Chapter 7: Post Wedding Jitters
Jacob peeled the saran wrap off the cookies and handed the paper plate to Billy.
He hated to ask but desperate times called for desperate measures. "So, Dad, do you think we could stay here for a few days 'til we find a place of our own?"
His dad gingerly took a cookie off the plate, and taking a few bites, pointed his thumb toward Jacob's bedroom. "Aren't you two going to be a little crowded on that bed of yours?"
Bella buried her heated blush into Jacob's broad shoulder, as he answered. "You won't hear me complaining."
Wheeling closer to Bella, Billy patted her arm. "You don't have to hide, Bella. You two are married now. How do you think Jacob here came into being? It's nothing to be ashamed of. The good lord gave us these powers to create life and to keep a man and a woman together. Do you think any man would stick around if his need for a woman didn't remain fairly constant? He'd be off, hunting and fishing, and playing games. Then there's—"
Jacob's hand was waving in the air. "Dad ... Dad ... I think she gets the picture."
"Oh, okay. Well, when do you think you'll be moving in?" Billy picked up another cookie, and placed the remainder on his lap.
Jacob re-positioned Bella so he could see her mortified face again. "What do you think, Bells? Saturday morning?"
Bella nodded in agreement.
"Saturday it is, then. I'll call Charlie and ask him to help move some of your stuff."
"Not so fast, Dad. We haven't actually told him yet. Maybe you should wait 'til tomorrow evening. We'll try to get over there early afternoon."
Billy smiled. "Anything you say, son."
Jacob's hands gently lifted Bella and he stood up beside her. "We'll be staying at the Uleys' for the next two nights if you need us. Do you need any help right now, while I'm still here?"
"Nah, Paul and Rachel will be home in about another half hour. I want to watch Castle first anyway. There is one thing though ... Do you have any more of these cookies?"
"Bells—it's okay. Hey, don't give me that look! What's he gonna do? Shoot us?" Jacob wrapped his brawny arms tightly around his petrified wife, trying to hold her together.
Backing away from her man, she shook her head. "But, you've never seen him mad before. It can be pretty scary."
A grin lit up Jacob's face. "Don't worry, honey. I'll protect you."
Executing an eye roll, she muttered, "It's not me I'm worried about."
Jacob frowned. "Oh, right."
Bella sat at the kitchen table tapping her fingers on the surface. "You know, just once, I'd like to see you get nervous for a change."
Pulling the chair out next to her, he swung one leg over the seat, his arms folded, resting on the back of the chair. "Oh, c'mon, you were present on our wedding night. I was so nervous, I thought I was gonna heave."
"That doesn't count," she threw back at him.
"You're kidding—why the hell not?"
"Because, Captain Courageous, all guys are nervous their first time. I'm talking about being scared in a situation with another person other than me."
Jacob stared at her; his face a blank slate. It reminded her of Detective Cho from the television series, The Mentalist.
She knew she had lost the battle. "Never mind," she sighed.
He stood up reaching for her once more. "C'mere, sweetheart. Let me make it all better." He kissed her neck, and the top of her head, brushing through the strands of her hair with his fingertips.
Bella gazed up at him. "I just want him to love you, Jake."
He splayed out his arms then thumped his chest with his hands. "Hey—Jacob Black here. What's not to love?"
Bella had phoned Charlie earlier to meet with him at two o'clock. He had worked late yesterday, so he only had to put in a few hours today.
The Rabbit pulled up into the driveway, but the cruiser was nowhere in sight. Bella got out her house keys and handed them to Jacob.
It felt weird for him to be entering Bella's old home, almost like B&E. She rolled up the blinds and drew the curtains aside. They sat down on the couch and waited for Charlie to arrive.
The couch began to vibrate and Bella quickly discovered the reason. Jacob's knee was bouncing up and down. She scrutinized his face, then her eyes drifted to his jerking limb. This exercise continued several times until finally, she caught his eye.
He rubbed the side of his face. "Okay, so maybe I am a little nervous."
They both jumped when the cruiser drove up. Bella put on her biggest smile; Jacob draped his arm over her shoulder, trying his darnedest to appear casual. Charlie walked in looking highly suspicious.
"Hi, Dad. How was your day?" She hoped her voice didn't betray her anxiety.
Charlie ambled by, hanging up his holster and jacket. He looked over his shoulder at the couple. "Hi, kids, what's going on?" He eyed them as he took a seat in his lazy boy.
"Jake and I have some great news to tell you."
Charlie shot up from the chair. "I knew it. You're pregnant aren't you?"
Her head moved side to side. "What? No—there's no way that could happen."
"That's a relief. So you two aren't ... uh ..."
Jacob interrupted, "Well not exactly. That's what we came to tell you" He grimaced involuntarily.
Bella's dad turned a shade of purple. He breathed in and out a couple of times to calm himself. Leaning forward, Charlie placed one hand horizontally over his other hand which was turned sideways in a vertical position, indicating Time Out. He exhaled loudly. "Wait ... wait ... I don't want to hear anymore. You two are engaged and what you do away from this house is your own business." He covered his brow with his right hand." I don't condone your behavior, but I know how hard it is to curb your ... you know ... urges. Jacob you just be careful with my little girl."
"Dad, it's not like that." Bella reached into her purse and yanked out the marriage license. Jacob drew his arm from her shoulder. She knelt beside her father and handed him the certificate. "This is the reason we came to talk to you today."
Charlie unfolded the paper and read the contents. He turned his head and gazed at his daughter. He hated to get all misty, but he felt the tears starting to form. "You and Jacob are already married?"
"Yeah, I'm so sorry. We couldn't wait any longer. Please don't be mad at us. You're not are you?"
"I'm not mad—I'm just surprised, that's all. But, what about Renee? What did she say?"
Jacob looked up at the ceiling. He wasn't about to open his mouth. Hell, let Bella do all the talking.
"I haven't called her yet. I wanted to run this by you and Billy first."
"Well, kiddo, you have your work cut out for you. She was planning on coming up here to help with the wedding." Charlie laughed out loud. "I wouldn't want to be in either of your shoes when you tell her."
Bella was suddenly wondering if it would be wiser to keep the news of her marriage secret from her mother. Let her think the renewal of vows was the real thing. Could she keep it a secret that long? She was such a bad liar though, Renee would see right through her. Awkward wouldn't even cover the state of affairs if Renee found out at that late notice. She would be livid—and hurt. Somehow the image of the bride's mother pouting in the corner during the ceremony was not the picture Bella had in mind. Okay, so she'd make a clean breast of it—two down, one to go.
Bella and Jacob stayed a while chit-chatting with Charlie. Now that the ordeal was over, they found the going much easier. It seemed like Charlie was more talkative when Jacob was around too. Everyone was relaxed and enjoying the visit.
Jacob leaned back in his seat. "We're staying with my dad for a few days 'til we get an apartment."
Looking thoughtful for a moment, her dad commented, "Don't stay there too long. Newly weds and family are a combustible mixture under one roof. By the way, I have something for you."
He left his lazy boy and searched through a drawer in a console by the fireplace. They turned their heads around and saw him writing something and then heard paper tearing.
"Here," he said, "go find yourselves an apartment—the sooner, the better."
Placing the paper in Jacob's hand, Charlie smiled. It was a check made out in the amount of five hundred dollars.
"Charlie!" Jacob gasped. "We can't accept this."
His eyes narrowed in a fake scowl. "Now, now, are you going to insult me in my own home? Look, Jacob, just think of it as your wedding present, or Bella's dowry. Either way, I was going to give it to you on the day of your wedding, but it seems like now is as good a time as any."
Jacob ran a hand through his hair. "Jeez, Charlie, I don't know what to say?"
"How about, 'Thanks, Dad!'"
He nodded his head. "Thanks ... Dad."
Bella rushed into her father's arms. She kissed his cheek and whispered, "Thank you, Daddy."
Charlie brushed a tear away. "So, it's Daddy, now, huh?" He shook a finger at them. "Just don't make it Granddaddy too soon. You two need to finish your schooling."
"You've got my word on that, sir." Jacob gave the chief a mock salute.
They all stood in the doorway. Bella and Jacob were ready to leave. Charlie shook Jacob's hand.
"I couldn't wish for a better son-in-law, so don't go changing my opinion of you." He chuckled softly. "I do own a few guns, you know. And don't make yourselves scarce. Come around once in a while, this old man gets pretty lonely."
"That's not what I hear." Jacob winked at him.
Charlie's cheeks turned crimson. "You heard about that, huh?"
"No secrets in La Push, Charlie. We all have eyes. We see that cruiser parked outside of Sue's. It's hard to miss."
"When did this happen?" Bella was confused. She knew Charlie had been dating Sue a few times, but she didn't realize how serious it was getting.
"Your dad's pretty sneaky. He would go on over after you left Sue's house in the evenings. Or, Sue would drive over ... here."
Bella's eyes got round as saucers. "Oh!"
Charlie rubbed his chin, suddenly feeling an itch? "Uh ... shouldn't you guys be leaving? You're still on your honeymoon, aren't you?"
"You're right. We better get going. You wouldn't want to keep Sue waiting, now would you?"
"Get going, Son." He waved his hand in front of Jacob's face.
"You got it. C'mon, Bells, let's go." Then Jacob added, "Wait isn't that Sue's pick up coming round the corner?"
Jerking his head around, Charlie stared in the direction that Jacob was pointing. "Where?"
Jacob grinned mischievously. "Gotcha!"