Charlie sat in the back of Edward's Volvo with Sue, trying
very hard not to be pleased with himself at the moment. He never thought he would succeed in his venture, since Bella had thwarted his plans for the past four years, but something must have changed her mind. It didn't matter to Charlie, either way, he was just glad that she was coming home. Finally.The couple in front of him were not speaking to each other at the moment, but Charlie could care less. After Bella left Forks over four years ago, he had failed to convince her to come back. At first, Charlie was adamant that she come home by herself to visit, but Bella wouldn't dream of leaving Edward's side. There were many arguments over the phone, which ended up with Bella hanging up most of the time. Charlie thought Bella's reluctance to leave Edward and come to Forks by herself had to do with her fear of abandonment. The damage of having been left by Edward in her senior year had left its permanent mark on her, and Charlie thought she was afraid of Edward disappearing on her again. He just couldn't understand the dynamic between the two. There was love, and then there was obsession. The more Bella acted out, the more Charlie began to realize how unhealthy the bond was between Edward and Bella.
He had spent the past two years flying over with Sue to spend time with Bella over Christmas holidays since she refused to come to Forks. The visits had not been enough for Charlie, and he desperately missed her and wanted to spend more time with her. Bella had left Forks just when they were getting closer, and it bothered Charlie that he was missing out on her life.
Bella stared out of the window as Edward drove them away from the crowds of students and parents in attendance for the college graduation. Edward and Bella had just graduated from Dartmouth, and Charlie and Sue, along with Renee and Phil, flew up to celebrate this milestone in Bella's life. The Cullens had been gracious enough to find and fund the accommodations for them, something they were appreciative of.
Edward had been privy to Charlie's thoughts for a few years now. He had a hard time accepting Charlie's analysis of their relationship, but couldn't fault him for missing his daughter and wanting her to come home. He understood that Charlie wanted to spend some quality time with Bella, and thought it was her fear of being separated from him that kept her from visiting Charlie. It was his fault she feared abandonment.
He had discussed this with her during the graduation ceremony.
"Bella, he is your father. He loves and misses you, he just wants to spend some time with you. Alone. Go home with him, spend some time with him, I will be here when you get back."
"Okay," Bella said quietly.
"What?" Edward asked with a confused expression. He had expected an argument, waiting for her stubborn nature to take over; at least some resistance on her part. After all, Bella had not wanted to visit Forks at all in the past few years. There wasn't anything Charlie or Edward could say to convince her
otherwise. Her 360 degree turn surprised Edward, but that was nothing new. Bella had always managed to surprise him with her strange human ways."I'll go to Forks. It's time."
Bella thought about her answer on the drive back to the hotel Charlie and Sue had been staying at. She didn't really want to go back to Forks, but had to. The idea of facing certain people had stopped her from going back to Forks all these years. Charlie's reluctance at allowing Edward to accompany her back to Forks kept her away, and made the decision to stay away easier. She might have gone, had Edward accompanied her. She had been afraid of going back by herself, knowing that she was weak-willed and might end up doing
something...Going back unmarried and human, may give the wrong impression to
someone.A wrong impression she may not have wanted to correct.