Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.

Rated M for several reasons.

Chapter 4 : Stranger Things

BPOV

After a couple of weeks my new life seems to have settled into a routine. I work my shifts at the hospital, learning and improving on something every day, and getting to know the patients. Charlie and I have developed our own routine, cooking, cleaning and occasionally hanging out. I have been to Port Angeles and even Seattle a couple of times.

But here is the thing. As much as I am loving being back in Forks, which I think of as home, there are not that many people here my age. At least not many that I have met or have enough free time for me to insert myself into their lives. Most of my High School friends went to college and never came back and those that stayed have families of their own already. I feel like the spinster of the parish. The lonely, spinster of the parish.

Now. I am not unhappy. I love my job and being able to do what I want when I want. I love being able to sit quietly and read when I have the house to myself. Charlie is even showing signs of letting me do something more 2020 with it, like decorating and buying some furniture that was not manufactured in the 80s.

But I am a bit lonely. The odd trip down to La Push to hang out with Charlie and his friends is not quite what a woman my age needs in life, no matter how much I enjoy it.

…..

"What happened?" I ask a weary Charlie as he stomps into the kitchen and flops into a chair without even taking his gun belt off.

"Some sort of animal attack, night watchman at the mill," he sighs, "nasty. Just had Carlisle confirm it at the morgue."

"Oh no, anyone I know?"

"I don't think so, older guy, pretty much kept himself to himself. Don't even have any family to tell. Sad."

I hand him a beer and he pats my hand as he takes it.

"One of the best things about being Chief of Police here," he muses, "is the lack of dead people. It was always one of the reasons I resisted your mom's desire to move to a big city."

"That, and the fishing," I chuckle, opening my own beer.

"Nah," he snorts, "that's just your mom talking. You know I didn't even take it up till I was looking for something to do when we were barely speaking? Harry Clearwater had to teach me everything from scratch. I was crap at it."

Oh. New information.

"What happens now?" I ask.

"Funeral attended by me and Rev. Webber and a short information campaign around town to remind folks that this ain't Washington DC and you can get eaten by the furrier locals if you aren't paying attention."

"What do you think it was?"

"I don't know," he exhales slowly, "cougar maybe? Could have been a bear or a wolf too I suppose."

"Do I need to worry?"

"Not unless you're planning on taking up solo hiking."

"Not hardly," I snort and finally he laughs. A little.

…..

Charlie is right, unnatural death is rare in Forks, so I was surprised that Carlisle was called out to examine two more dead bodies a week later, both out of state hikers.

This time Charlie decided it warranted a hunting expedition and he, Harry and a couple of guys from town set off to scout out the forest.

Five hours later Harry was brought in by EMTs with a grey looking Charlie in tow. He had had a massive heart attack, Carlisle and I tried to save him, but we just couldn't

I had to put my own shock and sadness at losing a patient aside to help Charlie, Harry and his family, wife Sue, kids Leah and Seth, were lifelong friends of his. Ours. And of course, my heart went out to Leah, losing her dad like that with the baby only a month away, she and Jake were devastated.

The funeral was huge, half the town seemed to be there. It rained, naturally, but somehow that seemed appropriate. I have never seen to so many grown men with tears in their eyes.

…..

A pall of sadness is hanging over everything. Charlie is spending most of his free time down at La Push with Sue and the family. I have been down a few times, but I never know what to do with myself or how to be of help. So, this Sunday I am spending the day alone, curled up on the sofa with a book and stash of chocolate. The sky is almost black, and the pounding rain sounds like it is trying to break into the house, which is quite soothing in its way.

I was technically not reading or dozing when a hard knock at the door nearly gives me a heart attack of my own!

"Bella!"

"Alice." And Esme, who smiles at me apologetically.

Alice seems, agitated, even taking the liberty of taking me by the elbow and guiding me back into the house, closing the door firmly behind us.

"How are you?" She asks seriously.

"I'm, um fine, thanks. Alice, Esme you're both soaked, did you walk here?"

"Yes. Well, almost. We were worried about you," Alice gushes. "Losing poor Harry like that must have been terrible. We're so sorry we haven't been to see you sooner, some of us have been away."

"Oh, well, I mean, that's fine. We will all miss Harry; I will miss Harry. He was, um, always there when I was growing up. And I used to play with Leah and Seth."

As Alice becomes distracted, I lead them through to the kitchen.

"Would you like something to drink?" I ask, remembering my manners.

"Do you have any tea?" Esme enquires.

"I think so," I mutter, turning away to rummage in the cupboard where Charlie and I keep our 'exotic' items.

"Lapsang souchong?" I offer, hopefully.

"Lovely," Esme me assures me, exchanging a worried look with Alice.

"Is there something going on?" I ask, now fully awake and prickly with foreboding.

"No, no, not at all."

A loud bang has me jumping out of my skin.

"Goodness," Alice observes brightly, "out of season thunder. Scared me."

I make tea and Esme starts talking about the upcoming fundraiser for the hospital, Alice seems to have zoned out on us. The aura of barely contained panic they brought with them seems to be dissipating. I bet I was actually asleep when they arrived, and my brain was just misfiring. We can still hear the thunder, but it is distant now and the further away it gets the more Alice comes back, even suggesting themes for the fundraiser.

I have no idea what time they arrived or how long we have been talking and sipping our tea but suddenly there is another loud knock at the door. Surprised I traipse out to answer it.

"Edward."

"Dr Swan, I understand my mother and sister are here, may I come in?"

"Of course. Are you alright?"

"Yes, why?"

"You are covered in mud and all your clothes are torn."

He eases past me into the hallway, bringing the cold and damp in with him.

"Yes, sorry," he mutters, "I took a tumble down a steep incline."

"Are you injured?"

"No, thank you."

"Edward?" Esme calls. "Is that you?"

I gesture towards the kitchen and he proceeds ahead of me. His usually stunning bronze hair is matted with mud, twigs and random bits of foliage. What the hell is going on?

"Edward!" Alice chides, "you're such a clumsy oaf."

He manages a small smile as I manoeuvre round him, not admiring the breadth of his shoulders.

"Please, sit down," I offer.

"No, thank you," is his stiff response. "Are you ready to go Esme, Carlisle is waiting for us."

"Oh, already? I am so sorry Bella, but it has been lovely to catch up with you. We must do this again soon."

I smile and nod, only realising as they leave that it had not even occurred to me to offer them towels to dry themselves with. Rude.

At the end of the drive they climb into Edward's sleek sliver car and I wave as they swish away.

Surely, I have dreamt that entire thing?

No, mud and water daub the hall floor and there are three barely touched cups of lapsang souchong on the kitchen table.

…..

I always think that one of the tragic things about death is that life just carries on regardless. It just seems wrong. But then, almost a month later, Leah and Jake's baby is born, and you realise that life carrying on is kind of the point.

Little Harry has raised everyone's spirits already, he is just so damn cute. And he seems to like me for some reason. Leah is threatening to call me every time she needs a break as he always falls asleep on me when I hold him, despite my lack of skill in that department.

I am still not tempted to have one of my own though. Mom says I will change my mind as I get older, but I cannot see it happening, babies are for other people, not me.

…..

As the months, and Thanksgiving, pass Charlie continues to spend most of his free time down at La Push and I finally get started on renovating the house. By gutting the antiquated bathroom and completely replacing it. I had to get a contractor for the plumbing stuff, but I am proud to have done most of it myself. And if no other suitors appear, I may marry the heated towel rack.

Esme and I have had lunch a couple of times and I am shamelessly picking her stylish brain on how best to tackle the rest of the house. I have seen Alice more often, I always seem to be running into her somewhere, I even bumped into her and Edward in Seattle last week shopping for Christmas gifts. She insisted the three of us had lunch together, which was not awkward at all. Although it was the longest conversation I have had with Edward.

I like Alice, but the fact that she is still at school makes me uncomfortable. And do not get me started on how my mild crush on Edward Cullen makes me feel.

I need a boyfriend, obviously.

So here I am, curled up in bed with my laptop, registering myself on a dating site recommended by one of the nurses at work.

Great.

…..

All through my shift my cell is pinging with potential matches, but I am too busy to look. However as soon as I am done, I hurry home, stopping only for takeout from the diner.

Tucked up in bed I stuff my face as I scroll through the options. Dating has really lost something in the digital age.

Alas, many of them are sporting fashionable beards and I cannot abide beards. All culled from the list.

Which leaves me with five.

A doctor and a lawyer, both in Seattle.

A park ranger based in Sequim.

A restaurant owner and chef in Port Angeles.

And one of Charlie's deputies. Who is married with three kids. The asshole.

Four then.

The doctor seems an obvious choice, after all we already have plenty in common.

Lawyers scare me, so I will move him to the reserve list.

The park ranger is very handsome and manly.

The chef is probably the least scary one, and who does not like a man who can cook?

After much agonising, meaning well after midnight, I send each one a carefully bland message and log off to get some sleep.

…..

My conversations with the 'datees' as they are now known are a much-loved topic of conversation at work. One of the nurses peeked over my shoulder while I was messaging Tom, the doctor, and I rather unusually thought, what the hell, half a dozen female heads are better than one.

Doctor Tom is their leading contender whereas I am currently leaning towards James, the park ranger.

Chef Liam is still in the running, but he works all the hours god sends so we have spoken less.

All three are keen to set a date to meet up. My colleagues are keen for me to set a date to meet up.

So, I will, once the fundraiser is out of the way. And Christmas, no sense rushing these things.