We'd been sitting in silence for about twenty minutes on the porch. No one had come outside so I guess they suspected it was something serious. Although I don't think they expect me to be a long-lost child.
Charlie, as he said to call him, had his hands over his face and would periodically uncover them long enough to stare at me, sigh, and then cover his face back up. He was definitely my father; the resemble was just uncanny. But I didn't have his last name which bothered me. I guess Renee wanted nothing to do with him. Or her son. My brother.
It was still a weird thought to know I had a brother.
Charlie let out a long breath and uncovered his face again.
"I should have known," he whispered, shaking his head, his eyes distant. "A few days before she left she was moody. She had been complaining about her period and I thought she might've been pregnant so I got her the test. And then night I came home I found the box was open but there was no test. She had left a note for us. She said she couldn't do this anymore; be tied down. She was always a free spirit and I guess Forks had finally gotten to her."
"What do you mean?" I whispered, watching him.
"Renee didn't like Forks. Her entire life was here and after high school she wanted to go to college in California or New York. Somewhere big, somewhere she could get lost. And when I found the note I had figured the test came out negative and she was relieved. Because she wouldn't be tied down with another child. But here you are," he explained and there was pain in his voice. Pain and anger.
I swallowed, "She never said anything...about you. She said she didn't know who my father was. And then I found the pictures and I had to know."
He looked at me, his eyes glancing around my face. I couldn't hide the bruises at all with how bad they'd gotten so he got the full force of it. He hadn't said anything but every time he happened to catch them in the light, the anger was there.
"I've never known Renee to be violent... But I can't say the same for those she has, and does, still associates with. I'm going to say you were running away from someone," he stated factually and I shifted around in my seat.
He was a cop so it shouldn't have surprised me he put two and two together. And I didn't want to deny it. I wanted them both put away. I wanted Phil to suffer like he'd made me suffer.
I felt the tears spring to my eyes, "I've always wanted to know you. And I have always wanted out of the house. And I took my chance two days ago and I'm sorry I sprung this on you because I'm sure you didn't expect a long-lost kid anytime soon but... Even if you don't want me, I need help."
My heart felt as if it were breaking and I wanted him to want me. I wanted a real family. I needed a family. Because I didn't think I would survive much longer. Not in a world where monsters were everywhere. I didn't think I could let myself do it.
"Of course I want you. I have always wanted kids. I wanted a family and Renee didn't. Emmett was a mistake to her. But he's my world because he was all I had but now I have you. But I need you to tell me what's been happening. I can't protect you without the full details. Not if I'm going pursue legal actions," he explained and I blinked.
"What like..adopt me?"
He chuckled, "Not adopt. Because I'm on the birth certificate I have legal rights as a parent. She never forwarded me papers for sole-custody which is what I will be doing. Now that I know you're alive, I won't be letting go any time soon. You are my child and as difficult as it might be to get used to everything, I want us all to be a family. If that's okay with you."
Charlie sounded so sincere and I wanted to cry. A life without Renee or Phil. Without fearing the night. Without losing myself so deep in my mind I forget how to come back for hours because my body and mind refuse to. This had been so simple; I found my father and he was going to protect me.
And everything would be okay.
"Yes, it is," I answered softly, looking down at my hands.
He stood up and I followed. He held one arm out, almost like a hesitant hug and something in me stopped. I stared at him oddly and I wanted to move but something inside locked me down and refused it.
"Baby steps," he smiled and dropped his arm, turning toward the front door.
"It'll be overwhelming at first so would you like me to tell Emmett, your brother, alone or would you like to be there? You have come a long way after all," he gave me a kind look, his hand on the doorknob.
"Um, yes, I would. Can I freshen up a bit first?" I asked as he opened the door, the bright light of a chandelier shining in my eyes.
He nodded, "Of course."
I walked into the house, my dirty shoes looking out of place against the pristine hardwood floors. The foyer revealed a beautiful set of stairs leading up to a second floor and a double doors that went into the living room, which was empty at the moment. I could see beautiful couches adorned with quilts and blankets and a TV hanging over a burning fireplace. It took my breath away, the beauty of it all.
"Your house is..gorgeous," I told him as I followed him down a small hallway.
"I can give you a better tour later if you wish. And here's the bathroom to freshen up. There are towels in the linen closet inside," he nodded, mostly to himself, and he looked a bit awkward which was understandable.
I did just sort of change everything.
"Thank you. I just need to grab my bag if that's okay," I felt a bit embarrassed; I said I had to freshen up and then I don't bring my bag?
"Of course. I'll make sure no one comes in and disturbs you," he smiled and walked off.
Okay. I can do this.
I walked back the way I came and headed back out into the rain, grabbing my bag from my car and heading back up the steps of the porch.
"Who was at the door?" a man's voice came from around the corner and my eyes widened.
I backed up and hid behind a Jeep, peeking around.
"A young girl, maybe sixteen or seventeen. She wanted to speak to Charlie. Carlisle, you should've seen the poor dear. Her face was so bruised and swollen," a woman sighed sadly.
How did she know?
Wait. That must've been the woman who opened the door for me.
"Maybe domestic abuse," she murmured.
"She probably couldn't wait until the station opened. I'll keep my eyes peeled at the hospital tomorrow. Maybe someone might come in with similar injuries," the man, Carlisle, responded, both of them sounding somber.
It was pity in their voices.
Pity I didn't want.
"We better get back before the kids question where we wandered off to," the woman sighed and their footsteps departed.
Once they were gone, I quickly scampered into the house and shut the door quietly, making my way toward the bathroom Charlie had shown me. Once the door was locked behind me I took a good look. It was about medium-sized but bigger than my old bathroom. The tile floor was covered with soft rugs to catch water. The shower was spacious with the option for a bubble bath and there were shampoos and soaps lining the wall.
Woah.
I shook my head and set down the bag, turning on the water. As I began to strip my body protested and I shuddered in pain. My ribs were burning worse than before. Phil had sprained some ribs before but I don't he'd even broken them.
It was like he'd actually tried to kill me this time which wouldn't be surprising. I had a dreadful feeling that this time I wouldn't have made it back to school.
The dark thought wouldn't leave my head as I stepped into the hot water, blood falling away into the drain. My tears mixed with the water as I washed myself as quickly as possible and stepped out. I dried off and pulled on underwear, a black pair of jeans, bra, and a long-sleeve.
I slipped on my clean pair of sneakers and picked up my bag, walking out of the bathroom and taking a turn down the hall toward the kitchen.
"Ready?" Charlie asked when I came around the corner.
Suddenly I wasn't so sure. It was a miracle Charlie had even accepted me in the first place but..Emmett? What if he held everything against me? What if he thought Renee left him for me or something radical like that?
And it wouldn't be true even if he thought it.
She left for selfish reasons and I was, again, something that tied her down.
"Isabella?" I looked up at him, my skin crawling in disgust.
If there was one person who could make me hate my name it was Phil.
"Just Bella, please," I corrected and he nodded. "And yes, I'm as ready as I will ever be."
"Okay, Bella," he smiled and walked toward me, taking my bag. He set it off to the side and then turned toward me. "If you want you can stay in here while I go get him. There's quite a few people out there, including his wife, and most of them are bit more than tipsy."
He laughed to himself and I smiled slightly, "I can stay in here."
"Then I will be back," he stated and off he went, going into the backyard through the kitchen window.
The blinds were drawn but from what I saw, it was a large backyard and I caught a flash of a pool. I smiled sadly at the thought. If there was thing Phil prevented me from doing, along with other things, it was going to the pool. He didn't want anyone to see his handiwork and I was inclined to go. I wanted someone to see, to ask. So I could prove I wasn't crazy like he'd convinced everyone I was. But in the end fear always won out and I would stay locked inside.
When the door creaked open I jumped, backing up a bit until I saw Charlie walk in with Emmett. He may have looked like Charlie with the brown hair and eyes but he was a skyscraper. He must've been at least six-four or something and had a bulky, muscular figure. I suddenly regretted everything. Phil was half his size and look at the damage he caused me. If Emmett was even remotely upset by my presence he could break my bones with a flick of his wrist.
"Dad, what's going on?" Emmett boomed, his voice reverberating off the walls as he took a seat at the island.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Charlie explained and he nodded towards me.
Emmett must've realized I was present cause he looked up, "Oh, hey. Wow, someone got you good- HEY!" he was cut off by Charlie whacking him on the back of the head.
"Did I not teach you manners?" Charlie exclaimed and Emmett grumbled, rubbing his head and thoroughly looking like a kicked puppy.
"What? I mean, you can tell. It's not like she's hiding it," Emmett whined and I held back a smile.
He did not sound like I expected him to. He was more like a giant baby compared to the vampire he looked like before.
"Pardon him, I suspect the alcohol got to him because I raised him better," Charlie snapped and then looked over at me. "Emmett, as I was saying before, there is someone I want you to meet. Emmett, this is Bella."
He looked at me, his identical brown eyes meeting mine. He was silent and something in him clicked without anyone speaking a word. He knew, that was obvious.
"When Renee ran off she was pregnant, wasn't she?" Emmett's voice sounded heavier as he looked at me and then at Charlie, who looked somber.
"Yes, son. I found the box when she left but I assumed it had been negative. I didn't realize she had taken someone with her." he explained gently and he sounded so heartbroken by it.
I looked at both of them and I didn't know what to say. But Emmett did because when he looked at me, he seemed determined as he slowly rose to his feet. Anxiety seeped into me as he walked up to me in three steps and then he was hugging me.
It a full bear hug too; picking me up, squeezing tightly. His hug was something fierce and it wrapped around my bruised body and ribs and pain exploded across my body. My first instinct was to scream but it never came out and felt my mind attempt to pull me back into the comfort of the numbness. I fought it, telling myself nothing bad was happening. Emmett let go before it fully took hold and I felt my knees give.
"Shit, what did I do?" Emmett asked, backing up as I struggled to breathe.
"I..just... Bruised," I managed to get out, hugging my ribs.
"Where else are you bruised?" Charlie questioned, an edge to his voice, his footsteps coming closer.
I shuddered. Everything was happening too fast. I didn't expect this. I mean I did but not this. Not the hugs and touching. But of course they would. Long lost daughter and sister? Why wouldn't I have at least suspected this? My mind was closing in and I fought it hard. I used to be able to stave it off but the more Phil continued the less I did fight the darkness.
I couldn't freak out like this.
They wouldn't want me. They would see a mistake. I would just be an issue and I couldn't be a problem. I had to be above this. I had to let them know I could just brush it off, that I wasn't damaged.
No one wanted a damaged kid they'd never met.
How long had I been like this?
Shit.
No.
No.
No.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! What did you think of Charlie's reaction? And Bella's? She's got what she wanted but now the rough part is coming. She needs to heal. Do you think she can heal with Charlie and Emmett and the gang by her side? Speaking of, can you guess the special member she'll be meeting next chapter?
Please review and let me know!