CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
ALL IS QUIET ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
EMBRY CALL:
It was a frosty, still New Year's Day as I jogged along First beach at seven a.m. I loved to run at this time of the morning when the day was just beginning. I felt free. I emptied my mind and concentrated only on the sound of my feet pounding on the sand. When I reached the woods I might phase and run as a wolf. My mind would not be blank today however as I dwelled on the events from last night. Before Jake and Nessie went on honeymoon, he had pulled me aside and told me what had occurred in the clearing. I was shocked and worried for Leah, but Jacob assured me Etienne was looking after her. He also told me about Sam and his "swim". This story was actually harder to believe than the Leah one! Sam had acted incredibly reckless and extremely stupid. We would all be devastated if anything had happened to him, especially his devoted fiancee Emily.
I frowned to myself when I remembered the weirdest part of the story. Sam had told Jake that Rebecca had saved him from the icy ocean. As far as I knew Sam Uley had never met Rebecca or seen a photograph of her. My Mother had shown me one black and white photograph her foster Father had taken when Rebecca was born. It was old and faded, but my Mother had kept it hidden away all these years. I sighed. I had another half sister out there whom I knew nothing about. At least Leah and I had gotten to know each other really well over the past year. I pushed myself harder and faster along the sand as I tried to rid my mind of these annoying frustrating thoughts.
I decided I would take a detour away from the woods and down into town. It was Sunday, it was New Year's Day. It was unlikely the small town of Forks would be busy. I successfully managed to make my mind blank as I concentrated only on my breathing. I reached the town centre without any infuriating chatter from my inner voice. I slumped down to catch my breath on the old wooden seat which sat outside the Pacific Inn Motel. I breathed in the cold frosty air as I stretched out my legs. The sun had begun to shine and it felt good on my skin. Today was a New Year, a new start. The doors of the Motel swung open and a tall, dark, long legged amazingly beautiful girl walked out into the frosty sunshine. She had really cropped short dark hair, dark eyes and very defined cheekbones. I gaped at her in amazement. She definitely wasn't from Forks! I thought that nothing could top the natural beauty right before my eyes but I was wrong. Right behind the beautiful stranger was another girl. She was shorter and curvier with long wavy honey blonde hair which hung almost to her waist. Her face was sweet like an angel's. Her eyes were as blue as a summer sky. All the things the songs sing about when it comes to beautiful girls. She caught my stare and smiled hesitantly at me. Suddenly the strangest thing happened; my ears started ringing, my vision blurred and the world seemed to tilt and turn. I gasped out loud as I gripped the bench in sheer panic. All I could see was that beautiful face staring down at me, her perfect lips seeming to ask me if I was okay. I tried to speak but found I couldn't. My mind, my soul, my entire body was transfixed on her and her only. It felt as if fireworks were exploding behind my eyes. My veins burned and my nerves sang. I hadn't a clue what was happening to me, all I could see was this beautiful angelic face in front of me. Then I felt her hand on my arm, her face full of concern close to mine. I could see her lips moving but I could not hear anything. My body had become tight like a coiled spring and electricity hummed through my entire being, lit up with sparks of blue and white light. I realised in that split second that I had imprinted on this girl.
That's when the world went dark and I fainted.
TIFFANY CALL:
I stood outside in my small back garden deciding whether I really should make this my last cigarette ever. New Year's resolution maybe? I could stop drinking a bottle of red wine almost every night too. That would help. I knew alcohol didn't help my condition, it certainly didn't mix with the medication I was on either. I did feel better though since telling the truth to Embry. I no longer felt burdened by my secret. Embry had been very forgiving. He was upset about the way I had been treated in life, he understood my reasons for not confessing who his father was before. He was happy Leah was his half sister, they got on so well together. I had used all my meagre savings to pay for a private detective to track down my daughter Rebecca. I had to see her, even if it was only once.
She might hate me, she might feel like I abandoned her, like I didn't love her. She was entitled to think all of those things, I certainly couldn't or wouldn't blame her. Not ever.
I waited every day for news, but nothing concrete so far. I was patient though, after all I had waited a long time to find my daughter again. I heard someone knocking at my front door so I quickly stubbed out my cigarette and made my way back into the house, wondering who would visit me on New Year's Day?
Sue Clearwater stood defiantly on my doorstep, her arms by her side, her fists clenched. I was surprised she had waited so long. Now here she was, come to confront the scarlet woman. "Happy new year Sue, please do come in." I said as politely as I could. She barged past me with a face like thunder. She spun around as I followed her into the living room spitting out her words with venom and fury, "I need the truth Tiffany and I need it now!" she spat. "Please sit down Sue. Would you like some tea?" I asked, a stupid silly smile plastered to my face. "Tea? Tea? " Sue asked me incredulously. Then she promptly burst into tears. Oh no. Now what was I to do? Ignore her? Sympathise? I decided on the latter, I had no bad feelings towards this poor woman. I put my arm around her as she sobbed. We sat like that for maybe ten minutes before she spoke. "I came here to rage at you Tiffany Call! I was so mad! But now there seems little point in dragging over the past. Harry is gone. There is nothing I can do to bring him back." she sobbed. "Harry loved you Sue. He didn't love me, not really. He met me when I was only seventeen, the night Sam Uley raped me. Years later I met him by chance. I was lonely and damaged. I needed someone, I wanted a child to love and who would love me back. Embry is all I could've asked for and more. He married you Sue. He always was going to marry you!" I started to sob too. Sue looked at me and we hugged, two women who's lives had been affected by the Pack men. I leaned over and took two tissues from the box by my armchair. I handed one to Sue and used one to blow my nose. We both had matching red eyes.
Sue half smiled at me, "So Harry never ever carried on with you after you moved back here with Embry?" she asked me. I shook my head, "No, I had what I wanted from him, he had you so that was that." I admitted quietly. "He didn't want to see Embry?" Sue asked. "Not like that, but he saw him around the reservation every day, he saw him at Pack meetings, he didn't need to be a Father to him Sue, he had you, Seth and Leah. You were his family, not us." I stated truthfully. Sue frowned and looked like she might cry again, "I just feel that our life together was a lie. You and I were both pregnant at the same time to the same man! My children have a half brother! It has been driving me mad!" she wailed. I quickly passed her another tissue. She wiped her eyes and smiled at me, " I am so sorry what happened to you. Sam Uley was a evil horrible man and I was so glad when he left without a word. Yes, Judy was heartbroken but she did a great job bringing up little Sam on her own. Just like you Tiffany. Embry is a lovely boy and he is so like you. I do see Harry in him too though! Leah and Embry are so alike! Seth is like me!" she gushed, as she squeezed my hand. Well today was turning out to be a surprise.
"I'm sorry for your loss Sue. It must be hard without him, but you are coping well. If you ever need to talk you are most welcome. I really mean that!" I said honestly. She smiled and squeezed my hand again. "Maybe we'll end up best of friends huh? Who would have believed that?" she said with a laugh. Then there was another knock at the door. I once again wondered who could possibly be visiting me on New Year's Day.
I opened my door to find a tall striking young woman standing there. She had a strange look on her face. Embry was behind her with a pretty blonde girl. He also had a strange look on his face. Just what was going on now? "Tiffany?" the dark haired girl asked. I nodded and smiled expectantly. "It's me Mum. Your daughter. Rebecca." she said
That's when the world went dark and I fainted.