Chapter Forty-Eight
Our driver takes us to the Cullens house and we all try to catch up on what we have been doing. Manny has been doing well in school, Christine is learning to play the piano with Edward's help, and Christian has been practicing his drawing and working out with Emmett. I giggle at their excitement and to see their smiling faces again. Jasper hands them their gifts from our trip and they all get very excited. Manny received a pendant of a crescent moon and a wolf that I had made by a blacksmith in one of the villages. Christian got a pendant as well, but his was just of the moon. Christine got a bracelet with a crescent moon around the band, with a rose dangling from it.
"When will we get a pendant of the Cullen crest, mama?" Christian asks.
"When you are all older and if you really want one," Jasper says with a big smile.
"Maybe we can make our own for our Whitlock family," Christine says. "Christian can make one that is like the Cullen crest and then our own crest."
"That is a good idea, Chrissy," Christian says. I smile at my happy children and look at Manny. He is no longer smiling in the back seat and I reach back to take his hand and kiss the top of it.
"Emanuel, you are as much a part of this family as I am. You may have more wolf, but you are still my baby and are apart of this family too," I say to Manny in Italian. He smiles and hugs my neck happily.
"I love you, mama," Manny says.
"I love you too, mi amor," I whisper. Jasper caresses Manny's cheek when the two catch each other's eyes. Manny is the only that knows of his father's heritage. The twins believe he is Jasper's true son, but looks more like me. We settle down in the SUV and soon the three of them are asleep. I curl up in Jasper's arms and listen to the soft sounds of their breathing.
"Marinna," Jasper says.
"Yes, love?" I murmur, falling asleep myself.
"I think we should tell the twins about Manny," Jasper says.
"Why? We have time to tell them," I say, looking up at him. Jasper has worry in his eyes and I sit up quickly. "What? What is it?"
"Darling, he is aging quickly and I have a feeling my may phase and possibly hurt his siblings in the process. They need to know the truth before someone gets hurt," Jasper says. I look at Manny and see what he meant. Manny has gotten taller and he looks much older than when I last saw him.
"No, I will take him to see my family and talk to them about the possible ways we can go about this. Allison has not seen her grandson in almost two years now and Embry can help Manny through all of that. Maybe we will join one of the packs," I say, reaching over to caress Manny's curly hair. I think about the day he arrived into this world, not thinking about something like this happening to him. "My sweet boy."
Manny sits in the back seat of Bella's Audi with Matthew in the front. I am taking them onto the reservation to see Billy and Sam about Manny. Embry is to arrive at Billy's as well for the discussion. We drive across the border and my heart sinks from being away for so long. Nothing has changed since I was last here and I am afraid that we may not be welcomed back with many open arms. I pull up to Billy's and get out to help Manny out of the car. Sam walks out the front door and smiles at me. I grab Manny's hand and crouch down in front of him.
"Emanuel, when we go inside I want you to listen to what is said and do not take anything to personal. I am on your side in what you want to do, okay?" I say to my son.
"Mama, how come you cannot help me through the transition?" Manny asks.
"Because, my sweet boy, you need an alpha to help you through it. I am a lone wolf and an outcast by some for loving your papa and leaving your daddy. But, you wish to make the choice later on who you want to help you, that is fine. But, I want you to listen to your daddy, your uncles, and your grandpa before you make your choice. I know this too much for a boy your age, but it is important we do this now before it is too late," I say while trying to hold in my tears. Manny hugs me and I hold him close to me. We let go and walk hand in hand into Billy's house. Billy is sitting at the table with Jacob and they are talking. I smile when Billy looks at me for the first time in years.
"Mari-Belle?" Billy asks.
"Daddy," I say and run to give him a hug. He chuckles when I curl up into his lap when I was little. "I missed you so much, daddy."
"I missed you too, sweetie," Billy says. He holds me close for a few more minutes and lets me go give Jacob a hug. Jacob gives me a tight hug and kisses my head a few times. Manny remains to the side with his eyes casted down a bit. I sit down and motion for him to sit with me. He runs over and sits in my lap.
"My goodness, Manny has gotten so big and he looks just like his mother," Jacob chuckles. Manny looks at me and I smile at him to reassure him.
"Manny is a little nervous about today," I say.
"It has been some time since we last saw him, well for me anyways," Billy says.
"I am sorry about that, dad," I say with a small smile. Billy chuckles and shakes his head. The door opens and Embry walks in. He freezes when he sees me and he stares at me in shock. I look at him and wave with my left hand.
"So, it was true, you did marry the leech," Embry says.
"Yes, I married Jasper and we are happy. We have three children, including Manny," I say.
"Hi, daddy," Manny says. Embry ignores him and looks at Jacob.
"You did not tell me that she was going to be here," Embry growls.
"It was her idea and she is his mother," Jacob says.
"No, I do not want her here," Embry says, pointing a stubby finger at me.
"Well get over it and grow up. Manny is my son as much as he is yours and I want to be here to discuss what will happen because I see him everyday and I see the changes you do not. If you do not want me here, then you can leave and you can hear from Jake or Sam what is to happen," I snap. Embry walks over to me and I stand up to put Manny in my chair. "Do not even think about it!"
"It is your fault I rarely get to see him! You took my son from me! You took both my sons from me and it is your fault Ethan is dead!" Embry snaps back. I cringe at the mention of Ethan.
"Embry, stop this," Sam says.
"No, she does not belong here! She is not one of us anymore because she married a leech and had little evil spawns with him!" Embry growls. Manny gets up and walks over to his father.
"Daddy, please let mama stay," Manny says sweetly. Embry looks at his son and then to me. Seconds pass before he runs out the door in frustration. Manny moves to run after him, but I grab his hand to stop him. I watch the tears fall down my poor boy's face, as he watches his father run away from something hurting him.
