GGS: Good Gaelic Souls A Biker Saga (G.G.S) (13 page)

Chapter 9

"And so it begins"

She knew it was eventually going to happen. She had braced herself for it on the way home from the beach, but had recieved a short reprieve when she discovered that Serenity was there. The family had arrived the next day, followed by Lee that evening. So this morning when Serenity  advised that she and Lee were going to borrow Cats car and take a drive down the coast, Stax suddenly found herself alone in the house for the first time. Feeling lost, she went into Slider's room and sat down on the bed, looking around at his personal space. His empty personal space. She had made the decision to keep his room just as it was, at least for awhile, but they had all piled up in there the night before. Since they were all pretty drunk, things got moved out of place and then they had come in to clean up and everything was distorted from the way that Slider had left them.

She sat there with tears rolling down her face and thought about it for awhile. It was for the best she decided. It would be healthier for her to deal with it immediately. She wasn't planning to make changes to the room and she wasn't going to turn it into a shrine. She had only hoped to draw comfort from it while she adjusted. But the truth of it was, that it's only a room and that's all it would ever be. She was going to be moving when the Clubhouse was completed anyway, so it was only a matter of time, however you looked at it. She would definately keep the bed that her father had made for himself. 

Leaving the door open, she went into the kitchen to find something to eat. The refridgerator was bulging with prepared food ready to be heated up. She decided on the leftover meat and cheese platter with fried mushrooms. As she ate, she recieved a text from Strangler, "
U OK Angel?"
She replied, "
All good baby
" and let it go. She was going to give him the space that he needed and that was that. She would get through this day all by herself, as soon as she decided what to do. She could go for a long ride, but her bike was over due for an oil change. Going to the Clubhouse was out since she was trying to avoid side-tracking Strangler right now. She had just visited with the family, and didn't have anyone in particular that she wanted to see at the present.

She got up and went to the garage, thinking that maybe the keg in the fridge was empty and she should order a new one. When she spotted the fishing rods hanging on the side of the garage,  "That's it," she thought, "I'm going fishing!" She checked the keg, called in the order and sent a text to Slacker. "
Please bring the truck
" She typed. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey and a six pack of coke from the fridge in the house, she rolled up some deli meat and cheese, and filled the small cooler with ice. Back in the garage, she picked out a cane pole and her own rod and reel, and checked the tackle box to see if she needed any replacement items. Next, she checked to make sure that her lifetime fishing license was still in it's plastic, water proof holder underneath the removable tray. Everything was in it's proper place and she closed the lid.

Going back into the house, she left a note for Serenity and Lee, advising them where she was going and when she thought she may return. She reminded them to eat their fill of what was in the fridge while it was still good. Walking into the bedroom she applied some SPF and grabbed a flannel shirt to put over her tank top. Grabbing her new beach hat off the dresser, she went to look out the front door. Slacker was pulling into the driveway, so she grabbed her keys to her bike and headed out to meet him.

"Thanks, brother," She said as Slacker stepped out of the truck. She handed him the keys to her Harley. "Please run it over to Twitch, she needs an oil change." she said smiling sweetly. Twitch was the club motorcycle mechanic and a long term member of the club. A short cocky Scottsman, he built custom bikes and had a set of twin girls, "Sassy and Sissy". Tandy was his ol' lady and they had been together for years. An RN, in the ER of the local hospital, where Dimples, Rage's ol' lady, worked as Head Surgical Nurse..

Slacker wasn't expecting such a cheerful Stax and was a little taken aback. "You care if I get something to drink?" He asked, always a little shy around her. "Sure brother, you wanna have a drink with me before we take off?" she offered. "You bet!" he said,  as they walked into the house. She was aware when she sent the message to Slacker that he would have had no choice but to tell Strangler, or an Officer. He would never be allowed to just take off in Sliders truck without saying where and why, and she was sure that he would have been given instuctions to pay close attention to her 'well being' while he was here.

"Good." she thought, "He can go back and tell them that I'm acting normal and doing just fine." She would take today and possibly tomorrow before she went to the Clubhouse. Her reality might have changed, but she wasn't going to let it change her. She was still a bit apprehensive as to what Strangler had in mind regarding her and club business, but she was going to give him the time he needed. Then they were going to get on the same fucking page. She would insist on having that conversation as soon as things evened out a bit. "Time," she thought, "We all just need a little more time to adjust."

Stax and Slacker talked about fishing for awhile and had a private laugh about him getting sick in the driveway the other morning. "So sorry Stax," he said sheepishly, "I was trying to keep up with Moby all night." Stax looked at his young face and felt a little sorry for him, knowing that they would be giving him hell about it for weeks to come. "It's all good," she told him, "The driveway needed a bath anyway." Grinning, she added, "At least you made it outside. The last time it happened here in the kitchen, and the drunk son-of-a-bitch missed the trash can by about three inches." She winked and stood up to take her empty glass to the sink and heard a horn honking outside, "That'll be the delivery truck, you wanna help me with this keg, brother?" She asked. He immediately jumped up and followed her to the door. He went into the garage for the near empty keg and carried it to the truck. "Enough to fill a couple of pitcher's in here, if you want." he informed the delivery man. Taking the fresh barrel into the garage, he tapped the keg while Stax signed on the dotted line. Afterwards, they headed out in different directions.

When she arrived at the lake, Stax pulled out her folding chair and tackle box and set up a fishing spot. Taking a cup, she scooped up several minnows at the waters edge and baited her cane pole. Throwing out the line with it's red and white bobber, she stuck it through the arm of her chair and baited the rod and reel. After a near perfect cast, she washed her hands in the lake water and made herself a stiff drink. As the sun shimmered on the blue water and the bobber basked itself in the sunlight, she sat quietly, casting and reeling, casting and reeling. She couldn't help but wish that her father was here, but that was only natural. The fish began to bite and her mind became occupied with the act of catching a nice mess, as she continued to pull them in, one after another. It was nearly a perfect afternoon.

When Stax returned later, she had no fish. She smelled like fish, but she didn't have anything to show for her time and efforts. Serenity teased her about her fishing abilities until Stax informed her that she had given her catch to a family that was camping by the lake. "They had four children and it looked like they were living out there." she explained. "I saw one small tent and an old van for shelter, and their fire pit looked like it had been there for awhile. I fiqured with all those mouths to feed, they could use a hand."

She made the offer and they happily accepted. She was happy enough to have enjoyed the day without having to clean a mess of fish before she came home. She also offered them a gift certificate for a local grocery store, if they wanted to swing by the Clubhouse and pick it up. As she was leaving she noticed that the toddler was wearing a hand towel on her little bottom, so she advised them that they could also get some diapers and clothing if they needed them. They didn't seem at all embarassed by her kindness, they actually seemed relieved and grateful.  She had texted Griff and told him to gather up what she had offered them and anything else that they might mention once they arrived.

Once she had explained why she wasn't cleaning a mess of fish, she headed straight for the shower. When she got out, she smelled more like a flower than a fish, and Serenity went in to take her's.  

Lee handed her hostess a drink as soon as she returned to the living room, "I wanted to talk to you for a minute, if you don't mind." she said, as she took a seat on the couch and crossed her long legs. Stax walked over to the liquour cabinet, grabbed a straw and then sat in Slider's recliner asking, "What's up sweetie? Is there something wrong?" Lee shook her head, smiling a big dimple wrapped smile. "Nothing wrong, I just wanted to know exactly how you feel about Serenity and I being here together," she paused and put up a hand before Stax could respond, "How you honestly feel. Serenity believes that you are good with it, but I need to be sure. Are you uncomfortable?"

Although Stax heard the words, she was listening more to the tone of her voice. What she heard was worry. Lee was worried that she wasn't accepting of their relationship, she could tell that this was a genuine concern. But she had the feeling that there was something else and she couldn't put her finger on it. Answering her question, she smiled at Lee, "I have absolutely no issue with it, as a matter of fact, I'm happy to see it. Why would you question Serenity's assurance?" She inquired with a tone of her own. She wouldn't put up with "sneaky" and she was still trying to figure out what else was on Lee's mind.

Lee stood up and looked around the room, her gaze coming back to rest on Stax's face.  Stax had the thought cross her mind that she looked very much like a lawyer about to interrogate a witness on the stand. "I'm going to be straight with you Stax. Serenity has told me how close you two are. I have heard the stories about your lives together and I understand her attraction to you. To be honest,  I would give much to have had a friend like you myself. But I don't want to find out too late, that you have deeper feelings for her that you haven't told her about yet. So please, Stax, tell me the truth, are you in love with Serenity?"

Stax couldn't find her tongue. That was it? Lee thought that she might be competition for Serenitys affections? Really? What would make her think that, for fucks sake? "Lee," She said firmly, "Listen to me very closely. I Love Serenity more than any other female on this earth, but not in a sexual way, period. Don't get me wrong, I do think she is very sexy, and I think she is funny, beautiful and perfect. But I am not in love with her, I never have been, I never will be. Does that answer the question to your satisfaction?"

Lee was obviously relieved. Her body language relaxed and her facial expression softened. "Yes, thank you. I believe you." She advised, "Please don't think that I don't trust Serenity. We don't always know what someone else may be thinking, and as close as the two of you are, it could just have easily went the other way and her not even be aware. I hope you understand why I needed to speak with you about my concern." She walked over to Stax, "I have very strong feelings for her." She confessed, looking Stax in the eye. "I truly needed to know how you feel, I would like us to be free to become friends too, without underlyling issues."

Stax assured her that she wasn't offended or upset, and she understood completely. "You will tell Serenity about this conversation." She stated, without posing it as a question. Lee did not hesitate to answer. "Yes, I will tell her tonight, I promise. If you like, I can tell her with you in the room. I wasn't trying to be anything but honest and I am sure that she will understand that." Lee said earnestly. "Done." Replied Stax as she lit a cigarette. She was pleased to find that Lee could express herself without busting out the drama card.

When Serenity returned to the living room in her jammies, she sat down on the couch beside Stax and gave her a big hug, "Missed you today sister.  Serenity looked over at Lee and gave her a wink and a big smile. Lee retuned her smile and then stood up again advising that she had something to say to her. Again, Stax got the impression that Lee was speaking in a courtroom, as she explained the conversation she had with Stax. Serenity looked as stunned as Stax had been, but she understood, "I feel the same was Stax does, Lee. I cherish our love and our friendship and nothing will ever change that. It's not at all sexual. Most people don't understand our bond and we have never felt the need to clarify it. Hopefully, you are comfortable with it now and the two of you can be friends."

They spent the rest of the evening quietly, watching movies and enjoying each other's company. Stax recieved a message from Strangler that simply read "
Night Angel
", she responded with "
Night baby, sleep well
" and that ended their communication for another day. That night as she was drifing off to sleep, Stax realized that with all that had occured, combined with the fact the Strangler had just arrived back in town from a six day bike run the morning of Slider's accident, they had not had sex in nearly three weeks. "Wow, that's never happened." She thought as sleep crept in and pushed the disturbing thought away.

The next morning she awoke to the sound of her own Harley pulling up the drive. "
What the fuck
?" was her initial thought, then she remembered that she had sent it off with Slacker for an oil change. "Cool, I can ride today, it's been a minute." And with that thought, she jumped out of bed, tied her father's bathrobe around her waist and headed for the door to let Slacker in. As she opened the door, she was suprised to see Twitch standing there, just about to ring the doorbell.  "Morning Twitch, what the hell are you doing making deliveries?" She questioned. This was totaly out of character for him, that's what the prospects were for. "Slacker is running in every direction right now, and nobody else was available to deliver it. Strangler said "get it to her" so here it is." He advised holding the keys out for her.