"Bella?" I hear him utter my name, almost as though he had seen a ghost.
I don't react. I simply can't believe he is really here, in front of me after all these years. And the years have really favoured him - gone was the gangly teenager, and instead I am faced with a 6'2" slender but muscularAdonis. His bronze brown hair, which used to be always in disarray, is now gelled back to perfection. His high cheekbones, strong jawline, straight nose, and full lips only add to the perfection. And his eyes, oh his eyes, I could get lost in the depths of those green eyes. Wait. What am I thinking about? This is no time for such thoughts!
"Sorry if I sounded rude... Miss Swan, I was just expecting Ms. Clearwater. Well, you're here for an update on Mr. Swan, I suppose?"
He sounds so formal, so distant. Well, what did you expect? You dumped him and had no contact for years on end. He's not your Edward anymore, he's Dr. Cullen, and you have to focus on Charlie and nothing more, right now.
"Miss Swan?"
"Oh, yeah, sure. How is he?" Now I'm feeling like crap. Not only is he here only because of formality, I had also, no matter if just for a few seconds, let my mind wander from my father to the man opposite me.
"Well, he had a punctured lung and a bullet lodged to his spine. Fortunately, the surgery went smoothly, and he was admitted earlier to the PACU, we are waiting for the anesthesia to wear off so we can assess the situation. You cann see him, if you'd like, but he'll be asleep for a few more hours, I'm afraid"
Suddenly I can't hold the tears at bay anymore. Charlie's ok, he'll be ok. But it could have been so much worse. I could have lost him, and I'd have been too far to even say good-bye. From the corner of my mind, I notice Edward shifting awkwardly. He's bound to have better things to do than watch me cry my eyes out. So I take a deep, calming breathm and after assessing the crying is under control, I ask him:
"Please, take me to my father."
Watching Charlie in that hospital bed is unsettling. A sense of relief for him being alive fights with the incommensurable guilt of not being closer to him when he needed. But no more. I made a decision and I'm keeping to it - I'm back to the country for good. Even if I can't stay in Forks, I'll not be far from dad again, a few hours drive, maybe, but nothing more.
I don't know how long I've been by his bedside, silently praying for him to wake up, when I hear a faint voice behind me.
"Dr. Cullen said he must wake up anytime now"
I turn in the direction of the voice, and see Sue standing by the door. I leave my seat to hold her in a tight embrace. I always felt she was like a second mother to me, and I hadn't realized how much I've missed her until now.
"I'm so glad you're here, honey. We missed you so much," she says, hugging me back.
"I'm so sorry, Sue. I wish I had been closer. I'm so sorry."
I can't not hold the floodgates anymore, and I cry as she holds me close. I always felt safe with her, even when I was a kid and Charlie would take me to the reservation to hang out with his friends. She was always warm and caring, and someone we could rely on.
I am really happy Charlie had finally found the courage a few years ago to ask her out.
"Now, now, no more crying. I'm just happy, and I know Charle too, that you're here." She pats me on the back again before releasing me. "Now, sweety, I know you'll try to deny, but I can see you haven't eaten anything for a while. Why don't you go down to the cafeteria and have a little snack?"
I could try and lie, but my stomach has other plans, complaining loudly for being ignored for too long. So I have no choice but to leave the room to hunt for some food.
A/N: sorry for the delay, hope you enjoyed.