27. WISH

Everyone knows I don't like to make a big deal out of birthdays.

And yet, the instant Edythe and I walked down the stairs everyone in the house was already gathered in the living room, now filled with a bunch of colorful balloons, and I was greeted with the loudest, most enthusiastic "Happy birthday!" I nearly fell backwards from the shock. Edythe was there to catch me, of course. Though she was standing behind everybody, I saw Jules throw her head back and laugh. It was the first time I've seen her like that in a while, and I was happy for it; happy that I could make her smile.

"Happy birthday, bro!" Arch came up first and held a small white box out to me. Through the clear plastic window inset on the top of the lid, a huge cupcake with blue and green frosting peered out at me from inside. There was a little sign made of white chocolate on top which had "Happy Birthday" written on it in chocolate syrup.

"You shouldn't have." Really. I added in my head. "Thanks, guys." I smiled though anyways. Who would complain about cake? Cake's always a good thing.

"Let's take it into the dining room." Earnest said, swiping my digital camera off the counter and ushering us all away. Edythe sat beside me, squeezing my hand. Carine took a small striped blue candle and a red lighter from the drawer and, after sticking the candle in the frosting right in beside the white chocolate sign, she lit it up and pulled away.

"Say cheese, you two." Earnest positioned the camera at an angle that could capture me, Edythe, and the cupcake all at once. Just us two for the last time because next year, if things worked out the way I so desperately hoped it would for us, there was going to be one more person, a tiny one at that too, in the shot right there with us. I heard the "click" of the shutter and saw Earnest grinning when he reviewed the shot. My lips pulled back into a tight smile, my face already flushing as everyone started singing "Happy Birthday" to me – well, everyone except Royal, that is. He kind of just mumbled the words. But hey, at least he was making an effort – it's the thought that counts, right? Then everyone fell back, giving me a little more space.

"What are you going to wish for?" Carine asked, clasping her hands to her chest.

Wish?

I knew exactly what I was going to wish for.

I blew out the candle. Everyone clapped again, and I dug into the cupcake. It was so freaking good that I smeared frosting all over my face trying to eat it faster.

"Slow down, Beau! I can't take you anywhere, can I?" Edythe chuckled, her cool hand on my back now. She grabbed a napkin from the counter and wiped the goop off my lips with it.

"Thanks." I winced, those red splotches creeping up on me again. After finishing off the rest of the cupcake, I rinsed the box out and went to put it in the recycle bin outside behind the house.

Just then, my ringtone blared out from the open kitchen window and I bolted to where I'd left my phone earlier. It was Dad.

"Answer it, Beau." Jules was there. "He's really worried about you. I told him that you were taking a year off from school, but I didn't say why. He knows you're back in town, though. Sorry about that. I just didn't know what else to say." she explained, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down. "I'm sure he wants to wish you a happy birthday, too." She bit her lip, avoiding my gaze like she thought I was mad at her or something. She never needed to worry about that with me, though. Carefully mulling over Jules' words, I finally swiped at my screen on the last ring before it would go to voicemail.

"Hey, Dad," I started, trying to sound as sick as I could.

"Beau? Is everything alright? Why haven't you been answering my calls?" His voice rose a little; grew more frantic.

"I'm sorry, Dad." I really meant that part, at least. "I've been pretty sick." I made my voice more brittle and coughed loudly into the receiver.

"You sure you don't want me to come over?"

"No, Dad, it's totally fine. They're taking good care of us, Edythe's family. Carine's a doctor, remember? I just don't want you to get sick. You're the police chief after all, and we wouldn't want to let America's most wanted get the upper hand if you were ever to be out of commission, right?" I said with a chuckle.

He sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Guess you have a point. Are you kids at least feeling any better?"

"Yeah, a little bit. We'll be fine. Trust me." I made my voice a slightly brittle sound again and heard him click his tongue on the other line.

"Okay, okay. But please, just answer my calls from now on, will you?"

"Deal."

"Good."

There was a silence then, but Dad broke it.

"So… you guys aren't going up to Dartmouth this year, huh?"

"Nope, I guess not. It's just… we didn't want to feel like we were missing out, you know? Since we were going to have to ditch those crucial first few weeks of school." I reasoned. Wow, even I almost believed it when I said it like that.

"Mm. Makes sense." he mumbled back. "Alright, then. Get well soon, Beau. Tell Edythe that, too. And happy birthday, kiddo." I could tell a tiny hint of a smile played up at his lips when he said that last part based purely on his tone of voice. I chuckled.

"Thanks Dad, and will do. Stay safe out there. I'll see you soon." I hung up first and tossed my phone on the dining room table. Resting my hands on the lacquered surface, I tapped my fingers noisily against it, my thoughts a swirling mess in my brain that all came down to this: What were we going to tell him? I mean, how much were we allowed to say? Under normal circumstances, I knew Edythe and I - Edythe especially, I'm sure - would have loved to tell him the news as soon as possible. But now, I wasn't sure if that was even an option. Was Charlie - and Renee, for that matter - really not even allowed to know they were going to be grandparents soon?

"Hey." Jules touched a warm hand to my shoulder. I turned to look at her, my once-anxious face softening upon seeing hers. "I got you something. Happy birthday." She pulled a small present topped with a silver bow out from behind her back and handed it to me.

"Thanks, Jules. You shouldn't have." I gave her a hug. She returned it, but pulled away quicker this time than what I was used to.

"I wanted to." She shrugged, showing me a little grin. I tried to take that as a good sign. "I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will." I assured her with a smile. She waited with expectant eyes as I tore the tape off the shiny blue paper. A small white box was inside, one that fit in the palm of my hand. Then I lifted the lid and pulled out a compass with mini sterling silver turrets lining the outer edge and a subtle 3D eight-pointed star charm which branched out from the middle of the lid. I turned it over. On the back, there was a small picture of a wolf engraved on the metal and my eyes widened - it was a gorgeous piece.

"This is amazing, Jules. Thank you so much." I wrapped my arms around her.

"You're welcome." She smiled, resting her hands on my back. "Just in case you ever get lost so you'll be able to find your way back home again."

"Well, I love it. Thank you again, Jules." I inhaled the sweet scent of her hair then heard her sigh when she pulled away. I knew that meant something else was on her mind.

"Hey," she started in a hesitating voice.

"Yeah?"

"Um, where's Edythe?" she asked, looking over my shoulder.

"I'm right here." She came floating down the stairs and stood before us, her eyes a little more wary than usual after what happened the other day. I did understand it, but she didn't need to worry about anything. She could trust me. I still couldn't help but feel bad about it, though, because deep down I knew it was all my fault and I hated that I could hurt them - the both of them - like that.

"Mind if I borrow your husband for a sec?" Jules tilted her head in my direction, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts. Edythe stared at her for a moment, a look of intense concentration flashing in her eyes. Then she let out a sigh.

"Very well." She nodded once, tugging at her fingers. It was resignation. "Do go on, then."

"Thanks." Jules grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her out the sliding backdoors, sitting us down below a giant tree whose shade spread out high above us. The breeze troubled the dry, dying leaves so they made a sound like the rustling of paper.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"I just need to tell you some things."

"Things? What things?"

She let out another sigh at my question. "About Sam and the others. About my mom. About your family. Just listen, alright?"

"I'm all ears."

Her eyes were looking straight out in front of her now, moving around the forest which bordered the Cullens' backyard like she couldn't concentrate on any one thing. She took another breath.

"Sam's decided to stand down – for now, at least. They're going to wait for Edythe to have the kid first then decide what to do about it then."

"They'll have nothing to worry about." I snapped loudly, my voice suddenly shaking with something between anger and fear. The fact that Sam and her pack could even consider harming Edythe and our child at all made my blood boil - then freeze over just as quick - in my veins.

"I tried to tell them. You know they won't listen to me." Jules shook her head. "They told my mom about it. Obviously, the news didn't sit too well with her but she's strictly prohibited Sam and the others from hurting either of them-" she motioned a hand towards the house, "but that's only because Charlie's her friend." She sighed again, pulling her knees to her chest. She looked to me with shiny dark-brown eyes, her cheek pressed to her arms which were hooked around her knees.

"Why did you have to go and do that, huh?" she asked in so quiet a voice I wasn't even sure she was talking to me in the first place. I blinked, opening and closing my mouth like I was chewing on air. What could I possibly say to that?

"Um, sorry?" Was I supposed to apologize for something like this?

"Yeah. Me too."

There was a silence between us then and I turned away.