Cozy • An Embry Story

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Embry's POV

"You're up early," My mom looks me over as I iron out my pants, a black suit laid on the bed next to me. Or the closet thing I have to a suit. A black button down and black pants. Ever since the change it's been hard to dress myself. So I had to go with whatever formal black clothing I had.

"Did you get up before me?" On her way to work, my mom fastens the buttons at her wrist with one hand and holding a cup of coffee in the other. She goes to glance at her watch, nearly spilling coffee down her front but expertly tilts her wrist just the right way to announce that it's barely 7AM.

"Today's the anniversary of Winnie's parents passing. She and I are going to the cemetery to visit their grave." I explain.

"Oh that poor girl," My mom's face immediately softens, her eyes going full with sympathy and remorse. "She's been through so much so young."

"Yeah," I let out a breath. "Today has to go well." Even though Winnie will try to pretend today is any other day.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"There's going to be a lunch at the Lodge after. If you can make it, you're welcome to come." It'll be my mom's lunch hour but we'll see if can make it. The doorbell rings right as my mom promises to check her schedule. I go answer it in my boxers, finding Jacob and Paul at my door, each with a bouquet of flowers. They each dressed for the occasion. Jacob in a black vest and white shirt with a tie. Paul's in a white T-shirt but he has a blazer thrown over it, so it'll do.

"You look a little underdressed for a cemetery, Embry." Paul jokes.

"We each wore black boxers out of respect," Jacob adds pointing to the green plaid print.

"I'm still getting ready," I say, waving to Billy waiting in Jacob's car.

"Who's bringing Winnie?" Paul asks.

"Enola." I answer, taking the stairs two at a time. I tell them to give me a few minutes to get dressed, seeing them beeline to the kitchen asking my mom if she made breakfast. By the time I come back dressed, they've eaten two boxes of cereal, one box each.

"Ready." I hurry them toward the door, rolling my sleeves up to my elbow.

"How many are coming to this?" Paul asks around an apple he grabbed on the way out. I do a quick count in my head; Billy, Jake, Paul, Enola, myself and of course Winnie.

"Probably no more than like seven people."

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Winnie's POV

"This is more than seven people," Paul remarks to Embry as he helps Jacob lower his dad out of the car.

When I first arrived here with Enola, the cemetery had just opened. The grass was still slick from the morning dew, the staff just opening the gates when we pulled up. It was quiet for all of ten minutes before car after car pulled up for me.

"I never had so many people come before." I'm stunned. The entire packed showed up. I was expecting no less than Enola, Embry and Billy.

The Clearwaters came. I wasn't expecting anyone but maybe Leah.

Both Billy and Jacob came, when Billy was the only one who promised to accompany me.

The entire Ateara family came too. I wasn't even sure Old Quil would come, I knew it was a possibility this year but he came in tow with both his grandson Quil and his daughter in Law Joy Ateara took the morning off to be here.