Chapter 2
One Year Later
"Just a few balloons," Alice begged.
"No." I answered.
"A cake?"
"No." I answered again. I was starting to get annoyed.
"What about a cupcake with a candle?" she looked like she was getting ready to cry.
"Alice! I said no. I'm not having any kind of party now leave me alone."
I didn't like being mean to Alice, but I had better things to do than being convinced to have a party. I was waiting for one of the only two presents I was willing to accept for my birthday.
The Toshiba Portege R500 laptop with all the accessories was both present and peace offering from my parents. It was a way for me to see and hear Jacob even though he was thousands of miles away. He had been sent the same set up so that we could keep in touch. This was the first I had seen him since he left me a year ago.
I talked to Jacob every single night. He'd always call to make sure I was surviving and that I was taking care of myself. He'd joke that there was no reason to get so upset over his being gone. That he was nothing special. During our many conversations he had persuaded me to forgive my mother. The way he saw it, if I was mad at her then I should be just as mad at him seeing as how he was in on the plan.
If he wanted to play the role of the big bad wolf I was willing to go along with it. I started calling him Huff Puff. That was the only punishment I could give him.
The laptop made a weird noise that was a cross between a bird chirping and a bell. This was the warning that someone was online, wanting to talk to me. My hands shook as I opened the screen. There he was smiling. He was sitting in his room on his too-tiny bed. Wearing a black t-shirt with the Punisher symbol silk-screened across it. His hair was longer and he had it tied back.
"Hey Huff Puff," I said into the tiny microphone.
He rolled his eyes hearing his nickname then let out a chuckle. "Hey there yourself birthday girl. You look good Nessie. I'm glad. You had me worried."
I could see the stress lines around his mouth and eyes and I knew he was in the same kind of pain. I would not think about pain now. Now I would spend with him.
"What's all the news in La Push?" I folded myself into a lotus position to get comfortable.
"Not much really Emily and Sam got some good news…um is Leah around?"
"Rose was getting on her case so I told her to go hunting, but I can go get her if you–,"
"No no, I'm just not sure how she's going to handle the news. I'd rather tell her in person." He seemed torn whether to be happy or not about the news. I wasn't really sure what to say and when I stayed silent he told me. "Sam and Emily had a baby boy yesterday."
"Poor Leah," While we weren't the best of friends, Leah and I had become civilized toward each other. Pretty much everyone knew the story of her relationship with Sam. Sam had broken up with Leah when he met her cousin Emily and imprinted. This nearly destroyed Leah. Now there was news of a new baby, something else Leah could never have because she was a shape shifter.
"Jacob, is there anything I can do?"
"No, forget I said anything. This is my stuff to deal with. It's your birthday. All focus should be on you."
I glanced around the room to make sure none of my family was watching and then I leaned in and kissed the screen.
"Mini-muffins!" Alice shouted from across the room.
Jake saw me roll my eyes, "Is she alright?"
Before I could answer Alice scooped up the computer from me and began to plead her case.
"Jacob please tell her she has to celebrate her birthday."
"Why? What have you got planned so far?"
"Nothing, she said that she doesn't want a party until you come home. She wouldn't even let me get her a cake. Talk to her." Alice whined as I grabbed the computer back.
"Nessie…you should be doing something huge for your birthday."
"I don't want to go along with life like everything's sunshine and kittens Jake. If I do this then it's almost like saying you not being here is a good thing and it's not."
"Nessie do you realize how special you are to me? To your family? I don't want you mopping around on your birthday when you could be having fun."
He pursed his lips together while he searched his brain for an answer. "How about you forget the birthday party and have a countdown to when Jacob comes back? Is that something you could get happy about?"
"I guess I'd be willing to celebrate that," I said in a lower voice, but it was to late.
A squeal came from across the room as Alice began buzzing around muttering something about strobe lights and sound systems.
"Do you hate me now?" he grinned as he asked.
"Yes," I pouted but not really meaning it.
Jake gave a slow nod, moved his hands to rest behind his head and leaned back. "I guess your mom can sent back the present I got you. Cause I don't give presents to people who hate me."
"No, no, no. I love you."
"I think that's your queue Bella…hello by the way." He looked past me at my mother who was standing behind me.
"Hello Jake." It was all that she said as she laid a small package in front of me.
The brightly wrapped box sat in my lap as I stared at it. When I didn't move to open it Jacob coughed it get my attention.
"Sorry," I smiled. "You just have it wrapped so pretty."
Even though I was being watched I began to pull the ribbon from the box. Edward took everyone else out for a hunt while Bella and Alice stayed behind. The blue paper floated to the floor as I lifted the lid from the box to retrieve my gift.
Inside the nest of tissue paper was a jewelry box. It was black with some kind of shell inlay forming flowers around the border. My favorite part was the tiny gold key that came with it. It was a place for me to keep my treasures. "Jake…it's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it." He said the words as if he was holding his breath. Like he was worried I wouldn't, which of course was silly. I'd love a beach rock if it came from him, but then he said something that made his doubt clear. "It belonged to my mom."
The door to the outside world opened and closed letting me know that I had been given some privacy. Thanks guys.
"Jake I can't accept this. It was your mom's." I felt stupid repeating what he had just told me. "What I mean is you dad must want it to remember her by."
"Nessie, my mother wanted me to give the box to you."
Jacob Black's mother had died when he was a young boy so what he was telling me didn't make a whole lot of sense.
The face that was staring at me from the screen gave a weak smile. I knew it hurt him to remember the woman he had lost. "She left to me when she died along with a note. She told me that I was to give the box to the girl I was going to…"
"Oh," I clutched the box to my chest, as its symbolism became clear. His mother wanted him to give it to the girl he was going to marry. "Thank you so much." I could feel a strange tickle on my face.
"It's just a box Nessie. Please don't cry." Jacob was ready to come through the computer to comfort me.
"I'm fine. Just being a girl." I brushed away the tear and replaced it with a grin.
We chatted for about an hour about different things. Like Seth getting straight A's. How I finally went hunting with mom again after almost a full year. Grandpa Charlie caught a huge fish, but lost it when the line broke or so he and Billy claimed. I told him how Emmett made mom take him on in yet another arm wrestling match and she let him win. Emmett wasn't very happy when he found out about the pity victory.
An unseen voice called out to Jake. He ground his teeth together and grumbled under his breath. "Dammit Seth, I'll be right there!"
"Gotta go?"
"Yeah, but promise me something before I go?"
"What?
"Celebrate your birthday."
"Jake I don't want to celebrate unless you're here."
"Don't think of it as it as a birthday party." He thought for a minute then said, "How about this, celebrate the lessening of time until we see each other again."
"The lessening of time? Seriously?"
"Yes I am."
No matter how much I hated the idea I could never deny him anything. And I did like the "lessening" idea, even if it was a made-up event to celebrate. I scowled at him through the web cam then gave up. "Alright!"
"Thank you sweetheart. I'll talk you tomorrow night."
"I'll be here."
"I love you."
"Well I should hope so. I have to suffer through a lessening countdown party without you."
Jake puckered his lips and kissed the air sending me an imaginary kiss when the unseen voice called again. He reached toward the top of the screen, "Seth I swear to all that is holy–," and the computer went blank.
Closing the computer I got up and put my present in my room. I laid it on my dresser and opened it to place the first item inside. It was the promise bracelet he had given me years before that was now way too small. I then went outside where I knew they'd be waiting. And they all were waiting. And they all knew.
"It's not a birthday party. It's a lessening countdown party."
Emmett and Jasper laughed while Alice squealed with delight. Rose rolled her eyes while my parents smiled at me as they held each other.
Just two thousand five hundred and forty eight days to go before I could be as happy as they were with the wolf I loved.
