CHAPTER 69

Leah POV:

I felt so much better after Josh talked to me. He was right about Josiah being selfish. I needed to hear that and to face that. I was determined to put it all behind me and go on living. I had a very handsome husband now who needed me. I would stop feeling so sorry for myself and step up and be there for him. I looked over at him and smiled. He was so handsome and fun and sexy and smart and kind and . . . well, perfect. He looked over and smiled back and I felt my heart skip a beat. I was so lucky to have him and I would spend the rest of my life letting him know that.

Embry pulled up to park beside his truck. He got out and grabbed his bag and joined me on the walk. We walked hand in hand to the front door and then he stopped. He let go of my hand to move his hand to my face. "I love you, Mrs. Call, soon to be Uley," he said softly. Then he put his lips gently on mine and kissed me so tenderly. When he pulled back I smiled and said, "Thank you. I love you, too." He smiled and opened the door for me to walk in.

As soon as I walked in I heard "SURPRISE!" and we looked to see a room full of people shouting and smiling at us.

"What the hell?" Embry said under his breath. His eyes were wide with surprise. Mine, too.

Mom came up to us and said, "We couldn't let you get married without a party." She hugged us both then we were surrounded by everyone we loved. The whole pack was here along with Emily and Lily and Kim and Rachel and even Claire! She was hanging on Embry's leg begging him to pick her up. He did and she gave him one of her famous "smoochy" kisses on his cheek, then she leaned over and gave me one. Then Quil took her as Embry was attacked by Abby.

"Oh my gosh, you guys! I can't believe you just went and got married!" She let go of Embry and turned to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. "I thought Seth was playing a joke on me." I wiggled free to look at her. "I felt so bad about what happened and I wanted to come and be with you both. But Seth told me you got all dressed up and went out. And the next thing he tells me is you got married! I'm so happy for you guys, I really am." I looked over at Embry who was laughing at Abby. I joined him. She was really sweet, but when she got going, it was hard to stop her.

"Thanks, Abby. We're really happy, too. I'm sorry you didn't get to be a bridesmaid."

Her face lit up and she gasped. "You would have let me be a bridesmaid? Oh, Leah. I've never been a bridesmaid. That is so cool." Seth was standing next to Embry and he rolled his eyes at Embry and smiled.

"Of course I would have, Abby." I leaned in closer and said softly, "We're sisters, remember?"

"Yes, I remember. I've missed hanging out with you."

I had been so busy with school and work and Embry and . . . well, Abby had kind of been lost in the shuffle. "Yea, I've missed you, too. I have a lot of homework to catch up on, but on Friday, I'll pick you up at school and we'll go rent some movies and order pizza and have a girl's night. We'll kick Embry and Seth out and spend some time just you and me. OK? We have a lot of catching up to do."

"I would love that. Thanks, Leah." She hugged me again and I hugged her back. I wasn't lying to her. I really did miss her.

Finally Seth interrupted and said, "Um, can I have a chance to hug my sister?" Abby laughed and stepped back. Seth took me in his arms and held me close. "Man, I can't believe you're a married woman. It's kind of weird."

"I know, but I like it," I said. He pulled back and smiled. "I like it, too. Now there will be another guy around. Too many women bossing me around all the time." Embry laughed and said, "Well, that probably won't change, bro. She bosses me around, too." I smacked him and said, "Yea, but you like it."

Sam pushed his way over and gave us a look. Seth said, "Uh-oh, I'm out of here." He grabbed Abby and they moved on.

I looked at Sam and said, "What? You gave us an order to have fun. You just didn't say how to have fun."

He smiled, shook his head and said, "You never cease to amaze me, Leah. Every time I think you are at your weakest, you rise above it and grow stronger. I'm proud of you." He took me in his arms and held me tight. "You've come so far, baby. And now, here you are . . . you're my sister. How weird is that?" I laughed and said, "Weird, but good. This way we can still be in each other's lives. I'm happy about that, Sam." He pulled back and looked in my eyes as he said, "Me, too." Then he kissed me on the cheek. "Welcome to the Uley Family, Leah."

I looked over at Embry and he smiled at me. He had his arm around Emily who was holding Lily. Em stepped up and kissed me on the cheek then said to Lily, "Here, say hello to Aunt Leah." She handed Lily to me and I took in her sweet baby smell and kissed her on the head. Sam and Emily moved on to help with the food and left Lily with me. Embry put his arm around me and kissed Lily. "You do look good holding a baby," he whispered to me. I smiled at him.

It was so awesome that everyone came to help us celebrate. Paul and Rachel came along with Jared and Kim, who took Lily from me. She was getting fussy, which we assumed meant she was probably hungry, so Kim took her to find Em and get a bottle.

That's when Billy, Bella and Jake came up. Jake picked me up and twirled me around. "God, I can't believe you guys just went off and got married," he said as he set me down. "That is so fucking awesome!"

I laughed and said, "Yea, it was. You and Bella should consider it."

"I will, believe me," he said with a grin as he looked over his shoulder at Bella. She didn't hear him. She was congratulating Embry. She moved over to me and said, "Wow, Leah. I'm happy for you guys."

"Thanks, Bella." That's about all we had to say to each other. Jake pulled Embry in for a bro hug and said, "Man, I always thought I'd get a chance to be your best man." He let go and gave him a little shove as he said, "And what about the bachelor party? Dude!"

Embry laughed and said, "Well, just because I'm not a bachelor anymore doesn't mean we can't still have a party."

"You got it. Friday night, bonfire on the beach, just the guys," Jake said with a grin. Embry looked at me and I smiled. "Fine by me. Just don't get so drunk you don't remember where you live," I told him.

"I'm shocked you would think that I would try to get my best friend drunk. I don't think I could afford that much beer!" Jake said with a laugh.

Billy congratulated us both and then they all went into join the party. Embry and I just stood there for a second and took it all in. I leaned toward him and said, "I'm going to run upstairs and change real quick. I feel a little exposed in this dress around all our friends and family."

He laughed and said, "You just don't like how Paul was looking at your boobs!" I smacked him and went upstairs to find something more appropriate to wear. I went into my room and closed the door and leaned against if for a moment. I loved that everyone was here, but I really didn't get much sleep last night and I was so tired. All that we had been through in the last couple of days was really getting to me.

I took off the shoes and got out of the dress and threw it over my desk chair. I pulled out a sundress that hid my boobs a little better and didn't hug my body so tight. I slipped that on and pulled out a pair of sandals. I brushed my hair and put it back with a headband. I was going to add some make-up, but I didn't want to take the time. I felt better. It was time to rejoin the party.

I walked downstairs to find Josh and Angie walking in. Embry looked at them and said, "You knew about this, didn't you? When we were there!" Josh laughed and said, "Of course we did." Angie hugged Embry and laughed. "I'm sorry we missed you walking in. Were you surprised?"

"Yes, we were," I said as I walked up. "But pleasantly surprised. Come on in and join the party!"

Mom and Emily had knocked themselves out and provided a huge buffet of food. And there was a wedding cake! I walked over to Mom and said, "You didn't have to do all this."

She smiled and hugged me. "Of course I did. My only daughter just got married. That's cause to celebrate."

"I'm sorry you weren't there. I know you feel bad about that, don't you?"

"Yes, I did. But seeing you and Embry so happy, well, that makes it OK." I handed her the envelope of pictures that Phil had given me before we left. "Here. At least I can share it with you through pictures." She smiled and we looked through them together. "Oh, Leah. You looked so beautiful. And this house! Tell me about it." We spent a few minutes going through the pictures as I told her all about it. Emily had come up and joined us and she listened and commented. I told them to go ahead and pass them around. I looked around for Embry. He was with Seth and Jake and Quil and they were all laughing about something. He looked so relaxed. I smiled just as he found me across the room. He smiled back and winked at me. God, I love that man.

I walked over to the food table and filled a plate. Abby found me and chatted about how Emily let her watch Lily all by herself for the first time. She was so excited! We found a place to sit and eat. It wasn't long before Embry and Seth joined us and I found myself telling them the story of how we got married. Abby was completely engrossed in my story, and afterward claimed it was the most romantic thing she had ever heard. Seth rolled his eyes and Embry chuckled.

I looked over at Seth and said, "Just wait, little brother. It'll happen to you someday."

He got real quiet and I realized maybe I shouldn't have said that. Abby looked at him and then mumbled something about being thirsty as she got up and walked to the kitchen. I looked over at Seth and said, "OK, what did I say?"

"Nothing. It's OK," he said into his plate.

"Seth? What? Tell me," I probed.

He looked up and said, "It's just that Abby and I were talking last night and she said something about 'when we get married,' and I freaked! I told her I was only 16, I wasn't ready to think about get married. And that upset her. She said she didn't mean right now, and I guess somehow she thought I meant not ever. It was a huge stupid argument."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Me and my big mouth."

"No, it was me and my big mouth. I told her I was sorry, and that I loved her and that maybe someday I would think about marriage, but I just couldn't now. I told her about wanting to go to college and be a doctor and how long that would take. She told me she was OK, but I guess she really isn't."

"Do you want me to talk to her?" I asked. He just shrugged, which meant, yes, take care of this for me. I smiled and patted his leg. Then I got up to go and find Abby. I walked into the kitchen and there she was, mixing some lemonade in a pitcher. She was staring at the pitcher and stirring very slowly. "Hey, Abby," I said as I touched her shoulder.

She looked up and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to run off like that."

"Yes, you did. Seth told me about your fight last night. He didn't mean it like it sounded. I know he loves you."

She looked at me and sighed. "I know he does, too. It's not that. It's just . . . we have one more year of high school after this one, and then he'll go off to college for four years, then med school, then he has to do a residency. That's a long time to wait to be together."

I put my arm around her shoulders and said, "But, you might not have to wait that long. Maybe you could get married after college. You want to go to college, too, don't you?"

"Me? I don't get grades good enough for college. I manage to get by to stay on the cheer team, but, that's it."

"Well, I can help you with that. Maybe we could have a study session once a week and I can help you with whatever you need help with. I'm going to be a teacher, you know, so that would help me, too."

She smiled and said, "I'd like that. Thanks."

"But it still doesn't solve the problem, does it?" She shook her head. "Listen, Abby. Maybe you and Seth will get married someday, and maybe you won't. But right now, you're both 16 and in love and happy. You have the freedom to go to school and go to games and dances and just be kids. Just concentrate on that right now, OK? The future will fall into place like it's supposed to."

She gave me a sad smile and said, "Seventeen." I looked at her curiously and she said, "I'm 17 now."

"What? You had a birthday and you didn't tell me? When?"

"The day that Emily and Lily came home from the hospital. I didn't say anything because it was a big day for them. I knew Emily would want to make a fuss, and I didn't want her to."

"Abby! Your birthday is a big deal! We need to make a fuss over you. I can't believe you didn't say anything. Not even to Seth?" She shook her head. "Well, I hope you know that now, we have to have a birthday party. I will talk to Emily and we will plan one."

"You don't have to do that, really, Leah."

"Oh yes, we do. Abby, we love you. We want to celebrate things like this with you. Don't you know that by now?

"I'm just not used to this. To being a part of a family. My mom never did anything for my birthday. The last couple of years she forgot completely."

"Well, that is wrong and it's not going to happen again, hear me?" I hugged her and said, "You are a great girl, Abby. It's time you started believing that."

I let her go and she smiled. "Come on, let's take this lemonade out and set it on the table." She nodded and picked it up and we walked back out to join the party.

Abby went for the table and Seth came running over to me. "Is she OK?"

"Yes, I think so. I told her to just be 16 and have fun and don't worry so much about the future. Then she informed me that she was now 17. Did you know that her birthday was on the day Emily came home from the hospital and she didn't want to say anything because she didn't want to spoil Emily and Lily's day?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Seth asked.

"No, I'm not. I told her that was not acceptable and we would be planning a party."

"I can't believe she didn't even tell me," he said sadly.

"Look, Seth. She's not used to people making a fuss over her, you know that. That bitch of a mother of hers never did anything for her. So, we have to keep letting her know that we care about her and want to be there for her."

Seth smiled. "Thanks, sis."

"You're welcome. Now, go over and whisper in her ear that you want to talk to her, alone. Then take her into some dark corner and kiss her. That will help more than me talking to her."

"I can do that," he said with a grin then he turned and went over to Abby. I saw him lean down to her ear and . . . there it is, the Abby smile. He took her hand and as they walked by, he held his hand out behind him and I slapped it. Then I laughed and shook my head. Embry came up and said, "What are you up to? You have that look."

I filled him in on the Abby/Seth drama. "YOU told him to take her into a dark corner to make out? You've been around me too long," he said with a smile.

Mom asked us to cut the cake and we did. We fed each other a small bite like we did last night. Emily snapped a picture for us then she and Rachel cut the cake for everyone else. Embry and I ate a piece and he whispered, "Not quite as good as the chocolate mousse cake." I smiled. He was right.

Since everyone kept asking us about where we got married, Embry asked for everyone's attention, then he told the story to everyone all at once. They were all amazed at how everything happened, just like we were. Angie was came over to stand beside me and said, "It was meant to be, wasn't it?"

I looked at her and said with a smile, "That's just what Embry said." She laughed at that.

The party finally started breaking up as people went home. We said our goodbyes, and plopped down on the couch. "I'm exhausted," I said to Embry. He nodded and laid his head back. Mom walked in and plopped down into the chair. "That was fun, but I am tired."

"Thanks, again, Mom, for everything," I said. Embry raised his head and said, "Yea, Sue, thanks. This was great."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you both enjoyed it. I think I'll leave the rest of the clean-up for tomorrow. I'm beat." She stood up and asked, "Are you going to school tomorrow, honey?"

"I don't think so. I think I'll just stay home the rest of this week and work on the assignments I missed and try and get caught up. I'll go back on Monday."

She nodded. "What about you?" she said to Embry.

"I'm going to work tomorrow. I need to get back. We are moving to the new shop next week," he answered.

"OK. Well, I traded with Connie to get today off, so I am working tomorrow night. I'll see you in the morning, honey."

"Goodnight, Mom," I called out as she went upstairs. I looked over at Embry and smiled. "You get to walk upstairs and sleep in bed with me. No sneaking. Isn't that cool?"

He smiled and said, "Very cool." Then he stood up and held out his hand. I took it and pulled me up then led me to the stairs. Just then Seth came in from taking Abby home. "Hey," he said. "Going to bed?"

"Yes, we're pretty tired. You and Abby OK?" I asked.

He grinned and said, "Oh yea. We're good." Embry held his hand up and Seth slapped it. Then he looked at me and said, "Come on, wife." He still held my hand so he pulled me after him up the stairs. "Goodnight!" I called to Seth.

"Night, you guys," he called back.

We walked into my room and I closed the door. Embry unbuttoned his shirt and threw it on the floor. "Man, I can't believe how tired I am," he said as he unzipped his pants and took them off. Then he sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled off his socks. I had already pulled my dress off and opened a drawer and pulled out a clean nightshirt. I took off my bra and slipped the shirt over my head.

I looked over to see Embry already lying back against the pillows. I smiled and turned out the light and walked over to the bed. I crawled in and leaned down to kiss Embry on the lips. "What time do you want the alarm set?"

"Um, seven-thirty is good," he said. I set the alarm then turned and kissed him again and said, "Goodnight, husband." He kissed me back and said, "Goodnight, wife." Then I snuggled up to him and closed my eyes and was asleep in no time.