Ch 8
Happy went to see his mother while Mary took Kerry home. Mary was going to watch Abel and Thomas during the wedding at Jax and Tara's house. Kerry fell asleep on the couch for a few hours and she woke up as Happy came through the door and spotted a good size black lab laying next to her on the floor. The dog jumped up barking as Kerry's eyes opened.
"Kasey, shhh…." The dog quieted and sat down. "This is Kasey, she's 10 months old." Kerry put a hand out to pat Kasey as the dog relaxed. Happy knelt down and patted her as she licked his cheek.
"Are you sure your ok to go? I can stay here with you."
"I want to go. Lyla is so excited and I missed out on the bachelorette party. Maybe it can just be an early night."
"You might not see me around the wedding much, I have some club stuff-"
"I just got you back."
Happy frowned.
"I hate myself for the way I talked to you when you came to Stockton. When I saw Gemma and Tara with Lowen I nearly lost it. I can't loss you, your my reason for living."
Kerry went to stand but Happy shook his head.
"Rest."
"Come here." Kerry said putting out her hand. "I love you. I'm ok, I was so scared you didn't want me and then this happened-"
"But your ok, right? Tara said-"
"Yes, I'm ok at my 4 week appointment they confirmed that I will still be able to have children."
"You'll be a good mom."
"Will you come with me to my appointment this week?"
"Of course, anything you need?"
"I should start getting ready."
Happy helped Kerry stand and made sure she made it up the stairs ok before going to make some phone calls. Almost 2 hours later Tara and Kerry went to go pick up Lyla. The ride to the Wahewa Reservation was spent talking about how beautiful Lyla looked and going over the plans for the wedding.
When the women arrived Piney was waiting for them since he was going to walk Lyla in. Tara and Kerry took their spots and a few moments later Lyla walked in with Piney, Ellie was holding the back of Lyla's dress. The ceremony itself was quick and then the party got started. Everyone was drinking and dancing.
"You girls look great." Gemma said to Tara and Kerry who were sitting watching the dance floor.
"Where is your friend?" Tig asked with a smirk.
"You let that lass be. She's a nice girl." Chibs said as Kerry chuckled.
"Mary is on babysitting duty." Gemma said as Tig pulled up a chair.
"She's single-"
"Let her be." Chibs said giving Tig a light shove before walking off.
"I think the Scot has a crush. Mary's a nice girl and all but not Old Lady material, she's too nice." Gemma said as Kerry nodded.
"I want a dance with my girl." Jax said taking Tara's hand. Clay came over for Gemma and they joined Opie and Lyla who were already on the dance floor.
"Let's go." Tig said standing up. Kerry shook her head. "Come on, no funny business. I promise." Kerry stood up and took Tig's hand. Half way through the dance Happy tapped on Tig's shoulder.
"Let me dance with my Old Lady."
"I was wondering where you were."
"Just switching jobs with Kozik. I wanted to be able to keep an eye on you." Kerry smiled and rested her head against Happy's chest. "You look beautiful. Everyone else might have been looking at the bride but not me."
"You look handsome."
When the song was over Happy made sure Kerry took a break and went to get her a drink.
"I'll have a beer."
"Oh no you won't. Water is best." Tara said as Kerry frowned.
"I'm not taking the pain meds any more." Kerry said with a pout.
"Let her have a beer, Doc." Clay said as Tara frowned.
"Fine, I'll listen." Kerry said with a sigh. Tara and Jax didn't stay around long and once they left Gemma handed Kerry a drink.
"I got your back." Gemma said sitting down since they guys were congregated at the edge of the party. "How are you doing?"
"I'm going stir crazy. The doctor better give me the all clear to go back to work because if I stay home any more I will seriously loose it."
"Mary had been taking good care of you."
"She's a good friend. I think the move has been good for her. It's the first time she's been away from her family and now she can spread her wings."
"Really? She's been with her family the whole time?"
"I thought my family sheltered me. Mary grew up in the suburbs and she commuted to college. I commuted to school too but I moved out and lived with friends. I just couldn't stand the thought of living with people I didn't know, her parents wouldn't let her. Her parents were trying to set her up with some guy from her church back home so this saved her." Kerry said with a chuckle.
"Did you call your mother back?"
Kerry frowned.
"No, I'm not sure I will. I don't want to open up old wounds."
"You hardly ever talk about them."
"There isn't much to say. I had a good childhood but when I started questioning the Catholic church it made them uneasy. Then when I dated a girl they told me I was dead to them and I was disgrace to the family."
Happy was watching Kerry and Gemma. He noticed Kerry tense up and was now gripping her beer bottle he walked over.
"Hon, I'm sorry. That is terrible. It really is. I shouldn't have even brought it up. I just know how it feels to live with regret about splitting with family. My parents stopped talking to me when I married TJ, they never acknowledged my kids or anything. My father really hates Clay."
Happy looked at Gemma and then Kerry.
"I'm going to get a refill." Gemma said standing and leaving the two.
"Are you ok?"
"Yea, Gemma was asking me about my parents. My mother called and left a message on my phone about a week ago."
Happy frowned and sat down.
"I don't think I'm going to call her back."
"What did she say?" Kerry pulled out her cell phone and played the message.
"Kerry, it's your mother. Kathryn said you were in the hospital and I just want to make sure your ok." Kerry put the phone back in her bag.
"I haven't talked or seen them in 4 years. She's trying to act like we have a relationship now. I bet she heard from Uncle Mike about how I'm doing. I told Kathryn to give them no information. Uncle Mike has been trying to get them to come around even though I asked him not to. He means well and he knows if Aunt Kelly was alive she would have tried to fix this."
"And what did Gemma say?"
"She didn't pick a side but said that she had a falling out with her parents and she regrets it." Happy paused for a minute.
"Give yourself some time to think about it." Kerry covered her mouth trying not to yawn. "Come on, time to go home."
Kerry pouted a bit.
"Nope, that's not going to work. You need your rest." Happy went to tell Clay he was leaving as Kerry gave Lyla a small wave. Lyla made her way over dragging Opie with her.
"Thank you for being here. I know it was a lot."
"I wouldn't have missed it."
"Thanks for being here, Kerry." Opie said as Kerry slowly stood up. Happy came over putting an arm around her.
"Have a good night, you two." He said before helping Kerry over to his bike. "Shit, I can have-"
"It's not a long ride home. I can do it."
"But-"
"Hap, I'm ok. It's late and I'll be fine."
"I can have someone bring a car."
"No, I don't want to wait." Kerry said covering her mouth again as she yawned. Happy handed Kerry his helmet and got on the bike as Kerry climbed on behind him.
The ride home was slow at every stop sign or red light Happy checked to make sure Kerry was ok. When they got home he insisted she wait at the bike for him to unlock the door and he carried her upstairs.
"I really am ok." Kerry muttered.
"Don't complain, woman." He said as Kerry laughed. Mary was watching a movie since she was going to stay over instead of driving back to her apartment in Stockton. Kerry started her bedtime routine and after changing out of her dress she was checking on her scar.
"It's healing up well." Happy said from his spot on the bed.
"It is. My scar from the laparoscopy was so small but this-"
"It's a battle wound." Happy said as Kerry nodded. "I read up on your condition in Stockton."
"It sucks that my body doesn't work normally. I'm hoping this surgery keeps things manageable for a few years. I had the laparoscopy when I was 22 so it lasted over 5 years."
"Does Kathryn have it too?"
"No, they thought she might because she had some symptoms. I'm glad she didn't because she couldn't cope. She can barely deal with the headache. I would hate to see her with the pains I had, some days I could only stay curled up in the fetal position and even then the pain was bad."
Kerry climbed into bed as Happy scooted closer to her.
"I've missed this, being this close to you."
Kerry smiled.
"Me too." She whispered.
"Shit, should I take Kasey for a walk?"
"Mary said she would when she got home."
"Oh good."
"I'm sure she'll give her a walk first thing in the morning since she's up at like 5 every day."
The next day Happy went to the clubhouse and Kerry stayed on the couch watching movies with Mary.
"This sucks. If I watch another chick flick I'm gonna claw my eyes out." Kerry muttered as Mary frowned.
"But they're so good!"
"Every once and awhile. Can't we watch a horror movie or an action movie? I'm so sick of love stories."
Mary made a face.
"Ok, let's go out then and lets drop some brownies by the clubhouse."
"But-"
"No buts, let's go." Kerry went to reach for her purse and Mary stood.
"I'm driving though."
"That's cool. Let's get coffee and maybe just drive around."
"Your guy is gonna be mad. He asked me make sure you rested. He is kind of intimating." Mary said as Kerry smirked.
"Only sometimes. I can't be in the house anymore it's driving me crazy, the doctor better give me the all clear for work and sex because I can't-"
"To much information!" Mary said covering her ears.
"Oh please, Mary, you need to get laid. How long has it been? Longer then me and I would have last night-" Mary covered her ears again as Kerry stopped.
"Too long." Mary muttered as they made sure Kasey was settled in her room with her gate before leaving the house.
"No interesting guys at church."
"Maybe one." Mary muttered her cheeks red.
"Oh, really? I am so going to church with you. I want to see him!"
"Oh boy. Should I be worried?"
"Maybe, I won't go hard with the questions like I do for Kathryn but I gotta check out the situation." Mary backed up her car and drove to the coffee shop.
After getting their drinks they drove around town for a bit. Kerry spotted a house for sale with the an open house that was going on.
"Let's go look around."
"Kerry, you have a house and I have an apartment."
"I have a small house which is beginning to drive me crazy."
Mary followed Kerry inside. The real estate agent was a parent at Kerry's school and was quick to give a tour since they were the only ones there.
"Outside there is a pool." The agent said as Kerry's eyes lit up.
"Really? In ground?"
"Yes, it's a good size. The pump was replaced last year and the pool itself is about 5 years old."
Kerry looked around with a smile.
"I like it. I miss having a pool. My aunt and uncle had a pool at their house and I was always there."
After asking some questions about central air Kerry and Mary left.
"I love it, it is so nice!" Kerry said with a dreamy look on her face. "Can we stop by TM now?"
Mary nodded.
"I just loved that house, I'm going to e-mail the agent Karen with the info about my house and see what she says. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to have some pool parties?"
Mary gave a panicked look.
"Oh please, you'd look better in a bathing suit then me these days. Your taller then me and you have a good shape."
"I couldn't. I hardly wear a bathing suit ever."
"I think you should. You only live once." Kerry said as Mary let out a sigh. Mary pulled into the lot at TM, it looked to be quiet.
"I can wait here." Mary said as Kerry frowned.
"Come on and be sociable." Mary followed Kerry.
Gemma was in the office and looked up.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just getting out and about. We went for some coffee and just drove around a bit. I'm going stir crazy."
"Hap is in the club house, I bet he'd like to see you. Things have been busy this morning."
"I'll stay here, if that's ok with Gemma."
Gemma gave Mary a half smile.
"Sure."
Kerry walked into the clubhouse. All of the members were sitting around. Bobby who was looking over papers spotted her first.
"Hey Kerry, it's good to see you up and around. I think Hap is lifting weights. Hey Miles, go get Hap."
Kerry took a seat at the bar.
"Enjoying your freedom?"
"I'm trying. How are you feeling?"
"Good, getting anxious to get back to work. My class this year has a few struggling kids and I'm sure they are ok but I miss being in the classroom."
Happy came walking over.
"Are you ok? Where's Mary?"
"I'm fine, just getting some air. Mary is with Gemma. I brought her to a party here a few months back and I think that's the last party she'll come to. She saw a crow eater and one of the Tacoma guys going at it and she nearly died."
Happy started laughing as everyone turned to look what was going on.
"I can't believe you just said that." Happy said taking a deep breath.
"It's true. I'm sure she'll be heading home soon. I guess we should head back and check in on Kasey."
"Tara is home." Jax said walking by.
"Hey Chibs, I made brownies but I left them in Mary's car."
"I can get them." Tig said as Chibs muttered something under his breath as he walked outside.
"Trying to play matchmaker?" Happy asked as Kerry shrugged.
"Maybe, she likes some guy at her church but I said I wanted meet him and give her the ok. Nothing crazy like what I do for Kathryn but sometimes Mary needs a push in the right direction."
"So your going to go to her church?"
"Yea, I might get struck down for going in." Kerry said with a laugh. Chibs came back with the pan of brownies as the guy swarmed in.
"Did your friend help make these?" Tig asked.
"Nope, I'm trying to help her out with cooking. She pulled out the ingredients and I did the rest."
"These are so good."
Happy put an arm around Kerry.
"I'll be home early tonight."
"Awesome, want to grill tonight?"
Happy nodded.
"Great, I'll ask Mary to stop at the store on the way home. I should go, I bet Mary is ready to leave. For someone who can watch chick movies for hours she gets restless easy."
"I'll walk you out." Happy said as he took the empty brownie pan.
"We've missed your cooking!" Tig said as Kerry smiled.
