Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who have added me to your Author Favorites and Story Favorites! A special shout-out to vickiurb and the rest of the Katy contingent who are reading this fic now. I hope you enjoy all of the local references! As always, robbsweetangel makes me LOL with her reviews – I think we have our very own mutual admiration society! Kikiblue continues to be my muse and bestie – thinking of you, honey!
So, are you all impressed with the fast update?! Don't get too used to it – some chapters just seem to write themselves. Part of what I love about this chapter is that Charlie is in it. I hope you enjoy reading him as much as I enjoyed writing him! Oh, and be on the lookout near the end of the chapter, when a familiar name pops up in an unexpected way. I think you'll get a kick out of it!
Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
Hide In Plain Sight
Chapter 9: Changes
BPOV
I felt a serenity that I hadn't felt in days as we drove home from St. Elizabeth's church. I didn't consider myself a religious fanatic, but I believed in God and in the power of prayer.
As I had knelt on the hard Prie-Dieu during Mass, I had opened my heart and tried to make sense of my feelings for Edward.
I had never felt an attraction this intense to any man before, not even Jake. I was bewildered and a little frightened by the feelings he brought out in me. At first, I had chalked it up to being slightly star struck. The more time I spent with him, though, I realized that it was Edward, the man, who was having this effect on me.
Everything about him seemed to draw me in. It wasn't just his physical qualities; his eyes, his hair, his smell; it was also his kindness, his humor and his intelligence that mesmerized me.
As I had prayed for guidance in church, it slowly dawned on me that this must be some kind of test. God was testing my marital resolve, after all these years, and I seemed to be failing miserably.
I had promised myself that I would go to confession this week, and that I would try harder not to let myself be dazzled by Edward Cullen.
My peaceful feelings abruptly fled, as our SUV turned onto our street, and I spotted a familiar red pickup truck in the driveway.
"What the …," Jake muttered as we all took in the scene at the same time.
Edward was standing in the open doorway of our house, with his hands raised, while a uniformed man with his back towards us pointed a rifle at him.
"Jake, stop the van," I gasped. I flung the door open as Jake slammed on the brakes and came to a stop just behind the pickup.
"No, Daddy! No!" I dimly heard myself yell, as I ran toward the house in my high heels.
The uniformed man spun around and lowered the rifle upon hearing my voice, a smile spreading slowly across his face.
"Well hello, darlin'," he drawled, as I reached his side and placed an unsteady hand on his arm, lowering the gun further.
"Dad, I wasn't expecting you. What is going on here?" I asked breathlessly, looking from my father to Edward, who remained motionless in the doorway.
My heart felt as if it would beat right out of my chest.
"What, can't a fellow come visit his only daughter? You did give me a key to your house. I figured y'all were still at church, with it bein' Sunday, and all. I was gonna go in and wait for you, when this fellow just opened up the door."
He turned back toward Edward, his smile fading.
"Dad, this is our houseguest for the weekend, Edward Cullen," I sighed. "Edward, this is my father, Border Patrol Agent Charlie Swan."
"I assure you, I'm not an intruder, sir," Edward said quietly. He lowered his hands, and extended the right one tentatively toward Charlie. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Agent Swan."
"Humph. Edward," Charlie said gruffly, shaking Edward's hand briefly. "Sorry 'bout that, son. It was an honest mistake."
I looked from Charlie to Edward cautiously. I supposed it could have been an honest mistake. Edward hadn't shaved that morning, I noticed, as my eyes lingered on his perfectly-stubbled jaw. Between his unshaven appearance and his casual clothing, he didn't much resemble a movie star.
I thought he had never looked better.
"Grandpa!" Claire suddenly squealed behind me. She launched herself out of the SUV and flung her arms around Charlie, who grinned from ear to ear.
"Punkin'!" Charlie said heartily. He hugged her briefly, and then held her at arm's length. "Lordy, you get more grown-up every time I see you, Claire. You look more and more like your momma every day."
I shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. Charlie wasn't usually one for emotional displays, but Claire had always brought out his softer side. He'd certainly never been that demonstrative with me when I was growing up.
I glanced at Edward, who was taking in our little family reunion quietly.
"Dad, good to see you," Jake said, coming up and shaking Charlie's hand briefly. "Good thing you didn't shoot first and ask questions later. Edward here's an actor, and one of my biggest clients."
He winked at Edward.
"Hmmm. Actor, huh?" Charlie said, squinting dubiously at Edward again.
"Seriously, Grandpa? You've never heard of Edward Cullen? The Zombie Killer? I only have posters of him all over my room," Claire said incredulously.
"Aw, honey, you know I don't keep up with all of these new movie stars," Charlie replied. "Now, John Wayne. Chuck Norris. Those were actors."
It was Edward's turn to look uncomfortable.
"Why don't we all go inside?" I asked quickly.
"Lemme just go get the cooler out of the truck," Charlie said. "I swung through Chappell Hill yesterday afternoon on my way down from Del Rio and stopped at the Chappell Hill Sausage Company. Then I spent the night with Aro at his ranch. When I drove through Katy this morning, I stopped at Midway Food Market and picked up a mess o' steaks, too. I've got a cooler full of steaks and sausage."
He turned toward Jake. "You up to firing up the grill this afternoon, Son?"
"Sure thing, Dad," Jake said, clapping Charlie on the back, as the two men headed toward the truck to retrieve the cooler.
I sighed and turned to face Edward.
"I guess I'd better get started on brunch," I said. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving," Edward said, as he followed me into the kitchen. "What can I do to help?"
I smiled. Always the gentleman.
"Well," I said, "I'm making pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. The usual."
"The usual?" He laughed. "Bella, the wardrobe department is going to have to alter my clothing after this weekend."
I couldn't help laughing with him.
"How are you at peeling potatoes for the hashbrowns?" I asked.
"I am excellent at peeling potatoes," Edward deadpanned.
How adorable is he?
I set Edward up at the kitchen island with a bowl of potatoes and a peeler, then I turned toward the stove to start the bacon. When Claire ambled into the kitchen, I put her to work setting the dining table with plates and silverware.
Edward studiously peeled the potatoes as I moved around him in the kitchen. I turned on the Bose stereo system, and the sound of soft jazz filled the air.
We looked at each other and smiled at the same time.
This just feels so … comfortable.
I was stirring milk into the pancake batter, when Jake and Charlie entered the kitchen, toting the cooler between them.
"Where should we put this, Bells?" Charlie asked.
"Oh, just set it over by the back door. I'll put everything in the fridge after we eat," I answered.
Jake looked at Edward, peeling potatoes at the island, and grinned, shaking his head.
He poured two mugs of coffee, and handed one to Charlie, who sat down at the breakfast bar.
Charlie studied Edward for a long moment over the rim of his mug.
"It's a good thing you're so handy in the kitchen, Edward," he said finally. "A man should know how to cook for himself. I never was much good at it myself. Bella kinda took over all the cooking duties when her mother died."
He cleared his throat gruffly.
Edward shot me a sideways glance, and raised his eyebrows quizzically.
Oh shit. Let's please not talk about Mom now, I silently begged.
"Well, I'm not much good in the kitchen either, but Bella doesn't seem to mind, do you, Hon?" Jake interjected. "I can make a mean pot of chili, and cook just about anything on the grill, but I'd just as soon leave all that kitchen stuff to the women."
He laughed.
I watched Edward's jaw clench imperceptibly as his eyes stayed focused on the potato he was peeling.
"Edward, I think you've peeled plenty of these," I said quietly, taking the bowl from him. "Why don't you get a cup of coffee and relax while I finish up here?"
"I want to help," Edward replied, jutting his jaw determinedly. "What else can I do?"
For an instant, I saw a flash of the stubborn little boy he must have been.
"Um … I guess you could crack and whisk up the eggs for me," I replied dubiously.
I ladled pancake batter onto the hot griddle, and started frying the potatoes. Edward carefully handled the eggs, as Jake and Charlie fell deep into conversation at the breakfast bar.
Edward and I moved around each other easily in the confined space, as though we were performing choreographed dance steps. We didn't speak much, but all it seemed to take was a murmured word from one of us, for the other to know almost instinctively what was needed, and react to it.
Before long, brunch was ready, and we carried the steaming plates of food to the dining room. Claire had drawn the curtains back, and the room was warm and sunny.
As I looked at the set table, I had a momentary flash of panic.
Where should I seat Edward? Probably not next to Charlie, since he'd had a gun pointed at his head only an hour ago. Not next to Claire, or she'd start grilling him about Hollywood again and probably make him lose his appetite.
I finally settled for placing Charlie and Jake each at one head of the table. I sat between Edward and Charlie, and Claire sat across from us.
I was so concerned about where everyone else was sitting in relation to Edward, that it wasn't until I sat down next to him that I realized the seating arrangement might be problematic for me.
We were sitting so close, I could smell him.
The scent of him made all of the mingled smells of coffee, bacon and pancakes fade into the background. He smelled of tobacco, soap and leather, and something just identifiably him.
It was intoxicating.
I bumped his elbow accidentally as I was putting my napkin in my lap, and then brushed his hand with mine as we both reached for the salt at the same time.
Both times, I mumbled an apology, certain that I was blushing bright red. Fortunately, my family seemed too intent on their food to notice.
I tired to cover my nervousness by passing Edward the marmalade, and suggested that he try some on his pancakes. The sweet smell of oranges blended with his scent as he ate, humming appreciatively over the food.
Great. I'll never be able to eat that orange marmalade again without thinking of Edward.
Thankfully, Edward seemed completely at ease making conversation with Charlie. He asked Charlie questions about his job as a Border Patrol Agent, and listened attentively as Charlie answered him.
I noticed that he barely talked to Jake.
Hmmm. I wonder what that's about. Maybe he's embarrassed about having too much to drink yesterday.
If I was being honest with myself, I was having a hard time following the conversations going on around me. Edward's nearness was too distracting.
I watched his long, supple fingers as they grasped his utensils and the handle of his coffee cup. The sunlight that shone through the window turned the hairs on his arms a fiery gold. He caught me glancing at him once, and smiled at me with his perfect white teeth, his forest green eyes pinning me from beneath his golden lashes.
I am going to have so much to confess to Father Jack this week.
"So, Dad, you said that you spent the night with Aro in Chappell Hill," I said quickly, turning to Charlie. "How is he?"
Aro was one of Charlie's oldest friends. They had worked together for more than twenty years for the Harris County Sheriff's Department before Charlie had moved to Del Rio to join the Border Patrol. Aro had retired several years ago, and had bought a small ranch in Chappell Hill. I hadn't seen him in years, but I knew that he and Charlie were still good friends, and regularly kept in touch.
"He looked good," Charlie answered. "The ranch keeps him busy, and I haven't seen him so relaxed in years. He was askin' after you, you know. He still remembers you as a teenager. You should drive up there and visit him some time. It's not that far."
"Yeah, I'll have to do that some day," I murmured, looking down at my plate. I hadn't seen Aro since my mother's funeral when I was fifteen years old. I felt guilty that I hadn't kept in touch with him over the years. I knew that he had helped Charlie through a lot of grief after Mom had died.
Finally, brunch was over. Claire and I cleared the table, and began washing dishes. Edward tried to help again, but I gently shooed him out of the kitchen.
Charlie and Jake were by this time having a spirited conversation at the breakfast bar about the merits of charcoal grills versus gas grills.
"Charcoal's the only way to go," Charlie was saying, as Jake nodded his head in agreement. "And none of that grocery-store charcoal and lighter-fluid either. Makes everything taste like the inside of a gas tank. What you need is some good Cowboy Charcoal. Lights easy, burns slow, and no bad aftertaste."
"Gas grills are for wusses," Jake said. "Can you smoke with a gas grill? No. How are you supposed to make decent Texas barbecue or ribs without a smoker? And why are you gonna go and ruin a perfectly good steak by cooking it over a gas flame? Might as well stick it in a broiler pan in the oven at that point."
Edward watched their exchange, shaking his head in amusement. I could tell that he felt out of his element.
"I actually need to make a couple of phone calls," Edward said apologetically. "I haven't spoken to my P.A. today, and I promised my parents I would call them while I was here."
What a considerate son.
"I need to go make a phone call too," Jake said loudly, standing up. "I need to touch base with Leah, and make sure she processed that paperwork yesterday."
He stepped out to the patio, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.
Edward stared after him with an expression that resembled anger for a moment. Then he shrugged his shoulders and gave me a small smile before turning to go upstairs.
Claire finished washing the last pan and dried her hands on a dishtowel.
"All right, I'm out for a while too," she said. "I promised Quil I'd go over to his house and help him with his History project this afternoon."
"That's fine," I replied. "Just don't make it too late. You want to spend some time with Grandpa this afternoon, don't you? Oh, and remember not to mention you-know-who," I inclined my head toward the stairs.
"Please, Mom. Give me some credit," Claire huffed. She kissed Charlie on the cheek. "See you later, Grandpa."
Charlie and I were alone in the kitchen. I dried my hands slowly on the dishtowel as he cleared his throat.
I looked up to find him staring at me.
"More coffee, Dad?" I sighed, pouring myself another cup.
"No, I've had aplenty, darlin'," he responded. He was silent for a moment as I sat down on the barstool beside him.
"You been okay, Dad?" I asked him quietly.
I studied his profile, as I waited for him to answer. It had been three months since I had last seen him. The gray in his hair and moustache were more pronounced now. The lines around his eyes and mouth were more deeply etched than I remembered.
I felt a lump form in my throat. Oh Daddy, you're getting old.
"I'm fine, Bells. It's just the job, you know? Every day I catch people trying to sneak over the border. Most of them are good, honest people, just tryin' to make a better life for themselves. I have to send them back over the border, knowing that I'll probably just be arresting them again next week."
He shrugged.
"That's what I signed on for, though, I guess. Then there are the drug-dealers. There's stuff going on in the Mexican border towns that would make your hair stand on end, Bells. Kidnappings and shootings, and severed heads being found in duffel bags by the side of the road …"
He trailed off quickly as he saw me blanch.
"But, I'm okay, honey. You know your old dad is tough. Mostly I just miss you and Claire something fierce."
He patted his stomach ruefully.
"And your good home cooking. There's only so many diner hamburgers and chicken-fried steaks a man can eat."
He cleared his throat gruffly again and searched my face.
"What about you, Bells? I've never seen you this jumpy and on edge. You looked like you were about to crawl clean outta your skin while we were eatin' breakfast."
Oh damn. Trust Charlie, the former sheriff, to notice the little details.
Charlie squinted at me when I remained silent.
"You know I don't like to pry, but Jake been treatin' you alright?" he asked.
I forced a smile.
"I'm fine, Dad. Everything's the same as always. Why wouldn't it be?"
I gestured around me.
"I don't exactly have a hard life, you know. I take care of my family, and I guess I'm pretty good at it. I've been doing it a long time."
"But, are you happy?" Charlie asked quietly. "Aw, damn it, Bells. You know I'm not very good at this. I know you keep a lot bottled up inside you."
He laughed ruefully.
"I guess we're kinda alike that way, huh?" he said. "You're a tough one, too. Always have been. Takin' care of everyone around you, and never thinkin' of yourself."
"Take that young man, Edward, you've got stayin' with you," he continued. "It's real nice the way you've made him feel at home here."
I swallowed and looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.
Charlie was quiet for a moment, and I could feel him studying me.
"Just be careful, Bells," he said finally. "A lifetime of givin' without any getting' can take a toll on a person after a while."
His words rang in my head.
I know you're right, Daddy. But what do you do when you know you'll never have a chance of getting what you really want?
EPOV
Well, this is officially going down as one of the strangest mornings of my life.
I shut my bedroom door behind me, and paced the room, running my hands through my hair.
Let's see. I've had a gun pointed at my head, peeled potatoes, sat beside a woman who I'm finding harder and harder to resist, and found out more about the Department of Homeland Security than I thought I'd ever know.
I sat down at the desk and thought back to the events at brunch.
When we had sat down to the table, my heart had soared when I had realized that I was going to be sitting next to Bella. My happiness had been dampened, however, by the fact that Jake was sitting on my other side.
Despite my promise to myself not to get involved in the Black's personal lives, I could still barely look at him after the previous day's events. Jake's chauvinistic comments while I had been helping Bella in the kitchen had further angered me.
I had done my best to ignore him, and had tried to concentrate instead on the delicious food in front of me. Predictably, Bella had made that extremely difficult.
We had worked so well together in the kitchen, but when she sat down beside me at the table, she was nervous and jumpy again.
She had bumped my elbow accidentally while putting her napkin in her lap, and had immediately blushed and apologized. She had pushed her food around on her plate, and had done that nervous lip-biting thing that I found incredibly sexy and endearing.
When we had both reached for the salt at the same time, I had brushed her hand, and an involuntary thrill had run through me.
She had looked so beautiful, and had been sitting so close to me, that I hadn't been able to help but notice little details about her that had escaped my attention before.
The auburn streaks in her hair had shone in the sunlight that had been pouring through the window. I had noticed how tiny, and perfectly shell-like her ears were, and how little lines crinkled around her eyes when she smiled.
I had looked at the little gold crucifix hanging at her neck, and had watched, mesmerized, as I had realized that I could see the pulse beating at her throat.
Thankfully, Bella had snapped me out of my near-trance by handing me the jar of orange marmalade, and suggesting that I try some on my pancakes.
It had been truly fucking delicious.
All of the food had been amazing, for that matter. I hadn't been kidding when I had told Bella earlier that my wardrobe would probably need alterations when I returned to the set. I knew that my dietary habits usually left a lot to be desired while I was filming. I would forget to eat, eat fast food or grab something quick from the craft services table. Room service got really boring after a while.
Besides the fucking incredible pancakes, I had instantly fallen in love with the scrambled eggs that Bella had cooked. She had mixed cream cheese into the eggs while they were cooking, and I had never had them that way.
I had been moaning and humming as I ate, and Bella had looked genuinely pleased. To distract myself from her, I had finally struck up a conversation with the terrifying Agent Swan. I had come to find out, he wasn't such a bad bloke after all.
"So, Agent Swan, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get involved with the Border Patrol?" I had asked.
"Call me Charlie, son," Charlie had replied gruffly. "Well, I was a constable with the Harris County Sheriff's Department for almost twenty-five years. Then, 9/11 hit, and all hell broke loose."
Charlie had glanced at Bella as he had taken another swallow of coffee.
"Those were some rough days. Everyone in law enforcement felt pretty helpless. I know I did. Watching our brother officers die when those towers came down … that was pretty tough. When I heard that the Border Patrol was looking for new recruits to strengthen our borders, I knew what I had to do. Call it patriotism … I don't know. It just felt right."
Charlie had sighed, and studied his hands.
"I didn't have much holding me here anyway. Bells had been gone for years, and had her own life with her family. It was just me rattling around my house by myself. I wasn't a young 'un anymore, but they were lookin' for people with experience, and I had plenty of that. So, I up and moved to Del Rio, and I've been with the Border Patrol ever since."
I'd had to admire Charlie. It was obvious how devoted he was to Bella by the way he looked at her. He was clearly a very patriotic man with strong beliefs, though, and it was commendable that he believed so deeply in what he did.
The rest of breakfast had passed pleasantly, but afterwards, when Bella had adamantly refused to let me help her clean up, I had found myself at a loss for what to do.
Charlie and Jake had been engaged in some kind of debate about grilling, bantering back and forth with an easiness that bespoke of their years of camaraderie. I hadn't felt it was my place to just jump into the middle of their conversation, so I had excused myself to my room to make my phone calls.
When Jake had jumped up, announcing that he had to call Leah, it had taken everything in me not to punch him then and there. I had felt certain that his phone call would have little to do with business.
I sighed and looked down at my cell phone sitting on the desk.
So much for not getting emotionally involved, Edward. Well done.
I picked up the phone and dialed Alice's number. She picked up on the second ring.
"Well, hello handsome! How's my favorite client?" Alice asked perkily.
"Alice, I'm your only client," I said, laughing.
"That makes you my favorite," she replied cheerfully.
"So, what's going on?" I asked. "Did something important come up that couldn't wait until Tuesday?"
Alice's tone changed suddenly.
"Damn. I really shouldn't have left you that message earlier. We should probably just wait and talk about this when you get back to Seattle."
I groaned.
"Not you too, Alice. Just spit it out already. What the fuck is going on up there?"
Alice hesitated, then I heard her sigh.
"All right. I really hate to tell you this over the phone, but I don't want you to be blindsided when you get back here."
I was becoming alarmed.
"Jesus, Alice! Just get on with it. Have I been sacked, or something? Do I need to start looking for another job?"
"No, no. It's nothing like that," Alice said hastily. "It's just that, well … Jane's moved all of her stuff out of your suite. She's got her own room down the hall from yours now. She's going to break up with you when you get back. Edward, I'm so sorry," Alice finished quietly.
So, that's that.
I felt a flood of emotions run through me. Regret, anger, sadness and … relief. Yes, my overwhelming feeling was definitely one of relief.
"Edward, are you still there? Are you okay?" I heard Alice asking in my ear, as I remained silent.
I took a deep breath and let it out.
"Still here, love. Well, that's certainly some news."
I laughed ruefully.
"I'm sure this won't make things awkward on the set much, from here on out," I said sarcastically.
"I have to say, you're taking this extremely well," Alice said. "You don't really seem all that surprised."
"What were you expecting? That I'd be off in a corner somewhere bawling my eyes out?" I replied. "Really, Alice, I'm fine. I was never under any illusions about my relationship with Jane. It was what it was. And I appreciate you telling me. You're a good friend."
I could almost hear Alice breathe a sigh of relief. We chatted for a few more minutes, and she briefed me on my schedule for the upcoming week.
After I hung up, I sat looking out of the window for several minutes. After my initial surge of relief, I felt strangely emotionless.
I'm twenty-seven years bloody years old and still alone. Why is it that while most of my mates back in London are already married and starting families, or at the very least are in serious relationships, I'm still not capable of making it more than a couple of months with the same woman?
I thought back to some of the previous women I had dated. I was certainly no Wilt Chamberlain, but from the time I had become sexually active at the age of seventeen, there had been a series of women who had come and gone. Some had been in "the business" like Jane. Others had been just regular girls back in England – the sister of a friend's friend, or someone who one of my mates had set me up with. Fewer still, had been random one-night stands. A chance encounter in a bar, a look, a touch, too much to drink, and then waking up the next morning in an unfamiliar flat.
It all seemed rather pointless in retrospect.
I sighed. I knew that I still had one phone call to make. I worked out the time difference in my head. It would be early evening in London now. With any luck, my father would be home from the hospital. It had been weeks since I had spoken with him.
The phone rang several times before my mother finally answered.
"Edward!" she exclaimed a little breathlessly. "It's so good to hear your voice. We've been so worried about you since you told me you were injured. Are you feeling better, darling? Where are you?"
"I'm still in Texas," I replied. "Please try not to worry, Mum. I told you, it's nothing. I'm fine, truly."
"Well, you don't sound fine," Esme said doubtfully. "Is there something else I should know about?"
My mother has always been entirely too perceptive.
"Nothing at all," I lied easily. "It's actually really relaxing down here. I've been getting plenty of rest, just like the doctor ordered."
"Are you eating enough?" Esme fretted. "I know how you get when you're under stress."
I groaned.
"Mum, I've been eating non-stop since I got here. Mrs. Black is a fantastic cook, and besides, there's not much else for me to do. I'm trying to keep a low profile, so I haven't really been out anywhere. I've been sitting by the pool, drinking Margaritas and eating. Period. I'll have to put in double-duty with my personal trainer when I get back to Seattle at the rate I'm going."
Esme laughed.
"I'm glad that Mrs. Black is taking such good care of you, dear," she said.
I wish Mrs. Black was taking care of me. But not in the way you're thinking of, Mum.
"Oh, wait a minute," Esme said suddenly. "Your father's right here and wants to talk to you."
I heard a scuffling sound as she handed the phone to my father.
"Hello, Son," said Carlisle in his rich, calm voice. "Mum tells me you're having a bit of a holiday at the moment. I trust you're feeling better?"
"I'm fine, Dad. Just fine," I replied.
"When do you think you'll be able to come home for a visit?" Carlisle asked. "Your mum misses you terribly."
I closed my eyes briefly. Please no guilt. Not right now.
"Probably not for a while, Dad. I have this film to finish, and then I have a media tour to go on for the movie I shot at the beginning of the year. I've already got another role lined up, and production on that begins in a few months. Then, there are all of the awards shows."
I heard Carlisle sigh at the other end of the phone.
"I'll sort something out," I said quickly. "I'm sure I can manage a trip to London in between, somehow. I'll sit down with my P.A., Alice, when I get back to Seattle and we'll make it work."
I talked to Carlisle for several more minutes. He filled me in on what had been happening with his work at University College Hospital, and we spoke briefly about some of my old mates who had been inquiring after me. Finally, he handed the phone back to Esme. After assuring her for what felt like the hundredth time that I was, indeed, alright, I promised to call again the following week, and hung up the phone.
Right. Now what?
I stared around the room. I had been awake since 4:00 a.m., and part of me was exhausted. At the same time, I was keyed-up from my phone calls.
I suddenly realized that it had been more than twenty-four hours since I'd taken any Vicodin. I stood and walked into the bathroom. No pain. Not even a twinge.
I picked up the brown bottle from its place on the counter and tossed it slowly from hand to hand, listening to the pills rattle around inside.
So what if you're not in physical pain any more? You've had a hell of a day. One or two of these will help take the edge off, and you know it.
I thought about the afternoon that awaited me in the company of the Blacks and Agent Swan. I quickly tipped one of the pills into my hand and swallowed it down with water from the faucet.
I stared at myself in the mirror and ran my hands through my hair.
Fuck me. I hope I can make it through the rest of this day.
I went slowly into the bedroom and stretched out on the bed. I picked up my iPod from the bedside table, slipped in the earbuds, and waited for the Vicodin to take effect.
~~~~~~…~~~~~~
When I opened my eyes, the light had changed.
Bloody hell. I hadn't meant to doze off.
Thankfully, I had only been asleep for about two hours, and hadn't wasted the whole day.
I made my way unsteadily downstairs and into the living room. Bella was curled up in an armchair reading a book. She had kicked off her pumps, and her legs were folded underneath her. One hand rested on her chin.
She looked fucking adorable.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, my voice sounding too loud to me in the quiet room.
Bella jumped and almost dropped the book.
"Oh, Edward! You scared me. You're like a ghost."
She flushed and looked down at the floor.
"Claire's over at a friend's house, and Jake and Charlie went on a beer run. It's just you and me again, I'm afraid."
This woman is going to be the death of me.
I sat in the armchair beside her.
"What are you reading?" I asked, reaching out and tilting the book in her hands toward me.
Bella tried to snatch the book out of my grasp, but before she could I caught a glimpse of the title, Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin.
No fucking way. She's reading erotica?
This woman was a mass of contradictions.
"Hmm. That's quite a good read, actually," I said mildly.
Bella blushed harder than ever.
"I just picked it up in Long Lost Friends last week. It's not generally the kind of book I read, but I was looking for something different, and the shop owner recommended it."
I was completely at a loss for words.
Suddenly, a door slammed, and I heard heavy footfalls in the kitchen.
"We're back!" Jake called out. "Who wants beer?"
Bella jumped up and slipped her feet back into her shoes. She closed the book quickly, and slid it in between the other volumes on a high shelf of the bookcase.
Charlie stuck his head into the room.
"Ah, there you are, Edward. Why don't you come on outside with me and Jake for a spell? There's something I want to show you."
As long as it doesn't involve you showing me the barrel of your gun again.
"Okay," I said dubiously, looking at Bella and raising my eyebrows.
She shrugged and smiled.
"Go ahead," she said, waving me toward the back door. "It's a male-bonding thing."
I followed Charlie onto the patio, with Jake bringing up the rear, carrying a six-pack of beer.
"Hey Edward, heads up!" Jake called from the doorway as I crossed the patio.
I turned and neatly caught the glass bottle of beer he flung at me, one handed, in mid-air.
"Good catch," Jake said admiringly, closing the distance between us and handing a bottle to Charlie.
Yeah, that's me, you prick. Mr. 'Cat-Like Reflexes'.
I looked down at the yellow label as I twisted off the cap.
"Shiner Bock, huh? I don't believe I've ever had this," I said.
"Naw, you probably wouldn't have. It's practically the state beer of Texas," Jake said proudly.
I took a pull from the bottle. It wasn't a Guinness, but it wasn't bad.
"So, what am I supposed to be looking at?" I asked, glancing around.
"This way," Charlie said, crooking his finger and grinning conspiratorially at me as he led the way around the side of the house.
I stopped dead in my tracks as I turned the corner.
What the fuck is that thing?
A black behemoth of a barbecue grill stood on its own cement slab under the shade of a tall tree. It was the biggest grill I had ever seen. With its smoke stack and four wheels, it resembled a small locomotive.
Jake walked over to the thing, and caressed the lid, like he was making love to it.
"Meet Big Nessie," he sighed. "This is a custom built, Klose barbecue pit. Stainless steel, 20" by 50", two meat racks, built-in thermometer, attached smoker, with the front and side wrap-around table."
"Wait, you fucking named your grill?" I asked incredulously.
Charlie was trying not to laugh. I could see his moustache twitching.
"What?" Jake said, sounding hurt. "It's a Texas thing. You don't invest money in a piece of equipment this fine, without calling it something. It'd be bad luck, like a boat with no name."
Yeah, but Nessie? That was just too fucking much.
"Let's crank this baby up," Jake said exuberantly, setting his bottle on the ground and taking a box of matches from his pocket. "I've got her all set up, and she's ready to go."
He lifted the grill's massive lid, struck a match and tossed it inside.
There was a loud Whomph, and a tower of flames rose high in the air, threatening to set the lower limbs of the overhanging tree on fire.
The three of us jumped back a good five feet.
"Now that's a fire!" Jake yelled, grinning happily.
For a moment, Eddie Murphy's old comedy routine flashed through my head.
"Damn it, Jake, did you put lighter fluid in that thing?" Charlie yelled over the roar of the flames.
"Well, maybe just a little bit," Jake admitted, looking sheepish.
"Lord, son. Why'd you go and do that?" Charlie asked, shaking his head. "And after the discussion we had earlier, too. You're gonna need to let that burn down damn near forever before it'll be fit to cook on," he grumbled under his breath.
Charlie turned and stared at me suspiciously.
"You're not one of those New-Age, California vegetarians, are you, Edward?" he asked.
"No, sir. Definitely not," I said, smiling.
Predictably, dinner was another feast. After Claire arrived back home, everyone pitched in to prepare and cook the meal. There were foil-wrapped baked potatoes, corn cooked in the husk and smeared with chipotle-butter, salad, and the steaks and sausage that Charlie had brought. Jake and Charlie cooked everything on Big Nessie, whose raging inferno had subsided into hot, glowing embers.
We sat on the patio and ate in the gathering twilight. I looked around the table as I held an ear of corn in my hand. Everyone was talking and laughing, passing plates of food back and forth. Bella's face glowed in the light of the Citronella candles on the table. It was a perfect moment, and I wanted to remember it forever.
Later, we all sat in the living room drinking coffee, too stuffed for dessert. Charlie and Jake watched ESPN, and Claire got out a chessboard and shyly asked if I would fancy a game. I agreed, and discovered that she was a shockingly good player. She ended up soundly trouncing me.
Bella read in the armchair by the light of a lamp, glancing up at us from time to time, smiling. I noticed that she was no longer reading Nin, but had instead picked up Brontë.
As it began to get late, Charlie stood and stretched.
"Well, I reckon I'd best be hitting the road," he said. "I've got a long drive ahead of me."
Bella immediately laid her book aside and stood up.
"You're not driving all the way back to Del Rio, are you Dad? Why don't you spend the night?"
"Can't darlin'. I've got to work tomorrow, and anyhow I reckon you've got your hands full enough with one houseguest," Charlie said, inclining his head toward me.
"But I hate to think of you driving all night by yourself," Bella fretted.
"Pshaw. I'm used to it," Charlie replied. "Anyway, I don't go on duty until tomorrow afternoon. I'll have time for a catnap before I report in."
"Bye, Grandpa," Claire said, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him fiercely. "I'll miss you."
"Jake," Charlie said gruffly, as Jake rose to shake his hand. "Take care of my girls."
He turned to me, and I rose also, taking his outstretched hand.
"It was good to meet you, Edward. You've got a good head on your shoulders, young man. Don't let Hollywood go a' changin' you."
"I won't, sir," I said, shaking his hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you."
Charlie turned back to Bella, pulling her into an awkward hug.
"Remember what we talked about this morning," he murmured low against her forehead.
"I will, Dad," Bella replied softly. She broke the embrace and stared down at her feet, biting her lip. "Let me walk you out," she said after a moment.
As I watched them leave the room, I thought about what Charlie had said to me. It seemed like every day had brought changes lately.
Changing seemed to be inevitable.
A/N:
So, what did you think of Charlie? I just LOVE him – reminds me of my dad in a lot of ways! Was having Jake name his grill Big Nessie totally evil?! Sorry, I just couldn't resist! Btw, she really does exist – for those of you interested in what she looks like, there's a link under my profile page!
Some changes in this chapter, obviously. Edward's now a "free man", and Bella is starting to realize that there's something missing from her life. How do you think it'll all pan out? Hit that button and leave me a review to let me know!
