The First Spring
6. Precautions
"I still say we throw his ashes into the landfill." Leah said casually, as she flipped through a rack of discounted shirts. "It would be way cheaper."
Bella snorted. "Yeah, and the town would never shut up about it."
"That wouldn't matter if you lived in La Push." Leah said quietly, quirking her eyebrow at her sister. When Bella gave her a look, Leah threw her arms up. "What? Your entire family lives on the rez."
"I'm not selling Charlie's house."
"You could rent it."
"Leah!"
"Alright, alright. I'll stop."
The two women were at the thrift store in Forks, pretending they didn't notice the questioning stares Bella was getting from the local townsfolk. She had become something of a celebrity in the last year and the town couldn't stop gossiping about Chief Swan's long lost daughter who had finally come back home after he died. Followed by her husband getting gunned down and buried in the woods.
Bella held up a black off the shoulder pull-over sweater. "How's Sam doing?"
Leah didn't meet her eyes. "Oh, we've been fighting."
"How come?"
"He's wants another baby." She said flatly.
"Wow. Well now's a good time, I guess?"
"I already pushed out one spawn of Satan. Do you really think I want to do it again?"
Bella smiled. "Harriet's not so bad."
"Yeah, when she's not getting sent home from school for punching boys in her class."
"And who does that remind you of?"
Leah was quiet for a moment. "Sam." She declared finally, but the lie in her voice was even obvious to her.
When Leah dropped Bella off an hour later, she carried her bags into the house and dropped them on the floor of the entry way with a dull thud. She looked at the staircase in front of her for a moment, then quickly turned her head away. The image of James lying against the stairs, the gash in his head oozing blood, with the broken lamp laying next to him was an image that Bella could not forget, no matter how many times she tried.
Sighing, she went into the kitchen - adverting her eyes from the floor - and sat down at the table, putting her head in her hands.
The flashbacks had been constant at first; she'd see James everywhere she turned. He was either sitting on her father's recliner while he polished off a bottle of whiskey, standing in her bedroom with his back to her while he held up a package of birth control, or laying on her kitchen floor with holes in his chest, while blood seeped out underneath him and covered the white tiles. The contrast had haunted her.
Eventually though, it got better and she only had the flashbacks when she was least expecting it.
She had never told Jacob; afraid if he knew just how bad of a state she was in after she murdered her husband to save her true love and herself, he would have given up the apprenticeship and come home right away. She could not be selfish with him, not after everything.
Bella stood up and shook her head, shaking the bad thoughts away and retrieved the bags from the entry way. She had just put the cream cheese in the refrigerator and closed the door when something on the old white plastic caught her attention.
A letter, addressed to Jacob in familiar cursive writing.
Bella backed up, bumping into the chair and reaching behind to grab it for support. She looked around the kitchen nervously and bolted to the counter where the knife block was. Pulling out the longest steak knife she had she braced herself against the cupboards and waited.
Several minutes went by, or hours, until she was convinced she was alone. Reaching over to the door of the refrigerator and snatching the envelope off, she jumped when the magnet fell off and clattered against the tile. She ripped open the envelope and pulled out the letter, her knees buckling as she read the one word over and over again. "Thief." Just then, the phone started to ring.
Bella dropped the note and bolted out of the door at lightning speed. She jumped off the second last step and ripped the door to the truck open, diving inside and locking the door. Her fingers shook uncontrollably as she tried to insert the key into the ignition. Finally, it went in and she turned.
Nothing happened.
"What the fuck?" Bella moaned, her eyes filling with tears and she repeatedly turned the key.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone, shakily dialing the number she had long since memorized. When he answered she was screaming his name, her sanity long gone.
"Bella? Bella! What's wrong?"
"Somebody was in the house!"
"What?"
"They were in the house, Jake! They left a note on the fridge for you."
"Bella. Get out of the house."
She racked back and forth. "I'm in the truck. It won't start."
"Stay there." He said, his voice dark. "I'm on my way."
When the Rabbit ripped into the parking lot - sending gravel flying as the tires spun - Bella was still hyperventilating. Jacob dashed over to the drivers side of the truck, waited for her to unlock it, and climbed inside. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked the back of her head.
"It's okay, Bella. It's okay."
"Jacob," She sobbed. "They know. They know!"
"They know what? What did the note say?"
She looked up at him and wiped her nose. "It said thief."
He froze. "The files..."
"Yes." She nodded. "Somebody saw us. They knew we took the police records."
Jacob looked down at her and kept his expression steeled. The all too familiar mask coming back. "You're coming home with me. And you're staying for good this time."
"But-" She tried to protest but he cut her off.
"No. You're not safe here anymore. Let's go pack your things and get the hell out of here."
Defeated, Bella nodded in agreement, and followed Jacob into the house. While Bella was upstairs packing her two suitcases full of clothes and necessities, Jacob stayed downstairs surveying the rest of the house. He checked the front door a few times and then stalked into the kitchen, checking the back door. He read the note and crumpled it up, stuffing it into his grease stained jeans pocket. He went over all the windows, noticing how each one was locked. When Bella emerged from the bedroom he had been coming up the stairs to meet her.
"Were both doors locked when you got home?"
Bella nodded.
He blew out a breath. "Then whoever it was had a key. You can't pick the locks on your doors, Charlie had made sure of that."
She shuddered. "Can we go?"
"Yeah, come on. I'll take a look at the truck."
Jacob led Bella outside, wordlessly putting her suitcases in the backseat of the Rabbit and slamming the door with a little too much force. She waited inside the passenger seat - her knees brought up to her chin - watching him as he popped the hood of the truck up and peeked around inside. Suddenly he slammed it shut and stormed back to his car, climbing inside and slamming the door.
She watched a muscle in his jaw twitch. "Jake?"
He turned the ignition.
"Jacob, what is it?"
He turned his head, placed his hand on the back of the passenger headrest, and backed into the street.
"Jacob, tell me. Please."
Finally he turned to look at her, his teeth clenched. "The starter's been taken out."
Once Bella had finished unpacking all of her clothes and toiletries - followed by a panic attack - she padded down the long and steep staircase that led to the garage. She paused when she heard familiar voices and laughter, then came around the corner to the large opening of where the bodywork happened. The double doors had been lifted and she found Jacob sitting on an overturned milk crate watching with mild enthusiasm as Quil and Embry argued next to a lit barbecue.
"Oh, hey, Bells. You finished up there?" Jacob asked when she came into view.
Bella nodded. "What are you guys doing?"
"We," Quil declared, pointing a metal spatula at Embry. "Are having a competition."
"Of course you are. What for this time?"
"Steak." Embry stated as if it were the obvious answer. "And you're the judge."
Bella smiled and took a seat on an old metal stool with a giant rip in the cushion. "Alright, go ahead. Amaze me."
"Oh, we will." Quil winked as he lifted a drippy marinated steak out of a dish and slapped it on the grill.
Bella looked down at where Jacob was sitting. "Did you orchestrate this?"
Jacob smirked. "I thought you could use some cheering up and the guys were working late."
"Well, thanks, Jake."
"Sure, sure. So that means you're not still mad at me?"
"Mad at you for forcing me out of my own home?" She raised her eyebrows dramatically.
Jacob frowned. "These are just precautions, Bells."
"I know." She sighed as he reached up and stroked her knee. "I'm not mad at you for wanting to protect me."
"Hey!" Embry called, interrupting them. "No flirting! We're trying to be master chefs here."
"Oh, sorry." Bella played along, rolling her eyes. "I'm just so hungry I can't contain myself."
"I have that effect on people." Jacob said simply, shooting a wink at Bella.
Quil took his medium rare steak off the grill with focused effort, and dropped it onto a paper plate. He dashed some salt and pepper on top and set it on the top rack to keep warm, then moved out of the way for Embry. Then he took a bow towards Jacob and Bella.
"Yeah, yeah." Embry said as he spiced his steak with a colorful rub and tossed it onto the grill, the flames licking the edges. "Just you wait, Quil.
"You guys better hurry up." Jacob said, noticing the time. "Aren't you supposed to be towing the truck over here?"
"Yes, boss." Embry noted, flipping his steak over. "Just as soon as Bella sinks her fangs into this baby."
"You flipped it too soon." Quil said, peering over the barbecue.
"Piss off, I know what I'm doing."
After Embry finished, Bella waited patiently as both men argued over who's would go first. Finally Jacob intercepted and decided that Quil would go first. He then passed Bella a plate covered with a large hunk of meat. They stood in front of Bella and watched with excitement as she carefully cut a piece of Quil's steak first, popping it into her mouth and chewing slowly.
Embry came back over from the mini fridge with a beer in his hand. "Well?"
Bella nodded, savoring the flavor. "It's really good."
Quil beamed. "Knew it."
"Okay, okay. My turn." Embry said impatiently as he offered Bella's his plate.
She passed Quil's steak to Jacob - who immediately dove in - and then tried Embry's. Moaning in delight, she smiled. "Wow."
Embry grinned in satisfaction. "Mine's better, right?"
Bella was quiet for a moment. She looked back and forth between both men and both steaks. Finally she took a deep breath; Embry and Quil both leaning in closer. "It's a... tie."
"A tie?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Come on, Bella. That's not even fair."
"Are you sure you tried enough of mine?"
"No, try more of mine."
"Yours is almost gone, thanks to Jake."
"Dude, stop eating my steak!"
"Bella, is it really a tie?"
As Bella nodded her head - keeping her face too serious - Jacob chewed on the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
A/N: Wow. For once I didn't end with a cliffhanger. Even I'm impressed.
