Chapter 15: Blessings in Disguise
Chester ground his teeth as he looked at his sister and his ex-sister-in-law.
At the moment, Monica was playing host to her family and his father.
Charlie, himself, and Quil senior confronted the women in the front yard.
" please for all that's holy tell me what you three are doing here?" Chester asked in anger.
"first of all watch yer tone with me, Chester. I will take you down right here and now. Dad said he was coming to see you. and that Charlie and my niece were in town. I've never gotten to see the little bastard so-"
"you watch your tongue about my daughter you snake. Charlie and I were married when we had Bella and you know it, Bridgette." Renee sneered as she turned to look at her ex-sister-in-law.
"Hey! Hey! Enough of that now. We don't have time for this." Charlie said firmly. "now no matter what the reason you all are here, you all should have called first! Especially you, Renee, and joy! now Bella's safety is compromised!"
Charlie then whipped around to look at his brother and best friend. Eyes wide and heart rate skyrocketing.
Chester and Quil senior cussed.
"ok, Charlie don't panic. I'll send ajana to look around." Quil assured him. He then turned to joy. He had no clue how to feel about her presence. He hadn't seen her since Quil Junior was young. He almost forgot how much they truly couldn't stand each other.
"what are you doing here joy? Does anybody from Lapush know you're here?"
" first of all, I am here to see my boy. And two, I am not stupid Quil, I traveled to like three states before I came here. I was in California when I bumped into Renee. She told me she was going to New Mexico and so was I. So we made our way here. Just our luck that Charlie was waiting at the airport when we touched down. Now if you excuse me I want to see my son." Joy sneered.
"Now you hold up just one flying second joy. You don't get to come in here and make demands. You're the one who sent our son down here alone." Quil senior snapped.
"me!? you left us when we needed you!" Joy yelled.
"you agreed to it joy! You pushed me into it! –"
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone looked at Charlie who was pinching the bridge of his nose.
"We are going to gain some self-control and act like adults. You three showed up unexpectedly and uninvited which complicates things. However, we will move on. Leave your bags at the door and please come join us at the table in the backyard."
With that said, he dismissed the three women.
Once they were gone the three men looked at each other.
" I can't believe this. I can't believe this. My ex-wife is here and now I have to look Ajana in the eye as if everything is ok. not to mention Joy is going to freak out when she finds out about Quil being a sperm donor. Oh and the icing on the Cake? We don't know if the freaking leeches have been following Renee and now they are crawling through our city!" Quil senior roared.
He was shaking and his eyes were flashing yellow.
"hey now, deep breathes Quil. You can't go puffing up right now. You've worked all these years to banish the wolf. Don't let him have control now. Think about Ajana and Ayana." Chester told him.
"like I said, I'll send Ajana out to scout from the ground and I'll scout from the skies. It won't take us long. By the way Charlie, you and I have done a horrible job at telling Bell Bee how we're related. Not to mention how the heck are we going to explain Bridgette."
Charlie cussed and ran his hands through his hair.
"I never wanted any of this for her!" he told Chester. " she was supposed to live a good life in Forks and then graduate and then I would have explained to her what happened. I only told her about you because you were the only one in the family who wasn't a nut case. Dad and Bridgette will eat her alive."
Before they could continue, Ajana was interrupting them.
"Alright now, enough with the sob fest. You men need to get in there. We will talk about the drama later. Now, as Chester said, I will go scout the ground, and later Chester will scout the skies. Now get in here 'cause Monica can only stall so much. I am going to go check on Bella."
….
" How are those appetizers, Mr. Alvarez?" Monica asked. You could cut the tension with a knife.
"good as always daughter-in-law." He grunted as he ate his third shishkabob.
"Monica, as good as these steaks are, when are we going to have some real food?" her mother asked.
"well, were waiting on the men so as soon-"
"here we are!" her husband announced with a fake cheeriness that only she could recognize.
"Well, it's about time! let me see my handsome sons!" Mr. Alvarez smiled as he stood to look at Charlie and Chester.
It was funny because out of the three siblings, Chester, Charlie, and Bridgette. Charlie was the odd one out. he took after his mother in looks. Chester and Bridgette gained their father's darker skin complexion, while Charlie was the lighter one. But Charlie took the thick mustache just like his father.
"Son it's been a while. Where is my granddaughter, I want to meet her." Mr Alvarez said gruffly.
" she'll be out in a minute Pa. Are we ready to eat?"
" yes! Everyone, please have a seat! We have a wonderful spread! Please dig in! Everything is family style so just pass it around! Let's eat!"
Monica said as she tried to get the subject off her niece.
" Monica! The backyard looks so beautiful! amazing! I love the twinkle lights and the mosquito tent! You have a very nice setup. Did you cook all this food yourself?" Renee asked.
Monica held her tongue when she looked at her ex-sister-in-law. She couldn't stand the women but she needed to remain peaceful for the sake of her family.
"yes, I am glad you like it," she said curtly.
Not sensing that she didn't want to be talked to, Renee kept on talking and Monica pretended to listen.
…..
"Why do they call it morning sickness if it doesn't happen in the morning? Mine always hits in the afternoon and evening." Bella groaned as she clung to the toilet bowl.
Ajana rubbed her back and said "It's different for every woman honey, mine was always in the middle of the night. I have ginger ale here for you."
"thank you. I needed that." Bella said as she took the soda.
"You gonna have to be strong out there Bella. We've been blindsided by some unfortunate guest."
"oh no who…?" Bella asked as nervousness filled her
" your mother, Junior's mother, and your aunt."
"my mom is here!" Bella screeched shooting up from the floor. " and wait I have an aunt!? Dad have a sister? Why are relatives popping up out of the blue? Wait- if mom is here then …then..Edward-"
Bella began to hyperventilate. Edward's black eyes flashed through her mind.
She felt ajana pull her into a hug and tried to calm her down, but Bella pushed her away.
"no. I have to maintain my own emotions. I will not freak out. I will not freak out. my family will protect me. I trust them." Bella told herself with her eyes closed. " I will not allow anyone to overwhelm me."
She did her best to slow her breathing and placed her hands on her belly.
"We are going to be ok. Daddy will protect us."
Once she was calm she opened her eyes to look at Ajana.
"my therapist has been working with me to not be such a worry wart. When I used to live in forks I would worry a lot about every little thing. Especially when my supernatural friends were fighting the enemy, I was so busy worried about them instead of just trusting them."
Ajana smiled and pulled her into a warm hug.
"you are a courageous warrior young one. And you will be a wonderful mother. Come let's try to calm your belly."
"But what about you ajana?! Isn't it awkward with your husband's ex-wife? Are you ok?"
Ajana laughed.
"Oh, sweetheart I am more than okay. I married the love of my life and he loves me. His ex-wife is not a threat. I am confident in my marriage."
The two women then made their way out of the bathroom.
…..
"Hey for a youngin, you're doing a really good job around here." Mr. Mitchell complimented as he patted Quil on the back.
They were locking up the mayor's office and had just finished their last rounds. He loved the job though. He had to wear a suit and carry a gun but that was only used for emergencies. The job required him to be observant and quick on his feet. They always had at least one angry citizen on their hands.
However, Quil was itching to get out of there. He was dying to go see his wife
OK, she may not be his wife yet but he knew she wanted to say yes but he had to be patient. He wouldn't force anything on her.
"Thanks, Mr. Mitchell. I'm just doing my best. Are we.. done here?"
Mr. Mitchell laughed." yes we are but would you mind following me somewhere ?"
" Uh I kinda have somewhere to be Mr. Mitchell," told him.
"I won't be long, I think this is something you will like."
Quil sighed.
"Alright, sir. I'll follow you."
A few moments later, Quil and Mr. Mitchell drove up a hill, and Quil gasped.
"no freaking way," he mumbled.
The house before him was a giant luxurious mountain log home. The outside was surrounded by the hillside and greenery. Something that contrasted with the rocky desert around them.
"come on in here son!" Mr. Mitchell shouted as he got out of the truck.
Quil was quick to follow as Mr. Mitchell opened the front door.
"Now, I want you to go take a look around and tell me what you think."
"uh..ok," Quil said in confusion.
And it was then as Quil walked around the house a vision played before his eyes.
"Quil breakfast is ready babe!"
He walked into the kitchen to see a woman with long brown hair and a curvaceous body. Her back was turned so he couldn't see her face.
Before he could say anything, footsteps were heard.
He turned and was body-slammed by two little bodies.
"DADDY!"
Quil found his arms full of two little boys both having black hair and bright brown eyes.
"Daddy you awake! Your snores almost made the house fall!"
Quil laughed. " well I will just have to snore a little quieter."
The scene changed and he was in the living room.
There was a giant Christmas tree with beautiful decorations and a bunch of presents.
All around him was his family.
His father and Ajana were on the couch with Charlie and an unknown woman across from them. They were laughing with cups of coffee in thier hands.
"yes! I won Aunt Monica!" a voice yelled.
Quil turned to see a boy at least ten years old playing cards with an older Monica. Looking over to his left, he saw another boy playing jenga with Chester.
And to his surprise, Ayana was standing by the window laughing but it was the male by her side that surprised him.
It was Brady fuller.
"dada!"
Quil looked to see a three-year-old girl with curly brown hair, waddling her way to get to him.
"dada!" she squealed when she finally got to him.
Quil leaned down to pick her up.
"hey, there butterfly." He heard himself say.
While he knew this was a vision, he had no control over what he said or did. He was just watching from the outside looking in.
"dada!" she gurgled as she buried herself in his chest.
As they snuggled, warm arms wrapped around him from behind.
"look at you, Daddy. You're so handsome when you're snuggling our babies. It's no wonder we keep having more, I can't get enough of you."
And just as Quil turned to see her face, the vision changed again.
Quil was in a hospital hallway. He was pacing back and forth as tears filled his eyes.
A few minutes later, a doctor came out with a calm look on his face.
"Mr. Ateara your wife's appendix ruptured but we were able to save her in time. everything is going to be ok."
Once again, Quil was taken for a whirlwind when the vision changed.
He was in a church, standing at the very front.
All around him were his friends and family. To his surprise the whole pack was there, all of them smiling and looking so happy.
Music playing made him turn.
Walking down the aisle and holding on to Charlie, was Bella.
Pregnant and so darn beautiful.
When she finally reached him, Quil realized he was crying. And so was she.
"hey.." she whispered to him when he took her hand.
"hey.."
"looks like we get to do this again huh.." she chuckled.
"yep except no Elvis.."
The couple laughed.
"You are my heart Q."
"And you are my soul B."
When the vision ended, Quil found himself on his knees in the kitchen, tears pouring down his face.
Mr. Mitchell was kneeling next to him. Tissues in hand.
"so I see you are having visions of your life. He did the same to me when I first moved in here."
Quil wiped his eyes and took the tissue from him.
"Who? What are you talking about old man?" Quil questioned.
" Let me tell you a story. I was about your age and had no guidance on what I wanted to do with my life. I wound up marrying the love of my life and we had six kids. I started off working as the mayor's security guard. Working my way up the ranks. my life was decent. But..something was missing. I realized that while my life was good and I was a good person. I still needed a purpose in my life. It took me a while to find it and the same will happen to you Quil. You just make sure you keep your head up and your heart pure. Now I am sure you are wondering why I asked you to come here huh?"
Quil nodded.
Mr. Mitchell sighed and gave him a somber look.
" two months ago I found I have colon cancer. It's terminal."
Quil's eyes got huge. It was then he realized why Mr. Mitchell smelled off. He was dying.
He opened his mouth to give his condolences but Mr. Mitchell stopped him.
"Now, none of that. None of that. I am not sad. I'm happy actually. I get to see my wife again. anyway, a few weeks after I found out, I needed to get my will together. None of my six children want to live here in New Mexico, their city kids you know. They reside in New York and New Jersey. I wanted to go live with them but I didn't want to sell my house either. I started to but the realtor was no good and some of the families that came through, I didn't like them. I built this house with my own two hands, and I didn't want to just hand it to anyone. So, after much decision and watching you, I want to give you this house. The mortgage is paid off and the bills are managed. It has five beds and five bathrooms. A huge backyard, a security fence, and closer to the mountains for privacy. If anyone comes up that hill they must really want to see you! and maybe one day you'll have a wife and fill this house with kids. What do you say, Quill?"
Quill stared at Mr. Mitchell in shock.
"yo-your giving me a house? T-this house?" he stuttered.
"only if you want it son. And only if you take care of it and fill it with a wonderful family. I want to see little Quill's running around when I'm in heaven."
Quil laughed a nervous laugh as he pulled on his bread and wiped away tears.
"Mr. Mitchell you have no idea how happy and insane this is! Like in a good way! this is so crazy! I proposed to my fiancée last month! And now with this house, I can really give her a secure future! "
Quil stopped as he tried to wipe the tears away.
"Hey, it's alright to cry, son. Aint nothing sissy about it. so you got yourself a girl huh? Well, this makes this even better for me! let's come downstairs and sign some paperwork. There is one stipulation though, you have to pay 100.00 for at least three years. That 100.00 helps cover the property tax over time. Does that sound fair?"
"yes! Absolutely yes!"