The Sister

Chapter 14

"Do you have any plans for this weekend?" Beth asked Leah at the start of their morning shift. It was Thursday and the week had been going well so far. She had told Harry on Monday that she would like to cut back on hours, and he was okay with the idea as Sam had told her he would be. Until they found some more help, he had asked her to do Monday and Tuesday nights cooking to give him a break. Then morning shifts waiting tables from Monday to Thursday. It was an adjustment getting use to being home so early in the afternoon, but Beth was grateful for the free time.

"Not really. This thing just keeps getting bigger so it's not like I can really do anything," Leah shrugged, looking down at her rounding stomach that had started to stretch out the front of the work shirt.

"I have a bunch of baby clothes I'm still hoarding. Maybe you could come over and see if there are any you want. I've been meaning to go through them for ages, but I just keep adding to it," Beth laughed, it wasn't a lie, but she did have alternative motives of course. Sam was trying to push back talking to Leah, so Beth was taking it into her own hands.

"Yeah, that actually sounds good. I've got a list of questions you maybe able to help me with as well." Leah said, a flash of excitement on her face.

"Honestly, I just guessed most of it," Beth shrugged.

"Come on, you're a great mum, I don't know how you did it alone. I'm terrified," Leah said honestly.

"I wasn't alone, there is a whole tribe of people that helped me and they will help you as well. I'm sure Sam will want to be part of the baby's life as well," Beth offered.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he skipped town again. I asked if he wanted to catch up and talk things over, but he just left me on read." Beth wasn't aware of this and felt a little better about taking things into her own hands.

"I'm sure he will come around," Beth patted Leah on the shoulder before she went to serve a customer.

"So, is the baby stuff at your dads?" Leah asked a little later in the day when neither of them had customers.

"No, I've actually started moving into a new place," Beth said.

"What! No way," Leah said excitedly, surprised by the news.

"Yeah," Beth nodded.

"That's awesome, how the hell did you find a place?" Leah asked. Beth knew she had been looking for a while but was having no luck. Just saying she found a place available to rent was not going to fly.

"I am actually moving in with someone," Beth said. There was no point lying about it. If anything, this would help warm Leah up to the idea. She didn't have to know who this person was.

"You have a boyfriend; how did I not know this?" Leah was dumb struck by the idea. She had seen Beth turn down almost every guy in the area, never showing any interest in them.

"Gosh Leah, don't sound so surprised," Beth laughed.

"No. I just mean how have I not heard about this; this is like big news. Who is he?" Leah asked. She was excited for her friend. Beth deserved to be happy with someone.

"You'll just have to wait and see," Beth said.

"Must be someone good to get past your walls," Leah laughed.

"Yeah, he is. So, when you see him, please don't overreact?" Beth asked. Knowing there was no way Leah wasn't going to overreact to the situation she was about to be put in.

"Is he ugly?" Was Leah's first question.

"No. But I don't think he's who you would expect me to be with," Beth said.

"Is he old?" Was Leah's second question.

"No… you will just have to wait and see on Saturday," Beth replied. That didn't stop Leah asking multiple questions throughout the afternoon. Beth tried to be as honest as she could, but that was hard when you were hiding a secret. She was glad when she could finally leave work. She had given Leah the address and they had made plans to meet there Saturday morning. This gave Beth one day to work out how to tell Sam.

Beth collected Juliet from daycare and stopped buy the grocery store before taking the familiar road back to Sam's.

Beth had a few free hours until Sam would be home. She unloaded the groceries and busied herself by putting a roast on for dinner. It was more like half a cow. She prepped a large tray of mixed vegetables as well to go into the oven later. She flicked a text to Sam telling him to bring Paul and Jared back for dinner if they didn't already have other plans. She received a short reply from him an hour later letting her know they wouldn't be there for a couple more hours and there would be four of them.

Beth wasn't sure who the fourth person could be. She didn't want to bother Sam with questions. He was surely busy, and she didn't want to take up his time with multiple text. She set the table and put on a load of washing. Once she was out of things to do, she settled down on the couch with Juliet. The little girl's afternoon nap had ended, and she was a ball of energy. Juliet sat on her mother's stomach looking down at her. Beth talked to her daughter trying to teach her a few more words. She was happy they could add the words, chair and roof to the short list of words Juliet knew. Beth wasn't sure what sentence she could make with, mama, pop pop, bye bye, milk, egg, chair, and roof, but every word counted.

Beth had Juliet feed, washed and in bed by the time the guys arrived for dinner. Sam looked exhausted when he came through the front door.

"Rough day?" She asked. He pulled her into a hug pressing his face into her neck and savouring her calming scent. "I'll take that as a yes," she said holding onto him until Paul loudly cleared his voice.

"Get a room you two," Paul said loudly pulling a chair out and dropping down at the table. Sam sighed pulling back from Beth. Beth smiled leaning her hands on the table.

"Why would we need a room when there is a perfectly good table here to fuck on?" Beth asked. Sam broke out in a coughing fit as a surprised gasp caught in his throat. Paul smiled leaning forward with his elbows resting on the table and his chin in his hands.

"Yeah right, you forget we share everything," Paul tapped a finger against the side of his head. A shit eating grin spreading across his face. Beth rolled her eyes.

"Well this dinner talk is definitely different to home," Embry said standing in the doorway with raised eyebrows.

"Never a dull moment," Jared said stepping in behind him and patting Embry's shoulder on his way to the table.

"Embry?" Beth said looking back and forth between the younger boy and Sam.

"The newest member of the pack," Jared smiled leaning back in his seat.

"Well then welcome, please ignore my previous statement and take a seat," Beth smiled through her embarrassment. Everyone laughed and Sam tossed around some drinks while Beth served up the food. The pack didn't say much as they inhaled the food. Afterwards they told the story of how Embry almost phased in the middle of gym class. Jared was luckily in the same class and dragged him out before he could phase. Once he phased it took them a while to explain what had happened to him and what their role was. Embry seemed to be taking it fairly well, by the end of the story he was adding in his own comments and thoughts.

"Then when I phased back, I thought clothes would just appear but I'm just standing there naked in front of everyone," Embry laughed.

"You were very proud of yourself then you ran for the nearest bush like your ass was on fire," Paul laughed hitting the table.

"You will need to get a few more pairs of shorts. You will shred through a lot in the next few weeks." Sam informed him.

"Great, mums going to hate that," Embry's face fell.

"Paul you got a spare couch at all?" Sam asked.

"Not unless Jared what's a bed buddy," Paul smirked.

"I can barely fit on that couch," Jared replied.

"Okay you may have to stay here for a few days then Embry. It's not safe for you to be home until you have a bit more control over your anger," Sam said not happy with the idea. He didn't want the young wolf near his imprint and her child.

"I can just go home it's no problem, I don't feel angry," Embry said.

"Sorry kid, it's better for you to take a few days away from other distractions and get use to phasing first." Sam said. "Billy should have called your mother by now and told her you wouldn't be home for a few days."

"What did he tell her?" Embry asked.

"He would have come up with some story," Sam replied. "We will get that off him tomorrow."

"I don't want to be in the way," Embry said looking a little worried.

"You won't be Embry; we will just move Juliet's crib into Sam's room, and you can take the spare bed. No bother at all," Beth smiled warmly at him. Her bed was the only spare one in the house as the other guest room didn't have one. This would mean she had to share a bed with Sam, but she tried not to over think that. "Or you can take the couch if you really want but it's very uncomfortable," Beth offered.

"As long as you are sure it's no trouble," Embry said.

"No trouble at all Embry," Beth smiled. "Now why don't you say thank you by washing these dishes and I'll go get your bed sorted."

"Well, that is our queue to leave," Jared said jumping up, Paul following suit.

"Thanks for dinner Beth, same time tomorrow?" Paul asked.

"Sure, I might even make dessert," Beth said harmlessly. Paul sent her a wink.

"Sounds good to me," he smirked.

"Paul, you have shift in four hours, get home," Sam growled.

"Come on Sam, up stairs," Beth said rolling her eyes. She pushed his arm and he moved to the stairs. "Night guys," Beth said waving to the boys as they left. Embry proceeded to clear the table and take care of the dishes. Beth jogged up the stairs after Sam. As soon as they were out of sight Sam had Beth pinned to the closest wall, his lips on the soft skin of her neck. She gasped, her chest heaving. Sam pulled back after a moment, his arms caging her to the wall.

"What's that for?" Beth asked between breaths.

"Please don't flirt with Paul, not unless you really do what to get fucked on that table." Sam hissed into her ear lowly. He hoped Embry wouldn't overhear.

"I will keep that in mind," She smirked. "Come on, help me move this crib."

"You get the kid, I'll get the crib," Sam said opening the bedroom door. Beth nodded picking up the sleeping Juliet, rocking her softly as she moved to the next room. Sam made moving the crib look too easy and Beth tried to not look to impressed but failed. Sam sat the crib at the foot of the bed and Beth placed Juliet inside.

They left the room quietly as possible. Beth left the door cracked open so Juliet wouldn't wake in the pitch-black room without her night light. Beth changed the sheets in the spare bed and Sam moved her things into the empty spare room. Most of the boxes she had brought from Charlie's were piled up in there, so he just added to the pile. Once the room was finished Sam stole one more heated hallway kiss before leaving to finish his shift.

He returned hours later dragging his feet up the stairs. Sam showered and changed before heading to bed. He paused in the doorway admiring the view. This wolf thing had changed his life forever, at the start he hated it and everything it had done. Now he couldn't be happier or more grateful for the life it was giving him. Curled up fast asleep in his bed was the woman of his dreams, asleep in her arms was her carbon copy. Sam was proud to be able to call them both his own and he couldn't see how anything could ruin what they were building.