CHAPTER 20
Leah POV:
I was sitting on the deck. I was trying to do some homework for my math class, but I kept thinking about the party and how much fun everyone had, especially Embry. When Jake and I first came up with the idea of a surprise party, I was a little afraid he would be mad at us. But he had a great time! It was awesome having his mom there, too. And after the party, well . . . I wanted him to make love to me last night. That was my intention when I put the blanket on the sand. And it was magical! Beautiful. What it should have been the first time. I have never been so happy in my life! I looked at my watch and saw it was almost five! Embry was coming to pick me up in a half hour. I picked up my stuff and headed upstairs to get ready. I had a new sundress that I wanted to wear. I got it when I went shopping with Emily and we bought our dresses for her wedding.
Today was Embry's real birthday. Since we went on our date last night and had the big party, I was afraid today would be a big letdown for him. I asked him what he usually did for his birthday, and he told me that his mom usually made him his favorite dinner and a cherry pie. He invited me over to join them.
I was ready and waiting when he pulled up at five. I opened the door and walked out to the truck and got in. He smiled and said, "Wow, you look great! Is that new?"
I smiled and said, "Yes, it is. Thanks." Then I l slid over and kissed him. I stayed right there and he put the truck in gear and took off. "I like when you wear dresses," he said with a smile.
"Really? I'll have to remember that." We drove to his house and he parked. We got out and he said, "Mom has been cooking all day! She's really happy you're coming over."
"Good, I'm glad. I didn't want to feel like I was butting in on something just between you and her."
"No, it's good," he said as we walked into the house. "Hey, Mom!"
Angie was in the kitchen and she turned and smiled when we walked in. "Hi, kids. Have a seat in the living room. Dinner will be ready soon!"
We walked in and sat down on the couch. I remembered what he said we were having for dinner and I asked, "A cherry pie? Why not a cake?"
He laughed and explained. "Well, everyone has cake for their birthday. When I was a kid, I told my mom I wanted to be different. I wanted cherry pie. So, she made it for me, and the tradition stuck!"
I smiled and said, "That's so cute! Speaking of cute . . . let's look at some old pictures! Come on, I'm dying to see more pictures of you when you were little!" I begged.
He rolled his eyes and got up and went to a cupboard and opened and rooted around. He came back with a small, black photo album. "We don't have a lot of pictures. Mom didn't take many because it was expensive to get them developed, and we didn't always have the money. But we have some," he said as he opened the book.
"Awwwwww, look at you!" The first page had pictures of Embry right after he was born. There was one that someone had taken of his mom holding him. Wow! She was young. Younger than I am now! Embry's mom was still young, only 36, and she really didn't look much different. She was tall and slender, and pretty with long black hair that she usually wore in single braid. In this picture, her hair was a little shorter, and it was down around her shoulders. She was looking at Embry with such love.
We turned the pages and I saw Embry as a baby on a blanket, with a big toothless smile, then sitting in a high chair with chocolate all over his face! Taking his first steps, riding a tricycle. Then there were school pictures of each grade. "Yea, that's the year I decided to cut my own bangs, right before picture day. My personal favorite!" he said as he pointed to one that was labeled 2nd Grade. I laughed. They were horribly crooked!
There were some of Embry and Jake as little boys, with their bikes, and one with their arms around each other shoulders holding fishing poles. I smiled and thought, Bella would like this one, too. "Do you think I could make a copy of this one? I think Bella would like it, too."
Embry looked at me and laughed. "Yea, I guess." He took it out of the album and handed it to me.
There wasn't much after that. Just a couple of Jake and Embry and their dates for the 8th grade dance and one of Embry and his dirt bike and his truck. I closed the book and said, "Thank you for showing me that. When you come over next, I promise you can see mine. Then we're even, OK?"
"Yea, sure, that's fair," he said. I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. He got up and put the book back into the cupboard.
"OK, you two. Dinner is ready!" Angie said.
We got up and went to the table. "Wow, it looks great! I'm starving," Embry said. I looked at Angie and saw her smile at him. She really loves him so much.
She made meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, biscuits and of course, the cherry pie. And everything was delicious! I told her that and she smiled and said, "Thank you. Your mom sure is a good cook! Embry told me he loved her potato salad, and it is good. I should have her give me her recipe."
"I think it was my grandma's recipe. She was a good cook, too. I'm trying to learn from my mom, but she works a lot, so we cook on her days off sometimes," I said.
"Yes, it's hard to be a mom and have to work all the time. But you do what you gotta do, you know?" Angie said.
I nodded and kept eating. I looked at Embry as he heaped more potatoes on his plate. I smiled at him and he said, "What? I'm a growing boy!"
His mom laughed. "God, I hope not! You can't grow anymore or you won't fit through the door!" We all laughed at that one. It was very comfortable all of us sharing a meal together. She brought out the cherry pie with a lit candle sticking out of it and of course, we had to sing Happy Birthday for him. He closed his eyes to make his wish then blew out the candle and we clapped.
I took one bite of her cherry pie and exclaimed, "Oh wow. I hope I can have another piece, because this is truly the best cherry pie I have ever had!"
She laughed. "Of course you can, if you can wrangle it way from Embry. My goodness girl, how do you stay so skinny?"
"It's a wolf thing. We eat like pigs, but we keep it off by running so much, I guess. Great metabolism. Works for me!" I said.
"Oh yea, the wolf thing. I keep forgetting that you are a . . . wolf too. This is all so strange," she said.
Embry laughed. "YOU think it's strange! Man, the first time I phased it scared the shit out of me! I don't know what I would have done without Sam. I can't imagine going through that alone like he did."
I nodded and added, "Yea. The first time I phased it not only freaked me out, but everyone else too. At first, no one knew what to do with me. And I didn't want to be around Sam, so Jake kind of stepped in. He was really good to me. And to Seth. I guess that's why Seth follows him around like a little puppy. He thinks of Jake as a big brother, I guess."
"You know, I'd like to know more about this. I mean, Sue and Billy told me what they know, but to hear it from you I think would help me understand better. Would you two mind?" Angie asked.
I looked at Embry, who looked at me, and I said, "No, I don't mind. What do you want to know?"
We moved to the living area and sat and talked for a good hour. She had all kinds of questions and we tried our best to answer them. Everything from what it feels like to phase, to what we do with our clothes. Embry showed her the cord on his ankle.
"I always wondered what that was there for! I just figured it was one of those fads, I guess. Huh."
Embry laughed at that. "Yea, cause I'm so fashionable. I follow all the fads, Mom." She smacked him and said, "Stop teasing me or I won't give you your present!"
"Mom, you didn't have to get me a present. You know that," Embry said.
"Well, this one is very special. I've been saving it for you for your 18th birthday. Wait here, I'll go get it," she said as she got up and went down the tiny hall to her room. She came right back with a small, wrapped box. "Here, honey. Happy 18th Birthday." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
He smiled and unwrapped the box and opened it. It was a really beautiful watch! "It belonged to my father, Embry. My mother gave it to him as a wedding gift. He only wore it on special occasions because he said it was special. I took it to a jeweler and had it cleaned and repaired. It meant a lot to him, and I hope it will mean a lot to you, too." She had tears in her eyes. I knew it meant a lot to her, too.
"Wow, Mom. I don't know what to say. Thanks." He looked at her. "Thank you very much." He reached over and hugged her. I felt tears sting my eyes.
He let her go and turned to me and held it out for me to look at. "It's really beautiful, Angie," I told her.
"My parents died when I was 10. They were killed in a car accident. Hit by a drunk driver." She stopped and blew her nose. "I was an only child. I was staying with my aunt while they went to dinner that night. They never got out much and they hardly ever left me with anyone. I usually went with them everywhere. But on that night . . . I didn't." Embry put his arm around her. "I miss them very much. I had to move in with my aunt, and when I was leaving my house, I took my mom's jewelry box to keep, and Daddy's watch was in there. When I was pregnant and packed everything to move here, I found it. I decided then that if my baby was a boy, I would give him that watch when he turned 18. I find it hard to believe that day is here already! You're all grown up, Embry. You're a man now." She wiped the tears from her eyes with the Kleenex she was holding. Embry hugged her to him.
He let her go and said quietly, "If I'm a man now, why do I still have to go back to high school? It just feels wrong, Mom."
I rolled my eyes. He had to do this now? Talk about ruining a moment!
"I know, Embry, but I want you to graduate! It's important!" Angie said.
"Yea, but I can get a GED like Jake is going to do. We can start our shop! I'm ready to live my life, Mom. I don't want to be a high school kid anymore!" he argued.
He did have a point, but so did his Mom.
"Do we have to do this right now, son?" Angie pleaded.
He hung his head. "No, I'm sorry. You gave me this great present and you made my favorite dinner. And here I am acting like a whiny-ass baby. I'm sorry, Mom." She smiled at him. "Hey, is this a special occasion? Can I wear the watch today?"
"Of course! Put it on," she answered.
I pulled my camera out of my bag. "Can I take a picture of the two of you?"
"Yes, please!" Angie said. She helped Embry put the watch on and I snapped a picture. Then they posed and I took another one. I turned the camera and showed her the pictures. "I love these digital cameras! It's so neat to be able to see the picture right away!"
"I'll make sure I get you copies, OK?" I told her.
She smiled and said, "Thank you, Leah. I better get this kitchen cleaned up!"
"Let me help, please?" I asked.
"If you really want to! Come on," she said. She wouldn't let Embry help because it was his birthday. So he sat down in the living area and I noticed he got out the book Emily had made for him and he flipped through it. Angie and I cleared the table and did the dishes and talked. I was really happy to get to know her a little better. We finished and she hugged me and said, "Thank you, honey, for helping. You're a sweet girl."
I smiled and said, "Thanks for dinner! Everything was delicious!"
I walked in and sat down beside Embry. He looked up and said, "This book is amazing, Leah. The Uleys go back to the beginning of the tribe! There are so many awesome stories in here! Here, listen to this one," he said. He read me one about his great-grandfather, Levi Uley. His mom sat in the chair and listened. I couldn't tell if it upset her or not. She was very quiet.
Embry turned the page and was showing me a picture of Levi when suddenly his mom asked softly, "Is there anything in there about Josh?"
Embry's head came up and he looked over at her. "Um, there's a picture of him on the family tree, and his birthdate, but here isn't anything written about him."
She put her head down and got very quiet again.
"Are you OK, Mom. I can put this away. I'm sorry, I didn't think . . ."
"Josh told me a little about his grandfather, Levi. Said he was a tough man. But he also said he was special. He didn't go into details, but now I know what he meant. He was a wolf, like you." She looked at Embry. "He also talked about his grandmother and said that she made the best cornbread he ever had!" She smiled. "He told me about staying with them when he was a young boy, and the stories his grandfather would tell him about the ancestors of your tribe. I'm glad they are written down there. Your father would want you to know them. You should be proud of your ancestors. I wish so badly there was some way you could be proud of your father, too. I know that's not possible. Things don't always work out the way we want them to." She looked out the window and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Embry nodded and closed the book and put it on the table. He looked at his watch and said, "Anyone want to know what time it is?" We laughed. Leave it to Embry to break the tension!
"Hey, I have a gift for you, too, you know!" I said.
"What? You took me out last night and the party and everything," he said.
I reached into my bag and pulled out his gift. "Well, it's not much. But I wanted to give you something." I handed it to him. He smiled at me and leaned over and kissed me. "Well, open it!"
He tore the paper off and said, "Wow, I love it. Thanks!" It was a framed picture of the two of us, sitting close together at the bonfire where we had our marathon make out session! I was excited that we had a picture of that momentous night! We were both smiling in the picture and we looked so happy to be together. I hoped we were always that happy.
"I had no idea that Emily had taken it! She was snapping pictures at the bonfire that night, and she took this one. She gave it to me a couple of days ago, and I made a copy for you and framed it. I have one framed just like it."
He leaned over and kissed me again. "Man, this has been quite a birthday! I'm kind of bummed to see it end!"
His mom and I both laughed. "Yea, he's spoiled now," his mom said. "That's OK. He deserves it." She stood up and went to Embry and leaned down and kissed him on the head. "You're a good son, and I love you." He stood up and hugged her.
"Thanks, Mom. For everything." She smiled and walked into the kitchen. We heard her take a glass out of the cupboard and get a drink of water.
"I better get home. Emily has a full agenda for us tomorrow. Wedding plans!" I said. I stood up and walked over to Angie. "Thank you so much for dinner. I really enjoyed being here with you both tonight."
She smiled and said, "Anytime, honey. Don't you be a stranger, OK?"
"I promise," I said. I picked up my bag and Embry said, "I'll walk you out." I nodded and let him open the door for me. We walked hand in hand to the car.
He took me in his arms and kissed me like I knew he had wanted to do when I gave him the picture. I could see it in his eyes when he looked at it. I wrapped my arms around him and surrendered to that feeling of being held in his arms. That feeling of home. He pulled back and said, "That's my thank you for the picture. I really love it."
"Me, too. I hope we are always that happy, Embry." We kissed a little more and stopped before we got a little too graphic for the neighbors! "See you tomorrow?"
"Yea, for sure," I told her.