When I woke up, I honestly couldn't remember getting back to Grandpa Billy's. I couldn't hear anything from the rest of the house, so I was quiet as I slipped out of Daddy's old room. The sight that met my eyes when I reached the living room was shocking. My whole family was there, minus Grandpa Carlisle. I could tell something was wrong because Mama and Aunt Rachel were sobbing, Daddy had tear tracks down his cheeks, and Uncle Paul was trying hard not to cry.
Brady was also in the living room. He was the first one to look up and see me. Not even Grandpa Edward had noticed my entrance, but as soon as Brady had, I felt both ice cold and burning hot arms reaching for me. With an apologetic look at Grandpa, I found myself falling into Brady. I wasn't positive about what was happening, but I was scared. I knew there was no danger, but I wasn't used to anything shaking Daddy and Uncle Paul up. Before I could say a word, Daddy looked at me, holding his hand out, and I could tell he wanted me to come and sit on his knee like I did when I was a little girl. I probably wouldn't have gone to him, or at least not sat on his lap like I did if I hadn't been so worried about him. I buried my face into his chest, just like I was five years old again, and silently waited for the explanation I could feel him bracing himself to give.
"Sarah, honey, your grandpa Billy passed away last night. Carlisle's getting everything settled right now. He said it was a massive heart attack around two this morning, and that it was instant." Daddy's voice broke a couple times, and I found myself shaking, not only from my own sobs, but from Daddy's too. I buried myself deeper into my dad's chest, hoping that I would wake up and everything all be a dream. When I felt my father's arms constrict against me, however, I knew it was not a dream, and that this was a very horrible reality.
Somehow, through my sobs, I managed to ask if I could go see Grandpa, give him one last goodbye kiss. My entire family was hesitant, but Uncle Paul and Brady spoke up eventually, suggesting that it might be a good idea. They both remembered Aunt Leah and Uncle Seth "telling" them about their dad's death. We all knew that it had been involuntary, the information they shared, but it helped greatly in this instance. I found myself getting up off Daddy's lap, hoping to stay strong but felt myself sway as the world blacked out again.
When I woke up, I felt four pairs of hot hands on me, and many more cold ones on me. I knew that something else was off as I began to stir and my father's hands restrained me from any movement. I opened my eyes and looked questioningly at the three werewolves, eight vampires and half-human, half-vampire holding me on the couch. I couldn't move as they held me still. All I wanted was to sit up, I knew I didn't have energy for anything more, but their grips were firm.
"Please Mama? Please Daddy? I just need to sit up. Please?" I tried my best to make my voice sound stronger than I felt, but they saw through me. I felt hands come off me, though. I watched as my uncles each removed a pair of hands, as well as my aunt's and grandparents. Now, the only hands on me were my parents' and Brady's. I felt my mother's hands move from my wrists to my face, then she gently removed them, but stayed right by my side. I felt my father's hands move from cradling me where he caught me to my cheek, where he caught a stray tear. He kept his thumb there, though, knowing I needed the contact between the two of us. Brady's hands- which had been supporting me on the couch the whole time- moved to my own hands where he gently squeezed, hoping to get my attention and succeeded.
I found myself staring into Brady's eyes, wishing he would wake me up from this nightmare. I knew I was already awake, and that no one could pull me out of this, but I still wished for it. His eyes showed his heart in that instant, and I knew that my pain was causing him pain. For that very reason, I decided that I needed to add a little joy to this sad meeting.
"Daddy," I turned, trying not to convey my thoughts to Brady, "Would it be okay for you and me to head to the beach for a few minutes? I want to talk to you." I noticed my dad looking at my mom, torn between comforting her and the olive branch I was offering after last night's surprising end to my date. I noticed when his resolve hardened; apparently he found what he needed from Mama to decide. He stood up, leaving me with Brady on the couch, before looking down at me with his smirk, that didn't quite reach his eyes as he asked:
"You coming, Sarah?" I tried to grin at Daddy, but I couldn't quite manage it. I know he understood, though.
When we finally got to the beach, I turned to Daddy and fell into his waiting arms. I knew that he would always be here for me, and I began to feel even worse about Grandpa. We thought he was getting so much better. My sobs racked through my body until Daddy lifted me into his arms and took me to the highest cliffs, the ones he used to jump with the pack before Mama was born. Up there, Daddy just let me cry. He held me in his lap, knowing I wouldn't be able to talk for a while.
"Daddy," I eventually choked out, "Daddy, I want to be happy. I want you to be happy. I don't want Mama and Aunt Rachel to keep crying. I don't want you and Uncle Paul and my Brady to keep having to 'be' tough. And I think I know how to fix it. But I need your help and approval…or as Grandpa Edward says: your blessing. I won't do anything otherwise." I sat quietly while Daddy tried to hear any hint as to what I might be planning in my little speech. When he concluded there wasn't a solitary clue, he looked down at me.
"Sarah, baby, I don't want to say no. I would love to give you permission to help your Mom and Aunt Rachel get better, but you haven't even given me a clue of what you're planning. That makes it a little harder to just tell you whatever is going on in that devious mind of my daughter is okay to go through with. Maybe if you give me a ballpark I can do the same for you." I felt my dad try to joke around, but I could tell it was hurting him.
"Let me word it like this: it's not going to put anyone in too compromising a situation. You'd have to do a lot of cause-and-effect type stuff to get there…and truthfully, Brady would have to be the one to bring it up "officially", I just figured you could help him speed it up. Plus, Aunt Alice would have a lot to do, and I know she would pull Mama and Aunt Rachel into it. And Uncle Paul wouldn't have to act fine 'cause Aunt Rachel won't be as sad, and I saw how you and him and Brady were acting for me, Mama and Aunt Rachel. I don't want y'all to have to do that. Could you possibly think of something that would help uplift spirits around this?" When Daddy still seemed to remain clueless, I looked him in the eye and whispered three words: "I'm in love."
I could see the gears turning in my dad's head as he considered everything. I knew if this happened soon it would be hard for him, but I also knew that Mama would be happy, and that always made Daddy happy. Daddy didn't want to disappoint me, but almost immediately, I could tell he wanted to say no. And truthfully, I wouldn't have been upset. I just wanted to give people a reason to smile around here.
"I'm not sure, yet, Sarah, honey. We'll go back and I'll talk to Ness then think about a way to talk to Brady if your mother is okay with this idea. I want to give this to you, but I don't want you to rush into anything simply because of us. Okay?" I could see how much Daddy's little speech cost him, but he was brave.