As the plane touched down I got more and more nervous. Shit. Maybe this was a bad idea. I wondered how I could sneak past Charlie get my bag and get out of here. Forget the bag. I'd buy new clothes. I just had to get to the ticket desk and get out of here. I couldn't breathe. I stood up to exit the plane and dumped my purse over in one of my famous 'tripping over air' and 'try to get my footing moves'. I ended up on the floor, pawing around under the seat for my belongings when a small dark haired child tapped me on the shoulder. "Miss, I think you dropped this." It was a picture of Jake and I at the last bonfire I attended. I was sitting between his legs, his eyes were closed, chin on my shoulder, a look of contentment on his face. I could feel my resolve crumble, and made way out of the plane to face my past.
I made it down to baggage claim, and there was Charlie, waving to me, Billy by his side. I rushed to give him a hug. "Sorry if you had to cut your trip short, Dad. I could have rented a car." Charlie took a step back from me and put his hands on my shoulders.
"No way, Bells. I've been waiting years for you to come back home where you belong."
"Dad, I don't know if I'm staying forever. I'd have to find a teaching job first."
"Charlie, aren't there some perks to being the town sheriff? Can't you throw your so called weight around to get our girl to stick around here?" Billy's eyes were twinkling, and I leaned down to give him a hug. I'd always loved him like a father. "This is where you belong, Bella. This has always been your home." I could feel the tears forming in my eyes, and pulled back to look at Billy. He smiled at me, giving me just a bit of hope.
"Come on, Bells, let's get you home." With that, Charlie picked up my back and led us to the parking ramp. I expected to see the cruiser, but instead was lead to a rusty oversized piece of metal. "Dad, is that my truck? I thought it went to the junk yard years ago!" I was jumping up and down in excitement, overjoyed to see my noisy old companion. I had so many good memories in that rusty old heap.
Billy turned and looked at like I'd grown two heads. "Did you really think Jake would have let her go so easily? He never lets go of something he loves. He just pieced her back together again." The double meaning in Billy's words were unmistakable.
"Come on, old man. I'm ready for a beer, and your old ass is probably ready for bed", laughed Charlie.
"Who you calling old? Last time I checked the ladies weren't complaining about my age."
"Ok, you two, knock it off. Dad, can I drive?"
"She's your truck, Bells."
I turned the key in the ignition while dad got Billy settled in next to me.
"It's quieter than it used to be", I said.
"Well, Jake put a bunch of new parts in when the old engine gave out. He made it a little more street safe, less noisy, and now the old girl should last a long, long time. Pretty much everything under the hood is new. He left the rest of it alone, even if Charlie did want him to restore it. Jake said it was beautiful the way it was."
I smiled and drove us home in silence, relishing the banter between my dad and Billy. Two old friends who had shared so much life together. The dense forests spread out all around us as we got out of city and closer to Forks. I rolled down my window to breathe in the moist air and scent of pine that was all around us. I was finally home.