All the Money in the World

Chapter 34

Katie stood behind the counter at Scoops and Sweets, her belly growing larger each day, ready to simply close the shop if the afternoon counter girl didn't arrive. She was less than six weeks away from her due date, still not mentioning her pregnancy to anyone, and she was over it.

"I'm fucking pissed," she growled out loud as she text Happy to let him know she'd be late coming home.

"I'm sorry," Tanya said as she ran into the store. "I'm so so so sorry!"

"It's fine," Katie grabbed her bag. "Carly will be in soon, you're closing together."

"Cool. Thanks for staying, Kate. I'm really sorry."

Katie shrugged and sighed. "It's fine, it's not you, I'm just super done with this."

"Don't blame you," Tanya said sympathetically. "Have a good night."

"You too," Katie said as she pushed open the door. "Oh and if there's a problem don't call me."

Speeding home, Katie dreamed of stripping down and laying in bed with the AC on full blast. The summer was hotter than usual and she was so pregnant that she was barely able to make it from the car to her front door without sweating profusely.

"Hap," she called out as she unlocked the door. "Babe?"

"SURPRISE!" The small crowd of people shouted as she stepped over the threshold.

Katie froze, the color instantly leaving her cheeks, and stared at her friends, her only family, and began to cry.

"I fucking told you," Happy grumbled from the corner of the living room. "I'm sorry," he mumbled quietly as he hugged her. "Go upstairs, lay down or whatever, okay?"

She nodded and hurried as quickly as she could to her and Happy's bedroom. Gemma wore a deep frown as she approached Happy.

"You were right."

"Yeah I know," he said angrily. "You shoulda told me before, Gem."

"I did," she said casually.

"More than a half hour," he snapped.

"Just eat," she said dismissively. "The party can't go to waste, so let's just enjoy it the best we can."

Happy just lingered, chatting with the guys who had heeded Gemma's words and attended the baby shower, wedding celebration, just because party she had thrown. It had barely been an hour when Happy grew tired of pretending to care that there were guests.

"I gotta check on her," he said looking sadly up the stairs.

"Let her sleep," Gemma said.

"Hey, Gem," Tara interrupted. "I think there's something burning in the kitchen." As Gemma scurried away Tara winked at Happy and pointed up the stairs. "She'll be thrilled to see you."

With a smile, Tara watched as Happy hurried up the steps. That smile fell quickly when he returned, carrying an unconscious and bleeding Katie in his arms. "Tara," he said, on the verge of tears, "We gotta go."

"Get her to the truck," she ordered Happy. "Jax," Tara hollered to him. "I'm going with them, all that blood I'm thinking it's a placenta issue, that baby is coming today."

"Yeah, go," he practically pushed her out the door.

"Daddy," Charlotte whimpered from behind him. "What's wrong with Mommy?"

"I don't know, baby," he crouched down. "She's gonna be okay, though, I promise."

Everyone who overheard knew it was the worst promise to make but Jax would promise his little girl the world if only to see her smile.

--

Happy waited impatiently for any word on his wife. An hour felt like five and by the time Tara appeared out of the swinging doors Happy felt like he'd been waiting for days.

"Hey," she smiled. "Do you want to see your son?"

"Son?" He looked at her with surprise. "I thought it was a girl?"

"No," Tara shook her head. "Another boy. Why did you think girl?"

He shook his head, annoyed with Gemma. "No reason," he scoffed. "Healthy?

"Katie or the baby?"

"Uh, both," he stammered.

"Yeah, the baby is big and bald and perfect, Katie's going to need some time but she's going to be okay."

"What the fuck happened?"

Tara pursed her lips. "You want details or?"

"Plain and simple," he huffed.

"Like I thought, there was a problem with the placenta. It tore away from the uterine wall and caused a massive bleed. She's getting blood, she lost a lot, it was bad, but she's stable and resting."

He nodded, "So, if I didn't go up to see her?"

"Yeah," Tara frowned. "We would have lost them both."

Happy's chin trembled as he nodded. "Thank you, Tara."

"My pleasure," she smiled warmly. "Come with me, he's in the nursery."

They walked in silence toward the long glass wall where the rows of clear plastic bassinets were waiting.

"Right there," Tara said with a smile as she watched his expression change. "I think her due date must have been a bit off because he's so big and any of the usual issues we see with 34, 35 weekers aren't present."

"Good," he said, his eyes still locked on the baby. "I think I kind of wanted a girl. Charlotte is pretty cool, I wanted one of my own."

Tara smiled at that. "She's yours, Hap. Just in a different way."

"Yeah, I get to be the cool step-dad when Jax sucks."

"Exactly," Tara laughed. "Did you guys have any ideas on a name?"

"Uhh no, actually. We didn't really talk about it too much. I know she had a lost."

Tara nodded. "Well, you have some time. I'm going to check on Katie. I'll let you know when you can see her."

"Thanks, Tara," he said again as he gave her a quick  and awkward hug. "Really. Thank you."

"Anything for you guys," she said with a genuine smile. "I'll be around if you need anything."

"Can I hold him?" Happy asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Tara seemed surprised. She knocked on the glass to grab one of the nurse's attention. "This is Baby Feldstein's father, can you set him up with a rocker and a quiet spot so he can hold the baby?"

The nurse smiled and led Happy into the nursery so he could sit with his son. He didn't need to worry about Katie, Tara could shoulder that burden for a little while longer. He deserved to enjoy his newborn baby in peace.