Chapter Twenty-Eight:
…
Mondays were the worst. The kids at the daycare all seemed to be overtired from their weekend activities. I spent most my day calming down tantrums and getting bit by little ones. I was chugging down cold coffee as I made my way to the Cullen's for a wedding planning session. They had set a date in August but hadn't announced to anyone else yet. I was not going to be the one to tell Embry…well not yet anyway. If I told Embry, he would tell Jacob…maybe even on accident and I did not want to be responsible for that. My phone rang loudly through the speakers of my car, and I cringed at the sound, quickly I answered it. "I'm fine, I told you I had a thing with the Cullen's tonight" I said quickly into the phone, knowing it was Embry. I could feel his worry through the phone. "I knew that…I'm not worried" he said his voice sounding a little higher than normal. I rolled my eyes but did my best to play nice. He had been so…overprotective since the vampire incident, but after witnessing his nightmares…I decided I needed to be supportive. "I was just checking in…calling to see how you were doing" he said honestly, his voice calmer. I smiled, "I had a horrible day at work, but I am looking forward to spending some time with my sister." Full truth. I really was looking forward to seeing Bella…and the Cullens. I left that part out, but I had missed my other family lately. I was used to spending so much time at the Cullens…it was weird not seeing one of them every day. I didn't want to admit this to Embry though, especially not over the phone when I couldn't see his reaction. "I'm sorry your day was terrible; do you want to talk about it?" his warm voice echoed through my car. "Nah, Emb, it was just the children, they were out of control today" ugh. Wait till he saw the bite marks on my arms. Animalistic monster children. But damn they could be so cute at times. I thought back to the little boy who made me a sorry-I-bit-you card. Ahhh…the joys of working in childcare. "Out of control, huh? Wait till you meet Emily's niece, Claire…she's actually a real sweetheart". I smiled at his adoring voice. He was such a big teddy bear. I just knew he'd have a soft spot for kiddos. "I take it your over there, now?" I guessed, "Yeah over here, missing you" he commented quickly. "Mmm…Tell Emily I miss her bunches" I responded, and he sighed, "she misses you, Em" he yelled, and I cringed as his voice boomed throughout my car. "Yeah, yeah, she misses you too" he said grumpily. I giggled, "You're never going to get between us, Embry" I joked, still giggling. Embry huffed, "That is not what you said last night" I instantly blushed as I heard a fit of groans from the other end of the phone. "Hmm…well tonight's a new night" I smirked as I pulled up the Cullen's driveway. "New night…same bed" he confirmed lowly. "Damn right, bye babe, love you" I said quickly, "love you too, be safe" he barely got out before I had hung up on him. "Took you long enough to get here, did you actually drive the speed limit?" Alice yelled annoyed from the front porch. I rolled my eyes, "Nice to see you too, Alice" I said sarcastically with a smile. Bella appeared behind her with an apprehensive look on her face, "No time to chat, we have a wedding to plan" Alice said excitedly. I swear Bella's face got paler.
….
The Cullen's living room was full of posters with ideas and wedding magazines. Alice had gone all out for planning. She was showing Bella and I different bridesmaid dresses, while talking at a million miles a minute. "This the one you should wear, Ames, so you stand out more" Alice said showing me some mauve colored dress with some sparkles. "Ohhhh…I like the sparkles" I said excitedly. "Well since you're the maid of honor your dress gets to be sparkly and special" Alice smiled at me, and I blinked at her surprised, then looked at Bella. "Girl, were you ever going to actually ask me?" Bella shrugged looking mildly uncomfortable. Alice shook her head, "you never asked her…seriously?" she huffed in frustration. "What? I assumed she knew, I mean of course, Ames would be my maid of honor" Bella justified looking a little guilty. Alice and I gave each other a knowing look before both shaking our heads at Bella. Bella let out a groan, "Fine. Amelia, will you be my maid of honor?" she ground out annoyed. I smirked at her as I pretended to think, "hmmm…I don't know…what's the wedding date again, maybe I can't make it" I jested with her. Bella was not in the mood for games, she glared at me with her lips pursed in anger. I rolled my eyes, "Oh calm down, Bells, of course I'll be your maid of honor…I wouldn't want it any other way" I said touch her shoulder giving her a little shake. A smile instantly formed on her face, "Me either " she said softly. I gave her shoulder a squeeze before letting my hand drop. I knew the wedding was overwhelming her. I was a little worried that Edward pushed her too hard for this. But it seemed to be what she wanted. Well…at least Edward was what she wanted. Forever.
…
I pulled into Sam and Emily's driveway, expecting to hear the familiar loud sounds of the pack, however I found it strangely quiet. I made my way into their small home slowly, I carefully knocked on the door before entering. "Hey guys, why is it so…" I stopped talking and looked around the room. Everyone was sitting around not talking and looking….well strange. "Ahh…what the hell is going on?" I asked my eyes finding Embry's. His eyes had been on me the minute I stepped through the door; I knew it. He studied my body before meeting my green eyes. Checking for injuries. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He gave me a half a smile. but no one answered my question. I waved my hands around the room, "Y'all…what the hell?" I asked annoyed. I was in a no games kind of mood after the day I had had. "Quil imprinted on Claire" Leah answered me carefully. Claire…who was…OH. MY. GOD. Emily's niece? Wasn't she like two years old? I blinked a few times before looking over at Quil. He looked completely lost, he ran his hands through his curly hair before saying, "I can't control it…but it's not like…Well obviously it's not the same for me as it is the rest of you" he said his voice sounding off. I was at a loss for words. I mean how does that work? What was it like? I slowly made my way to the breakfast counter as I contemplated these thoughts. I took a seat on the breakfast counter and asked, "What's it like?" my voice was full of curiosity, I was careful to leave any accusatory tones out of it. I mean my understanding of imprinting was unconditional love and support. Romance often came with that sort of thing…but even Embry had said once that he would have let me go, if being with Chris would have made me happier. Quil seemed surprised by my question. "I…" he struggled with the words and I looked around the room, "seriously? Did none of you ask him this question?" Sam shrugged in response, "I had him show me with his mind what he saw and felt…does that count?" "meh" was all I had to say about that. Mind reading. I almost wish I could read minds. Nevermind. That would be terrible. "Okay but I can't do that…so c'mon Quil, help a girl out, explain" I said then swung my foot out and gently nudged his shoulder with it. He turned in his chair to look at me. "I just…I want her to be happy…it makes me happy; I want her to be safe…I want to help keep her safe" he said softly. I glanced over at Embry, who was looking sympathetic at his friend, Jacob was by his side looking just as sympathetic. Quil grimaced suddenly, "It's not like I have…I mean I don't want her…not in the way Embry wants you….or Jared wants Kim". I blushed for a moment as I thought about how much I wanted Embry. Off topic, Swan…get it together. Quit thinking about sex with your incredibly hot boyfriend. "Well…phew…that's a relief" I said and nudged him again, attempting to lighten the mood. "Then I think this little girl, Claire, is about to be the luckiest little girl ever, I mean she'll have this great playmate for life" I explained, and I meant it. She would always have Quil, no matter what…he would always have her back. Quil smiled at me then, as if finally feeling like he was understood. "You think so?" he asked unsurely. I waved a hand in his direction, "Please, I know so, I think I've gotten a better idea of this whole paw-printing thing, right, Emb?" I asked winking at Embry. He chuckled in response, "Oh sure…you've figured it all out". He rolled his eyes playfully in my direction. "You literally don't even it call it the right thing" Paul grumbled, but I ignored him and looked back at Quil, "So basically, I am like…expert level now, so I know Claire is the luckiest little girl, and that things will work out because that's what it do" I said so confidently that Quil couldn't help but smile at me. "I hope your right, Ames, I hope your right".
