AN: This is definitely a filler chapter but I felt that the Jacob situation needed addressing and I felt inspired this morning. I hope you enjoy Xx
Chapter 15: Apple Pie
It was a welcomingly warmer evening at the end of April when I welcomed Sue into our home with a grateful heart, eager to express my appreciation for her help with getting Charlie to accept the supernatural world in the last few weeks. The evening started beautifully, conversation flowing easily around the dinner table as Sue complimented my cooking and we got into talking about our favorite dishes and recipes.
The delicious aroma of food filled the air, enhancing the cheerful ambiance. We chatted about school, my interests, and recent events, Sue's gentle smile radiating encouragement and maternal admiration, which warmed me up inside.
Between bites of the meal, Sue couldn't help but notice the apple pie, sitting on the dessert tray behind Charlie. Her eyes lit up, a nostalgic smile gracing her lips. "Oh, that pie! It smells just like my mom's famous apple and cinnamon pie."
Curiosity piqued, I leaned in. "Could you share the recipe, Sue?"
A twinkle of enthusiasm sparked in her eyes. "Of course, Bella! It's a simple family recipe, passed down through generations and that I bake for every special meal." Sue went on to describe the perfect blend of crisp apples, a touch of cinnamon and melted butter, and a dash of secret ingredients that brought out the pie's rich flavor.
As she detailed each step, I was captivated by Sue's enthusiasm and expertise. Her animated storytelling brought the recipe to life, making it feel more like an adventure than a simple baking task. By the time she finished, the room was filled not just with the aroma of dinner but also with the comforting anticipation of a delicious dessert.
But before I could bring the pie for us to share, the tranquility shattered when an unexpected visitor rang the doorbell, followed by an impatient knock, and I went to open it. Jacob stood there, flanked by Leah and Seth, their faces etched with discontent.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, a hint of unease creeping in as their expressions soured further.
"We're here to see their mom," Jacob replied sharply, casting a disapproving look at me. "Where is she?" The animosity in his tone made me want to slap him right there.
"Jacob, I invited Sue for dinner," I explained, hoping to defuse the tension, yet I could feel the anger tainting my words. "She's our guest."
Leah's eyes blazed with intensity and only her brother's hand on her shoulder stopped her from moving closer to me. "This is exactly what we were talking about. You might enjoy playing house with leeches, leech lover, but leave my mom the fuck out of it, do you hear me?"
"Leah!" came a reproachful voice behind me and I sighed inwardly, knowing our peaceful evening was over. "Bella invited me for dinner, there is no need for you to be so rude." Sue placated. Sue's discomfort was evident as she observed her children and Charlie's concern was palpable, probably vividly remembering Seth shifting right in front of him to defend his mom's honor when Charlie had brought her home after Harry's funeral. He'd barely been saved by Jacob's timely intervention, I couldn't blame him being wary.
I tried to keep calm, despite my rising frustration. "This isn't the right time or place for this, guys. Sue was only—"
"You're not listening, Bella!" Seth's voice rose, a mix of frustration and hurt etched on his face. "Our mom shouldn't be out here with all the blood suckers running around!"
The tension thickened, the warmth of earlier replaced by an uncomfortable silence. I struggled to find words to ease their anger with my own menacing to come forth.
"I'd better get going," Sue declared, grabbing her coat and purse from the rack near the door. "Thank you for the lovely dinner, Bella," she said, stopping to give my hand a quick squeeze. I couldn't help but return her sad, but warm, smile as she left. Sue was good at heart and it was hard not to feel happier in her presence.
The door closed on them and the silence that ensued was heavy. I looked at Charlie and I couldn't take the look of hurt and discomfort on his face. I headed for the kitchen, hoping to distract myself with cleaning around.
Walking in, however, I was assaulted by the smell of my apple pie and a lump formed in my throat. Making a flash decision, I cut half of it and placed it in a tupperware, then a plastic bag and headed for the door, putting on the deep denim blue jacket that Alice had insisted I needed this season. I checked that my truck's keys were still inside and left without looking back when my dad asked where I was off to.
I slammed my truck's door and started, heading to La Push to get her pie to Sue.
As I navigated the familiar roads toward the reservation, my mind raced with conflicting emotions. The brief heated argument with Jacob, Seth and Leah weighed heavily on my mind, overshadowing the warmth of the earlier conversation with Sue. I was determined to make amends, to reassure Sue that her presence was valued and respected despite the drama that had unfolded. May I be damned if I cost my dad to lose another friend.
Pulling up outside the Clearwaters' residence, I spotted Jacob pacing restlessly near the porch. His expression was a mix of frustration and something else I couldn't quite place. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for a confrontation, and stepped out of the truck, clutching the packaged pie in my hand.
"Bella," Jacob greeted, his tone edged with an unusual mixture of apology and defensiveness. "Look, I—"
"You shouldn't have said what you did, Jacob," I interrupted, my voice firm. "You overstepped, and you turned a perfectly normal evening into something completely uncomfortable and far from normal. There was no vampires around and you know it."
He hesitated for a moment, "I know, Bella, okay? But you have to understand, I ..." He trailed off, clearly unsure what to say.
"Understand what Jake? That you made things more complicated than they needed to be once again," I countered, my frustration bubbling beneath the surface, feeling briefly guilty for twisting the metaphoric knife around some more. "Charlie clearly needed to know the minimum about the wolves and the need to keep quiet about it but that didn't give you the right to break the Treaty and expose the Cullens and cause unnecessary trouble. You're lucky they didn't do anything about it!"
Jacob glanced away, his jaw tense with a burning anger that made me tense up. "I messed up, I get it! But you're just letting them into our lives like it's fucking normal, Bells! It's not normal! They're leeches, fucking blood suckers! Seth and Leah are right to want to keep their mom as far away from that madness as they can!" His voice rose, a mix of anger and desperation.
"They're not leeches, Jacob," I shot back, my patience wearing thin. "And you don't get to dictate who I invite into my home. Sue is Charlie's friend, and she helped him understand things better. You're the one escalating things now."
His eyes bore into mine, filled with a blend of hurt and anger. "Fine, do whatever you want," Jacob spat out before turning and storming back toward the house. He stopped at the door and turned to me, adding; "and Seth was telling the truth, there were leeches running around your house, that's why we came." And he went in, closing the door a little harder than needed, leaving me standing there, torn between frustration and disappointment.
With a heavy sigh, I approached the door and looked around, finding a little nook to leave the pie in as a small peace offering amidst the turmoil that had unfolded.
AN: Have you seen the new story cover? I know I am changing it often lately, ahah. The reason behind this last one is the plotline becoming more refined and you can catch some clues as to what may happen in the next chapters. If you want to see it better, head to my IG :)
For when I look back later - 13 Dec 23: 155 fav, 228 follow, 95 reviews!
