Back from the grave with an update. I'm only going to do a few more chapters, then conclude this story. I don't have time to give it the devotion it deserves. Please read and review and tell me what you think. Thanks!
Mike's was rather uneventful. I apologized endlessly for wrecking his car, but thanked him graciously for letting me borrow while my truck was being repaired. He still didn't understand why I didn't borrow one of the Cullen's cars, but I didn't feel like explaining to him that I would feel uncomfortable driving every flashy car they owned.
When I returned home, I could hear the sound of a baseball game coming from the television, and walked into the family room. The empty looks I got from Charlie killed me. Was what I had done that bad? I went to the kitchen and decided to test the cliché that the way to the man's heart was through his stomach. Hopefully the fish filets would warm over Charlie. When the fish were golden, I yelled for Charlie to come to dinner, not actually sure he would show up. I should have known that he would never refuse a home cooked meal.
"Dad, can I talk to you please?" I asked when he sat down to the table.
"What, Bella?"
I tried to hide my hurt at his harsh reply by turning away to grab the dinner plates. I couldn't help the few tears that fell.
"I don't want you to be mad at me anymore," I told him, more tears falling. "I can't stand the way you're avoiding me, and trying to avoid even looking at me. I know that my relationship with Edward has caused you a lot of grief, but I want you to try and understand. What I feel for Edward is what you felt for mom, the reason you married her and had me. I love him dad, unconditionally. That night at the hospital was the first night I had seen him since he left, and I just had to make sure that he still felt what I felt. That's why I went to the Cullen's and lied to you. I'm so sorry Dad."
Charlie stayed silent for a few moments, milling over the speech I had just given him. I wiped my tears away, waiting for a response.
"I understand what you feel for him, Bella, but I don't understand why you had to lie to me. Maybe if you would have reasoned with me, we could have come to some type of agreement. I don't want any more lies Bella."
"Yeah, I promise Dad. Thanks for listening."
"Sure Bells." Charlie took a couple bites of fish and groaned in delight. "You are a way better cook than your mother," he said.
I laughed, only because I had heard that from so many people. I was glad that Charlie was warming up to me again, even to the point of mentioning mom, which he rarely did.
"What do you say we go out to eat for a change tomorrow night? My treat."
"I'd like that dad."
"And you can even bring along that… I mean, Edward. Do you think he'd want to come?" Charlie asked, clearly uncomfortable with inviting Edward to dinner, but putting forth the effort to make me happy.
"I'm sure he'd love to. I'll just call him later and let him know. Thanks dad, really."
"Uhm," he grumbled, then excused himself to watch the game.
I cleaned up the mess from dinner and went to the living room, telling Charlie that I was going to bed. Walking up the stairs, I felt lighter than I had in the days since we fought. I felt guilty for promising not to lie, since every day that I knew about the Cullen's existence and told no one was a lie. When it came down to protecting the Edward and his family or lying to my dad, the latter didn't really take precedence. I walked into my bedroom, feeling a wave of disappointment hit me when Edward wasn't there. I grabbed my basket with all my shower necessities in it and headed to bathroom. There was no need to take clothes since I wouldn't have to change in front of anyone.
I let the hot water hit my muscles and wash away all the tension they had held for the past days. When the water ran cold, I got out and wrapped myself in my favorite red towel, enjoying the plush material against my skin. I walked to my bedroom and turned around to quietly close the door behind me.
"Red looks good on you," came a voice from behind me, shocking me so much that I dropped my basket, and almost released the hand that held the towel shut against my body.
"But that color red is so much more flattering," Edward said. I realized that I must have been blushing. It occurred to me then that this was the most of my body that Edward had ever seen.
"You scared the hell out of me."
"I apologize. Charlie let me in."
"What?" I whispered furiously.
"Kidding."
"Not funny. We fixed everything tonight, and I'm sure the fact that you're sitting on my bed while I'm naked would screw things up royally."
"Ah, yes. Why don't you put some clothes on Bella, before I'm tempted to remove that towel?"
"I would, but you're staring," I said, becoming self conscious. I made Edward turn around while I put some pajamas on in record time. I crawled into bed and lay next to Edward, curling up against the blanket he had placed between his body and I.