CHAPTER TWENTY

Donna and Opie leave not long after my revelations are finished. I feel strangely lighter having let my three best friends in the world know several of the secrets I'd been holding on to. After locking the door behind them I start gathering the dishes to take to the kitchen. Jax follows me with the empty alcohol bottles and sets them on the table. There's a very methodical slowness to my movements, though I feel lighter I also feel sad. Talking about my inheritance always makes me think of my parents and even though they've been dead for almost a decade it still hurts that they can't see the person I've become.

Jax comes over and tugs the plate I'm holding from my hand, setting it on the bench and wrapping his arms around me. "We still need to talk more about money, but it's a you and I conversation. What I'd like to know now is why you're insisting on taking the car to LA."

I lean back into his embrace, his arms locking around my ribs. "I know that between D, Al and I we'll easily need the space in the Nitro to bring everything back."

"So what's wrong with coming up with me on the bike and shipping stuff back to yourself?" Jax queries.

"I never thought of doing that. I guess I could and I can always think about Donna's suggestion of buying a car while we're there but I'm not sure if I really need another car."

Jax shakes his head "Don't buy a car cause D suggested it. If you want another car then we'll get you another car."

I lean forward and pick up the plate, setting it and the other four dishes into the dishwasher and closing the door. "I'm not sure; everyone's coming here tomorrow before we go aye?"

Jax nods so I open the freezer and pull out a pack of bacon throwing it onto the bench. "Pancakes and bacon for breakfast then."

Jax grins "My favourite, but Fresno's putting on breakfast at 10."

I laugh and toss the bacon back in the freezer before I head back into the living room, straightening a few things as I go "Okay but all food is your favourite."

"Ya got me there Darlin'. Especially if you cook it." Jax stops me before I can start tidying the already clean living room "Hey, Sarah. It's already clean. We've got an early start tomorrow so let's go to bed and finish our discussion okay?"

I nod and follow him down the hall, flicking off lights as we go.

Jax jumps in the shower while I get changed and by the time I've brushed and rebraided my hair he's back in the bedroom with his towel wrapped low on his hips, trails of water running down his chest. I climb into the bed and watch quietly as he puts on clean boxers and pulls out his backpack for tomorrow's trip.

Looking over at me he glances back the backpack "If you come on the bike with me can you manage to fit clothes for 2 days in here?"

I mock glare at him "Do you not remember me when we used to go the cabin for a week and all I'd take was that bright purple backpack you brought me?"

Jax chuckles "I do, and I always wondered how the fuck you managed to get so much in it."

"Tomorrow when I pack for this trip I'll show you, but come here so we can finish this discussion about money while I still feel like having it." I say, propping my pillows behind me and waiting while Jax drops the backpack on the chair in front of his kutte and comes over to the bed.

"Okay Darlin'. What's so important that you feel the need to talk about it right now?" Jax asks as he settles beside me.

I twist sideways so I can look at him "Hear me out okay?" Jax nods so I start to word what I'd started thinking when we were looking at the ice cream store earlier. "Well, you're now aware that I am worth over 20 million dollars, I need to update my will so that if anything happens to me it doesn't end up being contested and end up with JJ and David. I want to make sure that it's left to you and Abel."

Jax looks stunned "You were thinking that shit today?"

I nod "Seeing Abel, feeding him, having you call me mommy was the kick in the ass that I needed to fully form the thoughts that had been half formed when I decided I wanted Scoops and Sweets, and on that note I want the place next to it too, if we can."

Jax shakes his head for a second, looking like he's clearing out cobwebs "I'm sure Simon owns both place so we'll see him when we come back from LA. But this whole will thing. Are you sure?"

I nod emphatically "I am. I'm not going anywhere, I don't plan on getting sick or dying but I want to make sure that it's in writing that you're my next of kin and you make any and all decisions. I also need to make sure that it's in writing that my money goes to you and Abel."

"Can it wait till Thursday or are you determined to get it sorted now?" Jax says, sliding down the bed and pulling me with him till I'm wrapped in his arms and we're face-to-face on the pillows.

I yawn widely, "I'll send Patrick an e-mail tomorrow before we leave. Then at least there is a trail of what I want done."

Jax lifts a hand and rubs it over his face; the sound of his whiskers scraping across his palm is a strange sort of sandpapery noise "Okay." He sighs loudly "There is one other thing we have to talk about so while we're on these sorts of topics."

I grab hold of his hand and pull it away from his face "What?"

"Where are we going to live? I'm not letting you out of my bed now that I have you here. I know you're going to say your house and I do agree with you, but the fact is that I have this house that I'm paying a mortgage on and if I sell it I know you'll argue about taking the money." Jax is obviously thinking as he speaks "I'd like to say that we can sell this house and put the money into your investments but I doubt that there would be that much profit from it."

I puzzle over his obvious dilemma in having his Old Lady having more money them him, the attitude in the Sons has always been that the man provides money and the woman looks after the house. "What about Juice?"

"Huh? What about him?" Jax asks his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Well I was talking with Al the other day and she said he was looking to buy a house but didn't want anything to big, too expensive, or away from the rest of the guys. With everyone that owns places around here already why don't you talk to him about buying this place? Or we just keep it and rent it out, I mean who's going to rip off one of the Sons or damage their house."

Jax grins, "I'll talk to Juice tomorrow when he comes over, if you're sure."

I lift my head up and kiss him softly, my hand resting on the side of his neck, "I think it's a great idea. But then I did think of it."

Jax chuckles "Now, no more shit about money or anything like that. Time to go to sleep, we've gotta be on the road at 8 at the latest. Alarm's set for 6."

I groan and close my eyes tightly "We'll decide on travel mode tomorrow too. I can't think about it now."

Jax runs his hand over my arm and rests it on my hip. "Love you Darlin'."

I blink my eyes open and smile softly "I love you to Jax."