The Right Path to Love

Chapter 1 – Answers

BPOV

I pull off the interstate onto a fifty-five mile per hour road going south. My phone rings from its spot in a slot on my dashboard, singing out the chorus to Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. I grumble and curse my best friend Jess for changing my ringtone to this obnoxious tune. The screen portrays the picture of my mother.

"Hey," I answer the phone.

"Isabella Marie Swan, you turn that car around and you come home!" her shrill voice cries through the phone.

Might as well explain what's going on while I wait for my hearing to return. I'm Isabella Marie Swan, but I go by Bella. I live in Phoenix, Arizona with my mom and her husband, Renee and Phil Dwyer.

Mom's been with Phil since before I was born. They got married shortly after I made an appearance in the world. My real dad, Charles Swan, lives in Forks, Washington. Also known as my destination.

"I got home tonight and was greeted by a note! A note, Bella! Sorry to do this to you, Mom, but I have to find some answers. I'm going to Forks!" she reads off the note I left her before I started my trip two days ago. "Where the hell are you?"

"Well, Mom, I'm in Washington," I say.

"What do you expect to find? A loving father who has been waiting for this the past eighteen years?"

"I just want some answers and seeing as I don't have his number and you were conveniently away with Phil and Lillie," Phil's daughter, "for the weekend I took this opportunity to go find my father."

"Did you even think this over?" she asks.

"I've thought this over the past eighteen years of my life, Mom. I'll be home in a few days," I say. She hangs up without another word and I place the phone back in the slot. I look at the little slip of paper I scrawled Charles' address on in my sloppy, loopy writing. 775 K Street.

I take a left at the first right and then about a mile down I turn onto his street. I park on the side of the street and kill the engine of my Volvo 2012 S60. I step out of the car and look at the house. A police cruiser sits in the gravel driveway and the grass looks like it's watered regularly.

The house is small but with two stories. The off white paint is chipping in a few places on the sides of the house. The deck isn't painted, probably meaning it's new, or newish. I walk up the driveway and up the creaking steps. I raise my fist to knock on the door but sigh and lower my hand at the last minute. I raise it and lower it a few more times before the door opens. I let out a quick shriek and jump back. He must have been surprised too because his hand is against his heart and he's staring at me.

"Who are you?" he asks.

"Are, are you Charles Swan?" I ask. I take a look at him. He has deep brown eyes and dark brown hair and mustache with flecks of gray. He's wearing a police uniform with a badge that says Sheriff.

"Charlie," he corrects, "and who are you?"

"I'm Bella."

"Well, Bella, what are you doing on my porch?" he demands. Blush rises to my cheeks.

"I, uhm, think you're my father," I look at the ground. He doesn't say anything. I look up at him and his eyebrows are furrowed as he looks at me.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but I don't think that's possible. I haven't been with a woman since my last wife left me almost nineteen years ago."

"Renee," I say.

"How did you know that?"

"She's my mother."

"Come on inside," he opens the door wider and motions for me to come in. I walk past him into the house and wait for him to shut the door. He leads me into the living room and motions for me to sit down.

"Tell me what Renee told you about me," he says as he clasps his hands together and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Does she know you're here?"

"Just that you're my father. She wouldn't talk about you. She told me you didn't want me, or her for that matter. She didn't know I was coming here until this morning. She went out of town with my step-dad and step-sister."

"She said I didn't want her?" he asks, sounding slightly hurt. "Your mother left me, Bella. I gave her no reason to believe I didn't want her," he runs his hands over his face before getting up. "I'll be right back. I need to call down to the station." With that, he walks out of the room. It doesn't go without notice that he never said he wanted me. He never denied not wanting me.

He walks back in a few moments later and sits in his previous place.

"It's just me you didn't want then," I say softly without looking at him.

"What?" he asks and I repeat myself. "Bella, no," he shakes his head. "I didn't even know she was pregnant." I don't know what to feel. I don't know how to process this. One of my parents is lying. If Mom is the one lying then who knows what else she could have lied to me about these past eighteen years. If it's Charlie then I just wasted my time here.

"What did she tell you she was leaving?" I ask sounding breathless.

"She was having an affair, but I'm guessing she didn't tell you that," he shakes his head slowly and I shake mine to confirm his thoughts. "You could just be her new husband's daughter."

"But then why would I have your last name? Why would I not look like Phil in anyway? Why would she tell me that you're my father?" I question. He just shakes his head while staring at the ground. I have so many questions but he can't seem to answer any of them. Charlie's house phone rings and he jumps up to get it.

"Hello?" I hear his gruff voice. "Renee?" he asks in disbelief. I stand and go to the doorway of the kitchen. "Yeah, she's here," he says as he looks at me. "What do you mean what did I tell her?" he grumbles. "I told her the truth. I told her what she deserves to hear. You seem to have done a poor job of that." He rubs his hand over his scruffy chin. "Yeah, one second," he sighs before holding the corded phone out to me. I walk over and hesitantly take it from his hand.

"Mom?" I answer.

"Where is your cell phone?" she asks.

"It's in the car," I say with a shrug.

"Come home," she says with no note of pleading in her voice. The only thing I can register is anger.

"Is what he says true? You had an affair? You didn't tell him about me?"

"Bella," she sighs sounding exhausted. "Come home and we'll talk." I purse my lips and think over my decision.

"No," I shake my head.

"I will fly out there and drag you home, so help me," she threatens.

"I'll call you later. Bye," I hang up on her. I'm going to pay for that later but right now I'm too angry at the fact that she didn't deny any of my accusations. I look at Charlie and he's looking at his shoes with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I should go, I'm sorry for bugging you," I whisper as I walk towards the door.

"Bella, wait," he calls. I pause and turn to him.

"I'm not lying to you. I am an honest man. I have to be. I'm a cop. I'll give you all the answers I can but I expect some in return," he bargains with me.

"Okay," I nod. We walk back into the living room and sit down again.

"Your mother left me for your step-dad. I didn't know she was pregnant otherwise I would have fought to have you in my life. There's no denying that you're my daughter, you have my eyes and hair. I know you have no reason to believe me but I promise you, I'm telling the truth."

"I believe you," I nod my head. "She told me you didn't want me and that we're better off without you. She told me you kicked her out. I was brought up thinking you were a cruel man because that's what my mother taught me."

"I loved your mother. I begged her not to leave; told her we could get through her affair. The last words she told me were just let me go, Charlie," he says. "What's your full name?"

"Isabella Marie Swan," I say and Charlie chuckles humorlessly.

"Isabella is my mother's name," he explains his laughter. "Ironic how your mother would name you after her but not let me know about you. How old are you?"

"Eighteen. I'm a senior in high school."

"Get good grades?"

"Four point oh."

"Wow, great job," he says sounding sincerely proud.

"Yeah, well Mom expects those grades," I shrug. "She wants me to get in a good school."

"Where do you want to go?"

"I have no clue yet."

"Do you know what you want to go into?"

"Mom wants me to go into medicine but I want to be an author or English teacher. But I'll probably end up going into medicine."

"Why?"

"To make Mom proud," I shrug.

"She should be proud of you for becoming what you want to and following your dreams."

"It's getting late," I say as I look at my watch. "I should go." I stand up.

"Do you have anywhere to stay?" he asks.

"I was going to just rent a room at the motel in town," I shrug.

"You're welcome to stay here," he says. "I have a guest bedroom."

"Thanks," I smile. I go out to my truck and grab my phone and overnight bag. "I should call Mom," I purse my lips and shrug. Charlie shows me up to the room and I sit on the bed before calling Mom, only to hear her shrill nagging.

EPOV

I walk into the house as quietly as I can. It's past my curfew by an hour and I'm hoping Esme and Carlisle are sleeping. The floorboard creaks under my foot and I cringe and pause. The kitchen light flicks on and Esme is standing there with her arms crossed.

"You're late," she scolds.

"Sorry, I lost track of time," I sigh.

"Are you high?" she accuses.

"Es," I groan. "No. I've been straight for three weeks and you know it."

"You smell like weed, Edward," she says warily.

"My friends were smoking. I declined the blunt when it came to me. Probation, remember?"

"That also means not coming home late and smelling like weed," she raises her voice.

"You're going to wake the others," I say softly. She sighs and walks over to me. She cups my cheeks in her hands and rubs her thumbs along my cheekbones.

"You're a good kid, Edward. I know it. You can't be bringing more trouble into your life."

"So, what? I'm just supposed to find new friends because some judge put me on probation?"

"That judge is the reason you aren't in jail right now, Edward!" she says desperately and drops her hands. "Now go wash up and get to bed. You have community service tomorrow." I kiss her cheek and whisper an apology before walking up the stairs and into our only bathroom.

My name is Edward Anthony Masen. I'm eighteen and I live in my foster parents' house. I'm technically not supposed to live here but I help out with the younger kids here. They're the only family I have. Esme and Carlisle took me in when I had no one else. They brought me into a house with three other kids. Alice Cullen, they're only biological child, is seventeen. Jane and Alec are eight and twins. Their parents gave them up for adoption after they were born and they've lived here since they were two.

When I get out of the shower I put my jeans back on and walk into my room down the hall. Alice is sitting on my bed.

"I heard you and Mom downstairs," she says. I sigh and sit next to her.

"Yeah?" I question.

"I don't want you to go back to jail, Edward. You're my best friend and I hated seeing you in there. Please, find new friends," she begs.

"I'm not going back to jail, Ali," I sigh and rub her shoulder.

"If you keep hanging out with Riley then you're going to," she insists. "He's no good, he's only holding you back. I want you to be at my graduation."

"I'll be there, I promise," I say. "Go get some sleep, you have school in the morning." She gets up and hugs me before walking out of my room. I walk over to my tiny closet, which is literally three feet from my bed, and pull out a pair of sweat pants. I remove my jeans and replace them with the sweats. I lie on my bed and bend my arm under my head, resting my other on my bare stomach.

I dropped out of high school during my junior year when I went to jail for eight months. My buddy Riley and I got caught stealing a car and were, in the judge's words, lucky not to get more time.

Everyone tells me I'm a good kid but I always seem to find trouble. Either that or trouble just runs through my veins. I've gotten a few MIPs also. I'm surprised Esme still puts up with me after all the hell I've put her through.

The next morning I dress in black jeans and a gray wife beater with a black and gray plaid shirt on top. I fix my messy hair as well as I can in the small mirror above my dresser. I walk down to the kitchen where Alice, Alec and Jane are eating. Alice looks at me only to look down at her half eaten cereal when I catch her eye.

"We're going on a field trip today, Edward," Jane smiles at me.

"Really? Where to?" I ask as I clean off an apple. I sit at the table while Jane explains.

"To the Timber Museum."

"Sounds like fun," I smirk at her.

"Edward, you're going to be late," Esme taps the top of her wrist as she comes into the kitchen.

"Good morning to you too, Es," I smile sarcastically. "Have fun today, Squirt," I say as I ruffle her hair. "I'll pick you and Alec up after school." I grab my keys and wallet before walking out to my motorbike I fixed up a few years back. I picked it up from some kids in La Push and fixed it up for a small sum of money. It now runs like it's new. I slip my helmet over my head and speed off towards the jailhouse where my probation officer is waiting for me. He drives me and a few others to a retirement home where we are to spend the day doing food service. It doesn't miss my attention that an attractive brunette sits with one of the older women during lunch. It also doesn't miss my attention that she leaves upset.

After community service I drop my bike off at the house and take my car Esme and Carlisle got me for my sixteenth birthday to pick up Jane and Alec from school. The car's nothing special. It's an old model of a Volvo S80. It gets me around though and comes in handy during the excessive amounts of rain we get as well as during the winter.

I drive to the elementary school and sit in the parking lot, lighting up a cigarette and cracking the windows. I inhale the smoke wishing it were as sweet as weed and exhale, still enjoying how relaxed it makes me. I haven't gotten drunk or high in the last three weeks and whoever tells you going sober is easy is a lying motherfucker.

Jane and Alec come out to the car and I flick my cigarette out the window.

"Hey, how was the field trip?" I ask as they get in back.

"It was boring," Jane mumbles glumly. Alec doesn't talk much. He's probably said about three words to me within the past year. No one knows why he doesn't talk, he just doesn't. Esme has talked to all of his teachers about him and she sends him to a specialist once a week to see if we can get him to talk.

"Boring? Did you think it was boring, Alec?" I ask as I look in the rearview mirror. He looks at me before looking back out the window. "Why was it boring?"

"It just was," Jane shrugs. I chuckle and accept her answer as we drive them home. When we get there I fix them a snack before heading upstairs and sit on my bed. Alice skips into my room and sits next to me.

"How was school?" I ask her as I flip through a car magazine.

"I got an A on my calculus test," she smiles.

"That's great," I smile at her. She curls up into my side, resting her head on my shoulder and looks at the magazine with me. "How was community service?"

"Exactly how it sounds," I grumble. "It sucked."

"It'll be over before you know it," she says.

BPOV

The next morning I make Charlie and me breakfast. He comes into the kitchen and stares at the table that is filled with bacon, eggs and hash browns.

"What's this?" he grumbles, still half asleep.

"I made breakfast to thank you for letting me stay last night…and for giving me answers yesterday.

"Bella, you didn't have to do that," he yawns. "But I'll never say no to a home cooked meal." He sits at the table and serves himself. I sit across from him and do the same.

"Your mother," I say between bites, "is she still alive?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's down at the retirement home. Why?"

"Would you mind if I met her?"

"Sure," he furrows his eyebrows. "Do you know where it is?"

"I'm pretty sure I passed it on the way here," I nod. He nods and continues eating. Once we're finished Charlie offers to clean up. I go up and change into the jeans and t-shirt I brought with me. I leave my hair down in waves the go a few inches past my shoulder.

"Charlie, I'll be back in a little while," I call to him before walking out to my Volvo. I drive to the retirement home and walk into the office.

"May I help you?" a young woman asks behind the desk.

"Is there an Isabella Swan here?"

"Yes, she's in the dining room. I'll show you where," she smiles and gets up. She leads me into a room that looks like a fancy restaurant and to a table with an old woman sitting alone.

"Izzie, you have a visitor," she says in a sickly sweet voice. Isabella looks up at her before looking at me. She smiles small and motions for me to sit down. I sit and smile at her shyly, swiping hair behind my ear. Isabella has thin, short, curly white hair and pale, frail skin. Her eyes are as dark as mine and hold great depths.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" she asks in a soft, smooth voice.

"Isabella Swan," I say hesitantly. She narrows her eyes and furrows her eyebrows in confusion. "I'm Charlie's daughter."

"Charlie doesn't have a daughter," she shakes her head.

"He didn't figure out until yesterday. And I thought he didn't want me until yesterday."

"What does this have to do with me?" she asks.

"I just wanted to meet you," I say nervously. "To see if I could get a few more answers."

"You want some answers?" she says.

"Yes ma'am," I nod.

"About what?"

"My life. My family. I just want to know about the Swan side of my family. My mother doesn't tell me anything."

"Your mother is the worst thing that has ever happened to my son," she says casually.

"I know what she did was wrong but that doesn't constitute her as the worst thing that happened to him."

"She is an adulterer and the Lord will condemn her. I will not tolerate you bringing her filth into my son's house."

"I'm sorry?" I question, not knowing what to say but feeling hurt.

"You've lived with her your whole life and she's done nothing but wrong you and my son. You want your answers? You go home to your mother and don't show your face in this town again."

"Ma'am, I don't think that's fair," I say. "I have a right to see my father and you can't just," I ramble but she cuts me off.

"Please drop this subject and leave me in peace, Child. Your mother has disgraced my family enough for the both of you." I get up, shaking my head before leaving without another word. I drive back to Charlie's and walk into the house. There's a note on the counter telling me he went to the station and wouldn't be home until late tonight. I leave him one thanking him for letting me stay but I am going home. I go up to the guest room, make the bed, pack my overnight bag and hit the road, putting Forks in my rearview mirror.


Hey everyone!

So, how did you like it? I've had this story idea in my mind for a long time now and I have just now decided to start writing it. Let me know if you like it or not please!

Reviewers get teasers!

Lots of love,

Nikki