Quickie:
xKatie-Bearx - Don't be suspcious. Listen to Kate.
LordXwee - Good advice. P
faith - Yay! Glad to see you made it!
It's nice to get some fluff between the angst, no? Well, I sure hope this chapter makes up for things.
Chapter 54
A few more weeks passed, along with a few light snowfalls. Cassidy had called during that time, asking permission to bring Clementine over the week before Christmas. Thouh puzzled as to why Cassidy would let her daughter spend the holiday with him, he missed his daughter and could only agree. And soon enough, there she was at the door – a few inches taller, and a few months smarter. Kate took Clementine upstairs to get situated while Cassidy requested a few minutes alone with Sawyer.
"So, uh," Sawyer cleared his throat. "You want some coffee or somethin'?"
"That's all right."
"All right. So what's on your mind?"
She took a long pause before starting.
"I know that I haven't been the easiest to tolerate," she started. "And I know you think I'm a terrible mother."
"I didn't – "
"Let me finish, James."
She looked down. When she looked up, Sawyer swore he saw tears welled in her eyes.
"And…maybe I am. But I try, damnit! I try to take care of her the best I can. I try to do all the right things for her, 'cause all I want is for her to be happy. But if I can't even get along with you…how is she gonna be happy?"
"Cassidy…"
"And maybe I was selfish," she ignored him. "But I've come to a realization, James. I realize this ain't about me. I gotta put the past behind me. For her sake. For her sake, I gotta stop hatin' you. Because it affects her. And…I don't want her to be pained because of me."
"I think you're bein' a little paranoid, Cass."
"That's why I asked you if I could bring her now. Instead of after. I've had her to myself for six whole years. And you've only known her a couple of months! Every little girl needs her daddy," she stared at him, clearly holding back tears.
Sawyer held her stare, firmly, unsure of how to respond. It was so unlike her, and extremely abrupt.
"So she's my Christmas present to you, James," Cassidy forced a smile. "And Kate."
He looked down. "Thank you, Cassidy."
She nodded, and rose, heaving a huge sigh.
"So, um, I have a bunch of presents in the car for her. From me. Well…not from me. From Santa. She was so worried the whole way here that he wouldn't find her here," she laughed.
"I'll help you put em in the shed. For now."
"The shed?"
"I'll move 'em to the attic when Kate takes her out somewhere."
"All right."
After a few minutes of hauling gifts, Cassidy was back at her car door, and Sawyer stood in front of her.
"That's all of 'em."
"Lucky kid," he teased.
Cassidy nodded, opening her car door.
"Lucky Kate."
He sighed. "Cassidy…"
"No, really. She's lucky to have you. And…don't worry. I know she'll love it." She looked down for a moment, then leaned up and kissed Sawyer on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, James."
He grinned. "Merry Christmas, Cassidy."
After a few days of shopping for Christmas gifts for Clementine – as they had forgotten – Sawyer forced Kate to take Clementine out so he could bring the gifts Cassidy brought upstairs to join the ones they bought. Confused as to why they couldn't just wait until Clemmy was asleep, Kate finally agreed and took Clementine out to buy new bedding. She had mysteriously decided she wanted to sleep in the downstairs guest room, claiming that she didn't want to be so close to her daddy's room because she was a "big girl now". So Kate suggested making it her permanent room, starting with decorating.
An hour later, Kate returned with a sleeping Clementine in her arms. She heard Sawyer up in the attic, so after putting Clementine down, she decided to join him.
"Hey," she greeted.
"Hey yourself."
"Is there anymore left?" she asked, pointing backward.
"Nope. Just finishing up now."
"Oh."
"Least she won't have to worry about Santa findin' her."
Kate smiled. "You know, we don't have a tree to put them under."
"Yeah. Guess I'm gonna have to find my dad's old axe…"
She smiled, impressed, and folded her arms. Without having to look at her, he knew.
"What?"
"You're going to cut one down?"
"Where else am I gonna get a tree?"
"I don't know. I'm sure they sell them somewhere around here."
He shook his head. "Waste of money. And gas."
"Since when does that matter?"
"Since it started snowin'," he said, suddenly preoccupied with searching for something.
"What?" she asked confused.
"Nevermind."
"What are you looking for?"
"Nothin'."
"If you tell me, I can help," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Just a watch."
"A watch?"
"It used to be in this box," he said, searching through it. "Right on top."
"Well…it's just a watch."
"It was my dad's watch!" he snapped.
"Oh."
"Ah," he said, picking up a smaller box. He opened it, and his face faded into a glare. "Son of a bitch…"
"What?" she drew closer.
"It ain't in here."
"Well…I'm sure it'll turn up someday."
"You don't get it, Freckles. It was my dad's watch. But he gave it to me." He paused, rubbing his neck. "...the last Christmas he was around for."
She frowned. It was strange to hear Sawyer so sentimental. He hardly ever was. She walked over and helped look in adjacent boxes.
"It's got some writin' on the back."
"I don't see a watch here."
"It's gotta be…"
"Maybe it's somewhere under all of these gifts?"
He groaned. She put a hand on his shoulder as he hung his head in defeat.
"We can look for it together. After all these gifts are moved. Okay?"
"All right," he said quietly.
She walked to the door and turned, waiting for him.
"You coming?"
"I'll be down in a minute."
She nodded, leaving him alone.
As she entered the kitchen, she saw something sitting on the counter. It was a watch. She smiled, slightly, wondering if it was the same watch he had lost. It was pretty dirty and old. It didn't look like any watch from this lifetime. She turned it over and wiped the dust from the back. There it read "From father to son. Ford 1944." She stared at the front again. The hands weren't moving. That's when she got the idea. She'd been wondering for days now what to get Sawyer for Christmas, and this...this was perfect.