A/N – And the plot thickens…a bit. I'm having issues with my normal writing style and it's driving me nuts. Lemme know if you see anything needing fixed. Once again, thanks for all the reviews and love. If there's anything you would like to see, let me know and keep the reviews coming! Much love!
Chapter 31
Edward studied the information Emmet had gathered on one Clay Morrow. Since the demise of his brother, Emmet had become their go to for recon and information. From what his brother-in-law had found, Clay was the president of the Sons of Anarchy mother charter, thus making him the international president. Married to Gemma since 1993, step-father to one Jackson Teller, no kids of his own. He was ruthless in his rulings, had a hand in many more pots than anyone realized. President since John Teller's death and that wasn't suspicious at all especially considering how quickly he moved in on the former president's wife.
When he had received a call from Clay to set an in face meeting, it made him nervous. Edward was already heading back towards Charming after a conversation with Alice. He and his sister-in-law would both lay low there for a bit and figure out some way to get to Bella. This conversation with Clay would probably be the in they needed to get to her. He knew that Alice wanted some revenge on Bella, but there was no way Edward would let that happen. His obsession over the dark haired beauty had only grown deeper as the weeks passed since he was last in Charming. It ate at him every day as he remembered her bright eyes and soft skin and he pictured all the things he wanted to do with her. Her lips and hands screamed at him in his dreams to take her. He wanted her by his side, in his home, his bed under him. It was all he could concentrate on right now. Even knowing he was skiving off his duties to the Volturi brothers could deter his mind from thinking of his sweet Isabella.
He shook those thoughts from his head as he left the cruddy hotel room to get in the non-descript family sedan he had rented in Stockton. It irked him, but he knew he couldn't be seen in one of his own vehicles. The emerald green Aston Martin Vanquish would more than stand out in the po'dunk town of Charming, California and was safely hidden in a storage unit nearby. He was even dressed down in plain dark jeans and a blue hoodie with a ball cap. Anything to hide his identity because he knew he was persona non grata around here. Following the directions Clay had given him the previous evening, Edward pulled in front of a nice house in a nicer neighborhood than he had expected. There was only a black Harley in the drive so he figured the wife was out for the day. Good.
The garage door pulled up and a man Edward recognized from pictures and mugshots stepped out. Clay Morrow was intimidating on paper and seemed to back that up in sheer size in person. He was tall, broad, face slightly wrinkled but hardened by the road and his life in general. Edward exited the car and silently followed Clay into the house. He was led through the kitchen and living area onto a back patio. Clay sighed heavily as he took a seat on a patio chair and pulled a cigar from the front of his kutte. Edward sat across from him, raising his eyebrows slightly. It wasn't that he was cold or anything, he just hadn't expected to go outside.
"Ol' lady doesn't want me to smoke 'em in the house anymore. Since the grandkid came home, she's been on kick with Jax's girl to minimize 'exposure' or some shit like that. I'd rather not hear it from her later," Clay explained with a smirk. Edward just stared at him, waiting for him to start this conversation.
Clay heaved a large sigh and leaned forward to grab an ash tray from the side table. He set it on the arm of the chair and leaned back. "I got a problem. There is a distraction in my club. My men are starting to… think for themselves I suppose. That can be dangerous in our line of work. These guys are simple minded and need someone to tell them what to do. But ever since this problem arrived in August I've had to deal with my decisions being questioned, men going soft. I don't like it." He paused to take a deep inhale off the cigar. "You," he pointed the cigar between his meaty fingers at Edward, "have the solution to my problem. You want her. I want her gone. It's a win/win the way I see it."
Edward leaned back and traced his lips. He figured Clay would want Bella gone. Now to figure out how to get her before Clay took more drastic measures. "Is she ever alone?"
Clay shook his head. "No, especially after that last little stunt you and that asshole pulled." Clay raised his eyebrow at Edward who just shrugged. "She's either with her dad or old man or Jax or someone. I don't think she even realizes how protected she is at this point."
Edward nodded at that. He had figured as much. And he had no one to blame but himself for trusting that asshole Michael. "My apologies for that." Clay nodded in acknowledgment. "So if you can figure out a way to get her alone, I would be more than happy to take the problem off your hands."
Clay smile turned almost feral as his mind raced, finally coming up with a way to get her alone. "Ya know, Christmas is coming. I may need some help finding a gift for the wifey."
Edward nodded and smirked at the man, the beginnings of a plan coming together.
In the greenhouse next to the patio, Gemma Morrow kept her hand firmly over mouth and concentrated on taking deep breaths through her nose as she squatted next to the table full of potted plants. Tig had picked up her car earlier for an oil change while she spent some time with her plants, just relaxing and enjoying some quiet. Clay had woken up after she was already in the greenhouse, so he had no idea that his wife was even home. She had no idea that Clay had contacted this asshole much less expected to overhear a conversation of this nature. Her mind stuttered and stalled as she tried to come up with something. She needed to tell Jax, tell Chibs, tell someone. Normally, this would be something she could maybe use to manipulate her husband, but she genuinely cared for Bella. She didn't want to see the younger girl hurt. Plus, this was Clay making a decision without club input. This was beyond a personal matter. This became a club matter now that Clay was targeting not only a member's daughter, but also an Old Lady. The club didn't hurt women and children. This was firmly against their code.
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A banging on the front door startled Jax from his light doze on the couch in his living room. He quickly made his way to open the door before it woke Abel. It had been a rough night for them all as Abel had a stuffy nose and wasn't sleeping well which meant Jax and Leah weren't sleeping well either. He yanked the door open, surprised at the agitated state of his mother on his front steps. "Ma, what the hell? I just got Abel to sleep."
Gemma huffed and pushed past Jax into the house. She started pacing in the living room, hands moving from her hips to lips, more frantic than he had ever seen her. Something was seriously wrong. She finally grabbed Jax's cigarettes off the coffee table and made her way to the patio. Sighing, Jax grabbed the baby monitor and followed her.
Jax took the cigarette Gemma offered him and lit it, patiently waiting her out. He knew she would get to whatever she needed to say in her own time. Finally, halfway through the smoke, Gemma spoke. "I need to tell you something, not as your mother but as an Old Lady. An Old Lady who respects the club and what it stands for. But also as a wife who is about to betray her husband and has no choice as more lives could be on the line than just the one I'm trying to save."
Jax's eyebrows rose to his hairline. This was a side of his mother he had never seen. Sure, she could be meddling, more often than not manipulative to a fault, but completely unapologetic when called out on it. For her to be admitting this to him could be seen as a betrayal to Clay. Old Ladies are supposed to hold their husband's secrets close to their chest, never speaking of things that were discussed behind closed doors. There would be consequences beyond just possibly saving someone. April Hobart could testify what it meant to choose the club over the husband. "A'ight ma, take a breath. Are you sure you want to talk about this? Is it really as serious as you think it is?"
Gemma just stared at her son for a moment, contemplating his words. "Oh baby, this is more serious than anything you have going on right now. You have to trust me on that." She sat on folding chair set up on the patio.
Jax sat in front of her and steadily smoked his cigarette as Gemma explained what she overheard that morning at her home. His fists clinched tighter and tighter as he realized the depths Clay would go to get rid of his "problem". But that was just it. Bella wasn't a problem. In fact, the way he and most of the guys saw it, Bella was a solution to what had been wrong for so long within their club. She made them think, made them remember what they were supposed to be as brothers and partners. He thought of the book he found in the spare room a few days ago. He had gone to find a specific manual for a custom job and ran across the manuscript he had pulled from the storage unit many months ago. There hadn't been time to read it when he found it between things going down with the warehouse, Abel, and the trip to La Push. But now that it calmed down and he found it again, he had taken to browsing through it. He'd sit down and read the whole thing soon, but from the glimpses he read, he got the idea of what his father had meant. SAMCRO had lost their way a long time ago. Bella had arrived in their lives at the just right time to show them what was going wrong within the club. She was the light they needed to follow to get back on the right path.
Once Gemma had finished, Jax stood. He could hear Abel moving and grunting through the monitor and knew his boy would be wanting his bottle. He kissed his mother's forehead before speaking. "Thank you, Gemma." Jax addressing her by her first name reassured her that he was taking this seriously. He didn't see it as his mother being paranoid as his mother but as an Old Lady looking out for the good of the Club. "This…has been enlightening. We will take care of it, I promise. Why don't you go get Abel up? He needs some grandma time." Gemma smiled tremulously at him before making her way inside.
Jax pulled his phone from his front pocket and quickly dialed Chibs. "Hey, you home? Yeah, yeah, we need to talk."
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The Telford living room was packed as it could be. Jax stood by the television with Opie, Chibs, and Juice sprawled on the couch and recliner. He knew this would not be easy, but it had to be done. Bella had been spending the day with the Winston children so he knew there was little chance of her interrupting them and hearing something that could devastate her.
"First, Juice." The normally laidback Puerto Rican was fidgeting with his lighter again. He glanced up at Jax, raising his eyebrows. "I know Clay had you digging stuff up on the Cullens. Now, my question is, was him asking you in church the first time he asked you to do that?"
Juice glanced at the men in the room and flipped open the lighter lid. He sighed. He knew he would be betraying Clay's confidence, but it hadn't felt right since Clay asked him to do it. "No. He had me looking into them after we got back from La Push. I'm sorry Jax, really. It bothered me, but I knew I couldn't say no to him, man." He stood up and went to his messenger bag and pulled out a folder. "This is everything I pulled up. These guys…they make me nervous."
Jax nodded at Juice and took the folder. He removed the papers and spread them on the table. "I appreciate your honesty Juice. It shows character and that's something that we as a club have been lacking lately. I want you to know that I," he glanced at Opie and Chibs who both nodded, "we understand. Just…don't do it again. We'd have to bring it to the table at that point and we don't want to lose a good man."
Juice nodded eagerly at his brothers. "Of course, yeah, I get it. Thanks." He paged through some of the reports, sorting the arrest records from police reports and such. "Here, this is what I am most worried about I think." It was a picture with Edward and a tall blond man talking with a dark haired man and another blond. There were names under them all. Edward Cullen, Carlisle Cullen, Aro Volturi, and Caius Volturi. "Apparently, the Cullen family is an offshoot of the Volturi Family. They're heavy in H trade, meth too. They're based in Italy but have connections all over Europe, the UK and a couple of families in the U.S. From what I gather, Carlisle may be a mild mannered doctor by day, but that's his front. He's the primary contact for trade here in the states. His kids Edward and Rosalie were the scouters, finding the best places to get set up and the one we took care of, Jasper, was the computer whiz. Rosalie's husband is their muscle, though Jasper helped him a lot and Jasper's wife takes care of their finances, the laundering and stuff. They never get their hands on the actual drugs but always get their cut. They get their guns from the Russians private pipeline, so we've never come across them."
The guys sorted through the various pictures and records, getting a feel for what they were up against. Jax shuddered at the thought of having to take on these guys. They were so beyond their league it was wasn't even funny. They had to be smart about this. Figure out a way to make them feel like cutting their losses with Edward was a good idea. Because there was no way that Edward was coming out of this alive. No way in hell.
They spent a good twenty minutes going over everything before Jax cleaned his throat. "There's another reason I brought all you guys here." The men sat back in the respective seats while Jax stood up again. He pulled his cigarettes from his kutte, giving himself a moment to gather his scattered thoughts. He lit up and took a deep drag before turning to them.
"First thing. I need your word that this does not leave this room. I know I just gave a Juice a lecture about keeping secrets from others, however in this case, it can be a life or death matter. We will tell everyone when the time is right." The guys all nodded, trusting their VP's judgement. "A'ight. Second thing. I need a promise, especially from you two," he pointed at Chibs and Opie, "that you will listen to everything I have to say before you go off halfcocked."
The two men glanced at each other and simultaneously raised their eyebrows. Jax would've chuckled if the circumstances weren't so serious. With slight jerks of the head from all three men, Jax took the last drag from his cigarette and put it out in the ash tray.
Jax goes on to tell them almost word for word what Gemma had told him earlier in the day. How Clay was being duplicitous in dealing with Edward and possibly setting up Bella for the fall. He described how Clay really saw Bella, as a distraction. Then he told them what he felt about Bella, how she was their beacon, their north star to lead them back to where they needed to be. He then reached in the back of his jeans, pulling something out. He had stopped at his house on the way to Chibs' specifically for this.
"I found this a while back when I was looking for stuff for Abel. Lost it for a bit, but happened upon it again. I think it was fate that it came back to me." He pulled the packet of papers out of the manila envelope and set them on the coffee table. The men all stared at the cover for a moment.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM CROW
HOW THE SONS OF ANARCHY LOST THEIR WAY
BY JOHN THOMAS TELLER
Jax watched as Opie and Juice's eyes widened and Chibs seemed to pale slightly. "Jackie," the Scotsman's voice was almost a whisper. "Your da?"
Jax nodded, a small smile on his face. "Yeah, I haven't read the whole thing yet, but I've glanced through it a bit. From what I've seen, it feels like he had become…disillusioned in what the club had become. The violence and danger and everything else. I don't know, it may be a bit MC love letter, but there is some truth to that title." He looked up at his brothers, making sure he had their attention. "Look at what happened with the Mayans. They hit quick and hard. It could have been a lot worse. And we had to mete out vengeance, get our payback. As it is right now, if we hadn't patched over the La Push club, we could've been up to eyeballs in debt. Sure we were smart about it, but the danger was more than obvious. And now this whole thing with Clay going behind our backs to hurt someone we all care about?" Jax shook his head. "It isn't right. We are supposed to communicate, be on the same page at all times. Secrets and lies like this can tear about any organization. When our president, the man who's supposed to have our best interests at heart starts plotting on one of our own behind all our backs? We have to draw the line somewhere. This is a dangerous path he's walking."
Chibs nodded in his head. "Aye laddie, I agree. So what do we do about it?"
Jax exhaled heavily and looked to his best friend. He could see the conflict on Opie's face. He was unsure what to do at this point. He knew they needed to tell the others but could they really trust them? Piney would be on board, his appreciation of all things Bella was more than obvious. Happy would side where he wanted, you never could tell with him though. He had spent so much time as a nomad, sometimes it was hard for him to adjust to being at a table and trusting his brothers. Bobby would at least listen to what they had to say. He more often than not played their Devil's Advocate. But Tig was 100% Clay's man. He hardly thought for himself and rarely questioned any order his boss gave him.
"The biggest problem we have right now is proof." Juice piped up from beside them. He looked up and met each of their eyes. "Yes, we have what Gemma told you and it's a great start. But without solid evidence, a picture, a specific action, we can't bring it to the table. Clay will never admit to anything and he'll make it seem like Gemma came up with something to cover her own tracks for whatever reason. This is something that may have to be taken to all the charters, a Forum. We have to have solid verification that he is behind this in order to do that."
Opie nodded in agreement. "He's right. There's nothing we can do about Clay right now. But, we can keep an eye on him and Bella. Keep them apart as much as we can so he doesn't have the opportunity to lure her anywhere."
They all nodded in agreement, determination etched in their features. "We can't tell her though." Chibs piped up. The rest of the men zoned in Bella's father. "If she knew, she could go one of two directions. She'd either want to help and potentially put herself in danger. Or she'll get scared and have a break down." Chibs heaved a large breath and hung his head. "My girl is strong, amazingly strong especially with all she's been through. But that close call with Kenny really had her shaken up and she's been on edge."
Opie leaned further into the couch, nodding in agreement. He had spent many nights with Bella since the incident, especially after their night "together", and the only time he saw the tension release from her shoulders had been when she was around all her family, the kids, Jax, Leah, Gemma, her dad. She was a little more relaxed when it was just them at home, but there was something that kept her shoulders tight. "So we don't tell her. When whatever happens, happens, she'll be mad. But in the end, the less stress on her end right now, the better."
Jax agrees. "Leah either. I told ma to just let it be right now, we would take care of it. So she's not going to say anything, the queen of secrets that she is." Juice snorted in agreement and the rest of them just chuckled. "But I know Leah wouldn't be able to keep this from Bella. They've gotten so close since Leah moved here."
Juice leaned forward and gathered the papers to return them to the folder. "This is your copy. I have a copy in my safe and then Clay has the copy I made him for the club. I just want all the bases covered."
Jax nodded and accepted the folder. He placed it on top of the manuscript and folded them together to tuck them back in his back pocket. As one, they all stood and gave each other their traditional manly hugs before heading to the door. "We'll figure this out. Keep your eyes and ears open. If you think of anything, you see anything, let us know."
They all nodded and Jax, Opie, and Juice made their way to their bikes. Chibs leaned against the doorway, lighting a smoke. He tried to concentrate on getting his breathing in order, to calm his mind before his daughter made her way home. She would know for sure something was up if she came home to him like this. He pulled his phone from the front pocket of his kutte and dialed a number that had quickly become familiar to him.
"Hey hon." The soft sound of her voice immediately eased his tense muscles.
"Hello love. I was wondering, how'd ya like to meet me daughter?"
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Bella called a hello into the house and she pulled her key from the lock. She was glad to be home for a bit, the kids had been exceptionally wild today, but there had been an unfamiliar car in the driveway and that set her nerves on edge. She wanted to come home and relax, not deal with something else today. Besides, tonight was their weekly dinner night and she kind of wanted her dad to herself. They couldn't really do it on the same day every week, but they had a standing once a week night that it was just them. No club, no Opie, no kids, just them. So to have that night interrupted did not set well with her.
"In the kitchen love!" She heard her dad's voice and she followed into their bright kitchen. Chibs was standing at the stove, stirring what smelled like a good, hearty stew. She could smell the cornbread in the oven and smiled at the thought of the sweet, crumbly bread happily melting in her mouth along with the savory deliciousness of the meat and carrots. Bella approached him, laying a kiss on cheek while giving his waist a squeeze. He leaned his head on top of hers before banging the wooden spoon on the pot and laying it aside. He turned and gave her a proper hug, seeming to hold her tighter than normal.
Bella was shocked for a moment before she just enjoyed the embrace. It was everything she ever wanted and needed from her father. Someone strong, secure, faithful to her, loving, protective. Her mind blanked out for a moment as she closed her eyes, melting in to his arms. They cuddled for a few moments before he drew away slightly, kissing her forehead and catching her eyes before they could wander around the room.
"Welcome home. How were the heathens today?"
Bella snorted. "They were fine. A bit wild since they're getting ready for the holiday break but good. Managed to get them to settle enough to make some stuff for Christmas presents." She smiled as she thought about the homemade picture frames they designed for Opie and Chibs. It was a simple craft but they had so much fun picking stuff to glue on the frames and pictures to put in them.
Chibs chuckled and glanced over her shoulder. He stiffened a bit before standing a little straighter and clearing his throat. "I got someone I'd like you to meet, Bella." He grabbed her shoulders, turning her around slowly. He kept his arm around her as he waved at the woman who had just entered the kitchen. "Bella, this is Christine. You might remember her from-"
"Fun Town!" Bella exclaimed. She left her father's arm and approached the woman who was biting her lip in the doorway. Reaching her hand out, she greeted the woman with a smile. "You have an amazing voice! I think we were all a bit entranced."
Christine blushed slighted, smiling shyly and shaking the younger girl's hand. "Thank you. It's been a while since I had done it but it felt really good to be back on the stage."
Bella smiled at her. She glanced back at her father and looked between them for a moment. Chibs was smiling slightly, a light blush across his cheeks. "Wait, so is this a thing? Have y'all been seeing each other?" Bella's smile grew wider in realization. "Oh this is great! Wow, okay, cool, awesome!" Bella's enthusiasm was contagious and Chibs and Christine chuckled at her.
"So, this is okay then?" Chibs asked, still a bit unsure. Bella nodded and turned to hug her father.
Her grip was tight, reassuring him. She leaned up on her tip toes to whisper in his ear. "I just want you happy, dad. If she treats you well and makes you happy, then it's more than okay with me. I couldn't ask for more." She pulled away smiling at her father. She turned to the woman in the doorway, her smile not leaving her face. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving! Let's eat!"
They all laughed and made their way around the kitchen, getting things set on the table. After Chibs blessed the food (a habit that Bella had quickly picked up and passed on to Kenny and Ellie), they served themselves and began to eat. Conversation was light and easy, keeping away from the harder topics of Bella's past and anything club related. Christine described growing up in the south with her traditional parents and simple life. She grew up in the country, enjoyed music, and had plenty of friends and family. The last couple of years had been tough on her, but she didn't go in to a lot of detail about it. Chibs knew some about her controlling ex-husband and how she escaped him. That wasn't dinner with the boyfriend's daughter conversation though.
Bella enjoyed hearing the stories about Christine's brothers and the mischief they got into. It almost sounded like a fairy tale to her it was such an unfamiliar concept. Throughout dinner, she watched the way her father and Christine interacted. They shared small smiles, light blushes, and seemed to anticipate each other's needs. One time when Christine reached for another piece of cornbread, Chibs' hand was already there handing it to her. They were completely in sync and it made Bella smile. She knew he was sometimes lonely when Bella was gone and she was happy he now had someone to turn to.
After dinner, Christine offered to do dishes to which Bella immediately said she would help. Chibs kissed the top of Bella's head and whispered a sweet "Thank you" in her ear. Bella smiled at him as he went and did the same thing to Christine. His phone ringing made him roll his eyes, but he left the kitchen, answering it on the way. The women chuckled and turned to cleaning up the kitchen. They worked in silence for a while before Christine cleared her throat.
"So, um, I know this might be weird or whatever. I just kind of appeared outta nowhere and I know there's an age difference. But I really do care about your father. He's been absolutely wonderful to me and I hope I've given him some comfort." Her eyes were trained on the dishwater before them, but Bella felt her words were sincere. With a sigh, Christine put the dishcloth down and turned fully to her companion. "He's told me your story, at least enough to know that you have not had an easy life. And I know that has created a particularly strong bond between the two of you. I just want you to know I'm not going to get in between you. I hope that one day I can be another source of support and comfort for you." Her smile at the end of her last sentence was shy, but earnest.
Bella smiled at her. "I get it and appreciate it. The only thing I want is for my dad to be happy. I've noticed over the past few weeks that he has been less stressed, much happier than since I've met him. So as long as it stays that way, I have no issues. We'll get to know each other and just go from there."
Chibs walked back into the kitchen to see the women embracing. The smile on his face at the site could not be any wider. He had just knew they would get along and here was the evidence. He cleared his throat to catch their attention. "Clay needs me at the clubhouse for something. Will you be okay here for a bit? It won't take long."
Bella and Christine exchanged glances and nodded. "I think a movie is in order for the night. Something Rom-Com and ridiculous. I need to destress after those kids today." They all laughed at that then went into the living room. Bella hugged her father goodbye and went to pick through their limited movie selection.
Christine walked with Chibs to the door. As he stepped out, he turned and stroked her cheek. "Thank ye, love. This was exactly what I needed tonight, two of my favorite girls enjoying each other's company. And also thank ye for sticking around. There's some things going on and I feel better knowing that Bella has some company."
Christine nodded at the older man. "It's all good. I think we'll get along just fine. Take care of what you need to do and we'll be okay. I'll see you when you get back."
Chibs pressed a short but passionate kiss to her lips then turned towards his bike. She just stood there for a moment in a daze. Bella's giggles shook her from her daze. She turned back to the living room, smiling. "Well, what did you pick out to watch?"
They settled on the couch and started Clueless. They laughed and joked as Cher navigated her way around high school and her friends. About halfway through the movie, Bella's cell phone rang. Her eyebrows raised as she didn't recognize the number. Figuring it was one of the guys on a burner phone, she quickly stood and walked to the dining area to answer.
"Hello?"
"Bella, it's Clay."
Bella reared back slightly in shock at the caller. She couldn't recall a single time the man had really spoken to her outside a quick greeting at the clubhouse. Especially after everything that went down in La Push and on the way home. So she was naturally cautious.
"Oh, hello Clay. What's up?"
She heard him chuckle ruefully over the phone. "Well, I have a bit of a problem." He sighed a bit before continuing. "Christmas is coming and I need help with Gemma. I can't think of a damn thing to give the woman."
Bella couldn't help the slight giggle at his words. He was right, Gemma was notoriously hard to shop for. Jax had recently complained about the same situation. She was unsure if he even made a decision. "Well, I suppose I can help, though Leah might be a better option. I don't know her nearly as well as Leah does."
"No, no, I don't wanna bother her. I know she's got a lot going on with Abel's doctor appointments and work and shit. I was going to go to Stockton this weekend, check out the mall. I could really use some help."
She bit her lip thinking for a moment. Bella knew that the guys were keeping an extra close eye on her after The Incident. But it was Clay, their president. Sure he was a bit rough around the edges, but she knew he had to be to keep the club running smoothly. "Alright. Opie is taking the kids out to Mary's for a visit that day. I was going to just hang out at the house since dad will be working. So yeah, I can do that."
"Good, good. Look, uh, maybe not tell anyone? I wanna keep it a surprise for Gemma and you know those assholes gossip worse than the old biddies at the hair salon."
Bella laughed out loud at that. "Very true. Alright, you want to meet me here or at the mall?"
"I'll meet you at the mall. I have some business to take care of out there, so it'll be around noon before I can get away."
"Alright, I can do that. See you Saturday!"
They hung up and Bella returned to the living room. She settled back down on the couch with Christine who raised her eyebrow at her. Bella just gave her a half smile and said "Just Clay. He had a question about a gift for Gemma." Christine nodded knowing a little bit about Gemma. They continued the movie before moving on to 10 Things I Hate About You and by the time Chibs returned, both girls were passed out on the couch with Bella's head in Christine's lap. The man just smiled when he woke his daughter up and ushered her to bed. When he returned, Christine was awake, rubbing her eyes. They smiled at each other and Chibs led her to his room where he stripped down and she changed into one of his t-shirts. They snuggled into bed together and quickly drifted off into dream land, completely unaware of what was to come.