Family Matters

Chapter 22

"Are you having fun?" Poe asked, her wide innocent eyes glancing up from her Play-Doh to look at her uncle. "Do you want more?" Her tiny hands offered him a hunk of hers.

Happy rolled the clay over and over between his palms. "I'm good, kiddo," he huffed.

"Why are you sad?"

"I'm not," he forced a smile. "I'm just tired."

She seemed put out, her lips turning down, as she turned back to the Play-Doh. "Are Juice and Rory coming over?"

"You want Juice and Rory?" He laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I can call em' for you." It was good for him too; no matter how he felt about his niece when it came to one-on-one time with any kids it was always difficult.

"Yeah!" She started to clap excitedly and Happy laughed, scooping her up and perching her on his shoulders.

"Why don't we go to the clubhouse? We can see everyone."

Poe didn't know them well but she was always amused by the guys. For such ruthless, violent and dangerous men they had soft spots for children that they could not deny nor hide. Happy took her to the clubhouse, certainly in a way that would give Ellie a heart attack if she found out, and Poe immediately skipped toward Tig at the pool table.

"Can I play?"

Tig huffed and shook his head. "After last time, no way."

"Sore loser," she laughed. "Play with me!"

"Alright," he scooped her up. "Let's go on the swings."

"You hear from your sister?" Jax asked as Tig took Poe back outside, swinging her high up over his head as he did.

Happy shook his head, "No."

"You think she's okay?" Jax didn't want to mention it but it was a real possibility.

"She's fine," he was trying to convince himself as much as everyone else. "Too stubborn not to be."

Jax clapped his hand against Happy's shoulder twice before turning his attention back to Tara and Abel. After a beer and a half and countless cigarettes, Happy looked up to see Rory saunter into the clubhouse. He perked up and nodded in her direction.

"Hey," he cooed in a raspy, yet somehow sweet tone of voice. "Thanks."

"No problem," she winked. "I'm lucky Poe was distracted by Juice or I wouldn't have made it in."

With his arm around her waist, Happy curled the hem of her shirt between his fingers. "I'm worried about Ellie," he finally admitted to the only person he felt he could. "Poe being here, it makes me feel like something is happenin'."

Rory listened to his concerned whispers with a blank expression, her arms draped over his shoulders while her fingers scratched the short stubble growing on the back of his head. "Yeah, it's unusual," she mused. "But I don't think he'd send her here if he was planning anything."

"It's not him," Happy uttered quietly, pulling her closer. He loved how perfectly she fit between his knees as he sat on the bar stool, their arms around each other. "He said Ellie wanted Poe here," Happy explained, "So Ellie was planning something."

"I thought you had faith in her," Rory questioned him. "Remember that nasty fight we had?"

"I do," he sighed. "And I had faith then. I wanna do it, I wanna be the one at risk when I cut that fucker's head off."

"You know," she whispered into his ear. "I like your sweet protective side."

"I'm being serious," he chided.