Oregon City, Christmas Eve.

The snow is falling as last minute shoppers and travelers wander about the streets in their vehicles. The sidewalk is busy, but not pushy as everyone appears to be caught up in the Holiday spirit. She is not sure why she felt the urge to come here at first, but then remembers the smile on a young man’s face upon being told of the trip.

“We get to go see Shay? Kewl!” was his response. In that moment, any frustration brought forth by her father became an afterthought. The bright smile of a young Jared Sobel and his mother, Paige’s warm expression would make dealing with her father worth the trouble.

Back at Gabriel MacCutcheon’s house, Paige is with Jared and Shay while Gabriel, or, “Gabe,” talks on the phone with his ex-wife. For Gabe’s daughter, Shane, the assignment of picking up a few items from the store is an ample opportunity to gather her thoughts and take a cigarette break. She had tried conquering the habit here and there over the years, but the anxiety of building a possible family atmosphere for herself brings forth the pressure and for her, the calling to relieve that stress through the lungs.

Done with the cigarette, Shane discards what is left into a nearby trashcan before walking into the grocery store. “Mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese,” she repeats to herself, the items for her to pick up. Scrolling by each lane, she finds the items that she looks for. About to turn for the checkout lane, but with no reason to do otherwise, Shane turns her eyes towards the frozen foods section. In the distance, she sees a familiar figure. The hair, the curves, the tanned skin, all of her is intriguing to Shane. Perhaps Shane’s old instincts are coming back around. Feeling compelled, she walks down the lane as the figure turns around and as their eyes meet, both bodies freeze as if captured in a picture.

“Ca…Carmen?” Shane asks, surprised.

Carmen’s eyes close as her mouth curls to a smirk.

“Well that figures,” Carmen says, partially to Shane, but also to herself.

“Um…wow. Uh…you look…great.” Shane finds herself in a nervous verbal stumble. Carmen however remains calm in spite of the unforeseen circumstance.