DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of these characters. They all belong to the great Stephenie Meyer. I am simply telling my story.
When I reached the top of the stairs , I saw Charlie standing at the bottom, leaning on the banister and looking up at me.
"Is everything okay Bella?"
"Yea Dad, everything is fine." I began descending the stairs.
"You just seem a little down, Bells."
"I'm fine Dad." I had reached the bottom of the stairs. I could now smell the reason of his calling. "Dinner ready?"
"Yeah," Charlie replied, realizing the subject was closed. "I don't know how well I did, but I have to start cooking for myself, what with you…"
We had both avoided the M word. I knew what he meant though and I just nodded my head and continued on my path to the kitchen, closing yet another topic of conversation.
We ate in silence, burnt chicken and overdone pasta. I ate it with a smile on my face. I didn't know how Charlie had survived before I got to Forks. And I worried how he was going to survive when I was gone. This was our third meal this week that had been over cooked. I guess I could be thankful they were never undercooked; then we would really have cause for worry.
As we were finishing up and I was putting dishes in the sink, there was a knock at the door. I looked at Charlie and could tell by the way his face had fallen, that mine had lit up at the prospect of who we both knew it was. I was doing the dishes, so Charlie begrudgingly got up to answer the door. I could hear the tone in his voice change as he greeted our guest, though I couldn't hear who he had greeted. I knew it wasn't Edward though. Charlie would never be that happy to see Edward.
"Bells, come on out here and see who it is!" Charlie called from the front of the house.
I finished the plate I was washing and dried my hands on a dishtowel before going to the front of the house. I was instantly surprised to see the form of Billy Black, seated in his wheelchair, making his way into our living room.
"Billy!" I exclaimed, surprised at his sudden apparition, but also slightly nervous as I knew Edward would be coming soon.
"Hello Bella," He replied, not at all cheerful in his expression or tone. He looked at me with a scowl on his face and I knew he blamed me for all this trouble. And at the heart of it all, I was to blame.
"Billy said he had some good news that he couldn't call to tell us, that he had to come by for."
"Really?" I said, looking from Charlie to Billy.
"Yes," Billy said, not taking his eyes off me. "Jacob called. He has notified me of his location."
"That's great Billy! Where is he?" Charlie exclaimed.
"He is staying with some friends of ours in Canada at the At Theresa Point reservation in Manitoba. About a two days drive from here."
"Do you need someone to go get him?" Charlie asked, obviously offering to go drag Jacob back to La Push.
"No," Billy said, finally looking at Charlie. "He seems content to be with our friends. When he is ready to come home, I am sure Sam will be more than willing to go pick him up."
"Well, I should get going, Sam was nice enough to drive me out here and I am sure he would like to get back home to Emily."
"Are you sure Billy? The game is about to start."
"Yes, I am sure. I will talk to you later Charlie. Best Wishes Bella, in case I don't make it out this way on Saturday."
"Thank you Billy." I replied. I stood in the doorway of the kitchen as I watched Charlie help his old friend out the door of our house and walked him out to the waiting Sam. When they were safely out the door, I made my way to the living room window and watched Sam and Charlie get Billy into the car."
"What was that all about?" I heard the velvet voice say behind me. I jumped at his sudden presence.
"Jake contacted Billy. So Billy came to tell Charlie." I said without turning around to look at him.
"Where is he?"
"Manitoba." I said, still staring into the rain out the window. "Uh-oh, here comes Charlie."
I felt his cold lips on the back of my neck and then he was gone. I heard the back door close behind him. I knew he would be back as soon as Charlie was back inside. Coming over to visit me for the night.
Charlie came back in, not too long after Edward left my side. His was dripping wet.
"Isn't that great news Bella?" Charlie asked, still beaming.
"It's fantastic news, Dad." I said, walking back to the kitchen. Charlie followed me."I just wish he was coming home. It would really mean a lot to me if he was here on Saturday. Being my best friend and all."
"Well, we can always postpone the wedding until he gets back."
"I don't think so Dad."
"Well, he's got three days. You never know."
"Yea, you never know." I mumbled to myself as the doorbell rang. Charlie and I exchanged glances, the excitement returning to my face, the chagrin to his. We both knew who was at the door. Charlie went to answer it as my hands were once again in the sink.
"Hello Edward." I heard him say, no emotion in his voice.
Well, now that Bella knows where Jake is, will she be able to stay away? We'll have to see...