Stay With Me
Chapter Twenty-Three: Family
Charlie's POV
"How long?" I asked as I watched my daughter run about her room collecting things and then toss them onto her bed beside her suitcase.
"I don't know; a while." She said while shaking her head and turning back towards her closet.
"And, where are you going to be again?" I asked. "Will I be able to get a hold of you, and will you call me once you get there?"
"Yeah, we'll have Sam's phone, you know the number don't you?" She asked before sitting on her bed and beginning to neatly fold and organize her selected items.
"Yeah, yeah I know it." I said with a sigh as I pushed myself away from her doorway and took a step into her room and folded my arms over my chest. "You know, I know you kiddo, and this –taking off like this. It isn't like you, are you sure there isn't anything you want to talk about?" I asked as I grabbed her desk chair and scooted it in front of her and took a seat on it backwards; folding my arms and resting them on the back of it.
"Yeah," She smiled. "Yeah, I'm sure." It was the smile all Dads' knew; the lying smile. I had only recently gotten her back; gotten her to remember who I was, and already we were back to this.
"Okay," I gave in reluctantly. "And you still haven't reminded me where you two are headed off to."
"Didn't I?" She asked me without looking up.
"No, no Bells, you haven't." I told her. "I don't even think you told me to begin with."
"Sorry," She apologized. "We're going to Oregon; Seaside."
"Oregon?" I asked skeptically. "What's in Oregon?"
She laughed, "It's not what's in Oregon, it's what's not in Oregon."
"Ah, one of those trips huh?" I mused. "So, nothing to talk about?" I pushed and she set another pair of jeans into her suitcase.
"Dad," She began, "There are some things that have happened in my life recently that I'd rather not relive. And this -the reason I am taking a vacation- is one of them. Okay?"
"Okay, I guess I'll just have to call your Mother."
"Good luck, because her guess will be just as good as yours."
"You haven't told her?"
"No, Dad, as I said… things I'd rather not relive."
"Okay, point taken," I surrendered; throwing my arms into the air.
She raised her eyebrows and went back to her folding as I added, "But hey, before you and Sam take off I'd like to make you guys' dinner. Or, hell, let's go crazy I'll take you out for once."
"Seriously?" She asked after a moments pause.
"Hey now, I'm not all around boring, I can be spontaneous." I defended myself.
"I know that, but, why?"
"I don't know, I really like Sam, and, well, he seems to make you happy. So… isn't that a good enough reason?"
"Okay Dad cut the act, what's the real reason?"
"The truth is that… I'm going to miss you while you're gone. And I'd like to do something for you so we can all spend a little time together before you take off. Fair?" I admitted. "And besides, you've never been one to complain about free food."
"You're not wrong," She laughed. "Okay, yeah, I'll call Sam when I'm done packing."
"No."
"No?"
"No."
"No."
"Right."
"Huh?"
"I'll call him; I haven't talked to him in a while and I'd like to see how he's doing." I sighed as I pushed myself from her chair and slid it back to her desk.
"Okay," She said awkwardly, "But, Dad?" She added as I turned back around to look at her. "Just remember, I'm your daughter and I respect your privacy, and I ask you do the same."
I smiled before heading back into the hall. "Fine."
"Why not?" I asked into the phone.
"Because Charlie, she has her own will, and when she's ready to tell you she will. You're going to just have to be patient." Sam told me maturely.
"Well when you put it like that you make her sound so adult."
"Well she is Charlie," He told me, "And does Bella know you called me about this?"
"I'm sure she suspects," I told him; he laughed, "But, anyways, the purpose of my call wasn't just to pester you to tell me the secret private life of my daughter."
"I guessed as much. What's up?" He wondered.
"Well, a couple things. But first how would you like if I took you and Bella out to dinner tonight?"
"Wait, you, Charlie Swan, want to take us out?"
"God!" I huffed, "What is it with you two, yes! I want to take you guys out, why is that so hard to believe?"
"I'm just kidding with you Charlie," He laughed, "If I know Bella as much as I think I do than I am sure she gave you crap so I was just doing the same thing."
"You could call than an accurate accusation…" I admitted shamefully. "Anyways, the other reason I was calling was because we haven't talked in a while and I was wondering how you've been."
"Oh, well I've been good," He said, but I could tell there was an underlying tone of betrayal in his voice, like that of Bella's. I sighed and decided to let it go.
"That's good." I nodded.
"Yeah," He said back.
"Well, now that we've taken care of that… I guess I'll see you tonight. How's six sound?"
"Six sounds great."
"Okay, see you then."
"See you later Charlie."
I hung up the phone and jumped while placing my hand over my heart, "Darnit Bella! You nearly gave me a heart attack." I complained, "Haven't you ever heard to not sneak up on an old man?"
"I must have missed that part with the whole lying to your daughters face about respecting her privacy." She scowled.
"Point taken, but," I said as my breathing regulated again and I stood straight, "He didn't tell me anything, if it makes you feel better."
She smiled, "It's nice to have a dream."
"Yeah," I nodded, "Figured as much."
"Hey Dad I'm ready to g- AH!" She screamed as she twisted and fell forwards after leaping dramatically beside me. "Ow, ow, ow!"
"Bella! You nutcase what did you do!" I asked before adding quickly into the phone, "I'll have to call you back Billy. Bella's hurt herself."
"You were on the phone!" She cried painfully while grasping her ankle.
"Yeah, and?"
"And I didn't want to trip over the cord!"
"Bella, it's a cordless phone!"
"I know! I know, I just now remembered that when you told me that! Just now!"
I had to turn myself away from her and clasped my hand over my mouth to keep from her hearing my laugher.
"It's not funny! I could have died and you're laughing?"
I only laughed harder, "I'm r-ready when you are."
"What's going on?" Sam asked curiously as he rounded the corner, "BELLA!"
"She's fine, Sam, she's fine." I assured him as my laughter slowly diminished. "She just tripped over the phone is all."
"Bella?" Sam asked as he knelt down beside her, "Did you trip over a cordless phone?"
She swallowed, "I think I twisted my ankle."
"I think you'll live sweetheart," He smiled humorously, "I think you'll live."
"So do you guys have any idea what Hotel you'll be staying in?" I asked after the waiter had given us our menus and left.
"No, not really," Sam shook his head. "I figured we'd just get there and look for a place and if nowhere was available we could always just sleep in the car."
"Now wait just a second," I shot at him. "You expect me to let you treat my daughter like-"
"He's kidding Dad!" Bella cut me off, "Do you really think we'd go somewhere and not have a place of where to sleep, bathe and laze about?"
"Oh," I blushed, "Well… good." I cleared my throat before taking off my jacket. "So, do you have any idea what you're going to get?"
"Mmm, I think I'll have the Portabella Linguini." Bella said before setting her menu down, "And a pomegranate-strawberry lemonade."
"Sounds good," I nodded, "How about you Sam?"
"Well, I was looking at the wine list. Now, would you suggest a white or red? Or maybe something a bit stronger?"
"Dad!" Bella sang as she saw my widening eyes. "He's kidding! Gosh, Sam, cut it out or you're going to give him a heart attack; you're terrible."
"Sorry," He said with a quick laugh. "Sorry, Charlie, you're just too easy."
"You call it easy, I call it trusting." I said back as Bella rolled her eyes and looked back over at Sam before smacking his arm; he leaned down and kissed her and I felt warmth fill my heart to his kindness towards her. Something Edward never seemed to have the time for.
"But no," Sam went on, "I think I'll get the Steak Fettuccini, and a raspberry limeade."
"Sounds good."
"That does sound good," Bella agreed. "Maybe I'll get the same."
"No, go on and get what you originally wanted; it sounded good too. We can share."
"Brilliant."
"Brilliant." He said back teasingly before quickly kissing the tip of her nose.
"And I," I added as I looked down at the menu, "Will get the Steak and Potatoes."
"Dad, do you ever eat anything besides Steak and Potatoes?"
"It comes with Vegetables," I defended myself.
"Oh," She laughed. "My mistake, such a difference those greens make. I'll have to make a mental note of it."
"You better," I said truthfully while piling my menu atop hers and Sam's. "I hate Vegetables."
God, did I hate Vegetables…
"That was great Dad, thank you," Bella said as she reached up and wrapped her arms around my shoulders and kissed me softly on the cheek.
"Yeah, thank you Charlie." Sam said as he extended his had towards mine.
"Well, anytime." I said awkwardly as we shook hands while nodding with a small smile. "So, are you two gonna stay in town one more day, or…?"
"No, I think we're going to head out." Sam informed me as he pulled Bella towards him and hugged and held her from behind; her arms resting atop his and a happy smile on her lips. Again, my heart warmed. "I'm a night owl, and Bella hates waking up early, so, I figured nighttime would be the best time to hit the road. That way Bella will be free to fall asleep on the way there and we can both sleep in as late as we want tomorrow."
"Sounds like a plan," I said as I slid my hand into my pockets. "And you'll be sure to call me if there's any trouble?"
"Yes Sir."
"And when you get there?"
"Of course," Sam said, "Charlie, I will take care of her, you don't need to worry… I won't let anything happen to her…" Again that same underlying tone of betrayal came through his lips, and Bella tensed slightly, but still they seemed content. In a stiff, awkward way, that is.
"I trust you Sam," I told him. "But she's my baby girl; Bella, don't look at me like that, you'll always be my baby girl.
"Now come here, give me one more hug before you take off." I said as I pulled my hands from my pockets and held them open for her as she pulled away from Sam and stepped into my arms. "I love you Bells," I told her.
"I know, Dad," She said awkwardly. "I love you too."
I knew she still wasn't used to my recent closeness with her, but after her not remembering me for what seemed like an eternity –it really made me see things differently.
"Okay," I smiled as she stepped back. "Have fun; bring me back something nice."
"I'll have to check into the local sports store, then." Bella mused as Sam laced his fingers with hers and they began walking backwards slowly. "See if I can't find you a nice coffee mug or new hat."
"That's my girl."
"Always will be, Daddy."
I smiled again and waved as they got into Sam's truck and drove away; leaving me in the quiet dark.
I let out a breath of air as I walked feeling alone and cold back to my car. I reached into my pocket and fingered for my keys while letting out a tired yawn.
"Charlie," His voice was both unexpected and unwanted, but still I stopped what I was doing and turned around irritably to face him.
"Edward." I sighed.
TBC