Black Water | Jax Teller

Chapter 7

Usually their Saturdays were peaceful. They left their families as early as 10 o'clock in the morning, trusting their respective partners to not burn the house down with their kids or somehow get arrested.

They got their nails done, go through the painful waxes, and even schedule the occasional massage, which with everyone going on in their lives now became a weekly thing.

The day always started with their nails, on both hands and feet. Donna usually got a simple manicure with a coating of the color she was feeling at the moment. Occasionally, she would get a French Manicure like Vanessa did, on most days, but considering Donna only worked as a dental assistant she didn't see the need to get have anything fancy on her nails. She knew as an old lady she needed to be concerned with some aspect of her appearance as Vanessa always looked immaculate. Sometimes she was jealous how well put together her friend seemed to be. Donna knew being with Jax was a lot. With Abel's behavioral issues and the limbo of her marriage, Donna knew Vanessa's wall was going to crumble eventually despite the outer appearance.

The first sign that Donna knew something was off with Vanessa was when she brought out a wad of cash. She knew that came from Jax. In all the years she has known Vanessa; it was like pulling teeth for her to use money that Jax would give her. Donna knew that most of the money was from unconventional means. She wasn't stupid or blind to the club and her husband's means of providing for her and their family. But these men, they were chauvinistic, Opie and Jax weren't as bad as most, but they still needed to feel like they were the man of the household. They supported that there old ladies did their own thing, but at the end of the day, they still needed, were reaffirmed, that they provided for their family. It wasn't as if Vanessa made a lot as a teacher working at Pilgrim Grove, she made a little more than most, but Vanessa made a substantial amount where these pricey expenditures at the spa weren't hurting her. It wasn't as if it was hurting Donna either, but she knew if she wasn't with Opie she couldn't afford it as a dental assistance with two kids.

So for Vanessa to blatantly to use the cash Jax would force her to take, which she thought he had stopped considering the push and pull, Donna knew something was off. Donna, being the friend she was, let it slide and ignored the urge to bombard her with questions. It was in the morning and maybe Vanessa needed a minute before voicing her thoughts. She let her friend continue the charade.

Now it was after lunch and they were enjoying a couple drinks, Vanessa was still quiet and her phone kept buzzing. She was half tempted to tell her friend to put her phone on silence, but she knew Vanessa never did, not with Abel's heart condition. But then whoever was trying to reach her was being persistent. At first she thought it was Jax, but even if Vanessa might have wanted to bash his head in, she never ignored his calls. She would answer at least once. Besides if it was him, Donna knew Jax would ride to the spa on his bike just to talk her for whatever reason. Vanessa was blatantly ignoring the person calling and texting her.

As she looked at her friend that feeling that Vanessa wasn't being honest with her about everything gnawed at her. She believed Vanessa told her everything that she could and could handle. Donna prided herself on not being like Gemma and making it her mission to meddle in Vanessa personal business, but something was bothering her friend which she felt entitled to at least know about.

After Vanessa sent the call to voicemail for the 10th time, Donna spoke up, "If you need to tell me something you can."

Vanessa looked at her silently, but Donna could see the turmoil written in her face. "I wouldn't want to put you in a difficult position, D." Vanessa said as she swiped away the notification of another missed call.

In her gut, Donna knew what it could possibly be about. Specifically in regards to what Jax asked her the other day. "Jax was over the house and he asked about Heath." Donna revealed.