Jealousy and Surprises

JePOV

It was eight in the morning and we stood in Charlie's driveway, considering whether or not they should me in. He didn't even know we were here, less that we were standing in his driveway.

"We should bring her." My father fought.

"But maybe seeing his grandchild at 'eighteen' years old is a little overwhelming." My mom argued.

"What are you talking about, Bella? He has been waiting almost eighteen years to see her since she was a baby. Please, Bella, bring her."

"Edward, I want to bring her in, but…I don't know, I'm nervous to see my own father."

"Bella, love, Charlie loves you. You don't need to worry."

"Okay, then let's go."

My mom opened the screen door, then a wooden one. All three of us went through the door. I could pick out many scents, including my mom's old scent, which I recognized from her old clothes. My mom walked a couple steps before a voice spoke.

"Jake, is that you? Where have you been these past two days? I thought you were going to pick up some of the old football games a couple years ago? Jake?"

"Dad, it's me."

"Jake, are you there and playing tricks on me? Or am I going crazy."

"Dad, it's me, Bella."

"Yeah, I think I'm going insane. I'm talking to myself—I guess the cancer is catching up with me. Where's that phone?"

My mom walked into the living room and my father and I waited by the entryway into the living room. Charlie lay on a couch. There was an untouched book on his bedside table. Charlie was thinner than he had been in the pictures. He had more wrinkles, but his face was still the same. And leaning against a wall was a foldable wheelchair.

I saw Charlie look at my mom—and his eyes began to tear up.

"Bella?"

"Yeah, Dad, it's me." Then she came closer and hugged him.

"Oh, Bella, I've missed you." He said as tears dropped down his face.

"Dad, I'm so sorry I left you. I…"

"Bella don't talk. I'm just glad you're here. Is anybody else with you?"

"The family is waiting outside."

"What for? Tell them to come in."

I gave all six of them impulses to walk through the door. And in several seconds, they were by our sides.

"Hello, everyone. I'm so forgetful these days that I can't remember all of your names, so hello everybody."

Everyone said 'Hello, Charlie' or 'Hey, Charlie' or Emmett's 'Hey, Charlie, what's up?'

"Now, where is that son of law of mine who I gave you away to?"

"Hey, Charlie, who do you think is going to win the series this year?"

"I couldn't say… our team hasn't been doing well lately."

"I heard about that, maybe if we place Emmett on the team, we could kick up the points."

"Enough about sports, where's the baby? Where's my granddaughter? Where's my Jenie?"

I stepped forward so that we were only two feet apart.

"Right here, Grandpa."

He looked into my eyes, and I could feel every emotion he had had about me since I was born. I went down on my knees by the couch and began hugging him.

"My, Jenie. My baby, Jenie. You are so big, you must've grown a little more than four feet since the last time I saw you. And what a pretty young lady you are. I bet you have a boyfriend somewhere."

I looked at my father, and I saw the water about to boil. I looked at Emmett and decided to make his day more amusing than our argument this morning. But not the amusement he was thinking of.

I heard the roar of an engine enter the driveway. The engine shut off and I heard footsteps. Then I smelled him. The door opening broke the silence.

"Hey, Charlie, I brought the football games from a couple of years ago. I thought we could watch them and grab some pizza…"

Jacob walked into the living room and stood still. He looked from Charlie, to Edward, to Bella, and then to me.

"Hey, Jake. Thanks for the tapes. Oh, Jake, Bella and the Cullens are back in Forks."

"It's nice to see all of you again." He said politely as possible.

"So Jacob, I don't believe you met my granddaughter, Jenie, yet."

"Actually, I had the pleasure of meeting her yesterday. We got to know each other quite well." Jake winked at me, causing me to smile.

"That's nice. So, Jenie, did you know that Jacob and your mom were best friends way back in years? At one point, they were more than friends, actually."

"Dad!" My mom exclaimed.

"What, Bella? Edward knows, everyone knows, so what's the big deal in sharing old news? —Anyhow, so Jenie, what did you say?"

"I was going to say that my mom must've forgotten to mention that little story. But I'm sure she will tell me. I knew that they were friends, but she must've skipped that little detail."

I was angry and jealous. How did I not know this? Jacob loved my mom. Oh my gosh! That's…that's nasty. Ughh! I really hoped that they kept their emotions to themselves and never went further than a hug…otherwise I would want to die in embarrassment.

Then I heard my father's emotion. He had read my thought. And he was laughing. He was partially laughing. And I wanted to know what was funny.

"So, Jenie, while on the subject, I never got the answer to my question. So, do you have a boyfriend?"

"Well…no, I don't. But there was this guy back in Alaska. But then I came here, and I met someone."

I felt Jake getting angry with someone—me. But then he cooled a bit at the latter of my remark.

"Really? I know everyone around here, who is the lucky fellow?"

"I'll tell you sometime when my family isn't here. They're not exactly happy about it. Nor do they approve it. The are reluctantly allowing it actually."

"Oh, alright. You can tell me some other time."

Then my mother changed the subject.

"Hey, Dad, do you want to come over and have breakfast with us?"

I looked at my mom with a crazy expression. My grandfather would be the only one eating unless I forced myself to eat since I was less than half human, or I could change myself and eat normally. Anyhow, my mom certainly was going to do anything to spend time with her father.

"Sure, Bells, I would like that."

"Eggs, French Toast, and pancakes sound good?"

"Sounds great."

"Good."

"So, Bella, is Jenie entering school, here at Forks?"

"Yes, she is. She was at the top of her class in her junior year, last year." My father answered.

"Really, that's wonderful. Uh, Bella, I don't want to mention this, since I really don't want to know anything about you and the Cullens because I believe it's better to be ignorant. But, anyhow, I was wondering how you and Edward are going to pass for 38?"

"Well, Dad, we have our ways. Alice, over the years, has become very creative. Actually, she makes great realistic face masks."

"Oh, so that's how you're going to live."

"Yeah, until we figure out something better."

"You're joking right?"

"Well, we were planning to make Jenie suffer for the week of school before we enter the school system."

"I bet all of you will have fun seeing your old teachers. Won't they know your names? You do stand out, you know." Jacob sarcastically commented.

The conversation pursued into how everyone was renaming themselves at school, then about football, then my mom's old truck, and other subjects that were basically small talk.

Finally my dad's emotions became complex. They were happy, mischievous and amused. Then, finally he spoke.

"Jacob, I want to talk to you. Now." He said in a firm, serious tone.

My father just walked out of the living room and through the front door. Jake followed him and smiled at me before shutting the door."

"What was that about?" Charlie asked, completely confused.

I decided to give him some insight. Maybe he would be on my side.

"Grandpa, Jake and I love each other."

Charlie's face went blank for a second, then disgusted, and then finally he burst out in laughter.

"What?" I asked him.

"I would pay a million bucks to hear the many ways your father is threatening to kill Jacob if he hurts you."

"Why do you say he's threatening?"

"Because I almost shot your father in the head after he left your mom."

"What?!!!"

"You never told her, did you, Bells?"

"Dad, it was none of her business to tell her about the past."

"Bella, she needs to know about how Jacob saved you after Edward dumped you. She needs to know how you were involved with him."

"Dad, first of all, Edward didn't dump me the way you think he did. And second of all, she has no right to know what happened."

"Want to bet that? Because I'll tell her if you don't."

My mom was burning angry. Then she growled.

"Are you threatening me, Bells?" Charlie asked, his voice rising in infuriation.

"No, I'm not threatening you, Dad. I'm just boiling over in rage!"

"Bella, if she's going to date Jacob, she'll find out the story either way. From you, Jacob, or me. I don't know which is more accurate…but either way she'll find out what happened."

"Dad, I'll tell her, if you don't make any joking remarks about the past."

"Deal."

"Good. I guess we better get you into Edward's car if we are going to be eating breakfast, it will probably be brunch, though."

"Sounds great."