THE CLEARWATER'S
CHAPTER 44
SETH P.O.V
We ended our trip in the Grand Canyon. It was beautiful and we did a lot of walking. In return, Savannah's feet swelled to the size of watermelons and she was extremely uncomfortable in the heat.
She did enjoy her time but being 22 weeks pregnant in Arizona in the summer, she was dying. And I didn't blame her. We decided to head home one day earlier than planned. I could tell that she just wanted to be in her own bed. Her pregnant body would not be able to take another night sleeping on an air mattress on the ground. She was in the passenger seat beside me with an ice pack on her neck and the air blowing directly on her. Both boys were fast asleep.
"She's kicking." She mumbled grabbing my hand and placing it on her stomach. No matter how many times she was pregnant, feeling our children move would always amaze me. It was crazy what her body could do. She grew three people inside her and then birthed them.
Of course we both knew that our family was not complete yet. We both knew that we wanted at least one more after Tayenn. Which, the name was growing on me. I knew how much Vannah loved it and when I heard her call the baby that, I knew it was meant to be.
"You have life growing inside you." I smiled at her. She giggled a little. She leaned the seat back a little but made sure she wasn't crushing Takoda's legs before relaxing. "How are you feeling?"
"Like shit." She answered.
"Do you want me to stop for some food?" I asked.
"No. I'm okay for now." She answered. I had planned to drive all night. I was used to the long hours because of patrol. I wanted to get as close to home as possible and then either we could stop at a hotel to sleep or she could take over driving so I could sleep. She held my hand against her stomach as she fell asleep.
It was well passed midnight when I passed the border from California into Oregon. We had roughly 5 or 6 hours left until we got home. Depending on traffic or how many stops we made. I could probably make it another four hours if Savannah would take over after.
Kuba woke up before everyone. Including the sun. I pulled over so that I could get him a bottle and thankfully he fell back to sleep as he drank it. I was starting to become exhausted. I had been driving for nearly 21 hours. I pushed through for another hour before Savannah sat up.
"Can you take over?" I asked her. She nodded as I pulled over. I quickly changed spots with her, kissing her as we walked by each other. I fell asleep rather quickly as she drove. I only woke up when the sun came up a few hours later. She pulled into a gas station that I had been to before and knew that we were decently close to home. I got out to pump gas while she ran inside to pee and get some drinks and snacks. She got into the passenger side seat as I pumped the gas.
I could tell that she was uncomfortable and just wanted to sleep in her own bed. When I got back in the car she handed me an energy drink. I quickly drank it before pulling back onto the street. We were about 45 minutes away from home and I just wanted to sleep. But with the boys sleeping all night, they were going to be awake.
"My mom said she'll take the boys so we can sleep."
"Thank god." I answered. Within an hour we dropped the boys off and headed home. I turned the AC on blast to help keep her cool but we both fell asleep pretty much as soon as our heads hit the pillow. It was nice to be home. I knew when we woke up that we would have to unpack the car. And by we I mean me because I wasn't going to allow her to lift anything.
We both slept for a few hours before my stomach woke me up. I kissed her quickly before heading downstairs. I quickly made myself a sandwich before heading out to the car to grab our luggage. I started her load first knowing that she didn't have many clothing that fit her growing belly.
She stumbled down the stairs about 30 minutes later. She still looked exhausted.
"Can you help me shower?" She asked.
"Of course." I smiled. "How about something to eat first?" I asked heading to the fridge. Her mom had cleaned it out for us and restocked it.
"Sure." She smiled sitting at the table. I quickly made her sandwich with the egg salad that Bella made and set it down in front of her before getting her a drink. "Thanks, babe." She smiled and quickly ate. I texted Bella that we were just going to clean up a little and then I could come get the boys. Savannah ate really quickly before heading up the stairs. I was slow to follow behind her but made it there eventually. She was in our bathroom with the shower on and her shirt off with her pants halfway off. "Help." I pulled her pants down the rest of the way and held her hands as she stepped out of them.
She stepped into the shower while I undressed and stepped in behind her. She right away leaned on me. I helped her wash her body and her hair before stepping out. I got her dried off and dressed in a tank top and a pair of shorts. I then got her back into bed. Even if it was just to watch tv and lay in bed.
"I'm gonna go pick up the boys." I said leaning down to kiss her. "Call me if you need something okay?" She nodded. "Are you feeling okay?" I asked.
"Just exhausted." She answered. "I love you. Drive safe." She said.
"I will." I answered before leaving and shutting the door. I locked the front door before getting in the car and heading over to Jakes. I walked in the front door and things were looking crazy. There were toys everywhere and the boys were screaming and jumping around. Jacob was sitting perfectly calm on the couch while they jumped around him. "Hey! This isn't a playground you goons." I helped Koda off the couch. Jake just chuckled.
"They were fine." He answered. I sat down on the other couch. Finn, Payton and Ashton were all watching tv while my kids were acting like they had never seen a couch in their life. "How was the trip?" He asked.
"Awesome. Would love to travel the world someday." I answered. "And, I won a hot tub."
"How did you win a hot tub?" He asked.
"I had a bet with Sav and I won." He just shook his head.
"You made a bet with your pregnant wife?" I nodded proud of myself but we agreed on the bet and she lost fair and square. "What was the bet?"
"We bet that we could hold off from having sex and whoever caved first could buy whatever they wanted. I wanted a hot tub."
"And what did she want?"
"A new car."
"Don't you think a new car would be better with the new baby coming?" He asked. You know I hated when he did that. When he was being realistic. Like we could get a new car whenever. Hell by the time they got to their third pregnancy they were driving around a huge suburban. But we had just recently gotten Savannah a new car and we couldn't afford to add another one right now.
"We can't afford another car until mine is paid off." I knew that if we ever needed to go anywhere as a family of 5 that we could just take two cars. We were going to have three carseats and although her car would probably fit them all, it would be uncomfortable as they grew.
"I can look around the shop to see if we have anything." He commented as Kuba pulled his hair. "Dude." He grabbed him and sat him on his lap. "They've been crazy from the second you dropped them off." He commented.
"I'm sorry. That's why we're still sitting here. I don't want them to bother Savannah." I answered. Bella came in the room with snacks and set them on the table. Thankfully everyone shared and they each got a decent amount. "How's Ryder doing with Jett?" I asked.
"Good." Jake answered before Bella could but she sat beside him on the arm of the couch and wrapped her arm around his shoulder's. "He even has a new lady friend." He raised his eyebrows at me.
"Who? Someone we know?" I asked sitting up to make sure the boys didn't choke.
"No. She grew up in New York. Her parents moved her out here a few years ago. He met her at the supermarket."
"How old is she?"
"I think she just turned 20. So only a year younger than him." Bella answered. "He said he'll slowly introduce her to everyone. They aren't official yet. He's bringing Jett over here tonight so he can take her to dinner."
"Does she know he has a kid?" Jacob shrugged.
"I'm sure if he hasn't told her that he'll tell her tonight." Bella said. "I'm sure he'll wait to introduce her to Jett. It's difficult to date someone who has a kid."
"How would you know that?" Jacob asked her.
"Because it's true." She said as if he was stupid. "Would you date me if I had all these kids?" She asked. It was a trick question. And he knew it. I knew it. The look on his face told me that he knew he was in deep shit.
"Yes. And I'd knock you up one more time just for good measure." He smiled at her. She shook her head and then turned back to me.
"I'm sure she's lovely."
*RYDER P.O.V*
I dropped Jett off with my parents an hour before I was suppose to pick my date up, Quinn. She was only a year younger than me. When I first met her I thought she was beautiful. When she smiled at me, I took a shot. It was probably so cheesy but she giggled and introduced herself.
I then got her number. We talked for about a week before I took her out to coffee. Now we were doing dinner. I hadn't told her that I had a kid yet. I didn't want to scare her away or think that I wanted her to fill in the mom roll in his life. Would I love to have someone there to help me take care of him and be a mother figure? Of course but I wasn't going to force it on anyone.
After dropping Jett off with my parents, I rushed home to clean up a little incase we came here after, and to shower and get dressed. We were meeting at the diner that my parents often went to. It was a nice little place and I enjoyed the food.
I made sure I got there first and got us a table. I was wearing a simple black shirt and a pair of dark jeans. When she walked in she was wearing a pair of vans with leggings and a light purple top. She smiled and waved before walking over to me. I stood to hug her before pulling out her chair for her. She sat and I pushed her in before sitting down across from her.
Our waitress brought over waters and menus.
"So, come here often?" She asked looking over her menu at me.
"Yeah, actually." I smiled. "My grandparents come here a lot. My parents come here all the time too." I answered.
"Did you grow up here?" She asked.
"I grew up in La Push. It's the town over. It's closer to the beach." I answered. She grew up in New York and even though she's been here for years, she said she still got lost going places.
"So not far from here." She commented.
"Not at all." I smiled. I had debated on telling her that I had a kid. Of course eventually I would tell her if we got serious but so far this was only our second date. I didn't want to rush anything. I didn't want to bring anyone into Jett's life who he could possibly get attached to and then they would leave. I never wanted him to be confused. I had already hurt him enough.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked. I sighed and looked at her.
"I have a kid." I blurted. She seemed a little alarmed at my forwardness. "I have a son,Jett. He's almost 16 months old." I clarified.
"Oh wow." She smiled. "Is his mother around?"
"Nah. She ran off as soon as he was born." The waitress came over to take our order. I ordered a steak and she got the chicken sandwich. "I just, I wanted you to know because he comes first."
"Of course." She reached across the table to hold my hand. "I would never expect you to put me over him." I smiled leaning in a closer to her. "That's part of why I left New York." She said looking down at her lap.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"My sister. She got pregnant. She was only 15. My parents were furious and moved us across the country. Of course my sister was upset because her boyfriend deserved to see their kid. I was only 12. But when my sister turned 18, she packed up her things, and the baby things and moved back to New York."
"Do you have any kids?" I asked.
"No. You're the first guy who has ever asked me out on a date so." She shrugged.
"I'm the first?" Hopefully it wouldn't be a problem that I had been on my fair share of dates and been with countless woman. I was sexuality active at 15 and ranked up a body count of 9 by the time I was 18. Of course after Jett came into the world, I stopped sleeping around and dating all together. Quinn was the first girl I had showed interest in since Jett came to be.
"Yeah." She seemed embarrassed about it. "And you? What's your body count?"
"Already on the body count question?" I joked with her making her blush.
"I'm just curious." She said shyly.
"You're gonna think I'm a whore."
"It's that many?" She asked. "3." I raised my eyebrows. "Just because I haven't been on a date doesn't mean I haven't had sex."
"9." I answered.
"So I would make it double digits." I was taken back by her words because I wasn't using her to get to a body count of 10.
"You would but I'm not using you to get to ten. I find you attractive." I answered, flustered. She chuckled at how flustered I was. "I haven't been on a date in a while. I'm sorry." I commented.
"Don't worry about it." She shook it off.
"I'm not using you for sex." I blurted.
"I know. Most guys wouldn't take me to dinner in the diner that they grew up going to." She smiled.
"And I told my parents about you." I smiled. It was rare that I told my parents anything having to do with my love life. So for me to tell them I had a date, it was serious. The waitress came over and set our plates down asking if we needed anything else before rushing off to help someone else.
We ate in silence for the most part.
"Want a piece of steak?" I asked her as I cut a piece off and held it over her place.
"Sure." She smiled making room on her plate for it. "So did your parents grow up here?"
"My dad did. My mom was born here but then her mom took her to Arizona. They bounced around a little. When my mom was 17 she moved back here to live with my grandfather and she never left."
"Do you wanna stay here?" She asked.
"Yeah. I've seen some other towns and I'm most comfortable here." I answered. "You?"
"I'm not sure. But I do consider this home. When I first moved here I hated it. Hated how small Forks was, how small the high school was." She answered. I cut the steak for her as she talked so that she wouldn't have to borrow my knife. "I was going to move back to New York but, this place is growing on me." She smiled a little. I smiled at her. I think this place had that affect. Mom would have been long gone if it wasn't for dad. "I actually do like it here."
"I mean, I don't think it's that bad." I chuckled.
"That's because you don't still live with your parents." She said. "You have a house right?"
"Yeah. I bought my grandfather's house after he passed." After grandpa Billy passed, Grandpa Charlie had decided to write up a will just incase anything happened to him. Of course he left the house to mom and anything he had saved, including his pension and his retirement. That he keeps pushing off. Grandpa Billy insisted that everything he owned be split by my dad and my aunts. So they put the house on the market and took my offer on it. None of them really needed the money and they were more than willing to let me take the house instead of letting strangers live in it.
"Is it weird living in your grandfather's house?" She asked.
"Sometimes. Like when I'm laying in bed, in his old bedroom, I swear he's there watching me. Or when I go and get Jett out of his crib in my dad's old room. I've mostly redone it but it'll always be grandpa's house." She smiled at me words. "Is it hard being away from your entire family?" I asked her.
"Uh, not really. My family didn't like the fact that Steph got pregnant so young. They cut my parents off. I don't really know the difference. It's just us three."
"My family is here. One of my aunts lives in Hawaii. We don't see her often."
"Is that who's watching your son?" She asked.
"My parents." I answered. "I would have asked my sister but she just got back from vacation and is pregnant so I didn't want to shove another kid on her."
"How many does she have?"
"She has two sons. Takoda and Kuba. And she's pregnant again." I added. "I have a feeling this isn't her last either." She laughed as she finished her food and pushed her plate away. I finished mine before the waitress came over and grabbed our plates.
"Any room for dessert?"
"I'm okay. Do you want anything?" I asked Quinn.
"No I'm alright. Thank you." She smiled. I slid my card into the pocket and laid it on the table. The waitress came and took it before heading off. When she brought my card back I put it back into my wallet and left a cash tip.
"Um, do you maybe wanna come back to my place? Watch a movie or something?" I asked.
"Sure." She smiled.
"Did you drive here?" I asked.
"No. A friend dropped me off. So I'll need a ride home after." She commented as she stood and got her jacket on. I held the door open for her as we stepped outside. "Don't you need a jacket?"
"Nah. I'm okay." I held my car door open for her. Of course I couldn't right away come out and tell her that I was a wolf. I didn't want to freak her out. I ran around the car and got into the driver's side before heading to the house. I was a little nervous for her to see it. Of course I was proud of what I had accomplished in such a short time but still. A woman who could someday be a girlfriend was seeing my house for the first time.
Once we got there, I pulled in the front and quickly ran around the car to open her door. I then guided her up the steps. I unlocked the front door and motioned for her to step in. I kept the house decently warm because of Jett. I never wanted him to be cold. I wasn't sure if he had gotten the wolf gene yet. He seemed to grow at human pace whereas Savannah's kid grew super fast the first year of their lives before slowing down. Jett grew at the normal pace. I walked into the kitchen with her behind me. She took off her jacket and set it down on one of the chairs. The highchair sat in the corner and caught her eye.
"Do you want more kids?" She asked.
"Maybe someday. But I'm in no rush." I answered. I had alway said I would never have another, that it would be way too difficult to have two kids. But if I had another person there to help me, I would consider it. "What about you? Do you like kids?"
"Yeah. But I'm no where near ready to have one." She confirmed. I popped some popcorn in the microwave so that we could watch a movie. I put the popcorn in a bowl once it was done and we headed to the living room. She picked one out from the small shelf I had. I popped it into the DVD player before joining her on the couch. She had the bowl of popcorn on her lap. I grabbed a blanket from beside the couch. She held the blanket up as I laid it over our laps. She leaned into me a little as we watched the movie.
I was just hoping that I didn't screw this up. I really liked her. Like a lot.