Ch 25

Kerry was sitting on the couch looking over back to school information when her phone started to buzz.

"Hello?" She said noticing Happy's number.

"Can you come to the warehouse? The Irish Kings requested to see you."

"What? Why?" Kerry said putting the paper on the table and slipping her feet into her sandals.

"Galen and Declan said they wanted to be assured of your safety and speak to you directly about what is going on."

"Ok, I'm on my way. I'll be there in 10 minutes."

"Ok, be safe."

Kerry arrived at the warehouse to see Happy standing outside looking less then pleased. She parked the car and got out. Happy put an arm around her and kissed her cheek.

"I'm not leaving you with them." He all but growled.

"Thank you, I don't know why they suddenly care about me and why they want to talk to me."

Chibs offered a small smile as Clay approached the pair.

"I assume you know what to do?" Clay asked coldly.

"I want this to be my one and only meeting with them." Kerry said as Clay nodded.

"Good, Hap. You can wait here."

"I want Happy with me."

Clay frowned before nodding and leading the pair back into the room.

"As you requested, Kerry is here."

"We'll be speaking to the lass alone." Galen said as Kerry moved closer to Happy.

"I want my husband to stay." Galen looked to Declan who nodded. Clay walked out of the room closing the door.

"Kerry, you won't remember me but I am your grandfather's cousin. He and his brother, Frank, wanted to keep the women of the family away from the life. They both did good work for us in Boston and being our eyes and ears in the city. When you were a wee little lass I saw you at a birthday celebration for your grandmother. Galen was around more being that Boston was always a stop when coming to America. Your mother is worried about yeah. She said you left Boston and have pushed her away."

Happy felt Kerry tense at the mention of her mother.

"Ellen pushed me away, she didn't like that I spoke up to her when she treated me badly. Nothing I ever did was good enough and I decided I needed a change and came to Charming. I found a family here and I love my husband."

Happy wanted to smile but kept his grim expression.

"What about what happened to Jackson's girlfriend? She is in the hospital because the Sons dealings?" Declan asked as Kerry frowned.

"It's not all about the club's dealings. She was away from Charming for a medical conference."

"I would never let anything happen to Kerry." Happy said suddenly as Galen looked to Declan.

"Your mother would like to see you. She is coming to California and will be arriving tomorrow."

Kerry frowned and glanced at her feet.

"I really have nothing to say to her. She has a way of making things about herself. Honestly she wasn't even upset about not getting invited to our wedding, she was more worried about what her friends thought about her not being there. She was never a mother to me, not like her sister Nancy. She was a good person."

"Aye, she was. Joe and Frank always spoke kindly of her. Galen, maybe we should let this go." Declan said as Kerry offered him a small smile.

"I would feel better if you see your mother. Your husband and I can be there to supervise. I promised her a meeting and she'll get one. Declan and I will continue to make sure that you are safe. You are family after all."

"Lass, you do remind me of your grandparents. Margaret was brave and you get your stubbornness from Joe."

Kerry chuckled and nodded.

"I have heard that before. I also have his temper."

Galen pulled a phone out of his pocket and walked towards Happy.

"I'll call later today with a time and place for the meeting tomorrow."

"Be safe. It was good to see yeah." Declan said with a nod as Happy lead Kerry out of the room.

When they got outside Clay was waiting.

"So?"

"Kerry's mother requested a meeting through Galen. We have to go sometime tomorrow. Galen will be giving the time and place later on."

"Shit." Clay muttered. "Kerry, you can go home. Happy will be back soon."

Kerry gave a nod and made her way back to her car. When she got home she sat on the couch with a sigh. After a few minutes she walked into the kitchen to start dinner as a way to clear her head. Happy returned home about two hours later at dinner time.

"Galen called and the meeting is tomorrow at noon and he will call with the address tomorrow morning."

Kerry nodded and glanced ay her hands.

"It's been years since I've seen her. Even before I moved to Charming. It'll be like talking to a stranger but at least you will be with me. I hope they keep their word and this is it with my mother."

After dinner the pair went for a swim in the pool and settled on the couch to watch a movie. Kerry somehow managed to fall asleep and they were both woken up by the dining cell at 9am the next morning.

"Hello?" Happy mumbled. "Yes, ok. We will be there." Happy closed the phone as he repeated the message with the address.

"This is really happening." Kerry mumbled putting a hand over her face.

A few minutes before noon Happy and Kerry arrived at a house outside of Modesto. Happy got out of the drivers seat and walked around to the passenger side as Kerry slowly got out of the car. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a halter top making sure her crowd tattoo was visible on her back by pulling her hand into a ponytail. Happy took her hand as they walked to the door and as they approached it was opened by a tall thin man.

"Dad." Kerry said as the man smiled.

"It's good to see you." He said hugging her.

"This is my dad, John. Dad, this is Happy."

"So you're the lucky guy? Nice to meet you." John said shaking his hand. "I'm sorry about all of this. I tried to talk your mother out of it but you know how she is. I had a no idea about all of this crap." John said mumbling the last part.

Kerry forced herself to nod as John lead them into the living room where a red haired woman who looked to be an older version of Kerry was sitting talking to Galen.

"Hi mom, Hi Galen. This is my husband, Happy. My mom, Ellen." Kerry said as the woman didn't move to hug or even greet her daughter.

"I'm glad you decided to join us. I know you were not happy with the suggestion." Galen said.

"We heard about the wedding from Kathryn, she said it was nice and it looks like California has been agreeing with you." John said as Kerry nodded.

"Moving to Charming was the best decision of my life. I needed a fresh start and I found a family here with Happy and his club."

"Family with a motorcycle club? Your real family is in Boston and some of us were not even invited to the wedding." Ellen spat as Happy moved closer to Kerry squeezing her hand.

"I thought long and hard about it and I couldn't invite you, not after all the grief and drama you bring along. For the first time in a long time I feel free and at peace. I moved across the country away from the rest of the family that loves me and all my friends-"

"Some of them have followed you here. I know Mary moved and Daniel has joined that club!" Ellen said as John tried to speak but Ellen continued. "You never listened to me or cared about me, I'm your mother for heavens sake. I brought you into this world."

Kerry sighed.

"Yes, and I do remember several years ago you disowned me. Told me that I wasn't your child and I was dead to you." Kerry said calmly as Galen spoke up.

"Your mother wants to make sure you're safe here. I assured her that Declan and I would be keeping an eye on everything that is happening here in Charming. I've known Clay for a long time but your old man just got out of prison a few months ago with most of the MC and your mother is worried."

"I would never let anything happen to Kerry." Happy said as Kerry gave him a small smile.

"That's all well and good but just a few days ago your vice presidents Old Lady was almost abducted and was is in the hospital."

"Galen, I understand you are concerned and I see why. Charming is my home now and I'm staying here with my family."

Galen nodded as Ellen snarled.

"Your going to let this go? When I spoke to you I was told-"

"I came here and spoke to the lass before the wedding as you asked. Declan and myself spoke to her as you asked. Now you're having your meeting as you asked. I have held up my end of the deal. As Declan said yesterday Kerry is a lot like her grandfather. She is stubborn but brave. If she wants to stay in Charming with the Sons I can not stop her and neither can you. From what I have seen here today I can see why she left home when she did." Ellen let out a sigh. "Kerry, thank you for stopping by. I expect you to be keeping that phone and we will be checking up on yeah every once in awhile to make sure you're safe."

"Thank you, Galen. Have a good day."

"I expect you to keep your word." Galen said narrowing his eyes as Happy forced a nod. Ellen remained seated as John made his way over.

"Kerry, it was good to see you-"

"Dad, why don't you come join us for lunch?"

John glanced at his wife who looked like she would explode any moment.

"Ok, I can do that. Ellen, I will see you later at the hotel."

"How dare you take that little tramps side! She has everyone fooled-"

Happy growled as Kerry squeezed his hand.

"She not worth it. In my mind she was never my mother."

"Come on let's go." John said following them out the door with Galen not far behind. He got into a waiting car as Happy opened the passenger side door and walked around to the drivers side as John got into the backseat. Kerry and Happy had a long chat with John over lunch. He didn't ask about the Sons but shared what had been going on in Boston and how he had tried to talk Ellen out of contacting Galen. John listed to Kerry talk about her classes and the house in Charming. She showed a few pictures of the wedding from her phone and John wiped at his eyes.

"Dad, I should have-"

"No, don't you dare regret not inviting me. You needed to be free of your mother and I stood by and let her behave that way. I was always working or ignored what was going on and I didn't deserve to be there. I'm glad Mike was here and he was the one to walk you down the isle. He's a good man and has always looked out for you. I can see how different you are and I see the way you two are together. That smile that lights up your face is something I hardly saw. You only had the look when you were away from Ellen and I'm sorry for that."

It was starting to get dark when Kerry and Happy dropped John at the hotel.