The Painful Truth
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!
Part Ten
Bella woke up with her throat on fire. She swallowed a couple of times and winced as it tightened up. She had caught a chill. Before she had a chance to think a mug of hot lemon mixed with honey was thrust at her. "Drink this. It will make you feel better." Bella turned her head to find Charlie sitting on the edge of her bed. He didn't seem angry anymore, just tired.
"Dad." Bella croaked painfully as she took the mug and began to sip the soothing liquid. It eased the pain in her throat and she relaxed.
Charlie plumped up Bella's pillows as he watched her slowly finish the drink. "Better?" He asked when she eventually passed the empty mug back to him.
"Yes."
"Good." Charlie cleared his throat as he put the mug on the bedside cabinet. He suddenly found himself at a loss. He had a whole speech prepared but as soon as Bella had woken up from her fever, the words eluded him. "Um…look Bells, I overreacted, okay. I shouldn't have yelled at you like I did without giving you a chance to explain. That was wrong of me." He paused as he looked at his daughters white face. She had been in bed with a high temperature for two days. He had wanted to take her to hospital to get checked out but Sue had assured him that Bella would be fine. She needed rest and some TLC. "But you should have confided in me about Cullen sending you that cell phone."
Bella felt her throat tighten again as she became upset. She didn't remember much about the last few days. Her last memory was of Jacob carrying her into the house, after that everything was hazy. But the feelings of despair and guilt still haunted her. She couldn't shake off her anger at the way her father had spoken to her without giving her a chance to explain. While she had been lying in bed fighting the fever, she kept dreaming about her mother. It had been a long while since she had seen Renee, and she yearned to feel her comforting arms around her. "Did you tell mom about me being sick?" She rasped.
"No." Charlie mumbled. "You know what your mother's like. I didn't need her asking a hundred questions."
Bella bowed her head and coughed. Charlie sighed and reached out to rub her back. "Sue says it will take a couple of more days to pass, then you should feel as right as rain again."
Bella looked at him sadly. "I miss mom."
Charlie's expression softened. "I know you do, kiddo."
Bella's eyes welled with tears. She couldn't help it. She was just feeling so low. Even though Renee wasn't what you would call motherly, she did have an innate ability to find the best in situations. Bella had taken the more serious adult role when she lived with her mother. Renee on the other hand was flighty and became swept up in her enthusiasms. She had a childlike view of the world, and found joy in the oddest things. Bella wished she could feel some of that joy now. She was tired of feeling so insecure. She felt removed from Charlie right now and wanted her mother's unique brand of comfort.
Charlie saw her tears and frowned. "You feeling sick again, Bells?"
"No." Bella shook her head. She swallowed thickly as she finally raised her eyes to his. "I want to go and stay with mom. I need a break, dad. I need to get away from here."
Her words were like a punch to the gut. Charlie stared at her for a moment, not sure how to respond. He could see the distrust in her eyes. He had pushed her too hard and now she was withdrawing from him. Billy had warned him to tread gently where Bella was concerned, but instead he had let his temper and hurt get the better of him. "I am sorry for not giving you a chance to explain, Bells." He apologised again. "But in the current circumstances there is no way you can go on a trip to see Renee."
"No, you don't understand." Bella replied quietly. "I'm going whether you agree or not. I'm eighteen, you can't legally stop me." She said no more. Instead she turned her back on him and lay on her side facing the wall.
"She hates me." Charlie confided in Billy and Jacob as he sat with them a little while later at the kitchen table. "She's adamant she wants to leave and go to stay with Renee."
"She's not thinking straight." Jacob scraped his chair back as he got up. "I'll go talk some sense into her."
"No." Charlie grabbed Jacob's arm and motioned for him to sit back down. "She doesn't want to see you right now."
"Why?" Jacob was alarmed to hear this. Charlie might have lost it with Bella, but after taking Leah's advice, he hadn't. There hadn't been much chance to talk properly with Bella while she had been feverish, but he had sat by her bed and held her hand while she fought it. He couldn't understand why she was taking this hard stance with him.
"Calm down, son." Billy warned him. "It's probably not personal. Bella is in a very distressed state. I don't think she knows where her head's at."
Jacob slumped in his chair and drummed his fingers on the table. "I'm still the best one to get through to her. The more she stews on her feelings the more stubborn she gets. I know."
"What are you going to do, Chief?" Billy asked his friend. He frowned at Jacob, gesturing to his son to stop the annoying drumming. Jacob glared back at his father with a mulish expression before he finally caved in and stopped. "Can Renee maybe come and visit Bella here?"
"There's no chance of that. Renee hates Forks. It was only because Bella was on the verge of death that she managed to prise her skinny ass away from that new hubby of hers in Jacksonville." Charlie said darkly. He hated being reminded of the first time his daughter got injured. Cullen had sat by Bella's bedside constantly, pretending all the while that he was distraught, when he was the cause of her injuries. Why couldn't Bella see that? It was so frustrating how she idolised the leech.
"Maybe if Bella called Renee then." Billy said helplessly as he ran out of suggestions.
"No, Bells is determined to go." Charlie sighed heavily and rubbed a hand over his face. "I can't physically stop her leaving either. She is eighteen. The law is against me. All she would have to do is make an issue of it legally and I would be forced to watch her go."
"Then the fucking leech sinks his poisonous teeth into her once again." Jacob fumed as he hit his fist on the table. He was angry at Charlie for blowing up at Bella in the first place. She had made the decision to stay voluntarily when she confessed she was posting that damn package back to Cullen. But now she wanted out of La Push and away from all of them.
"Watch your language." Billy remonstrated with him. "Losing your temper won't get you anywhere. We've all seen the results of that." He gave both Jacob and Charlie a meaningful look.
Jacob scowled. "What do you suggest then?"
"Give her what she wants." Billy saw their expressions darken at this absurd notion. "Cool it." He said irritably. "Let Bella go and see Renee. You go with her, both of you. I hardly think the red headed leech is gonna be aware if you skip out of town for a few days. I highly doubt she has a passport. If there are any problems than I'm sure Jake can take care of them." He directed his words to Charlie.
Jacob visibly relaxed at this idea. He glanced at Charlie. The older man appeared thoughtful as he absorbed Billy's words. "I'll be a kickass bodyguard." He said with a smirk.
Charlie rolled his eyes at Jacob's idle boast before returning his attention to Billy. "You've forgotten one important person if I'm going to agree to this little impromptu trip."
"Who?" Billy asked in confusion.
"You, you old fool." Charlie teased. "You don't think I'm going to face my ex without my old buddy to back me up." He sat back in his chair as he saw an answering smile light up Billy's lined face. "We could both do with some vitamin D."
"Uh huh." Billy agreed amiably. "Soaking up the sun might do wonders for Bella's constitution too as well as improve her state of mind."
"That's what I'm counting on." Charlie crossed his fingers as he glanced down the hall toward his daughter's room.
"So you're just letting me go." Bella asked suspiciously.
"There are conditions." Charlie pointed out.
"Here we go." Bella muttered as she crossed her arms defensively across her chest.
Charlie ignored her anger and met her eyes steadily. "I'm coming with you and…"
"So am I." Jacob appeared suddenly in the doorway. He leaned against the frame nonchalantly.
Charlie turned and glared at Jacob, annoyed by the interruption. He had hoped to break the news gently to his daughter. Trust Jacob to bowl in and stir his daughter up again. Bella's cheeks had turned rosy and her face was livid. "You just had to invite yourself, didn't you?" She said hotly.
"Of course." Jacob smiled smugly as he saw Bella's fists clench. She was obviously feeling better if she felt up to sparring with him. Charlie looked worried. The older man didn't realise that this was just banter. Jacob knew Bella well enough to know that underneath all the false bluster she was glad that he was coming along. "Don't worry, Bells. I won't intrude on your mother and daughter time. I am sure there are other ways I can amuse myself." He continued.
"I bet you will." Bella muttered. "Just remember to behave when you're staying at my mom's. I'm not gonna clear up after you and I won't be cooking any fancy meals either." She retorted.
"We know that." Charlie interjected as he threw Jacob an annoyed glance. "This will be your chance to recuperate and de-stress. We won't be staying with Renee anyway. I've booked a small villa for the duration. We're only going to be there five days. I managed to get a cheap deal on line."
"What about your pack duties?" Bella was still focused on Jacob. For some reason his nonchalant attitude was getting under her skin.
"I've spoken to Sam." Jacob replied smoothly. "Paul is going to take up my slack as punishment for stirring. So it's all sorted."
"You've thought of everything, haven't you?" Bella huffed.
"Yes." Charlie took over the conversation again as he motioned for Jacob to leave the room. He was getting irritated that his daughter and his friend's son were talking as if he wasn't even in the room. "Billy's coming too." He revealed much to Bella's surprise. "He'll keep me company while you're with Renee."
Jacob still hadn't left. Bella found her eyes drifting back to him. She couldn't help but notice how vital and alive he looked. Even standing still there was an undercurrent of restless energy about him. His t-shirt hugged his upper torso and did little to hide the contours of his muscular physique. He was gazing at her in amusement and this only riled her up further. She was intensely annoyed with herself that she couldn't seem to stop staring at him. And she knew that he knew what effect he was having on her. Damn arrogant wolf boy, she thought to herself as she scowled.
"You feeling sick again, Bells?" Charlie asked in concern as he watched her face darken.
"No. I am fine." Bella muttered. "I'm just tired."
"Okay." Charlie patted her hand. "You get some sleep." He stood up and jerked his head for Jacob to leave ahead of him.
"Good night, Bells." Jacob called out to her.
Bella refused to answer. She turned her face to the wall and pulled her blankets up to her chin.
"Good night, Bells." Jacob said again loudly.
Bella's head popped up as her scowl deepened. "Good night." She snapped before facing the wall again.
Jacob grinned as he finally left the room with a bemused Charlie following behind. He couldn't understand what Jacob found so amusing. He would never understand their relationship. Charlie shook his head as he bid Bella goodnight and closed the door quietly after him.
A/N-thanks for reading!