Chapter 32: Forks

Nessie's POV

I grabbed Jacob Jr. and ran out of the house in the ensuing chaos. My first instinct was to protect my baby. Getting out of the house as fast as possible seemed to be the best way to do that. I watched as my mother, father, and Jacob launched their attack on the Denali clan.

Nobody paid any attention to what I was doing. Carlisle had grabbed my sister and my young niece and took them both to safety. The rest of the family was busy trying to stop my parents and fiancé from hurting the Denali clan. My priority was to get my son as far away from any danger as possible. So I made a very hasty exit carrying only my son and a diaper bag.

I ran until I reached town. My son looked at me as if to say okay what next? To be honest I didn't know. Truth be told I didn't want to go back just yet. Tensions were sure to be high right now and it was probably best to stay for a few hours. Maybe walking around and getting to know the town wouldn't be such a bad idea. I was eager to learn about the town that I'd been born in.

My stomach growled when I came across a diner. The aromas coming from the restaurant were tantalizing. It had been awhile since I'd eaten anything. I was starting to get a little tired from all the walking as well. Even Jr. was starting to get a little cranky.

"How can I help you?" the nice lady at the front asked me when I approached.

"Table for one please. Can I get a high chair also please?"

"Sure. Follow me," she said.

"Can you tell me where the bathroom is at?" I asked as soon as she led me to my table.

"Sure. Go down that hall to the right,"

I grabbed my son and took him into the bathroom with me to change his diaper. I noticed people looking at me oddly as I walked past them. Maybe young mothers such as myself was not something you saw very often in small towns such as Forks. Or maybe it was because they didn't know me. I didn't know for sure. But the disgusted looks some of them gave me was enough to make me think the first was the more likely reaction.

I took a deep breath as I walked back to my table. I picked up the menu to see what I wanted to order. Then out of the corner of my eye I spotted a man looking at me. He sat only two tables away from me.. Unlike the others he wasn't staring at me in disgust. He looked confused. If I'd had to guess I'd say he was in his mid to late fifties. Sitting across from him was a boy no older then nine or ten years old.

I looked away from the man and began scanning the menu once again. "Excuse me how old are you?" I was startled when I heard a woman talking to me. I looked up from the menu and saw an elderly man and woman standing there. Looking at me with absolute disgust.

"I don't see how that's any of your business," I retorted.

"Don't talk to my wife like that. You disrespectful little brat. Didn't anyone teach you to respect your elders?"

"Fine," I snapped. "Not that it's any of your business but I am 17 years old," I was starting to get extremely irritated.

"and this is your son?"

"Yes," I was starting to get very irritated.

"Where is your husband?"

"Not that it's any of your business but I'm not married," at least not yet.

"So you're only 17 years old and you had a child out of wedlock," the man said.

It wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact. I was starting to see red.

"I think you should leave now. We don't welcome your kind in our town," the woman said.

Fury erupted inside of me. "Excuse me! My kind? What exactly do you mea-"

"She means sluts like you. We don't need you here setting a bad example for our youth. God will punish you for your sins. We don't need you leading others down your immoral path,"

Who the hell did these people think they were coming up to me and talking to me like that?! "No lady. You're wrong. God has not punished me for anything. He's given me a gift greater than I could ever imagine. Now I'm going to ask you to leave us alone,"

My son started crying. He was shaking. He was starting to get upset which wasn't good.

"No you need to-"

"Excuse me but you both need to leave right now," the voice came from the man I'd caught looking at me moments ago.

"We weren't doing anything Chief Swan. This girl-"

"Oh really because from what I can see you are harassing an innocent young girl and her child for no reason,"

"This innocent girl-"

"She has a baby. I can see that. So because her situation doesn't fit your narrow-minded religious beliefs that gives you the right to harass her?"

"But-"

"But nothing. Now she asked you to leave. If you don't leave in the next five seconds I will have you arrested for harassment,"

The angry couple didn't say anything as they walked away. I let out an exasperated sigh.

"Are you alright young lady?" he asked me.

"I'm fine thanks. Um sorry I didn't catch your name?"

"Charlie Swan. Who might you be?"

Charlie Swan? Was this my grandfather? Something was off about his scent. He was certainly human. But there was something off about the scent of his blood. It smelled tainted. It worried me a little.

"Nice to meet you," I said as I shook his hand. "I'm Renesmee Cullen. Or just-"

"Nessie?" he asked. "I thought I recognized you. Wow you're so grown up now,"

"You're my grandfather aren't you?"

"I sure am kid. You don't remember me do you?"

"I'm afraid not," I said.

The little boy who'd been with my grandfather walked toward our table. "Dad who is this?"

"Henry this is Nessie. Technically she is your niece. Nessie this is my son Henry,"

I was stunned. "My mom didn't mention that she had a brother,"

"How could she have known? I haven't talked to her since she left 12 years ago. I don't know why she left without leaving me any contact information. I've been trying to find her the last few months though. I need to talk to her,"

"Why?" I asked him.

"Why don't we finish up dinner here and head over to my house. I'd rather talk more privately there,"

"Okay," I agreed.

I picked up Junior when he started crying. "What's his name?" grandpa Charlie asked.

"Jacob Jr.,"

"Did you really have to make me a great grandfather so young? He's a cute baby though,"

"Yes that he is,"

It was nice having dinner with my grandfather and his son. Henry was more shy though. My grandfather paid for my dinner despite my objections. I could tell that I was going to love grandpa Charlie as much as I loved grandpa Carlisle. My grandfather's house was empty when we got home. From what I could smell only Charlie and Henry lived here. Which made me wonder where Henry's mother was.

"Where is his mom if you don't mind my asking?" I asked once the boy was gone.

"Sue died several years ago in a car accident. It's been really tough on him. Which is why I'm so worried about what's going to happen when I'm gone,"

"You say that as if it were going to die soon,"

For a second he looked as if he said too much. "I am,"

It all fell into place right then and there. That's why the scent of his blood smelled so strange. That's why it was tainted. It was because he was sick.

"My son doesn't know this yet I've got Leukemia. The doctors say it's so advanced that I only have 3-6 months max,"

"and you're still working?" I asked.

"I wanted to continue working as long as possible but I can't anymore. I'm retired after today,"

I felt so sad. I didn't know how to handle the news.

"That's why I have been looking for your mom. I wanted to see her one last time before I died. Is she here?"

I couldn't speak anymore for I knew that if I did I wouldn't be able to stop myself from crying. So I just nodded.

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