Roots Run Deep

Chapter 16

When the day came, Jax arrived at the clubhouse, confident as ever, greeting Katie and Jake as they sipped coffee sitting at the bar. Katie had no idea what was happening, nor did she really want to after a long night's sleep, but under Jax's orders, Jake was to keep her close.

"Hey," he said quietly, giving her a fleeting kiss on the cheek, his hand lingering on her waist. "What are you doing here?"

"You said to keep an eye on her," Jake said quickly.

Jax opened his mouth and shut it again with a shrug.

"You should have been more specific," Katie chuckled. "I wanted to sleep longer but, you know."

"You good?" He asked her with a playful smile which she returned.

"I am," she nodded. "Chibs help Kris out last night?"

Jax nodded. "He should be back in D.C. later this afternoon actually."

"He should?" She seemed surprised.

"He booked the first flight out," Jax shrugged. "Guess the sunshine was too much for him."

Katie nodded, although not as gleeful as Jax, and smiled. "Guess so."

"Did we complicate shit for you?"

"I don't think so," she huffed. "I don't know, I don't know if he really matters. At all."

Jax listened, agreeing with her although she was uncertain about everything. "Just cause he doesn't judge what you do isn't the best deciding factor," he winked. "If you want my opinion."

"You would know," she said quietly.

"Jax," Chibs called out loudly. "Let's go."

"Wish me luck," he winked, successfully hiding his anger at Clay.

"Good luck," she was much more sincere and serious than he was.

Jax nodded, suddenly wearing a darker expression, and turned quickly to head into chapel.

—

While Jax and Clay were detailing their sides, each hoping to win their brothers over to see things from their view, Katie slipped out of the clubhouse. Taking her rental she left town and headed up to her father's. He wasn't expecting her but he smiled when he opened the door and saw her face.

"Hi Daddy," she beamed.

"Katie," he said happily as he pulled her in for a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm going home soon," she explained, "I wanted to hang out once more before I leave."

"You should rethink it," he said, guiding her through the house and toward the living room. "After everything that happened since you came out here maybe it's time to re-evaluate things."

"I'm not moving back here," she said firmly. "You have Jake."

"Jake isn't you," he said sadly. "I love him but you're my daughter."

Katie nodded. "I'm sorry I've been kind of avoiding you," she tried to switch gears. "Even without the uhh, other crap, being here stirred some stuff up. I'm sorry. I've been lost in my head."

"I know," Jacob admitted. "I spoke to Clay, he told me what Kris said. I can't imagine how confused you must be feeling but, Katie, I trust Clay."

She drew her head back. "He told you?"

"He did," Jacob sighed. "He knew I'd hear about it somehow. I appreciate him telling me."

Katie opened her mouth, fully intending to blurt out the trust, but seconds before the words fumbled our she managed to stop herself. Before she said anything, Katie had to check with Jax and that was the only thing she knew for sure. Everything else was too messy to make sense of herself.