TWO

Jacob couldn't stop thinking about Leah Uley. She was the sexiest, most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, including his own ex. Her dark eyes were so expressive, they drew him in. He'd found himself wanting to comfort her, to hold her. He wanted to tell her it would be okay, that she didn't need her ex. She was strong, he could tell. There was just something about the way she carried herself, how she spoke. She was fire.

Ultimately he knew nothing about Leah, but it was just a vibe, a gut feeling, and Jacob trusted in that part of himself. The moment he saw her, he felt like his whole world had somehow expanded to include her. Maybe it was because he knew Seth that he felt like he knew Leah too. It was easy to see the siblings were quite different, but she just felt like his people, part of his "pack,' his family. Maybe he was so intrigued because she was also Native American. It wasn't often that he met women like her in the city. Jacob thought about her long raven hair and how shiny it looked. Her skirt suit hugged her body like second skin. She had hips and an ass that would make a man sing. And those legs? Fuck if they weren't perfect toned and long and tanned. She was perfect. Jacob couldn't imagine what other woman could be better than her, that her husband would give Leah up.

But hey, shit happened. He still didn't know why his own wife had left him for another either. Well, he knew, it was simple really, he just hadn't been enough to keep Bella's heart. It had never truly been his. Leah didn't even know just how much he understood what she was going through. Jacob hadn't dated in a long time just because he felt seriously insecure about women. He didn't know if he could trust anyone with his heart again. Maybe it was because Leah was in the same boat that he was attracted to her, aside from the obviously physical appeal, of course.

Honestly, he just wanted to talk too. It would feel good to vent, to get shit off his chest. They both needed it. Jacob was surrounded by guys all the time, and men didn't discuss this shit, it was too uncomfortable. Plus he just didn't think his friends really knew how to be serious. None of them had ever been in his situation anyways, so what good would it do to spill to them about his broken heart? They knew that Bella was off limits. Their divorce was just at topic that no one brought up, ever.

Jacob pulled up to the school and got out, waiting for his daughter to run out the door like she always did. Her mother was busy with her new husband Edward Masen. He was some rich guy that was giving Bella everything Jacob never could. He gave her EVERYTHING. But Jacob didn't give a shit about any of that, as long as Nessie was still his for a little while longer. Until they came back from their trip around the world and demanded full custody.

"Daddy!" Nessie screamed as she bolted into his arms. Jacob squeezed her little seven-year-old body to his chest, planting a kiss into her russet hair and taking a deep whiff of her scent. She would always be his baby.

"How was your day honey?" Jacob asked as he carried her to the truck and strapped her into the seat.

"It was good. We made maps and we did math and science and we –" Nessie happily rattled off everything little thing she could remember while Jacob started the truck and headed home.

When they got there Nessie quickly ran into the house in search of her grandfather while Jacob unpacked her bags and checked for notes from the teacher. Luckily there were none today. Since Bella had left Nessie often had bouts of sadness or tantrums that would wind her up in trouble at school. Jacob put her bag aside for homework later, and washed up her lunch boxes so they'd be dry by morning.

He set about making dinner, knowing that his father would see about Nessie. Even though the elder Black was in a wheelchair, he was quite capable of keeping up with his energetic granddaughter these days. An hour later, when Jacob called them for dinner Nessie appeared, freshly showered and dressed in yet another one of her mother's t-shirts. Jacob said nothing as he watched her take her place at the table and pick up her fork. He'd made her mac n cheese and chicken fingers, her usual request.

"How was work?" Billy Black asked as he wheeled into the kitchen and took his own place at the table.

"Fine, the usual." Jacob asked as he passed the chicken to his father.

"You okay?"

"Yeah Dad, I'm fine, just tired." Jacob was tired of so many things. Tired of seeing his daughter miss her mother, tired of trying to find lies to tell her when she'd ask when Mommy was coming home. He was tired of the never ending bills that were backing up at the shop and for his father's medical bills…

"I know son," Billy answered with a nod.

Nessie spared the two men with having to find something to talk about, as she chatted about the new class pet they were getting and her own desire for a puppy. She'd been asking for some time now and Jake knew he'd have to get her a dog for her birthday. If it would make her happy, then he'd get her the best damn dog he could find.

Later when Nessie was brushing her teeth under her father's watchful eye, she pointed out a shaking tooth that hurt. "It'll drop out when you least expect it – like when you eat an apple or something." He promised her.

"Will I get money from the tooth fairy?!" Nessie asked, her green eyes hungry with desire for that five bucks she knew she'd get. Her friend Marshall had lost a tooth and told everyone how he got five dollars and since then she'd been itching for a loose tooth of her own.

"Of course you will, just don't lose it and she'll stop by," Jacob promised as he wiped her mouth dry and picked her up so that he could snuggle her a little before bed. Nessie had no idea how much she kept him alive, how much she helped him get through each day.

On the topic of teeth, he thought about Leah then and wondered if she was lonely. He couldn't help but think how life could be so cruel sometimes. Neither of them had deserved to be left behind, had they?

"Night pumpkin pie," Jacob whispered as he kissed his daughter and tucked her in. "I love you."

"Night Daddy, love you too. I think Mommy will be back tomorrow."

Jacob sighed and forced a smile. "We'll see baby, we'll see."

Another little piece of his heart died again.

That Saturday Jacob got up early as always and made breakfast for his family. They always went to the farmer's market on Saturdays to get fresh produce, and also so that his dad could see his crush, Julie. She was widowed just like Billy, and the two found comfort in their Saturday morning talks over coffee and the jars of preserves Julie sold to make ends meet. Needless to say Jacob's house was filled with all kinds of preserves as his father always insisted on buying at least three jars. Jacob gave up begging him to stop, since none of them really liked jam anyways. He knew that his father's heart was in the right place. He just wished that Billy would go on and ask her out already.

Jacob walked with his daughter, allowing her to stop and talk to all the various vendors who knew and loved to see her each week. Nessie was quite the hustler. She always collected free pastries and smoothies and flowers as she chatted up her various friends. Jacob knew that the women were so kind partially because of him. He wasn't blind to their inviting stares and cautiously flirtatious comments. He just didn't bite. He wasn't interested. No woman had caught his eye except Leah. And knowing what she was currently going through meant she wasn't ready to date, made him anxious and disappointed. He just wanted a chance to get to know her. Something about Leah Uley he just couldn't let go.

When Nessie had finished chatting up the girl who sold watercolour pictures – who had been constantly inviting them to her studio to give Nessie private lessons, but eyeing Jacob all the while – he steered his daughter back to Julie's stall to collect Billy. He needed to get home and feed Nessie before going in to the auto shop for a few hours.

"Ready to go Dad?" Jacob asked his father while accepting a piece of the jam tart his daughter insisted on feeding him as she perched in his arms.

"Uh sure son. I was just telling Julie that we were going back to the Reservation soon for a visit. She's never been." Billy's eyes narrowed and Jacob immediately picked up on what his father was trying to say.

"Oh, yeah. Julie you would love it there, it's peaceful and quiet and knowing my Dad he would love to take you fishing."

The older woman blushed and adjusted a row of preserves in front of her. "Well, it might be nice to get away for a little while."

"Well come join us Julie. We'd be more than happy to have you. Why don't you give her your number Dad, you can discuss the details more this week."

Billy cast a grateful glance over his son before smiling at his crush. "If that's alright with you Jules?"

"Of course. We really should get together for lunch one day during the week? I make a great pot-roast?"

Billy's smile was blinding like the sun. "That sounds wonderful."

Nessie chuckled as she watched her grandfather smile at the nice lady. "Papa's in love," she whispered into her father's ear, causing Jacob to laugh.

"You might be on to something kid, but that's our little secret okay?" Jacob made a show of whispering back, basking in his daughter's happy mood. That's why he brought both members of his family to the farmer's market every week. It made them both genuinely happy which made Jacob happy in return. Bella's abandonment had affected them all and Jacob was determined to become the glue that would keep his household together.