CHAPTER EIGHT
(BPOV)
Charlie remained stable throughout the night, his vitals fairing good as reported from the doctor after his surgery.
I didn't sleep more than an hour here and there, my head falling onto Jacobs waiting shoulder while he stayed there with me at the hospital, his presence unwavering and a constant source of comfort.
When the daylight appeared, he headed to the cafeteria to get us both a large coffee and before he could return, I spotted Carlisle entering the hospital with Edward by his side.
I rose to my feet, drawing in a steading breath as they both approached me..
"Morning, love." Edward began, taking hold of my hand and kissing the too large engagement ring still there. He lingered too close for too long, and I saw his eyes darken further when they detected Jacobs scent on my clothes and skin. "Is he still here?"
His golden gaze made my head fill with a fog then that was disorienting and I couldn't focus long enough to even answer him. I shook my head some, trying to clear it, but the confusion remained.
"Edward, this is not the time or place for this. Remember what we talked about on the way over here. Keep your cool." Carlisle reminded him, his voice stealing my attention enough to regain some of my mental focus and clarity.
"He should at least have the guts to show his face considering he tried to take something that was never his-"
A dark and humorless chuckle cut off Edwards comment, making me whirl around, my heart pounding heavily with anxiety to see the two of them this close in proximity now.
"I pulled my hand away from Edwards with a visible shudder and looked nervously between them.
"We're in a hospital. A very public place...-" I whispered. "Please-"
Jacob nodded only once and wordlessly held out his hand for mine. I went to him, pausing only to remove the ring before we laced our fingers together and stood there in front of Carlisle and Edward.
They both looked frozen in place, even though Edwards glare was murderous to behold, neither one of us looked away from him.
"Bella, you're confused. Jacob is playing on your emotions. He's taking advantage of you in a very vulnerable state."
A low growl rumbled through Jacobs chest at his assanine accusation, but still, he tightened his hand in mine and kept control of himself the best he could.
"Stop it." I replied. "Stop twisting things, Edward."
"Love, I am not twisting anything. I assure you. Listen, what's been done here or before the wedding, it's all forgiven, alright? I can look past it and we can move on. I assure you."
"Move on?" I echoed. "No, Edward. That's not going to happen. I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but I can't keep lying to you or to myself. This has to stop. Right now."
"You made a promise to the Volturi, Bella!" He snapped, his dark and hissing tone making Jacob step forward in a warning to him. Edward hissed further at this, the two of them looking ready to come to blows any minute.
"Edward!" Carlisle sternly interrupted. "Stop this."
"You can't leave me Bella-... You're my life."
"I'm choosing myself. For the first time since I can remember. I'm choosing what my heart wants and that's to be with Jacob."
"He can't protect you the way we can-"
"You're wrong." Jacob half growled, bringing himself nose to nose with Edward there in the hospital hallway, his tremors rocking through him in waves now.
Carlisle abruptly stepped between them, shoving Edward back away a few feet to better separate the two of them before things could get any worse.
"This isn't why we came here. Bella, how is Charlie?" He demanded then, trying to redirect the situation.
"He made it through the surgery and he's stable. It turned out much better than they had hoped." I informed Carlisle.
"That's wonderful news."
"Yes it is."
Jacob took his place back at my side at this, though his gaze never left Edward.
"I'm glad Charlie made it." He managed. "But Bella- we had the rest of our lives planned together. You wanted to become like one of us. Be part of our family."
"-...out of fear...- I'm sorry- b-but it wasn't-" I began.
"Now he's got you convinced that you're meant to be with him? On the Reservation. With the wolves. Do you have any idea how dangerous he is!? How dangerous they all are!? Look at Emily Uley! Her scarred face is proof of what loving one of them will do to you. You'll end up no different, Bella. Please, see reason!"
Jacob was damn near vibrating next to me, his hand leaving my own as he desperately tried to drag enough air back into his lungs and keep calm.
"I would never hurt her-" He countered, through clenched teeth.
"Your kind can't control themselves. Don't bother with false promises to her of that nature. You know what could happen just as well as I do! There is no magical venom fix for the kind of scarring and pain that would leave her with. You're not safe for her!"
My anger started to fester at his words, as I sharply lifted the sleeve of my grey sweatshirt and held my wrist up with the visible crescent scar on display for him there.
"Loving your kind almost killed me, remember?"
"I got to you as fast as I possibly could."
"Yes and you saved me from the venom. From James. And for that, I will always be grateful to you, Edward. But my heart-...it's not with you. I don't think it has been for a long while now and I think deep down you've known that."
Edward glowered at Jacob, shaking his head as he looked us over.
"This won't go how you think. It won't. You don't love him, Bella. You're just afraid of losing the friendship you had. Nothing more. Mark my words, this will all come full circle."
"Is that a threat?" Jacob edged forward again, struggling even more so to keep it together.
"No, it's a promise. This will all fall apart, I just hope for her sake that it doesn't end in her demise because of you."
With that, he abruptly turned and left the hospital in a hurry, his pace a little too fast for the normal human eye to follow.
I felt the prior mental confusion lift and dissipate immediately after he left the hospital and I found it unnerving the amount of mind control that he had on me.
With a light squeeze of my hand, Jacob drew my eyes to his and the fear started to leave me.
A sudden memory came to the forefront of my mind then. The vision of me in his garage, while he angrily threw a wrench to the far wall, his words pleading and desperate with me back then
...-He's got his hooks in you so deep."
That memory felt like a lifetime ago right about now and I shuddered at how willing I'd been to leave everyone I loved behind for them all this time.
What the hell had happened to me?
"Please accept my apologies on Edwards behalf. He's had his suspicions about the two of you for a little while now, but I think he assumed once the wedding was over, things would go smoothly. Charlie's health decline turned everything on it's head, but I guess it was meant to be this way after all." He admitted. "Bella, all we have ever wanted is for you to be safe and happy."
"I know, Carlisle."
He bowed his head in a respectful parting nod then. "Despite us being enemies, Jacob- you and your own put your lives on the line in the newborn battle and I am always grateful to you all for your help."
"Same." Jacob managed, his tremors subsiding now that Edward had left. "You helped me, too. So, despite our differences, I will always owe you for that service."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. I have respect for you, Carlisle." He replied.
"I hold the same for you and believe it or not, I wish the two of you well."
I embraced Carlisle before he could turn and vanish.
"Thank you for all you did for me." I told him in sincerity.
"You'll always be family to us, Bella. I will be sure to tell Esme and Alice goodbye for you. It's best for all involved that we keep this simple with parting. I think a relocation is in order for myself and the others. Edward will come around and join us I am sure with some time."
I had barely let go of him before he rushed out after his son, my human eyes too slow to follow after his departure.
My gaze stayed glued to the exit for another brief moment as relief and a bit of suspicion crept in.
"Well, that went a lot easier than I thought." I sighed.
"Yeah, maybe too easy." Jacob countered.
The doctor called my name then and I turned to see the familiar face who had been updating me throughout the night with a weak smile in place.
"Miss Swan, your father is awake and he is asking for you."
I followed him down the hall then, my steps quick as I eagerly rushed forward into Charlie's room.
I'd been waiting for what felt like an eternity to see him with my own eyes and know he was going to be alright.
He was hooked up to a lot of wires, and the sight of all the machines made me nervous to approach him at first.
"He's okay, honey. He wants to see you. Don't be afraid."
Jacobs reminder was enough to make me take the final few steps that brought me to his bedside.
Charlie turned his head my way and a weary smile spread across his face.
"Hey there, kiddo." He weakly offered. "Think we can take a rain check on this whole me walking you down the aisle thing? Bit under the weather. Sorry if I ruined your big day."
I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight then with tears of relief that he was okay.
"Don't worry about that. You might have just saved me today."
Charlie soon caught sight of Jacob behind me, his eyes widening some in shock when he reached for his hand and held it tight.
"Hey Charlie...-"
"Hey there son, sure is good to see you here with my girl."
"No other place I'd rather be. It's good to see you awake and doing better. Dad has been worried sick over you."
"Oh, you tell him I'll be just fine."
"Will do."
"Mom's been calling every hour, too. I'll be sure to message her that you're awake now." I informed him. "Gave us all a real scare there, dad."
"I know. Came on so suddenly, too. I was feeling alright until I got to the wedding."
"I've been trying to tell you for years you need to lay off the coffee and burgers and eat more salads. Not too mention get more sleep between shifts." I sighed.
"I know, and I gotta' take better care of myself. I wanna be around for you for a good long time, kiddo."
"I want you here, too." I tearfully told him. "Be honest with me? How many cups of coffee did you have before the wedding?"
"None, I was so busy before I came that I didn't even brew a pot. First drink I'd had since I left the house was the one they offered at the Cullens when I got there."
"What did you have?"
"Just a half a glass of Carlisle's bourbon to take the edge off and calm my nerves some before I went up to see you in Alice's room."
I looked back at him in confusion at this. The Cullens were never known for having an alcohol stash. They had no need to, seeing as their particular thirst craved something else that the local market didn't carry. This was news to me.
"Carlisle doesn't usually drink bourbon, dad." I added, going along with it all in an attempt to get more info from him.
"Well, I don't know. I took what Edward offered me. It was cold and I needed a minute before seeing you, so he fetched me a glass of the good stuff he said."
Charlie drew in a heavy and tiring sigh then as he closed his eyes briefly, his body still needing more rest after all it'd been through.
"You get some more shut eye, dad. We'll stay here with you."
"Yeah, get some rest, chief." Jacob added, his eyes seeking mine as the two of us started to draw the same horrified conclusion.
Something in my gut said that there was far more to this.
Once Charlie was asleep again and resting peacefully, Jacob drew me aside toward the small window there in his hospital room.
"Bells, something is off with all this."
"I know, I feel it, too. The Cullens never kept anything of human substance in their house. Not even for stage purposes. Not before the wedding preparations started that is."
My stomach twisted painfully at the ideas running through my mind as Jacob paced back and forth in front of me.
"We're missing something here."
"You don't think he would-" I started to feel choked at the very thought. "-t-try to purposefully hurt Charlie."
"As a way to keep you close...- yeah-... yeah, honey I do."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the new update and thank you for all your awesome reviews! More to come soon! Please tell me your thoughts!