Pot Holes - Chapter 4

“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.”
― Mark Twain

　

　

When Sara got the message from Cody saying that he was on his way and to have Cait packed, it took all of her willpower to not throw her phone against the wall. Vikki sat quietly in the living room with Cait on the floor as she watched her friend pace back and forth in the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on the door before Cody walked in. “Daddy!” Cait yelled as she jumped up off the floor and ran straight into Cody’s open arms. He quickly swung her up and held her close to him.

“Hey princess, are you ready to spend the weekend with me?” Cody whispered to her, knowing that as long as he told Cait before Sara could deny him there would be little argument. Sara groaned at how excited Cait got, nodding furiously as she looked at her dad.

“Cody why don’t you help me pack some of her things.” Sara said in a tight voice and gave him a look that told him to not even try to argue. Vikki came and took Cait out of his arms and led her back to the living room as Cody followed Sara upstairs. “What in the hell are you thinking?” She hissed at him once the bedroom door was closed.

“I want to see my daughter, it’s almost Christmas and I’m only in town for 3 days. It’s the least you could do.” He muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets as he watched the woman who was once the love of his life turn and stare at him incredulously.

“The least I could do? Seriously? The least you could have done is taken some time off so you could sit with her at the hospital. So she could see your damn face instead of on skype. Is that really so hard? You have the vacation time not too mention I’m pretty sure your company would be understanding when you told them your daughter had cancer.” Sara replied as she started to pack up Cait’s clothes for the next few days. She knew she wouldn’t deny Cody now that he had showed up at her door and already told their daughter. She wouldn’t make him look like the bad guy, not when Cait seemed so happy.

“From what I heard, you’re getting all the help you can handle at the hospital. James Neal, Jordan Staal, even Sidney Crosby. How is it that you managed that?” Cody sneered at her, causing Sara to drop the bag instantly to the floor.

“Honestly Cody, it’s none of your business. But if you actually listened to me, you would have remembered that they came in to visit the entire ward. Yes, some of them felt bad for Cait and have stopped in to see her a few times. But it’s pretty fucking pathetic when she gets more attention from a stranger then from her own father.” Sara shot back at him before she grabbed the bag of Cait’s medicine and holding it up in front of Cody’s face. “These are really fucking important, you can not forget them. Especially the one for nausea.”



Downstairs Vikki could hear the faint sounds of yelling and stomping around. Luckily it wasn’t loud enough for it to get Cait’s attention away from the Disney princesses on the tv. When Sara’s phone started to ring, she thought nothing of picking it up without looking. “Ello” Vikki said as she walked to the back porch to have a smoke and watch Cait at the same time.

“Ummm is Sara there?” A very male voice said on the other end.

“I don’t know. Depends on who you are.”

“It’s James. I was calling to see how they were after this morning. Who’s this?” James answered, Vikki could hear the confusion in his voice.

“Ohhh..umm..hi James. It’s Vikki. Sara’s upstairs talking to fuck face.” Vikki replied, only slightly embarrassed to be talking to him after today’s earlier text messages.

“Hey Vikki!” James said with a little laugh when she heard someone yell for James to give them the phone. “No Jordan, you cannot talk on the phone. Maybe some day when you are older. Wait who’s fuck face?”

“Cody. He decided to show up to take Cait for a few days even though Sara told him no.” Vikki answered, smiling to herself when she heard Jordan yell more that he wanted to talk. “But they are coming down right now, I can have her call you when he leaves since she’s going to be free tonight now.”

“Yeah that’d be great. I’m going to go fight off a large overgrown blonde ape. Bye!” James said before Vikki ended the call. She glanced up when she heard footsteps coming down the steps, the tension easily visible between Sara and Cody. When Vikki raised a questioning eyebrow, silently asking Sara if she wanted her to take of what was going on, she got a shake of the head in return.

“Alright sunshine, get your shoes, you are going to go stay with your daddy for a few days. And don’t fight with him when it’s time to take your medicine.” Sara said as she went over and helped Cait put on her shoes. Her daughter nodded enthusiastically before she jumped up and ran over to Cody. Sara tried to hold back tears as she watched the two of them walk off the porch and towards the car.

“Sara it will be ok…I already called Nathan and told him what was up. Uncle Nathan will make sure that Cait is taken care of.” Vikki said from behind her, causing Sara to smile slightly when she thought of her outrageous over protective soon to be ex-brother-in-law. “Oh and James called for you”. Sara’s incredulous look on her face caused Vikki to start laughing as she handed her back her phone. When Vikki left and went to the kitchen to make coffee, Sara quickly called James back.

“Hey Sara” She heard the slightly gruffy accented voice that usually brought a small smile to her face.

“Hey James, Vikki told me you called. Sorry I was busy.” Sara replied as she started to walk through the house, trying to figure out why he had called.

“Yeah she told me you were busy talking to, how did she put it, fuck face. But I was calling to see how you and Cait were since you got home.” James answered her, she could hear the smirk when he said fuck face. She murmured a thank you to Vikki for the cup of coffee before giving her a look.

“Uh…Cait’s dad. He wanted to take her for a few days. But we are ok. Was there anything else you needed?”

“Well since you are going to be free tonight, me and some of the guys are going to go out if you’re interested. Give you a chance to get your mind off of some things and be distracted.” James said with what sounded like a hopeful tone, causing Sara to make apparently a weird look since Vikki laughed at her.

“Who says I’m going to be free tonight?” Sara said with a smirk wondering why she was bantering with probably one of the best wingmen on the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team right now.

“Vikki.”

“I’ll think about it James and let you know.” She replied, but once she got the look from Vikki, she knew it was game over and there would no arguing with that woman. Her and James talked for a few more minutes before hanging up with the promise to text him to give the final answer.

“Did you seriously just turn down a date? Seriously Sara? You’re insane!” Vikki yelled at her, throwing her arms up in disbelief. Sara shook her head and response and continued to sip on her coffee, already feeling guilty over just thinking about it. If things had been different, she would have said instantly but now she had others depending on her.

“Vikki I can’t just take off and go out. I have responsibilities. Cait may need me” Sara said in response. Vikki didn’t say a word, just grabbed her hand and started to drag her upstairs to her bedroom. Once Vikki literally tossed her on the bed, Sara was surprised she never spilt her coffee and waited patiently for the lecture that was to come.

“Dammit Sara! Yes, Cait may need you, we are only a phone call away. You need to get out of the house. You need to live a little. I swear the last time I saw you really cut loose was when you first started dating Cody and that was years ago. You are going out even if I have to drag you out myself. And don’t say I can’t, cause you know I will.” Vikki said in a stern voice. At all of 5’1 maybe, hands on her hips, Sara knew from previous events that she would.

“Fine, but you are picking out something for me to wear.”

With that statement, Vikki tore apart Sara’s closet as she sent a text to James to tell him they were coming out. The two girls debated over all the outfits before they finally agreed on something. Once that was settled they took turns showering, Vikki yelling at Sara to make sure she shaves her legs, and putting on make up. Sara attempted to tame her blonde curly hair somewhat so it was cascading down her back in waves, staring enviously has Vikki worked a curler in hers, fixing her own hair. Both of them were somewhat tomboys but Vikki was always better at being the girlier one when the time called for it. Once it was time to get dressed, Vikki settled on a lowcut baby doll tee with boots over her skinny jeans and Sara settled on a pair of jeans, a black halter top and her black boots that they liked to call her ass kicking knee high boots. Standing in the mirror Sara couldn’t help but grin at Vikki. She was thankful that she had stuck to her weird health kick that she got on when she found out she was pregnant and dragged Vikki along with her. Both girls weren’t size 0 skinny, they were healthy with curves in the all the right places and toned bodies from all the dance classes Sara dragged them too. “Now if only I had like Crosby’s epic ass and your boobs.“ Sara said as the turned in the mirror, receiving a smack from Vikki. When James sent her a text on where to meet them, they jumped in Sara’s jeep quickly and set off towards the city.