Chapter 25
I opened the Diner and turned on the sign. Tally showed up for her shift ten minutes late, but I don't care. I have Rachel and Paul's son as our dish washer because Jay works at the garage with Sam and some of the other boys. It was another strangely nice day and people came from all around to come eat. Ever since we put ads in surrounding towns, we have had very good business. We also repainted the outside and made it nicer.
I hired Lana as the night manager after I got promoted and decided I needed help when Trish said she would only be owner from then on. When the afternoon rush was over I told Tally to go and she was picked up by Tray. Embry and I worked until Lana and the night cook showed up. Lana got married a couple years after I did. She has a son a year older then Jojo and they went to day care together. They are just about best friends, his name is Jakoda.
When I got home I heard everyone outside playing in the yard. I went out there and saw Seth with the boys playing football. Seth was our babysitter; the best part is he was free. I assume that he had apologized to Layna because she was out there playing and laughing with the rest of them. I heard Jay coming down the stairs. I turned around and realized it was the first real time he has seen his dad since he got home. I watched as they shook hands and then hugged. I felt the pull of emotion from across the room. I felt tears but pushed them back.
I gave both a kiss on the cheek and went to change into comfortable clothes. When I came back out everyone was playing the game. I decided I would too. It was so much fun; I was on the team with Layna, Matty, Jaiden, and Luther. Seth, Embry, and Beau were on the other side. I played until I was sweaty and decided to go grab some drinks. On my way in the Jaiden asked if I could make a sandwich and the rest of the kids spoke up. I laughed and went inside. I brought out some food to our outdoor table and everyone gathered around and ate quickly. I sat down in the recliner chair in the sun and heard a knock at the door.
"Come around back!" I called out.
I saw Julie walk around our small path and I put on my everything is okay face. "Hey Julie, come join us!"
"Sorry Anny I just came to talk to Tallulah." She looked at the ground and then back up at me. She looked exactly like her except that she had black hair and tanned skin.
"I'm sorry sweetie, she isn't here right now."
I saw her face turn red with anger, "Of course she's not." She said and I sighed, "Thanks anyways, I guess I will catch her another time."
I could tell she was hurt and she started to walk down the path back to the road. I could tell she had walked the whole way, "Do you want a ride?" I said smiling.
"No thanks, I like to walk."
I felt so bad for her; it was like the Cooper- Jaiden dilemma all over again. All of the sudden I saw Jay rush past me and fallow her to the front. Right when she was about to disappear in front of the house he touched her shoulder and turned around.
"Will you stay?" I heard him say.
I could see she was about to cry and would say no but then her face changed and she said, "I don't know…"
"Please? I promise it will be fun." He touched her hand softly and she blushed.
"Okay." She said smiling softly.
I looked at Embry who answered the question in my eyes. He just nodded and shrugged. I smiled happily, and he was worried the night before.
They walked back together and the game restarted we all played and of course she was on his team. The problem was he spent his whole time making sure she would be okay and not playing very well. I told them I quit and she laughed and said she would join me. When we sat down I watched her for a bit and I could see she was watching him who of course, kept showing off with his abilities. I saw Embry smirk at him a couple times.
Finally the game ended and Jay asked Julie to go for a walk. As they walked into the woods I sighed and Embry put his arm around my shoulders. "I am happy for him." I said looking up at him.
"I am too." He said smiling.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
"Mom?" I heard from the front door.
"Yes Hun?" I said pulling the pizza out of the oven.
Tally walked in with Tray, "Hey Mrs. Call."
I laughed and said, "Just call me Anny, everyone else does."
He smiled and Tallulah said, "Where is Jay?"
"Oh he went for a walk." Said not letting anything slip.
"Oh Okay, I guess I will see him later… will he be home for dinner?"
"I don't know." I said sounding like an irresponsible parent.
"Okay, well, is it okay if Tray stays for dinner?"
"Sure, why not?" I will just make two more pizzas. I headed toward the freezer.
She laughed and nodded then pulled him into the living room. Embry walked in from outside and I said, "Tray and Tallulah are in the living room."
He smiled and I saw a gleam in his eye, "Great, I will go say hello!"
I studied him for a minute and said, "Be nice."
"How could I not." He said and started to walk out. Then he turned back to me and pulled me close. "I forgot something." He said quietly and met my lips. I felt my inside squirm and my hands feel through his hair.
"Mmm." He said before pulling away.
"We don't have to stop." I said pulling him back for another kiss. It worked and then he pulled away.
"I have to make sure our kids are okay in the living room… I'll be back." He winked at me and I blushed and went back to what I was doing. I listened to the living room and smiled.
"Hello Tray, I'm Tallulah's father." He said in a serious voice. I could tell he was messing with the kid and was using his ex-alpha power of scaring him.
"It-It's nice to meet you, Mr. Call."
"And you too. Are you taking good care of my little girl?" He said and I had to go see his face.
I crept to the doorway where Tray's back was to me and Embry's face was filled with fake- hard lines and Tally smiled from beside him.
"Yes sir." Tray said quickly.
"How do I know that?" He said trying not to smile, but Tray was oblivious.
"I, um, I wouldn't, uh…" he went silent and looked at the ground.
Then Embry lost it and began to laugh and so did Tally, "Sorry Son, I was just messing with you, it's nice to meet you for real."
I saw Tray visibly relax and he looked at Tallulah. "That was mean." I said from the doorway.
"Ah, I was just having some fun. Call it an initiation to the family." Embry said still laughing.
Tray still hadn't said anything, but when he turned to look at me he was laughing nervously along.
"Well, dinner is almost done. Tally would you tell the boys and Jojo to wash their hands?"
"Sure." She said smiling then said, "Where is Layna?"
"Oh, after our football game she went out with Seth to dinner then to the arcade in Forks."
Her face fell and she said, "Oh, okay." Then she walked off with Tray to get the boys cleaned up for dinner.
When we all sat down Tray took Jay's spot and he fit right in to our family groove. Embry made bad jokes like normal and he joined the conversation like he had been there for years. I am glad they found each other. The boys loved having a new guy around and made constant fun of him and Tally, until Tally told them she would do damage if they said anything else.
I heard laugher outside and we all turned towards the door as Jaiden and Julie walked through.
"Hey, is there any food left?" Jay said the second he walked in.
I looked a Tallulah whose eyes automatically fell onto their hands which had not separated. Julie looked at her like she didn't know her. They both remained silent and then Jaiden grabbed a piece of pizza and shovel it into his mouth.
"We need to talk." Julie said finally. It was so quiet in the kitchen I could hear a leaf outside fall.
"Okay." Tally said not moving.
"Outside." Julie said. Embry looked worried and so did both boy-wolves.
"Fine." Tally said mouth barely moving. She gave a look to Tray who was holding her hand and he let go. Julie did the same thing to Jay who didn't seem to want to let her go.
"Okay Luther, Beau, it's your turn to do dishes." I said and everyone cleared the table, they groaned but still got to work. Tray and Jay stood by the back door looking out. All of the sudden a yell came from outside.
"What do you mean you can't tell me?!" It was Julie, I could tell because she sounded like her mother.
"Don't yell." Tally said a little loud
"I can yell if I want to!" she spat back
"Try to understand!" Tally said sounding furious.
"THERE IS NOTHING TO UNDERSTAND! YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ANYTHING!" Julie said
"I CAN'T TELL YOU!" Tally yelled over her.
"I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS!" Julie screamed.
"We are." Tally said weakly.
"No, I don't think we are." Julie said.
I saw Tally shaking and I almost cried out. Tally said something between her teeth to Julie who had turned her back on her.
Julie turned around in a rage and yelled, "TALLULAH DON"T YOU DARE TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"
"Just be careful."
"That's rich." She spat out. I looked at Jay whose eyes were wide and I could see him shaking a little and I wondered what he heard what I didn't.
Tray all of the sudden jumped into motion and ran out the door. I saw him whisper in her ear and they left and ran into the woods. Julie's face looked even madder at this and said, "Fine, run, I don't care anyways. Don't talk to me again, got it!"
Tally looked back hurt and the disappeared into the forest. Julie just sank to the ground in cross legs and put her head in her hands and started to cry. Jay was next to her in seconds. I looked at Luther and Beau who had just decided to ignore the argument like it was nothing and was finishing up the dishes.
"I'll put them away." I said to them and they said thanks and ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
Embry walked back into the room and said, "Is it over?"
I looked back outside the open door and said, "I guess so."
Embry and I put away the dishes and I made tea. We talked out our day and what was new when Seth and Layna came through the door. Embry walked up to him and asked him something and he nodded.
Embry then turned to me and said, "Let's go for a walk."
I smiled and said, "Okay."
Seth waved at us as we passed him and Layna on the couch. The night was clear and wonderful. We walked down the familiar roads and down to the beach. Our hands were linked and I thought of all the times we had done this when we first met and when we were still young.
"Quil is asking Claire to marry him tonight." He said matter of factly.
"Wow, it's amazing she is now twenty." I said thinking of her as a four year old.
"I know, I feel old." He said joking.
"So do I." I said and we walked down the path to the beach.
"You look beautiful." Embry said moving closer to me.
"Sure." I said thinking of my jeans and t-shirt apparel.
"You always do." He said sincerely.
"Thank you honey, I love you." I said softly listening to the ocean
"I love you too."
I thought more about Quil and Clair, remembering when she used to babysit for us. "She is almost done with the degree right?" I said
"Yes I think she graduates soon, that's why she took year round classes, to get it done sooner."
"Does she know where she wants to start teaching?" I said
"Of course, here." He laughed and I sighed, I knew that.
"Well, I think she will be an amazing teacher."
"Yes she will." He said smiling.
We walked around the beach and talked about the old days and how much has changed and then we headed home. When we got there Seth and Layna were playing cards and the boys and Jojo were up stairs playing video games. Seth left when we got home and I figured he was on patrol tonight. Layna headed to bed and Embry went up and told the rest of them it was time. He tucked Jojo in for me too.
I decided to go see if Jay was in his room, and as I passed Jojo's room I heard Embry reading to her. She was such a daddy's girl.
I knocked on his door then opened it. I saw him sitting on his bed reading and I smiled.
"Hey." I said walking over to him.
"Hey mom." He said. We have always been very close; he used to tell me a lot while Tally was closer to Embry.
"How did it go?" I said thinking of Julie.
"You know I imprinted on her didn't you?"
"Of course, I am a mother, I know everything." I said laughing.
"Yeah yeah, well, after Tal had to leave before she phased she cried for a while and then asked me if I knew the secret."
"Oh." I said under my breath.
"Yeah, and I couldn't lie to her, so I told her. She wasn't freaked at all, it was lucky. I thought it might be too soon, but, I don't know, it wasn't I guess."
"Well I am happy for you then."
"Yeah, I am too. I took her home and then that was that. How was your walk?"
"It was nice." I said. "Are you going to see her tomorrow?"
"Yes, if it's nice we are going to the beach."
"Awesome." I said, "You know I love you?"
"Mommmmm" he groaned.
"Is that a yes?" I said laughing.
"It's a yes, don't get sappy on me." He said smiling too.
"Me? Sappy? No way, your dad is the one who will cry when you graduate, not me."
"Mhm, sure. I love you mom, good night."
"Good night baby." And I kissed his forehead.
I left his room and went down stairs.
When I got down there Embry swooped me into a hug and kissed me softly. "What was that for?" I sad laughing.
"For being so amazing." He said sweetly.
I smiled and we walked over to the couch and turned on a hallmark movie. I was almost asleep when Tally came in alone.
"Hey." I said quietly.
"Hey, sorry for being home so late." She said whispering.
"Ha, I wouldn't worry about that. Are you okay?" Embry said.
"Yeah dad I am fine." She rolled her eyes, "Is Layna in her room yet?"
"Yeah, I think so." I said starting to get up but finding it impossible.
"Okay, I need to talk to her." She said.
"She might be sleeping." Embry said.
"Yeah, oh well, I will wake her up, its summer and she doesn't have to get up for work, I do." She smiled and rushed up the stairs.
"Let's go to bed." Embry said smiling.
"Sounds good." I said yawning.
He picked me up softly and laid me down in the bed. All of the sudden I didn't feel like sleeping and when Embry got into bed I ran my hands through his hair and kissed his hair. He shivered and turned around to kiss me. Our lips met and electricity shot through me, some things never change.
We molded into one and fell asleep tangled in the sheets.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
"Ally!!" Rang through the house and I groaned in Embry's arms.
"Hey guys!" she said form the hall way. "Where are your parents?"
"Sleeping." They all chimed.
Embry chuckled from behind me and mumbled, "Not anymore."
I smiled and Got out of bed and threw on a robe over my PJ's. Embry fallowed behind me in the same ratty sweat pants he has been wearing for years. I walked into the kitchen to see ally sitting at the table talking to Jojo.
"Morning." I said going for the teapot.
"Good morning!" She said putting on her good kid face.
She has been coming around a lot since she started dating. Paul and Rachel's son who was barely a year younger than her. Of course, he had changed like the rest of the boys and Janet was convinced that they were a cult. Ally knew the truth and they had been getting in constant arguments.
"Whats up?" Embry said coming into the kitchen.
"Nothing just thought it would be nice to see you." She said looking at Jojo.
I studied her for a bit then shrugged. I started to make some breakfast while Jojo chatted her ear off. I have no clue where the rest of the kids are, I assume Jay is still sleeping and most likely Matty too. The younger twins must be playing in their room and Tally is probably at work by now. It is my day off.
We sat down around the table and ate some food and Jojo ran off to play with her brothers.
It was quiet until Allison said, "So I heard about Tally and Jay, are they okay?"
I looked up and said, "Oh yeah, they are fine." When the kids were younger Allison used to come around all the time and play with the twins. They used to be very close, but when she entered school before them they separated a bit. She only became closer to us when Cooper first changed and Jay and her started hanging out more and more.
"Yeah, they are fine. Jay might be upstairs if you want to go talk to him."
She shook her head and looked out the window.
"Is something wrong Al?" Embry said watching her closely.
"Um, well, I guess, yeah. There is." Her face fell into a mask of almost on the brink of losing control.
"And that would be?" I prompted.
"Don't get angry." I nodded thinking of all the times she had shared a secret with me and how Janet used to get jealous of the closeness between us.
"I guess I will have to see, just tell me whats going on." I said wondering what's going on.
She started tapping her fingers on the table and had a nervous knee. "I um, I don't know how it happened. I mean I do, but I didn't think it would, I, we were so careful. I just don't know I can't…" she started to cry and took deep breaths.
She kept talking but it was incoherent. Embry looked at me as if I knew and then one in audible words sounded like baby. I was thrown back to the time I found out I was pregnant and then stared at her bewildered.
"No." I said.
She looked up and nodded. She is seventeen! She is still a kid! Not even graduated! A high school Junior! How could she be so careless! She is so smart. She was going to go to college and, oh my god!
"Who's the father?" Embry said like a robot
She tried to grin and said, "My damn imprint."
He didn't smile and she looked uneasy. Embry loved her almost as much as he loved the kids. I could see his mind trying to work. I reached out for her hand and said, "It will be okay."
She took it and began sobbing. All of the sudden I heard a crash in the hallways and we all turned to see Jay shaking.
"I am going to kill him." He said and stormed out.
Of course, there was not stopping him and Ally started to sob harder.
"Oh no, I have to warn him. Oh my gosh, I haven't told him yet. He is going to be so upset. "She kept going repeating what she needed to do but couldn't.
A wave of calm passed over Embry's face and he said, "Have you told your parents?"
She laughed hysterically and said, "You're kidding right? They hate him, think he is into drugs. They told me last night that I had to break up with him. I don't know what to do! What did you do?"
I shook my head, "I don't know."
"Don't worry, they don't hate him, they are just scarred of losing you. I was when Tally met Tray." Embry said trying to sooth her.
Layna walked into the kitchen and said, "What's going on?"
"Nothing honey." I said over Ally's head.
She looked like she was going to argue but decided against it and walked out of the room.
We sat there for a while until I heard the door slam open. "Al?!" I heard Levi call from the door.
"Oh my god." She said putting her head in her hands.
"Al, I- I'm so sorry." He said walking over to her.
Jay walked in and still looked angry. I surveyed Jonny's face for a second and say welts quickly healing around is eye and forehead and his bare chest showed scratches, that didn't look bad, but were most likely painful when they happened.
"No, I'm sorry; I just didn't know what to do." She said looking into his eyes.
I nodded us out to the living room and I said to Jay was, "What the hell happened?!"
His chin stayed in it stubborn position and he said, "I knew he was on patrol so I phased and found him. I didn't know he didn't know. My only thought was I was going to rip his throat out. Then he was fighting back wondering why and I flashed him everything I overheard and saw and he stopped fighting and let me hurt him. I stopped and he jumped up and ran here."
"You know killing him wouldn't have done any good." Embry said with a smile.
"Maybe not, but it sure felt good." Jay laughed back.
We talked for a bit and Jay took off to go see Julie. I wonder if Julie told Lilly, probably not.
I looked at Embry who was eavesdropping in the kitchen. I smiled and he looked over to me and held out his hand. I took it and wrapped up close to him. They talked and Ally was still sniffing a bit. Then they stood up and Embry and I backed away a bit.
They walked in so close there was no air in-between them. "I am going to go tell my parents now."
I studied her and nodded.
"Thank you." Levi said reaching out to shake Embry's hand and Embry nodded but kept his face like stone.
They walked out and we walked into the kitchen. "Is it safe to come down now?" I heard Luther call.
They most likely wanted to watch T.V. "Yes, do you want some breakfast?"
The younger twins and Matty swooshed past me and yelled a chorus of "No's!"
I laughed and I heard the beginning of a cartoon turn on.
Then I made some tea and sat down with Embry. I was just looking into his eyes when I said, "So, What happened at the meeting last night?"
The mood was broken like it had been when Allison came over and his face fell. "It's nothing really."
I glared at him and said, "Come on, don't do that to me."
He looked into my eyes and said, "You're not going to want to hear this."
I felt my blood go a little colder and said, "Oh well."
I saw his indecision in his eyes and I touched his cheek. His lips parted and he took a long breath and said, "The Cullen's came back for a visit a couple weeks ago, not all of them, Jake and Nessie were on their anniversary trip. They just wanted to make sure. I guess there was a spy in the woods for the vampires who we were wary of before. The psychic one, Alice, told us that they won't be here for another year and a half. They will be big when they come though. It will be hard, I don't think they know we know yet…" his voice dropped.
I felt my knees shaking and could imagine the look of horror on my face. I nodded taking it in. "Oh, Anny, don't cry." I hadn't noticed the tears forming. "I knew I shouldn't have told you."
I shook my head clear and straightened up, "Of course you should have. Don't be silly. What, what happens now?"
I thought he might say nothing but he spoke once more, "Well, The pack had a huge meeting, there are more of them than ever before, but a year and a half is a long period of time, they think it is possible that the transformation process will become faster, more kid turning sooner. The Cullen's are looking for friends, but they don't know how many favors they can call up again. Jake is coming back to help train the new guys. Anna, it will be okay, we have been through this before."
I looked at the window, "You have. They haven't"
I heard his mind click to what I was thinking. The Tallulah and Jay, they would be fighting. I had no control, they could die.
"They will be fine, they have time to train. I promise, I won't let anything happen to them. "
I studied his face, "You don't have any control."
He face all of the sudden lit up like a light bulb, "I do though."
I kept watching feeling lost and then his word triggered something. "You don't mean? You stopped phasing ages… There is no way… Is there?"
I could tell he was happy, but I couldn't even muster it. "It all happened last night. Alice came and Jared, Paul, Sam, Andrew, and some of the other guys. It was a normal meeting until after. Alice left and Paul being the anger management case almost fallowed her car home to rip it to shreds. His son has been going through the process lately. He was so angry; when we held him back he just changed. We were in such shock our instincts kicked in and we changed too. We fought amongst ourselves until we realized. It was Cooper who brought us back to reality, only when he heard his father's voice. It has happened before, when the first guy who changed saw his sons in danger of being killed, even though he was old, he changed again. I guess we just needed to come back for this."
I felt like I was drunk, my world was moving in ten different directions, my thought would process, my mouth couldn't speak. Not only were my son and daughter, my little nephew, and the kids I had helped babysit so often would be fighting vampires, now my love, my soul, would be fighting with them. I couldn't lose them. Not like this, not ever, this wasn't right. I am the human one here, I should die first.
"No." I said getting angry.
"Shhh, they might hear you!" He said nodding towards the living room.
I felt my face turn hot, I haven't been this angry since I was pregnant. And I don't get angry as easily as I used to. I saw his face turn into caution mode.
"Outside, now." I said pointing out the door.
"Maybe we should stay…" he said hopelessly.
I glared at him and if I were a teapot I would be steaming and whistling like crazy. The second the door was shut behind me he said, "Don't be angry, this is good, more numbers."
"No, stop, quit. I don't care. You're not doing this."
His face went blank. "Hun, you know I can't do that."
"Yes. You. Can." I said trying not to yell. "You did it once. You can do it again."
"I have to do this." He said looking at his shoes.
It was boiling point for me I couldn't do anything and I was not calming down anytime soon. I looked into his eyes and saw that it was resolute and felt like ripping my hair out, yelling at whatever god exists, stomping my foot and wailing. "Fine." Was all I said and I walked back into the house.
I did not look back to see his face but he fallowed me in and said lowly, "Please, don't be mad."
"Don't tell me what to do, I will be mad for as much as I want. Leave, me, alone." I don't know how I did it, it hurt me so much too, but I couldn't do this now. I thought everything was going great. This is not great.
"Anny…" He tried; I just turned my back on him and began cleaning the kitchen spotlessly. He walked out and said something about going down to the shop to help Sam. And I just nodded. The cartoons in the living room were blaring and I said nothing. I was washing off the cabinet knobs when the phone rang. I sighed hoping nothing worse could happen.
"Hello?" I said not caring.
"Anna?" Janet said over the phone. All of the sudden I remember poor Ally telling her parents about the baby.
"Hey, is everything okay?"
"No, you know perfectly well. She just told us."
"And?" I said already having a feeling what happened.
"We kicked her out." She said like ice. I felt my stomach roar and instantly felt bad for Ally.
"Don't you think that is a little….?"
"No I don't and I would appreciate your support, this is her problem, I want her to deal with it on her own. Do not let her move in with you." She said it like a mother would talk to a child. I was in a bad enough mood as it was.
"You have no place to tell me what to do in my own home Janet." We used to be so close, but when Ally came to me with her problems she developed a jealousy that I understood, but could not cure.
"I have a right to do what I want with my family."
"Which you have just proven by throwing a scared girl out of her house."
"Don't you dare judge me." Her southern accent cut across like a knife. I was about to say something to stop the arguing when she said, "Its not I am the one with tons of children running around unorganized. I didn't get pregnant when I was barely 19." The way she said it was with so much disgust I wanted to cry out. She my life was bad? I loved each of my children, every loud meal, and every scream of pleasure. In the end, if my kids were happy I was happy.
"You, I…" I didn't know what to say, words couldn't help me through this, "I may be lower to you, but I am much happier, don't you dare think for one minute I regret anything. Take your judging to someone who cares, we are obviously not family." After I said it I felt more anger, it's like fire, uncontrollable. You know when they say fighting fire with fire only makes more fire, which is exactly what we did.
"Anna…" She started and I was so angry I couldn't hear, with Embry, her, the vampires, I couldn't take it.
"You look down on me for my life choices, I always knew, but this is too much. I will not allow you to tell me what to do or let you verbally abuse me. Good bye." I hung up and looked at the phone.
Sank down to the floor and put my head in my knees. "Mom?" I heard Layna call from the door.
I looked up at her trying not to cry, "Mourning, sorry about earlier."
"No its okay, are you okay?" She said.
I could see her worry and thought back to the times I saw my mother cry and said, "I will be okay. It will be okay. Hungry?"
She laughed and said, "I cannot believe you are worried whether I am hungry or not when Ally is pregnant and Aunt Janet kicked her out!"
I laughed too, "You little sneak. Just like your father. Get over here." I said holding out my arms.
She sat down next to me and hugged me. "I love you baby girl."
"I love you too mom."
We sat there for a minute until I heard the front door open and shut and Tally walked in. "What's going on?"
"A lot. We should talk. Lay, can you go in another room?"
She frowned at me but got up anyways. Tally watched her out and then came up to me and said, "So you heard?"
"Heard what?" I said wondering what she knew.
"About the Cullen's and all of that? And about dad?" I nodded and she sighed.
"That's not all though." I said and her face looked surprised.
I told her everything that happened with Ally and then I told her that Janet and I are not longer speaking and I left out that I was mad with Embry.
"Mom, you have had the worst day." Tally said when I finished.
"I have had worse." I said thinking of the day my parents died and my grandmother died. Although, when you stop talking to family, it feels like death.
"I know. Mom you know we will be fine right?" she said it with confidence but I reached out and squeezed her hand.
"I don't, but that's okay."
We talked about other stuff and I found out that after Jay dropped Julie off at home last night, Julie walked to Tray's and apologized and they talked for a while and they were okay again.
"Can you look after everyone? I will be back. I think that Seth should be here soon to hang out with Layna. He said around 2, so whatever."
She laughed and said, "Oh, he won't be late."
I smiled and walked out of the kitchen and put on my shoes. I told the boys to get dressed for the day and Jojo was hanging out with Tally already. Layna hid in her room.
I walked out with my rain jacket on and went down to the cliffs. I walked along the beach when I saw the famous and run down log near where the bon fires were held. I sat down and watched the clouds roll in. I remember coming down here with Tally, Jay, and Matty when they were all still young and playing on the shores. They screamed and played tag while Embry and I watched them from this log. I thought of our first time "together" and all the bon fires before we had to grow up.
"You know it's raining out here?" I heard a deep voice say sitting down next to me.
I looked up to see Embry's reassuring eyes to meet mine. "I don't care."
He wrapped his arm around me and I felt the heat of a werewolf engulf me. I searched his face for any major changes. He still looked like he was in his late 30's with me. His muscles looked strong, his eyes were the same, his subtle smile wrinkles around is eyes were still there. "I'm sorry Anna. I didn't think you would get so upset."
"How could I not? You and Tally seem so sure, but I can't find that confidence, I don't want to lose you, ever."
He nodded and tears began to fall. "Shh, it will be okay." He pulled me onto his lap. I thanked my lucky stars for my ageing genes I inherited from my mother. When my mother turned 45 she still looked in her late twenties, my grandmother called it both a curse and a blessing. She never looked like an old lady either, always looked young and healthy.
I cried for a while and I talked to him about how I felt, he nodded and kept a firm hold on me. "So are you ready to tell me what happened with Janet?"
"How did you know?" I said.
"I called the house to ask about groceries, but Tally told me you weren't there. Then she told me you and Janet had a disagreement and that was all she knew. "
I nodded and began to repeat everything that happened. His face turned from emotion to emotion like a wheel rolling. "How could she say that?" he said unconsciously.
"I don't know. I was so surprised." I said looking out at the ocean.
"And they really kicked her out? And they wanted us to kick her on the street too?" He seemed horrified. I understood how he was feeling. Our family came first no matter what. If Tally got pregnant tomorrow we would help her 100%; it is hard to think of someone not doing the same for their child.
"Yes." I said. He shook his head.
We sat in silence and he held me like I was nothing in his arms and I felt like I was 18 again.
"We should go home" I said thinking about making some dinner and being with the kids.
"Yes, I guess so." He said sighing. I laughed and kissed his cheek.
"I love you." I said feeling dreamy.
"I love you more." He said smiling.
We walked back to the house with his arm around my waist to protect me from the cold. When we got there Tally was wrestling with four little boys and I cocked my head to the side trying to figure out who the fourth was. Until I walked into the kitchen I didn't hear the food on the stove.
"I'm sorry." Was the first thing out of Kim's mouth.
I laughed and said, "What for?" it looked like she almost had dinner ready for an army.
"I invited myself over and I stole your kitchen to cook in. I am so sorry."
"No worries." I said smiling and thinking of her awesome stir fry.
She looked at Embry and I gave him a look that told him to go do something else. He kissed me on the cheek and then Kim began to talk. "Oh Anna, you were freaked right? When you heard? About the meeting? And after? I mean, it's bad enough most of the boys around town are in on it, but my Jared? I don't want to go through it again. I know you haven't had a "Battle Night" but they suck."
I smiled and said, "I know, it was hard, it still is hard, but we have a little while to really worry."
She nodded and went back to cooking. She became more relaxed and it turns out Jared was on patrol tonight and she brought all three kids here tonight. Her oldest daughter Willow was friends with Carlayna so they were hanging out up stairs. Tommy was playing with Matt and the Twins, and her youngest was playing over at Heath and Ally's because their son is just months older then her.
We eventually gathered the masses and ate around the table. It was loud and fun and my thought was "I couldn't live without this." I had told Kim what happened and her mouth fell open. She tried to play devils advocate but really sucked at it. We all pretended like nothing was wrong and half way though eating Allison (my cousin/ niece) came in and joined the group with Levi right behind her.
It was so nice to have the dinner with so much commotion and the whole family here I put everything bad about the day in the back of my mind and had fun. Even Allison fit into our mess like always. Tally and her whispered to each other like little girls throughout.
After dinner Kim left for home saying she felt better and I told her anytime. Tally and Ally walked into her room and Levi left for patrol. Layna and Seth watched movies on the couch while I cleaned up with Embry and the boys just went up to their room to play games. Jay went to sleep automatically, but I think secretly he is sneaking over to Julie's house.
I got a call from Lilly asking to get some coffee in the morning at the Diner and I agreed and then Embry and I went to bed after making sure everyone was going to bed. When I tucked Jojo in she asked for one of the legends so I told her and she fell asleep within seconds. While she lie there so soundly and warm I stroke my hand through her long hair and saw my face in hers. I thought, "This is my baby girl."
I felt a tear come to my eyes. I didn't want to think of her growing up quite yet. Matt was still up playing game boy when I walked in and I took it away and he groaned but didn't really care.
Finally I got into bed and felt Embry's warmth radiate as it did last night.
"It's a miracle I didn't notice your warmth last night." I said softly drifting off to sleep.
"Mhm, I love you."
"I love you more." I murmured and he stroked my hair as I fell into a coma.