"Leah? It's Jared. Duh. Of course you already know that. God, why do I feel so awkward? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I'll be in Portland early Saturday morning. We'r'e staying at the Park Lane. See you about ten."
Leah stared at her cell phone. "We? Who's we?" She didn't have time to puzzle over it or even to call Jared back. She had an interview in ten minutes.
"Go!" Aiyanna laughed, pushing Leah's purse at her. "We'll be fine! And good lu...I mean break a leg!"
Saturday dawned sunny and unseasonably warm. Mrs. Fisher admitted the two gentleman callers at exactly ten o'clock and knocked on Leah's door. "Your young man is here, Leah. And your brother."
Leah frowned. "I didn't know Seth was coming with Jared. Please tell them I'll be down as soon as I get James ready." Mrs. Fisher tapped on Aiyanna's door, the next one down the hall; Leah shrugged and returned to dressing the baby. When she entered the parlor, Seth and Aiyanna were engaged in animated conversation.
"What's going on?" Leah asked Jared.
"Seth asked if he could tag along. He said he had a date here in Portland."
Leah rolled her eyes, but the two continued to ignore her. "Shall we go for a walk, Jared? There's something I need to tell you." Leah pulled James's stroller out of the hall closet and got him settled. She avoided Jared's eyes as they walked slowly down the tree shaded street, Jared pushing the stroller.
Jared finally broke the silence. He stopped and turned to Leah. "What is it, Lee? Is it something bad? Just tell me - we can work it out."
Staring at her shoes, Leah responded softly. "I...umm...I don't know how to say this, Jared, so I'll just spit it out. I never thought it would happen, but...I've imprinted on someone."
He gasped. Leah finally looked up at him, and he appeared stricken. "Imprint? But...how? Who? How could this happen?"
"It's Jacob," she said softly. "When I was home. We just didn't know how to tell you."
Jared frowned. The stroller appeared to be holding him up; Leah had the feeling that if he let go of the handle he would sink to his knees. Feeling a little guilty, she renewed her resolve. He needed to be taught a lesson. "Jacob?" He shook his head. "But I patrol with him, Leah. How could I not know this?"
"We've been trying to keep it a secret, but it was only a matter of time. With the pack telepathy, you know? Anyway, I explained to him that you and I have a good thing going." She moved closer, slipping a hand under his shirt as her lips lingered inches from his. "He said we can work out some kind of schedule, but he'd really like Sundays…"
Jared jumped back as if she had burned him. "Leah! What the hell are you saying? That's ridiculous! Look, there must be some mistake. I mean, my imprint…"
Leah started to laugh. "Apparently you're as gullible as I am, Jared Cameron. I fell for your imprint story too."
Bringing a hand to his chest, Jared stared at her. "It's not true then?"
Leah shook her head. "The elders tell me that once we had a child together neither one of us would imprint on anyone. It would serve no purpose. I thought you needed a lesson. I trusted you, Jared."
"I'm sorry, Leah." He had the decency to look ashamed. "You know what they say - all's fair in love and war." He sighed deeply. "Look, I have no excuse. Except that I love you, and I know no one will ever crowd you out of my heart. Ever. I swear that on our son, Lee."
Leah breathed out slowly. "I know why you did it, Jared, but I don't want you lying to me. I need to be able to trust you - and you can trust me too. No more of this nonsense, okay?"
Jared hung his head. "Promise."
He looked so dejected Leah took pity on him. She took his chin in her hand and kissed him lightly on the lips. "You know I care about you too, Jared. We'll work this out."
As they headed back toward the rooming house, Jared stepped off the curb and a black Mercedes materialized out of the murky dusk moving fast, no headlights. Jared yanked the stroller back just in time, his hands trembling on the handle while a growl rumbled up from his chest..
Leah placed a cool hand on his and spoke softly. "We're not in LaPush, Jared; it's the city. Just breathe. You can't go sprouting fur and chasing every idiot you come across." She gently pried his hands from the stroller and took over, continuing toward the rooming house.
From a block away, they saw Seth and Aiyanna climbing into a taxi. Leah shook her head. "What's that about? Do you know?"
Jared chuckled. "When I mentioned to Seth that I was coming to see you, he said he wanted to call Anna and see if she was free. I guess they exchanged phone numbers when you came to visit your mom. They do look good together."
"Jeez. My little brother. Yeah, I guess he's old enough." Leah lifted James out of the stroller. "I have to feed him. I think Mrs. Fisher will let you come up with me as long as we leave the door open."
Jared held the door for them and rolled his eyes. He whispered "Do you think she knows where James came from?"
Mrs. Fisher called from the kitchen. "Is that you, Leah? You can invite your young man to join us for dinner. Aiyanna had a date, so there's plenty." She entered the room wiping her hands on her apron.
Leah introduced them and they shook hands. Mrs. Fisher's tiny hand was lost in Jared's paw. She looked him up and down calmly as if to take his measure. "It's nice to meet you, Jared," she announced finally. "I always thought it was important for a little boy to have a father figure in his life."
Jared nodded in agreement. "I agree wholeheartedly, Mrs. Fisher. I believe one of the most important things I can do for him is to love his mother - which I do. With all my heart."
The landlady seemed to be happy with his answer. "Dinner will be ready at seven. That will give James time to get his dinner first." With a nod to her guests, she disappeared back into the kitchen. Leah led the way to her room and settled in a rocking chair to nurse the baby. Jared sat on the edge of the bed.
Sighing softly as he watched, Jared whispered, "I miss you, Leah. Both of you."
"I know." She didn't look at him. "I miss you too. And I miss LaPush...the pack. My family. I think it's time to go home."
