I know, long time for an update but I've been very busy and I also needed to see where I could take everything in this story next. Enjoy, review, favorite, follow. I have other stories. Thank you!
"Well, that was the best French toast I've ever had," Ben announced as he stood up to take his plate to the sink. Emily laughed as she watched him rub his stomach.
"Thanks for breakfast Emily," Claire offered a small smile before poking around her plate. The food was delicious but Claire was spiraling inside her mind. Why could neither sibling place Quil as a child? Why was all her memories breaking through the wall she had put up when her mother moved them? Why was them all about Quil?
"It's not a problem dear. I missed you two. You guys were around a lot as kids, always so lively," Emily took a sip of her coffee as she looked across the table at Sam who stuffed more food in his mouth. He had patrol in an hour and was trying to make sure he didn't get hungry.
"I remember some great times around here. Like movie nights or learning how to swim," Ben sat down and started finishing his coffee. He has hoped the flock of men that seemed to gravitate towards the Uleys would be here but they weren't. At least not yet according to a Emily, apparently they were all waiting for the twins to leave so they can rush the house for food themselves.
"That's right, we did learn how to swim here...but who taught us?" Claire got quiet again, a memory was knocking at the wall but it wasn't busting through yet like the others.
"Oh, um, I did. I taught you both how to swim. Sarah already knew of course, always perfect even on the first try," Sam chuckles nervously as he got up to put his now empty plate in the sink. He got a glass of water and chugged it down to wet his now dry mouth from the lie. Quil has taught the twins to swim. He spent an entire weekend teaching them, they both had it down by the end of the weekend and even knew what to do if things went wrong in the water. Claire though knew that Sam wasn't right, that even though a memory hadn't come back through yet she could feel in her bones that he was wrong.
"Are you sure?" Claire asked with a furrowed brow. She remembered how busy Sam was when they were kids, how they would only see small glimpses of him or how they would only get to see him for an hour every few days. There's no way he would have had time to teach them. Sam chocked on some water while Emily sipped a bite louder.
"Well, either way we thank you graciously. We both still love to swim, great stress releaver," Ben placed a hand on his sisters before locking eyes with her. Silently he asked if she was okay, all she did was nod and take a few more bites before putting her dish in the sink.
"Claire are you excited for tonight?" Emily asked while peeking out the window behind her. Ben pulled out his phone for a moment to check his emails, he had a new client and they were trying to figure out just what to paint for him.
"Oh, yeah. I'll be more excited for tomorrow night. It'll be my last night dancing," Claire was getting more comfortable saying that now. She still hadn't heard anything from her mother but she knew she'd be attending the show again tonight so there will be more words exchanged. Too bad this time Ben won't be there, he has a few pieces to drop off to an old buyer.
"Why is that? I thought you loved dancing, you sure as hell looked beautiful up there," Sam looked at Emily in shock. Emily took a deep breath before looking outside again, they both knew Quil and a few of the others were standing in the wood line waiting. Listening.
"I used to love it at one point but I don't anymore. It's causing me nothing but pain and torture. I'm never good enough for my mother so what's the point in trying anymore? No matter how many awards I've won or medals I have, it'll never be good enough so I am done," Claire shrugged as she poured herself more coffee and brought the pot over to refill Emily's.
"So...now what then?" Sam was moving closer to the table again. He looked up quickly to see the boys starting to come into view, he knew it was his time to go.
"I don't know," Claire answered honestly as she sat back down looking into her cup. She wasn't sure what to do anymore, she was a dancer. Always was. Always has been. Now, what is she?
"Well, why don't you come work in the bakery with me? I need a helping hand anyways," Emily looked at Sam and nodded hopefully. She knew that bringing Claire closer to their world could be dangerous but it was also the safest place for her to be.
"Are you sure? I don't want the job just because I'm family," Claire shook her head as she reached across the table and turned Bens phone over so he would stop staring at it. He sometimes got too sucked into his work to notice life going on around him.
"Nonsense, you're getting this job because you are family. Come to the bakery in town on Monday morning at 7am. You can't miss it, it's the only bakery in town," Emily chuckled before she heard the front door open and laughter floating in. Sam sighed and shook his head, why couldn't they just wait until the twins left?
"Good morning fellas," Ben smiled as four boys walked into the kitchen sniffing the air. Claire instantly locked eyes with Quil.
"I'm off to work guys but it was great seeing you two. Come over anytime," Sam kissed both Ben and Claire on their heads before kissing Emily like it could be the last time.
"Nice to see you again Claire," Jacob gave a smile before moving to the counter to make himself a plate of French toast that was waiting for them all.
"Nice to see you again Jacob," Claire took a long drink trying to avoid any stares she was getting from the others.
"Last time I spoke to you your lips were blue," Jacob chuckled but stopped when Quil smacked him upside his head.
"Last time I spoke to you you had no shirt on. I think this is an improvement for both of us," Claire glared at the man who was in shorts and a T-shirt despite it being around 20 degrees outside. The boys roared with laughter at the fact that Claire just schooled him while Jacob just mumbled under his breath.
"Hey Claire, I'm Embry and that over there is Brady," Embry sat down next to Claire with a smile and a wink. He wasn't sure if she had any memories of him but he was going to try and just pretend like their friendship was new. Embry was second babysitter for Claire when Quil has patrol or was finishing school then. Embry dropped out and got his GED, something Quils mother wouldn't allow for him. Embry remembered everything about Claire from how she would hide from her mother when it was time to get picked up to how Claire would pet ladybugs as they walked the porch railing in the summertime to how Claire would guilt trip him into letting her stay up late and eat ice cream. Embry might not have been the best babysitter but he knew he would protect that child until he died, same as for everyone else in the pack.
"Hi Embry," Claire smiled kindly but froze when she met his eyes. A memory came rushing in suddenly, making Claire gasp and everyone freezing themselves to look at her.
"Claire, you have to go home now. Your mother is outside," Embry frowned as he held his hand out behind the couch at Emily's for her to grab. This happened everytime. Whenever Mary came to collect Claire after Bens art lesson she would hide. She refused to go with her mother, it was always a failed attempt though.
"No, Embry. I don't want to. I want to wait for Quil," Claire felt the tears well in her eyes. She blinked quickly so they wouldn't fall.
"I know sunshine but Quil won't be back until really late tonight," Embry reached down and grabbed her forearms before pulling her up and over the couch. He sat with her on his lap while she tried not to cry.
"I don't want to go home with her. Why couldn't daddy pick me up?" Claire knew fighting was useless but it was always worth a shot.
"Your daddy is still working," Embry rubbed the small girls back with sad eyes. It broke his heart everytime this happened, he could only imagine what Quil felt dealing with this.
"Claire!" Mary shouted from outside refusing to even come inside and see what teenage boy was keeping her child this time. Ben was in the car coloring in his monster truck book but he was coloring them all pink and purple, making them more likable.
"Come on, everything will be okay," Embry sat the girl down but continued to hold her hand incase she tried to run again.
"We had such a good day though," Claire mumbled as they walked closer to the front door. Embry helped her put on her rain boots gently because her feet were sore from a late night dance session and rain jacket before zipping it up. He held her at arms length and watched her with kind eyes.
"We'll have many more good days," Embry winked before kissing the girls forehead and opening the door for her to leave. Claire groaned one time before seeing her mother tapping her foot by the car. Embry gave a wave but was ignored. Man how he hated that women.
"Claire, what's wrong?" Multiple people were asking this as the memory ended. She looked at Embry again now with wide eyes now. He only looked about 25 now but still, he should have been in his thirties if he was babysitting her as a teenager. Embry shifted uncomfortably in his sit before turning to Quil for some help.
"Claire?" Quil came over and placed his hand on her shoulder. She could feel his warmth through her sweater. Claire jumped before brushing his touch away a bit harsher then she had meant to. The hurt look on Quils face hit her heart like a truck.
"I...I um forgot I need to an early rehearsal today. Work off all these calories. Thanks for breakfast Emily, I'll see you Monday morning. Bye guys," Claide refused to look at any of men around her Incase another memory came flooding in. She grabbed her coat from the hook by the front door and ran outside and into the rain, she could still slightly hear Ben saying his goodbyes and some apologies for her sisters behavior. She could also feel eyes on her back as she ran down the driveway and to their car. Claire was almost hyperventilating when another memory finally colladed, the swimming memory.
"There you go baby, just float when you're tired, once you have your strength back then you swim again," Quil said with a proud smile as he didn't take his eyes off the girl in the dark purple bathing suit. He was so happy that he had the whole weekend off to spend with Claire.
"Ben, you're doing great!" Quil called out as he watched the boy swim towards the shore to grab more sunscreen. He was terrified of getting burnt or his tan skin getting darker.
"I'm gonna be a mermaid Quil!" Claire called out once she got her energy back and dove under the water. Quil tracked the small splashes to make sure she was okay while down there. He had to give her some freedom so she would be confident with it. He could hear Ben on the beach talking to Kim about how damaging the sun was. He chuckled about how different the two kids were.
"Did you see me?" Claire popped up and began floating again to relax some. Quil laughed and laid down until he was floating gently beside her. They held hands so she wouldn't get taken under by a wave and pointed at the clouds.
"Claire? What is going on?" Ben asked as he finally made his way to the car to see Claire with a panicked look on her face. She quickly turned to see Quil, Embry and Emily all standing on the porch with concerned looks. She could see Brady and Jacob in the kitchen trying not to be obvious with their own stares. Claire knew something was going on but she couldn't let her bother know or he'd just pass it off as stress.
"Just not feeling too well. Probably hungover from last night and didn't realize it," Claire shrugged and gave a sloppy smile before opening the passenger door and climbing in the dry car. She begun her breathing exercises as Ben got in and started the car, ranting about some remedy he'll make to help the hangover. Claire glanced once in the rear view mirror to see Quil still standing on the porch while the others had gone in. He was more then aware her wall was breaking down and soon enough all her memories would be back and he'd have some explaining to do.