Happy Sunday! I can not wait to hear what you think of this chapter. Thank you to everyone for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting. It means a lot that you all love LUYFM as much as I love telling the story.
Enjoy!
Chapter 51 –
Kayleigh was excited as she opened her email on Juice's laptop. The photographer in San Francisco had called her to say she'd sent the file containing the photos to Kayleigh. They were Kayleigh's to keep and do with as she wished, per their contract. She also included a document that listed her matted and framed portraits prices for different sizes and styles.
Kayleigh downloaded the main file, titled Ortiz Family, and then opened it from the desktop. The photographer had created subfolders as well. Juice would be happy to see how organized the photographer was when he came home.
When looking for outfits for the girls, Kayleigh hadn't been able to decide between two, and Juice had told her to get both. Gracie wasn't very happy to have to change clothes, and neither was Anna Kate, but Gracie had been smiles and giggles during the photo shoot. Anna Kate had been awake for part one, but slept through the second half. Since the girls had two outfits, Kayleigh, Juice, and Graciela had changed clothes, too.
The photographer's studio was a beautiful home with a large backyard that had a beautifully manicured lawn and flower garden, white gazebo, and stone path. The first shoot had been inside the studio in one of the rooms of the house. The second was outside in the late afternoon sun.
Kayleigh looked at the file choices. They had spent a good two hours at the studio, if not a little more, and the photographer had taken hundreds of shots. There was a file with thirty images she edited and was creating a photobook from; the rest of the images were sorted into categories. There were eight folders all together: the photobook file, Gracie, Anna, Ortiz Family, Just Girls, Just Dad, Just Mom, and Just Aunt.
She chose the Ortiz Family album and clicked a button to see a slideshow of the images. Each photo session included pictures of the family as a group of four and then also with Graciela. They'd posed in a several different ways and no two images were the same as Kayleigh clicked through the slideshow. She was glad they had managed to create a good color scheme between the three adults and the little girls.
For the indoor shoot, Juice had worn a navy-blue t-shirt that fit snuggly to his muscled chest with gray pants. Kayleigh dressed in a light purple sundress with thin straps and a loose skirt that fell to mid-thigh, along with a pair of strappy, low-heeled sandals. She'd done her hair and the ends fell in big curls around her shoulders. One side of her hair was pulled back and pinned with a silver clip. Gracie and Anna Kate's outfits were the same print, but Anna's was a onesie and Gracie's a dress. The lacy fabric was a pretty shade a purple a few shades lighter than their mother's dress. They each had a lacy fabric bow in their hair that was pinned onto a white, satin headband. Little, matching, white sandals completed their outfits. Graciela had gone along with the color scheme and worn a navy-blue skirt and a lavender sleeveless blouse. Her dark hair was straight and loose.
When they changed clothes the girls lost the headbands, but kept the white sandals. Their matching outfits were a robin blue with pink flowers printed on the cotton fabric. Kayleigh's sundress was royal blue, the skirt was the same short length as the first, but this was flared out around her legs. Graciela's pale pink dress was long, but the skirt was double layered, the underneath layer fell just above her knee and the top, chiffon layer, billowed around her ankles. Juice wore dark pants with his plain white shirt.
Anna Kate's soft cries brought Kayleigh's attention to her and away from the photographs. She crossed the room to lift Anna Kate out of the bassinet and smiled down at her. "Hello, sweet girl, your big sister and daddy will be home soon. Let's get dinner started, huh? You want something to eat, too? Maybe a diaper change?"
Anna Kate gurgled and Kayleigh's grin widened. "Yeah. Sounds like a good plan, huh?"
Kayleigh was cooking bar-b-que chicken with potato salad, corn on the cob, and a salad, when Tara dropped Gracie off at the house.
"Thanks for taking her to daycare this morning and for bringing her home tonight," Kayleigh said from the porch, Anna Kate in one arm and Gracie's hand held in her free hand. Tara was standing on the walkway at the bottom of the porch steps.
"Not a problem. Juice still at Redwoody?"
"He texted a while ago to say he was heading home. He should be here any minute."
Tara nodded. "Lyla's keeping the boys busy with guard duty and, of course, Juice is handling the online side of things."
"Makes a good profit. Juice mentioned the idea of expansion."
"Jax did, too. He said they were going to wait a while longer, give it more time to see if it stays popular and then talk more seriously of starting another Diosa location." She turned to check on the boys in the car that was still running and then looked back at Kayleigh. "I'll see you tomorrow at Redwoody's wrap party, right?"
"Yeah. I've tried to talk Juice into riding separately so he could stay and have fun with his brothers, but he won't hear it. He says he's coming home when I come home, so we won't be staying more than a couple of hours."
"He's so sweet. Jax and I won't be there long either, although we did get Tristen to watch the boys for us. She's a good babysitter. See you tomorrow, Kayleigh."
Kayleigh headed inside with her girls, and it wasn't long before Juice made it home. Anna Kate was awake in her swing, so he scooped her up, placing a kiss to her forehead as he settled her to one side. He walked into the kitchen as Kayleigh was getting Gracie strapped into her highchair. He dropped a kiss to Gracie's dark hair and she giggled happily.
"Dada! Ea!" Gracie couldn't say the 't' in eat, but she knew what it meant, and was excited it was dinner time. Kayleigh fixed Gracie's dinner first and then a plate for Juice and herself.
"I received the pictures today. Started to look through them before Anna Kate woke up. They're all so good."
"Have any favorites yet?"
"A few. I'll show you after dinner. She sent a price breakdown for matted photos, so we can pick a few to have framed."
"How many are you going to print for the scrapbook?" Juice asked on a chuckle.
"I haven't decided yet. I've started a list though."
They finished dinner and Juice cleaned while Kayleigh played with the girls. When it was bath time, Juice headed to splash and play in the tub with Gracie. Kayleigh took Anna Kate to the bedroom with her and fed her on the bed before putting her to sleep.
She was looking at the pictures on the computer when Juice joined her. He shed his clothes down to his boxers and the pulled her to her feet. He sat in the desk chair and then tugged on her arm to get her to sit on his lap.
"So which ones are your favorites?"
Kayleigh grinned and leaned forward to touch the mouse. She clicked the folder she'd created and placed copies of her favorite images. There were tons of pictures that Kayleigh loved, but she had found four favorites so far.
The first was the group shot that was outside in the grass on an old, faded quilt. The green background that was dotted with pops of color from the vibrant flowers was out of focus, the main focus of the image on the family. Kayleigh and Juice were sitting side by side with Gracie sitting in the middle and Anna Kate in Kayleigh's arms.
The second shot was identical to the first, except Graciela sat on Juice's other side and Gracie was in his lap.
The third picture was of Anna Kate and Gracie together in the house. One of the rooms was a nursery. While Gracie sat on a white, fuzzy blanket playing with the wooden blocks that surrounded her and holding one in each hand, Anna Kate lay next to her, looking at the camera.
The last image was of just Gracie. She was outside standing in front of the green leafy plant with purple flowers. She was reaching out to touch the tiny bundles of blossoms, a look of concentration on her face, but also a smile.
"I like the one of the girls together." He placed his hand over hers on the mouse and clicked the first file folder of pictures.
Kayleigh let him take over scrolling through the photos and occasionally commented on one she liked or wanted to add to the scrapbook. Ideas for pages were already rolling through her mind and she was excited to print the growing list of pictures tomorrow before the party at Redwoody.
"I'm going to bed," Kayleigh said. She twisted on his lap to kiss him goodnight, then stood and walked the short distant to the bed.
Juice stayed up until Anna Kate woke up to feed a few hours later, looking at all the pictures and trying to decide which one he liked best of his three girls. He was going to print it out and add it to the collection he carried inside his kutte. He'd already decided on one of him and Kayleigh.
As soon as Kayleigh and Juice arrived at Redwoody the girls were taken from them by Tig and Venus. Juice and Kayleigh parted, Juice to go grab a beer and talk with Chibs, Bobby, and Jax, and Kayleigh to go say hello to Lyla and Tara.
"Congratulations on the new movie," she said to Lyla after giving her a big hug. "You look great tonight. Is Noah here with you?"
"Yes, and thanks. Noah is around somewhere, probably with Danny and Big P. Venus and Tig already swoop up the girls?"
"Of course, every chance they get."
"Tig loves all the kids," Tara added. "Wonder if it's because he lost one of his daughters, and didn't really spend much time with them as they grew up."
Both Lyla and Kayleigh shrugged in response. "Possibly," Kayleigh said. "Whatever his reason, he's a good babysitter even if he's a strange man."
The three women shared a laugh before Graciela joined them, looking pretty in her tight black jeans, boots, and sleeveless, red, satin top.
"Hey, Sissy, Tara, Lyla. Kayleigh, Juice wants to play pool, said to come get you."
"Cool, but when did you get here?"
"About ten minutes ago. Chibs and Bobby found me first before I found you three."
Kayleigh went to walk away with Graciela and waved to Tara and Lyla. "See you around, ladies."
They weaved their way through the crowd of leather clad men, scantily dressed women, and porn stars of both genders to the pool table where Juice was racking the balls.
Juice looked up and smiled at his wife and sister. "Kayleigh and me against you and Hap. He'll be right back, he went to get another beer."
Graciela was still trying to be calm about playing pool with Happy when Kayleigh spoke. "I haven't played in a while, hope I haven't lost my touch."
"Doubt it," Juice said on a laugh. "That's why you're on my team. We'll let them break."
"Go break," Happy said to Graciela as he joined the three others at the table.
Graciela nodded and started the pool game. Juice shot after her and then Happy. By the time it was Kayleigh's turn, Happy had attracted the attention of a couple of the croweaters. Graciela tried to discretely eye them as they blatantly stared at Happy with hungry eyes from their place at a card table a few feet away.
"Juice! You made me miss!"
Graciela turned to see Juice laughing, leaning close to Kayleigh. She was twisted partway around to look at him, a big smile on her face too. "You're shot, Graciela," she said, not taking her eyes off Juice.
She stepped up to take her shot, eyeing the table for the best move, but Graciela missed the shot when the blonde-haired woman that had been eyeing Happy laughed. Juice and Happy shot again, and the whole time the woman blatantly and suggestively looked at Happy. When it was Kayleigh's shot again, the blonde stood from her chair and walked up to Happy. She ran a hand down his chest and leaned against his side. She stood on her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear.
Happy shook his head and the blonde pouted. "Aw, come on you know you want to have some real fun, Killer."
Happy looked down at the woman and gave her a look that made Graciela's stomach roll. She leaned her stick against a nearby chair and grabbed her beer. Graciela didn't notice Juice watching her, or how Happy's eyes followed her across the room. Her focus was on getting away from that blonde rubbing all over Happy. Graciela threw away her beer and then headed for the bathroom.
She needed to get out of the room, away from Happy, and calm down. She had no claim on him, no right to be jealous if he chose to fuck some random woman… but she was. She was more than jealous, she was angry. Unfortunately, the complications of club life didn't make a relationship with Happy any easier.
She was almost to the bathroom when she the heard the gruff "Hey."
"Go away, Happy," she let her anger out for a split second, but didn't turn around to face him. She didn't have to, she'd know his voice anywhere.
"What's the matter with you, Little Girl?"
He was closer, she could tell by his voice and his commanding presence. "Don't call me that."
"Why?"
She whipped around, ready to let him have it in the middle of the hallway, when she saw his face. Happy knew exactly why she was angry with him. "Do you flirt with all the girls that hang around the club? Why'd she call you Killer?"
"No I don't, and I'll tell you later."
Graciela didn't back down from Happy's hard stare and she challenged him. "No, you'll tell me right now."
Happy didn't let her see his surprise in her, but did admire that she stood her ground when every other woman would back down under his cold gaze. "Not here," he replied and waited for her answer.
She didn't hesitate.
"Let's get out of here."
The corner of Happy's lips twitched. "You ridin' with me?"
"Yes." Her eyes didn't leave his.
"Meet me at my bike. You know which one it is?"
"Yes."
Graciela brushed past him quickly, and headed back down the hallway and into the crowded main room, leaving him standing alone. Happy chuckled to himself, pleased that she knew his bike and wanted to ride with him. He went to the bathroom before he headed back to the front so he could leave.
Graciela caught Kayleigh by the door before she headed out of it.
"Hey, are you okay?" Kayleigh asked her with a worried expression.
"Yeah, I'm going to… Happy and I are… I want to…"
Kayleigh's eyes lost their worry and she grinned brightly. "Be safe. We probably aren't going to stay much longer. Text me when you make it home safe tonight, or if you need anything."
"Thanks, Sissy. Don't tell Juice, please?" Graciela asks.
"Lips are sealed," Kayleigh said and caught sight of Happy walking out the door over Graciela's shoulder. "Goodnight. Have fun."
Graciela left and walked through the parking lot, scanning the row of bikes for his. She wouldn't have missed the Harley, even if Happy hadn't have been sitting on it already. He handed her a helmet once she reached him and she fastened the strap before getting onto the bike behind him.
"You ever ridden before?" he asked, starting the engine.
"Once, with Juice when we were teenagers, he had an old dirt bike."
"Dirt bikes and Harley's aren't the same thing. Lean when I lean, and don't freak the fuck out on me."
Graciela nodded and then added. "Okay." She wrapped her arms loosely around his waist and was she was comfortable Happy pulled away from the curb and out onto the street. Graciela had never been so close to Happy before. She could smell his cologne and feel the hardness of his muscles. She was glad she'd worn pants instead of the dress she had originally picked out.
Happy drove for about ten minutes through the town and Graciela was surprised when he stopped near the playground at a park. He cut the engine and Graciela slid off. She unclipped the helmet and handed it back to him with a grin. "Come here often?"
She looked around as he chuckled, watching her take in her surroundings. "No, but I know it's here. S'late, no one will bother us."
"Cool," Graciela said, and headed for the swings… somehow, she knew Happy would follow her. She picked a swing and began to pump her legs back and forth, going higher and higher in the air on the large swing set.
Happy joined her and sat on the swing next to her. He didn't move, but watched her as she enjoyed the breeze blowing in her air and the calming motion of swinging back and forth.
"We should have brought along some beers," Graciela stated out of the blue, breaking the silence between them. "Oh well." She drug her feet on the next swing and slowed her momentum. Once she came to a stop she looked over at Happy. "Why'd she call you Killer?"
She stared at him, her gaze unwavering as he looked back at her. His dark eyes studied her carefully. "Do you trust me?"
Graciela nodded her head. "Yes. I wouldn't be here if I didn't."
"I'm the club's assassin. I'm a killer."
"Shut up, this isn't a joke, Happy."
His face and tone were serious as he replied, "I'm not joking, Graciela." Happy stood and lifted his t-shirt to reveal his right side and a series of smiley faces tattooed down his torso. "Each one represents someone that I've killed."
"Is that why they call you Happy?" she asked with a touch of sarcasm.
"No."
Graciela ran her eyes over the tattoos again before he lowered his shirt. "That's a lot of people. Were they all for the club?"
"No." Happy sat back down on the seat of the swing. "You still trust me?"
Graciela didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"Why?"
Graciela scoffed. "Why? You gonna hurt me Happy? I know you wouldn't. Who am I to judge you and what you've done, your choices? I mean, surely you have a good reason as to why you've made those choices, either for the club or something personal to you."
Happy studied Graciela, unsure if he should admit that she was right or not. She was intuitive. She'd known the croweater had put meaning behind calling him Killer at Redwoody. She knew he had been in control of himself when he'd murdered over a dozen different people. In a rare moment, he thought about Juice and his relationship with Kayleigh. Everyone knew they ran on honesty, Kayleigh knew almost everything if not all the club did. Jax and Tara worked the same way. It's how couples had to be with each other to work in the club life, but Graciela and he weren't a couple. Could he be one hundred percent honest with her?
"Each tat has a reason, some are pretty good ones, others not so much, but I did what I did and there ain't no changin' it."
"True. You ever kill a woman?"
"No."
"A kid?"
"No minors, youngest was the son of the Mayan MC president, he was about your age."
"Damn, Hap."
"Can't change it, Little Girl."
"I know. So they nicknamed you Killer…"
"Tacoma Killer. I transferred to Redwood same time as Kayleigh settled in Charming with your brother, SAMTAC was my first patch, went nomad for a while, and then SAMCRO."
"Do lots of members transfer charters?"
And just like that, Happy thought, she had changed the subject. He was ten years her senior, but Graciela was smart and beautiful. Her dark features and sun kissed skin attracted him as much as conversing with her did, being near her. He didn't know what she'd experienced growing up in New York, but she was accepting of his lifestyle and he wasn't going to question her.
"Some guys do," Happy answered her question. "Most just visit and then go back to their Charter."
"Why'd you come to SAMCRO?"
"Be closer to my Ma, she lives in Bakersfield."
"Oh. She must be glad you're closer to home."
"Yeah. She bugs me that I still don't see her enough."
"Eh, what are moms for, right?"
"Yeah. I should get you back to the party before your brother starts wondering where you are."
"Okay, but don't tell me you're scared of Juan Carlos," she teased, walking back toward the bike.
Happy chuckled darkly. "No. Juicey-boy doesn't scare me."
Graciela waited for Happy to mount the bike before sliding on behind him. It was hard for Happy to focus on driving with Graciela wrapped around his back. He'd never had a woman ride bitch before… ever. To some guys, having a bitch on the back didn't mean much, to most of the SAMCRO men… to him… it meant a lot. The woman on the back of your bike, riding with you, was your woman.
Happy wanted Graciela to be his. If he'd had any doubts before, he didn't now. She'd accepted that he was the Tacoma Killer with no argument, a simple shrug of her shoulder and an 'okay'. Since he'd had a reason for his actions, she didn't have one to judge him and let it go. The croweaters were down to fuck, but they were all intimidated and scared of him, never sticking around for long. Graciela wasn't scared, and had admitted such.
He'd have to talk with Juice, and soon, but when they pulled into the lot the black SUV was already gone. Graciela noticed, too.
"Looks like we didn't have to worry about Juicey-boy after all."
"Or he already knows."
"Fuck him," she said, knowing to Happy what Juice thought of their relationship was a big deal, "we're both grown, and can do what we want, which isn't even anything bad, so who cares."
Happy just chuckled and gave her a hint of a smile. "Whatever you say, Little Girl. Want another beer?"
"Yeah. Maybe one or two more before I head home. Gonna tail or hang here all night?"
She didn't wait for his answer and headed for the door, her hips swaying seductively as she walked. Happy pushed off his bike and followed her. "Oh, I'm definitely tailing tonight."
Juice pulled into the garage still slightly frustrated. He'd had every intention of staying at Redwoody until Happy and Graciela returned, but Anna Kate wasn't having it. His fussy daughter wanted to be in the quiet and peace of her own home, so Kayleigh and he had left the party.
It wasn't that Juice felt like Happy wasn't good enough for Graciela, or that he didn't deserve her, but Juice was having a hard time wrapping his head around the idea of Happy and Graciela being together. She was his little sister, and he was the Tacoma Killer and a lady's man. He didn't want to picture Graciela with Happy that way, and was hoping it wasn't already happening. That thought made him angry because surely if not Graciela, then at least Happy would have the sense to talk to him about it before getting with his sister.
There was no written club law about dating direct family members, but most brothers extended the curtesy of asking about it before jumping into anything. If Kayleigh had been in contact with her family when they were together, Juice would have asked her father or brothers.
He was thankful his wife saw him lost in his thoughts, and left him to be by himself for a while. She put the girls to bed and took a shower before she joined him in bed. Juice wrapped an arm around her as she snuggled to his side under the covers.
"What do you think of Graciela and Happy?" he asked after a long stretch of silence.
Kayleigh thought about it for a moment before answering. "I think your sister deserves a man that will make her smile, and laugh, that will support her and love her, protect her. She needs to be with someone who will give her what she wants and deserves, and someone to put her in her place when she needs it. I think she deserves to be with whoever she chooses to be with, and if she chooses Happy, and he's all of those things for her, then she's a lucky woman… like me."
Juice smiled, despite his inner turmoil, at the thought of Kayleigh thinking she was lucky to have him.
"I'm the lucky one when it comes to the two of us, baby." He was silent again for a moment before Kayleigh spoke.
"What do you think of Graciela and Happy?"
Juice sighed. "I think my sister doesn't know what she's getting into, but I can't make that choice for her. I can give her my opinion, but Graciela's gonna do whatever the fuck she wants. The little shit always has, it was different when she was in New York, but with one of my brothers, with Hap… it's… it's just different. I'm not sure I'm okay with it."
"What part aren't you okay with? Her seeing one of your brothers or her seeing Happy?"
"Neither, both… It's… it's complicated. I'd be happy to see her become more of a part of the family, find her own spot within the club. I hoped that would happen when she moved here, but I didn't think she'd earn that place with the name Old Lady."
"What, you think she'd just be everyone's sister?" Kayleigh said with a small chuckle. "Juice, your sister is gorgeous. She was going to catch someone's eye sooner or later. You said it yourself before, Happy is a better choice than Rat."
"Doesn't mean I like it."
"You don't have to like it. Will you fight over it?"
"Fight Happy? No, not unless he does something to warrant a fight. I'm more interested in exchanging blows with your brother."
"Still?" she asked.
"Yes. Still. He shouldn't have put you in that situation, and his attitude and actions since it happened haven't made it any better."
Kayleigh decided to let that go, knowing discussing Trevor was likely to lead to a fight, and changed the subject. "I think I'm going to break out the pump and start pumping and feeding."
"Think she'll take a bottle?" Juice asked. Kayleigh could hear the excitement in his voice.
"Maybe. Her sister did."
The idea of being able to feed Anna Kate was exciting, but if she didn't take the bottle then Kayleigh would keep solely breastfeeding. "You always say every baby is different."
"Because they are, but I saved all those different nipple types and different bottle styles I bought to try with Gracie, so maybe she'll like one. Then hopefully by the time we're given the all clear she'll be drinking from a bottle too and we can leave her with someone for more than two hours or so."
Juice hummed and pressed his lips to the top of her head. "That sounds like a nice idea."
"I have to say," Tara started, setting her coffee cup down on the kitchen table, "It's nice to be at home so the kids can play, but I miss meeting at Lynn's for our planning sessions. There's just something about that little shop."
"I'm of the same mind, girlie. I miss my bakery. I miss baking." Kayleigh plucked a highlighted sheet of paper from the table and studied it. "Getting to bake for the cake walk with Bobby was so much fun. It was the second time I've been to Lynn's since Anna Kate was born."
"I saw the cakes this morning, Bobby was boxing them up. They look great. I can't believe y'all made twenty!"
"We also had one hundred buy one get one free cards and one hundred buy one get one fifty percent off cards made. They are to give to people who make a donation. The first hundred get a free card and the second hundred get a half off one."
"Nice way to get people to help out the schools' libraries. Anna Kate is one month old, when are you going back to Lynn's? You went back after a month with Gracie."
Kayleigh looked up from the set-up itinerary for tomorrow and smiled. "I've enjoyed the time at home with my girls, but it was nice to get Gracie back to daycare, and I can't wait to be back in the kitchen. Juice thinks I should take longer, relax at home since he's here this time, but I'm bored. There's only so much house to clean."
The women shared a laugh and Kayleigh continued. "I'm going back when school starts. Tristen and Ellie will be back in school, so they'll only be coming in in the afternoon on certain days. Speaking of which I need to talk to Ellie about her hours, but the start of school seems like a good time to return."
"Will you take Anna Kate with you like you did with Gracie?" Tara asked after checking a few things off her list.
"Yes. We'll see how Gracie does with being dropped off at daycare and Anna Kate staying with mama."
"Has she been jealous a lot?" Tara wondered.
Kayleigh shrugged. "There's been a few moments, but she mainly gets jealous when Juice's attention is focused on Anna Kate. One meltdown happened because Juice was rocking Anna Kate to sleep and Gracie wanted to be held, Juice didn't pick her up and you'd have thought the world ended."
"Oh, poor baby. She's such a daddy's girl. Is Anna Kate?"
Kayleigh rolled her eyes. "Dumb question, Tara. Of course she is."
After glancing over the plans for the End of Summer Fair, she looked back up at Tara. "So we ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes. I think so. I was so glad when the park cleanup was moved to September."
"It was a good idea to move it. Let's the month of August be more for back to school and the end of summer. Plus, more kids will volunteer to help clean up if they can get volunteer hours for their clubs by doing it."
Tara nodded in agreement and started gathering up materials. "Fair starts at eleven. See you at seven?"
"Yep. Bobby is bringing breakfast so come hungry. He's going to feed the set-up team and then the guys will let us order them around. Ellyda have the boys or is Jax bringing them?"
"Ellie is going to watch them in the morning, and then Lyla is bringing them to the fair. Noah said he'd drive the big kids in his truck."
"How's potty training going?" Kayleigh asked as Tara slid the notebooks and papers into her bag.
Tara groaned. "He does so good one day, and then the next it's like he wants to be in diapers. He doesn't have accidents overnight, and I know he can tell me when he has to go because he's done it multiple times, but damn… potty training sucks balls."
Kayleigh laughed at her friends expense, not looking forward to Gracie's potty training days in the future. "Have you tried that one theory of letting them run around naked in the house all weekend?"
"Not yet. Jax suggested it yesterday when Abel peed on the kitchen floor. If it's not any better by next weekend, we're going to give it a shot."
"Good to know. Won't be stopping by next weekend unless I get the all clear."
Tara threw her head back in laughter but quickly sobered when Kayleigh asked. "So does this mean baby number three is gonna be in the works?"
"No," Tara deadpanned. "That's still going to be a few years."
"Years? What happened to after Abel is potty trained? Anna Kate needs a friend."
"She has Gracie and Thomas." Tara looked at Anna Kate, asleep in her swing as they walked from the kitchen to the living room. The older three children were at daycare and Tara would have to pick up the boys soon. "Jax is worried things have gone too easy for the club, the transition out barely had any bumps in the road. Honestly, I'm ready to start trying for a baby now, but Jax wants to wait longer. He wants to be sure SAMCRO is free."
Kayleigh looked to her daughter and then back to her friend. SAMCRO had gotten a too-easy pass out of guns and drugs, and Kayleigh knew what MC life was like. You could gain freedom, but freedom came with a price. She gave Tara a quick hug and walked her to the door. "I can see Jax's view, I understand. It was an easy out, and things are never easy. SAMCRO's freedom from 1% activity won't be as easy as it has been, but our boys can do it. I'll see you tomorrow at the high school."
"Yes. If you're bringing that sweet little girl you'll be the highlight of the fair. It'll drive Juice nuts. Is someone picking up Gracie tonight or do I need to get her from daycare?"
"His girls getting attention always drives him nuts. Thanks for the offer, but Graciela is getting her on her way back from Stockton. She went to visit Lyla at Redwoody and is coming for dinner."
"Okay. See you tomorrow, Kayleigh."
Kayleigh sat and the couch after Tara left and gazed at her daughter as she thought about her and Tara's conversation. Freedom from the illegal MC world didn't come without a price, and SAMCRO hadn't paid for their freedom. Kayleigh could only hope that Juice came out unscathed.
