*I do not own anything you recognize*
So the response to this story has been incredible. Thanks for all the kind reviews and words of encouragement. I can tell Happy is a popular boy here on ff.
I do want to let you all know I make no promises for fast updates on this work like I have on my other stories. I usually don't release anything without being a few chapters ahead. I made the mistake of posting this real time and it might be a slow going as a result. I will do my best not to let anyone down though, so don't worry about it getting abandoned or anything.
Either way here's chapter three, enjoy.
It's eight fifteen when Tia stumbles through the front door of the home. She's running late and she can already feel a headache building slowly behind her left eye. It's always like this after Happy. It's been three days since his visit and she's still out of sync. She'd put the apartment back in order that night, washing the sheets, taking out the trash, removing every bit of evidence he'd ever appeared. When she'd woken the next morning she'd been prepared to pretend it was all just a dream. Then she'd found the Harley magazine on the coffee table and a dirty towel in the guest bath. He'd obviously made himself at home while he waited for her to get home. She's got an appointment with the super to change the locks yet again. Tia has no idea how he keeps getting in but she's going to keep taking steps to keep him out.
"Good morning Ms. Connery." Suzie is standing by the front desk with a stack of mail, her usual dour expression in place.
"Good morning Suzie. Is there anything big on the schedule?" Tia flicks through the envelopes carefully, she's expecting a letter.
"No ma'am. Mrs. Lowman's move to the new room is today and you've got a three o'clock with the Hartley's about their mother." Tia rubs at the bridge of her nose. The Hartley's were going to be the death of her. Their mother was a hellcat and the daughter-in-law was a bitch about every little thing.
"Okay," her voice trails off, "Do I have any phone messages?" The expected envelope is missing from the pack. Maybe he called.
"No." Suzie sounds far too interested and Tia gives her a disarming smile. "Is there anything else?"
"That's all, I'm going to make rounds." Tia hands off her coat and case to the waiting secretary before turning away.
Rounds were generally the best part of her day. The entire building formed a U around the long rectangular garden in the back and it usually took Tia about thirty minutes to walk the halls and check in on all the residents. Even running fifteen minutes late the home is quiet this time of morning, some residents are still in bed but most are settling down to watch TV after their breakfast. Its Tuesday, open house day, so Tia has on a skirt suit and her heels click on the tile. She stops by each room, running eyes over the charts and the check in sheets. She steps quickly by Loretta Hartley's room, she'll get enough of the woman when her children arrive this afternoon.
Hitting the end of the North hall Tia pushes out into the morning sunshine of the garden. Summer is just starting to come to a close and she'll have to come in one weekend soon to prune back the warm weather flowers and make sure the bulbs are in for the winter ones. She clicks across the paved patio, smiling at several residents who have come out to enjoy the fresh air before ducking into the South hall. South hall is the hospice side of the facility and it often takes longer to make sure everything is running smoothly. Today, however, Tia only has eyes for room 16. The door is open and she can hear the orderlies inside moving furniture. Tia ducks through the door to find Noreen Lowman in a wheelchair directing three men around the small room.
"I said put that mirror over the dresser boy, what part didn't you hear the first time." Noreen's snappish tone hides any sign that the woman is sick and Tia smiles.
"Good morning Mrs. Lowman."
"Tia dear, good morning." The elderly woman gives her a warm smile before turning back to the orderly. "Now center it, don't just plop it up there."
"I see you're settling in nicely. Do you like the room?" Tia can't help but be nervous. This is the same room she'd worked so hard to get her grandmother into years before. It's got the best view in the center.
"It's lovely dear, thank you for this. I know my boy didn't have the money." Noreen gives her a look that makes denying the accusation pointless.
"He's paying don't worry. I just thought you might like being closer to the flowers." Tia doesn't miss the now very wilted daisies still in a vase on the dresser. "Do you need anything? I see you've got the staff at your beck and call already."
"She's workin us to the bone Ms. Connery." Juan's tone is serious but he smiles big.
"Of course I'm working you. Don't think I didn't see you smoking behind the kitchens last week Juan Feliz." The younger man blushes and Tia hides a smile behind her hand. Noreen Lowman can't help but be a mother to everyone. "I don't need anything else dear. You going to come read to me today?"
"I'm not sure I'll have time, I have an afternoon appointment that's going to be quite long." Tia is already cursing the Hartley's in her head.
"It's the spawn of that Hartley bitch isn't it?" Two of the orderlies snort and Tia tries to school her face. Professionalism is difficult in these situations.
"The Hartley's will be in this afternoon yes." Noreen gives her a hard look at Tia just sets to straightening a lace doily near the room's TV.
"Don't let them push you around Tia, you're a strong girl. Show them." Noreen's is so like her grandmother's in that moment Tia can feel tears threatening.
"That's right Ms. Connery you kick that old bitch out if her kids give you trouble. Woman bit me last week when I went in to get her lunch tray." Juan sounds far too sure of himself.
"Mr. Feliz! We don't talk about our residents like that." He nods slowly but Noreen is chuckling and it ruins any kind of chastisement Tia was attempting. The orderlies file out of the room and Tia sits down on the edge of the bed. "You shouldn't encourage him Mrs. Lowman, I have enough trouble with him as it is."
"Oh go on, he's a good boy. Just a bit off sometimes. He's like my Louis that way." Tia nods, she's not sure that's an accurate description of Louis Lowman. "You alright girl? You look down."
"I'm fine, just tired. I haven't heard from my brother in a few weeks and I'm getting worried." It's a rare private admission from the usually reserved director.
"He's the one in rehab?" Noreen never minced words.
"Yes, he'd been doing so well. I just hope he still is." Tia straightens the fringe on the bed throw before getting up. "Let me know if you need anything at all Mrs. Lowman. I'll try to come by this afternoon."
"You're a good girl, I'll see you when I see you. Not going anywhere yet." Noreen's voice is already starting to lose its edge and Tia can tell she'll need to lie down soon. "Send in that cute orderly would you, the one with the nice ass. If someone's going to have to lift me into bed it better be a good looking man." Tia nods in agreement and laughs her way out of the room. It seems impossible that Noreen Lowman is in hospice, she's got too much life left in her.
The rest of the rounds go smoothly and Tia's back on schedule by the time she settles into her office to go over morning paperwork. There are the usual facility bills and Tia flicks through the papers quickly hoping that Suzie mixed a private letter in with the business mail. No luck. In a rare moment of weakness the brunette lets her head drop to the desk with a soft clunk. She hasn't heard from Ernesto in three weeks. When she'd first driven him to the expensive rehab facility she'd thought this was their chance to finally get things set straight. It was the first time her twin had agreed to help in five years and she'd the money to pay. He'd written weekly for the first month and then he'd started calling during his second thirty days but now that communications have tapered off she's starting to worry something's gone wrong.
He'd been a good boy, although he'd always had a bit of an addictive personality. Tia just hadn't expected things to go as far as they had. When she'd first caught him with a needle in his arm their parents had been dead two years and they'd been struggling to survive in a shitty apartment in Oakland. Six months later they'd moved to Bakersfield to live with their grandmother and Ernie had gotten a job at one of the local factories. Tia had hoped it would be a new start but it was only a few months before things were falling apart again. It had all come to a head when Nana caught him boiling crack over the kitchen stove and he'd taken to the streets.
Five years later they're 28 and Tia is pretty sure this rehab trip is his last shot. She knows how drugs destroy the human system; he can't keep his current habits up for much longer. She doesn't want to lose her twin to something so preventable. She pulls her head up with a big sigh, she'll have to call the rehab tonight and check in. She tries to avoid being overly involved in his treatment, Ernie's an adult but it's been too long. Forcing herself to get it together she starts on the paperwork covering her desk.
Happy looks up at the naked woman swaying on stage before him and takes a long pull from the whiskey bottle. It had been a mistake to let Tig talk him into coming to the Jelly Bean, he's not in the mood. He'd come because the other killer had had a desperate glint in his eye and Happy knows the ex sergeant at arms is just trying to drown all the recent drama SAMCRO's been wading through. Clay's betrayal of the club and Tig's subsequent demotion sent the man into a tight downward spiral and Happy could understand the need to escape. He needs an escape too just not one like this.
He takes another pull and thinks on his last trip to Bakersfield. Ma had looked good for all that she was apparently dying. Happy still can't believe she's going to succumb to this disease they'd fought so hard against. He's poured countless dollars into treatments and medicine over the last few years trying to get her through this and now; now it was all for nothing. He tips the bottle again and glances up at the stage.
In his mind he can see tight little hips, unmarked skin, confused liquid brown eyes and long black hair. Tia Connery was just one more problem the bald killer didn't need. He can't even remember how the whole thing started. Well, that's not entirely true, he can very clearly remember getting caught in her apartment. He'd broken in to make sure the nursing home was being run on the up and up but when she'd looked at him so concerned, trying to keep her professional face on even in the light of a B&E he'd had no choice but to fuck her against a wall. Really, she'd been asking for it.
She's a fucking disaster waiting to happen but he keeps going back for more. There was something about her perfectly ordered little apartment he loved. The way her face scrunches up when he intentionally breaks things. He's not usually a messy man but he can't help wanting to destroy her calm. It helps that she's such a wildcat in bed without knowing it. Confused and a bit too pure he loves getting her so revved up she'll let him do things he knows for a fact no man has ever done to that fit little body before. The look in those big dark eyes the first time he'd pushed her head between his legs had been mezmerising. She's an addiction he didn't ask for.
Another long tilt of the bottle and the woman on the stage is suddenly looking better. If he squints he can't even see the c-section scar marring her stomach. He glances towards the private booths in the far corner and he can just make out Tig leaning back on the bench, eyes closed, a head bobbing between his legs. Happy reaches up to the girl on the stage and she takes his hand without question. She leads the way, pushing his drunk ass down in the same booth as Tigger. The curly haired killer throws him a drunken smile and Happy doesn't return it. He leans back, closes his eyes, and tries to convince himself this is the kind of woman he actually deserves.
I hope you all liked that. Reviews are always welcome.
I'm not as sure of Happy's history as I am of some of the other brothers so if I get off track let me know.
Also, if you're new to my work and you like this you might like my Wayward Series. Check them out.
