Chapter Three

A month ago, I was looking through boxes in my mom and Phil's attic. I never understood why she didn't want us "digging through her stuff" until I came upon a box I'd never seen before. It was a box full of old letters from "C. Swan" in Forks, Washington. There were pictures: Mom when she was younger with a man who wasn't the dad I grew up with—Phil.

The letters asked if he could see her again...

If she was happy with her new boyfriend...

If the baby was his...

If she planned on keeping the baby...

If he would ever see her again...

If he would ever meet Isabella, his daughter.

Each letter's response from Charlie seemed to lose hope. I had no doubt that Renee said words to cut—to hurt him. She was good at that; it was what she did when she walked into the house that day and saw me with the box and its contents spread before me.

I knew instantly she was furious, but there was another emotion there: regret? As quick as I saw it—it was gone.

Her words were short, "These are none of your business..." she shook her head,"...do not act like this life that I've given you is so hard, Isabella."

"I had a right to know!" I defended, but I was not surprised. Renee Dwyer does not take confrontation well.

She glared at me, and while I knew it was a lost cause—I hoped she could see my side. "Mom."

I sounded desperate and sad even to myself. I just wanted her to tell me the truth.

"Listen to me, and listen carefully, Isabella. Do not speak of this again and do not expect me to speak of this again."

Her blue eyes watched me, narrowed. I nodded.

"That night with that man...it never should have happened." Before I could say anything, she finished, "But he gave me you. He was not a part of my world, and we deserved better. We found that—we have it with your father—with Phil. Do what you want with this information, you're a grown-up. Just don't expect me to pick up the pieces."

I took the photo of the two of them, smiling, arms around each other. The sun was bright in the back, in a meadow full of purple and yellow flowers.

I'd never seen Mom smile like that.

When I got home, I googled Charlie Swan, Forks, Washington.

I pass the sign now that says, Welcome to Forks, Washington.

The drive from the airport was fine until it started raining. I don't know where I'm going and I can't see a thing, so I decide to pull over. The pop I hear along with the beeping and flashing low air pressure makes me wonder if this was a mistake.

I don't know where I am. There isn't any signal on my cell, and the last time I looked at it, I still had five minutes to go.

There's a sign up ahead, and I can barely make out the words, but it looks like a restaurant.

With a deep breath, I grab my bag, hoping that I'm not about to walk into some vampires' den.

I'm thankful to be wearing Converse because I run as fast as I can to the building that now says New Moon.

Still, I get soaking wet.

I push the doors open—I don't expect every person in the place to look at me, but they do.

Before I can take it all in, a girl is in front of me. She's shorter than I am, her long brown hair in a high ponytail. She jumps and claps, full of so much energy; she's adorable.

I think I immediately love her.

"Oh my god, you're here! We've been waiting for you. Charlie is so excited, and I can't wait to get to know you. How is New York? How was your flight?"

I stand there, not knowing if I should answer her, so I don't.

"Alice, calm down."

The voice comes from behind us - velvety and deep.

Alice sighs and gives me a shy smile, grey eyes twinkling. "Sorry," she looks behind me, "it's just the Chief has been talking about you nonstop."

There's suddenly a laugh, and before I realize it, someone hands me a towel. "You're giving the old man something to talk about besides fish." He gives me a crooked smile but keeps talking.

"He can't stop talking about his daughter, the New York doctor."

Something about him makes me nervous, but it's exciting.

"Ed!" someone calls, from the bar. He gives them a wave as he walks away, my eyes following him.

He's the most beautiful man I've seen in my whole life.

Alice gets my attention again. "Follow me?"

Her eyes dart to the pool of water at my feet.

"I'm sorry. It really is good that you're here. I'm Alice and that ray of sunshine is Edward."

We pass him as she says this, and he flicks her off, sending me his crooked smile from his place behind the bar.

"See ya, Doc."

Despite being cold and wet, his smile warms me.

Happy Friday!

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