As Edward pulled his silver Volvo to the front of my house, I could hear my heart began to race. I knew Edward was aware of it too, because he began to rub his thumb in soothing circles on my hand. I tried to put on a smile for his benefit, but we both knew I wasn't fooling anyone.
"We don't have to tell Charlie now if you are not ready" Edward's voice was filled with worry.
"No" I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "he deserves to know, and if I don't tell him now, then I might as well send him an invitation to notify him."
Edward looked as if he wanted to say more, but a small motion from the living room curtain reminded us that Charlie was well aware of our presence. I was about to reach for the lock of the car door, but before I had the chance, Edward was by my side, taking my hand, and pulling me gently towards the house. Charlie met us at the door, a grim expression on his face as if he already knew that we had important news to tell him.
Once the three of us were all settled at the kitchen table, I began to speak, trying to word things carefully, in hopes that Charlie wouldn't have a major meltdown right there at the table.
"Ch…" My voice was shaking, and so I began again. "Charlie, umm… I'm not really quite sure how to say this, but I love Edward, and I have agreed to marry him."
Crap. Why couldn't I have taken more time and eased him into it? Why did I just have to come right out and say it? I watched Charlie's face anxiously for his reaction. At first, there was none, and I thought that maybe he hadn't heard me. But from the way Edward was carefully concentrating, I was pretty sure he was also trying to sum up Charlie's thoughts. Suddenly, Charlie's pale, sallow face, came to life, finally having registered what I had just said.
"WHAT??!" he sputtered angrily. "NO! It's not happening! I will not let you marry the very person left you! I swore I never even let you see him again. I already broke that rule, and I'm not about to break another!"
"Dad! It's not fair. I am eighteen. A legal adult, and if you won't let me marry Edward, well then I'm going to move out and marry him anyway!"
I was beyond furious. What right did my dad have to tell me that I could or couldn't marry the man I loved? I wasn't just some little girl who needed him to tell me what to do. No. I was a woman, free to make my own choices, and all that mattered to me was that I would be able to spend the rest of my life with Edward. I quickly hopped up from the chair, and began to stomp up the stairs to my room.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Charlie's voice boomed up the stairs.
"I'm going to get my stuff because I am going to live with the Cullen's." Before I could say another word, Edward's arm was around my waist, gently towing me back to the table.
"Give him a chance, love" he murmured quietly in my ear. I sighed and plopped down in the chair again, reaching for Edward's smooth, marble hand for support. I sighed and then glanced up to meet
Charlie's livid eyes. He was looking directly at me now.
"How can you want to marry him? After all he has done to you?"
"After all he has done to me?! He has saved my life again and again, been there for me when I needed him most. How can you say that?!"
Easy, you are not going to marry him, I am your father, and I get to choose who I give my daughter away to!"
At that I shoved the chair back and stormed onto the front lawn. How dare he tell me that I couldn't marry Edward, that he wasn't good for me?? How dare he!