Chapter Thirty Six

Charlie

I was relieved to be back to work after so long and to find that my arm was as good as ever, I owed Carlisle a debt of gratitude for that. I'd been to see Billy a couple of times but the atmosphere was strained between us, I knew what had happened to him, as I knew what had happened to me and though he tried to brush it off as an accident I was less convinced which led to words between us. Harry was there the day it happened and it angered me that he tried to blame it all on the Cullens. The visit started off OK as I told them I was going back to work and asked how much longer Billy would be in hospital. Unlike me he'd got an infection which had really weakened him.

"I should be back on the Res in another week. Your arm has healed quicker than we thought Charlie."

"Yeah well Dr Cullen took a look and its healed much quicker, you'd be better off asking him to look at yours."

"Never. I'd rather crawl back to the Res than let him lay a hand on me, he's done enough damage as it is."

"Really? I didn't know he had claws and fangs Billy. It was a wolf that attacked you wasn't it?"

He looked at me cautiously,

"Wolf or bear, like you I didn't get a look."

"Really? I'd have thought you'd have known what it was that attacked you, especially as you had all the information I didn't at the time."

"It was an accident Charlie."

"Like my attack, there are some dangerous accidents happening on the Res these days."

"Well we know who to blame for that don't we?"

"I know who I blame but I doubt it's the same person you do. Its time you got control of the wolves before someone gets killed Harry. Or is it just going to be put down to high spirits?"

"If not for the Cullens the Quileutes wouldn't be changing Charlie."

"Really? So because they are here and the boys change to protect the tribe its OK for them to get totally out of control and attack their own. Not me because I don't think I'm in the little wolf club but Billy...it was Jake wasn't it? That's hardly Carlisle's fault now is it?"

"They've twisted everything round haven't they? Turned you against us Charlie and got their teeth into Bella too. I just hope you know what you're doing Charlie. We warned you against Jasper Hale."

"Yes you did and I asked him about it."

"I'll bet he came up with a good spin on the story to tell you."

"Actually I think he just told me the unvarnished truth."

"Oh I'll bet he did."

"Well I guess I'll be going. I don't think we'll be seeing much of each other any more Billy, Harry, and I'm sorry for that but I hate the thought that you lied to me, I can't forgive you for that."

I had to go through the motions of cooperating with the Reservation police although I knew it was a complete waste of time because the attacker was sitting next to his father when they interviewed him. I did wonder if they knew anything about the wolf pack because their questions were superficial as was the "crime scene" investigation. I know the others saw my feelings because they looked away guiltily when I questioned if the animal could have been the same one that injured me or should we be looking for a pack of man-eating wolves or a sleuth of killer bears. I did upset the apple cart a bit by telling them I had instructed all my deputies to kill wolves on sight until we had a definitive answer from the crime scene guys. That should curtail the wolf packs activities for a while! When I told Carlisle he smiled,

"A little revenge never hurt I guess but be careful Charlie, you really don't want to make an enemy of the guardian tribes, they are very powerful and like our own governing body if they think they are threatened by exposure they may well strike first. I think maybe its good that you and Bella are getting out of Forks for a while, let things cool down."

That reminded me that I hadn't tackled the thorny question of Christmas with Renee yet. She'd sent an invitation to Bella earlier in the week and I said I'd field the hassle that was sure to come when we said we were going away. She was already annoyed because Bella wasn't very forthcoming about Jasper, still it needed to be done so as I was home before Bella I decided to bite the bullet.

The phone rang and rang, great now I'd finally got the courage to ring she was out but then the phone was answered by a sleepy Renee. I checked the time, it was past noon why was she asleep?

"Renee its Charlie, did I wake you up?"

"Oh Charlie! Yes you did, very inconsiderate of you I call it."

"Renee its the afternoon, have you got a new job working nights or something?"

"No Charlie believe it or not here in the civilised world we sometimes have late nights, very late nights unlike in the boon docks where after it gets dark people go to bed with nothing better to do."

OK this was a good start!

"Well I'm sorry, I didn't know. I hope you had a good time."

"We did, it was a party and there were some very interesting people there. You should try a party some time and I don't mean a barbecue at the Res with your cronies. Anyway why are you ringing? Is everything OK? Its Bella isn't it? What's happened?"

I had to stop her before she went into panic mode,

"No it's not Bella. There's nothing wrong I wanted to talk to you about Christmas actually."

"Christmas? Why? Are you at a loose end?"

"No, I was thinking about Bella actually. She and I have been invited to Alaska for Christmas."

"Alaska? Why would you want to go there? Its cold and full of snow, that's ridiculous anyway Bella's coming here."

"Actually no she isn't. She wants to go with me and as we haven't spent a Christmas together in years I thought it might be nice."

"Charlie stop right there, the reason your daughter never spent Christmas with you is that you were always working, now she always spends Christmas at home."

"Well this is home now Renee and Bella is coming with me. I'm sure you'll have plenty of parties to attend in any case and I'll make sure she rings you on Christmas day. I just thought I'd give you plenty of warning."

"I blame you for this, Bella always spends Christmas with me. You're just trying to oust me in her eyes."

"Renee, I'm not trying to do anything. Now I've told you what's happening so you have plenty of time to organise things. I'd have thought you were happy to have a Christmas on your own with Phil."

When I finally managed to get off the phone with my ears burning I needed a beer, that woman could strip paint with her tongue when she was riled. I knew we hadn't heard the last of the Christmas saga so I'd better warn Bella so she could get her arguments together. Renee would use a bit of emotional blackmail but I didn't think it would work this time, not with the lure of Jasper working against her mother. When she got back I told her what I'd done and she groaned,

"Do you think she'll ring this evening?"

"I'd think its a certainty. I have told her though so she's been warned. Are you going out this evening?"

"No Jasper is going out with his brother so I'm going to do my homework, fight with my mother and have an early night I suppose. Steak OK for dinner?"

I nodded as she ran up the stairs singing to herself, Jasper had a good influence on her, she seemed very happy at last which made me happy too. I took my beer through to the sitting room and turned the TV on as the phone started ringing furiously. I knew who that was and there was no way I was answering the phone to Renee again today.