Quickie:
SassyLostie - (sigh) I try to make Cassidy a bit human and your heart starts to pound with fear. I didn't know I corrupted so well!
xKatie-Bearx - Christmas baby? I don't think so. She's about...seven and a half months? Something like that. So not just yet.
sivan - See above.
LordXwee - Haha. I know, I'm terrible at keeping the timelines the same. Aw well. And magical Sawyer...oh lordy. Hahah!
Jeebus guys! Just about everyone got scared Cassidy was gonna skip town. And again, just about everyone is afraid what Sawyer is going to do when Kate gives him the watch. Ya'll are some scaredy-cats. Hehe. Just kidding. Sorry it's been longer than usual. Midterm week...blah. Anyhoot, enjoy!
Chapter 55
The next afternoon, Sawyer and Clementine were sitting in the living room. There were cartoons on the tv, miniature dolls strewn across the floor and leading to a dollhouse, and an empty plate that was once layered with cookies. Kate was walking down the stairs, fully dressed and seemingly ready to go out.
"Hey Kate?" Clementine called. "Where ya goin'?"
Sawyer looked up and saw her at the last step, frozen.
"I…was just going to run to the store real quick," she quickly made up. Spying Sawyer's curious stare, she added, "We need to make some cookies and milk for Santa tonight, don't we?"
"Oh yeah…" Clementine remembered.
While Kate walked into the kitchen for a moment, Sawyer glanced at Clementine.
"Sunshine…" he whispered.
When she looked up, he winked at her. She tried to imitate, mouth ajar, eye shut tight. Kate emerged, having seen.
"What was that?" she asked, amused.
"Nothin'!" Sawyer and Clementine said, simultaneously.
"What are you two up to?"
""Nothing," they repeated.
They glanced at each other.
"Can't a guy wink at his own daughter?"
"Or at her own daddy?" Clementine added innocently.
Kate shook her head. They really were two of a kind. Giving up, she gave Sawyer a quick peck on the cheek and waved good-bye to Clementine. Once Kate was gone, Sawyer turned to his daughter.
"All right, Sunshine. You know the deal. You get your shoes on, and I'll call Jerry."
"You got it boss!" she said, giving her father a thumbs up.
With some difficulty, Kate drove the truck into town, passing by The Parlor. She spotted Cassie inside, taking an order. However, Jerry was outside in front, just coming out the door. She stopped and honked the horn. He looked up and waved, but Kate didn't leave.
"Hey Jerry," she called.
"Howdy Kate."
"Where are you headed?"
"Oh no. I was just goin' to get something from my truck."
What was it with men and trucks in this area? Or maybe it was just Sawyer and his friends…
"All right. Take care!"
"You too."
She drove off, further into town until she reached her destination – the jeweler's. She was able to sneak off the other day and bring the watch in to them. Thankfully they said they could get it finished in a couple of days.
She walked into the store and spotted the man she had left the watch with.
"Hello," she said, smiling.
"Hello, again," he smiled back.
"So, was it repairable?"
"Well there was some trouble getting the back open," he explained, going around the counter. "It's a very old piece. But we were able to get it working again."
"That's great," she said, breathing a sigh of relief.
The man retrieved a box and opened it up on the glass counter for Kate to see. Inside lay Sawyer's watch, shining gold and clean. Not a trace of dust or tarnishing. The little second hand leapt past each number. She picked it up and turned it over, reading the clear engraving. It all looked brand new. She knew Sawyer would love it.
"This is perfect."
Later that evening, Sawyer was busy helping Clementine bundle up to go outside. Kate was upstairs getting dressed, and Sawyer – of course - wasn't ready at all.
"Are we gonna make a snowman?" Clementine asked.
"We're gonna go cut down a Christmas tree."
"Can I cut it down!?" she asked, excitedly.
"I'm not sure you got the strength, short stuff."
"I'm strong!"
"Yeah? Lemme see those muscles."
She tried to raise her arm but it was too layered to prove anything, let alone move. Sawyer laughed.
"No fair…"
"Maybe next year."
She stood up off the bed and placed her mittened hands on his face, staring directly into his eyes, pleadingly.
"Please daddy?" she asked, sweetly.
He sighed, unable to resist those eyes. "Fine. You can take a whack or two."
"Yay!"
"Go ahead in the back. Me and Kate'll be out in a second."
"I'm gonna make a snow angel for you, daddy," she called, running out of the house.
He walked out of Clementine's room, bumping into Kate who was already ready. Sawyer looked her up and down.
"How many layers you got on, Freckles?" he asked, smirking.
She folded her arms. "Three."
"Hmm."
She grabbed his arm as he brushed past her to go upstairs.
"Don't even think about it."
He looked down, then grinned back at her.
"You're gonna be pretty cold in a while, Freckles."
"There's more than one way to warm up, James," she said soft and seductively.
"Don't I know it."
She shook her head and let him go, heading outside to Clementine. Damn, he thought. And he thought he almost had her…