Chapter 8: A New Beginning
Leah and I had been back for two weeks before I got the phone call.
"Hello?" I answered cautiously, it was an unknown Washington number.
"Is this Isabella Swan?" A deep voice on the other side asked. Now I was starting to get nervous.
"Yes, who is this?"
"This is Sergeant Taylor with the Forks Police Department. I'm afraid your father has been in an accident. It is not life-threatening, but we were informed to call you. Chief Swan told us to let you know that after he is out of the hospital he will be retiring and he, his wife, and step-son will be moving down to Arizona with you." My heart sputtered. 'Wife? When did Charlie get married?'
"Thank you, Sergeant. Will you call if his condition worsens?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Thank you. Goodbye." I hung up before he could say any more. I looked over at Leah, who looked guilty. "When did Charlie get married?" She looked at the ground.
"He got married a few weeks before you came home. He didn't want to worry you about it while you were visiting. He married my mom." Leah muttered, forcing me to lean in to hear her.
"So by wife and step-son..."
"He meant my mom and Seth." She finally raised her head to meet my gaze.
"Well, out of all the women in Forks, I'm glad he chose Sue. Your mom is a good person, and I know it would have made Harry happy." I smiled at her as she visibly relaxed.
We spent the rest of the day talking about what she was going to do in Phoenix and what classes I would be taking.
Leah and I were watching a movie after dinner when I saw her tense before a knock on the door. I glanced at her quizzically before going to answer it. Jared was standing outside of the apartment, looking haggard and tired.
"Jared? What are you doing here?" I asked in shock, stepping back so he could come inside.
"You were wrong, Bella. You were so wrong. Everything you tried to do backfired. I don't want Kim, and she doesn't want me. She came up with her new husband to tell me that they're moving back, but that she won't be with me. I'm fine with that, I got to see my kids and that was good enough. One thing you didn't account for, is that breaking the imprint may not work as well as you expected. I don't feel the pull anymore, that's true, but those days we spent talking, realizing how similar we were... I realized that I have feelings for you that weren't born of the imprint. If we had sat and talked before I had married Kim, before this wolf stuff started... It would have been easy to fall in love with you. You are my soul-mate, Bella. I won't just give up like that." He finished quietly, looking at me with caution.
"Jared..." I couldn't find the words I wanted to say. The words to make him forget me and go home, because truly, I wanted him here. So instead I threw myself at him, crushing my lips to his. It wasn't what I had imagined our first kiss to be like, and certainly not what I had expected when I opened the door to find him there. As we pulled back from each other for much needed air, I could feel that hole in my center closing, filling with the pull of the renewed imprint. It was now that I could see our happily ever after.
-Alright everyone, just an epilogue and that'll be the end of it.
