Trouble

Chapter Two

"ARE WE almost there yet?" Jax whines for the tenth time in the last thirty seconds.

"Jax, don't think you're too old for an ass whoopin' because I swear to the good Lord above, if you don't stop asking that damn question, I'll pull this truck over and rip you a new one faster than you can blink. Now hush!"

Silence falls upon all of us after Kate's outburst, and I try stifling a laugh as Jax blinks in terror. 

"So," Kate breaks the silence moments later, sounding much calmer this time, "What all do you like to do these days, Alice? You still like helping your Dad out with his old, rusty cars?"

I look down at my hands and twist them anxiously, unsure of how to answer Kate's question. Kate glances away from the road to look at me out of the corner of her eye when I don't respond.

"Um... no, not really." I clear my throat, hoping to get rid of some of the emotion clogging my voice. "I m-mean, I still enjoy working in the garage, I was there twenty-four seven before I-" I look out the window and focus on the blurring landscape as I take a deep, shuddering breath before continuing. "I love fixing up old cars, I just don't do it with Dad anymore since, you know, he's preoccupied with work... and stuff." I finish lamely, careful to leave out the part where my dad is actually too obsessed with his growing empire of car dealerships to care about any of his children, let along fix up old cars with me, under Kate's watchful gaze. "What about you, Jax, you still like playing hockey with Jonah and Jude?" I ask in hopes of drawing the topic away from me. 

The slight, downward slant of Kate's lips lets me know my tactic didn't go unnoticed by her, and this probably won't be the last of her prying, but - for now - it'll sure as hell buy some time to avoid the conversation.

"Yeah!" Jax replies enthusiastically, a huge smile overtaking his face. "I'm a lot better than I used to be, and I get to play up with the eighth graders this season!" Jax continues excitedly.

"Wow," My eyebrows raise in amazement. "You must be pretty good then, huh?" Jax nods his head slightly, almost in an attempt to be modest, but the pride in his accomplishment is unmistakable.

 "All my boys are amazing at hockey," Kate says fondly, reaching over to run her hand over Jax's head lovingly. "But I'm still not sure how I feel about my baby boy playing up with the older kids." She says distastefully and Jax pouts.

"Moommm!" Jax drags out her name in exasperation.

"What?" She responds in defense. "Am I not allowed to be worried about you and your well-being?"

"Ugh, that's not what I meant-"

"Then what did you mean, hmm?" Kate effectively cuts Jax off, raising an eyebrow in question. 

Jax sighs in defeat, "Nevermind." He grumbles as I try, unsuccessfully, to refrain from laughing at him. Especially when Kate winks at me over the top of Jax's head. "Oh, look!" Jax exclaims, ignoring my bout of laughter, "I can finally take a piss now!" He says eagerly as Kate pulls into their gravel driveway.

"Jaxon Alexander King!" Kate sputters out in disbelief, "You better watch your language young man!" She yells after him as he quickly unbuckles from his seat, climbs over me, and hightails it into the house before the truck is even in park. "There is no denying that's Jeremy's kid right there." Kate sighs tiredly, gently maneuvering herself out of the truck as she does so, and I take that as my cue to get out as well. I round the back of the truck, ready to retrieve my luggage, when a sudden voice nearly causes me to jump out of my skin.

"Well, look who we have here!" The deep voice bellows behind me.

"Jere!" I turn around in surprise, "Oh my goodness, it's been forever, how've you been?" I ask as he pulls me into one of his bear hugs.