It took 42 minutes for Carlisle to arrive at the boarding house. He immediately took charge, shooing Mrs. Fisher out of Leah's room and spreading a quilted pad on the bed. He opened his medical bag. "I thought I could handle it…" Leah gasped.
Performing a quick examination, Carlisle nodded grimly. "I'm sure you could have, Leah, but the baby is in the wrong position. I have to turn him, and without anesthesia. Do you understand?"
Leah nodded weakly. James Clearwater Cameron was born fifteen minutes later. When Mrs. Fisher heard him wail, she knocked on the door with a dishpan of warm soapy water. Carlisle tended to the baby while the kind landlady helped Leah clean up. A half hour later, dressed in a clean nightgown with her hair tied up in a messy ponytail, Leah looked radiant as she held her newborn son in her arms. A makeshift cradle fashioned from a towel-lined laundry basket sat by the side of the bed.
"I don't know how to thank you, Dr. Cullen. I'm sorry…"
Carlisle shook his head. "You don't owe me any explanation, Leah. I like to think we're friends." His smile was dazzling, and Mrs. Fisher couldn't take her eyes off him. "Please don't think I'm trying to tell you what to do, but there's a young man back at home who is still searching for you. I don't pretend to know all the circumstances, but a young boy can use a father."
Mrs. Fisher nodded solemnly and Leah blushed. "I know, Dr. Cullen, and I promise to give it some thought. Thank you again for coming so quickly." She held out her hand, and he shook it.
"Call me if you need anything. Any time. And your son should be safe with a regular pediatrician." Mrs. Fisher thought that was a strange statement, but Leah got it. Her son was all human, at least for now.
Aiyanna was delighted. She came thundering up the stairs when she got home from work and squealed. "Oh my god, Lee, he's so precious! But tell me one thing – why do you look like a fucking cover girl just hours after giving birth?" She hugged her friend, looking around to make sure Mrs. Fisher hadn't heard her un-ladylike language.
"Good metabolism, I guess," Leah shrugged. "He is kind of handsome, isn't he?" The baby was nine pounds of Native American cuteness, topped with a thatch of black hair. He already looked so much like Jared it made Leah's heart ache.
Anna gestured to a stack of baby clothes, bottles, and diapers in a maple cradle at the foot of Leah's bed. "Where did all this come from?"
Leah smiled, kissing James's soft hair gently. "My doctor. He stopped at a store on his way back to Washington and bought all of this. Arranged for it to be delivered. The kid who brought it refused a tip – said it was well taken care of already. Carlisle is very generous. A good friend, actually." She realized with a shock that it was true.
"Mrs. Fisher said you named him James. Any special reason?" Anna smiled. If she thought it would get Leah to spill some information about the baby's father, she was in for a disappointment.
"My favorite book when I was a kid," Leah explained. "I just loved a poem about James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree, who took great care of his mother, though he was only three," she recited from memory. "I always said if I had a boy I'd name him James. Clearwater is obvious, and Cameron is his father's name." That was all she had to say on the subject.
"Well, Mrs. Fisher called the diner and gave us the news. Nick says congratulations, and feel free to take a few days off." She grinned. "He already put up a big sign that says 'It's a Boy!' Some of your regular customers will want to know. We got most of your shifts covered for the next two weeks because everyone wanted to help. We'll deal with the rest later." Fortunately, Aiyanna was forced to pause occasionally in order to breathe. Leah took the opportunity to interrupt.
"That's really sweet, Anna. Tell everyone thanks for me, okay? And actually, I might be able to come back in a couple of weeks if I can find someone to watch James."
Aiyanna shook her head. "Don't tell me; let me guess. Your great metabolism!"
Mrs. Fisher tapped on the open door, bearing a tray. "I thought you might be hungry, Leah. And then it's time for a rest. You've had a busy day." She looked pointedly at Aiyanna. Leah accepted the tray gratefully and wolfed down a grilled cheese sandwich, a bowl of tomato soup, and a slice of apple pie.
"Thank you so much," she said as she wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin. I appreciate all you do for me. I know this room is a single," she continued, "and I'll find a two-bedroom apartment as soon as I can."
Shaking her head, Mrs. Fisher scooped the tray up in her hands. "There's no rush about that, dear. We're family here."
James was a good baby, and he slept most of the time. At least when he wasn't nursing. He took to Leah's milk like a duck to water, and she was surprised at the pleasant, peaceful bonding feeding him provided.
Two weeks passed quickly, and no more was said about Leah returning to work. She stopped Aiyanna in the hall on a Friday night. "You're off tomorrow, right?" When Anna nodded, Leah continued "How would you feel about a road trip? With James and me?"
Anna's face lit up. Leah knew her parents were off fishing with some friends for the weekend, leaving Aiyanna at loose ends until Sunday morning, when she was scheduled to work first shift.
"It's only a five hour trip," Leah continued. "I think it's time my mom met her grandson."
Aiyanna clapped her hands. "Awesome – and I get to see it! She doesn't know about him, does she? What a fantastic surprise! I mean…it would be a great surprise even if he wasn't so damn cute, ya know? But he's just perfect – and she'll be so thrilled! Oh, YES! I'd love to come, Lee!"
They hit the road at 7 a.m. The gang from the diner had chipped in on a car seat/stroller combination, and they bundled the stroller in the trunk along with clothes, blankets, and diapers. As they rode through the outskirts of the reservation, Leah spotted a familiar VW Rabbit and groaned. Jacob. He stomped on the brake when he saw her and pulled a U-turn, following the very familiar Corolla to the Clearwater house. Seth was watering Sue's garden and shouted for her, making a beeline for the car along with Jake.
Leah and Aiyanna stepped out on the gravel driveway, and Aiyanna leaned into the back seat to get James. "Have you SEEN the guys around here, Leah?" she whispered. "I mean – serious beefcake everywhere you look!" Seth stifled a smile when Leah motioned for him to come over.
"Aiyanna, this is my brother, Seth. Seth, my friend Aiyanna from Portland. And this is my al…my friend Jacob," she corrected quickly. Anna managed not to gasp as her eyes traveled up Seth's toned, muscular physique to a boyish, handsome face. A single black braid hung down his back. Denim cutoffs clung to his hips but gapped at his slim waist, and as usual he was shirtless. Leah extended an index finger and placed it under her friend's chin, snapping her mouth closed.
Blinking, Aiyanna actually blushed. "Oh. Sorry. It's just…nice to meet you, Seth. And you too, Jacob." Trying not to stare, she handed the baby to Leah as Sue hurried down the driveway from the back of the house just in time to hear Aiyanna say "Here you go, James. I know you want your mama." Even without wolf hearing, you could have heard a pin drop as everyone froze.
Sue was the first to regain her composure. "Mama?" Leah nodded and placed James in her mother's outstretched arms. Seth appeared completely gobsmacked, and Jacob's grin looked like a toothpaste commercial. "Let's get inside," Sue suggested when she regained her composure. She held the precious bundle to her chest and led the group inside.
The visit was way too short. Sue let Leah make sandwiches for everyone. She would ordinarily be buzzing around, creating a delicious meal on a moment's notice, but she wouldn't let go of James. She held him while he napped, changed his diaper, and when he was awake, staring around at the strange views and faces, she whispered in his perfect little ears in Quileute. Only Jacob understood any of it, and he and Sue shared a secret smile.
Aiyanna finally relaxed, and she and Leah chatted and joked with Seth and Jake. Seth and Aiyanna took a walk to First Beach because she wanted to see the notorious cliffs that Leah and her friends supposedly dived from. Leah declined, not ready yet to risk running into Jared. Aiyanna gaped at the stone face. "Are you serious? Nah, you're pulling my leg," she laughed.
Seth proceeded to prove it to her. He found her a driftwood perch with an unobstructed view and scrambled up to the top. Balancing on his toes, he waved - then plummeted gracefully into the chilly water below, cutting through the waves like a knife and leaving barely a ripple behind. Anna found herself holding her breath until Seth bobbed up, waving and laughing.
When they got back to the house, Leah was gathering James's belongings. After many kisses from Grandma, they got him strapped in and Sue had a thought. "Wait - just a minute!" She ran into the house and came back with a small, well worn book of poetry. "Your favorite book, Leah. Now you can read it to your son. Please come back soon, honey."
"I will, Mom. I promise."