One Rule

Chapter 45

Tig and Happy brought the box and letter from Jax early the following week. At the time, I kind of felt like there was something that they weren't telling me, but I decided not to push it. I'd asked not to know if I didn't absolutely need to know. I trusted that if they thought I needed to know, they would tell me. 

Per Jax's instructions, I opened the letter first...

Diana,

I'm sorry that you're having to read this. So much has happened in the last couple of months. I wish we could have had this conversation face to face, but there just wasn't time. Just know that I love you and I'm looking out for you, wherever I am.

I have one last favor to ask of you, Sis. In the box are the journals that I've been writing in for the last year or so. I need you to hold onto these for Abel and Thomas until they're old enough to read them. I want my boys to know that I did what I thought was best to keep them safe, and because I loved them very much. I never want them to doubt that they're loved. Abel and Thomas are going to hear a lot about me, but I want them to hear some of the story from me. They deserve that much.

I know you're bound and determined to start over in Tacoma, but don't be a stranger, Diana. You still have family in Charming. Please be in Abel and Thomas' lives - you and your little girl. They're going to need family more than ever as they grow up, and that includes you. I know I'm asking a lot, but please do this for me.

I love you, Sis

Jax

P.S. I don't care if you read the journals - it'll probably help you decide when Abel and Thomas are ready for them. (I numbered the order.)

I looked up at Tig and Happy. "How the hell am I supposed to judge when they're ready for this?"

"What's in it?" Happy asked.

"His journals."

"Give it like ten years, minimum," Tig replied.

"That's no joke. That's a heavy last request." I passed the letter off to Happy and let him and Tig read it. They looked down at me when they were done. "I'll do it, but damn. Maybe Tara will be able to help me figure this crap out." I paused and looked up at Tig, "Wait, why did he send this to me? Why not just leave it with Tara?"

Happy responded, "My guess is that Jax didn't want the boys to find them in the house or storage unit. They're safer with you."

"Makes sense," I mumbled.

I lost my shit when I finally found out why I had the journals, and that they'd managed to lie right to my face.

...

Hope Elizabeth Kozik was born three weeks later at two thirty in the morning on a Wednesday. She had beautiful brown eyes and a head full of blond hair.

Before they'd come to bring me Jax's journals, Tig called with an interesting request. He wanted to know if he could stay with me until I had the baby. He said he wanted to be there with me when I had Hope. I warned him that if he was planning on staying at my house for a month, he was more or less signing up to wait on me, hand and foot, for that month. Despite the warning, he decided to stay, and actually did a decent job doing what I asked.

"Why would you want to stay with me?" I'd pressed.

"I want to do it for Kozik," he'd admitted. I couldn't say no after that.