Chapter 7
Rosalie came to take Willow downstairs and Jacob followed closely behind them. I was still feeling a little weak but something in Jacob's expression made me worry. I got up slowly and followed them downstairs.
"What are you feeding him?" Jacob asked as he rushed downstairs.
"Human blood" Rosalie answered casually.
"No!" Jacob grabbed Rosalie's arm to stop her at the doorway to the kitchen.
"Do you want him to starve?" Rosalie asked. She was annoyed. Willow was still wailing loudly.
"He needs to get off this…addiction." Jacob said through his teeth.
Gabrielle was standing in the kitchen. She snorted at Jacob: "This place is not a rehab, you imbécile!"
Rosalie giggled and she continued to carry Willow into the kitchen.
"I am not joking." Jacob said in a serious tone.
"Well, I am not either." Rosalie replied. The intensity of Willow's crying increased.
"Guys!" I said. All of them turned to look at me. "Just feed him right now, we can sort this out after. Okay?" I took Willow into my arms.
Rosalie glared at Jacob. Jacob turned around and stormed out of the kitchen. I could hear my dad's quick footsteps as he followed Jacob in the hallway. I heard the thud as my dad pushed Jacob against the wall. My dad whispered to Jacob, but I could hear every word that he said clearly.
"If that thought comes up again I am going to crush your skull."
"Don't tell me it hasn't cross your mind." Jacob whispered back.
"Gentlemen, You need to take this outside." Tristan said to both of them. His tone was curt.
I heard the ruffle of Jacob's shirt as my dad let go of him. I sighed softly. Willow had finished 2oz of human blood and drifted back to sleep.
Jacob came back into the kitchen. Rosalie and Gabrielle both gave him a dirty look before walking out into the hallway. I looked down at Willow but out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Jacob stood at the doorway for a few seconds while I rocked Willow gently in my arms. With his eyes closed, Willow could almost past for a full human baby. He was breathing, he had a heartbeat and he felt warm to the touch.
"Can I hold him?" Jacob asked quietly.
"Of course, he is your son." I replied with a loaded answer.
Jacob walked over quietly and I placed Willow gently into his outstretched arms. Jacob took a peek at me and said:
"I am sorry I was being a jack ass."
I kept my eyes on Willow. He was in deep sleep. Jacob looked at his serene face and spoke in a soft voice:
"Hi Willow, daddy is here."
I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions. This was a scene I had imagined many times in my head. I leaned my head on Jacob's muscular arm as a drop of tears rolled down my cheek. Jacob turned to kiss the top of my head. Our moment of peace didn't last long. My mom ran into the kitchen with her cell phone in her hand.
"Jake, Charlie just called. Your father is back in the hospital!"
A look of panic shot across Jacob's face. He looked down at Willow and then he looked at me.
"Go back with me." Jacob asked. His eyes were full of hope and sincerity.
A big part of me wanted to say yes and never let go of Jacob's arm again. I didn't want to spend any more nights just wishing I could touch his face. I needed him beside me. Now that we had Willow, I wanted all three of us to be together. Like a real family.
Another part of me was going through mental images of Paul, Embry and the elders. They all had the same expression on their face. I couldn't subject Willow to that kind of hatred. I could not bring him back unless I was sure of their acceptance for him. I knew what would happen if they saw his bloodstained eyes right now.
"Willow is still on human blood. We need to wean him off first before bringing him back to the tribe." I replied.
Jacob had a look defeat on his face as he exhaled loudly. He leaned in to kiss Willow on the forehead and my heart melted at the sight of his affection for our baby. He gently transferred Willow into my mom's arms and then he turned to embrace me. I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly and shut my eyes. I wanted to savour this moment of us being together. It could be months before I would be in arms again. Jacob lifted my chin with his finger and kissed me on the lips. I opened my eyes and we looked at each other one last time before he walked away.
