Chapter 11: Grandpa Charlie
~Bella~
Slowly our lives were settling into a sort of rhythm. I'd poured over all of the books on how to care for the baby once it was here, but found that none of them were really that helpful. Renesmee had her own time for things and with nothing really to worry about other than taking care of her and my husband, we both just went with the flow. Our daughter seemed to like being awake longer at night, but again that wasn't anything to stress over. Edward didn't need sleep, so aside from waking up to feed her a few times at night, I was getting all the rest I needed. As the days grew warmer, Edward and Renesmee would join me on my walks. Our daughter didn't seem to mind riding in the fancy baby carriage Alice had gotten her for Christmas, and I was happy to get her outside so she could breathe in the fresh air.
Currently Renesmee and I were the only ones home. Edward had gone with Alice to Boston to get my dad from the airport, and as I cleaned the guest room, Renesmee slept soundly in the pink harness I wore strapped over my shoulder and around my back and middle. We were going to tell Charlie the whole truth while he was here hoping he would understand why we needed to keep Renesmee so protected. I'd called Jake a few days ago letting him know that I'd had the baby and that we were preparing to tell Charlie. My best friend promised that he and Billy would try and help Charlie come to terms with all of that when he returned, and seemed more or less resigned to just being my friend now.
Once I'd finished cleaning up in the guest room, including putting fresh sheets on the bed, I went across the hall to Renesmee's room and was packing a diaper bag when I heard Rosalie calling from downstairs. She and Emmett were taking me to the store, something Edward and I had argued over last night after giving Renesmee her first sponge bath. He still worried about me doing too much, even though Carlisle said it was good for me to resume some of the responsibilities.
"Do you need us do do anything?" Rose asked as she walked into the room with Emmett behind her. I was going through the mental list of things I needed to pack for our trip into town, and packed one more sleeper before zipping the diaper bag closed.
"Someone needs to put the base of her car seat in the car."
"Actually, Esme purchased a couple of car seats in case one of us needed to take you anywhere," Rosalie said, seeming worried that it would bother me.
"That will make it handy once school starts back up," I let Rosalie take Renesmee out of the harness and once my sister had her, I removed it deciding to just leave it behind.
While Emmett and Rose sat in the front, I stayed in the back with my baby who remained asleep as we began the trip. My daughter was wearing a light blue floral print dress with a layer of lace over the soft fabric. Alice had insisted I get her dressed up for Charlie, and I had to admit it was cute on her. I'd let Alice mess with my hair, but refused to put on any makeup, and chose a pair of lose fitting tan caprice and a short sleeved shirt that was rather ordinary, at least to Alice.
At the store, I guided Emmett on how to put Renesmee's seat in the passenger compartment of the cart glad he was there to lift that thing in and out of the car. Once she was settled I pulled out my list and lead the way letting them push her. My brother-in-law played tough but like the rest of the men in our family, Renesmee already had him wrapped around her tiny fingers. On more than one occasion I'd gotten up from a nap and found him in our den watching a game lounging on our sofa while my baby slept against his chest. Most of what I got for the house was chips and other snack foods, hoping he and Edward would remember to get Beer since none of us could do that. My dad was that kind of guy. I also got hot dogs and ground chuck so we could grill out at least once this week. It had been a while since I'd had anyone other than me to cook for and I was looking forward to doing that once my baby was older.
As I finished shopping and turned to tell Emmett and Rose we were done, I found my daughter cradled in his strong arm shaking my head.
"She made a sound," he defended as Rose smiled at me. I couldn't complain, because I was the same way, if she made a noise I would check on her, so did Edward for that matter.
The people in the check out line kept looking at us, but I'd long since gotten used to that.
Looking at my watch, I realized they would be back with Charlie not long after we got back, and swore under my breath because this next feeding needed to be a bottle.
We were almost half way home when Renesmee stretched her arms over her head while lifting her legs against her chest grunting. When she let out a high pitched cry I reached out and held her hand, "Shh, I'm here," I told her as she turned her head to the right and opened her mouth making smacking sounds with her lips. I'd packed a bottle in her bag and took it out feeling that it was too cold wishing at the same time that the car had a built in bottle warmer as she cried out again.
Emmett glanced in the rear view mirror, "Do you want me to find a place to stop?"
"No, just get us there safely," I said putting the bottle back and rubbing her small hand as she cried again. It seemed Edward had been right about this being too much for her and I felt guilty as her cries continued into a full fledged fit, this was the first time I'd let her get this upset.
I felt my throat tighten as she continued to really cry and rubbed my hand over her tummy, "I'm sorry baby, I'll listen to your daddy next time and let someone else go shopping," I told her to no avail.
The second we were home I had the straps undone and Renesmee settled against my shoulder. Rosalie opened my door and I let her help me out as I tried calming my daughter down.
"I'll warm a bottle if you want to get her upstairs," Rose offered and I nodded feeling my eyes fill with tears as Renesmee kept on crying.
Once I was in my room I kicked off my shoes and sat on the bed rocking her gently as I shut my eyes and began to hum her lullaby. To my relief she began to settle down, and when Rose came with her bottle she took it without any further fuss. Seeming to know I needed the company Rosalie sat next to me on the bed.
"We argued last night about me taking her to the store. Edward thought she would get overstimulated, but I just pushed him off," I told her still feeling hurt in my heart for upsetting my daughter.
"Sometimes, I wonder how my brother seems to know the right answers to things. He's doing a pretty good job at being a father isn't he?" She asked as she put her arm around me.
I thought about last night again finding him in Renesmee's room rocking her as he read something from a large collection of children's stories. At times he seemed to be more in tune with our baby than me.
"I thought I'd just have it all figured out by the time I had her, but it takes time," I said smiling as my daughter opened her eyes and looked right at me.
"No one is perfect, and you will learn what she needs. I think you are doing a great job, and I'm glad you are willing to share her," Rosalie told me as I hugged her with my free arm.
~*~
A half hour later while I mixed up the hamburger meet with some spices and sauce, I heard the front door open and smiled as I went to the sink and washed my hands. Renesmee was in the den asleep in her swing, liking the motion as she moved from side to side. I greeted my father in our small foyer and gave him a big hug. "I'm so glad you came," I said.
"Me too," he said pulling away and looking at me. "You look happy," he finally said.
"I'm very happy, and a little tired. Now come and meet your granddaughter," I said grasping his hand as Edward joined us from upstairs. He went ahead of us and as we arrived in the den he had our baby in his arms.
"Charlie, meet Renesmee," he said.
My dad held out his arms and I felt my heart warm as Charlie held her for the first time.
"What a beautiful little lady you are," Charlie whispered softly as he kissed her forehead swaying with her as she cuddled against him.
"She likes to be rocked," I said after a moment and showed my dad to the recliner. I had a feeling we weren't going to get her back unless she needed to be fed, and was glad to see my father so accepting of her, hoping he would hold off on the questions for at least a day or so.
When dinner was ready I helped Charlie put Renesmee in her bouncy seat switching it on to vibrate mode as he sat down at the table.
"Bells this looks fantastic," Charlie said as we put the plates of grilled meat and veggies on the table.
"So, how is work going?" I finally asked as I finished my second ear of corn.
"Pretty good. We are implementing new security measures and all of the officers have to wear body armor now. We were actually supposed to already be doing that, but with it being Forks and not much action we've let that slide."
I was glad to hear they were taking more precautions. I had been worried about him going to work after that, and hoped that with the new measures in place they would all be a little safer.
Once dinner was over Charlie insisted on cleaning up. Renesmee was still asleep so we left her where she was for the time being. My husband took over the dishes after we had the coffee ready and I led my father into the den.
"So how is everything going with you?" My dad said as he sat across from me on the other sofa.
"Really good. I'm still really tired, but she's such a good baby."
He nodded as he sipped at his coffee and I waited. "Now, will you tell me why we are keeping her arrival such a big secret?"
Edward joined us and when he put Renesmee in Charlie's arms I had to admire his planning. With her there my father would never in a million years blow up when we told him our big secret.
"Do you remember a while back when I went to Phoenix because you thought Edward and I had gotten into a fight?" I began as he looked away from Renesmee straight at me.
"I remember and what do you mean by me thinking that?" he asked keeping his voice calm. Maybe letting him hold the baby wasn't such a great idea, but Edward would know if she was in any sort of trouble and get her from him if he had to.
Taking a deep breath I began, "I left that night because someone was after me, someone who would have hurt me and you if he ever would have gotten the chance.
Charlie shut his eyes taking in a deep breath and letting it out focusing on the baby in his arms. I continued when he looked at me and told him the rest of what really happened including the part about James being a vampire.
My father sat calmly and very still gently rocking my daughter as he processed everything I'd told him so far. "Vampires?"
"Yes," I said keeping my calm as well.
He looked from Renesmee to me, worry etching the features of his face. "How long have you known this, Bella?," he asked lifting Renesmee to his shoulder as she became restless.
"Almost since the day I met Edward," I answered praying for him to accept this.
Again he watched me for a long time looking down at my hand wrapped in Edwards turning his head to kiss Renesmee who was comfortable where she was.
"You are telling the truth, aren't you?"
"Yes," I said again.
He nodded once and shut his eyes, "What does this mean for you and how is this possible, because if you are telling me the truth then Renesmee shouldn't be here."
It was hard to continue and Edward helped out explaining to my father about Carlisle first, telling him everything. At one point Renesmee woke up needing to be fed and was still nursing when Edward finished.
What Charlie said next surprised us, "I always wondered how your father was able to work so long at the hospital with so little rest. So is there anymore I need to know. Bells how do you feel about all of this."
"I fell like I finally fit in, but there is a little more to this than just knowing, Charlie. The reason we have to keep Renesmee's birth so secret is so that the Vampires in Italy won't take interest. Some day they will come back to see if Edward kept his promise but for now I'm happy staying alive," I said knowing my words made Edward happy.
"I'll lose you, won't I?"
"No. I'm not sure what will happen when I am turned, Charlie, but I'm not going to let that happen."
Edward had left us alone and came back with a beer for my father. I let my husband take our baby to burp and sat down with Charlie. "I know this is a lot to take in but I don't want to lose you either, Charlie. I wish Renee could know but she has Phil now and she's happy with her life."
~*~
Once we said good night to Charlie, Edward and I settled in our room for the night. After he laid Renesmee in her bassinet, we turned out all but one small light and Edward slid in bed behind me wrapping his arms around my body as he pulled my body flush to his. He nuzzled my neck and I sighed feeling relieved that Charlie was on his way to understanding our need for keeping secrets. "He handled that pretty well," I whispered content to be in my husband's arms, and just having it be the two of us for however long Renesmee would allow that.
"He was relieved to finally know. I could hear some of this thoughts. I think he's known for quite some time that there is more to this world than most people suspect."
As I began to drift on to sleep I felt him get up and heard our door open and shut. I heard him when he came back and turned over as he settled in bed leaning back against the pillows with our daughter resting on his chest. There was enough light to see the outline of her tiny body and I watched as she tried to lift her head. When she didn't succeed she let out a piercing cry. I moved closer to them and began to rub her back while Edward hummed her lullaby and in a few minutes she went back to sleep.
The next morning after breakfast, Charlie came with Renesmee and me on our walk pushing her carriage as she slept.
"She sure is beautiful," my father observed. He had already surprised me by changing a dirty diaper all on his own, something Emmett would not do just yet.
"She looks like Edward," I said.
"I see some of you in her too. It looks like you have things pretty well in hand. Renee had a hard time adjusting and anytime you would cry she would as well. I can't remember how many times I had to go home and calm both of you down. That was why it was such a shock when she packed up one day and left. I never saw it coming and I was afraid for both of you because she didn't seem like she could do it on her own."
"Maybe that's what she wanted though, was to make some mistakes and figure it out. The day you got here, well the night before you did, Edward and I had a disagreement about me taking her to the grocery store. He said she would get overstimulated and for me to wait and let the two of you do it. I really made Renesmee mad at me, but it was one of those things I needed to just figure out." In some respects I could understand why my mom took me and left. Renee always said she felt like Charlie was more of a parent than a husband and there were times it was that way with Edward and me, but he was learning to let go, and I was learning to talk to him when something bothered me.
When we got back to the house, Charlie lifted Renesmee from her carriage while Edward got it inside, and after kissing him I headed to the kitchen to warm a bottle for our baby. Once it was ready I went into the den finding my father having a conversation with my baby while she rested in the crook of his right arm.
"Here," I said holding the bottle out.
"I thought you were nursing her."
"I am but there is something else she needs as a part of her diet," I said hoping he would catch on.
"Oh," he said a little surprised. Charlie had tensed up and Renesmee picked up on that and started to cry.
"Shh, Grandpa didn't mean to do that," Charlie crooned as he took the bottle and offered it to her.
My father was able to settled her down and I left him alone with my baby.
In the kitchen I got a glass and filled it with juice sitting down at the table as Edward walked in. "What are you thinking?" he asked as he sat in the chair next to mine.
"Just wishing he didn't have to leave tomorrow."
When Edward reached out and took my hands I looked at him, "I think we might be able to go to Ben and Angela's wedding. Carlisle has some things he needs to take care of in Seattle that weekend and Esme wants to do some work on the old house to get it ready to place on the market.
My hopes were now up, "Will Renesmee be able to handle a flight that long?"
"I think so. We are talking about getting another private jet to avoid the hassle in Boston and by then she should be ready for her first long trip."
For a few minutes I thought about that as I helped Edward clean up around the kitchen. "I guess we can't really show her off can we?"
"For the same reasons Charlie can't tell anyone but Billy and Sue about her," Edward answered as he handed me another plate out of the dish washer. My father had talked to Billy yesterday and Billy told them he would explain their side of the story when he got back to Washington.
Once the kitchen was clean I went back in the den finding my dad watching TV and Renesmee resting on his chest on her back looking around the room.
"Are you trying to turn her into a baseball fan?" I asked as I walked over to the recliner. Renesmee found my face and blinked her eyes before she cried softly, letting me know what she wanted.
"She's really alert," Charlie said as I took her and settled her across my arm on her stomach rubbing her back with my free hand while her arms and legs hung over either side. She liked being held that way and it was something Charlie had showed me yesterday when she was having one of her longer fusses.
"I know. She was trying to lift her head last night when Edward was letting her rest on his chest."
When she started to fuss Edward took her kissing me before he headed up stairs to get her ready for bed.
"I wish you could stay longer," I told him as I sat down on the sofa.
Charlie flipped the TV off. "I do too, Bells. I'm going to try and do better about seeing you, now that I know. I want to be a part of Renesmee's life as much as I do yours."
We hugged and it didn't feel as awkward to me to show Charlie how much I loved him.
The next afternoon, we got dad packed up. Renesmee seemed to be picking up on our somber mood because she was a lot more vocal and not very happy unless someone was rocking her or walking around the house with her. Edward and Alice were taking Charlie back to Boston, and I was happy that my father was starting to like my husband a little more. I'm not sure Charlie was ready for me to take any further steps toward being a vampire, but we would deal with that when it came.
As I hugged Charlie before he left, Edward stood in the shade of our garage pacing with our baby, "Have a safe trip, Dad. Call me when you get home."
"I will, Bells, I love you. Take good care of my granddaughter."
We parted and Edward walked over to use letting Charlie hold our baby. She let us all know pretty fast that she wasn't happy and once they had gone I took my unhappy baby upstairs to my room. "Shh, you'll get to see Grandpa in a few months," I crooned as Renesmee cried hard against my shoulder.
I laid down with her in my bed resting on my side and placed her on her side facing me. I got her to nurse and that seemed to calm both of us down. I noticed that the more I settled down the more she did, and wondered if she was able to pick up on emotions like her Uncle Jasper. I'd have to ask him to observe her some on a day when she wasn't happy to see if he could pick up on anything. I'd spent most of the week with Charlie and not much time alone with Edward. As Renesmee continued to eat, I flipped on the TV and turned it to a local weather station waiting to catch a glimpse of the radar. It was going to be a clear cool evening, but clear was the key.
I reached behind me and felt on my bedside table until I found my phone and flipped it open dialing Esme's phone. "Hello Bella, it's good to hear from you," she answered.
"I'm glad to hear your voice to. Are you and Carlisle planning anything for this evening?"
"No, do you need something?" she asked hopefully and I smiled down at my daughter.
"Yes. I want to see if I can get Edward to go on a drive out to that lake closer to town. I was hoping you two might be able to come over and watch your granddaughter."
"We would love to."
I told her I would call when he got back and after hanging up the phone I settled my head against the pillow shutting my eyes for some quiet time with my baby girl.
~Edward~
Taking a drive with my wife was something I realized we both really needed. I parked the car in one of the parking lots near the lake and took my wife's hand glad that this park stayed open late. She told me about Renesmee picking up on strong emotions and I agreed that she was likely right. That would be something we would have to watch. Finding an empty bench by the lake, I guided us in that direction and after Bella was seated I took her hand and put a box in it.
"What is this?"
"Open it," I said hoping she wasn't going to throw a fit.
The moon lit up the lake and when she opened the velvet box the light reflected off of the the diamond in the center of the small angel pendent hanging from the gold chain. "I wanted you to have something special to celebrate Renesmee's birth."
Bella put her hand over her mouth and breathed in deeply, "Will you put it on for me?"
I took the box easing the necklace from it and in a moment it was around her neck.
"I'm not sure what to say," she whispered as I wrapped my arm around her.
"You don't need to say anything."
When she looked up at me tears glistened in her eyes and I tilted my head down and kissed them away before moving to her lips, wrapping my arms around her as she opened her mouth. Her taste and smell were always intoxicating and I was very aware of her hands between us working on the buttons of the shirt I was wearing. Bella soon straddled my lap rubbing her hands over my chest warming me inside and out. I broke our kiss and pressed my lips to her chin traveling down her neck ever mindful that we were in a public place, and not in our own room. Her breath caught as I worked the buttons of her blouse free and when my left hand grazed over her full breasts.
"We shouldn't be doing this hear," she breathed even though her hands worked their way into my slacks. I growled as she cupped her hand around my sensitive, swollen length lifting my hips up into her hands while I freed her left breast from the confines of her bra. No one was anywhere close to us and we were under the shade of a Weeping Willow. As my lips closed around her breast, the movement of her hands stopped briefly before she started up again squeezing me tighter as I drank in the warm milk that was usually meant for our daughter.
Bella tossed her head back moving her hands out of my trousers as she ground herself against me.
With my other hand I freed her other breast running my thumb over that nipple as I gently bit down on the one in my mouth feeling my own release quickly approaching.
Bella's breath caught and she tilted her head toward me. We kissed and a moment later she screamed as her release came powerful and consuming causing my own.
My wife began to shake and I reached reached beside us and picked up my jacket pulling that over her before I helped her with her bra and her blouse.
"We didn't plan this very well did we?" Bella asked as she moved off my lap.
"I wasn't planning on this," I said lightly and she blushed.
When we got home I went in through the kitchen door and changed in our room after cleaning off putting my slacks over the edge of the hamper before I went back downstairs.
Bella was showing Esme the necklace I'd gotten for her, and Carlisle was sitting in the recliner rocking Renesmee. "How did she do?"
"I think you were right about what you two observed. She was pretty worked up after you left," he said softly.
I eased her into my own arms and she cried out once before shifting closer to my body.
Once my parents were gone, Bella and I headed upstairs. Esme had fed her a bottle right before we got home and I hoped she would sleep in her bassinet for a couple of hours like she had a few nights ago, but had a feeling that she wouldn't.
Once settled in bed with my wife, Bella brought that up, "I wonder if she's going to struggle with this. I felt really sad today when Charlie as gone and she fed off of that until I made myself calm down. Maybe that's why she was so worked up the day we went to the Super Market."
"Shh, we have time to work on that," I told her kissing her forehead as Bella snuggled closer to me. Esme's idea with the electric blanket had made our lives so much better and for a while Bella and I were able to rest alone with our daughter safe close by.
~*~*~
AN: Thank you all so much for all the great reviews. I''m really glad you like the way I'm writing this story. There is just so much you can do with them having a baby, though I'm working on not having every moment consumed with Renesmee. Since this story has an M rating I'm going to start throwing in a more lemons. I hope you liked this edition, more to come soon.
~Ella~