1. CHARLIE
Edward drove me home slowly for once, taking in every happy moment that we could before we were to tell Charlie the news that would break his heart. Firstly, he did not trust Edward, but Jacob instead, and secondly, he most certainly would not want me to get married at the fragile age of eighteen.
That didn't matter to me though. Edward was going to be my life now and forever, and I wanted Charlie to know what decision I made before I left home for good.
Edward kept glancing my way, smiling, and holding my hand, getting used to the feel of the ring there. He was happy; probably the happiest I have ever seen him.
"I love you, Bella," he said to me as he kissed my hand.
"I love you too, Edward. More than you'll ever know."
We were silent for a moment, until he said, "We don't have to tell Charlie tonight. We can tell him tomorrow morning."
I knew that would probably be the smarter idea considering that Charlie would lose sleep, but I wanted to tell him as soon as possible. I wanted to make this official in my eyes.
"No," I said calmly, "I want to tell him the good news when we get to my house. It would be more fair to him if he know."
"Okay, as long as that is what you really want."
"You're all I want Edward."
He smiled that crooked smile at me that I loved and kissed my hand again. I don't think I could have been any happier than I was at this very moment.
Before I knew it, we pulled up to my house. It was dark by now, well past dinner, but I knew that Charlie would be up watching the Mariners game.
Edward, however, was out of the car opening my door. As I got out he held my hand and led me to the house, where I made him pause before he opened the door. I took a deep breathe and opened it.
"Hey, Bells!" Charlie said not so enthusiastically, as most of his attention was focused on the game.
"Hi, Dad," I said nervously. "Can we talk to you for a minute?"
"We-," he paused and turned around and saw Edward. "Oh hello Edward," he snarled.
"Hello sir," Edward said in a perfect tone.
Charlie turned back around to watch the game. "Can this wait Bells? It's the ninth inning and we're tied with the Sox."
I looked to the ground and back up realizing that this was going to be harder than I imagined would to be. I squeezed Edwards hand tighter.
"No Dad, it can't. We have to tell you something."
His eyes were still glued to the TV. "Just tell me Bells."
"Ch- Dad, this is really important to me," I said sternly out of character. "Can you just turn off the TV for one minute so we can tell you something?"
I was surprised at my self for being so harsh with him. He was my father. I had never been that way with either him or Renee but it seemed to grasp his attention because he turned off the game and looked at me.
"What is it Bella," he said almost in nervous voice.
I gripped Edwards hand even harder, and he looked down at me as I looked up at him. He looked calm, but I could tell that he was somewhat nervous, probably from reading what Charlie was thinking.
"Dad," I said as Edward and I moved forward, "well you see…"
I couldn't seem to get out the right words to tell him. I wanted to do this right, I didn't want to disappoint him, but I knew that I would no matter what.
He looked at us both with a horrified stare as if he knew what was coming. "Yes Bella…"
I took a deep breath as I looked up to Edward and smiled. "Dad, Edward asked me to marry him tonight, and I said 'yes'."
As I looked across the room, Charlie seemed to be more pale than usual. He snapped his head toward Edward and then back to me and said, "What do you mean you said 'yes'?"
I could tell that Charlie was angry with me, but I couldn't back down now. "I mean that Edward and I are getting married."
Charlie was almost in disbelief, but he regained his composure quickly. I knew that he was disappointed, but I knew that I had to tell him. Better now than later.
"Sir," Edward said, speaking up for the first time, "I love Bella very much. She's my world. I can't imagine my life without her."
Charlie looked at him as if he had no right to speak, but Edward stood there taking whatever aggression Charlie was thinking.
"Dad," I said, "I-," as he cut me off.
Charlie looked at me with a look I had not expected, a look of sadness. "Bella, are you sure this is what you really want?" He grimaced at Edward.
"Yes," I said calmly.
"How do you know, you're just a—,"
"I know I'm young dad, but I've given thought to this."
"How could you—,"
Edward once again intervened. "Because she said no to me months ago." He said in a smooth voice.
Again, Charlie was taken by surprise. He had definitely not thought of this possibility. He was at a loss of words.
I let go of Edwards hand to go to Charlie. I hugged him, and I as I did, he slowly put his arms around me. It was a long moment before he let me go. "You've thought about this?"
"Yes Dad, I really have. I love him, and he loves me."
He grabbed my shoulders and questioned my statement. "I know honey, but will that be enough? I don't want you making the same mistake I did by marrying so young."
"Edward's enough for me, he's not a mistake."
Seeing that he could not change my mind, he stepped back, and Edward approached me. He stood there studying us for a while. He was still not comfortable with Edward; I knew that he thought he would hurt me again. Charlie had every right to. He did not want to see me like I was after Edward had left again.
"Well, Bella, can I see the ring?"
I lifted my left hand from Edwards to show him. Charlie looked stunned at how beautiful the ring was.
"It was my birth mother's, and my father's mother's before that," Edward said lying. He rarely lied, but this was the perfect time considering the age of the ring.
"Well," Charlie said.
The three of us stood there in an awkward silence, until I realized that is was ten thirty, way past the time that Edward was supposed to be there.
"Oh, wow, look its ten thirty," I said trying to break the silence. "I think I'm going to bed, I've had a long day."
"Yeah, I better be heading back home. Carlisle wants me home early tonight anyway." Edward said once again lying.
I took Edwards hand as he said good bye to Charlie. "Goodnight sir."
"Good night Edward." Charlie said as he walked back to the couch to turn the ball game back on. From the look on his face, he was still a little surprised, and mostly horrified that his only daughter was getting married.
I walked Edward out the door, toward his car, so we could have a moment alone.
"He's going to be fine Bella," Edward told me in a smooth voice, "He's getting used to the idea."
"I hope so because I'm not changing my mind."
"Good," he said.
"Will you come over tonight?"
"Yes, after Charlie is asleep."
We were holding each others hands about a person apart when he leaned in to kiss me. I put my hands around his neck, as he brought me closer to him. Our lips touched and we both became more aggressive, slightly ignoring the rules he had made. My heart was beating faster and I was having trouble breathing, but that didn't really matter. This was the most perfect moment.
The kiss lasted about a minute, until he realized that he was, in his terms, "crossing the line," and pulled away.
He finally left and told me he would see me in about an hour.
I went back in the house as he drove off, and noticed that Charlie had already gone to bed. However the TV was still on, as well as all the lights. I turned them off and went upstairs to change into my pajamas, wash my face, and brush my teeth.
By the time I got to my room, Edward was already there, about a half an hour early. He had probably read Charlie's mind and realized that he had already gone to bed. I was happy to see him though, sitting in the rocking chair.
"How long have you been here?" I asked in a whisper.
"About fifteen seconds or so." He said in his regular voice. Charlie must have been asleep. It was surprising to me. I didn't think that he would be able to sleep considering what I just told him. He must have taken some sleeping pills or something.
"Oh," I said as I went over to sit on his lap.
"So I take it that you didn't talk to Charlie alone yet."
"No, he was in bed before I got back in the house." Edward didn't seem surprised.
"He wants to talk to you in the morning," he told me, "just to warn you."
"Can you tell me about what specifically?" I said.
"He just wants to know if you are making the right decision about marrying me, instead of being with Jacob," he paused and laughed, "and if you're pregnant." He laughed again.
I was surprised by what Charlie was thinking. We had already had both of these conversations. I already told him that I wanted to be with Edward, but he would most likely never understand that, along with the fact that Edward and I were not having sex!
"Not funny!" I said almost giggling, and playfully hit him.
"Well that's what he wants to know."
"Jeeze! I already had these talks with him."
"You did?" He said curiously.
"Yes and it was extremely awkward."
"Well you better get ready for round two, along with a long day tomorrow. So why don't you go to bed?"
Without any word he carried me over to my bed, tucked me in, and laid next to me. I loved these moments with him, the feel and smell of his breath, along with his icy touch.
"What do you mean a long day?" I asked.
"Alice wants to do some wedding invitations with you and me."
I thought about it for a moment, and as I did, I drifted to sleep.