Chapter 9: Embrace

One of the things I missed most when I was away was Sunday dinner. I missed how no matter what was going on in our lives my mom made sure all of us would sit together on Sunday and share our that moment in time with each other. In the past I found it extremely annoying but now I realized why she did it. I pulled up in front of my mother's house and I was elated. I needed some time with just her and Seth … oh yeah and Charlie too. I used my key and let myself in. I could smell pot roast as soon as I hit the living room. God, I missed my mom's cooking. I went into the kitchen to see if there's anything I can help move the process along so that I can eat and I see Ness with my mom laughing and talking. I know it's wrong but I felt like the kid had taken my place. It wasn't her fault I mean I hadn't been here so it made sense I guess. I debated whether I was going to interrupt them or just wait until Charlie and Seth made their way into the kitchen.

"Hey Leah," Ness said before I had a chance to back out of the room. She hadn't even turned around but she knew I was there. I was seriously going to have to readjust to being around people with senses as heightened as mine.

"Uh hey," I muttered. "I didn't want to interrupt."

"Leah since when do you worry about that. I've been teaching Ness how to cook because she's going to have to deal with Seth's monstrous appetite." Mom handed Ness the pot of potatoes and milk.

"So I guess you two don't need any help?" I asked as I sat on the bar close to the counter. My mother raised her eyebrows at me and took in my expression. She placed the green beans in front of me.

"Get to snapping," she smirked and I chuckled a little. My mom explained how our little family dinner had grown since I'd been there. Bella and Edward were going to be there which sort of made sense now that Charlie and my mother were married. Mom joked about the fact that at least the food not changing but so much.

"Unless Jacob joins us. He usually tries to make but gets side tracked by work," Ness explained. "The poor guy is always working." The girl said as she mushed the potatoes.

"Yeah, I always make him a doggy bag, no pun intended," mom joked and I rolled my eyes. It was wasn't funny all those years ago and it wasn't funny now. "I like to cook for him especially because he's living alone now. He finally moved out of his father's house. His apartment also serves as his office most of the time." I nodded for lack of anything better to say. I didn't know why they were focused on talking about Jacob so much. I felt like that were looking for a reaction, but all the time Jacob and I were together nobody knew. I was sure that he hadn't told anyone. He would've told me about that.

"So what about Embry, and everyone else. I haven't run into anyone else yet how have they been?" I asked to break the awkwardness of this conversation. Time quickly passed by as the females shared the dramas that have been going on in Forks. After a while the dinner was ready and I went into the dining room and set the table. Again it was the little things like placing mom's china that I'd missed. It was so much better than curling up in front of television with a container of Orange Chicken and watching Mob Wives. Mom came in with the roast and caught me smiling at the table. She placed the entrée in the middle of the table and gave me a little hug and kissed the side of my head. "We need some more help in the kitchen."


Everyone was finally seated at the table and there was on empty chair to my left. I don't know why I'd set a place for him but having the empty space made me even more aware of his absence. Beside this little pang of loneliness dinner was quite enjoyable.

"I can't believe my youngest is getting married before my daughter," Mom said without thinking and then immediately had an apologetic look about her. I wouldn't have minded having this conversation with my mother but I would've much rather preferred it be in private.

"I've been a little too busy to think about marriage mom," I mumbled as I filled my mouth with green beans.

"How is it working for Flair Magazine? It's crazy I almost like I'm related to a celebrity. People talk about your articles all of time." Bella gazed upon me with inquiring eyes. I was about to answer when I heard the door open. Heavy booted footsteps made their way closer and closer. My heart began to pound harder and my urge to turn and look at him was great but I denied myself the satisfaction.

"Sorry, I'm late," he said quickly as he sat down in the seat beside me.

"You're always late," Ness griped and stuck her tongue out at him.

"How did the meeting with Nance go?" Charlie asked and the two of them started talking about this new project he'd been given. It sounded like he was supposed to be renovating the kitchen and the three bathrooms in the house.

"So Leah you never answered my question about Flair," Bella redirected my attention to her and snapped my out of eavesdropping ways.

"Oh … I really love it. I love the low key feel of my job. Nobody knows who I really am I just state my piece and offer a little advice in my weekly articles. I also edit for three of the major authors of the magazine." I shrugged off my responsibilities and somebody scoffed I wasn't sure who.

"I think that's amazing Leah! I feel like you don't think yourself that success," Ness stated.

"It pays the bills. I like that I get to stay up to date on my information. I was a psychology major so when people ask me about behavior issue and relationships I can relay the information I've learned. Plus, I get to ad my own flare I find it so much better than sitting in an office and listening to people problems and taking notes daily. I know I guess that's just me." Nobody really responded for a minute and then my mother chimed again.

"So the reason you don't have a relationship is because you're helping everyone else with theirs?"

"I guess, I don't know." I swallowed hard all of a sudden I was full. I pushed my plate away.

"I mean there has to be a reason," Bella added her to cents. She really could've kept her thoughts to herself.

"Well yeah, I have been really busy creating an image within Flair but it's not like I don't have down time. I've dated a little I just …" I didn't want to lie the reason was because no one compared to the man on my left. Nobody seemed to know me as well and just fit with me like he did. "None of them were right. I don't want to settle."

"What about you Jacob? Now that your business is up and running are you going to try dating again. I know that thing with Nance didn't work out," Sue inquired.

"Yeah she and Mitch are really happy together," he muttered. "She told me today they're expecting a baby." Immediately mom started to gush and her inquiry about Jacob's personal life had vanished.

"Smooth," I whispered I leaned into him but didn't look in his direction.

"Years of practice," he countered with a little smugness in his voice.

I listened to all the baby talk and how sad my mom seemed when she realized that she wasn't going to have the opportunity to be in Seth and Ness' kids' lives. I huffed out a sigh, I knew that I wasn't going to be able to give her that. I couldn't stop phasing long enough. I'd tried. I wanted to look age appropriate at work but I can barely go a month without phasing.

After dinner everyone segregated off into separate conversations. I sat with Mom and Bella briefly before grabbing a cup of coffee and moving out onto the porch. I loved nights like this. A bright beautiful full moon and the sky was clear enough so that I could see the stars. I wrapped my cardigan around me and wrapped my arms around myself. I wanted to be held and embraced under this sky. My thoughts wandered to Jacob like they always do. This time I had legitimate reason because from the sound of everything he seemed to be single too. Part of me couldn't help but feel a little hopeful, maybe he'd waited for me … it was a little thought didn't want to give too attention to. The reality was it had been a long time and I wasn't even sure if he still say me that way.

"Ah, there you are Leah. I thought you'd left," mom said.

"No, I just wanted a moment to think," I said quietly and mom wrapped her arms around me. We gazed upon the stars together. "I'm sorry I can't give you grandkids mom," I whispered and she looked at me alarmed momentarily. She wiped a tear that had apparently traveled down to my cheek.

"Honey, you're a rarity," my mother declared as she held my face in her hands. "No one knows what fate has in store for you. You're my diamond one of the things in this life that I'm most proud of. I am just blessed and honored to have you." I embraced the woman who've given me life tightly and allowed myself to feel safe and shed a couple more tears. After a few moments the door opened and familiar footsteps traveled toward us. My mother and I parted from our embrace and acknowledged Jake's presence. I looked at Jacob and took him in for the first time that night. He had his to go bag and he was wearing another one of those deliciously tight fitting black shirts and dark denim.

"I have to head out. I've got another early day tomorrow. Amazing eats as usual Miss Sue," he said as she hugged my mom.

"You're always welcome baby," she muttered as he held her in his bear like hug for a second and then released her.

"Leah," he muttered as he slowly snaked his arms around my waist. He rested his head in the crook of my neck. "Seeya around," he whispered and he inhaled quietly yet deeply, but I still knew what he was doing. He used to do this when we were together. He used to say that my perfume and my essence drove him crazy. He was taking me in but why? Did he still want me? He pulled away and I felt our embrace was far too short. He waved us off and headed to his truck.

"Well that was interesting." My mother smirked at me and then ushered me back into the house. The full moon makes people do crazy things. I remembered when my father used to tell me this. That was probably why Jacob hugged me that and that was probably why my thoughts were focused on the past. Just because he was single didn't mean he hadn't moved on. I had to find a way to make myself believe that.


Author's Note: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I was inspired! 4CullensandaBlack wrote an amazing one shot for me so I wrote this chapter to return the favor. This chapter moved pretty smoothing and the day is still young I may update something else after I cook dinner. Anyways let me know what you think!