Bella was sitting in the Cullen's living room, pretending to watch a movie while cuddling up on the lounge to her boyfriend and true love Edward, with the other Cullen family members about them—Rosalie was playing a soothing classical tune on Edward's grand piano and adding her own subtle embellishments, Emmett and Jasper were playing round after round of chess challenging each other, Carlisle and Esme were taking advantage of 'chaperoning' the young couple by snuggling together on an adjacent lounge and enjoying the serenity of the afternoon, and Alice was busying herself by sitting at the coffee table in front of the newest Cullen couple and filling a sketch pad with clothing designs for a very unsuspecting Bella. Her father, Police Chief Charlie Swan, walked into the house with a package in his arms. The Chief had left work early and when he didn't find her in their living room with Edward, he suspected it was time to visit his daughter and her serious beau in mentioned beau's own home. His entrance garnered strange yet welcoming looks from the relaxed family—all prior activities abandoned for the time being. The seven vampires hadn't paid attention to their enhanced senses that had signalled his approaching presence. The package's delivery had also, possibly worryingly, gone unnoticed.
Bella was the first to mention the curious object. "Hey Dad. What's that?" She hadn't thought there would be reason for him to find her before she returned home. Oh well.
"Hey Bells. I don't know what it is; I found it on the front steps."
Carlisle reluctantly split from his wife's side to relieve the human guest of the awkward, burdensome box. Alice saw what Carlisle desired in time to remove her design-filled sketch pad and other utensils from the coffee table she still sat at. Grateful, Carlisle set the box down and opened. From it, he removed a letter and four books. With the books stacked on the coffee table, Carlisle passed the box to Alice to temporarily discard. The letter, he opened and read aloud.
Dear Cullens and Swans,
You have to read the books in this order: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn. One book is about the past, while the other three are about the future. It's about the Cullens and Swans. I hope that you change your mind about everything after reading these books. Enjoy.
S.M.
They all quietly found a comfortable spot in the living room, surrounding the coffee table. Suspicion and fear coursed through all present. As well as confusion and worry—especially experienced by Charlie.
Alice spoke first. "Okay, who will start reading Twilight?"
Esme responded; "Why not Bella or Carlisle?"
Family patriarch looked at his newest child—beloved young and klutzy Bella. His gentle, searching eyes met hers. "Do you want to start reading it or would you rather I began the task?"
Bella was not in the mood for dealing with the close attention she passionately loathed. She would never dare let anyone else carry her burdens, though this situation felt worryingly different to her. "You can if you want."
Carlisle understood from her heartbeat's strange pattern that she desired to be relieved of the task. He smiled and nodded at his most precious daughter then retrieved Twilight from the top of the small pile of books. Carlisle returned to his previous spot beside his adoring and loveable wife. He flipped the book to read its back cover. Carlisle schooled his face into his doctor's expression when he had to inform a patient of a bad prognosis or diagnosis. He was the father and head of his family; he had to remain calm and rational. He began.
About three things I was absolutely positive.
Charlie, already scared though he'd never admit it, was unnerved just by the first sentence. This had to be Bella's voice narrating, it was recognizable—he had read her best essays that Renée had sent copies of because she was that proud of her little, now not-so-little, girl. He sent Bella a questioning look. She seemed just as unnerved while she appeared to be trying to disappear in His embrace. That was not a good sign. Charlie found himself especially confronted by the power of the protective look emanating from Edward's eyes as Bella's emotional safety took priority over her physical safety in the young man's mind.
First, Edward was a vampire.
Charlie had known he wouldn't like the direction this task was going. He carefully studied his daughter's beau. Some teenager so smitten with his baby could never be a dangerous fantastical... immortal, possibly centuries-old... creature.
Second, there was a part of him—and I didn't know how dominant that part might be—that thirsted for my blood.
Again, Charlie carefully studied the accused vampire with Bella. Nope, he decided for now. There was no way Charlie could believe that the love-sick boy would be an evil creature that wanted to kill the girl he so clearly loved and adored... despite the Phoenix issue of last month. Bella still sported a black boot brace rather than still being in a cast.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
Oh great, Charlie swore mentally. He knew Bella had feelings for the young Cullen boy, but he hadn't been prepared to hear she was that crazy about him. In the current moment, Charlie considered the intensity of Bella's emotions for Edward more of a threat to Bella's wellbeing than the accusation of Edward being a vampire lusting after her blood. He could do more damage by turning her emotions against her than just being only a mortal danger.