Mass Destruction

Chapter 73

Two weeks passed since Corrie's encounter with Jax – it has also been the last encounter between them. She hasn't seen him since he stormed out of the gallery on that fateful afternoon.

Abel's sleeping in Corrie's arms as she strolls through the grocery store. Her heart is breaking with every step she takes. Everywhere she goes she sees happy couples and it saddens her that she hasn't had a meaningful conversation with her husband since their wedding day.

She loads in the pack of frozen veggies, and walk down to the beauty aisle to get body wash for Abel. The little boy stirs and lifts his head off Corrie's shoulder. "Hey sleepy head; how was your nap?"

"Good" the boy mumbles sleepily. "Are we going home soon mama?"

"Yeah baby almost. Wanna sit in the buggy?"

The boy nods and crawls out of her arms. He sits inside the buggy and rubs his eyes with his hands. He switches on Corrie's phone that was sitting in her purse. "Happy birthday mama"

Corrie frowns, "It's not my birthday baby" she tells him. He shakes his head and shows her the phone, Corrie's shocked as hell to see that it is in fact the 1st of November – her birthday.

"Oh my word, would you look at that, mommy's losing it in her old age" she teases causing Abel to giggle, "Silly mama"

"Silly me" She grins and kisses his cheek trying not to let the heartache show on her face. In the midst of all the drama happening in her life, she forgot her birthday. Not only that, but her son is the only one who remembered.

**

While Abel is playing in the garden, Corrie sits on the chair and paints a canvas of him. She hears the thunderous roar of motorcycles. Her heart beats faster in her chest, she doesn't want to see Jax today – she really doesn't want to fight with him now.

"Daddy's home!" Abel yells excited and runs into the house.

Abel runs into the house to greet Jax, the little boy hugs him tightly as Abel crouches down. "Hi buddy"

Chibs and Bobby also walk into the kitchen and Abel greets them as well. "Where's your mom?" Jax asks

"Outside! Daddy, did you buy mama a present for her birthday?"

Shit, he forgot her birthday. "No buddy. I didn't."

"You should buy her a present" he puts his hands on his hips and scolds his dad causing Chibs and Bobby to smirk. Jax chuckles, "I will. We have a bit of work to do; then you and I can go out and buy her a present alright?"

"Okay"

Abel runs back outside leaving the three men alone. "Corrie's birthday is today, we can do this shit later man" Bobby says.

"I don't give a shit about Corrie's birthday. The DA is sniffing round, trying to find some shit about the school shooting. Nero's pissed; I'm scared he'll tell"

"You know he won't" Bobby says, "If he tells her something, he'd go to prison with us. Don't worry about him."

"Juice then" Jax growls, "He has no reason not to rat, we have to find him before the DA does."

"I've tracked down his sister, she hasn't heard from him. Put two guys in front of the weed store. We'll track him down brotha, don't worry" Chibs says.

"Good"

"Go be with the lass now, tomorrow we'll handle this shit"

Jax nods his head although he has no energy to hang out with her now.

The guys leave and Jax walks outside to find Abel playing and Corrie painting. She looks up at him, "Hey"

He nods his head at her, "What are you painting?"

"A picture of Abel playing, it's almost finished"

He wordlessly sits down on the chair next to her, his presence making her nervous. "Daddy, can we go buy mommy a present now?" Abel yells from across the yard.

"It's already dark out bud" Jax says and lights up a cigarette. Upon Abels pout Corrie grins strained at her son, "It's okay honey. You don't have to buy me something"

"But it's your birthday. Both me and daddy got presents"

Corrie frowns, she knows her son didn't mean anything by that but it hurt her that they're not the happy family they once were. "It's fine, you're a big enough present"

Abel's satisfied with the answer and runs to give her a kiss. Tears form in Corrie's eyes. Once Abel's back to playing she excuses herself.

Corrie stumbles into the bathroom and slid down against the wall. Loud cries echo through the silent bathroom. What happened to them?