CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

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Jax reappears with Abel just as I'm finishing putting together a chicken salad and slicing some bread. Putting him in his high chair Jax leans down and kisses his forehead lightly. Passing the plates to Jax I carry over the small bowl with a bit of food for Abel to try today. Jax wrinkles his nose at the look of it but I shrug "It's pureed carrots, Abel loves them."

Jax snorts "And the green shit?"

"Peas." I reply, doing a bib up around Abel's neck before dipping the spoon in the carrots first waiting while Abel opens his mouth for it. "He's had carrots before, peas are new."

The green spoonful is spat back out and dribbles down his chin "Guess he doesn't like them." I giggle, going back to the orange mush. By the time I'm finished feeding Abel there's orange everywhere and Jax is looking slightly revolted.

Leaving Abel to finger paint in what's left on the board of the high chair I cross and wash my hands so I can eat my own food "Did you get everything done at the garage?" I ask, before biting into the sandwich I'd put together.

Jax nods "Yeah, Ma's been pretty good about staggering everything at the moment. All our clients know that we're a little short staffed but Brian and Paul are due to arrive back this afternoon."

The two members of the Fresno charter that agreed to come help while I took four of the SAMCRO members to New York made me a bit more at ease. That Gemma had reiterated over and over that they were fine for work force had been the last thing to make me relax.

"What were you doing when I came in?" Jax asks, gesturing towards the piles of opened envelopes and the cash still sitting on the table.

Swallowing hard I put my sandwich down "I finally got around to opening the presents. That's all the cash we got."

Jax's eyes widen, taking in the stacks of bills on the table "But that's like 30 grand?"

I nod "I know." Picking up my food I take another bite, chewing and swallowing "Two envelopes had 5 grand in each. I think one was from Clay and Gem though I don't know about the other."

Jax shrugs "I do. It would have been the Irish."

I sigh in realisation "That explains the band."

"Huh?"

"The band that was around it, it's that one there." I gesture with my elbow to the bundle at the top, the thick white rubber band embossed with green clovers.

Jax chuckles and picks it up "So what do you want to do with all this? Safety deposit or safe?"

"Safe." I reply watching Jax gather it all up in one hand. "You remember the combination?"

Jax rolls his eyes "Babe, it's my birthday and your birthday how could I not. Granted you muddled the numbers all up but I'm pretty sure I can remember it."

I poke my tongue out at him and turn back to my lunch "Okay, then you put it away I'm gonna eat this and then give Abely a bath. He's all orange."

Abel's been laughing and clapping while we've been talking, the small splatters of orange flicking off his hand landing on his clothes. Jax looks out the window "What actually needs to be done before we go?"

I shrug, dropping the last bite of my sandwich into my mouth I think while I chew, waiting till I've swallowed I push my plate away "Lawns need to be mowed, need to check the fridge for stuff that will go off, Doj is going to stay with Gem while we're gone so we need to make sure that she's got enough food for him, and his stand but we can't take them over till we take him as well. I need to mop the floors in here again, clean the bathrooms and run the hoover through the whole house, and I still need to pack."

Jax blinks at me blankly for a few second "You mean you're taking clothes with you?"

I get to my feet, taking the plates to the sink and rinsing them before putting them in the dishwasher and turn back to him "Yes I am. I don't have any intentions of going shopping at all." I know I sound angry and defensive when Jax leans back in his seat a little startled.

"Babe I didn't mean anything by that." Jax gets up and comes towards me, his expression staying slightly stunned when I shake my head at him rapidly. Holding up his hands he backs back to the table and sits back down. Rubbing his hand over his face the kitchen is completely silent for a few seconds, even Abel quiet like he can read the tension. Jax looks back up and him, his eyes locking on mine. The silence thickens while I stand against the bench just watching Jax with a blank look.

Getting to his feet again he crosses the kitchen slowly, his hands resting on my hips "I'm sorry. I didn't think."

I snort "No shit." Resting my hands on his chest I push lightly, not to move him at all just to show my displeasure at his unthoughtful comment.

Jax leans down and nuzzles his nose into my neck "Forgive me?"

Pulling backwards till he lifts his head and looks at me I lift an eyebrow "What am I forgiving you for?"

"Being an idiot. Forgetting that there is a bigger reason for this trip then wardrobe expansion. Not thinking before I spoke. Any of them." Jax says softly, looking down at me "Mainly for being a jackass though and not considering that you're stressed and not realising that trying to make a stupid joke wouldn't help."

I nod once, linking one hand around his neck and pull his head down "It's nothing that needs forgiveness. It's not your fault I'm tense and forget to say so."

Jax shrugs, his eyes lit with concern "But I knew you were stressed out and tense and made a stupid joke."

I giggle "How bout we both stop trying to take the blame and you help me clean up our orange baby?"

Jax looks over his shoulder at Abel and grimaces "Can't I just have you mad at me for a little bit and let you do it yourself? He's all gooey."

Smirking to myself I pull out of his arms and shrug "Your choice." Walking through into the laundry I strip off my clothes and pull on the old t-shirt that I've kept specifically for bathing Abel. The shirt barely hits my mid-thighs and is so soft that the neckline droops to the top of my sternum. Jax's eyes widen as I come towards the high-chair and he takes a few breaths in.

"Can I change my mind?"

I nod "Of course you can baby." Undoing the straps on the chair and lifting Abel out, the reasoning behind the change of clothes becomes obvious when Abel grips the front of my shirt with orange hands, leaving smears on the material.

Jax follows me up the stairs "Can you bring his bath through?"

Jax disappears into Abel's room, coming into the bathroom a minute later with the plastic bath insert "Where do you want it?"

Rolling my eyes I gesture towards the bathtub "In there." I'd already started the water running and mixed to the right temperature. "Just stick the nozzle in and one pump from the bright green bottle."

Jax does the easy jobs while I lay Abel down on the bathmat and work him out of his clothes; the removal of the smeared cloth leaves more orange goo on his skin.

The bath is as messy as it always is, by the time I lift Abel out and put him in the towel Jax is holding I'm completely saturated. The shirt I'd put on is sticking to my skin and there are tendrils of my hair almost glued to my arms. There are smears of orange on my face and arms.

Jax takes one look at me and bursts into laughter. Glaring at him I lift the end of the bath, watching as the water drains out of the tub and down the plug. Jax hoists Abel up a little higher in his arms "How bout I go dry and dress him while you go shower yourself?"

I nod, getting back to my feet and kissing him on the cheek "Thanks baby. Then I'll start packing."

Jax shakes his head "Wrap party tonight. Pack tomorrow."

I frown "I can start packing tonight and still be at the party. It's only like 130. Party won't start till at least 8pm. Won't be interesting till at least 9pm." I walk through into the bathroom leaving Jax to do Abel's after bath routine; we'd done it together often enough that he should remember it all.