Name: Shattered Glass

Author: Sdfreeze

Chapter 13

Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

13

Everything changed over night. I walked from the hotel room, where I had been wrapped in Edward's love, into the cold December day filled with dread. Nothing could break through the heaviness surrounding me, and my mood was dark.

I could feel Edward watching me closely and it felt suffocating, so I turned to watch the forest pass by from the window.

"Bella," he called out softly, "which way?"

I looked at the sign welcoming us to Forks, and took a deep breath and asked, "My dad's house?"

"No, love," he whispered. I knew what he meant and I felt sick inside.

"Turn on Wood Avenue," I said as the tears began to fall. I kept my head down and refused to look at the scenery that had been my home all of my life. I felt the car turn and Edward slowed down. I couldn't breathe and my hand unconsciously grabbed the car door handle.

"Isabella," he said forcefully, "which home was yours?"

"I can't Edward," I cried. "Turn around, please don't make me do this."

He pulled to the side of the road and got out of the car. I kept my head down and closed my eyes until he opened my door. My hands grabbed onto the seat, unwilling to be moved from the safety of the vehicle.

Hi kissed me gently as he pulled my face up to look at him. "Remember the blow-up pool in your yard?" he asked, pulling things from the scrapbook I had made for him.

I nodded.

"That little girl loved her house; it was full of happy memories. Show me where that little girl lived."

My eyes slowly turned to look down the road and instantly found the blue house. "On the left," I whispered. "The blue one on the left."

Edward pulled my face back to him and smiled at me. "Thank you, I can picture her there, and it's not all bad. There is a lot of good."

"Yes, a lot of good." I repeated, " It was so warm during the winter and it had a beautiful fireplace."

"Was your room upstairs?" he asked.

"Yes, but I slept in my mom's room a lot when my dad moved out."

"And she would hold you tightly and tell you she loved you?"

I began to sob loudly and I nodded my head.

"That is what she wants you to remember, Isabella. She wants you to look at that house and feel her arms around you as you remember how much you were loved."

I couldn't tear my eyes away from his, so he took hold of my chin and turned my face to look at the house. He brought his face right against my cheek and looked down the road with me.

I stared at the windows wishing my mom would pull back the curtain and smile at me. I wanted this to be a nightmare too, and I could run to her and tell her how awful it had been. I looked at the door and the wreath was not familiar, telling me my mother was not inside.

I don't know how long we sat there, but the tears eventually dried up, and I began to see the house as any other on the street. It wasn't my house anymore and the differences became too apparent.

Edward got back in the car and began backing up. "That's it?" I asked in hope.

"For now. I am so proud of you, it will be easier next time. Now where does Charlie live?"

"Right on division and left on Elderberry," I said as I wiped my face. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted. I wasn't looking forward to everything else I had to face, but the first step was over and I had hope I could make it though this, with Edward's help.

Charlie came out to greet us and I suddenly remembered to tell Edward the lie I had told my dad. "Oh, you had to work yesterday, so we left Seattle early this morning."

I jumped from the car and ran to hug my father. He looked at my tear stained face and glanced at Edward wanting an explanation. "I showed him where I lived," I explained, to stop Charlie from throwing Edward against the car and handcuffing him.

Charlie reached over to shake Edward's hand and I officially introduced them. We all headed into the house and Charlie offered Edward a beer. "Later, we have a big day ahead of us," Edward said, so I took the beer and watched Charlie frown."

"I'm twenty-one, dad," I said with authority.

"You're twelve Bells, and you always will be," he said as he grabbed the beer from my hand.

"So I guess that means Edward is bunking with you?" I asked to watch both men squirm.

Charlie gave Edward a disgusted look and then nodded at the couch, "I'll sleep there, and he can have my room."

"I can't take your room, Chief Swan," Edward interjected. "I'll sleep on the couch."

"I have irregular hours and get called out at all hours of the night. I usually watch television to unwind," Charlie said to settle the couch matter.

"I'll sleep in Dad's room, Edward can have mine," I offered.

"Bella," Edward said in frustration, "it is going to be a tough few days for you, and you need someplace familiar. I'll sleep on the couch and your father can watch television without it bothering me."

"No," Charlie said, "I'll sleep down here. It isn't a problem."

"Let's all just stop this right now," I said angrily. "Dad, you can come in from Sue's house whenever you want and Edward will be with me. Can we be grown-ups about this?"

Charlie turned red with anger and tightened his lips. "I'll get the blow-up mattress from the camper," he finally said.

"Dad, we don't…."

"Bells, let me get the damn blow-up mattress and leave it on your floor for my sanity," Charlie begged.

Edward turned his head so he wouldn't laugh and I stepped forward to hug my father. "Thanks dad, I'll get him some blankets and some sheets."

Edward and I headed out to get our bags as Charlie headed out the back to get the mattress. When we were all set up I brought Edward to the couch so we could chat with my dad.

"Son, if I looked into your past would I find anything incriminating?" Charlie asked.

"Dad," I yelled.

"If you looked into Edward Cullen's past you wouldn't find a thing, but Edward Masen is a different story."

I wondered why Edward would give my father that information. He could have passed himself off as a great guy without any skeletons, but he chose to tell him the truth. I was the one to become nervous now, and could only imagine what my dad would be able to dig up.

Charlie smiled and nodded to Edward. "I have already looked into both, thank you for your honesty."

"I'm sure you know why I think I can help Bella, but it is not why I love her so much," Edward said and squeezed my hand.

"Bella tells me you want to be a doctor, do you think your past will be an issue when applying to medical schools."

I had never considered that angle and looked at Edward with curiosity. He looked at me hesitantly and finally turned back to my father. "I've been accepted to the University of Utah medical school. I start next fall."

My heart began pounding and I tried so hard to keep my face neutral. I wouldn't be finished with my nursing degree until next December meaning Edward and I would be apart for one whole semester. I felt my bravery begin to slip and I wished we were far from Forks at this moment.

"What kind of doctor are you planning on becoming?" Charlie asked.

"A Psychiatrist," Edward answered.

I looked at him in stunned silence. I had assumed he would be a surgeon like Carlisle, but now I understood why he felt so strongly about helping me. "You're not going to bill me are you?" I asked in jest.

He laughed and leaned closer to me, "You can't afford me; this is pro bono."

"Or something like that," I said softly and raised my eyebrows.

"Exactly," he whispered and stared into my eyes.

Charlie cleared his throat to remind us he was in the room, or that he carried a gun, I wasn't sure which.

"Sue would love to have you both for dinner one night. What should I tell her?"

"Um…not tonight or tomorrow," I said nervously. "Can I get back to you on that?"

"Sure, and Bells….Billy wants to see you."

I tensed and Edward put his arm around me. "I would love to meet Jake's father, Isabella."

I only nodded and had to blink back the tears. Edward moved to speak in my ear, "I love you."

I relaxed and let my body be supported by his.

"Well, Charlie," Edward said as he stood and pulled me to my feet. "We have some work to do today. Will we see you this evening?"

I grabbed a fist full of Edward's shirt and kept my eyes glued to the material in my hand. Charlie stared at us for a moment and finally spoke to Edward. "Are you sure you know what you are doing?"

"I'm saving the woman I love," he answered. "I wouldn't do this unless I was sure."

When we were seated in the car Edward said, "First let's get something to eat. Where is the best place in Forks for a greasy burger?"

"There is a Chicago style pizza place," I shared, and his eyes lit up. I laughed and gave him directions.

We sat in a booth and I had to complain about his constant moaning as he took bites of his pizza. "Stop making sex noises," I demanded.

"I'm not making sex noises," he said as he laughed.

"Yes, you are. You sounded exactly like this last night."

He put his slice down and wiped his mouth. "Bella, I promise you are so much better than this pizza, don't be jealous."

"I'm not jealous," I laughed. "You're turning me on."

His eyes widened and he coughed from the food he choked on. "I can't finish this now," he said as he began putting it back in the box. I didn't want the casual lunch to be over yet. I wanted to stay in the booth and watch him moan over his pizza until it was time to head back to Seattle.

"I have an idea," he smiled. "We will keep the pizza in your room and if Charlie hears me moaning we will blame it on the food."

"What makes you think it won't be?"

"Because making love to you in your twin bed, with your policeman father in the house, is too kinky to resist. Plus you always turn me on, even without the moaning." He reached out and took hold of my hands. "We're going to make it through this. It only gets better from here on out," he promised.

"Edward, what about Utah?"

"That is not an issue right now. We will make it work, Bella. I love you too much to lose you."

I took a deep breath and smiled at him. He squeezed my hands and said, "Are you ready Isabella?"

"Tell me what to do," I said, trying to be brave.

He pulled me from the booth, picked up the box of pizza and we headed to the car. I was surprised when he pulled across the street into the parking lot of a flower shop. He left the car running and came back with a bouquet of flowers.

"Are those for me?" I asked.

"No, these are for when you introduce me to your mother," he said and ran his finger down my cheek. I turned away, and looked out the window, as he easily found his way back to where I used to live. He pulled into the driveway of the familiar blue house and I looked at him in a panic.

"Someone lives here, Edward."

"I know," he said and got out of the car. I watched as he made his way to the door and spoke to a young woman I didn't recognize. They talked back and forth for several minutes and he walked back over to my side of the car.

He took my hands and spoke softly, "Isabella, where did Jake propose?"

I jerked my hand away and grabbed my heart as I shook my head back and forth. My eyes shut tightly and I began humming to keep the memories from flooding my brain.

Edward put his hands on the sides of my head and held me still. "Were you in the house or outside?"

"No," I screamed.

"Did he have it wrapped?" Edward yelled still holding my head. "Did Isabella have to unwrap it?"

I nodded, but kept my eyes tightly shut.

"She unwrapped it and got angry, right?" he pushed.

I began pounding my fist onto my thigh, "She should have been nice. She should have tried to talk to him."

"Did they yell at each other?"

I nodded my head and tried to pull away from Edward, but he held on tightly.

"Jake stormed off, and what did Isabella do?"

"She yelled after him, she called him awful names."

"Did he keep walking?"

"Yes," I whispered.

"Did the yelling bring her mother outside?"

I screamed in pain and was finally able to push Edward away as I curled into a tight ball.

"Did she asked her mother to go after Jake?"

I cried out loudly and covered my ears. Edward pulled my hands down and spoke louder, "Did she ask her mother to go after him?"

"No," I screamed. "She told her to let him go. He would come back, he always came back."

At that point Edward pulled me into his arms and kissed my head as he held me tightly. "Oh baby, you are doing so well. Shhh, I'm here, love. You're going to be fine."

When I finally calmed down enough to listen he spoke softly in my ear. "Isabella, you didn't send your mother after him. She chose to go, just as Jake chose to walk off. He would have been back. He wouldn't have let the fight push him away, he would have been back for your friendship."

My stomach suddenly heaved and Edward jumped out of the way, so I could make it to the shrubs next to the car. The red from the pizza reminded me of that night and I vomited until nothing more would come out. He rubbed my back and handed me some tissue from my purse.

"Sweetheart, we won't go down the road yet, I promise, but tell me about the phone call. Was it your cell or the house phone?"

I sat back on the seat and stared at the dashboard, not really seeing anything. Just knowing I wasn't going around that corner gave me a small amount of comfort. I spoke with a monotone voice that scared me. "The house phone. Mrs. Banner called and I thought it was Jake. I picked it up and yelled at her."

"What did you say, Isabella?"

"I told her to grow up and stop trying to make me feel guilty."

"Then did she introduce herself?"

"Yes, she wanted to know if Charlie was okay. A traffic stop on the 101 resulted in a shooting. I panicked."

"Of course you did. Charlie is in danger everyday, it is natural to worry about him."

"I should have called the station or turned on the news. I should have thought things through."

"No, love, you were twenty years old, and you were terrified and needed your mother. You did what anyone would have done."

I looked at Edward and saw such concern in his eyes. For the first time I wondered how difficult this was for him; if his own bad memories were surfacing as he tried to help me. I put my palm to his cheek and he closed his eyes for a second. "I love you," I said when he looked at me again.

"We're done for now," he said, "let's go home."