time will tell

 Naturally, Melvin got there late. Of course, he'd slept late too. It felt as if he'd missed Christmas altogether, but that didn't keep Wade from sleeping over.

It didn't seem odd at all. In fact, it was like old times, sort of. But then again Tori had been on his mind and he half-listened to what Wade was talking about. Something about having no place to stay due to COVID.

So they made pizza and drank a lot of beer down at the pizzeria. It was a great way to hibernate and maybe they were friends after all. But he didn't explain any of that to Cori when he got there. Instead Melvin was in a wince wondering why so much company. Could they gather to gather for Christmas?

He wasn't even looking for Caitlin and when he found Tori it felt best to leave the gifts he brought and go.

"No, you have to stay," Megan insisted.

"I don't think so," Melvin shook his head. Besides, he wouldn't know where the whole Wade and Caitlin thing would go if they did see each other. "It was a bad idea to come." He told her he was a bit hungover, not under the weather.

"But, you just got here?" Megan looked as if she needed to get him alone. Finally, she followed him out in the hall with Wade.

"I'm worried," she said.

"Worried?" He squinted tilting his head to think who could she be worried about.

"Cori," she didn't look too happy and then she told him how Cori and his brother got into a fight.

"Well, brothers are like that," He'd never liked the way Cody treated him anyway. "He's got you, you know. And I'm sure it'll be fine." Honestly, he didn't really know what the feud was about.

Megan sighed as if Cori needed a man's point of view.

"Look, I'll talk to him later," Melvin nodded. "You guys just have some fun." After all, he brought wine. Of course, Wade was a stoic as ever. Maybe it was a good thing Caitlin didn't know they were together. "Just..just don't mention to Cait I was even here, will you?"

Megan nodded, but he knew she was not a liar.

Later, when all the gifts were open, Caitlin was certain of it..Tori got all the good stuff. Even Cori and Megan gave her a basket of body washes and lotions along with a new robe and wash clothes and slippers. Dylan's present to Tori was more yarn and a selection of crochet sticks. It was mind-boggling to Caitlin who managed a bottle of Kambucha from Dylan and a journal from Megan (which Dylan snatched since he wanted to doodle in it first).

It was then Caitlin noticed Tori's, little gold heart. "Who gave you that?" Caitlin wanted to know who looked over at Dylan who then looked back at Cailin a little uneasy.

"Oh, just this friend," she touched it with her fingers and looked at Frankie with a smile.

"Look, here's one for you Caitlin," Megan then tossed her a gift from Melvin. It was only an ugly green scarf in a gift bag, but under it, was the good stuff in a baggie. She slipped it under her bed. At least it was the one thing he knew to get her.

Still, she felt she was missing out on something. No one said a thing about Melvin. 

It was during dinner that Frankie mentioned how Tori could sing in French. He looked a bit intoxicated and he wasn't even drinking. Caitlin did open the red wine and drank one glass after another. The party was much too boring and Dylan looked pitiful trying to woo Tori back. Naturally, Tori looked like a lost lamb ready for the slaughter.

Caitlin could now say this was the worst Christmas ever, but then again she hadn't had a good one in ages.