“Definitely,” Molly said, nodding.

They picked out all the safety equipment that Shay would need, as the sales associate went to the back to get the bicycle that they decided on. As they waited at the register, Shane saw her approaching with a box on a cart. “I thought it came assembled,” Shane whispered to Molly.

“That’s extra,” she replied, as Jenny and Alice laughed.

As the sales associate came up to them, Shane asked, “How much more to get it assembled?”

“It’s $25, but we wouldn’t have it ready until after Christmas,” she replied.

“Fuck,” Shane muttered to herself.

“It’s okay, babe. We can do it,” Molly replied confidently. Shane, however, did not look so convinced.
            “Shane, what kind of lesbian are you? Afraid of some tools?” Alice scoffed, through her laughter. Jenny doubled over with laughter as tears streamed from her eyes.

“Oh, fuck all of you,” Shane replied as she whipped her credit card out of her wallet and slammed it onto the counter.

Later that evening, after Shay had gone to bed, Shane and Molly brought the box inside and took all the pieces out. Shane sat there, puzzled and scared, as she read the instructions. “Using a flathead screwdriver, tighten Joint D with Screw A?” she pondered aloud, as she held a Philip’s head screwdriver. Looking from the directions to the bike parts and back to the directions, she finally located the correct piece. “What the fuck?!” she bellowed, as she tried to tighten it with the wrong screwdriver.

Molly laughed and handed Shane the right screwdriver. “It’s this one, babe.”

“Fucking shit,” Shane grumbled to herself as she took the screwdriver from Molly’s hand. “Why the fuck do they even have two types?”

Molly juts chuckled to herself, amused by Shane’s frustration. She found it quite endearing that Shane was trying so hard to make this Christmas perfect for Shay. From the tree to the presents to the big family dinner, Shane tried her hardest to make sure that Shay wouldn’t miss Gabe too much. She watched as Shane continued to fight with the pieces she was assembling and smiled. Placing the piece in her hand on the floor, she stood up, walked over to Shane and kneeled down behind her. Leaning into her, she placed her hands on her shoulders and began to massage them. She felt Shane inhale sharply and release all the stress that she had pent up. Molly whispered in her ear, “He’s going to be okay tomorrow. I know you’re worried, but he’ll make it through. He’s got you.”