A/N Ok. Time to meet some of Angie's family. One Maroney other than Angie will play a key role in the story later. Hope you enjoy and comment make your best guesses.
Chapter 8
The Escalade came to a stop in front of the house, and Angie leaned over and kissed Jax on the cheek. "This should be fun," she whispered as she walked away from Jax and headed toward the SUV. The driver side door opened and a woman 3 or 4 years older than Angie got out of the SUV. Turning and shutting the door, the woman then turned and faced Angie. She was a nice looking woman, and she was dressed to the nines. The passenger door opened and a young man got out. He looked to be about 15. Jax couldn't help but notice he looked exactly like Matt, Angie's brother.
"Angie it is so good to see you!" the woman said. She opened her arms and Angie went up and hugged her. The young man came around the car and hugged Angie too.
"It is good to see you too, Sandy. And look at you, MJ, you have gotten so tall," Angie said. Jax walked over to join Angie, scooping Abel up in his arms. Jax walked up as Angie let go of MJ. He put his arm around her as she stepped back.
"Soooo, this must be your outlaw biker who you have been running off to meet all these years," Sandy said as she looked Jax up and down.
"Enough, Sandy. Let's not end this visit before it even starts." Angie said her voice hard. "Sandy, MJ, this is Jax." Taking Abel from Jax Angie turned to Sandy, "And this little man is Abel."
"Nice to meet you," MJ said. "Is that your Dyna over in the drive?"
"It is. You into motorcycles MJ?" Jax asked shaking the outstretched hand of the teenager.
"I think they are cool, but you know," MJ said, nodding his head towards his Mom. "I see Aunt Angie's Chevelle is out. Have you gotten to drive it? My Dad used to say she wouldn't let anyone with a penis drive it,"
"MJ!!" Sandy screeched.
"Come on MJ, let's go look at the car and the bike before you get yourself grounded. And let's take Abel with us. You know you are never too young to learn about muscle cars and bikes." Jax said, taking Abel and turning around.
The 3 of them walked off as Angie and Sandy stood watching. "He's getting so big, Sandy. And he acts just like Matt. It's like looking in a mirror." Angie said. "Come on, let's go inside and find us some coffee and see what Pricilla has baking in the kitchen.
As Sandy and Angie sank into the couch in the living room, Angie took a bite of the cookie they had gotten in the kitchen.
"Well, I can certainly see why you kept him a secret from your Dad all these years, Angie. He would have flipped his lid." Sandy said. There was a hint of disdain in her voice, something Angie was used to.
"It wasn't that Sandy, not that I have to explain anything to you. Jax and I were just friends till I went out to California to help him." Angie said.
"And you got a kid in the deal too, that is mighty convenient, now isn't it. Have you made the little one an official 'Maroney' yet?" Sandy said making air quotes as she said it.
"Enough Sandy." Angie said.
"Well it is the only way you are probably going to have a child, so I got to give you props for solving the inheritance issue, you certainly locked your share of the Maroney fortune.."
"Sandy stop." Angie shouted. "Make your point."
"Well, I just find it interesting you chose a man who already had a child." Sandy said.
"Sandy, I wrote my father's trusts and his will. Had I wanted it to be different I had EVERY opportunity to get him to change it. My Dad knew about my situation, and just to make things perfectly clear, whether I adopt Abel, have my own child, or go to Asia and adopt 10 children it is none of your damn business." Angie voice was getting louder and she knew it. She took a minute, took a deep breath and then continued.
"Furthermore, whether I have an 'heir' or not, I am in control, and my personal trust is more than enough to care for me and mine. And the ranch is in trust in perpetuity. A trust I control and will until such time as I decide to pass control to someone else. Now what did you come out here for?" Angie said, her voice was low and powerful. She hadn't noticed that Jax was standing in the hall outside the living room.
"Well, I just came to visit since you are back for the first time in so long." Sandy said, her voice syrupy sweet.
"Bullshit, Sandy." Angie said. "What do you want?"
"It's MJ." Sandy said. "He is becoming a handful. He is always pushing me, he is defiant, talks back. I just can't handle him anymore."
"I see," Angie knew that this was probably not the truth. Taggert kept a close eye on her sisters-in-law and her other family members. Angie knew Sandy wasn't spending much time at home, or with MJ. "And what are you wanting me to do about this?"
"I was thinking about sending MJ to boarding school." Sandy said. "You control his trust, so what do you think?"
"Well I think if you spent a little more time as a parent and a little less time at the Country Club you might actually know whether your son acted up or not." Angie snipped.
"What do you know about it, you haven't been here?" Sandy yelled.
"I know more than you think. It is my understanding MJ spends a lot of time alone. You wouldn't know he is defiant because you are never home." Angie replied.
"Well now I see that since you have acquired a little 'built in' family you think you are the all knowing parent. You planning on butting in like your Dad did?" Sandy quipped.
"If I have to. Look you came to me. I am going to tell you this. Boarding school is not an option, but if MJ wants to stay here at the ranch while I am here, he is welcome to. I will talk to him about the rules." Angie said.
"Well if you think you can do a better job than I do, be my guest." Sandy said.
"A goldfish can do a better job than you, Sandy. Besides, I think MJ needs a good male influence in his life. And god knows there are plenty of those out here right now." Angie said.
"Who, your outlaw biker and his merry band?" Sandy said.
Angie stood from the couch and leaned over Sandy. "Let me make something very clear Sandy. Jax and his friends are my family. And contrary to what you might think, Dad and my brothers would have liked him. You want to know why? Because despite his rough edges he is a decent, honorable man. Just like they were." Angie stood up and walked to the entrance of the living room. "I will talk to MJ, he can move in tonight if he wants to."
Angie walked out of the room and Jax slipped into the room from the other entrance. He looked at Sandy. "You don't approve of me do you?"
"What makes you say that," Sandy said. She was more than a little uncomfortable. Jax walked over to her.
"Look I heard what you had to say about me from the hallway. May I give you a word of advice?" Jax said sitting down on the arm of the couch.
"Do I have a choice?" Sandy said.
"No. You may think I am the threat, but let me tell you, I will do nothing to you compared to what she will. You keep pushing her and she will hit back. Now I suggest you go home and pack MJ's things. He will be moving in out here." Jax said. He got up and walked out.
Angie found MJ out in the barn with Abel. Angie leaned on the barn door as she watched the two boys interacting. MJ had Abel on a hay bale. He had the reins attached to the front of the hay bale and MJ was sitting behind him. He was telling him to kick his heels into the bale to get the 'horse' moving and then to use his heels to hold on. It was so cute.
"Hey you two," Angie said. "You remember learning to ride on a similar hay bale?"
"Yeah, Dad and Uncle Mason taught me the same way." MJ said.
Picking Abel up, Angie set him down on the ground, "Why don't you go find Nita, Abel." Angie said shooing him out the door.
"He's great Aunt Angie," MJ said.
"Thanks, so how are you getting along with your Mom?" Angie asked.
"No need to get along with someone who is never around," MJ said.
"I heard. I told her you could stay out here at the Ranch while I was here, if you want." Angie said. "But before you decide, you need to know there are some rules if you come out here."
"And then what am I supposed to do when you go back to California?" MJ asked.
"Tell you what, let's just take this one step at a time. You want to stay here, we would love to have you here. If and when we decide to go back to California, then we will talk about your living arrangements then. Fair enough?" Angie said. MJ shook his head in agreement.
"What are the rules?" MJ asked.
"Nothing you can't handle. Respect the adults around you. Don't think just because you are a Maroney you don't have to help with the work on this ranch. And keep us informed about what you are up to. The rest we will work on as we go."
"Can I drive your car?" MJ asked.
"Do you have a driver's license?" Angie asked.
"I have a learners permit." MJ said.
"Well then keep learning. So are you moving in for a while?" Angie inquired.
"Yeah I would like that." MJ said.
"Come on then, let's get you set up at the house."
Angie and MJ walked in the back door into the kitchen. Pricilla was taking cookies out of the oven. MJ and Angie each took a couple and Angie told MJ to go tell his mother goodbye. As MJ was headed toward the living room Jax was walking out. "Hey man, you hanging out with us for a while?"
"Yeah, I think I will. That ok with you?" MJ asked.
"That's more than Ok with me." Jax said. He leaned over and whispered in MJ's ear. "Maybe the guys and I will teach you to ride that motorcycle." Leaning back Jax winked at MJ. "Now, have you seen your Aunt Angie?"
"Yeah she is in the kitchen. She had a chocolate chip cookie in her hand when I saw her." MJ said.
"First rule you need to learn, MJ. NEVER get between your Aunt Angie and a chocolate chip cookie." Jax said, punching him in the shoulder gently.
"Jax, that is a Maroney thing, not just an Aunt Angie thing." MJ said as he lifted his hand and showed Jax the 4 cookies he had in a napkin.
"Well then I better get in there if I want any myself," Jax said. "Come find me if you want to talk after you have talked to your Mom."
Just then Jax and MJ heard the front door close. Looking at each other Jax and MJ walked to the living room. Sandy was gone. They looked out the window and saw the Escalade pulling away from the house.
"Come on, Let's get some milk for those cookies you have in that hand." Jax said, slinging his arm around MJ's shoulders.