Part 3

"Hey Grams…" Lindsey threw her arms around her Grandmother, "Merry Christmas"

"Merry Christmas honey" Lilly smiled, "Well look at you" She looked the teenager up and down. "Looking more and more like your mother every day"

"I'll take that as a complement" Lindsey smiled. She dropped her bags to the kitchen floor –

"Is that Lindsey I hear?" Nancy's voice flooded from the doorway. "Well it's about time" she smiled walking forward she to hugged her niece.

"Hey Nancy…"

"Hey yourself…" Stepping back Nancy just smiled, "look like you could do with a drink"

"I could…first of all I better go help Sara…" She explained turning around and heading back out to the SUV.

The sight before her made her smile there was Jason dragging not so successfully a sports bag – while Sara took the larger case in her arms. "Need help?" Lindsey called, "You know Sara making him do that is child labour" For that comment she earned a look that could kill.

"Then take it from him before he does some permanent damage" The brunette growled.

Lindsey did as was asked taking the bag from a relieved Jason. "I coulds av done its" He protested as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Yeah, of course you could have" Sara laughed. "Here take you back pack- and get on up into the cabin."

"Kay" He mumbled grabbing his bag and making a run for the open door of the cabin.

Sara turned to Lindsey, "What's it like in there?"

"Gram's is happy… Nancy took a pop about how late we were other than that though- it's all fine" Lindsey explained, "But they haven't seen you yet…" She laughed.

"Thanks Lindsey" Sara mumbled, "We got everything?"

"Yup most of it" Both women were loaded up with the bags; Lindsey managed to shut down the SUV and then staggered towards the cabin.

It wasn't the first time that Sara had been here, her and Catherine had used their family cabin for a few romantic weekends – too bad, Sara thought, that this wasn't going to be one of them. She let Lindsey go up the steps first and she followed. Each step closed she felt a tightening in her chest – not from anger, or fear – just from knowing that once again she was not going to be accepted by the family and would spend the whole time avoiding the verbal attacks. With one last sigh, and look out to the SUV that she had thought about escaping in, she turned and entered into the cabin.

"…well look how big you are… big boy now huh Jas?" Nancy's voice was the first thing that Sara hared. With a turn of her head she looked over at where they were – stood in the centre of the living area. "What's your mom been feeding you huh?" She joked.

"Food" Jason explained as if Nancy was cracked.

She just laughed.

"Hey Nancy…" Sara offered as she dropped the cases in the hallway and walked into the room.

Nancy looked up "Sara…hey…thought you'd decided to keep away this year. Was about to ring Cath and report you as a no show"

"Yeah, little lost is all" Sara offered.

Nancy just nodded, "Yeah well… here now" She placed the young boy on the floor, and he took off looking for his Gram's. Nancy's greeting was as forced as it usually was. "you know where you are"

"Yep…"

"Good…" With that Nancy headed off.

Sara sighed.

"Could have been worse" Lindsey whispered, she wasn't oblivious to the way Nancy and on the occasions Lilly treated Sara.

"Yeah"

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Sara had dragged all of the bags up to the rooms along with the help of the teenager who spent most of that time explaining to the brunette why it was she shouldn't have to share a room with Jason. So when the teenagers name was echoed up the stairs Sara was more than relieved. "Your been summoned" She smiled. With a growl Lindsey turned and left. "Thank god" Sara smiled. Sitting down on the edge of the bed – she spent a few minuets pulling her-self together.

Then she decided that she had to go down the stairs, and greet Catherine's mother Lily who she was yet to see. Dragging her feet in the direction of the door she prayed that things wouldn't be too bad down there.

"Hello Sara…" Lily offered from where she was stood making sandwiches –

Sara smiled, "Hi Lilly, Merry Christmas"

"You too…so how was the ride up here?" The conversation between the two was forced – as usual.

"Not too bad…a little lost is all" Sara explained. She walked over to the fridge and took from it a bottle of water.

"The kids are starving – did they not eat much?"

Sara felt a knot in her stomach – "I gave them something… was a tough ride up here though so…" She let her explanation trail off as she took a mouthful of water.

"Mm…yes well… I'll give them this and dinner shouldn't be too long" Sara nodded her head as she watched Lilly cut the sandwiches and head off out the kitchen with them in hand to give to Lindsey and Jason.

With a sigh of relief that the meeting and greeting hadn't been too bad Sara fell back into the seat.

"So…how's my sister? Been a while since I've seen or hared from her"

Sara looked up to where Nancy was walking into the kitchen – the woman took a seat opposite Sara at the table. "She's doing okay…working too hard but other than that" Sara shrugged.

"Yeah…Same old Cath…trying to please everyone"

"Yep…" Sara shot, "Same old cath" A silence fell over them, and Sara took this opportunity to ask a question she'd wanted too in so long. "I never see you around the house anymore… been a while since you called either"

"Yeah...busy" Nancy shrugged. But both women, however, knew that was a lie. Nancy had stopped coming around to the house not long after Sara had moved in and now didn't bother at all. Where once Catherine and Nancy had been so close ever since Sara had gotten together with Catherine years ago the visits, calls and outings stopped –

"Well you should try and come around… I know Catherine would be great full"

"Is that so…"

Sara nodded.

"So… happy families are working out for you huh?"

"Looks that way doesn't it?"

"Looks like my Sister trusts you way to much with her kids. Jason let slip the nutritious breakfast you gave him"

Sara looked in disbelief at the woman, "Our Kids are in great hands with me… don't you ever forget that."

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"Hey baby…"

Sara felt a little better having hared Catherine's voice, she was out sat on the wooden stairs that lead up to the wooden cabin her head rested on her hand that was propped up by her knee. "Hey."

"Oh that bad?" she asked knowing that Sara sounded like she was ready to get back in the SUV and head home.

"Just missing you…" Sara explained.

"I know" Catherine nodded, "Sounds like were at that beginning stage when we can't spend a moment apart huh?" the blond laughed. "Who'd have thought that we've been together as long as we have"

"Yeah I know."

"Honey what is it?" Catherine could always tell when Sara wasn't right.

"Nothing…just..." Sara let her rambling end – "Nothing…"

"What's she said?" Catherine demanded – anger audible.

"Who?"

"It has to be mom or Nancy…"

"Nothing… I promise you I'm fine. Just tired and wondering why you're so far across country been chatted up by other women" Sara smiled softly.

"You're the only woman Hun. Don't forget that…" Catherine explained.

"I hope so honey…" Sara smiled, "Just try not to break my heart"

"You don't have to worry about that."

"Yea I know I don't. So how's the conference?"

"Not too bad… rather be with you though"

"Well I'd rather be anywhere so I beat ya" Sara joked, "The kids will want to talk to you later hun so – I'll get them to call after dinner as for now I better get in there because Jason's hyper and Lindsey looks ready to kill"

"Okay honey…talk later"

"K, love you"

"Ye you to babe."