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Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter.
In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.
Joseph Addison
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Charlie was, as usual, euphoric to see me. A huge smile spread across his aged face when he opened the door for me.
Me moving out had been hard for him. I might not have been living with him for too long but still, having someone around him every day after all the years of solitude since my mother had left him, had given him new spirit. Fearing he'd loose it again once I moved out to go to college I practically hired Billy to find someone for my dad. Someone who could replace me in a way, someone to be with Charlie.
It made me feel guilty, but in a way, it felt like doing something really good. And after all, it had been worth the doubts.
A couple of years ago, Billy had introduced Charlie to a women named Sally Brown. And today, she was practically my second mum, though the two of them still did not live together. Both of them knew more than well how very badly a relationship could end.
Me knowing this far too good as well, never complained about their decision.
Giving birth to my children had not only been the greatest gift for me and Jacob, it had also made Charlie feel like he was young again, feeling like a real dad again after all the years in which there had been no need for a dad for me because I technically was not a child anymore.
He had been more than enthusiastic. When I first saw him holding my daughter, it had warmed my heart even more than the sight of Jacob holding the small, dark-haired bundle in his massive arms with tears in his eyes.
Charlie had not been crying, neither had a smile lit up his face. But never in my life had I seen such truth and honest affection toward someone in somebody's eyes.
Today we spent a lot of time with Charlie. He and Billy sometimes took the kids out fishing, always regretting it afterwards when they returned without a single fish due to my children's rather flashy voices.
Having Charlie available as a babysitter gave Jacob and me more freedom and space we had thought possible when I first found out I was pregnant. In the end everything had turned out easier than we had assumed. And definitely even more beautiful…
"You're looking tired, Bells."
Charlie seemed to be in a cheery mood, his voice sounding easy and his body moved more fluent than it usually did these days. Time had left it´s marks on my father. He was older, weaker but also happier.
Sometimes his thoughts seemed to be far away, though and those moments scared me. It always felt like he started to let go, to say goodbye. He was still young in a way. He was my dad so how should he ever seem like a granddad to my eyes?
"Well, actually I slept quite fine. Where is Sally?"
The living room, in which Charlie had led me, was empty, the television showing another baseball game. Even though they didn't live together officially, Sally spent most of her time at Charlie's house, so it slightly confused me not to see her here.
Charlie's answer was short while he fall back into his armchair.
"Port Angeles."
I nodded, eying the empty beer cans on the table.
"Dad?"
"Billy was here last night. We watched the game together."
He made a weird face and tried to hide the empty pizza carton on the floor by kicking it underneath the sofa.
"You're impossible. Why are you watching a rerun of the game, then?" I asked while bending down to pull the carton back from underneath the sofa.
"I was bored. Waiting for you."
"You could have cleaned up a bit while waiting, instead of making it worse."
He murmured something I couldn't understand while I carried the carton and the cans into the kitchen. Some muffled noise in the living room, followed by heavy footsteps announced Charlie's approach.
"You don´t have to clean up, Bells."
"It´s okay, Dad. I'm used to it, you know."
"Yeah, still, you make me feel guilty. I mean, all that you do for me. The room and helping me with Sally and… everything. You really shouldn't be helping me around that much."
Charlie's body swung from left to right and back again while he spoke, a painful expression burned on his face.
"Dad!"
I dropped the carton which fell onto the counter, staring at my father.
"I just mean…."
"Stop it!"
"What?"
"Saying stuff like that! After all you did for me? You're my father, for god's sake!"
"I don´t get your point, Bells."
"Neither do I get yours. Why do you think I shouldn't be helping you?"
A strange mixture between pain, guilt and anger boiled inside of me and I moved closer toward the door, where my father stood, still moving uneasy, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"You… you have your own life now. I mean…. Your not a child anymore. You have children yourself, you're married….. You should be concentrating on Jake and the kids, on your job… not me."
"Dad…"
My voice had dropped to a whisper and I grabbed my father's hand.
"Listen to me. Don´t you ever even think something like that. That´s insane. You always were and always will be a part of my life, no matter how it develops. How could you think something like that? You did so much for me, I owe you…"
"Bella…"
"No, don´t start again. Think about it and you'll see. I won't go anyways, no matter what you say. I love you, Dad."
"Love you, too, Bells…"
"So where's the problem?"
We both started to laugh and Charlie's head lifted. He smiled now and seemed rather relieved to have this subject talked over.
I dropped his hand and moved back to the counter but stopped after a few steps.
"Well, I suppose I'm here to do "girl stuff", right? So, I think I'll get started."
Charlie looked pleased when I made my way towards the stairs and started to move back to the living room.
"Hey!"
He winced and turned around, looking taken aback.
"What? Do you want me to get a heart attack?"
"Well, no. But I thought you might finish my work."
An expression of pure confusion appeared on Charlie's face causing me to start laughing.
"If I'm right, there is an empty pizza carton and several beer cans waiting to be disposed of in the kitchen. Since you don´t want me doing it and the thought of Sally being responsible for it all alone makes me feel guilty, you should probably start doing it yourself."
Charlie sighed and with a disgusted grin on his face he left for the kitchen.
"And don´t cheat!"
"Sure, sure!"
I just had to involve Charlie in this story. I love him.
I hope you liked this chapter, please tell me!