Chapter Nine
Embry is back to normal and he is much happier. I smile when he catches my eyes at a cookout at Sam and Emily's place. Billy laughs with Sam and Charlie while Emily tries to convince Bella to help make something in the kitchen with her. I smile wider as I take a platter of food to the guys outside and check on the grill. Embry is talking with Jared and Quil about something entertaining when Matthew walks up next to me.
"I am leaving to go back to Italy at the end of the week to see what the will for father says and why he is giving us something now of all the times he could have helped," Matthew says. I turn to him and push him away from me.
"You do not get to talk to me like nothing happened, Matthew. Get away from me and go vent to Jacob or dad because I am done being your venting buddy," I growl. "You chose the vampire half of you and you want me to be okay with that?! Get out of my face!"
"Marinna," Matthew says and reaches out to touch me. Embry grabs his hand and pushes Matthew back a little.
"She said go away, Matt," Embry says. I hug him and bury my face into his chest. Matthew walks away with an angry look and he goes to get in his truck. I hold onto Embry tightly when I feel the tears in my eyes begin to form and sting my eyes to come out. Embry holds me in his arms and he rubs my back softly.
"Well, let's get some grub and get this party started," Paul says to lighten the mood. Everyone gives a cheer and I look at Sam and Emily to see their apologetic smiles. I wipe my eyes and look up at Embry. He is very happy to be with out friends and family and I am happy with him. He looks down at me and we share a long kiss. Everyone gives their hoots of laughter at the two of us and I cannot help but smile and wave the boys off. Sam and Charlie share a few stories about somethings I have not clue what is so interesting to them. Emily and Billy talk about the wedding she is putting on hold again. Jacob and Bella are snuggling not sitting next to each other but keep smiling at each other. I lean against Embry in his lap and smile when he holds me close and puts one hand on my tummy.
"So, I heard you two did it on your anniversary," Paul says with a big grin on his face.
"Who told you that?" I ask quickly. Embry growls and then clears his throat. "You told our brothers about that?"
"They were pestering me about it, Mari," Embry says. I pinch his cheek and then get up slowly. Embry grabs me and pulls me back into his lap to kiss me deeply in front of everyone. I smile at the man that is holding me and loving me for me, but a sad thought crosses my mind when I think about my upcoming disappearance with Matthew. My heart breaks at the thought of having to possibly leave all this behind to keep from getting anyone hurt.
'It has to happen, Marinna, you know that. We must do it to keep them all safe from us and to make sure our father does not trace us back here,' Matthew says in my head. I ignore him and try to spend my last moments with the family as much as I can.
I sit with Matthew in the villa that was once our childhood home before mama's death. We are reading the will from mama and our father that seems to have been held from us until now. I look at our father's will to see that the old bastard is leaving us his money, company and the villas he has around the world. Matthew puts mama's will down to take a break and to make us some more tea. I look out the window that gives us a beautiful view of the beach not too far. My heart aches when I think about the last time I walked the beach before me so many years ago with mama and Matthew. me legs lift me form the chair and walk me out to the beach. I have been here with Matthew for nearly a month now, I think about Embry being broken hearted about my disappearance.
"Marinna," I hear Embry's voice, as he fell asleep the last time we made love. Tears fall down my face like rivers and I fall to my knees in the soft sand. The sounds of footsteps in the sand echoes a little as they come closer to me. I look up to see Matthew standing over me with a small smile on his face.
"Mari-Belle, I am sorry you had to leave them all behind like that. But it is for the best," Matthew says. He kneels down and holds me in his arms when my tears stream down my face again. This is supposed to be easy for me since I did not say goodbye, but I am not sure that is the case right now. Matthew helps me to my feet and the two of us walk inside to see that the maid has brought our tea and snacks out of the kitchen for us. That is something we will have to get used to while we are living in the house. I sit one the couch with my knees up to my chin and I am playing with my hair as Matthew puts on a movie for us. The sound of the waves outside remind me of the beaches on La Push and missing home. But, Matthew says this is our home and this where we were meant to be. Maybe he is wrong about this being my home. I do not feel comfortable being here and I am missing the reservation more than he is. He only stayed because I was there and he knew I needed him for so much support lately. I need to figure out a way to get back home with Matthew's blessing and to be back where I belong.