Abel Teller's kindergarten teacher is replaced midway through the year with a newcomer to Charming, Maddox Turner. When Jax meets Maddox, she turns his life upside-down in more ways than one.
...
Venus and Donna arrived at Teller-Morrow to find Jax, Tig, Opie, Gemma, and Bobby sitting at the picnic tables. Jax stood up when the women got out of their cars and walked their way. Donna shook her head as they reached the tables.
"She wasn't there but I found Venus looking for her too."
Venus nodded as Tig kissed her on the cheek. "Her bedroom is a hot mess like she was in a big hurry, sugar. What do we know?"
Jax shook his head. "Abel had a sub today. They told the class that she had a family emergency and probably wouldn't be back for the rest of the year. You haven't heard from her either?"
Venus shook her head as she shared a worried look with Tig. "No, Jackson. She hasn't returned any of my calls." She shook her head again. "A family emergency just doesn't make sense. Except for... well, to make a long story short for the moment, she doesn't have any family."
Jax frowned and shook his head, muttering under his breath before looking at Opie. "Am I the only one feeling like this has something to do with Mark?" When Opie nodded, Jax turned back to Donna. "Can you call him? See if he knows something?"
When Donna nodded and walked away to do just that, Jax turned to Venus. "Any idea where she could be? At all? You know her better than anyone."
Venus sighed as she leaned against Tig. "Well, there's only one thing I know that she likes to do to clear her head." When Donna came back, Venus grinned at her. "Let me guess, he had no idea."
Donna nodded as she frowned at Opie and Jax. "Yeah. Not only that but he was rude about it. He definitely didn't like it when I said that Jax was looking for her."
Venus grinned and took Donna's arm as she looked at Opie. "How are you with your wife going on a road trip with me?" When Jax shook his head, Venus lifted a brow. "Now, Jackson, you all are busy. Surely, Donna can find someone to watch the kids so we can go find Maddox. I know of a few places to look, so let's not worry until we've looked everywhere."
Donna nodded as she looked at Opie then Venus. "Yeah, I'll call Mary or Piney. Where do you think she is?"
Venus sighed and looked at Tig. "Newport Beach, San Clemente, or Malibu, but I'm hoping for the first. The other two will be like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Happy spoke up for the first time from behind Venus and Tig. "She surfs." When the other men looked at him in surprise, he shrugged. "What? I know how to do more than ride a bike and break people."
Venus nodded as she smiled at the club enforcer. "Oh yes. Maddox has surfed all of her life. If she isn't in town, and obviously she isn't, then she's surfing somewhere." She took Donna's hand in hers and smiled. "Meet me back here in an hour, Thelma?"
Donna and Gemma chuckled as the younger woman nodded. "You got it, Louise."
Venus hugged Jax and smiled at him. "We'll find her, Jackson. I promise."
Jax nodded. "Just stay safe, okay? And bring her ass back where it belongs. Apparently, we need to have another discussion."
Venus winks as she pats him on the cheek. "You boys are always so adorable when you get all possessive. Makes me all tingly."
Venus got out of the car and placed her sunglasses on her nose as she surveyed the waves. They'd finally tracked her down in Malibu and Venus was thrilled that they were that much closer to going home. As Donna started to walk across the beach, Venus wrinkled her nose and sighed as she kicked off her slingback heels and swung them in her hand as she followed Donna.
She'd never had an affinity for sun, sand, and surf, but Maddox was like a mermaid. She was never happier than when she was in the water, something that they would never have in common. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks as she watched Maddox come walking out of the waves, a surfboard under one arm and laughing at something the man beside her was saying.
She and Donna stopped a few feet away, both women with their arms crossed over their chests and glaring at the woman walking toward them. She knew the second Maddox realized that they were standing there, because she slowed her pace and rolled her eyes, something that always set Venus's teeth on edge. Maddox stopped in front of them with one hand on her hip as the other still gripped her board.
"What are you two doing here?"
Venus glared at her younger friend. "Well, I should think that's obvious. I mean, we certainly aren't here to see how high the waves are breaking."
Maddox grinned then as she nodded and started past them. "Well, if you're wondering, they're breaking at about sixteen. Perfect."
Donna snickered and Venus shot her a look before following behind the tiny smartass. "Well, we're here to take you home. Jackson wants you back in Charming."
Maddox sighed as she set her board against the side of her car and took off her wetsuit. "I can't go back yet."
Donna looked at her with a frown. "Why not?"
Maddox lifted a brow. "Because of your cousin."
Venus sighed as she watched Maddox towel down. "We suspected he had something to do with your quick departure."
Maddox nodded then leaned against the car. "Look, let's go back to the hotel and I'll tell you everything."
Venus made eye contact with her and nodded, making Maddox sigh. "Yes, we are going to discuss everything. Donna needs to know. She'll be able to help with your other problem as well." When Maddox just shook her head, Venus put an arm around a confused Donna and smiled. "She can. Who would be better to hash it all out with?" She looked up at the sun and grimaced. "Can we go? I can feel the wrinkles popping up on my face."
