It had been 9 days since Jake's raise, and somehow we managed to keep the news of my pregnancy from spreading to anyone else. My nerves were going crazy though. Today was the day we announced to our families and then our friends about the wonderful news. News that they might not consider so wonderful.
My mom and dad came down to La Push to celebrate Thanksgiving with us at Sam and Leah's. It was the only place big enough for me and Jake, my parents, Billy, Beth and Joey. Sam and Leah decided to go to her parents for Thanksgiving.
My mom helped me cook dinner as Jake and my dad set up the table. It was the first time that I felt whole for a holiday. Everyone I loved was in one place. Billy and Beth each brought sides, and Joey brought a small handheld gaming system that he and Jake were going crazy over while they waited for dinner to be ready.
I looked around the room, seeing my parents giggling to themselves, Billy brushing a lock of Beth's hair from her face, and glancing over at Jake, who felt my gaze and looked back at me, smiling from ear to ear. I knew he was nervous but I think he was more excited than anything to tell our families. My heart burst with happiness at the sight of life finally settling down for the first time since I can remember.
I nearly cried. I had to keep it together for just a bit longer. I kept debating about when I wanted to tell them. Before dinner, after or during? Dinner was about to be set on the table so during seemed most likely, since I wasn't sure I could wait much longer.
We all sat down to eat, Billy at one end, Charlie at the other. Beth and Renée were next to them on the same side of the table. It was like a formal dinner and I giggled to myself at the scene. Joey sat between the two women, since he was the smallest member of the pack here and the two women didn't take up much room. Jake on the other hand took up almost an entire side with his shoulder span. He sat next to his dad and I sat next to mine.
Renée insisted on saying Grace. When she was done, I stood up.
"I was hoping, since this is the first time in a very long time that we've all been together for a holiday that we could go around the table and say what we are thankful for."
"That sounds like an amazing idea, Bella." Beth said. Smiling at me from across the wooden table. "Do you mind if I start?"
"Not at all." I sat down, my legs were shaking from my nerves.
Beth stood up and looked at Joey, and at Billy. "It has been a very long time since I've found myself in a position to open my heart up. I am thankful," She started, emphasizing the word thankful. "That I happened to not only find a man that has shown me what love is supposed to feel like, but that since we started dating, he has treated Joey like he was his own. I can not explain how blessed we have been."
Beth was about to sit down when Billy stood up, a sight I still got teary-eye'd seeing, which these hormones didn't help, and took Beth by the hand "I too, am thankful to have found you, Beth. You have filled a piece of my heart that I thought was long since dead. Giving Joey a father figure in his life has been a blessing for you but it's also been one for me. I'd always wished that I could give Jacob a brother, and now he has more brothers than I can count on my two hands. Joey is an amazing young man and I can't wait to see the man he will become, knowing I played even a small role in his life."
I don't know if I was going to make it without bursting into tears. I had no idea that everyone was going to be so sentimental. We'd never done anything like this before and I thought everyone would be thankful for much smaller things. Billy and Beth both sat back down, and Joey stood up.
"Wow, uh. Ok what to say. I'm thankful for this grub." I laughed, then covered my mouth. That was the kind of stuff I was expecting from this crowd. Things were always so lighthearted. I needed the change in atmosphere if I was going to last any longer. Joey looked over and smiled at me.
"Sorry." I whispered.
"I am also thankful to have found a place in the tribes most highest honor, the pack. Like Billy said, there are more brother, and sisters," he tilted his head at me, "Than I ever thought I'd want or even need. But I wouldn't change it for the world."
I took Jake's hand under the table as I prepared to stand up and drag him up with me, but my parents both stood up instead. Then playfully bickered about letting the other person go first making everyone laugh.
"Well I guess I'll just learn from my mistakes and do whatever Renée tells me." He said after she insisted on him going first." Uh so I guess my biggest thing to be thankful for, I would have mentioned last year but given the circumstances, Thanksgiving dinner wasn't exactly what I was hoping for last year. However I'm glad things worked out the way they did, or I might not be where I am today, with the people I am with today.
"Bella I am thankful to finally have you back and that you've decided on your own to stay. I am also thankful to have the love of my life return to me. I can't begin to describe the emotions I felt when I learned Renée was here to stay. I have my family whole and I will do whatever it takes to not screw this up."
Charlie sat down and reached for Renée's hand as she stood.
"Wow. Alright." She began and I could see she was nervous which was not something I was used to seeing. "So I guess I could start by saying I'm thankful Bella found such a wonderful man, or that I have these amazing friends. I am, but I won't. Those things aren't what's going through my head right now. I have made countless mistakes in my life, but the biggest was taking our little girl away. I can see now how amazing this place is for the heart, and for growing up with amazing values and true friendships. What I am thankful for, is to be given another chance to fix my past mistakes and be the family we should have always been."
Renée slipped and fell to the floor, but Charlie stood up and caught her by the wrists before she got hurt. She looked up at him apologetically from her position on the floor then smiled.
"Charlie, I never deserved such a wonderful man in my life. I never should have left you and taken Bella. I just hope you can forgive me, and maybe give me another chance to be the wife I should have been the first time." She pulled out an old ring that I'd noticed a few times in her jewelry box but didn't take much notice of. "Will you allow me the honor of wearing this ring once more?"
Wait… what just happened? Did she just propose?
"I… Renée are you sure?" Charlie asked, and I could see tears forming in his eyes.
"I have never been so sure of anything in my life."
Charlie took the ring from my mom, playing with it in his fingers for a moment before looking back to her with a smile on his face. He slipped the ring onto her left hand then pulled her to her feet. He kissed her passionately.
My blush reached all the way to my ears but I couldn't seem to look away. My parents were getting re-married. They pulled away from each other reluctantly then sat down.
I wasn't sure how I was supposed to follow something like that but it seemed that Jake figured it out. He stood beside me.
"Congratulations, Renée, Chief. You guys are a true inspiration that if you love someone enough, you can overcome anything. My list of things I am thankful for is ever growing, but I'll try to keep this short. My dad, who managed to raise me and my sisters alone all these years who finally has the use of his legs, and a good woman at his side. Joey, the brother I never wanted but am happy to have."
"Hey, man!" Joey picked up a pea and tossed it at Jake. He dipped down to catch it in his mouth.
"Chief," Jake continued, like he wasn't interrupted, "a man who has been like a father and helped raise me during the toughest times of my dad's life, and Renée who brought up the love of my life, my soul mate, my imprint. Of course none of this would have been worth it if I didn't have Bella by my side.
"You forgave me when I couldn't forgive myself and for that I will be eternally thankful. I wouldn't have the life I have now if you gave up on me. I love you."
I stood up, my turn. "I love you too." I whispered, kissing him softly on the lips and holding his hand, refusing to let him sit. Not that I would have been able to stop him if he really tried. "I am so thankful to every single person in my life. The pack for becoming a loving family to a pale faced outsider who brought vampires to their home." I tipped my head on shame. "Sorry."
"All of their parents for raising such amazing young people. Sam and Leah who welcomed me into their home. Ashley for giving me a wonderful opportunity to experience life inside a bakery." I lifted my head back up to look at Jake. "To Jake for being my best friend and soul mate. And to our parents.
"Mom, Dad, I am so thankful to both of you for being such amazing parents, even when I was at my worst. Billy I am thankful to you for being Jake's rock during the most difficult time in his life so far." I took a deep breath. I can do this. My heart was pounding in my chest and based on the look on Joey's face, it was loud enough that he could hear it.
"But most of all, I am thankful to you three because I know that you will be the most amazing, thoughtful, caring, and loving… grandparents to our baby." All I could hear was my heart beat and gasps from around the table. Jake's hand gave me the courage to keep standing for a moment longer, waiting for the reactions.
My mom was staring at me with her hand over her face… her ring glinting off the ceiling light. When she finally removed it though, I could see that she was covering a smile. Tears fell freely from her eyes as she walked around the table and wrapped her arms around me. Jake let go of my hand and I embraced my mom.
"Sweetheart, oh my goodness. Congratulations. I can't believe it. This is wonderful news."
I held onto my mom and cried. I peered over her shoulder at my dad and I could see anger on his face along with the shock. There was also pride which just made me cry even more.
"Congratulations, Bella." Billy said from behind me. "Jake…" I could hear him clap his hand on Jake's back and knew Billy pulled Jake in for a hug before whispering something in his ear.
I reluctantly let go of my mom and looked to my dad. "Dad, I…"
He pulled me into his arms, resting my head against his chest and placing a soft kiss on the top of my head.
"I suppose I couldn't have prevented this, not saying that I wanted to but maybe postpone a bit longer. My baby's growing up. You're going to be a wonderful mother, Bella. I'm so proud of you."
"You're not mad?" I asked, tucked into his chest.
"Oh, I am. Jake's not even 17 yet, but I get it. You're not just his imprint, you're his best friend. His soul mate. It was bound to happen, and I am happy." He squeezed me tighter, kissing the top of my head.
It took a minute for everyone to settle down. Jake stood to lift the lid on the tray that was keeping the turkey warm and carved it. I had no idea my night was going to go this way. How did I become so damn lucky?
When dinner was done, and everyone was relaxing around the living room, Jake decided to broach the topic of what would happen when the baby arrived.
"Bella and I were talking that since Sam and Leah will likely be trying for a family of their own and enjoying newly married life that it wouldn't be fair for Bella to outstay the welcome." Jake looked to his dad. "I was hoping maybe she could move in with us, we could take the twins room and turn my room into a nursery. It wouldn't be forever, just until we can get a place of our own."
"Jake, that sounds like a fantastic idea. Of course Bella can move in. So when did you two find out?"
"Oh… um, remember when I got really sick and we all assumed it was the virus that Leah and Kim had? Well we found out that it was food poisoning but I never ate the same foods. So I took a test, went to see Sue and oh!"
I went to the front door and grabbed my purse, pulling the tiny photo from my wallet.
"That was a month ago." Renée said. "Why did you wait so long to tell us?"
"We wanted to make sure everything was going well first." Jake responded for me as I brought the small image over to my parents and Billy. "We heard that the chances of something going wrong goes down with each week."
"I'm eleven and a half weeks." I handed the piece of paper over and my moms eyes welled with tears once more. She pointed out the small indecipherable features to our dads. "I'm due June 10th. The only other people who know are Leah because she was there when I found out and Sam. It might affect the wedding. Sue because she did the ultrasound and our bosses for obvious reasons. And Quil because well, he kind of overheard."
"We'll be telling everyone else at the pack meeting tomorrow." Jake added, "So if you all wouldn't mind keeping this to yourselves, we'd appreciate that."
Everyone agreed and congratulated us again. The evening was fun and full of laughter. Joey took off to hang out with some of the guys from the pack while the rest of us played couples charades. Jake and I kicked everyone's asses. We could practically read each other's minds.
