You Are My Sunshine

Chapter 22 - Laying Out Your Truth

"She was the prettiest hell I have ever been in; I didn't mind burning at all." - Matt Baker

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"Shit."

Slamming down the phone, Amelia flicked off the coffee maker and headed down the hall toward the nursery. Little Alice was sleeping peacefully, tiny snores filling the room as sunlight streamed in through the blinds.

"Ally girl," Amelia sang, "Let's go. We're going to visit Pop so Grandma Gem can't freak out on me. The last thing I need is her manipulative shit." Scooping the child up and kissing her on the top of the head Amelia smiled, thrilled to have her daughter home. "She's not going to ruin our plans, I promise."

On her way out, her flats sliding quickly across the carpet, Amelia tossed the diaper bag over her shoulder and buckled the child into the infant seat. As she wrapped her fingers around the knob, her engagement ring glimmering in the morning sun, Gemma pounded on the door.

"Goddamn it," the young mother whispered.

"I know you're home." Gemma called out.

Opening the door with a forced, saccharine smile, Amelia stood firmly in place refusing to allow Gemma to enter the house. "Morning Gem, we're just heading out."

"Where to?" She did not try to hide her displeasure or suspicions. "Looks like you have enough here to keep you busy."

"Not that it's your business but I'm going to pop by my dad's place." Behind her, the house was still in a state of slight disarray from the party. She had done the majority of the cleaning before bed but Jax was eager for bed and she was exhausted. The day was meant to be spent finishing up until Chibs' phone call.

"She's my granddaughter, of course it's my business."

Amelia's lips were tight as she glared at Gemma. "Well, now you know. Mind stepping out of my way?"

"We have to talk." Gemma said forcefully, her French manicured nails pointing off behind Amelia. "I want to know what you're planning."

"I'm planning to visit my father."

"Is that all?" Gemma snapped, giving Amelia a vaguely threatening look. "What's in that head, Reds?"

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about." Placing the infant seat down and off to the side, Amelia put her hands on her hips and glared at her soon-to-be mother-in-law.

"What did you put in his head?" She sneered, her rage growing with every dismissal from Amelia, and pushed her way into the house. "Where is he? Is he here?"

"Jax isn't here," Amelia snapped as she stumbled back. "And I didn't put anything in his head."

"Are you taking my family away?"

It was the only thing Gemma could think of, Chibs' words being fairly simple and to the point, and it made sense knowing the history between Jax and Amelia.

"Gemma," Amelia sighed knowing she could not lie outright. "Alice and Jax are my family and-"

"You can't take them." She pushed Amelia back against the entryway wall. "This is home, Charming is our home."

"Maybe you should talk to Jax," Amelia's voice wavered. "I think it's a conversation we should all have together."

"The only way you're taking my boy and that baby out of Charming is over my dead body." Gemma's voice was dark, the words vibrating out of her with a menacing growl.

Amelia was terrified but she could see Alice in her peripheral vision and she knew it was finally time to stand up to Gemma Teller-Morrow.

"Get out of my house." Amelia said forcefully. "What Jax and I decide to do is between us, you have no bearing on how or where we raise our daughter."