A/N: Hi guys. So this is my first fanfic. Constructive criticizm welcomed. Please remember that this story is for mature eyes only. I don't own Twilight. Please read and review. xxx MrsLMB
Chapter 1 - Home
Driving down the main road, on her way to her father's house, Bella realized that nothing about Forks had seemed to have changed over the past 8 years. Bella had briefly been back a couple of times to visit her father. Other than that, she had kept her distance. But still Forks was as green and overcast as always. Her wipers were intermittently wiping away the drizzle that had begun shortly after Bella passed the 'Welcome to Forks' sign. Bella vividly remembered the day she left Forks, for what she thought would be for good.
Jacob had told her that he was not good and that he wanted her to stay away. The change in Jacob had been so swift. One moment he was still her insufferably upbeat best friend, her sunshine and hope of becoming whole again, and the next she was alone again, with a gaping hole - bigger even than when Edward left. When her best friend rejected her, simply because he thought he had turned into a monster, the only way out was for her to run; and so she did.
René had welcomed her with open arms. She for once consoled her daughter, treated her like the child, was understanding and supportive and eventually helped Bella to heal. It took Bella many nights of crying, before she realized that maybe it was time to discover who she was again, on her own. No Jacob, no Edward. Just find out if she still knew who she was. And she remembered the feeling of contentment when she realized one day that she was happy again, just on her own.
Bella parked in front of the familiar white house that she and Charlie had shared for a while. A house with so many memories, painful and good, that it could have easily derailed Bella's emotional state - the weaker Bella. But that Bella didn't exist anymore. She had become stronger, more confident and independent. She still wanted to find love, but she wanted to maintain her sense of self as well.
The front door swung open suddenly, forcing Bella out of her melancholic memories. Her father had a massive mustache covered smile on his face and his eyes crinkled at the sides. This was the smile he always reserved for really happy moments and she supposed that her returning home was one of those moments.
"It's so good to see you, Bells!" Charlie exclaimed and pulled her in for an uncharacteristically big hug. "Missed you."
"Missed you too, Dad." And Bella really did miss him. The brief stays over the past years were really just that. Brief. Too brief. She had missed so much time with her father. Time that she might not have had, if he hadn't survived the heart attack.
After school, Bella had studied English Literature and a little Business economics, which helped her land the perfect editing job. A job she could do just about anywhere she wanted to. No office hours, only deadlines. And the pay was really great. The head office was based in New York, but the company sent her the books with a deadline for each one. And as long as Bella completed the editing for each book on said time, all was good.
After Charlie's heart attack, Bella decided that it was time to come home to Forks. Even though she was going to live in her own place, once she got one, she still wanted to be closer to Charlie. She had heard what happened to Harry Clearwater and when Sue called to tell Bella that Charlie had suffered a mild heart attack, she had decided that life was too short. She needed her father in her life on a more regular basis. She wanted no regrets and René understood that perfectly.
"How's the house hunting going?" Sue asked a while later, when Bella was unpacked and settled into a kitchen chair.
Charlie and Sue had gotten married two years after Harry's death. His death had brought them together somewhere between Charlie's consoling Sue and Sue's need of a man's help around the house every now and then. Bella was glad for that. Her father had been alone for so long. He deserved to find love again.
"To tell you the truth, Sue, I've found a beautiful house near here, newly remodeled. The rent seems reasonable, but I still have to go look at it later this afternoon. You guys could come with if you'd like? Help me decide."
"Love to." Charlie and Sue replied in unison.
"Great." Bella sighed with relief. She needed a second opinion. She could be a little impulsive at times, although the pictures she's seen on line had basically sold her already. She just hoped and prayed that the house really did look as good in reality as it did in the pictures.
"Any plans, tonight, Bella?" Sue asked casually as she busied herself with washing dishes.
"None at all." Bella answered and grabbed a drying towel, settling in next to Sue to dry the dishes as she placed them in the drying rack.
"Then come with us to the Res tonight. There is a bonfire. Everyone is celebrating Sam and Emily's upcoming wedding. They'd all love to see you again." Sue said as she handed Bella the last plate to dry.
"Oh wow. When is the wedding?" Bella asked as she dried the remaining soap suds off of the plate in her hand.
"In about a month," Charlie added and excused himself to go watch a game on the flat screen.
Bella absently fingered a scratch mark on the counter top as she considered Sue's request. It would be nice to see the guys again. She used to love hanging out with Jake and his friends, but she wondered if Jake would want to see her. She supposed she would be welcome. Jake had made several attempts at apologizing to her over the years, all via text message of course, but none the less, the attempts probably meant that he would still welcome their friendship again.
"I'll think about it Sue, thanks." Sue smiled at Bella's response and gave her a warm hug.
"It's so nice to have you back. It means a lot to Charlie too. He really missed you. Everyone did."
"How is he though?"
"He is doing really well, as you can see. I'm cooking him healthier meals and we take regular walks. We are meeting all the requirements that the cardiologist has requested." Bella looked over to where her father sat in the recliner, mumbling something about a missed opportunity for a touchdown.
"I'm so glad that he has you now, Sue. You truly are one remarkable woman. Not so bad for a stepmom." Bella winked at her. Sue was good for her father. He had blossomed again, laughed more, had some color in his cheeks and for once, work didn't come first anymore.
Sue laughed wholeheartedly at Bella's comment and squeezed her shoulder affectionately.
Bella excused herself upstairs for a much needed nap. The trip from New York had drained her.
When three o'clock came, the three of them left to go see the house Bella had talked about. It was near the lake, a few streets down from Charlie's.
In the front, the house had a beautiful garden, a lot of trees at the sides of the garden, bright flowers all around and a round stone pathway to the front door. The white and brown exterior of the house looked neat, obviously touched up like stated in the advert, and the front door had an intricate carving of a howling wolf.
"Beautiful, right?" The estate agent said as she walked up to them, greeting the three of them by hand. "Hi, Bella. It's good to finally put a face to the voice on the phone."
"You were right, Jeanine. It's truly gorgeous." Bella gushed.
"Wait until you see the inside." She winked.
The house had a high ceiling with dark wooden walls and hardwood floors, all obviously redone recently. The living room was large with two big sliding doors, which doubled as windows. It led to a porch which overlooked the lake, where Bella could see herself drinking coffee in the morning as the sun came up. To the side of the jetty, a small, faded light blue boat was gently rocking to and fro, softly knocking against the wood of the jetty, while unperturbed, a few ducks drifted lazily upon the rippling waters.
Bella was in awe.
The kitchen had ivory colored cabinets below and above the marble counter top, and an island in the middle of the kitchen, also with matching marble counter top and a brand new stove. The kitchen windows looked out over the back yard, where a tire swing hung from a big oak tree, moving only slightly from side to side as the gentle breeze rocked it.
"I'll take it." Bella told Jeanine. This was her house. She new it! The best part was that she had first option to buy it if it was ever put on the market.
"But you haven't even seen the bedrooms, Bell's." her father pointed out.
"Right, but Dad, I'm sure it's not gonna change my mind."
"Oh Bella, it really is ideal." Sue commented, following Bella toward the bedrooms, just as enthralled by this beautiful house.
Bella was right, the bedrooms just confirmed what she had already decided. The short ride home was filled with excited chatter, mostly by Sue and Bella. Ideas being exchanged about the decor of the house. Sue was eager to help Bella get her house ready when her belongings arrived the next day. Sue loved creating a home out of a house and she was really good at it.
A/N: So what did you guys think of the first chapter? Reviews are welcome :)