Love poems (Leah Clearwater story)

Chapter 18 ~ Meeting the Clearwaters

The days turned into weeks, and Vivienne's life in La Push settled into a comfortable rhythm. Her bond with Leah grew stronger, and she felt increasingly welcomed by the pack. One weekend, Leah invited Vivienne to meet her parents and her younger brother, Seth.

"Are you ready for this?" Leah asked as they walked up the path to her house. The modest, cozy home was nestled among the trees, with a garden that overflowed with flowers and vegetables.

Vivienne squeezed Leah's hand, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Ready as I'll ever be. Are they nice?"

Leah smiled. "They're great. My mom's a sweetheart, and Seth is... well, Seth's a character. You'll see."

Leah opened the door, and they were immediately greeted by the warm, inviting smell of baking. A woman with kind eyes and a gentle smile emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.

"Mom, this is Vivienne," Leah said, her tone affectionate.

Sue Clearwater enveloped Vivienne in a warm hug. "It's so nice to finally meet you, Vivienne. Leah's told us so much about you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Clearwater," Vivienne replied, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the warm welcome.

"Call me Sue," she said with a smile. "Come on in, make yourself at home. Dinner's almost ready."

As they stepped further into the house, a young man with a mischievous grin bounded down the stairs. "Hey, Leah! Who's this?"

"This is Vivienne," Leah said, rolling her eyes playfully. "Vivienne, this is my little brother, Seth."

Seth extended a hand, his smile widening. "Nice to meet you, Vivienne. Leah's told me a lot about you."

Vivienne shook his hand, returning the smile. "Nice to meet you too, Seth."

The evening passed in a pleasant blur of conversation and laughter. Sue had prepared a delicious meal, and the atmosphere was filled with warmth and camaraderie. Vivienne found herself relaxing, enjoying the company of Leah's family.

"So, Vivienne," Sue said as they finished their dessert, "Leah tells us you're quite the poetry enthusiast."

Vivienne blushed slightly. "I do love poetry. It's been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember."

"What's your favorite poem?" Seth asked, leaning forward with interest.

"It's hard to choose just one," Vivienne replied. "But I think one of my favorites is 'Love's Philosophy' by Percy Bysshe Shelley."

Leah smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Vivienne has a way with words. She's got a real talent."

Sue nodded approvingly. "We'll have to hear some of your work sometime."

As the evening drew to a close, Leah and Vivienne helped Sue clear the table while Seth disappeared upstairs. They soon heard the sound of music drifting down, and Leah shook her head with a fond smile. "Seth and his music. He's always practicing."

When it was time to leave, Sue hugged Vivienne again. "You're welcome here anytime, Vivienne. It was lovely getting to know you."

"Thank you, Sue. I had a wonderful time," Vivienne replied, feeling genuinely touched by the kindness she had been shown.

On the way home, Leah squeezed Vivienne's hand. "See? I told you they'd love you."

Vivienne smiled, her heart full. "I love them too. Your family is amazing, Leah."

Leah pulled Vivienne close, kissing her temple. "I'm glad you think so. You're part of this family now, you know."

As they reached Vivienne's house, they found Embry waiting on the porch. "Hey, you two," he called out, grinning. "How was dinner?"