Spark in the Dark

Chapter 57

Gemma called Shawn later that morning and asked her to be at Jax's early. She and Wendy, who Shawn didn't even know was back in town, would be at the hospital and Gemma wanted Shawn to be at Jax's to greet guests as they arrived. Gemma even called Luanne for Shawn to explain why she wasn't going to be at the studio.

Shawn arrived at Jax's and Gemma left, but Wendy stayed since it wasn't quite time to pick up Abel. She and Wendy finished getting things ready for the party, but they didn't talk much as they worked. Wendy had never really liked Shawn. She thought Shawn had a crush on Jax, no matter how many times she was told otherwise, and it had made her insecure. Shawn had always felt a little guilty over Wendy's drug addiction because of that. Wendy used to just use recreationally, but it got worse as time went on and Shawn thought maybe it was because she felt so threatened by Shawn. But Wendy was being as nice as she could at the moment, even if it was awkward, so Shawn figured she could be nice back.

Jax showed up a little later to pick up Wendy. Shawn turned on some music as Gemma had told her to. She turned up the volume, but tried to keep it quiet enough that it wouldn't bother the baby. She knew at some point, one of the guys would turn it up louder, but at least she could say she tried. Piney was the first one to arrive, probably to secure himself a comfortable seat on the couch, but everyone else began pouring in soon after. When Juice walked in with Tig, he gave Shawn a sly wink. Tig gave her a quick hug before making his way into the kitchen for a drink. Opie and Donna with their kids came in not long after that.

Donna and Shawn hugged. "Haven't seen you in awhile."

"Tell me about it," Donna told her. "When you have two kids, things get kind of crazy."

"If I ever talk about having kids, do me a favor and remind me of that," Shawn told her.

Donna laughed. "You got it."

"Kenny," Shawn greeted Opie's son, exaggerating his name in a funny voice. The boy gave her a high five and passed her to go sit with his grandpa. Shawn gave Ellie a hug and then she followed her brother.

"Follow me to the kitchen," Opie told Shawn. "I have a very serious question to ask you."

Shawn did what she was told and walked behind Opie as he walked over to her father. He placed a hand on Tig's shoulder, interrupting his conversation with Juice and Clay.

"Please explain to me why your father is so afraid of dolls," Opie requested and Shawn laughed.

"Don't you dare," Tig warned her.

"Oh, come on!" Shawn protested.

"I said no," Tig told her again and then he and Clay walked out of the kitchen.

Shawn watched them leave and then turned back to Opie. "So, when I was little, my grandma had given me this doll. I was playing with it one day and tried to hand it to Tig to hold it for me and he would not take it. In retrospect, it was really ugly and creepy looking. When I realized he didn't like it, I started fucking with him. I'd leave it in places and move it when he wasn't looking. This one time, he was out late and it put it in his bed before he came home. He freaked out."

"You were a little psycho," Juice told her while laughing.

"She was raised by Tig. What do you expect?" Opie asked him.

"Hey," Shawn complained. Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out of her back pocket. "It's Gemma. Says they're almost here."

Shawn went back into the living room to give everyone there the heads up. Jax walked in a few minutes later, holding Abel, with Wendy and Gemma close behind. Everyone began to clap and Clay offered Abel a beer as a joke. Shawn stepped forward to get a better look at the baby. Tig asked Jax if he could hold Abel.

"Wait, hold on," Jax said to Tig. "Because I know if I don't hand him over to his Aunt Shawn first, she will kick my ass."

"You got that right," Shawn said and set her drink down. Jax gave her Abel and she smiled at the baby. "Look at that Abel. Your daddy isn't as dumb as he looks."

"Nice," Jax said sarcastically, but laughed.

Juice had come out of the kitchen when they entered and was standing by the front door. Watching her with Abel, he suddenly was no longer dreading telling Tig. He was in love with that girl and wanted everyone to know it.

"Hey, be careful doing that," Jax warned Shawn as she bounced Abel. "He ate right before we left the hospital. He might throw up on you."

"Wait, they do that?" Shawn asked.

"Oh, yeah."

"I love you, Abel, but you can go to Tig now," Shawn said and passed him over. Jax laughed.

"Oh sure, hand him to me to throw up on," Tig said. "Like you didn't do that enough as a kid."

Shawn sat on the couch and Juice moved to sit next to her. They smiled at each other. Shawn could practically read his thoughts. One more night.