It's Been A Month With This Porch

We had been married for a month officially."Embry Call!"

"Yes Lacey Call?"

"Do you know what today is?"

"Friday?"

"And?"

"A good night to go out to eat?"

"Why?"

"Because I have a beautiful wife who I am obligated to spoil?"

"True-but no"

"Because you are hungry and don't feel like cooking?"

"Again true- what is the date?"

"14th- OH shit"

"You forgot"

"Nope- thought I'd surprise you" He pulled flowers out from behind his back. He strode over and kissed me. "Who is the best husband in the whole world?"

"Brad Pitt"

"Are you comparing me to 'The Man'?"

"Nope-just answering your question"

"No, really who is the best husband?"

"Well- I mean Will Smith-"

"Lacey"

"But I am pretty sure that MY husband beats them all. What was his name again? Oh that's right –Embry" I tried to throw my arms around him but I couldn't jump high enough. He patted me on the head then lifted me. "So where are we going?"

"Out to eat"

"Well at least we have that going for us"

"What do you mean?"

"We have both had crappy weeks so now we get to have good food"

"Your cooking is great"

"On what planet?"

"Mine"

"You are biased"

"Yup"

"Well-where are we going?"

"Chinese Buffet?"

"Yes! You know me too well" He set me down and went to go get changed. "Embry?"

"Yeah?"

"We have been married for a whole month"

"It is just the beginning baby"

"Yeah-but how do you feel?"

"Like the luckiest man alive"

"Good –me too"

"You feel like a man?"

"When you are on the chair because a mouse was on the ground-yeah I did"

"Did you tell anyone about that Lacey?"

"Who , me?" I said with a devilish grin.

"Lacey"

"I didn't-now go get undressed"

"Well I was going to save that part of the evening until later-"

"And put on something nice" I finished before he could keep going. We had a nice dinner and I am pretty sure that Embry could have eaten them out of house and home. We definitely got our money's worth. We decided to take a walk around the mall because Embry needed some more clothes. It was hard getting used to the whole werewolf idea. I knew something big was going on, but Embry wasn't sharing any details. I think he thought it would scare me, so I wasn't asking.

I wasn't allowed home alone, which was fine with me. Embry tried to stay with me as much as possible. It was getting harder because he needed to take more shifts. The younger boys were working as hard as they could, but they still had lives to keep up. I know work wasn't going good for Embry. Our money was tight and I was thinking about taking on an extra job as a waitress at night. I tried to talk to him about it but he looked so ashamed that I stopped.

I watched him go through all the clothes in the store as I absent mindedly picked out things for him to put on. My mind wandered back to one of our first dinners together.

One Year Earlier

"So let's say that we got married…"

"Embry, we have been on five dates"

"I know, but let's pretend we have been on a million"

"Okay"

"I think that the man should do most of the working"

"So am I just supposed to stay at home?"

"No, I mean, you can do what you want"

"Okay, well I think we should both work."

"But that would mean I can't take of you"

"No, that means I want to help with our life"

" Really?"

"Yeah, what brought this on?"

"Well, my job hasn't been doing too well right now…"

"Embry, if you need money-I keep telling you that it is my turn to pay"

"Absolutely not" I noticed his hand shake a little.

"I want to do something nice for you"

"You are doing something nice, you are with me" We had similar conversations over the next few months. Even when we went on his birthday he insisted on paying. He would get upset if he didn't. Sometimes I would deal with the pouting, but for the most part I couldn't handle his distress. Now I could understand why. Embry thought that he wasn't taking good enough care of me.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when he walked out of the dressing room in a shirt and new shorts. He gave me a grin and pretended to model walk. I pretended to take his picture and acted like a fan girl. An elderly couple stared at us.

"So that fits good Emb, so are you going to get it?"

"I don't know if we can afford it"

" I don't think we can afford not to"

"I know I am sorry-"

"Uh- nope we aren't talking about it tonight. We have enough money for those clothes, so we are going to get them. But baby "I lowered my voice "I know it's hard, everyone has been explaining it to me, but you need keep focus long enough to ruin anymore okay?" He looked ashamed and nodded. I caressed his cheek. "I want to be the only one to see you without those-k?"

"Well if that's how you feel about it-"

"Yup, as your wife I demand it to be so"

"Yes, my queen"

"You are dismissed" He laughed and kissed me.

"I'll go change and then we can go window shopping"

"Sounds good" I few minutes later we had paid for his outfit and we were walking hand in hand down the mall.

"I'm sorry we had to spend our anniversary shopping" he said.

"Don't be silly honey, I always have fun when I am with you . It doesn't matter what we do" He stopped and looked at me. "Take a picture it lasts longer"

"You are so great-you are perfect. Do you realize that?"

"No I'm not, you on the other hand"

"No, Lacey, I mean it. You take everything and just it be. I couldn't ask for someone better"

"I feel the same way" I really did with every ounce of my soul.

"Did you know we only dated a year and maybe a half before we got married?"

"Yup-mummy dearest made that very clear" he kissed me and we decided to walk back to the truck. We sat in silence, which was unusual for us.

"Why did you marry me so soon?"

"Because you asked"

"No-I mean why did you go along with it?"

"I couldn't imagine my life without you-why would I wait?"

"You aren't going to college because of me"

"We can't afford it yet, someday maybe we will both go"

"You are putting your whole future aside for me"

"Nope- you are my future and the only part that matters. The rest is extra" We pulled into our driveway. I got out of the car and was greeted by my super-speedy husband.

"You deserve more"

"I have everything I could ever want"

"We don't have any money and we don't get to spend nearly enough time together."

"I don't need anything but you and we are doing fine. This problem will pass-"

"And another one will show up"

"Where is this coming from?"

"I need to go for a walk"

"Okay-let's go"

"It's cold, you go on inside. I'll be right out here"

"I want to stay with you"

"I think it's better if I was by myself"

"Oh-I see" I am not going to lie, I was hurt. I walked into the house and sat on the couch. I waited a half hour for him to come in. Nothing. I walked out onto the porch. "Embry!"

"Yeah? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you what is wrong, It is our ONE MONTH anniversary and we are in separate rooms. Actually you are outside which is worse. You said it yourself-we don't get to spend enough time together. Don't create a rift"

"I'm not good enough for you"

"You are my other half- it doesn't get any better"

"I don't deserve you"

"Your right" he looked triumphant "You don't deserve someone who is selfish and not always understanding."

"You are not selfish and you are understanding"

"No- I will not stand for this talk. I love you and you love me. You are all I need and will ever want" I paused when I realized something," Please don't leave me. I am begging you-don't leave me" I started crying when the panic set in. I knew the money thing was worrying him, but I couldn't stand it if we weren't together. He rushed up the stairs.

"I'm an idiot"

"Yeah" I cried. He pulled me into his arms. "But you are my idiot-don't leave me"

"I won't- I can't"

"Good!"

"I just want to give you more"

"I don't want anything but you- just you" He kissed me. "No more talk about this- we are a team and we do everything together."

"Yeah-but"

"No buts"

"We have a pack meeting tomorrow, with everyone and I want you to be there"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah"

"Good" We stood on the porch for a long time.