Chapter 5: a circle of support
The next morning, Bella knocked on the door of the red house before she unlocked it with her spare key.
Billy always told her she never had to knock that's what the key he had given her was for. However, Bella didn't like making assumptions. She never wanted to invade her godfather's privacy.
" Billy? Hello? You home?"
" in the wood shop bells!" came a deep baritone voice.
Bella made her way through the house that was like a second home but this time the sound of Jacob's loud laughter no longer echoed off the walls.
She walked further down and turned until she came upon the warmth of Billy's woodshop. One thing he always told her was that he was grateful that he lost the use of his legs and not his hands. He used his hands to create. It was his livelihood.
" Bells? What a Surprise. I was going to come see you at the hospital ."
Bella shrugged and said, " I figured I beat you to it."
" you look well rested." He complimented.
" I am. I got a full 8 hours. What are you making?"
" Just a new table for some people in forks. The pack is going to deliver it tomorrow. How are you, sweetie?"
" I am taking it day by day." She admitted.
"Are you hungry?"
" I am but I was going to join old Quil for breakfast. Why don't you come with me?"
….
The Ateara family did not live far from the blacks and the drive over was quick.
Bella cringed at the thought of running into Quil. His disdain for her was thick. She knew he blamed her for Jacob's disappearance most of the pack did too. And now that she knew it was Quil and embry who called her leech lover. It only made things more awkward.
The front door opened and old quil smile widened when he saw her.
" little niece! What a surprise! Come on in! I guess you can too chief."
" Whatever old man!" Billy joked.
He led them to a dining room that was filled with a full spread of food.
It smelled delicious.
" joy?! Can you add another plate to the table?"
"It's not one of the pack, is it? I can't keep feeding those endless garbage disposals!" a feminine voice yelled back.
" Oh relax it's just your cousins!" old quil shouted.
" I don't want to inconvenience anybody – " Bella began but old Quil cut her off.
" nonsense child. Take a seat!"
Bella sat next to Billy fidgeting nervously.
She jumped when the backdoor slammed open.
"MA! GRAMPS! IM HOME! IS BREAKFAST ON THE TABLE!?" a voice shouted.
Bella cringed.
It was Quill.
" quit yelling and go wash your hands!" the feminine voice yelled back.
And then the dining room swung open to reveal a beautiful woman with long black hair and grey eyes. this must be Quils mom, She thought. She gasped when she saw Bella.
" my goodness! Bella swan as I live and breathe! I haven't seen you since you were a baby!"
"uh… hi Mrs. Ateara. I am so sorry I showed up uninvited. I don't mean to inconvenience you." Bella explained nervously.
However, Quil's mom pulled her into a warm hug and Bella felt herself relax. it was a mother hug. Not cold and stiff like Esme's or flighty and fake like her own mothers.
As Bella felt her body relax, all the pent-up emotions she was holding, exploded.
A sob tore from her throat, as Quil's mom held her tighter.
"oh that's it, honey, you let it out. let it all out."
Bella sobbed harder.
For the first time in forever, she felt safe.
….
Once Bella recovered from her breakdown, breakfast was a pretty fun affair. The Ateara family was loud and full of laughter. At all times.
It was nice for once. She didn't have to play hostess or worry about others watching her eat. She was content to just enjoy the meal.
She was currently in the kitchen doing the dishes with Quil by her side.
This was where the awkwardness set in.
To break the tension, she tried to make small talk.
"so how are you doing Quil?" she asked.
"fine." He said gruffly.
Bella nodded and decided to go quiet. It was obvious Quil didn't want to talk to her.
She was scrubbing the last dish and had handed it to him to dry when he snatched it from her.
"ouch!" she yelped as the chip in the plate cut her skin, from the force of Quil's rude gesture.
She grabbed her hand to see blood seeping from her palm.
"crap! Crap! Crap! Come on..!" Quil groaned angrily as he captured her wrist and dragged her down the hall.
He shoved her into the bathroom and she managed to stumble into the toilet. but this time, Bella was able to catch herself.
She quickly turned to Quil and said "Hey! Quit manhandling me! I may not be a supernatural creature but I know how to aim for your balls!"
He looked at her with wide eyes and then sighed. He looked somewhat remorseful.
"im sorry. You are not my favorite person in the room right now Bella, but that does not excuse my behavior. I'm being a jerk."
"but Quil what did I ever do to you!?" she yelled at him.
Quil sighed and turned his back on her as he grabbed the first aid kit. He then turned back as he took her hand. With gentleness, he began to clean her wound.
" you didn't do anything to me, Bella. But… you hurt my pack brother. You broke his heart and because of you he's out there and he won't come home!"
Bella opened her mouth and then closed it.
Part of Quil's words were correct. Her actions led to Jacob running away but she didn't make him do anything. He chose to run away.
"you're partly right? I will admit that. I was so broken and weak back then. I used Jacob as a crutch. And then I found myself falling in love with him. I admit that. I loved him but… I couldn't see myself with him Quil. we were better off as friends. I made that clear the last time he and I spoke. We would always be friends if he wanted that. But then... Edward… stupid freaking Edward, sent that dumb invitation without my knowledge or consent and that's when Jacob made his choice from there. I understand that he was angry and hurt, but leaving his father and pack behind was selfish. I don't care if never speaks to me again, but you all are his family, he can't just abandon you."
To her surprise, Quil's eyes softened when he looked at her.
"you're his family too Bella."
She opened her mouth to reply but someone beat her to it.
" more than you know."
Quil and Bella turned their head to see old Quil in the doorway watching them.
"come meet me in my office when you two are done."
….
Old Quil gestured for them to sit crossed-legged on the carpet across from him.
"I want to get this out in the open first off. Just to get some pressure off your shoulders Bella. You and Junior here are cousins. Junior and Jacob just so happen to be cousins too except it goes a little farther down the line. Long story short you and Jacob are by a technicality Cousins as well. But only by a technicality."
To the man's surprise, Bella began to laugh. and then Junior began to laugh as well.
Old Quil stared at them in confusion.
"what's so funny?" he asked.
"it's the fact that now Jake and I have a huge reason not to be together and it's because we are related on a technicality."
Old Quil chuckled.
"I suppose that is funny. That boy going to be in the shock of his life when he gets back. Now, I am sure you want to know about the family lineage correct?"
"please." Bella requested.
" I married your aunt, Molly Swan. She was Charlie's younger sister. Now mind you I had been married before Molly but my first marriage hadn't been the best. I was 40 when I met Molly and she…well she was 26 years old."
Quil and Bella glanced at each other before they nodded for the elder to continue.
"I had a son with my first wife, Quil the fourth. But as I said, that didn't end well. She… abandoned us. divorced me and walked out. left me with an infant son. I raised four, by myself. By the time he was 28, Molly and I had fallen in love. We married Quickly. Of course, Charlie rose to all kinds of hell. His little sister wasn't marrying an old man, even if it was his best friend's dad."
"Can you blame him? That's like Bella marrying William senior and expecting Billy to be ok with it." Quil said sarcastically.
Old Quil hit the were with his cane, and continued to talk.
" Four was 28 and had found a wife of his own. I wasn't young but I wasn't quite old yet either. I was a prominent member of the tribe and held in high regard. Even with all that loneliness crept in. Molly would shop at our store almost every other day. We just…connected. She was a spirited girl with a sense of adventure and I loved that about her. To my surprise, she was the one who asked me out. that bold beauty. You remind me a lot of her Bella. Anyway, like I said, she asked me out and I couldn't say no. The rumors that spread around Forks and La Push were like wildfires! Some said I was keeping her hostage, while others said she was paying me! it was somewhat hilarious. We ignored the rumors and kept on dating. It was a month after we started dating that I proposed. Of course, she said yes. when we told Charlie, he went ballistic! He and four thought that we would date for a little while and get it out of our system. But when Molly turned up with that bracelet, he had a coronery. He gave her an ultimatum, if she married me, he would never speak to her again. Molly chose me."
Bella gasp. No wonder her father had seemed so quiet about her wedding! At first, he was mad but afterward, he was simply quiet.
Now it made sense. He didn't want to repeat history.
"Please tell me they made up!" Bella asked.
Old Quil looked away from her with tears in his eyes. a subtle shake of his head.
"no.. unfortunately, your father allowed his resentment to build. By the time Molly died, it was too late. She was only 37 when she died. I had ten beautiful years out of it. you know, you were the reason, that the relationship with Charlie and our family was mended. He came crying at our doorstep with you in his arms. Renee had disappeared from him and wasn't answering her phone. Billy was already busy with his twins and Charlie didn't want to disturb them. I was still grieving Molly but I…just couldn't hold it against Charlie. I was too old for resentments. That night changed everything for our family. Of course, fourth dying years later didn't fix anything. "
Bella blinked back tears.
Her father's anger, and guilt eating him away. Old Quil's grief and trying to keep his shattered family together.
"did, you and Aunt Molly ever have kids…please say yes," she whispered. To her surprise, Quil reached over and held her hand.
Old Quil closed his eyes and smiled.
"We did. One boy and one girl."
"but…" Bella pushed.
" but resentment grew in their hearts as they grew older and they moved away from the tribe as soon as they turned eighteen. Haven't heard from them since."
Before Old Quil could say anything else, Bella made her way to him. Wrapping her arms around him.
"I won't leave you, Uncle Quil. I promise."
….
Paul POV:
Paul was glad he brought extra clothes. he figured Bella would be out longer than normal. He knew how hard it was to sit in a hospital all day.
A nervous heartbeat and the smell of anxiety cause him to look up.
Someone was standing outside the door.
It was a women.
After a few minutes, she knocked.
"It's open." He called.
The door opened to reveal Tiffany Call, Embry's mother.
"Miss Call?" he questioned.
She however ignored him and slowly walked over to Charlie. with shaking hands, she touched his face, tracing the outline of his mustache.
"oh honey, I should have been here. I should have been here for you and Bella. I am so sorry. Don't you worry, I am going to be here for you both."
She then looked up, her eyes no longer filled with anxiety but with hope.
"Hello, young man. Where is Bella? And who might you be?"
"My name is Paul Lahote mam, Bella is out at the moment. I-"
The door burst open and Bella's scent filled the room. Paul's eyes rolled into the back of his head as her scent ambushed his nostrils.
Vanilla, and lavender mixed with his own scent, from his clothes and yet a musky undertone.
She was fertile and Paul was an unmated alpha male.
They wanted her.
Paul felt his wolf lunge. Oh now, he wanted to pay attention.
He didn't get too much time to think or try to rein himself in before Bella had thrown herself at him.
Her arms locked themselves around his neck and she buried her face in his shoulder.
"thank you! thank you! thank you! Last night was the best sleep I ever had."
Unfortunately for Paul, the last shred of his self-control was slipping away by the second.
He stood and gently pulled Bella off of him.
With trembling hands, he tilted her head upwards, so that her wide brown eyes could lock with his.
"It's n- no problem. I gotta run but I will be back. You can count on that."
And then he sprinted out of the room, not caring if his chief and elder were watching him go.
As soon as he got to the tree line he phased.