Sue cleared the breakfast table and ran water in Emmy's cereal bowl, leaving it in the sink. She just couldn't make the child wait any longer. "Are you ready to see your new room, Em?"
Emmy's face lit up and she turned and ran toward the stairs. Charlie intercepted her and scooped her up in his arms. "Slow down there, miss!" Sue caught up with them at the bottom of the stairway.
"We're going to see Emmy's new room, Daddy. Are you coming too?" Sue asked, grinning at Charlie.
"Wouldn't miss it," he assured them.
They passed Seth's open bedroom door, and the door across the hall was closed. Charlie looked at Sue as Emmy wriggled in his arms. "Is this the one?" He hesitated, pretending to be confused.
Sue laughed. "Don't torture her, Charlie." She threw the door open. There, under the window, was a twin bed – a big girl bed! Emmy scrambled out of Charlie's arms and threw herself on the colorful quilt. Her beloved stuffed wolf rested on the afghan that Sue had crocheted for her and folded neatly at the foot of the bed. Leah's wolf posters had been framed and re-hung on the freshly painted soft pink walls.
Charlie draped his arm around Sue's waist. "It looks great, Sue." He chuckled. "She was so excited about getting Leah's old room! I just hope she doesn't drive Seth crazy."
Sue shook her head. "They get along so well, I don't think it will be a problem. She was making me so nervous climbing out of that crib. The twin bed with guard rails seems like the perfect solution."
Right on cue, Seth appeared in the doorway. "What's everybody doing in Leah's room?" he asked with a grin.
"Emmy room!" she argued indignantly. Seth laughed and sat down on the bed, reaching over to tickle his little sister. She squealed with delight and then climbed onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Meanwhile, near the reservation's border with Forks, Mike pulled back the curtain and glared out the window. "It's still there, Christy. I'm getting tired of this."
Christy sighed. "I've told you a hundred times, Dad. The patrols are for our benefit. And that's Sam," she added, looking out the window. "You could at least call him by his name. He's risking his life to keep us safe."
"Well I have to get out of here for a while. Let them watch you," he snapped. He stalked out the front door and slammed it behind him.
"Be careful, Daddy," Christy breathed. "Love you." But of course he was already out of earshot.
As Mike's truck disappeared around the bend, Christy's phone rang. She smiled when she saw Seth's name on the Caller ID and answered with a breathy "Hey."
"Did you remember we're watching Emmy this weekend?" She could hear the smile in his voice.
"Are you kidding? I thought it would never get here!" she laughed. "I'm all packed. Just have to leave a note for my dad, and I'll be right over."
Christy hung up the phone and scribbled a note. "Dad, going to Seth's. We're babysitting Emmy. See you late tomorrow. C." She called to Sam as she carefully locked the door.
"I'm going to Seth's, Sam. I don't know when my dad will be back, but it'll be at least a couple of hours." She smiled. "Why don't you take a break…or a nap!" He gave a short bark of acknowledgment as she hopped into her car and backed out of the driveway, heading toward Seth's house.
Seth met her at the door. "Just in time," he greeted her, smiling. He bent down to kiss her lightly, adding "We're just about to watch Finding Nemo, and I knew you wouldn't want to miss that!"
Christy laughed. "Would anyone like some popcorn?" As Emmy nodded her head vigorously, Christy started for the kitchen. "You don't have to wait for me. I've seen it before." Emmy climbed onto Seth's lap and they settled in to watch the movie.
When Christy returned with the popcorn, she sat on Seth's right side and his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Emmy immediately wedged herself between them, and Seth frowned. "It's okay, Seth, I know how possessive she is of you. But I'm not jealous," Christy insisted, making room for Emmy and kissing the top of her head.
"That's not the point," Seth explained, gently lifting Emmy back onto his lap. "We've talked about this, Em. You are my sister. Christy is my girlfriend. There's enough of me to go around," he chuckled. They all dug into the popcorn and continued watching the movie.
Christy bathed Emmy and dressed her in a bright pink blanket sleeper, and Seth sat on the edge of her bed and read her a story. They both kissed her good night, and she was asleep in her brand-new room by the time they tiptoed out.
Christy was an early riser, and as the sun came up she opened her eyes and stretched. She chose to sleep on the couch even though Sue had offered their bedroom. She folded her bedding, then walked quietly up the stairs and smiled as she peeked into Seth's room. He was sleeping peacefully, his dark hair tousled, and he looked much younger than his twenty years.
He opened one eye and smiled, then scooted back and patted the bed next to him. Christy climbed in beside him, brushing his hair back from his forehead and kissing him softly as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. He kissed her and murmured "My favorite way to wake up."
Christy laughed softly. "Could I interest you in some breakfast?" she purred. "I make a mean pancake."
"Not just yet," he whispered. "This is nice."
Christy nodded. "And so warm," she added. She snuggled up against his chest and sighed contentedly, then yelped as she was hit in the back by a hurtling toddler.
"No!" Emmy wailed. "My Sef!"
"OOF!" Emmy climbed over Christy and landed on Seth's midsection. "Hey, pipsqueak! Watch those elbows!" Seth submitted to Emmy's kisses, then spoke as she burrowed under the covers. "We need to talk, Emmy," he said sternly. "You're being rude to Christy, and it's not nice." Emmy's eyes filled with tears that threatened to brim over as she peeked out from under the covers.
Christy sat up and gave Seth a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll let you two talk, and I'll go start breakfast." She pulled on her robe and fastened the belt, padding barefoot down the stairs and leaving them alone in Seth's room.
Seth gently pulled Emmy out from under the covers and put his arm around her. It was an effort to maintain his stern composure when he really wanted to comfort her, but he knew he had to be firm. "You're a little young for terrible twos, Em. I need you to know that Christy is my girlfriend and you have to treat her with respect. Do you know what that means?"
Christy shook her head, and a tear spilled down her cheek. Seth wiped it away with his thumb. "It means you have to be nice to her, Emmy. You like it when people are nice to you, right?"
She nodded solemnly, her dark curls bouncing. "Well, that's how everyone feels. So you should always treat other people the way you'd like them to treat you." He kissed her then, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. "Sorry," she whimpered.
"Don't tell me, Emmy. You need to tell Christy."
Christy was just setting out a platter of bacon and a huge stack of pancakes when Seth and Emmy walked in hand in hand. He looked at her pointedly, and she mumbled "Sorry, Kissy."
Christy wiped her hands on the dish towel and picked Emmy up, hugging her tightly. "I know it's hard to share your brother, Emmy, but I like him too. Even if his feet stink!" Emmy looked surprised, then giggled and held her nose.
"Hey!" Seth looked properly insulted, and Emmy reached for him, almost falling out of Christy's arms. She sighed as she handed Emmy off to Seth and finished setting the table. The adults chatted through breakfast, but Emmy continued to ignore Christy.
There was a sharp rap at the door as Christy started to clear the table, and Seth looked out the window before opening it. "It's Sam," he commented. "I wonder what's up." He opened the door and stepped back, motioning for Sam to come in.
Emmy buried her face in Christy's shoulder, suddenly shy. She was the unofficial mascot of the pack, but she didn't know Sam as well as some of the other, younger members.
"Sorry to intrude, Seth, but I need to ask Christy something. He turned to her. "Should I be alarmed that your father never came back yesterday?" he asked without preamble.
The color faded from Christy's face. "Uh, I'm not sure. He never said where he was going, but he should be at work today."
Sam shook his head. "I'm sorry, Christy. I came by the police station on my way here, and Mike never showed up today. The dispatcher had to get coverage from Port Angeles since Charlie's out of town. I asked him to keep a lookout for your dad's truck."
"Jared's still keeping an eye on your house," Sam said kindly. "If there's anything I can do, just let me know. You know where to find me." He shot Seth a meaningful glance as he stepped toward the door.
"I'll see you out, Sam," Seth offered. He stepped out onto the porch with Sam and closed the door. "What is it?" he asked quietly.
"I'm going to call Carlisle, Seth. I don't like this at all. Mike is on the short list of people who are in imminent danger from the Volturi. I'll just feel better if I can get some assurance from him that they're all safely tucked away in Italy."
They both looked toward the driveway, where a Port Angeles police car had just turned in off the road. A tall, slender black officer in a meticulous blue uniform stepped out, hitching up his gun belt as he approached the two men. "One of you Sam Uley?" he asked.
Sam stepped forward and extended his hand. The officer shook his hand and looked toward Seth, so Sam introduced him as well. "Is either one of you related to Mr. Youngblood?" the policeman asked.
Seth explained his relationship to Mike's daughter. "Why?" he asked. "What's going on?"
"I just wanted to let you know that he turned up a few minutes ago. He was an hour late for work, but he's fine." He added, sotto voce, "I wish all our manhunts turned out this way."