6

Chapter 83 New Wedding Gift

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Ava was on edge. When they changed planes at Dallas/Fort Worth in Texas, the plane was delayed over four hours over a "maintenance issue". Ava hated that because they always made it sound like something minor, but it could very well be something that would make the plane crash when it took off. The last time she'd flown alone, the same thing happened. Why were planes always having last minute maintenance issues?

When they finally boarded for the last leg of their flight to Cali, Jax's calming presence or not, she needed some Xanax or she had a feeling she'd get on the plane, panic and demand they let her off the plane. She knew that flying was safe and planes rarely crashed, but statistics aren't much comfort if you're on the wrong side of them just one time.

It was nice traveling with someone especially with a four hour flight delay. They talked, walked around, ate and Ava found herself not minding the flight delay except for the possibility that whatever they were fixing on the plane wouldn't stay fixed and they would die in a fiery crash.

They were on the right side of statistics and landed safely. The always efficient Jeeves had the car waiting to whisk them back to town. Jax saw that as another advantage of having money; you didn't have to ask friends or family to pick you up from the airport. Money definitely made life easier.

It was after midnight when they finally got back to Charming, which made it after two on New Orleans time. They were both tired not from the lateness of the hour, but from traveling and the flight delay. Jax would have had sex with Ava because a real man was never too tired for sex, but she looked exhausted. He decided to give her the night off.

The next day, Jax wanted to see Gemma and the guys at TM and catch up on what was going on since he'd left on his honeymoon. He'd made a couple of brief calls to Gemma and Clay while he'd been away, but they hadn't talked about much.

The guys teased him about his tan, married life and his celebrity status. Jax admitted that he enjoyed being married. He surprised himself because he spoke the truth. Now that he and Ava had gotten over those rough first days and started having sex, things were good. He didn't share that his marriage wasn't forever. Most of them knew that from personal experience.

SAMCRO was throwing him a big welcome home from prison party Friday night after church. He made it clear that now that he was a married man, Ava was going to be attending the party and they needed to keep it from turning into a drunken orgy or at least wait until after he and Ava left before bringing out the strippers and having a drunken orgy. On Saturday, the Sons charters were going to gather in Charming for another party to celebrate Jax's release. Jax was now a Sons legend by getting released from prison and exposing governmental corruption. This would be an MC only party. There wouldn't even be crow-eaters or strippers.

If only he weren't married, he would have one hell of a good time. Bring three or four girls to the apartment in the back of the clubhouse and get so drunk and high he would only remember he'd had a lot of sex. Those days were gone—at least until he and Ava got divorced. Fortunately, he had a lot of those orgy memories to last him for awhile.

He and Ava were having dinner with her father. He'd made it less formal, so they were eating at the kitchen island. The chef had plated each of the courses before leaving for the night. It was a simple dinner just a Caesar salad, grilled fish, wild rice and sautéed carrots in a tarragon butter sauce. Dessert was a cherry chocolate parfait masterpiece. It was a delicious dinner, but Jax's favorite was dessert.

While they ate, TB asked about their honeymoon. He enjoyed listening to Jax vividly describe their trip. He almost felt like he was on that motorcycle traveling in Hawaii. He was pleased that Jax had broken Ava ought of her habit of going to a resort and never leaving. It was about time she saw more of Hawaii. He wasn't concerned that they had gone on a motorcycle. Jax was an experienced rider and he trusted that he would be careful with Ava.

When they talked about their trip to New Orleans, he wished he'd gone there with Ava's mother like they had planned until work got in the way. Maybe if he'd been a more attentive husband, he could have prevented or at least helped her with her addiction.

Jax described how the concierge had recommended they stay in a treehouse. TB was shocked again that Jax had brought out this new adventurous side to Ava. When Ava talked about the nights they spent at the treehouse, she seemed actually happy.

TB was pleased by this change in his daughter and how well their honeymoon had gone. He figured it would be a make or break situation for their marriage. Ava's marriage was definitely having the desired effect on her thanks largely to Jax.

"Tomorrow night I told the chef to make a Louisiana style meal and serve the wine that you sent Ava."

"I don't know if you'll like the wine," Ava said.

"Your mom and I tried that type of wine when we were there and we loved it. I'd completely forgotten about that until that case of wine arrived. That was the perfect gift."

Ava thought she was having an out of body experience or hallucinating. She had actually pleased her father. There was a first time for everything, but she never thought this particular first time would ever come.

Jax invited TB to the party that MC was throwing to celebrate his getting out of prison. It was for anyone in town who wanted to come by.

"I'd love to come. If it's OK, I'd like to invite some of the attorneys that helped on your case."

"I'd love to thank them in person," Jax said.

"OK. How about we make this kind of a joint party? If you want to provide beverages, I'll get the food. Simple easy stuff. I was thinking food trucks. One with hot dogs and sausages. Another truck that would just serve French fries and onion rings." Despite his wealth, TB had a love for junk food.

"And desserts," Ava added showing surprising interest in the party. "We should have an ice cream truck serving ice cream cones and sundaes."

"Good idea. There will be kids there at least during the early evening. The party was going to start around seven, but if you're going to do food; the party should start early. How does five sound?" Jax suggested.

"That's fine. I'll let my staff know. Who should I have my assistant coordinate with?"

"My mom," Jax said. Gemma normally handled all the parties for SAMCRO usually by getting the crow-eaters to help out.

"OK. I'll have the assistant I assign get in touch with her over the times and how much food we'll need. I'd rather there be too much than too little."

"I'll go by TM tomorrow and let everyone know about the change in plans."

After dessert, TB sat back on his bar stool and looked at Jax and Ava.

"I have one final wedding gift for you two. I bought the two of you a house. Not just any house, but your old house, Jax. Gemma told me how much you loved that house and you had to sell it to pay your legal fees. It will need some fixing up so I'm going to give you money to fix up the house so you and Ava will have a place of your own."

Jax was shocked by the generosity of the gift. Ava was shocked at the cheapness of the gift. She should have known her father would find some way to give them a cheap house and try to make it sound like it was a thoughtful gift.

"That's great. I wanted to fix up the house, but I never got the chance," Jax said. Jax figured the house was in both he and Ava's names and when they split up, he would buy out Ava.

Ava felt sick to her stomach. She knew the house wouldn't be the sprawling mansions she was used to.

"Is it at least gated?" she asked.

"Of course it's gated," Jax said.

He didn't understand how Ava could ask such a ridiculous question. The yard was fenced, so of course it had gates.

"It's all yours now," TB said cheerfully. "Jeeves has the keys."

"Great. We'll check it out tomorrow."

TB smiled imagining Ava's face when she saw her new home.