Sorrows The Seas of My Heart
Chapter One: Homecoming
Awkward and quiet; that was the atmosphere in the cruiser during the whole sixty-minute drive home.
Home this summer would be in Forks, Washington. Located somewhere in the Olympic Peninsula, Forks is probably the rainiest place in the whole contiguous United States. Through personal experiences, I've learned that even during the summer seasons, rainy weather and cloudy days overrule the normal hot, sticky temperatures.
Next to me, Charlie cleared his throat.
"How's your mother?" he asked.
Renee was fine and happy as can be with her boyfriend of three months, Phil Dwyer. Of course, I would edit this part out of my response so as to not make Charlie feel stranger than he already does.
"She's the same as always. You know how Mom is - always trying to do everything," I smiled thinking of Renee. Charlie chuckled, and that's about as far as we got with that conversation when we finally turned onto a familiar street.
"Welcome back, Bells," Charlie said as he turned onto the driveway and parked. He got out of the car and took my single duffel out of the trunk. I told him I could carry it myself, and Charlie, never being the pushy one, handed it over without another word.
As he fiddled with the house keys, I took a quick look at my surroundings - as if I didn't get enough green during the car ride. When Charlie finally got the door opened, the phone began to ring.
"Mom's probably got some freaky ESP or something," I muttered, and Charlie laughed.
It turned out that whoever was on the phone with Dad wasn't Renee. As Charlie continued to talk, I lugged my bag up the stairs and into my room, dropping it onto the floor. As I zipped it open, I heard Charlie laugh down the stairs and made a mental note to ask him what that was about.
I brought enough clothes that would last me a month in Forks - same as every year since I was old enough to fly alone. The routine was all so simple, really. I arrive. Charlie takes me fishing at least twice a week. The rest of the time he's at work, and I'm stuck at home, flipping through all the local television channels.
Many times he's tried to send me over to spend a day at the Blacks' residence in La Push. Billy Black and my dad have been good friends for a very long time. If I may recall, he has two daughters who are my age, if not older, and a son who is about two or three years younger.
Whenever I agreed to go to La Push with the Blacks, which was on very seldom occasions, Charlie would bring me over early in the morning and pick me up at eight or nine at night. During this time period, I'd be sitting on the couch watching Rebecca and Rachel do whatever they decided to do, since I was shy and didn't function very well with other people. The younger boy, Jacob, always spent time with his dad.
"Bella!" Charlie called as I stuffed my empty duffel bag under the bed. I ran down the stairs to see Charlie standing in front of the stove attempting to cook dinner.
"Dad? What are you doing?" I asked, difficulty trying to stifle my giggles and hide my horrific expression.
"I'm cooking dinner, Bella."
"Well, do you need any help?"
"Bells, really. I spend eleven of twelve months without you. I've learned to fend for myself."
I laughed as Charlie stared at the stove trying to figure out how to turn on the fire. When the blue flame suddenly appeared, he jumped back, surprised.
"You were saying?" I asked, hardly controlling my laughter.
"The take-out menu is on the fridge." He sheepishly grinned at me. It was extremely too easy living with Charlie.
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An hour later, Charlie and I were seated on mismatched chairs at the kitchen table. We silently ate our food, until I began to talk.
"So, Dad, who called?" I asked, remembering the conversation Charlie had earlier.
"Huh? Oh, it was this guy I work with." He replied.
"… And?" I pried. I knew I was being nosy, but there was nothing else to talk about.
"Well, this new doctor is moving into town, and since everyone in Forks knows about their arrival, we thought we should throw a surprise party for them. You know - as a welcoming gesture."
"That sounds extremely hospitable," I said, finishing up whatever was left on my plate. Charlie swallowed his food before he replied.
"It's two days away, on Friday, meaning everyone's got a lot of work to do, but I don't see how hard it would be, though, since the high school gym isn't that grand." Charlie finished up his meal, and I helped clean and put away the dishes.
"Do the good townspeople of Forks do this for every single person who moves here?" I joked, and Charlie laughed.
"Everyone knows you're here ," Charlie stated as a matter-of-fact.
"That's nothing new! I'm here every summer." I smiled.
"I'm just saying, they expected your arrival today, and more importantly, they expect you to be at the party on Friday. What do you say?" he asked.
"Sure, Dad." I told him as I put away the last of the plates in a cabinet. "Is there anything else you need help with, Dad?"
"No, no, Bella. You go on and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Dad." I gave Charlie a hug. He was taken aback by my actions though he reluctantly hugged me back. This trait I shared with Charlie; I wasn't usually so open to showing my emotions, but I needed a way to show him my thanks for letting me stay with him again this summer.
