CHAPTER 40

Embry POV:

We finished eating and the women sent us into the living room to watch football while they cleaned up. Apparently this is what 'normal' American families do on a Sunday evening. I've never been really into sports at all. When I was little, I would rather fish, or run in the woods, hang out with Jake or tinker with something like a dirt bike. Then when I got older, I was only into girls. Sam turned the TV on and found us a football game. We sat there for maybe 15 minutes then I looked over at Dad then Sam. They had their eyes fixated on the screen like they were really into the game, but I knew they were using it as an excuse to avoid talking to each other. I finally couldn't take it anymore. "So, are you two really going to sit here and pretend to watch this game just to avoid talking to each other? Do you have any idea how fucking stupid this is?"

They both turned their heads to look at me. Then Sam burst out laughing. "I fucking hate football, bro!" he said. I looked at Dad who had joined in the laughter. "So do I! I don't have a clue what's going on!" I shook my head and started laughing. "You guys are pathetic, man."

Sam shut the TV off and said, "Let's get out of here." We stood up and he told Emily, "Hey, we have all just decided how much we hate football! We're going outside." She laughed and nodded and went back to her conversation with Mom and Leah.

We headed out back and Sam walked Dad over to show him the garden and the apple trees. I stood there and watched them. I wanted to stay back and let them have some time. I was a little worried about the meeting with the elders tonight. I thought it was weird how they could decide whether my dad stayed here or had to live somewhere else. I knew that Sue was OK with Dad being here, and maybe Billy. But Quil, Sr., I wasn't so sure about.

"Sam!" Emily called from the back door. "Phone for you." Sam turned and looked at us. "Be right back." He jogged toward the back porch and disappeared into the house.

"How does Sam afford all this, Embry?"

I smiled. "The tribe provides this for him for being the Alpha. You have to understand, the tribe kind of looks at the pack as some kind of royalty or something. We provide them protection, and so they in turn help provide for us. This is Sam and Emily's house, but it is also our 'official' hangout. The tribe also provides money to buy food for us, cause, well, we eat a lot! So Sam and Emily keep it here, and Emily cooks for us as much as she can. Since she got pregnant, and she was dealing with morning sickness and stuff, we haven't been over as much."

Dad nodded as Sam walked back up to us. "Everything OK?" I asked him. He gave me a look that said he wanted to tell me, but he wasn't sure he should with Dad standing there. I pleaded with my eyes to just go ahead and talk.

He had his head down and his hands on his hips, which meant he was thinking. Finally he looked up and said, "Well, we don't know yet. Jake heard from Charlie that there was an attack of some kind last night. A couple of hikers were camping about 15 miles north of here, and they were found this morning, dead. They looked like they had been mauled by a bear, but Charlie commented that they had never seen a bear attack that grisly. Bella is on the phone with Carlisle right now to see if they know of any leeches in the area, and Jake wanted me to know cause he thought maybe we should put some patrols together to have a look around."

I nodded. "Is everyone coming here? Now?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Nope. I told him he had a good idea and that he should take care of it. He's going to put together a couple of patrols and he'll let me know what they find. He knows about this meeting with the elders tonight and he knows I want to be there for Dad." He shrugged and said, "Look, I need to keep pushing him towards taking Alpha. It's his fucking birthright, not mine. I'm getting kind of sick of holding his hand, you know? I got a baby coming, and I know I'll need to spend more time with Emily soon. It's time for him to step up."

"Yea, I know." I agreed with him, but I also knew Jake wasn't ready. I hoped this wouldn't get ugly between them.

I noticed that Dad had been listening very intently while Sam was talking. He looked at him now and asked, "What made Charlie comment that he hadn't seen a bear attack so grisly. What was different about it?"

Sam looked over at him. "Um, I don't know. He didn't say."

"Hey guys, isn't that meeting at 7? It's 6:35". I was wearing my grandpa's watch today. I felt like it was a special occasion: The first Uley Family Bar-be-que!

"We better go," Sam said. He walked back toward the house and Dad and I followed him. "Hey, Em?" Sam called to Emily. "Can I talk to you a minute?" She nodded and got up from the kitchen table where she was sitting with Mom and Leah. He took her back down the hall to talk to her in private.

Leah stood up and whispered to me, "What's that all about?" I leaned down to her. "I'll tell you later." I kissed her on the cheek and smiled. "I'm going to the meeting with Dad and Sam. We shouldn't be gone long."

She nodded. "OK. I'll hang out here with your mom and Em. I really hope things go well, Embry."

"Me, too," I answered.

Mom and Dad had their heads together in conversation, too. Sam and Emily came back into the kitchen and Sam announced, "Let's go!"

We said our goodbyes and headed outside. Dad volunteered to drive us in his truck. It was bigger than mine, and had a back seat. Of course, since I was the skinniest, I got stuck sitting in the back. Sam seemed to enjoy that. "Little kids sit in the back, bro!" I rolled my eyes and crawled in as Dad laughed.

Dad started the truck and headed for town. The tribal elders had their own meeting house. It was a very small brick building in the middle of town. It was built back when the reservation was first founded, and it had always been used just by the elders.

We drove there in silence, each in our own thoughts. Dad pulled the truck up to the curb and parked. He looked at both of us, took a deep breath and said, "Well, here goes. Wish me luck!"

I put my hand on his shoulder and said, "Good luck, Dad." Sam just smiled and got out of the truck. Dad and I climbed out and joined him as we all walked into the building together. All of the elders were here and they were standing in a circle just talking. Billy and Sue were laughing about something, but I noticed Quil's dad standing off to the side. I looked around and noticed that Jake wasn't here. He must be staying on top of the little 'problem' he called Sam about.

Billy looked up as we walked in and excused himself from the little group to wheel himself over to us. "Hey Sam, Embry," he said to us. We both greeted him and then he smiled as he looked up at Dad. "Joshua Uley. Man, it's been a long time." He stuck his hand out toward Dad. Dad smiled and took his hand and shook it. "It sure has, Billy. Too long."

Billy nodded and said, "Come on up here and have a seat and we'll get started. This won't take long." We all nodded and made our way to the front of the room.

I had only been in here a couple of times. I remembered feeling so out of place before. But now that I knew I was an Uley, I somehow felt a little better about being here. As we walked toward the front of the room I noticed the very old long wooden table that had been sitting there since the building was first put up. The table, and the five wooden chairs, had been made by the first elders that had lived on this reservation. There was a chair for each elder: Billy, who represented the Blacks; Quil, Sr., for the Ateras; Sue, who represented the Clearwaters now that Harry was gone, and Seth was still too young; Mr. Grey, Jared's grandpa and our history teacher at the rez school; and the last chair for the Uleys. Sam sat there. They had placed three folding chairs in front of the table. Dad and I sat down in two of them. I realized the other was for Jake, who was otherwise occupied.

The chair reserved for Billy had been moved back so Billy could wheel up to the table. "OK, let's get this started. Josh, I have shared with the others the little bit of information you gave me on the phone when you called to ask for this meeting. I will tell you that Jake has shared his opinion with me, and I will share that with them, too, later. But now, could you share with all of us your story?"

Dad nodded and said, "First of all, I would like to offer you all an apology. When I left town all those years ago, I left without telling anyone anything. I have apologized to my family, and now I feel I owe the same to you. I thank you for giving me the chance to explain everything to you now." Then he began his story. I had heard it all before, but I couldn't help but be completely engrossed as I heard it all again. I glanced up at Sam now and then, and I could see he was listening as intently as I was. The other elders were paying close attention, and I saw Sue wipe a tear away a couple of times. I knew that Leah had already shared Dad's story with her, but I supposed it was more emotional hearing my Dad tell it.

He finished by telling them how each year he ages, his phasing grows shorter and with more time in between. He told them how he has learned the rhythms of his body and can recognize the when the fever is coming and how much time he has to get away to a remote location. He also added that he had already scouted the area and had three locations in mind. Dad then told them that he would answer any questions they may have.

I looked at the faces before me and tried to read each one. They weren't giving much away. Billy asked a few questions about Dad's phasing, and about the reservation up North. Dad answered them and then waited to see if anyone else would say anything. Finally Quil, Sr. cleared his throat and asked, "That's a very interesting tale, Josh, but how can you be so sure that you won't be putting any of us in danger? How can we trust you?"

I shook my head in frustration and Dad placed his hand on my knee to calm me down. He removed it and said, "Well, Quil, I've been living in Port Angeles for about 9 years now. When I first moved there, it was touch and go for awhile, I won't lie to you. But, over the last 5 years, I have been tracking my phasing on a calendar and like I told you, it has lengthened out every year. As soon as the fever hits, I jump in the truck and head out to my remote location. When I phase back, I find my truck and go home." He took a deep breath and said, "Look, Quil, I love my boys, very much." He looked over at me then at Sam. "I would never, never do anything to put them in danger. I've missed so much of their lives already, and I don't want to miss anymore. I have thought about this for some time, and I feel that I can handle this now. I wouldn't be here if I didn't."

I saw Sue nodding her head. I knew she was touched by what Dad had to say. He hadn't said it, but I knew there was no way he would be around my mom if he thought there was a chance he would hurt her. I looked up at Sam. He had his head down. I hated that I couldn't see his expression.

"Any other questions for Josh?" Billy asked the other elders. Mr. Grey looked like he wanted to say something then changed his mind. Quil, Sr. had leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Billy looked down the table and said, "Well, since no one has any other questions, I'll ask you and Embry to step outside for a moment while we discuss what we've heard. I thank you so much for coming in, Josh. It really is good to see you again."

Dad stood up and I joined him. He looked up and down the panel and said, "Thanks, Billy. It's good to see you, too. I want to thank you all for seeing me today. I will stand by whatever decision you make." He looked at me and put his hand on my shoulder and we turned and walked out of the building.

As soon as we were outside he asked me, "Well? How do you think it went?"

"I don't know, Dad. I think Billy and Sue are OK with it, but Quil's dad didn't seem too happy. And I couldn't read Mr. Grey at all."

"Yea, that's kind of how I saw it, too."

Just then the door opened and Sam came out. We both looked at him in anticipation. "I don't know anything yet. They made me leave."

All three of us just stood there, heads down, silently waiting for the decision. Dad turned and walked to the truck then walked back. He did that two or three more times until the door opened and Sue said, "Could you all come back in, please?" We followed her inside and sat down in our original places.

Billy said, "We have discussed this and come to this decision. Josh, we will grant you a probationary stay of 6 months. We will meet again when those 6 months are up to discuss how things are working out. If at that time we feel that you are handling things alright, we will grant you permanent residence here and restore you to your rightful place here at the table." He smiled at Dad and added, "Welcome home, Josh."

Dad stood up and walked over to Billy to shake his hand. "Thank you, Billy. I'm so glad to be here." He went down the line and shook each hand and thanked them. I noticed Quil, Sr. shook Dad's hand then quickly turned and made his way out of the building. Mr. Grey also looked at Dad in a strange way, but I couldn't quite figure out what it meant. When Dad got to the end of the table, Sam walked around and hugged him. I shook my head and smiled. Bout fucking time.

They both walked over to me and I hugged Dad. Sue came over and said, "Josh?" He turned to look at her. "I'm really glad you're here. You have two great boys who deserve to know their father. I was pretty upset with Leah when she told me what she had done. But I have to say, I think it's going to work out alright." She smiled and hugged my dad then turned to me and Sam and hugged each one of us.

"Thank so much, Sue. You have a great girl there. Leah has guts, I'll give her that!" Sue laughed and agreed. "But she's real sweet and has a big heart. I'm real happy that my son has found such a beautiful girl to love." She smiled and reached over to touch my cheek. "And, I just want to say how sorry I am about Harry. He was a good man, Sue. A real good man." She gave him a sad smile and said, "Yea, he was. Thanks, Josh." She nodded to us and walked back to Billy.

"Well, boys, let's go!" I smiled to see Dad so happy. He put his arm around my shoulders as we headed for the door. We all hopped in the truck and Dad drove us back to Sam's to share the good news with Mom, Emily and Leah.