AN: Thngs start getting interesting in this chapter. Again thank you all for reading and reviewing I really enjoy reading your comments.
Chapter 3
March 18, 2006
Rain pattered down on the crowd that surrounded the gravesite. It was defiantly suitable weather for today. Charlie came home and dressed in a black suit, we went into La Push and joined the crowd gather for the funeral. I wore a black dress of course, it was a little off the shoulder with long sleeves. It hit at my mid calf and was almost full skirted. I had wrapped up the cake and brought the flowers. They were taken gratefully by Harry's river who seemed to be holding herself together through pure force of will. All of the tribe were there along with a few of the friends he had made outside of La Push. The service was short but thoughtful and many tears were shed. Charlie was next to Billy, Jacob was there as well solemn head down.
The coffin was lowered with flowers piled on top of it. Sue broke down at this her son Seth holding her. I looked away tears streaming down my face my heart aching for them. A hand took mine and I looked up to see Charlie, I leaned into him and turned my head away letting the tears fall. Not caring who saw I wept for the death of a good man, the deep hurt of his wife and children, and his friends. Charlie put an arm around me and stood as the dirt was poured back into the hole.
People left in twos and threes going to Sue first. I was done crying and went with Charlie, Jacob, and Billy to say goodbye to Sue. Charlie hugged Sue and said something to her lowly. I came forward hesitantly not knowing if she remembered me.
"Meridian, right? You helped me one day to bring lunch to them men. Harry laughed so hard when he tried to teach you how to fish." She gave me a watery smile. "He would have been happy to see you here. I'm happy to see you here, thank you for the flowers and the food." She gives me a hug that I return firmly.
"Thank you, I'm so sorry, I wish there was more I could do. Please if there is give me a call and I'll do what I can." She squeezed me again.
"Your a sweet girl, thank you, your welcome to come by any time." She lets me go and I walk over to Charlie who stood a little away. I wiped the away the tears that had appeared with her talking to me. Charlie surprisingly gives me a side hug and keeps an arm around my shoulders as Billy and Jacob say their goodbyes. Billy rolled up to us and looked up at Charlie.
"Do you want to come over? I have steaks that can be grilled, and a game should be on soon." It was comfort, the kind that could only be understood between Billy and Charlie.
"I should get back to work, but they told me I have the day off so sure, Marra?" I shrugged.
"Can we go home and get changed first?" Charlie nodded looking down at his suit.
"Yes, give us a an hour and a half or so and we'll be there." Billy nodded and Jacob joined us at that point.
"Dad what is the plan?"
"Charlie and Meridian are going to come over after they get changed."
"We'll be there as soon as we can Jake."
"Alright Charlie I'll start defrosting the steaks." Our little group broke up and went to our cars. It took about a half an hour from La Push to Forks. We drive in conversational silence as classical music plays on the radio. I watched the scenery pass doing the same with the thoughts that flowed by. The rain was gone now and a hint of sunlight broke through the clouds bringing the greenery around me to life in a blazing conflagration of greens. We came to the house with me being startled out of my fog of thought. I went downstairs and took down the severe bun I had put my hair in. The golden brown curls hung heavily round my face. Since the hair went down to my mid back and was thick the curls were loose and did not frizz up. I got out of the black dress and matching black bra and panties. I took a quick shower with my hair bundled up under a shower cap. It felt good to wash away some of the sadness that seemed to cling to me.
I found a pair of faded jeans, a cable knit sweater, and shoved my feet into a pair of vans. I French braided my hair loosely and felt better for it. I wrapped up some brownies for us to have for dessert and scarfed down an energy bar feeling my belly grumble hungrily. I checked my phone and saw that Dad had called. I called him back and actually got an answer.
"Hi Dad, you called?"
"Yes, I think I found what I was looking for. I've taken some notes and videos of it. I wanted to see how you are doing as well. Charlie said Harry Clearwater had died and today was his funeral?" I nodded then remembered I was on the phone.
"Yeah, Sue and her kids are dealing though I don't know how she does it. She even remembered me which was surprising. So if you found whatever you were looking for are you coming back early then?"
"No there are other marine life here that I haven't researched in depth, I'll probably be back around April twenty-first or around there."
"Okay, well I should go, we're going to have dinner with Billy and Jacob Black." He chuckled.
"Say hello from me to that old reprobate. Wasn't Jacob the guy you had a crush on?" I groaned which made him laugh again.
"Dad, yes he is, um was, um sorry Dad gotta go." He was laughing some more which was a sound I loved to hear. It always seemed we got on better when he and I were far apart.
"Alright Mar I'll stop teasingyou, I'll give you a call soon, you have a good day. I love you Marra, talk to you soon."
"Love you too Dad, safe sailing, be careful."
"I will do Mar goodnight."
"Goodnight Dad." He hung up and I stuck the phone in my back pocket. I went upstairs and found Charlie looking over some paperwork.
"Sorry Uncle Charlie Dad called me."
"And how is our world famous traveler doing?"
"He apparently has found it, though whatever it is he didn't say. He's going to return around April twenty first since he still has more to research. He sends his condolences about Harry and told me to say hello to Bill who he called an old reprobate." Charlie surprised both of us with a laugh.
"He would say that, you'll have to tell Billy he'll get a laugh out of that and we all need a good laugh." I smiled agreeing with Charlie.
"Okay well are you ready to go?"
"Yup, your cruiser or my car?"
"Your car, the cruiser doesn't have the best mileage."
"Fine by me, if it doesn't rain I can put the hood down." He laughed again and stood. We made our way out to my car and started off to La Push. I liked driving and it distracted me along with the soft sound of jazz playing in the background. The weather stayed good and so I let the hood down and enjoyed the breeze which was cold but felt good and livening up this gray day. I had heated seats so we weren't chilled too bad. The time slipped by me enjoyed the scenery and music. Charlie seemed to prefer silence so I let him keep it.
The sign for La Push came into view so I slowed. The road to Billy's house was a little outside the main town with the forest intruding closer than on the road. I stopped my car in the gravel driveway and put my hood back up just in cased it rained. Billy's place was old and somewhat dilapidated. There were obvious things that were new like the ramp that led up to the door. The railing was new as was the door leading into the house. I opened the door and saw Jacob at the grill flipping steaks. I went to the backseat and pulled out the plate of brownies.
"Smells good, Billy in the living room?"
"Yep, these should be ready in a few minutes" I followed Charlie inside and put the plate of brownies in the kitchen. Billy and Charlie were sitting on the couch watch a basketball game.
"Hi Meridian, Charlie said you brought us some brownies, thank you."
"Yes, oh and my Dad says hello you old reprobate." Charlie, Billy, and Jacob who had just come in chuckle.
"Sounds like the salty sailor himself. How is Mathew doing?"
"He's good, figured out some researched is very happy to be up in Alaska. He sends his condolences about Harry." Billy sobered.
"Yes, I'll have to find a way to talk to him, but if I don't before your next conversation tell him hello from em." I smiled
"I will." They turned back to their game which I was not the least interested in. I went back outside and watch Jacob grill the steaks.
"Do you want anything to drink? We have some soda in the fridge."
"Sure, do you want one?"
"Yeah, coke please." I went back into the house and plucked a coke and Dr. Pepper from the fridge. I came out and handed him his drink he nodded his thanks and popped it open drinking deeply. I did the same my stomach grumbling. Soon Jacob starts piling steaks on a plate. He had also grilled some zucchini, squash, and some corn on the cob. I brought the plate of vegetables in and I made a plate up for Charlie asking him what he wanted. I made up my plate and Jacob jerked his chin towards the door. I nod and pick up my soda to join him. We sit and eat quietly, he at twice as much as me but I tucked away a good portion of food and felt full and happy.
"You wanna go walking on the beach? Dad and Charlie will be in there for a while."
"Sure sounds good. I haven't seen the La Push beach in a while." He laughs a little.
"I wouldn't exactly call it a beach." We put our plates away while talking. I grab a brownie as does Jacob. We ate and talked as we walked towards the ocean.
"So you've grown up a lot." Jake says looking me up and down.
"I could say the same about you, are you trying to become a body builder or something?" He laughed.
"Not really I don't know I guess it's just good genes. So what have you been doing on your wild adventures on the seven seas" He asked after laughed a hand rubbing the side of his head.
"Well I'm going to graduate this year ahead of schedule. I've visited Hawaii like I talked about last time I visited. Its so beautiful there, and the surfing is amazing though I usually fall off the board. We had the chance to swim with sting rays who didn't harm us. Mostly Dad just does what he does and I try not to go insane with boredom."
"Sounds like fun, how long are you staying here?" I shrugged.
"More than a month, less than two most likely. Dad's discovered something but he wants to stay to do more research which he doesn't really talk about all that much. So just the same old same old." He snorted.
"Yeah, what have you been up to here? Anything fun going on in Forks?" This last was said with another snort.
"Well other then Bella running off with that Alice girl on a road trip while Charlie is deal with Harry's death not much." I said frustrated.
"Oh? She didn't say anything to me."
"Yeah, I mean I know she's going through a lot but couldn't she at least have stayed and gone after the funeral. I just don't understand how thoughtless she could be, I mean jumping off a cliff for shits and giggles. I'm just upset that she's so reckless with her life, and the lives of her friends and family." By this point we were on the beach and walking along it.
"I get that but she's going through a hard time right now." He said weakly.
"I know but does it give her the right to take her life in her hands and jump off a cliff, she could have hit rocks and died. The fact that this Edward broke her so thoroughly is worrying." Now Jacob looked angry, very angry. He starts trembling and he steps out.
"Maybe you should go back to the house and let me cool off." I shook my head.
"No its my fault. I'm sorry about venting to you, I just hope she gets over that guy and stops being careless." He turned his back on me and he was shaking now. His fists were at his sides as he tried to control himself. I wondered why he was so mad.
"Just please go." He said between his teeth.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset." I turned but turned back when I heard a tearing sound. A gasp ripped from me as I backed up a pace. Jacob was gone, and in his place was a huge wolf cinnamon in colored.