Chapter 20 – Edward Meets Charlie
CHARLIE
I groaned as sat down behind my desk to read the report about another animal attack. A hiker was bit by a wolf. That was the eighth this season. The park rangers were at a loss of what to do and sent us the reports as a courtesy. In reality, it was just in case the wolves came into populated areas.
I was just opening the folder when one of my deputies poked his head into the office.
"Chief, someone's here to speak with you," he said. "I put him in the conference room?"
"Him? Who is it?" I asked, not getting up from my chair. I glanced at my outlook calendar. There were no interviews scheduled. And Bella rarely came to the station. Although, I haven't her seen or heard from her since I kicked her out. Blowing out a breath and swiping my hands on my pants before looking back at the deputy.
"Don't know," he replied. "Never saw him before. Dressed real nice. Jacket and tie. Asked his name and was told he would only talk to you. A bit shady if you ask me."
Closing the file, I stood and walked out the door and to the conference room. The man's back was to me. After clearing my throat, the gentleman turned around. As his deputy had described, he was dressed in an expensive suit.
Whatever he wants, he is clearly in the wrong place, I thought.
"Good afternoon. I'm Chief Charlie Swan," I said, extending my hand.
The gentleman shook it. He had a firm hold and looked me square in the eye. "Edward Cullen," he said. "I'm here about your daughter."
I pursued my lips and took in Edward once again. Was he a lawyer? Was he about to serve me with papers? Or, I shuddered to think, and said aloud, "Is she in trouble? I'm willing to bail her out if she is."
A look of confusion crossed Edward's face about my concern for Bella.
"What is it?"
"The only trouble I know Isabella —"
"Bella," I corrected. "She hates being called Isabella. Lord knows why."
He tilted his head to the left. "Bella," he agreed after a moment. "Like I was saying, the only trouble I know Bella is her being pregnant, being jobless, and for a day, homeless."
Bells being without a job was news to me. Although I had tried calling her the next night to apologize but it went straight to voicemail. God damn it! I regretted kicking her out and never should have. We could have work things out, managed.
Most of her friends were still in college, but I couldn't afford to send her, and she didn't get any scholarships, partial or otherwise. If wasn't for me not wanting her in so much debt when she graduated, she would have gone.
"I came to ask for her birth certificate and passport," he remarked after a few more moments of silence.
"She has a key. And she knows where the important documents are kept. Can I inquire why she needs it? And why did she send you?"
"She's needs a new passport. In order to get in time, she has to apply today to get it in time. I inquired why she didn't go and get it and was informed she no longer has a key having left it when you kicked her out." He paused a moment, taking a breath.
I waited, taking in what he just told me. I hadn't found a key, but knowing Bella she probably left it in her bedroom. I was about to asked why he was here inside of my daughter, he started speaking again.
"As to why me, I'm her husband."
"Her-her what?" I stuttered, taking a step back and coming in contact with the doorjamb.
Edward grinned, but not in a malicious way. "I'm her husband," he repeated. "I won't go into the details of how we met."
He held out a card to me, I took it. It was for a moving company. "You can call that company and they will come today, tomorrow, or whenever you can be there, to collect Bella's belongings. I've already made arrangements for payment."
Another card appeared in his hand. "My business card. On the back, is my home address. I think it's best, for the time being, if you call me at my office. It might be a while before she's ready to talk to you. I'll do my best to keep you up-to-date on her welfare."
Edward hand disappeared under his suit jacket, pulling something out of the inside pocket. I took it and looked down at it. It was a photograph. No, it was a sonogram image.
"In case you're wondering, Bella's five weeks pregnant. A paternity test can be conducted in about five or six weeks with the results back in a week," he said. "I've contacted Paul Lahote and he's willing to give a sample, as am I. That just leaves Jacob Black."
"He told me he is sterile," I said.
"So he says. I wouldn't believe him if I were you. Do you have time now so we go get her birth certificate and passport?"
I took a few calming breaths as I digested what he told me. "Bella knows where I live. I get off at six and will be home by seven. She can come and get whatever she needs and wants from her. I'll stay downstairs while she packs. I understand she might not want to talk to me, but I need to at least see her."
Edward nodded and looked at his watch. "See you at seven thirty then."
After he left, I looked at his business card. "Edward Cullen – Entertainment Lawyer," it read. His home address was indeed on the back.
Having learned my lesson with Jacob and him hurting Bella, I left the conference room and stopped one of his detectives' desks. "See what you can find out about Edward Cullen," I instructed, handing over the card. "His home address is on the back."
"Can I ask why?" the detective asked.
"He claims he married my daughter."
~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~
By four o'clock, I had a report on Edward in my hands. I began reading. "No criminal record. Top honors in school. No speeding or traffic tickets of any kind. Lives in Denny-Blaine. Owner of Cullen Entertainment Law. Married Isabella Marie Swan in Las Vegas." My eyes bugged out as I finished reading the report. Edward had told me the truth about everything.
I crushed the report in my hand. I couldn't believe Bella would get married without telling me and in Vegas of all places. Why hadn't she called? I would have dropped everything and flown out.
Guilt washed over me as the crushed papers fell from hands to the floor. I loved Bella, and didn't care a self-centered guy had knocked her up. I wanted to be in her life and in my grandchild's life. How was I going to fix things between Bella and me?
