A couple of weeks had passed since the funeral. That and the Cullen's coming back it put the family into a strange mindset. I had gotten a job in town at the local diner, working part-time. I had convinced Steve to move into my father's house with me. He had packed up the cabin and was doing his hunting from the reservation. He had to drive further but he didn't seem to mind.
Bella had come home and Jake had been stomping around ever since. It was exhausting having such a primidone for a brother sometimes. Our father had told him to get over himself but he just needed time to sulk. I finished getting dressed for work, grabbing the keys to my little Honda and driving into town. It was raining as usual, but I enjoyed it. When I got to work it was sort of busy, so I had to park down the street. I threw my oversized raincoat on and splashed through the puddles on the sidewalk. Walking to work felt like the most normal thing I had done in weeks.
I walked into the old diner that my family used to eat at all the time. It hadn't changed a bit. I hung my things up in the back and put on my apron taking orders and pouring coffee. In my spare time I leaned against the counter creating foam drawings in different cups of coffee. I missed my business back in the city and I missed my friends. Hopefully, I would be able to go back and visit. I had to sort some things out first.
Finally, my four hours were up and I was off for the next two days. When I left the rain had slowed down and I decided not to put my rain jacket on. I walked through the rain in the dimming sunlight, getting back in my car and making the drive home. The closer I got to the house the clearer the sky became. When I was practically home the sun shone down on my car.
When I pulled up to the house Charlie's car was in the driveway. I parked my Honda next to Steve's truck sitting in my car for a moment. I turned off the power and walked inside to an expected full house. Charlie sat with my father at the kitchen table talking over a couple beers.
"Not much. We've been looking for this kid, Riley Biers. We think it might be related, but we have no leads."
I looked at my father, startled by what they were talking about. I knew Riley. We were in the same summer camp programs. He eventually ended up moving to Seattle, near to where I was. Around where he was last seen was an area I was in constantly. It was hard to imagine that he had been abducted. Maybe he was involved in something no one knew about? I had met with Riley a couple of times in the city for a drink or two. He always seemed so busy with work. He never had a steady girlfriend but always a line of women coming in and out of his life.
Everyone got very quiet, looking at me. I realized I was crying thinking about my lost friend. I smiled, quickly wiping my tears away and pushing them back. I felt embarrassed for getting so emotional in front of everyone. The last couple weeks had been a lot to process.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Please, Joanna." Charlie stopped me and I looked at him shocked. I wasn't sure what he was going to say next. I knew Charlie Swan wasn't great at emotions, like my father. "Don't apologize. I just want you to know, we're doing everything we can to find him." I nodded, wiping my face and quickly leaving to go to my room. I walked into the bedroom and threw my things down on the floor, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked exhausted… I felt like I needed to go for a run though. I rummaged through the dresser and pulled out some old sweats and a tee shirt. I got dressed and walked out of my room, heading past everyone and taking off from the front porch.
I was headed to my wolf-sister's. Ever since her father passed she was much quieter even in her thoughts. Seth found her to be so quiet that he chose to spend most of his time out of the house. He was entering his upper school now as well and it kept him busy. Unfortunately, Leah kept herself isolated. She stayed home alone and she went out on her runs alone. I did my best to be with her most of the time. We didn't talk about much but I knew it helped her to have my presence.
I approached her house and quietly walked in through the open front door. I found her in the kitchen looking for something to eat. I pulled a chair out, startling her as I took a seat at the table. She pulled out some bread and peanut butter, dropping them on the table top.
"Do you want to go for a hike?" We quickly slopped on peanut butter to Wonder bread before digging in. We said nothing, sucking down peanut butter sandwiches and a gallon of milk. We finished, cleaned up and closed up the house. We took off into the trees, quickly transforming where no one could see us.
We trotted on all fours along the forest floor, admiring the sights, sounds and smells. The end of summer was an interesting time in the woods. There were tiny and insignificant signs that fall was on its way in. The trees would soon drop all their leaves and the landscape would entirely transform.
I thought about what Steve had said before, about leaving town before the snow stuck to the ground. I thought about what my life would be like there, watching orcas and taking care of a home. I knew it would lead me towards a more domestic lifestyle, but for Steve I could accept that. It almost sounded enjoyable.
You should go, with him.
Leah's thoughts poked into my head. I looked at her a little spaced out. Sometimes she was so quiet that I forgot she could hear my thoughts. I sighed as we continued trotting through the woods. I didn't know what to say.
I don't want to leave my family again.
Don't you want to be with him?
Of course, I do!
You already left once, Jo. You came back. Be with who makes you happy. No one will hold it against you.
I picked up pace, nuzzling my body past hers as we continued our way to the beach. When we finally arrived to our hidden spot in the sand we carelessly ran out into the water. We lied down in the cold sea, cooling off. I looked around, noticing my giant white fuzzball of a tail floated in the water. I stood up shaking the water from my fur. I plopped down into the sun rolling onto my back, basking in the sun. It was hardly ever sunny here.
After a couple hours the sun had gone and the cloudy light was beginning to dim. I assumed Charlie was spending the evening with us as he never stayed only a couple hours. Not that I minded… In all honesty Charlie needed us around. His daughter and her reckless actions were stressing him out. Leah and I began trotting home, stopping every now and then to scratch behind an ear or sniff something interesting.
We were almost home when we heard the footsteps of another wolf in the distance. At first it sounded unfamiliar, but I realized it was Jake. He was coming back from Canada. He was getting closer and both wolves picked up pace. Suddenly, Jake bolted past them and they broke out into a full sprint. Jo was the fastest and easily caught up to her brother.
Jake!
She yelped after him but he ignored her. She tried again and he ignored her once more. She snarled, nipping at his heels. She yelped his name again and he picked up speed trying to outrun her. It didn't work and both wolves came crashing out of the woods.
Charlie is here you moron!
Just like that the two of them changed back into their human form. Vic lied on the ground, covering herself as Jake stormed off. Steve had seen her from inside and rushed outside with a blanket. He knelt beside her, wrapping her up. He helped her to her feet and gathered the strength to shout after Jake.
"She doesn't love you! Just let it go!" Not even a moment later Jake came jumping out of his bedroom window. He came charging towards his sister and Steve, fists balled. She stood up, smiling, waiting for it.
"You're wrong! She feels something for me. I know it!"
"Jacob, face it. She loves that bloodsucker. She isn't going to choose you!"
"Shut up, Joanna." As the words came out of his mouth Jo shoved her brother down. She jumped on top of him, smacking him in the face. After a moment he threw her back into dirt, punching her in the cheek. She leapt back to her feet and wrapped her hands around his neck, driving him backwards and to the ground.
"God damn it, stop it!" Jo hears her father scream and she stops. Jake leaps on her one last time before their father stops it. He stares at them both like they are insane. He motions with his head for them to come back inside and get ready for dinner. Without protest they get up and walk inside, going to get washed up for dinner.
They all pile into the SUV and drive into town. Billy and Charlie both wanted barbeque from this one specific place in town. They had been eating there for 20-something years now. Mostly they liked it because you could buy a bucket of beers with one meal. Steve and I both got our meals and a bucket of beer. Poor Jake being the only one not old enough to buy a beer. Dad tossed him the keys as he and Charlie set in on drinking all 6 beers with a BBQ meal tray.
I think I had five beers before I struggled to walk back to the car. Steve had only had two while my dad and Charlie got a third bucket to share. I didn't remember much to the end of the meal and I woke up inside the house in my bed. It was dark outside now. I wobbled out of my bed, falling down the ladder halfway. Steve rushed into my room at the sound of my body making a 'thud' sound on the ground. He picked me up, placing me back in bed.
"Stay here, I'll get you some water."
He came back into the room not long after, closing the door behind him. He turned off the overhead bedroom light and crawled up into the bed. He turned on the tiny television he mounted into the wall of her loft bed. He handed my drunk ass a bag of chips and a bottle of water. He got undressed and got under the covers with me. I laid my head on his chest and felt his fingers run through my hair until I fell asleep.
The next morning I woke up in Steve's arms. Thunder softly rumbled overhead and I closed my eyes for a moment longer. I realized I didn't have to be at work and I let myself fall asleep again. When I woke up next I was in the same position. I had never felt so content. I suddenly thought back to the last person I had been with. His voice echoed in my head, he was screaming at me. His last words to me coming back so clearly. 'I don't love you anymore, Joanna!' The sound of him slamming the door, sort of brought me back. I turned to Steve, unaware of the disturbed expression I must have had on my face. His eyebrows were bunched together, studying my expression.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. I just- I don't want to screw this up."
"Jo, how could you possibly screw this up? If it all hits the fan, we will always be in each other's life. You imprinted. I'm not going anywhere. "
Slowly we climbed out of bed and made our way into the kitchen. My father and Charlie were both passed out on the couches. Last night seemed like it might have been wild. I looked over at Steve who was focused on getting breakfast started. I thought I saw him drink only two beers… Of course, I was pretty sure I had blacked out. At least my memory had.
I turned on the television that sat on our kitchen counter and played with the antenna until the images came through clear. It was left on the local news channel. Riley's picture was up on the screen and I power mashed the channel change button on the side of the TV. Cartoons were a nice change.
The longer we stood in the kitchen making breakfast, the more I was convinced Jake was gone. I couldn't really smell him over the scent of bacon grease. The point being I was having trouble smelling a wolf over cooking grease… Werewolf scent was not a subtle one. I also couldn't hear his thoughts but if he was sleeping it was possible he wasn't thinking about anything right now.
The more food we began to cook the more it began to wake the entire household. I felt more alive, my stomach growling at the scent of waffles and sausage. We finished cooking when my father and Charlie woke up. They both hobbled to the kitchen table and I gave them each a hangover shake. I chose to just stick mine out. I didn't have anywhere to be today.
I served all of them as they each got comfortable in a seat. After everyone had food on their plates I sat down. I took four of everything from the platters in front of me. I was starving and not even thinking about it as I began shoving piles of food in my mouth. Charlie stared at me in horror as I choked down all of my food before any of them had finished one thing.
"I get hungry when I'm hungover." I tried to excuse my wolfy behavior for something else. Steve and my father looked nervously at one another. Charlie turned back to my father, a huge grin on his face. Both men laughed it off as I reloaded my plate and used more utensils this time. After breakfast Steve and I cleaned up while my father told his friend good-bye. When we were finished cleaning Steve and I headed to the bathroom for a hot shower. My father headed to the master room and got ready for the day.
When we all came out later we were each headed to a different place. My father was waiting for one of the family members to pick him up and take him to do some errands. I was headed to the hardware store in-town to finish the bathroom up today. I had been working on the house bit by bit each day. On my off days I would paint or demolish something. Today I needed to replace the door knob, and buy some artwork for the walls.
I drove into town in my tiny Honda, passing Bella's truck around one bend. I became tense. I could smell that a vampire was nearby. Living in the city so long, I had forgotten where the territory lines laid. I drove to the home décor store and the hardware store with no confrontation. After spending about two hours in town I left with a drive-thru meal. Vanilla milkshake included. I stuffed fries in my face on the drive home, finishing my meal before I even stepped into the house. I got home and spent the rest of my evening finishing the bathroom before everyone came home.