CHAPTER 6
Jax and Tara followed Ms. Harris around as she inspected the home while I stayed with Abel in the living room as we played with some building blocks. He wanted to make a castle and I thought that it would be a good way to keep an eye on Abel and leave the adults to talk. Although I was pretty sure the routine that Ms. Harris would give them, what she would say to possibly intimidate them, and what she was looking for as well as helpful hints.
It was moments like this where I was glad that this thing usually didn’t take too long. Ms. Harris was usually fast. She knew what to look out for.
They were gone through the house, Ms. Harris looking in the cupboards of the kitchen and bathroom, going through things in all the rooms just to make sure everything was in place that needed to be and nothing dangerous was there.
They were gone through the house for about twenty minutes. Thomas was in his crib sleeping so I knew that they wouldn’t spend too much time in there where they could be loud, but I knew she would look. She was thorough. But I don’t know if that was necessarily a bad thing. Tara and Jax were working hard all yesterday and this morning to make sure that everything was in check. I still don’t know if Tara completely liked me, and I didn’t know my full relationship with her. But she helped my dad to make sure we had everything, to make sure that he would be approved. He was on trial and so was she and she made sure there was an aim to please.
I watched them come back by the front door, Ms. Harris at the front before Jax and Tara followed her. I sat up a bit straighter, wanting to listen in and I didn’t care if I was being obvious about it. I wanted to know if I could stay here. I was hoping that I would be able to stay here. I was welcomed here. I was wanted here. I didn’t know for sure if my dad was ever going to actually want me with him, that he would fight for me as Jax did.
I had also prepped Jax and Tara. I told them to make sure everything was clean, to get out any novels if they had any, for Tara to set out some of her medical books to make an impression. I said to make sure that Abel and Thomas looked well, nicely clothed in their best causals, and to do anything to make Thomas look cute. I told them to put out more family pictures, make Jax seem fatherly and human and that they are a good and happy family. I told them to wear something nice, but still casual and I told Jax to take off his cut because I knew that was the first thing that she would note on if he had it on. I knew that the impression of it would mean that it went club first, family second. Violence first, fatherly roles second. She wouldn’t like if the first image she saw of him was Sons of Anarchy. I even told him to hide any pictures of the club if he had any around to show that he can separate his life, if she realized how much into the club he was, which I hoped that she didn’t.
It was weird but it was a good weird. It was a good difference. It made me feel happy instead of unwanted.
Ms. Harris seemed to know that I was listening, so she made her voice a bit louder, which I liked. It meant that it would be good news. Ms. Harris and I didn’t get along too much, but she knew my level and I knew she wanted the best for me.
She started by clearing her voice and looking over her notes that she made on her clipboard.
“Mr. Teller I am still not completely convinced about the safety of Sidney. There is still the issue about your affiliations, I have not forgotten them and I have heard of them. However, you have a clean record from anything dramatic, especially in the past five years.” Ms. Harris notes and I could see the worry in his eyes. She continued, “I think that we will be having more frequent visits. We will be watching you very carefully as well. As soon as something sparks a red flag, we are going to have to take action. Normally I wouldn’t recommend or allow a child to stay in situations like this but it seems like it would be the best for Sidney.”
My dad and I perked up a bit and I asked, getting up and moving from Abel a bit, “you mean I can stay?”
Ms. Harris looked at me and nodded before she looked at Jax and Tara, “although there is a small safety issue and that is going to require a lot more check up, this home is fit for a child and this is a secure home. You both have the ability to supply Sidney with what she needs such as the basic needs of food and clothing and education.”
My smile was widening and I could see in the corner of my eye how Jax and Tara were slowly relaxing a bit as well. I even saw Ms. Harris crack a smile, “This seems like a stable and safe home for Sidney. I think that, at least for now, it is the safest and best place for her. I do, however, expect you, Mr. Teller, that you would not do anything to give yourself a larger prison record than you already have. I’m being greatful for looking over the things that are already on there. I also expect that you will soon have her attending a school that has a good record and productivity that is best for her.”
“Of course,” Jax promised.
Ms. Harris looked over at me and I gave her a smile. She looked back at Jax and Tara before telling them, “our lawyers will speak to each other. Right now you have no rights to Sidney, we can still change our minds at any time and as her biological father you have every right to fight. As of now, she can stay in your care, but we do have a right to revoke that. Technically, this is like a foster home for her, but like I said, you do have the ability to fight for legal full rights.”
Jax nodded and Ms. Harris told him, “if you would like to call your lawyer, as soon as you can, you need to sign some papers, saying that as of now you are her guardians. Sometimes people like to have their lawyers present.”
Tara nodded and Ms. Harris put down the clipboard before she looked around between the three of us, giving us a smile, “you can all relax now. I have made my decision. Sidney I have your things in the back of my vehicle if you would like them. Your room was pretty bare.”
I beamed and nodded before I moved to the front door. I heard Jax tell them, “thank you.”
Ms. Harris said, “I’m glad that Sidney is in a place as good as this.”
I was outside before I heard more. I heard Abel run out and he called, “I want to help! I want to help!”
I looked over my shoulder, already just outside as Abel quickly put on his sandals. I smiled and Jax came out along with Ms. Harris as she went over to her black SUV to unlock the doors and open the trunk so that I could get my things. Jax passed me and set his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him as Ms. Harris was opening the doors to her trunk to get my things. I could see that there was relief on his face.
He grabbed a bright red suitcase first before we looked over and saw Tara with Thomas, who was now awake, but still not very alert from just waking up from his nap. I looked over at the things, Ms. Harris smiling at us and I heard Abel say again excitedly: “I want to help! What can I get?”
I gave him a smile and looked over my things before I picked him a small bag that seemed to hold my CDs. I picked it up and told him as I gave it to him, “these might be a bit heavy. Do you think you can manage?”
He nodded excitedly before taking the bag, shifting a bit from its weight but he moved with it quickly to get it inside. I picked up the last bag that was like a miniature hockey bag that would hold the last of my clothes and my books and movies and picture frames. There was one last bag and it was my rolled up posters. I grabbed that as well and I looked at Ms. Harris. Even though my hands were full of things, I moved to hug her and she chuckled before hugging me back. I whispered to her, “thank you.”
She told me, “stay safe.”
I nodded before letting go of her. I looked over at Jax and he told Ms. Harris, “I’ll call our lawyer now, get things settled as quickly as we can.”
Ms. Harris nodded before she closed the trunk. Jax looked down at me and he said, “how about tonight to celebrate, after you have started setting up things in your room, we have a barbeque. I can introduce you to the other club members, which in a sense are going to be your uncles.”
“You are related?” I asked.
He shook his head as we began walking back into the house. He answered, “family does not end in blood. We are brothers.”
I nodded and asked him, a bit nervous about meeting so many people, as I remember the crowd at the clubhouse when I got there a couple of nights ago, “I don’t know.”
He smiled and Tara kept the door open for us so we could get inside. He told me, “they will like you, don’t worry. And if not, they can’t say anything. Your grandfather created the club and it’s my step dad who is in control of it now and I’m the Vice President, also next in line for Presidency. And your grandmother is the Queen of the club. It’s in your blood that they will love you.”
I still gave them a nervous smile and Tara told me after shutting the door once I came in: “don’t worry. They’ll probably scare you at first, but they are the biggest sweethearts. By next week you can ask them for a piggy back and they will give you one.”
I gave her a small giggle before I went to my room so see my dad put the suitcase on my bed while Abel had already put my CDs there. At least I could have the day to get out of my nerves and decorate my new room.