to finish that." He tells her.
Lauren shrugs. "Yeah, but I did Mom's today, too, so why not?"
"Are you okay?" He asks, walking up to her.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I just have a lot of stuff on my mind." She tells him.
"Jake?"
"How'd you know?"
"Kid, I've know you for thirteen years. I think I can read you now." He jokes.
"I just don't know what to do. What if I'm not ready?"
"Well, if you're not ready, then you'll have me, your mom, and Lux to lean back on, and plus I think Jake will understand. He's a good guy."
"For now." Baze looks confused. "Ryan was a good guy, and then he hurts Mom. Jones was a good guy, and then he goes behind Lux's back, and I'm still confused about you."
"How are you confused? I'm a good guy."
"You're a good dad, but seriously, I've seen you with different women almost everyday of my life. That can't be a good thing."
"Okay, Lauren, you can't base your whole life on the people around you.."
"You sound like Mom."
"Well, she's right. Lauren, I can guarantee things are going to be fine. And this is going to be the best Christmas you've ever had!" He says, kissing Lauren on her head.
Later; the bar is crowded with people as Cate walks in. She sees Paige at the bar and walks straight to her.
"So, when you get off?" Cate asks her.
"In two hours. I have to make a good impression on Baze, Cate."
"It's okay. He's my babies daddy. It's all good."
"Babies?"
"Lux. My other daughter. She just came back into my life. Long story. Who wants to drink!" Cate yells.
Paige laughs. "You sure this is your speed? We don't serve cougar juice."
"Just give me two shots, please. Something strong."
"Okay." Paige says taking out two shot glasses and pouring their best vodka into them. "Here ya go."
"No, the other one is for you. Drink up!" Cate says downing her shot.
Upstairs; Lux walks in her room where Lauren is laying down on her bed looking at her locket Ryan had given her for her birthday with their picture in it.
"Hey, what you got?" Lux asks, throwing her bag down.
"Nothing." Lauren says, sitting up. "How was it? Is Jones and Tasha together?"
"Nope. Just a big misunderstanding."
"Told ya."
"But, we are now a officially together." Lux says, showing off her necklace.
"Cute. Congrats."
"Thanks. Have you talked to Jake?"
"No. I'm still thinking about it."
"I really don't understand why you are thinking so hard about this. He's a great guy. Get over it." Lux stresses.
"It's easy for you to say. You found your great guy. What if something happens? What if he finds someone his age and decides he doesn't want to be with me anymore. I cannot handle that right now, Lux."
"Has he found someone?"
"No."
"Is he still annoyingly texting you?"
"Yes."
"I think your safe." Lux tells her as she walks out.
Downstairs; Paige sneaks away behind the bar and gets on her phone.
"Hey, I'm sorry to bug you but we have a situation. Okay, so Cate tried to booze me up to talk about Julia, but beings so I have a tolerancy of a line backer; it kinda back fired, and I have a feeling that she's a sloppy drunk which isn't going to work with my puke phobia." Paige says looking up at Cate who is dancing on the pool tables with a drink in her hand.
"Is it hot in here, or is it just me? It's me!" Cate yells throwing her jacket out to the crowd.
"We're at Open Bar. You might want to get down here." She says hanging up the phone.
Upstairs; Lauren and Lux are watching tv.
"It's really loud down there." Lux says.
"Louder than usual." They hear someone yell really loud. "That sounded like Mom."
Lux and Lauren look at eachother, then they both get up and run for the door.
Downstairs; Cate is laying across the bar and Paige pulls up Cate's shirt.
"Alright! She is a deep innie and she's drunk! Who's up for a challenge!" Paige yells out to the crowd that is surrounding them. They all raise their glasses hollering and chanting.
Ryan runs into the bar and stops near Baze and Math who are standing there staring at Cate. "Cate?" Ryan says, in shock.
"Your sister is amazing by the way." Baze tells him.
Ryan glares at Cate and walks over to her. "Hey." He says at a guy who is standing over Cate, who backs away. "Get up. Come on." Ryan pulls Cate off the bar. "Come on. Lets get you home. Before you do something you regret."
"Ya know, Ryan, I've already done things I regret like the things I've already told you about, and with whom I have done them." She tells him. "Whom!" Cate points over to Baze.
Baze turns around then notices that she is talking about him. He slips away grabbing Math with him. "Yeah, I get it." Ryan tells her. "Lets go home."
"No. Listen, if you don't tell me about Julia, I'm just going to go on to play B, which is going on a jag of humiliation of self-destruction." Cate stands there waiting for Ryan to say something, but he just stands there staring at her so she walks passed him.
Lauren and Lux run over to Baze. "Is Mom okay?" Lauren asks.
Baze sighs. "She'll be fine. You two need to go upstairs."
"But.."
"No. Go." He turns them both around and pushes them towards the door.
"Merry Christmas to us." Lauren mumbles as she and Lux head back upstairs.
Back at the bar. Ryan is sitting down, drinking a beer, when Baze sits down next to him.
"I didn't know you had a sister."
"Yeah, well, I didn't know my sister was your bartender."
Baze laughs. "Uh, well, this is just her trial run. And I have to say she is doing a pretty damn good job. Look around. I don't think I've had this many people in my bar in years."
Ryan looks over to Cate who is dancing like a fool. "You might have to give your thanks to Cate, too."
"Yeah. Man, about her. I don't think she can feel any worse than how she feels right now. So, maybe you should tell her about this Julia chick, even if it might not help. She deserves to know."
Ryan looks at him and nods his head slowly, contemplating. Paige walks over to them.
"Who knew your ex was a party animal." Paige laughs.
"What are you doing here, Paige? I haven't seen you in months."
"I've been busy. But I decided to come here and settle down with something. Hence the trial run of bartending." She explains.
"Where you staying?"
"Well, I was kinda hoping you could help me with that?" She asks, smiling sweetly.
Ryan starts to speak, but stops when he hears Cate. He turns around and sees her taking her bra off. "Uh oh." Cate says, laughing. Ryan turns around, somberly. He pats Baze on his back as he gets up and walks over to Cate.
"So, how am I doing, boss?" Paige asks.
Baze laughs. "You got the job." He tells her.
Paige jumps up in excitement.
Upstairs; Lauren and Lux are back on the couch, watching tv and eating popcorn.
Lauren looks at Lux, curiously. "Do you know what's going on between Mom and Ryan?"
Lux lets out a deep breath; still staring at the tv. "Yes."
"Can you please tell me. Mom won't tell me anything." Lauren begs.
Lux looks at her. "Maybe there's a reason she isn't telling you."
"Well, I'm not seeing it. If she can tell you then she should have told me, too."
"Maybe she doesn't want you to think of Ryan differently."
"Okay. He has her moping around the house; I think I already do. Come on, Lux! Please!"
Lux puts the popcorn bowl down on the table and turns towards Lauren. "Fine. When Cate and Ryan were broken up that first time; Ryan slept with his ex-girlfriend. And right before the wedding, she told Ryan that she could possibly be pregnant."
Lauren opens her mouth in surprise. "What?"
"She wasn't. It was just a mistake, but Cate is pretty broken up about it. Ryan lied to her."
"Yeah, you're right. I didn't want to know." Lauren says, turning away and watching tv again.
Outside the bar; Cate and Ryan are walking out. Ryan puts his coat around her shoulders.
"I get drunk. And now you want to talk. Just great!" Cate says, walking further in front of him.
Ryan sighs. "Julia and I worked together. That's how we met. We started dating, and I moved in three years later."
"Three years?" Cate questions, turning around. Ryan nods. "You lived with her for three years? Why did it end?" She asks, staring blankly.
"Because I proposed, and she said no." Cate looks away, stunned. "She said she didn't believe in marriage. I guess she didn't believe in marriage to me."
"So, she didn't want to marry you, so what, you settle for me?"
"No! Cate that's not it." He says, walking closer to her. "Her ending it, that's what led me to you."
"Are you over her?" Cate asks.
"I moved on! I proposed to you! I chose you."
"That's not what I asked you." She says, bitterly. "I asked you if you are one hundred percent completely over her?" They stare at eachother, both hurt, both confused, both in wonder.
"No." Ryan says, truthfully. Cate felt like her heart shattered in a million pieces at that very moment. She turns away, angry, and starts to walk away. "Cate." Ryan calls out, following her. "I have feelings for Julia, but how is that different from Baze?" Ryan stops walking as Cate continues with no thought of stopping. "I mean, you went to him the night before our wedding!"
Cate turns around. "You and Julia was not the same thing! Because I told you about Baze!" She yells. "There is a difference."
"No! The only difference is, I could deal with it! I've been dealing with it. That's the reason I wasn't honest. Cause I knew you couldn't handle it!" Cate turns away, begrudingly. "Cate, where you going?"
"I'm getting a cab!" She yells.
"Come on. I'll go with you."
She turns around quickly. "No! I am going home alone!" She yells, sternly, as she continues to walk away and as Ryan continues to watch her walk away from him, again.
The weekend seemed like it went by pretty fast. Lux, Lauren, and Baze stayed in the loft almost all weekend decorating the tree and putting lights out, but they did dedicate one night of Christmas shopping. Cate on the other hand spent her weekend still trying to recover from her eventful night and was very busing avoiding Ryan's phone calls. But all during this weekend, Lauren definitely did some heavy thinking and she finally figure out what she needed to do.
At Jake's house; Lauren knocks on his door. Jake opens it and smiles.
"Hey, Lauren. I've been hoping you'd call me, but showing up at my door, that's better." He says, smiling at her.
Lauren laughs, nervously. "Uh, yeah. I'm sorry. I've just been really busy with my family."
"It's okay." He says, walking outside on the porch. He points to the chairs and they both sit down. "What's going on?"
"I've been thinking a lot about us."
"And?" He says, hopefully.
"And I was watching my mom fall apart over a guy who lied to her, who she really loves, and he broke her heart. And Lux watched her boyfriend go behind her back with her best friend, I mean, that was just a whole big misunderstanding, but still, I seen how hurt she was over the guy that she really loves. And I'm not saying I love you. I don't think we're even close to that, but you did hurt me, Jake. And I've been hurt, by not only you, but by other people, obviously. I don't know. I just don't want to get in to something and have it backfire on me again."
Jake turns away, sadly. "So, you're saying no. Okay, I guess I understand. I'm sorry..."
Lauren shakes her head, confused. "No. What? Jake, that's not what I'm saying."
Jake looks at her. "Okay, you're really confusing me."
"I'm saying, I'll never know if I'll get hurt if I don't try it out. I can't base my decisions on what I see. I have to do things for myself and I need to follow my heart. And my heart is telling me to be with you."
Without hestitation, Jake grabs Lauren and kisses her on her lips. He pulls back and they both start laughing. "Are you sure you're not sixteen?" He asks.
Lauren laughs again, and pulls Jake towards her as they continue to kiss once more.
At Cate's; the doorbell rings and she walks over to it and opens it. Baze, Lux, Lauren, and Tasha are standing there with presents in their hands.
"Merry Christmas!" They all yell.
Cate laughs as she opens the door wider for them to come in. They all run into the living room, dropping their things, and stripping off their coats. Baze turns around and looks at Cate.
"Are you up for this?" He asks.
Cate looks over at Lux and Lauren laughing and she smiles. "Of course. It's Lux's first Christmas with us, right?"
Baze smiles and wraps his arm around Cate and kisses her gently on her head.
They walk over to the kids and sit down next to them. They start exchanging gifts, happily, and excitingly. Lauren crawls over to Cate and smiles at her sadly.
"I heard about you and Ryan." She tells her.
Cate sighs. "Who told you?" Lauren nods her head towards Lux. "But don't be mad at her. I practically had to beg her."
"It's alright. I should have told you."
"No. I'm glad you didn't. I almost wish I didn't beg Lux to tell me, but I understand now. I'm sorry, Mom. But if it makes you feel better you helped me make my decision about Jake." Cate kinks her eyebrows for an answer. "I'm smiling, aren't I?" Lauren asks her.
Cate laughs. "Come here." Lauren hugs her Mom. "I love you. You know that?"
"I love you, too, Mom." Cate kisses Lauren on her cheek as they pull away.
"Okay. Here's to Lux!" Baze yells, and throws a present to Lux. "And to your very first Christmas with us."
Lux smiles, genuinely, and gratefully at them. "This is the best first Christmas I've ever had. With my family." She says, as they all gather up and hug Lux all together causing fits of laughter as they pile up on one another.