~ Washington - August 17, 2004 ~
As I pulled out of the parking garage, I couldn't help but notice the way Bella shifted in her seat. She was now turned towards me. I could feel her eyes on me, but I forced myself not to turn and look at her. Inside the car her scent was very potent. The beast snarled and slammed against the cage. I knew these first few minutes would be key to the rest of the journey. If I could keep the beast caged through these first moments, I knew the rest of the trip would pass okay. Time and saturation helped lesson the siren's effects of her blood. Too bad the same couldn't be said for my other reactions to her. In fact, the opposite appeared to be true.
As we neared the airport exit, Bella broke our silence. "Can we take the Bainbridge Ferry instead of the Narrows Bridge?" She asked. "I know it takes longer, but I don't have much of an opportunity to travel by boat in Phoenix. Dad always takes me home by the Ferry."
I glanced over to Bella to see such an innocently pleading look on her face. I could only imagine that growing up, Bella could get pretty much anything she wanted with that look. It was then I realized it would take a stronger man than me to deny her anything.
"Sure. I think taking the ferry would be fun." I replied with a smile. By the time we reached the ferry, the sun would be low enough that I could easily dodge any errant rays that snuck throughout the clouds. Also, the fresh air would only help ease my concerns over her blood.
Bella bounced in her seat with excitement. She reached out and touched my hand that I had resting on the SUV's gearshift. "Thank you, Edward." Bella said as she slid her hand off mine, allowing her fingers to slide up my forearm a bit. Besides reveling in the wondrous heat of her touch, my body's other visceral reactions nearly caused me to tear the steering wheel from the vehicle. I managed to loosen my grip on the wheel just as I needed to turn northward towards the Bainbridge Ferry.
Behind me, Emmett and Rose had started singing the theme to the "Love Boat" television show. However, their thoughts were much worse than their terrible singing. Having them follow me now appeared to have been a very bad idea. Luckily, Bella decided to talk, which gave me something more pleasurable to focus on.
"How's my Dad doing? He said his chest was sore, but I could tell he was downplaying what happened." Bella looked worried and sad.
I then realized that talking with Bella might be a bit more difficult than I expected. I had become accustomed to using my gift to read people and their true intentions. I had no idea what Charlie had said to Bella about last night or his injuries. I could just pass off Bella's question, but I did not want to tell her half-truths or outright lies. So, I decided to answer any of Bella's questions as honestly as I could without getting into details that would violate any vampire laws.
"Well, he actually has two fractured ribs." I answered. Bella gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. It was obvious the Chief had glossed over his injuries. "When he moves too much or breaths too deeply he can be in quite a bit of pain." I looked over to see Bella's shocked face as a tear gathered in the corner of her eye.
"What…what happened?" Bella asked with a shaky voice, before reaching to grab my arm. Her eyes widened when my arm did not yield to her gentle squeeze. "And please tell me the truth and not the story I'm sure my Dad told you to tell me."
I took a deep breath that caused my beast to roar. He was safe behind his bars so I let him be. I certainly would not be telling her the actual story, but surprisingly, a part of me wanted to. However, I could see no harm in telling what the local press had published as the truth. She would surely read it or hear about it in Forks anyway.
I spent a few minutes going over the cover story for the crime scene, including that the locals are calling her father a hero. Bella's soft sobs and tears made me want to stop the car and comfort her. Instead I did the only thing I could reasonably do on the highway, I reached out gently squeezed her hand. Without being able to read her thoughts on the proper force to use, I treated her like the finest of china. My fingers could feel fine details of her skin. Her pulse resonated through our touch. I knew from that moment on…through the end of my existence…I would always consider that rhythm my home.
Bella squeezed my hand back and since I had no good reason to keep it in mine, I reluctantly let her hand go.
"This was the case you helped him with?" She asked while wiping away her tears.
"It was," I answered. "So he told you about it?"
"Yeah, he always told me about his big cases." Bella paused before continuing. "He was very proud of you. Some people might feel petty jealously over someone else spotting something they couldn't, but not my Dad. In fact, I bet he hates the press coverage the case has generated. For him, it's about helping others because that is just the right thing to do." Bella swallowed hard. I looked so I could see the emotions playing across her face. "He is the most honest and genuine man I know. If that bastard would have seriously hurt him, or worse…I'd…" Bella blew out a frustrated breath. She didn't have to complete her sentence and I didn't have to read her thoughts to know the obvious…she loved her father greatly.
"Hey, let me tell you something. When your father was lying in the barn wondering if the bullet had gone through his vest, his only thoughts were of you and how much he would miss you. He loves you very much." I said softly before I realized I gave too much information away for someone who wasn't supposed to be at the crime scene and who wasn't a mind reader.
Tears streaked down Bella's cheeks as she cried softly. After a long moment she gathered herself. "Really? Wait…how do you know that?" She asked. Even distraught, Bella was quick to pick up on my error.
"Oh…I," I replied with a clumsy stammer that a vampire should never have. "He told me this morning when he asked me to pick you up." Bella looked at me for a while. I couldn't tell if she accepted my answer or if she was wondering why I would lie to her. Even to my overly hopeful ears, hearing that Charlie Swan would bare his soul to someone like me sounded off.
Not being able to read her mind is maddening!
Bella finally nodded. "Thank you for telling me that," she answered. She glanced around the SUV interior looking for something. I took a guess that she was looking for some tissues. I reached over, popped open the glove box, and removed the small package of tissues that Alice insisted I should always carry in the car. I handed them to Bella who readily accepted them.
"Thank you." She murmured. After wiping her face and nose she turned to me with a slight smile. "Okay, enough of the heavy, Edward. I'll deal with my Dad and his reckless ways when I see him."
"Bella, just let me tell you one more thing, and then I will try to dazzle you with some form of happy conversation. Your father was far from reckless last night. He and Mark were overly cautious. I watched them prepare at the station. He took every precaution like he always does. Nothing in Mitchell's background would have indicated he was violent or suicidal. You father had no way of knowing what he and Mark were about to head in to."
"Thank you for that," Bella said. "However, that doesn't make my concern for him any less. The fact that this was supposed to be routine…well, it kind makes me even more upset. But enough of this talk. You're going to start to think I'm some emo chick or something."
"I would never think that," I answered sincerely.
"Good. Now I think is a perfect time to dazzle me with happy conversation." Bella quipped.
I kicked my mind into overdrive, desperately trying to think of something light and happy to say. From a couple of cars behind I could hear Rose and Emmett's laughter.
"Oh this should be good!" Emmett barked.
I failed miserably at trying to cheer Bella up. Which actually worked better than I could've ever imagined. After my first attempt of commenting on the weather, and then my second attempt of asking her what her favorite animal was, Bella broke into a delightful giggle. I sucked at plucky small talk, but my ineptitude made her laugh. Somehow in failure, I did well.
Luckily I was saved from any further embarrassment by our arrival at the ferry dock. The tail end of rush hour traffic was still upon us, but we were lucky to get onto the next boat. After we were parked inside the ferry, Bella and I made our way topside. The night air was warm which brought a lot of people outside to enjoy the thirty-five minute trip to Bainbridge Island. Rose and Emmett were still close by, but they decided to enjoy the ride as a couple. They had already guessed what I knew as well…my beast would not be breaking free, at least not today.
As the large ferry started to move out into Puget Sound, Bella and I watched the sun's fading colors glow against the Seattle skyline.
"Thank you again, Edward. I love this." Bella said while nudging me in the shoulder. I allowed myself to deflect away from her so she would not hurt her shoulder against mine. Her smile was bright and brilliant. It made me smile in return.
"You are very welcome." I answered. I closed my eyes and felt the air flowing past my torso and face. I realized that for the first time since Charlie knew Bella was to visit that I was able to relax.
"God, he is so gorgeous." Bella whispered to herself. A human would not have heard her against the moving air and other ambient sounds, but with my enhanced hearing, Bella's hidden declaration was easy to make out.
If a vampire's face could blush, mine would have. And, if a vampire's heart could race with excitement, mine would have as well. My eyes shot open and I turned a bit too quickly to look at Bella, but I had to see the look on her face so I could forever match it with her words.
Her fawning eyes went wide and she squeaked when she realized I heard her. "Shit! You heard that?" She asked tentatively, but she refused to look away despite her embarrassment.
"Well, you are, you know." Bella spoke nervously. "Of course you know. How could you not? I mean look at you. When Dad sent me that email this morning with your picture, I thought he cut and pasted a male model's image into the email. But no. And then…damn! Here you are in person…and you're doing that eyes closed thing again. At the airport it was like you were listening to the rhythm of the airport and now it's the same, but with Puget Sound. And…I...I'm rambling so I'm just going to shut up now." Bella finally looked way after her adorable babbling had ended.
With courage I never had before, I gently touched Bella's far cheek and turned her head slowly back towards me. The feel of her skin was as soft as silk, but so heavenly warm. Her heartbeat picked up its pace, along with her breathing as her eyes finally met mine. The fragile and adoring look staring back at me branded my soul. If I had any doubts what she was to me before that moment, they dissolved in that instant.
My singer had become my mate.
I couldn't read her thoughts, but I hoped in time she would start to feel even a fraction of what I felt for her. In my mind the beast whined, while another distant part started to comprehend the complications and obstacles mating on a human would bring. However neither of those mattered. I wanted to take this slow and savor the lightness and wonder I felt.
Cupping Bella's cheek like the finest treasure it was, I finally found some words to speak. I leaned down close to Bella's ear, before pausing to enjoy her nearness.
"You don't have to hide from me," I said softy. "I am glad you find my looks pleasing. I think you are gorgeous as well, so we both have that in common."
As I pulled away, Bella turned he head slightly so that her check brushed against mine. Both of our breaths caught. If I turned my head slightly our lips would touch, but that would not be today. I did not want our first kiss to be in public and in front of a now gaping and stunned Rosalie and Emmett. So I continued to pull away. Bella's eyes following my receding mouth and I liked that she looked a bit sad I didn't kiss her. I finally lowered my hand from her cheek, only to then take her hand in mine. It felt as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. Bella smiled as she looked at our hands together. Her tiny fingers gripped mine, telling me all was well.