Chapter 9: Being here
Adriana's POV:
Sam and I were in the kitchen now, he was making tea.
"How many lumps of sugar?" he asked placing my cup in front of me.
"Three," I answered, he looked amused.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing, just I take three too," he smiled. Even though many people took three lumps of sugar in their teas I found myself smiling at finding a similarity with my father.
"Thanks," I said and took a sip of it.
"You are just like Leah, for a moment I thought it was her," he stated.
"That's nice…you remembered," I found myself saying.
"I haven't forgotten her," he admitted.
"But you left her," I pointed out; did he still loved her or something?
"It was best for both of us, I remember her in a different way now," he defended.
"Sure," I muttered. I was feeling a bit angry and now I didn't want to argue about it.
"I know it's hard for you, I understand," he said in a resolute voice.
"You don't know anything!" I cried.…all the while I had tried to hold my tears back but he telling me that he understands and knows just broke my calm. He didn't even know that my mom wasn't alive! He didn't know anything. I don't think he even thought of her! Why would he? He was happy with his soul-mate.
"I-" I stammered not knowing what to stay, he put his arm around me, and I just hugged him crying harder than ever. These tears were not just for missing him all these years but they were also of mom's funeral. It somehow felt complete; the feeling of not having anyone, feeling isolated was gone.
"I m sorry…I just…" I moved back and wiped my face.
"It's fine," he said.
I swallowed and drank the rest of the tea.
"Tell me about you and what happened after mom left," I said.
"I imprinted on Emily, it was quite hard at first but I had to cope up…" he sighed, "and then after Leah left, everyone was worried, I would be lying if I say I wasn't, I didn't want her to hurt herself again, but her letter seemed very determined, soon we gave up. Life just went back to normal, I married Emily, we had a child together, his name is Alex, and he is just about your age…" he summarized.
"Oh…what happened to Mom's family?" I asked thinking of my grandparents and uncle.
"She didn't tell you about them?" he raised his eye brows.
"Not much, just the names," I shrugged.
"Harry, your grand-dad died after a year Leah left, and Sue she is still here, but she lives in Forks now, she remarried. And as for Seth, he left with the Cullens; he just comes to La Push to visit his mother, things changed for them after Leah left." He ended sadly.
"Who are the Cullens?" I asked.
"Jacob, one of our tribe imprinted on Cullen family's daughter, and he stayed with them and Seth is very devoted to him and they left with the Cullens," he explained.
"So the Cullens know about the legends?" I asked.
"They do, in fact they are vampires," he chuckled.
"Vampires?" I asked, I thought just werewolves existed!
"They are blood drinkers, they-" he started defining them.
"I know what they are! But how can they exist?" I asked.
"We werewolves exist because of the them…it just happened," he shrugged.
"You still are a werewolf?" I asked in a small voice.
"Hmm…everyone still is, even the kids have joined the pack now," he sighed.
"Where is your wife now? And your son?" I asked awkwardly.
"Emily works are the Forks hospital as a nurse and Alex, he's probably running out," I saw the happiness when he spoke about them.
"I don't know any one here," I just said.
"Don't worry, you will," he smiled.
I looked down feeling worried, "What's wrong?" he asked.
"What if they don't like me? They don't accept who I m," I confessed my fears.
"They would be glad to see you! Every one has missed Leah, and to see her daughter coming back would make them more than happy," he said looking in my eyes.
"But-" I started.
"You are my daughter too," he said. I just nodded and swallowed.
"There's a bon fire today, the kids are celebrating the vacations and we elders will just be meeting, you come with us," he stated.
"Okay," I agreed. This was all new to me.
"Where are you staying? That is the first thing I should have asked," he joked.
"At the lodge named Rollin's," I smiled.
"What? You are staying there?" his eyes were wide and he looked worried.
"Yes, that's the only place I found," I told him.
"Look Adriana, that isn't a good place, not for you, we will get you out from there, you will stay here," he explained, more to himself.
"You're family wont mind?" I asked. I actually wanted to stay here and I didn't like the place and also I was scared of Ross now.
"Adriana…Uley right?" he asked rhetorically, I nodded, he continued, "you think I m going to let you stay at that place when you should be staying here? And I don't think Emily will mind you…not at all, you are a part of my family now," he said.
"Thanks." I said, whatever he said was touching.
"Did anyone try to get over close with you there? Like too friendly?" he asked in a hard voice.
"Er, just one person, his name is Ross, I don't like him," I told him. It felt good to tell it to someone! But I didn't tell him what I had heard last night…I didn't want to.
"You'll be soon here, don't worry," he nodded.
We heard the door bell ring, "that's Emily." Sam smiled widely and went to get the door. I pursed my lips, I hated her! She was one who spoilt things for my mother! Spoilt things for me!
"Hey honey," I heard a woman's voice, I didn't look at the door, and just sat there waiting.
"Em, honey there's someone I want you to meet," I heard Sam's voice, they had entered the kitchen, I saw a woman with a scarred face, long black hair and lightly tanned skin.
"Oh, is this one of Alex's friends?" she asked placing the groceries on the table and smiling at me. I just stared at her.
"No, Alex doesn't know her," Sam said.
"Then who is she?" she asked.
"I m Adriana," I introduced myself.
"Hello sweetie," she smiled kindly.
"Em, darling, she is…she is my daughter, Leah's and mine," he said hesitantly.
"What? Sam, what's wrong with you?" all that kindness vanished.
"I didn't know anything about her! She came here today," he explained searching for a hope. I just watched them, I could see the connection that Sam had told mom about, Emily was holding him, and it was for her that he lived.
"So she is Leah's and your daughter," she stated.
"Yes," Sam agreed.
She just sat down and placed her hand on her head, "Oh god! Now Leah will be back and she wants you again, after all these years," she exaggerated.
"Honey, no, nothing like that is going to happen, you know that," Sam was kneeling down and was looking desperate to calm her down.
"Yes it is!" she exclaimed. I felt more than angry now…clearly she didn't know my mother.
"No, she is not going to do anything of such sort, she is not going to force him to love her, she is not going to take him away from you, I came here all my own, I just wanted to meet and know my father!" I told her, I knew mom would never do that to Emily, she would never steal Sam back or anything, firstly because she wouldn't want to do what Emily did to her and Sam and secondly she wasn't in this world to do that.
"Oh…" she continued looking at me.
"Come; let's speakfor a while," Sam took her upstairs. I just sat there waiting…
I was in Sam's truck, we were going to get my luggage from the lodge and I was going to stay at his place, Emily had agreed, she didn't talk much to me and I didn't talk to her…I didn't want to anyways. We reached the lodge in minutes; we got down and headed to my room to get my bags. Sam easily carried my suitcase and duffel bag, I just looked around one last time and then locked my room and headed down to check out.
"Hey, you're leaving?" it was Ross, Sam was already in the car and I was about to get it.
"Yeah, I found my dad," I muttered, wincing as I said Dad.
"Oh, okay?" he was really surprised.
"Nice meeting you, bye," I nodded and turned to get in.
"Take this, it's my number, call me," he handed me a card.
"Okay," I said reluctantly taking his number.
"Bye," he waved.
Sam took off, "So that's Ross?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's him," I nodded. I was so afraid of him.
"You are not calling him, I forbid it," he ordered as he drove away.
"Don't worry, I wasn't going to," I flicked the note out the window.
"Adriana?" Sam said.
"Yeah," I looked at him.
"What do you want to call me?" he asked hesitantly. I guess he noticed my wincing when I said dad.
"I just want to call you by your name? I mean I haven't known you for all of my life, and all of a sudden, you're here, I don't think I m ready to call you Dad yet, it just doesn't feel right now," I explained in bits.
"Yeah, I understand," he smiled.
"Thanks," I smiled back.
We reached back, Sam brought my luggage to the guest room, it was on the ground floor, upstairs there were two rooms, Sam and Emily's and Alex's. Thankfully there was an attached bathroom to the guest room.
"Did you have your lunch?" Emily asked me coming into my room.
"No," I told her…this was really awkward.
"Come, its ready," she said and went out.
"Okay," I told her. Wow, this was seriously awkward!
I removed my denim jacket, washed my face with warm water and combed my hair. I was feeling very hungry, I went to the kitchen, Sam and Emily were already seated, and I went and sat down with them.
"Where's Alex?" Sam asked her.
"You know him, he is probably on the beach," she smiled at him.
There were rice cakes in one plate and curry in a bowl, I placed two rice cakes and some curry and started eating.
"So how's Leah?" Emily asked, there was some hidden concern in her eyes.
"She's fine," I answered. I could feel Sam's eyes on me filled with worry.
"Okay," she said and turned to Sam and started telling him about something about the hospital. Midway through the dinner, the door opened and a tall guy entered, "Sorry folks didn't mean to come late." He said.
He was similar to the boys I had seen at the departmental store, he was just a bit more muscular and taller than them and his hair were cropped short but the front had spikes.
"Why are you late?" Sam asked.
"Was just hanging out with the guys Dad," he came and sat on the chair beside me without noticing me at all.
"Be on time from tomorrow," Emily told him.
"Sure Mom," he dragged, I just sat there feeling stupid. Was he so self centered that he didn't notice people he didn't know when they were sitting right beside him that too in his house?
All of a sudden, as if he heard me he froze looking at me! I just continued to stare back.
Extremely sorry for the long wait! And I feel sad to tell that my late updates will go on for few months…I have been and will be pretty busy! Hope you understand…okay, leave me with your thoughts? Think about the last sentence..! =P