THANKSGIVING DAY 1993
"Gemma sent me out here." Opie says, coming up to where Jax is sitting in the garage of his home. "Dinner's almost ready."
Jax never takes his eyes off his dad's mangled bike. "Don't really feel like eating." He tells his best friend. How the hell could these people just gather in his home, like they did every Thanksgiving, like it was normal? His dad was dead! The leader of the family, of SAMCRO, was gone. What the hell did they have to be thankful for?
"Come on, man." Opie pulls out a pack of cigarettes. "You know that shit won't fly with Gemma."
"Whatever." Jax shrugs, finally removing his gaze from his father's bike, to accept a cigarette from Opie. "Piney thinks we should restore it and display it at the clubhouse." He nods to the bike.
"Be a nice tribute." Piney's son admits. "You up for that?"
"Think so." Jax sighs. "Be cool to have your old man helping us." For as long as Jax can remember, it was always John Teller and Piney. The two were friends in high school and toured Vietnam together. They started the Sons of Anarchy together after coming home from Vietnam. Piney served as the club's Vice President under John Teller from the beginning. The plan was always for one day to have Jax and Opie fulfill those roles. Now the club has voted Clay Morrow in as President. Jax wasn't sure how he felt about that. "Your dad really okay with staying VP?"
"Yeah." Opie shrugs. "His health couldn't handle him being a President. He says, he's only staying VP until you are old enough to get voted in."
"That's gonna be awhile." Jax takes a drag on his cigarette. He butts it out and gets up. "Better get in there before Mom sends someone else out."
When they go in they find everyone making their way to the table. Jax can't control the feeling of anger that rushes through him when he understands Clay's intent to sit at the head of the table. A seat where his father always sat. First his club, now his home? "What do you think you're doing?" Jax demands.
"Jackson!" Gemma exclaims, coming to the table, carrying the huge bird. "What is wrong with you?"
"That's dad's seat!" Jax exclaims.
Gemma's face softens immediately and Clay retreats. "I'm sorry son." He pulls out the chair and nods to Jax. "I wasn't thinking. You should sit here."
Jax glares at him in response and Gemma sends him a pleading look. She really doesn't need this shit today. "I know it's hard honey, but your father would want us to be with family and enjoy this day."
Jax takes a deep breath and Opie clasps his shoulder before he walks to the seat Clay is holding out for him. "Thank you." He nods to Clay. "And I'm sorry." He leans over and kisses his mother on her temple as a peace offering.
"It's okay, baby." She smiles at her only living son. "Let's eat!" And just like that, club members and old ladies and kids start talking.
It's when desert is brought out that Piney speaks to Opie. "When you are done, make two plates to go."
"Why?" Opie says, biting into a piece of pumpkin pie.
"For Tara and her father." Piney reminds him. He's taken to checking in on the girl and making sure things are ok every now and then. Frank Knowles is a hard worker but a shitty father. He just stopped caring after his wife died. And he is definitely an alcoholic. Piney feels it is okay to say that considering he is one as well. And in Piney's opinion, Frank is much worse because he neglects his daughter. The only attention he gives her are his drunk ramblings.
"Dad, it embarrasses her when you do sh…stuff like this." Opie says around the food in his mouth.
"Don't care." The old man admits. "At least we know she got a good meal for the holiday."
*********
"Happy Thanks-freaking-giving." Tara says to the closed door, her father just left through. She sits on the couch and grabs the blanket on the back to cover her legs. She grabs the remote and starts channel surfing. All that is on are re-runs of Home Improvement and Boy Meets World.
She finally finds the X-Files and decides it is the lesser of evils and settles on that. About thirty minutes later, she hears a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" She asks timidly from her side of the door.
"The Reaper Crew" Comes Opie's reply.
An automatic grin comes to her face as she opens the door. Jackson is with him. "Hey." She greets them both but has a smile directed to Jax, which Opie notices.
"Yea, Happy Thanksgiving." He thrusts two paper plates covered in aluminum foil at her. "It's food from my dad."
"Ugh, how embarrassing." She groans. "But tell him thank you." She sternly instructs Opie.
"Well, you gonna invite us in?" Jax asks.
"Ugh….." Tara looks around. "I guess." She moves back, allowing them to enter and then shuts the door.
"Where's your old man?" Opie asks. It's Thanksgiving, where else would a single guy with a kid be?
She thinks about lying but really she's just so sick of it. And it's not like the whole town doesn't know anyway. "Bar" She sighs. "Just give me a minute to put these in the kitchen." She motions for them to sit on the couch. "Want anything to drink?"
Ignoring her question, Opie asks one of his own, "Aren't you going to eat that?"
"I'm not hungry." She doesn't want to eat the food in front of them. It's a pride thing she doubts they'll understand.
"Well then, go get your shit so we can blaze up." Opie grins, plopping down on the worn couch. "It'll make you hungry."
Her eyes immediately dart accusingly to Jax. He told Opie about smoking up at the cemetary? Why? Jax shrugs at her wordless accusation. He never said shit about that.
Opie laughs at the way they are communicating. "What? You think I couldn't tell you were high as fuck when we walked home?" He teases Tara. "And I know Jax didn't have anything on him because we had already smoked his stash. So….that leaves you." He points accusingly at Tara.
"Ugh, shut up Opie." She kicks him before heading into the kitchen with the plates. She looks around for some sodas or something in the fridge but there is only a case of beer. She brings three cans out and tosses one to each Jax and Opie. "It's all we got."
"Your dad gonna freak?" Opie asks, before he pops the can. Rumor around town is that Frank Knowles is a mean drunk.
"Nope." Tara leans in the entryway between the living room and dining room. "He won't remember what he had in there when he gets home."
"Jax finally takes a seat and looks around. This place looks exactly like it did when her mom died. Neat and tidy but exactly the same. He wasn't sure why he found that so strange.
"Where's Donna?" Tara asks Opie. But her gaze never strays from watching Jax look around.
"At her cousins." Opie gulps his beer. "Now go get your shit. I wasn't kidding. Let's get blazed."