Assumption Chapter 12

Cleansing

BPOV:

I woke up earlier than I had intended to. Way earlier than I had ever wanted to. One of the best things about being an author is setting your own hours and getting to sleep in every day. I wandered downstairs and made a pot of coffee and curled up on the couch. It was so quiet. Back home you never got this kind of peace, there were always TVs blaring, doors slamming, and sirens from emergency vehicles as they raced by. Here there was absolutely nothing and I was actually enjoying it.

I waited until I knew that Jamie would be up and getting ready for work before I called to check in with him and Vicky. I hadn't talked to them in a few days and I knew they were going to start worrying about me if I didn't call soon… "It's about time that I heard from you'" Jamie answered. " I was beginning to think that since it's you, you fell in the ocean."

"Ha. Ha. I've just been busy."

"Busy doing what? It's Forks! From everything I've heard from you and Renee, there is nothing to do there but fish. And you don't do nature."

"Nature isn't that bad."

"Am I talking to the right Bella Swan? Because the girl I know detests the great outdoors."

"Shut up! I just..I don't know…It's more peaceful and prettier here than I remember it being. It's been great for clearing my head."

We talked for a while about just about everything. He wasn't happy that I let Edward see my book and help me with it. He was afraid that it could cause me legal trouble if Edward wanted to claim that I stole ideas he gave me. Edward wouldn't do that to me. I knew he wouldn't. But Jamie wouldn't listen. I was struggling to keep my temper in check and not lash out at him by the end of the call. I had to keep reminding myself that he didn't know Edward, not that Jamie missed an opportunity to remind me that I didn't really know the guy either, that I had just met him a few days ago. Mostly, I knew that he was just jealous of Edward. Jamie always wanted to read my books early and I had always refused to let him.

By the time I was off the phone it was nearly time for Edward and Esme to get here to help me pack up Charlie's things. Rose was going to Edward's bookstore to run it for him. I guess it was common for her and Esme to work the store for him on occasion to give him a day off. Carlisle was taking Bree up to Port Angeles for the afternoon to keep her busy and out of the way while we worked.

I was dressed and back in my kitchen looking in the fridge for something to eat for breakfast but I wasn't having any luck. All I found was fruit and eggs. I didn't want healthy and light today. I wanted naughty and heavy. I was just about to give up when I heard Esme's car pull into the driveway. I looked out the window and grew excited when I saw Edward climb out of the passenger seat carrying what could only be a pastry box. I turned to the coffee pot and started a new pot brewing. It was such a rainy, dreary morning today. Perfect weather for the tasks we had to do today. We sat at the table eating our doughnuts mostly in silence. When we were done, I grabbed the box of trash bags off the counter and the three of us made our way up to Charlie's bedroom. I started with the dresser while Edward and Esme tackled the closet. I threw his underwear and socks in the garbage while placing some shirts he had in the drawers neatly in a box. Edward was removing the clothes from the closet and placing them on the bed for Esme to take off the hangers and fold before placing them in the same box that I was using. We were still working in silence. I don't think that any of us knew what to say or what topic of conversation would be appropriate given that we were sorting through my dead father's life . I wondered if there was an etiquette book out there that covered this situation. If there wasn't then someone needed to write one, because I could use some help here. Maybe I would suggest that to my editor someday. As long as someone else wrote it.

We worked until lunch time when Emmett showed up with burgers and fries from the Diner. He had worked his last night shift last night and after a day off today would be on the day shift for the next two weeks. I found out that they run three two week rotations; day shift, evening shift, and night shift. Emmett managed to get us laughing by telling stories of Edward and him as kids. When we were ready to get back to work, Emmett stayed to help us. By the end of the day, we had Charlie's room and the bathroom packed up. The boxes were stacked in the living room, ready to be carried out to my truck when I was ready to drive them to the Goodwill store in Port Angeles. It was still pouring so they had to stay in the house for now. On the curb Emmett and Edward had placed the four bags of Charlie's possessions that we felt weren't appropriate to send to the Goodwill.

Before Emmett left he pulled a packet of papers out of his car and brought them to me. To get his name on the ballot to run for sheriff he had to turn in a petition with at least 150 signatures of people supporting him, and he asked me if I would be the first person to sign it. I agreed with him that it would look really good for him if, as Charlie's daughter, I was the first to support him. I smiled and signed my name on the first line. Rose, he said, had to be the next to sign, and then he would get his parents and Edward before his guys at work signed it. I hoped that it didn't matter that I wasn't technically a citizen of the town, but Edward contradicted me. I officially owned Charlie's house now, therefore, I was technically a citizen of Forks. With the way that the town's bylaws were written, I could even run for town council if I felt so inclined. I didn't. But it was interesting to know that I had an option, I guess.

Esme insisted that Edward and I come have dinner with her and Carlisle again tonight. I don't know about Edward but I had been hoping that she would ask. I really did not want to be alone in this house right now. I moved the bedding I had taken off Charlie's bed from the washer to the dryer and changed my clothes before I was to head over to the Cullen's house. I was dirty and sweaty and there was no way that I was going out looking as bad I did.

EPOV:

I hated the idea of throwing out even one thing of Charlie's in the garbage. It seemed disrespectful on some level. The fact that we ended up with four bags of garbage just from his room and the bathroom was killing me. There was still a lot more work that needed to be done. Bella told us that she needed to spend a good part of the day working on her book, but was going to spend a couple of hours in the evening sorting through more of the house.

The hardest part of knowing that she was cleaning out the house was realizing that when she was done cleaning she would be putting the house up for sale, and then she was going to leave. She had no reason to stay here, her life was in Phoenix. It didn't matter that I now considered her to be a friend. The reality was that the idea of anyone else living in Charlie's house was an impossible concept for me to wrap my head around. It would always be Charlie's house to me.

I took a really quick shower and was downstairs waiting for Bella to pick me up in fifteen minutes. Emmett and Rose already had plans for dinner so she left as soon as she closed down the store. I was grateful that my mom and sister-in-law were willing to help me out as much as they did. I kept the store closed on Sundays because everything but the grocery store and the hospital were closed in Forks on Sundays. But I needed other days off from time to time, to do things that I couldn't do on Sundays, and to keep my sanity intact. I had once offered Rose a permanent part time position but she declined. She would have had to bring Bree with her all the time. I told her that it was fine with me but it wasn't with her. She didn't want her stuck inside all the time but told me to ask again when Bree started kindergarten.

Dinner was a subdued affair. Dad was a decent cook, not as good as Mom was, but few people were, in my opinion. He was best when he could pull out the grill but that was a rare treat with all the rain that we get around here.

The evening flew by and before I knew it, it was time to head home. I drove Bella's truck for her because the three glasses of wine she drank and all the hard work that we did today had taken its toll, and she was having a hard time staying awake. We agreed that I would drop her off and then drive her truck home. She didn't need it tomorrow and I really didn't want to walk home from Charlie's in the pouring rain.

I pulled into the driveway and we just sat there for a moment. Both of us sat in silence staring at the house. I could almost get myself to believe that Charlie was in there watching a game. I missed him so much. No one else understood the pain and regret that I was living with but him. I closed my eyes and willed myself not to cry. When I opened them again I found that Bella was now watching me instead of the house. She turned to open the truck door, then hesitated and looked back at me as if she was conflicted over what to do. In a split second she threw herself at me and hugged me. At first I was in a little bit of shock as I sat there with her holding me. I hadn't expected her to hug me but it felt so good. As we sat there holding each other tight I felt like I was going to start crying again. I clutched her to me tighter as I felt her take a shaky breath. We remained that way until Bella pulled back. I saw her wiping at her eyes and then she reached into her bag and pulled out some Kleenex. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to throw myself at you like that."

"Don't worry about it. I think we both needed a hug after the stressful day that we've had."

"Day? More like a stressful week." I nodded in agreement. "So will you come over after work tomorrow and help me clean some more?"

"Yeah," I sighed.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, Edward. I can do it myself."

"I want to help you. You shouldn't have to do it all by yourself, Bella. That isn't right."

"I hate this. I hate that he's gone."

"Me, too."

"I'd better get inside," she said as tears started to pool in her eyes again.

"Are you going to be alright tonight?"

"Yeah. I think that I'm going to run a hot bubble bath and read a book and forget where I am and why I'm here tonight."

"That sounds like a good idea. If you need to talk about anything, and I mean anything, don't hesitate to call me. I'm here for you Bella. Ok?"

"Ok." She jumped out of the car and I watched her run through the rain and into the house before I pulled away.

The second I got into my apartment I grabbed my phone and sent a text message to Tanya asking for a video call in the morning. I needed to see my daughter, and if that was the only way I could get to do it, then that was what I was going to do.

I grabbed a beer out of the fridge and walked into the bathroom. I stood at the toilet but my mind was on the bathtub as I stared at it and thought of Bella being in hers right now. I wasn't blind. Bella was an extremely beautiful woman. When I was done using the toilet I stripped off my clothes and climbed into the shower.

I stayed in there until the water ran cold. There were just so many things that were running through my mind. Bella was surprisingly the topic that I lingered on longest. I got out and threw on some boxers, too lazy to put on anything else, and flopped down on the sofa with another beer and flipped on a mind numbing movie. I just wanted to stop thinking about anything and everything for once. My life had been an emotional hell for so long. I sighed and lay on my back, staring at the ceiling. I deserved something good to happen. I deserved happiness in my life and not the mere existence that I had been living for the last couple of years.

A/N:

Happy Friday! I just wanted to warn you in advance that November is going to be a tough month for updates. I am taking a trip for Thanksgiving and I've also signed up for NaNo. I hope to keep a regular posting schedule but realistically I do see some delays happening.

Thanks to Sweetpea for her awesome betaing skills. I also want to remind you that reviews will get teasers.