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Chapter 475 Old Lady MVP

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Jax had added Chuckie's cell number to Scarlett's phone so she could coordinate tonight's dinner with him. He mentioned that he was going to have Chuckie call around and get pastries delivered to the clubhouse for tomorrow's breakfast before the guy's headed out. Scarlett had been trying out different places in town to provide food for her store's opening. She offered to make the arrangements since she already had a list of contacts. Jax gratefully accepted her help. He told her to have the bill sent to TM.

Scarlett quickly arranged with the bakery she planned to use when she had her store's opening celebration to make breakfast sandwiches for the MC and to deliver them along with an assortment of pastries at seven the next morning. Anyone who got up late and wanted a warm breakfast sandwich could reheat it in the microwave.

Chuckie was sent out to get some paper tablecloths, black paper plates, plastic eating utensils, napkins and anything else needed for the dinner. The black paper plates were Scarlett's idea.

While she was recovering from her second back surgery, she watched a lot of cooking programs and discovered that food looked better on dark plates. She'd gotten some charcoal gray plates with black interiors for her condo and her observation had been right. Food did look better on dark colored plates. With the popularity of celebrating big birthdays with black, Chuckie wouldn't have any trouble finding black paper plates.

He also went by the grocery store to get orange juice for breakfast tomorrow and he picked up iced tea to go with dinner for the guys that wanted a break from alcohol.

After Scarlett gave Chuckie his assignments, she and Sack went to the condo association's clubhouse where she worked out doing the program her therapist had given her. She didn't want to lose the progress she had made during therapy and working out helped her get stronger. Sack pretended he was her trainer so his presence wouldn't appear suspicious. She didn't want anyone to think that Sack was a romantic partner.

The MC had a couple of long tables that Chuckie put together in a rectangle so the guys would be able to see each other during dinner. He put the white paper table cloths on the table and set up smaller tables for the food and another area where he had bottles of beer in one tub full of ice and another tub full ice and bottles of iced tea.

Chuckie came by Scarlett's condo and picked up four bowls of the mixed green salad, Ranch dressing and vinaigrette that Scarlett had prepared. He would call her when the guys sat down and were halfway through their salads so they could load her van with the meatloaf, twice baked cheese potatoes and Southern style green beans.

Chuckie was warming the rolls in the clubhouse oven because Scarlett didn't have the room in her oven. He had also taken the pies that Scarlett got from the supermarket yesterday and defrosted them.

Scarlett wanted to make sure that there was plenty of food even if that meant lots of leftovers, so when Chuckie called it took several minutes to load the van. Scarlett drove with Sack along to protect her.

She hadn't planned on coming inside the clubhouse. She wasn't strong enough physically to unload the van and Chuckie, Sack and Jax made quick work of unloading all the food.

"Come on inside," Jax said leaning in the open driver's side window. "I want to introduce you to the guys."

Scarlett hadn't expected to meet the guys. She was glad she'd gotten cleaned up and changed into clean clothes after she, her father and Sack had finished the cooking.

"OK," Scarlett agreed.

Chuckie had taken the salad plates and thrown them away. He and Sack had set the large disposable foil pans with the food on the tables.

"Hey, guys," Jax said. Everyone quieted down. "I want to introduce you to my old lady Scarlett. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

The guys began shouting and booing Jax.

"OK," he raised his hands good-naturedly, "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me second to patching Sons."

The guys whistled and cheered. Jax motioned for them to quiet down.

"This whole dinner was Scarlett's idea," Jax said. "Why don't you say a few words," Jax whispered to Scarlett.

"I just thought you guys might like a simple home cooked meal. It wasn't all my doing. My dad and Sack helped. It isn't anything fancy. I hope you enjoy it. And tomorrow for breakfast, I arranged for hot breakfast sandwiches and pastries from a local bakery. That was Jax's idea. They'll be here around seven."

Chuckie and Sack uncovered the food filling the clubhouse with the wonderful savory smells of homemade comfort food.

Jax looked at her with so much pride, Scarlett thought her heart would burst. She wanted him to be proud of her and she wanted to show him that she could fit into his MC world.

"I'm going to go now," Scarlett said softly to Jax as the men got in line for food.

"Thanks for this," he said.

She heard the murmurs of appreciation as the men filled their plates. It was definitely worth all the effort.

She and Sack left. She hadn't expected to be asked to stay for dinner. She, Sack and her father had already eaten and she knew that this dinner was a club members' only sort of event. She understood that without it being explained to her.

She'd gotten used to SAMCRO and didn't see a group of rough, scary, outlaw bikers. She saw them as individuals. The guys that had come to help out still looked like a group of potentially dangerous bikers. Jax and Opie were tall but there was one guy who looked like a giant.

"I'm sorry you didn't get to eat with the guys because you have to protect me," Scarlett said.

"I still may not have been allowed to eat with the guys since I'm only a prospect," Sack said. "I can't complain. I'd much rather watch over you than Gemma plus you pay me when you don't even have to."

"Do you have to memorize the club's history and stuff like that?"

Sack nodded.

"You have to know the origins of the club and the names of the first nine guys that started SAMCRO. Opie and Jax are special in the Sons world because they are the second generation of the founding members. Some of the first nine like Clay didn't have kids. A couple had girls and one of the first nine named McGee had three boys who were all killed in a car accident."

"That's horrible."

"Damned drunk driver," Sack said. "He went back to Ireland. JT went with him and helped him set up SAMBEL."

Scarlett, her father and Sack watched TV together and Sack opened up about what it was like for him in Iraq. He talked about why the MC meant so much to him and how he missed that feeling of brotherhood that he had in the military since he wasn't close to his family.

Jax returned around ten telling Sack to go to the clubhouse and enjoy the party. He told him to be at Scarlett's at seven the next morning. Jax needed to be at the clubhouse to grab breakfast with the guys before they headed back home.

"I guess you'll be making your omelet without Jax in the morning," Scarlett said.

"I think I can figure it out," Decker said drily.

"I'll let Sack in when I leave so you don't have to get up early on my account," Jax said.

Jax and Scarlett went to bed a short time later. Scarlett had already taken her shower and changed into the blue leggings and long loose T-shirt she slept in. By the time Jax showered and changed for bed, Scarlett was watching a Blackadder DVD.

She shut the computer when Jax came out of the bathroom.

"Dinner wasn't dinner," Jax said. "It was a feast. The guys loved the food. Lorca said he hadn't had Southern green beans like that in twenty years. All the visitors were very impressed with you. Said they knew why Esai wanted to take you. I told them you scared him away by threatening to shoot him. They laughed every time I told the story and they made me tell the story at least four times."

"I know it's important for SAMCRO to create a good impression."

"Well, you created a knock out impression. You definitely made fans tonight and of course the guys all envy me. The thing they really loved was that you thought of giving them a nice home cooked meal and made it. I don't know how many times I heard someone say "it must be good to be Jax Teller" tonight. I'm so damned proud of you," Jax said.

Scarlett's face flushed with pleasure.

"I'm glad they liked everything. Was there enough food?"

"Everyone ate like pigs and there were still leftovers. We're having them tomorrow for lunch and we're pretty damned happy about it. Chuckie's reheating the potatoes and getting more rolls so we can have meatloaf sliders. We're sending the green beans home with Lorca because he loved them so much. We're not having Church tomorrow. I'd like to take you and your dad to that steakhouse you took me to once."

"Great. I'll let him know in the morning."

Jax got into bed stretching out with his head propped up on his elbow.

"I left early when the porn stars and crow-eaters made their appearance. I'm done with all that. I'd rather spend time with you and the guys don't need me to be there. All of SAMCRO is there except Opie and Clay. Even Piney is there."

"Piney still parties?"

"Not as hard as he used to, but he enjoys a good party now and then."

Scarlett used her arms to push herself into an upright position. She still couldn't sit or stand without using her arms.

"I have a confession to make," she said. Her fingers gently stroked Jax's beard. "I can't get over how soft your beard is."

"That's the confession?"

"No. My motives in making dinner for everyone weren't completely pure. Part of me wanted to show Gemma up for being so mean to me."

Jax sat upright chuckling.

"One of the many things I love about you is your honesty," Jax said. He leaned closer to her. "I have a confession to make too," he whispered softly.

"What?" she asked breathlessly.

"I told Clay I'd take care of breakfast for everyone to show up Gemma too."

Scarlett wrapped her arms around her body and laughed.

"She had Chuckie get doughnuts and she could have done something nicer. She hasn't been a lot of help with the guys."

"Do you think she's just mad that you kicked her out of the clubhouse?"

"Oh, I'm sure that's some of it. It doesn't matter how mad she is at me. She's the president's old lady and she was certain duties whether she is mad at me or not."

"Will Clay say something to her about it?"

"Oh, I'm sure he will," Jax said with a grin. "He took a plate of food to Gemma. That's kind of his way of rubbing her nose in it. He wasn't very happy about her behavior. I'm going to try to finish our talk tomorrow depending on what's going on with the MC.

"Alvarez said he's put the word out about having money and new ID for Esai and the ex-girlfriends are interested in getting a reward. I think he's desperate enough to reach out to some of his ex-girlfriends. It's either that or he's going to have to start robbing people for money. It's a tough way to get money because a lot of people don't carry much cash. If he robs stores, that increases the danger."

"I'll be glad when he's taken care of. I'm not worried about me. I don't think he'll make the mistake of coming back to Charming. I'm worried more about you and the guys getting hurt."

"We'll be fine," Jax said kissing her lightly on the lips. "And Scarlett, sometimes I do have you figured out. I knew part of your home cooking was you wanting to show up Gemma."

Scarlett reached out and gave Jax's beard a tug.