Here you go! Dinner with Gemma! The next chapter is set to be a dramatic one and I don't think it's what you're gonna expect! Thanks as always for the continued support. Really appreciate the reviews, follows and fave's! Enjoy! x

CHAPTER 14

Evening rolled around pretty quickly, and Cate had just finished getting ready to head over to Gemma's house for the dinner she'd invited her to. She'd gotten changed into a pair of dark blue jeans and a white scoop-neck t-shirt. She had decided not to dress up, since it was just a dinner with Gemma and nothing particularly special. After pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she'd left her bedroom and headed downstairs. In the back pocket of her jeans, she felt her phone vibrate as an alert tone sounded to inform her of an incoming text. She knew it would be Juice before she even looked, as they had been texting for most of the day.

J: so u up to much tonight?

C: Just going for dinner. What about you?

Cate sent her reply and tucked the phone back into her pocket. It was almost 6 o'clock, so she grabbed her house key and left her home, locking the door behind her. She was quite looking forward to getting to know Gemma some more, but she knew it wouldn't particularly go down that way.. Gem would probably have more questions for her than anything. Cate liked to think she was a pretty good sense of character and Gemma struck her as the inquisitive 'I need to know everything about everyone' type of person. Cate reached her neighbours front door and she rang the doorbell, pushing her fingers into the front pockets of her jeans. The door opened shortly after, where she was greeted by a smiling Gemma.

"Come in in, sweetheart." She invited and held the door open, allowing Cate entry to her home.

"Thank you.." Cate answered and stepped over the door frame. She heard the door shut behind her as she took a few steps further before coming to a stop, where she had a brief look at her surroundings. Sure, she'd been through Gemma's house, but she'd never actually been in it long enough to properly look at it. "Your home is lovely, Gemma." She commented, admiring the warmth within the home, her gaze flickering over all the décor and photo frames adoring the surfaces.

"Thanks, doc.. Come on, this way." She heard Gemma say before she noticed her stepping in front of her to lead her into the dining room where there was a long dinner table. She'd never seen a table so big.. She'd only seen something like it in movies where the 'perfect families' sat to eat dinner together. "Take a seat, I'm just plating up.." Gemma told her, gesturing to a seat which Cate moved over to and pulled out. Slowly, she lowered herself down and pulled herself in before looking around at the room. It was huge and she could imagine it full of people and chatter during family get-togethers, something she'd not experienced in her own family. The table sat in front of the windows, she imagined that during the day the room was brightly lit. But now it was dark outside so the room was lit gently from lamps.

"I know it's pretty big, but it's perfect for thanksgiving and family dinners." Gemma said and Cate turned her head to look at her and she walked over to the table, plates in hand. It was as if she'd read her mind.

"I can imagine.." Cate began with a smiling, watching as Gemma put the plate down in front of her and put her own down in front of where she'd be sat across from her. "Do you have a big family?" Cate thought she'd get in a question while she could. Gemma had retreated at that point and Cate could hear the clinking of glass against glass.

"Not big, no.. But all those boys down at TM are like family." She heard Gemma answer before she returned with a couple of glasses and a bottle of red wine which she poured.

"You're all pretty close, huh?" Cate asked, watching as Gemma finally took a seat opposite her, a small grin on the brunette's lips.

"Yeah, we're all close. But nothing gets between the bond those boys have.. They're all brothers." Gemma answered and Cate nodded briefly, swiftly lifting the glass to her lips to take a sip of the wine. She needed it after the morning she'd had with Ross, but she wouldn't go out of her way to buy alcohol for herself.

"It must be nice to have so many people around.." Cate begun, going back to what she'd originally started speaking about. "We didn't really do things like that growing up." She finished before looking down at the food in front of her. It looked like meatloaf, with mashed potatoes and some vegetables. After picking up a fork, she began to eat.

"You never had a big family back home then?" Gemma asked and Cate shook her head, finishing a mouthful of food before speaking.

"No it was just my parents and my brother.. My Dad was an only child and my Ma just had a brother.. It was just us and even before Ma passed, we didn't really do dinners.. My dad was always working, Ma was always sad.." Cate explained with a small shrug of her shoulders, lifting her wine glass for another mouthful of the bitter, red liquid. She noticed Gemma looking over at her, her lips pressed together, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"So you're Stephen's niece then?" Gemma asked and Cate coughed as she swallowed her mouthful of wine awkwardly. It had taken her by surprise but then again, she shouldn't have been shocked.. Gemma had been neighbour's with the man.

"Yeah.. Did you know him?" Cate asked quietly, lowering her gaze to her plate and she collected another fork of food, trying to seem disinterested. But inwardly she was keen to know if Gemma had known her uncle.

"Yeah, kinda.." Gemma began and Cate felt her stomach twist a little. "He was a strange one." The statement made Cate laugh and she looked over at Gemma who was grinning. She wasn't wrong, her uncle had always been a little strange, but that's what had made him so amazing. "He used to talk about his niece and nephew a lot.. How proud he was of his military nephew.." As Gemma spoke, Cate felt a dull ache return in her heart and she sighed quietly, taking another sip from her glass. "..And the niece who he wanted to bring home and take care of." Cate listened and swallowed hard. Her uncle had always wanted to take her in after what had happened with her mum, but she'd had to go with her father until she was old enough to make her own decisions.

"Yeah.. He always told me about Charming and how much I'd like it.. I mean it's not exactly all he made it out to be, but it's pretty close.." Cate said with a small laugh, trying not to feel sad and create a negative atmosphere.

"So.. He left you his house when he passed, I'm guessing? I mean.. I can't imagine why else you'd want to move here.." Gem commented in a teasing tone of voice, a grin evident on her lips which made Cate smile in response.

"Yeah.. I didn't even know about it until this guy got in touch with me to tell me about his will after he'd died.. They said I coulda sold it but I wanted to come here and try it out and it ended up not being too bad. I got the job at the hospital.. I got my fresh start.. And I kinda feel like I'm living out his wishes of wanting me to be here." Cate explained before eating some more food.

"So you like it here, in little ol' Charming?" Her neighbour asked and she looked over at her, giving her a small smile and a slow nod of her head.

"I do.. I wasn't so sure to begin with but things are slowly starting to get better." Cate did really think that things were getting better, and they were. She was getting on well at work; she'd befriended Gemma and now Juice. She just needed to get past her PTSD and the anniversary next week and she hoped that things would be even better after that.

"I'm glad to hear it sweetheart.. You're not that bad to have around." Gemma said and Cate felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I didn't know what to expect when Wayne told me about his friend's niece being new in town, but you're not half bad. I could have worse neighbours.. Gotta be some perks to having an ex combat medic, army girl around." Gemma joked, followed by a laugh. But Cate felt a little confused. First of all, Wayne had discussed her with Gemma? Why? Secondly, she hadn't old Gemma about the fact she'd been a combat medic. She remembered specifically that all she'd said was that she'd been training. Cate gave a quiet laugh, in response to Gemma's – deciding she didn't want to draw attention to the fact she'd been caught off guard. Had Juice told her? It was exactly what she didn't want.. Having Juice gossip about her with other people. However, she had just mentioned Wayne.. Wayne knew plenty about Cate, she considered him a close family friend because of her uncle. Plus.. she had seen Wayne at the garage just this morning, shaking hands and smiling with Clay. Something didn't add up, but Cate simply pushed it to the back of her mind for now and lifted the glass to her mouth, finishing the last of its contents. Cate felt her phone buzz in her pocket followed by the sound and she sat upright, Gemma grinned and gave a small nod.
"Don't mind me.." Gemma commented, sitting back in her seat with her glass of wine.

Cate cleared her throat and pulled her phone out, looking down to see she had a text from Juice in reply to the one she'd sent him earlier.

J: Dinner? With who?

Cate felt her eyes roll a little. Was she sensing a little jealousy? It was hard to tell.

"Everything okay, sweetheart?" She heard Gemma ask and Cate looked over at her, smiling a little.

"Yeah.. It's just Juice asking who I'm having dinner with.." She replied through a laugh, reaching up to tuck a stray piece of black hair behind her ear. Gemma grinned.

"I see you and him are getting quite friendly.." Gemma commented. Cate sighed and shrugged her shoulders briefly.

"Exactly.. We're friendly.." she answered, since that's all that it was at the moment. Sure, he gave her the butterflies and thinking about his smile instantly wanted to make her smile. But she'd only seen him a couple of times. Sure, she'd be lying if she said she didn't fancy him or wasn't attracted to him. But in that moment, now, they were friends who were just getting to know each other.

"Whatever you say, honey.." Gemma teased and Cate rolled her eyes in response before quickly typing out a reply. She didn't want to be rude or antisocial so she was quick and had almost forgotten what he'd even said to her. Gemma had distracted her with the 'friends' talk.

C: Can't talk right now

Cate tucked her phone back into her pocket then and returned her attention to the middle aged woman across from her, who was still grinning a little behind her glass of wine.

"He's a sweet kid.. A little dumb.. But he's sweet." Gemma commented and Cate had to fight the urge to not break out into a massive, stupid smile. However, her cheeks did suddenly feel a little warmer.

"Yeah.. He is." She breathed, before placing her fork down, suggesting that she was now finished. "Gemma.. What are the Sons Of Anarchy?" Cate suddenly asked, since it was a question that had been bugging her since she'd noticed all of their matching jackets. She noticed the woman's eyebrows rise in response to her question.

"They're just a bunch of boys in a motorcycle club.. Harley enthusiasts by.." Gemma had begun but Cate quickly cut her off.

"By night and mechanics by day, right?" Cate teased with a grin. She'd heard the same thing now from 2 different people; Juice and Clay. It was like it was their motto, or driven into their brains to be their first response to anybody who asked.

"That's right, sweetheart.." Gemma grinned.

"It's just.. My psychiatrist seems to have a negative opinion about them.." Cate began and suddenly realised she'd let slip about her psychiatrist, but she continued, hoping maybe it had gone amiss but she knew Gemma would've picked up on it. "Said that they're menaces and that I shouldn't get involved with that.." Cate finished, watching Gemma intently, who was quiet for a moment.

"It's a small town, Cate.. Some people have nothing better to do than gossip.." Gemma answered quite firmly, but the small grin on her lips suggested that she wasn't upset with Cate for saying what she'd said. "People see men in matching kutte's on bikes and instantly assume trouble.. These boys do charity run's for Christ sake.." Gemma explained defensively and finished the last of her wine after she'd finished talking, before refilling their glasses with just a little more of the red wine.

"I didn't assume otherwise.. I was just curious, since I'm new and all. I don't listen to gossip.. I try and steer clear of all that." Cate explained, sitting back in her seat, glass of wine in hand so that she could drink from it freely.

"Psychiatrist, huh?" Gemma suddenly asked and Cate let out a quiet breath, reaching up to rub at the side of her neck awkwardly. "You a secret little loon, doc?" Gemma teased. Cate swallowed hard and shook her head. She knew Gemma meant no harm and was clearly joking, but it still panicked her slightly. She hated thinking that people might think of her as crazy if they ever knew. And now Gem knew, and would probably think she was crazy.

"I developed PTSD after I got home.." Cate explained with a forced, small smile and once she finally got the courage to look over at Gemma, she was looking at directly back at her.

"Oh I'm sorry, sweetheart.." Gemma sighed and Cate just shook her head.

"It's fine.. I'm fine.." She answered, waving Gem's comment off with her hand, before drinking another mouthful from her glass.

"Cate.. Honey.. What you guys do out there for us? That takes balls. Balls not a lot of people have. You must've seen some awful shit out there.." Gemma paused to let out a sigh. "If you ever need anyone.. You call me, ok?" Her tone almost sounded demanding, which made Cate smile. She appreciated the gesture.

"Thanks Gemma." Cate responded.

They spent a little while longer talking and exchanging questions, getting to know each other a little better without completely revealing themselves or any deep and personal information. But it had been nice to talk about things and keep distracted. It had been Cate that suggested she head home, it had been a while and she was due back at work the next morning. Gemma had agreed, stating that Clay would be home shortly. So now, Cate was back at home and in bed, where she had just settled and was preparing to get some sleep. She had noticed that she hadn't had any contact from Juice since earlier on in the evening, but she imagined he was just busy. Perhaps he was with Clay and the others, since Clay hadn't even returned home yet and she'd not heard his bike. Thinking no more of it, Cate rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to take her.