Chapter 14 - Missing Pieces
The following morning, there was a knock on the door…Jared was sitting in the kitchen drinking orange juice when he heard it…He walked into the living room and opened the front door and came face to face with Sam. Sam said, "I need to talk to Janel…She didn't answer any of my calls yesterday." Jared said, "She was a little upset Sam…What did you expect?" Sam said, "I don't know…I didn't know what to expect…I never thought in a million years my daughters would come back to La Push and find me…I didn't even realize they were daughters until night before last…All Charlie ever told me was that I had two kids that his sister refused to ruin my life with…But I need to talk to her."
A voice said, "You can let him in Jared." Jared looked behind him and Janel was standing the hallway doorway, Jared said, "Are you sure?" Janel nodded and said, "Yea…I have some time before I have to leave for class." Janel sat on the couch and Jared leaned over and kissed her lips and said, "I've gotta get to school…I'll see you tonight…You call me if you need anything." Janel nodded and accepted the kiss and said, "Okay." Janel watched as he grabbed his backpack and took off out the door…She heard him leave in his truck.
Janel said, "Look, I don't want anything from you Sam…I've always had a yearning to find my father…Mom never told us much about you or anything…No pictures no information nothing…I've always felt like a piece of me was missing…Janna…She's different then me…She's always been more independent, she's the one who raised me when mom was working or dating or screwing some random guy in a hotel or on the couch at home…Mom wasn't really a mom…She's been married 4 times…Divorced 3…Every time the divorce was finalized we'd move to a different state…Janna and I got tired of moving from home to home…Moms only priority in life was dating and finding the perfect man."
Sam said, "Listen, I know my reaction the other night was not the best and after I talked with your mom on the phone, I realized something…" Janel said, "Oh yea…What's that?" Sam said, "That I have 2 beautiful daughters whose lives I missed because of their mother…and because I didn't have the balls to look for them…I thought it would have just been better to leave you guys alone…Then you blew up on me and told me what step father number 4 has been doing to you and I called your mom and unloaded on her…I told her what he's been doing to you…Of course she thinks you're lying…I then again blew up on her…I also told her if she let that fuckin asshole steps foot on the reservation he'll disappear and no one will ever be able to find his body."
Sam looked over and Janel had huge tears rolling down her cheeks, she stood up and was pacing around the living room and Janel said, "Great…Like mom would ever believe anything I'd said to her…And when Mike finds out I told someone…He's gonna kill me Sam…He's gonna kill me…He told me on numerous occasions if I told anyone what he'd been doing to me he was gonna cut my throat ear to ear…My mother is gonna tell him what I said…He's gonna find out…He's gonna kill me." Sam stood up and grabbed Janel by her upper arms and said, "Janel…No one is going to touch you…I swear on my life…Jared and I will protect you…Janna won't let anything happen to you…I promise."
Janel couldn't help it as she threw her arms around Sam…He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head and he said, "I'm so sorry baby girl that I wasn't there for you. I'm never gonna let you or Janna leave me again. If I have to I'll have you move in with me and Emily to keep help you feel safe." Janel pulled back and Sam kissed her left hand and suddenly realized she had a ring on her left ring finger…Sam quirked an eyebrow and said, "Jared?" Janel nodded and said, "Yes…"
Sam chuckled and said, "I should've known…Especially after he told me he imprinted on you." Janel said, "I'm not marrying him because he imprinted on me…I'm marrying him because I refuse to spend the rest of my life without him in it." Sam said, "I know I haven't been your dad for long and I don't have the right to give you my personal opinion…but I approve." Sam kissed Janel's forehead and she whispered, "Thanks…dad." The 3 letter word was enough to make any mans cold heart melt. Sam felt like his heart jumped into his throat.
Later that night, Janel walked thru the door and Jared was sitting on the couch. Janel said, "Hey." Jared grabbed her hand and pulled her down on his lap and said, "How did the talk go with Sam?" Janel said, "Not too bad…It went better than expected." Jared said, "Yea he's cutting back my patrolling hours to keep an eye on you. He told me what Mike said to you." Janel sighed heavily as she rubbed her nose against Jared's and said, "You keep yourself calm…Mike isn't stupid enough to come on the reservation after Sam gave my mom the threat." Jared said, "You do realize if he ever comes near you…I'm gonna kill him."
Janel touched his cheek softly and said, "My big protector huh…" Jared nodded and said, "Of course…It's my job to protect you…It's became my job as soon as you became mine…" Janel kissed the tip of his nose and said, "I don't mind…Sam saw the ring." Jared made a face and said, "How did he take it?" Janel giggled and said, "Pretty good." Jared leaned down and kissed her lips and then her neck and said, "Good…Because I'm not giving you up…For anyone." Janel stood up from Jared's lap as he stood up he said, "C'mon…Let's go to bed." Janel said, "I'm not tired though." Jared smiled and said, "Neither am I." Janel laughed as Jared threw her over his shoulder and walked to the bedroom as he closed the door and locked it…They didn't leave the room for the remainder of the night.