Part 3
"You know that what ever tree you get isn't going to be good enough"
"Not the point Linds" Sara growled as she walked threw the Christmas tree lot with Jason sat on top of her shoulders. She'd earned the job of getting the tree while Nancy had decided she and Lilly would head down to the shops to get the food. It had been two days now since they'd showed up at the cabin – and things were still and tensed and forced in the lodge with sly comments been throw out here and there yet neither been willing to fight it out. Struggling to keep the peace Lilly tried her best for the sake of as she called it 'One god damn happy family Christmas'. But that was the problem – Sara had decided – they didn't see her as family.
"To be honest…you could get the best tree in this place and Nancy would still have a problem." Lindsey was explaining as she shuffled around not too far behind Sara with little interest in what they were doing. At first, she'd been as excited and enthusiastic as you can expect a sixteen year old to be, but Sara's insisting to search ever tree, over and over – covering the lot at least three times was too much for her.
"Gets that one" Jason pointed at the biggest Tree in the place. He too unable to hide his annoyance at Sara been so indecisiveness. "That's one there"
"Dude…you want to try drag that in the cabin?" Sara asked.
"Yup – I'd can do it" He nodded defiantly. Then after another few quiet moments decided on moaning, and pulling on Sara's jacket, "Lets me go down… please"
"Only if you stop beating the crap out of me" Sara growled as she lifted him off her shoulders and put him down on the floor.
"Beating crap out of you" Jason smirked before running off taking advantage of his new found freedom.
"Hey…HEY… don't let your mother hear you say that" Sara shouted. Jason didn't even look back – Sara just sighed, and mumbled, "Or at least don't tell her you learnt it off me"
"Yeah right…like she needs to be told" Lindsey laughed.
Sara just growled, "I tell you what…be use full…go after him and keep him out of trouble."
Lindsey just walked of, still laughing at Sara. "He's five…he's the definition of trouble" She explained.
"Yeah well… you're the definition of a pain in my ass"
With one last look at the teenager who made her way threw the rows of trees Sara turned, pushed her hands into her jacket pockets and walked of threw the trees. She began to recall the firs Christmas that she'd spent with Catherine and the first time that the two had done this.
One morning after their shift had ended the two had gone to collect the tree – on Catherine's insistence as it never was Sara's forte. She'd basically forced the brunette to do the festive Christmas stuff. The first year anyway – Sara had ended up been forced around this place. Now she wished Catherine was with her to order her around.
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"Get dip for the chips" Lilly explained to Nancy as she pushed the cart around the store. They'd filled it up half way and were still not near finished – "And cheese"
"Sure thing…and don't forget the beer for our resident alcoholic"
" Nancy…would you quit it?" Lilly sighed, "I'm sick of standing between the two of you." The older Lady was sick of it – though she wasn't the happiest to have Sara around she'd promised Catherine that things would go smoothly and she'd make an effort. Over that last few days she'd had to try hard to avoid full out arguments with Sara and Nancy.
"Then get out the way and leave me to it… I mean, have you seen the way she acts around the kids? She's a bad influence on them"
"I'm not condoning her actions, but she's a better influence on them that all the other guys Catherine dated before"
"You sure about that…I mean… she drinks, she smokes, she swears around them, lets Jason run riot and lets them eat what they want…" Nancy reached for the cheese. "give me a break –I wouldn't let her look after my pet let alone my kids."
"You have no say in what Catherine trusts Sara with… your sister is going to give you a grilling if she finds out your treating Sara how you are"
"I'm treating her the way I always have…"
"Exactly…you could make an effort"
"No…I can't…I don't trust her, and I don't know what my sister sees in her but … she don't fool me…not at all"
"I wish you'd just try Nancy… I wish you'd give her a chance"
"Like you…you mean?" Nancy smiled looking at her mother, "You've hated Sara since she got with Catherine. Admit it mom - you don't like the fact she's gay-ed up with Sara, and you don't like the fact Catherine chose her over us."
Lilly just growled in frustration, before walking off leaving a smirking Nancy near the fridges. Just as Nancy was about to follow she hared a familiar voice behind her. " Nancy…is that you"
She turned around, with a smile on her face, "Mat… well I'll be damned…"
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"God damn it" Sara growled as she tried to drag the tree from the SUV. Lindsey was up trying to unlock the cabin door as Jason stood kicking the pine cone around the floor watching Sara struggle. "Get the tree, we'll do the shopping…yeah I bet you will…don't have to do nothing stress full"
"Beat the crap out of it!" Jason offered – with a shrug and a smile.
"Yeah Sar… beat the crap out of it!" Lindsey smirked as she approached them having successfully opened the cabin.
"Okay…no one is beating the crap out of anything – unless your mom beats the crap out of me for teaching you guys bad shit" Sara mumbled, "Lindsey help me out…Jas…Dude…go sit up on the steps and keep out of trouble."
"I'm not trouble… I helpin' out" He explained as he lifted up his pine cone and ran off with it. Over to larger area of trees –
"DON'T GO FAR!" With that she looked to Lindsey, "Stop your smiling and help me out" she shot. Turning back to the tree – she began top pull on it again.
"Did you have to get the big one?"
"Yup – cause I don't want them thinking I'm cheap" Sara rationalised with a nod.
"Cheap – Sar…it's a tree"
"It's a test" Sara shot back, with feared determination.
"It's called paranoia"
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"I told him to stop by some time before Christmas" Nancy explained.
"Do you honestly think that's a good idea?"
"Yes I do… I think it's the best idea I've has this trip"
" Nancy…you're inviting your sisters ex fiancé to Christmas, where your sisters present partner is – without her knowing. Your causing world war three"
"I'm showing Catherine what she could have?" Nancy explained with a shrug.
"Could have had?" Lilly corrected.
"No…could have. You know she loved mat – the only reason they quit was because he had to move away for his job. Now…he's back in Vegas for good – I'm doing her a favour. She'll thank me even…"
