Chapter 10
Thanks to my pre-readers Better in Texas and Mist for a great job as Beta. see me at the bottom.
previously….
"Return now to your tribe...There are tears yet to be shed, hearts that need healing, and a reservation filled with people that have lost hope. You all have been chosen by the Great Spirit and the ancestors to set things straight once more. When your time on earth has finished we will meet again and you will join your loved ones once more in eternity. Go in peace and with our blessings."
"Spirit wolf lead them back home."
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They emerged from the woods into the yard of the alpha's home. While they knew they had been gone a while, the actual lapse in time had been just over an hour. Each one felt the weight of sorrow and heavy responsibility resting on their shoulders, silence prevailed until the spirit wolf spoke. "I am leaving you with a heavy burden to carry, there is much to be done alpha, so the spirit wolves will be taking over your patrols freeing your pack to take care of tribal duties. If we encounter the enemy, we will send up a howl for your pack. I wish you all well. If I am needed just speak my name, I leave you now."
Brady gave a nod to spirit wolf, and turned to look over his friends and the elders. He was almost brought to his knees by the intense emotions pouring off of his pack members and those of his mate made his heart stutter in his chest. Her sadness was so profound while at the same time it was at war with an overwhelming maternal love that longed to comfort and soothe the bleeding souls of her brothers and her people. Brady chose this moment to speak…...
"Joshua Uley, you have until nine o'clock in the morning to pack your belongings, Sam and Paul will accompany you to your bank to receive the funds that are left of what you stole from our people. I would strongly advise you to heed the warnings of the ancestors to not try to steal away in the dead of night or cheat the tribe of any restitution. Your death would be handled very swiftly I am certain, the decision is yours...what is more important your life or your ill-gotten gains."
"Sam, you and Paul return whatever funds you receive to Shaman Ateara, together you will deposit it into the tribal account. No, scratch that idea. I am sure that first we need to decide and then appoint a new treasurer...and designated signers on the account. I think all concerned parties; pack and elders need to meet here again to map out a plan. I realize some of you have personal issues that need to be attended to first. So let's plan on the meeting the day after tomorrow at 10 a.m. here for breakfast, followed by planning."
Bella looked to Brady as if seeking his approval, knowing what she was asking he gave a short nod. "If any of you wish to stay for the desserts we never got to, I will go make some coffee."
Joshua got into his truck and left without a word to anyone. Just as well, he wouldn't be missed. Jacob said he was leaving to take his dad back home. Billy tried to speak with Embry before leaving; Embry just looked at the man saying, "Not now…."
Harry and Old Quil remained with the rest of the pack. Bella busied herself in the kitchen, making coffee and laying out the cakes and pies she had made earlier that day, the house was eerily quiet for having so many men gathered under its roof at one time. Turning to the refrigerator, she found Embry leaning in the doorway just watching her. "Hey Em, come sit in here and keep me company. How about a cold beer while we're waiting on dessert?"
"Bells, can we talk a minute please? I don't know what to think, or how I should handle things with Jake and Billy. I have so much anger inside me, that man ruined my mother's life and in turn mine. When I think of all the nasty and hurtful things whispered about us, my mother's name was lower than the dirt beneath their feet and I was her bastard child." Embry leaned forward resting his arms against his thighs. "When we were little Quil, Jake and I were inseparable just like Billy said. Jakes mom watched us after school so Joy and my mom could work, but after his mom died Billy started to tell Jake to just be friends with Quil."
Bella ached inside for Em and his mother, she hoped wherever the woman was that she was all right. She knew that the wolves in the other room could hear what was being said by their brother and hoped they would keep their tempers in control.
Lowering his voice he continued, "He said it wasn't right for the son of the chief to be hanging around the likes of me. I was not Quileute and I did not belong hanging around the rest of the tribes' children." Running his hands through his hair, he clasped them behind his neck trying to force the tension he was feeling out of those muscles. "Quil stayed by my side through all of it, but in time Jake gave in to Billy's demands, that was the end of our friendship."
"He wants to talk to me Bells," he said looking up at her. She didn't answer as she watched a myriad of emotions wash across his usually calm smiling face. "I don't think I can do it, all I really want to do is beat him, pound into his flesh and bones for each and every time he hurt us. For every tear he made us cry, for the years of our lives that he stole from us when my mother took to pills and a bottle of booze, just to try to forget and sleep at night."
Bella reached over the table and took his hands in her tiny ones, "Em, for now you do nothing...it's too much too soon to handle right now. Take your time, then when you are ready you'll talk and say what you need to. You will have to one day forgive him, for yourself if not for him. Then you can move forward and really become the man you always were meant to be." She stood and planted a kiss to the top of his bent head. "We'll all help each other through this Embry."
When everyone had taken their seats around the table, eating and drinking, they looked like they were each starting to come to terms with all they had learned this night. Bella couldn't help but reflect to what Mama Malvone always said…. that 'hard conversations were always easier on a full belly.'
Brady cleared his throat before speaking. "Tonight has really been the proverbial shit storm, but the only way to get through it all is to stick together. Bella and I will do everything in our power to help each of you to deal with the things that we learned. Please don't hesitate to come to us any time day or night if you need help or just to talk. We are family to each other, a family that goes beyond the ties of blood. We are a family that fate has brought together; we will help each other and our people."
"Brady is right we are a family that the ancestors put in place, to protect and to bring healing to our land. I have to settle things in my own home and then I will join you all to set things straight once again. I want you all to know that you can count on me for anything." Harry finished speaking and turned to Seth clasping his son's shoulder with affection.
"Thank you Elder Clearwater," Brady reached across and shook his hand. "Each of us will have to pull his or her own weight in the coming weeks and months, it will be difficult, but if we each contribute our ideas and thoughts we will come up with a workable plan."
"I know you are respecting me Brady, but please if we are not in full council it's just Harry to you and the others." They all quickly agreed.
They each started heading out, Embry to spend the night at Quil's after dropping the elder off at his place. Jared headed for his home and Sam and Paul wandered off together. Harry was trying to reach Sue at the hospital in Forks to see what time her shift ended; we all heard the voice on the other end inform Harry that this was nurse Clearwater's day off. His face paled and Seth started a low throaty growling as his body began to vibrate with his anger. Harry reached towards Seth just as Brady's hand landed on the nape of Seth's neck giving a gentle but firm squeeze, he immediately started to calm, "Sorry, it's just she was supposed to be working today, how many other times has she lied about where she was? What are you going to do dad?"
"I guess she has left me no choice in this matter, I need your help and Brady will you and Bella consent to come with me or let Seth stay here?"
"No, dad you are not going to talk to her alone I'll be right beside you. You know Leah is not going to take this well, nobody needs to face them both on their own. If you two come it may help to keep things from getting out of hand," he looked at Brady with worry etched clearly across his face.
"Harry it's up to you and Bella, whatever you both decide." Looking between the two of them he waited for a decision.
Bella spoke first, "shouldn't this be a private conversation between only the concerned parties?"
"While under normal circumstances families would choose privacy to have these matters settled, this has gone way past the need for privacy considering how many now know about it" Harry shook his head. "Let me make one more phone call and then we can go to my place." He proceeded to dial Sue's cell phone, after several rings she finally picked up…
"Harry what is it, you know better than to call me when I am on duty, are the kids alright?" Harry answered with a deep exhale of breath into the mouthpiece "Sue you can cut the act, I know you're with Charlie, I suggest you meet me at the house so you can pick up your clothes, you and I are finished. Bring the coward with you if you want." He closed the phone and looked at each of the three "let's go."
The drive to Harry's house took less than ten minutes, as they pulled into the driveway they could see the house was still dark indicating that Leah was not at home yet and it would take Sue at least twenty minutes or longer to make it from Charlie's place.
Walking in and turning on lights, Harry walked into his bedroom; he opened the closet doors and immediately started pulling Sues clothes out and stacking them on the end of the sofa in the living room. He grabbed one of the duffle bags out of the closet and emptied her drawers of all her other clothing. He grabbed a box from the utility room and filled it with her family photos and her toiletries her jewelry he set aside for Leah if she wanted it, she wasn't getting anything but what she came into the marriage with, her clothing and Leah. Not knowing what the girl he always thought of as his daughter would choose to do, stay or follow her mother. It would hurt him far worse to lose Leah than it would to lose his wife.
'Wife' he thought, what a sorry joke that turned out to be. Carrying the rest of her things out to the living room, he set them down near her clothes. They heard the family car pull in followed by what sounded like Charlie's cruiser. Sue walked into the room with Charlie following closely behind her.
Harry stood looking at them both before saying anything he prayed to the spirits to keep him mentally strong. "Sue you'll find all your belongings in that pile, if I come across anything else belonging to you I will have one of the kids drop it off at Charlie's place for you." He looked her right in the eyes without an ounce of expression coloring his face. He could have just as well been telling her it was raining outside; Harry would not give either one of them the satisfaction of breaking where they could witness his aching heart.
"That's it..." Sue said with a look of incredulity on her face, "you're just going to throw me out of my own home. What about all my things." Harry looked at her perplexedly, "did you not hear me tell you all your belongings were sitting there in the living room, I fail to see what you are carrying on about. I was not the one who broke our marriage vows to have an affair with your best friend and leave her pregnant for another man to marry." Both Sue and Charlie paled at the knowledge that he knew this wasn't an indiscretion of the moment, but a long time standing arrangement.
"What about the kids," Sue asked.
"Leah is free to stay here or to go live with you and Charlie after all is said and done you're her parents. Doesn't mean I won't always feel like she is my daughter since I was the one who actually raised her. Funny how I never once saw Charlie walk the floors with her at night when she was teething or when she was sick and cried all night. I was the one that stayed up with her so you could get your sleep, since you had her all day."
"Did Charlie ever contribute the first dime towards anything for Leah, or was he just strictly her sperm donor? Did you ever bother to tell him he was a father?" Harry looked to Charlie for the answer to that question.
"I knew, I begged her not to marry you and to stay with me. I offered her marriage and love, a secure home for her and our baby and she refused me because of her family and tribal prejudices. I was a white man and not worthy of their daughter." The stupid man stood there looking so self-righteous it was nauseating.
"Charlie, if the story was with me in your shoes I would have brought down heaven and earth for the woman I loved and my unborn child. I would have said fuck tribal prejudice and fought for what was mine, yet you didn't… you just let it happen, like a sniveling little mouse. After all, you were a respected member of the Forks community and an officer of the law. Oh and yes before I forget the white folks in your town were pretty prejudiced themselves against us savages. I mean really were we any more than just reservation trash in the eyes of the people of Forks?"
"What would you have done Charlie if she would have said yes to you? But then you knew she wouldn't so you were safe weren't you? What do you tell your neighbors and the town folks that see her coming and going from your house Charlie, do you tell them she is your housekeeper to save face. Doing a good deed for the poor underprivileged uneducated Redman that is supposed to be your friend since you were both in diapers. Your parents must be turning over in their graves Charlie seeing the kind of man you turned out to be."
"Good old Chief of Police, city of Forks….Charles Swan, a prejudiced phony coward. That's who you chose to give your love to Sue, above your husband and your children. You have disgraced us, but most of all you have disgraced yourself. Take your things and leave, I will be filing for a divorce with our attorney tomorrow, Meet me at the bank first thing in the morning and we will settle our financial affairs."
Before anymore could be said Leah walked in, she looked around at everyone's faces and wanted to know what was going on naturally. No one said a word cause quite honestly no one wanted the shit hitting the proverbial fan. Boy were they in for a surprise.
"Well," she asked again. "What's going on, Seth?"
Seth stood up looking at his sister and very calmly said "mom and dad are getting a divorce."
"And what Charlie is here to keep them from killing each other?" Tapping her fingers together as she spoke.
"No, Charlie is the reason they are getting a divorce, they have been having an affair for twenty two years." Seth said glaring at both his mother and Charlie.
"Is that right, so here my mother gives me lectures about being a loose woman and all this time you're spreading the goods all over Forks and La Push, kind of a double standard you got going there don't you think mother. Oh this is just too good for words; one of the grand ladies of the La Push reservation is actually nothing more than a white man's whore." She laughed out loud.
"Now listen here young lady you have no right to speak to your mother like that, I won't put up with it". Charlie nearly growled at her while his face took on a vivid red color as the veins in his head bulged.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what I can or can't do Charlie?" Narrowing her eyes at him.
"I'm your father that's who the hell I am, and you better start listening to me, starting right the hell now."
Leah turned to look at Harry, "did you know all along?" Harry just shook his head no. "We... all of us…. just found out this evening honey, I would have never kept anything like this secret from you. You are still my daughter Leah, blood doesn't mean anything this time, you have been mine since the moment you came screaming into this world. I loved you then and I love you even more now. You have a decision to make you can stay here in your home with your brother and I, or you can go with your mom and Charlie."
"In that case I'll be staying here with my family." She gave Harry and then Seth each a hug.
Sue looked at Seth, "you don't want to come with me either?"
"No I think dad has suffered enough I'm not leaving him and thankfully Charlie is no relation to me. Do you need help out to the car with your things?"
Seth and Leah had both effectively dismissed both Sue and Charlie, following Harry's example of not letting either of them see just how much they were hurting for the loss of their family. Brady couldn't help thinking of all the villains there were in this story that was slowly unfolding...and the lives that paid for the lies and deceit. He watched carefully as the look on Charlie Swans face darkened into a mask of rage.
"Bella I think you need to talk some sense into your sister," Charlie spouted off.
She looked at him with the eyebrow raised to just about disappear from view, "I beg your pardon...but I don't happen to have a sister, just who exactly are you referring to Charlie?"
"Don't you disrespect me, I'm your father and you'll do as I say, or so help me Bella Swan I'll beat the arrogance right out of you, do I make myself clear?"
"Clear as a vat of shit officer Swan." She chuckled softly, "delusional much chief? I am no more your daughter than Seth is your son, I guess while you were busy playing the great ladies' man, the ladies were busy playing you." She couldn't believe that Jake hadn't told Charlie, huh she'd have to ask him.
Brady looked Charlie square in the eyes, "if you ever raise your voice or threaten my woman with physical harm again, I'll make a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle out of you and bury the pieces from here to Canada. Don't doubt me Charlie I don't make idle threats and you'll never hear me coming. Do I Make Myself Clear?" The rage oozing from Brady's voice and in his eyes made Charlie flinch and pale.
Bella spoke up once again wearing a look of complete confusion on her face….."Charlie correct me if I'm wrong, but after all these years you want to lay claim to both Leah and I being your daughters? I don't get it. I'm not any blood relation to you Quil Ateara is my dad, you didn't want me in your life four years ago why now? Then there's Leah who has been right under your nose all her life, yet you never once looked at her as your daughter…"
"You were busy keeping secrets alright….not just from Harry but from the town of Forks. Harry is right you are a coward. It was more important to you to maintain certain appearances than to open your arms to the woman you love and your child. You were ashamed they weren't white like you, you wanted the whole town to believe you were still broken hearted over Renee running off on you. I wonder what kind of bullshit stories you've told them all. Sue is just as bad, you're both bigots."
Brady shook Harry's hand as Charlie and Sue made their exits. "You know where to find us if you need anything, otherwise we'll see you at the meeting. I'm taking Bella home now."
A/N: there's lots more to come in the next chapter, hope you enjoy and let me know your thoughts.
Thank you for those who voted for this story in the FCA.