Chapter 6
The days had passed quickly and Thursday afternoon came. We decided to head to Forks that evening so we would be ready for the funeral come Friday. Alice had pre-packed our bags the day before. We both dreaded what she had put in for us to wear for a funeral.
I threw our bags in the boot and turned to see Edward in front of me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, "I'll miss you." I stretched up and pressed my lips against his, he moved them against mine, my hands reached up and intwined them with his hair. I pulled back, "I'm only going to be gone for 2 nights."
"Yeah but I'll be alone. I hate it when you're away from me. Are you sure you don't want me to be there?"
"I'm fine, I need to do this alone anyway. And I hate being away from you too. I'll be back though." I smiled and reached for his lips again. I reluctantly pulled back, "I'll see you later." I stroked his face then called for Renesmee. She came in with Jacob following behind. I climbed into the driver's seat, and waited whilst Ness kissed Jacob goodbye.
Carlisle entered and passed a mobile to Ness, "Just remember to not bring a lot of attention to yourselves. Call us if something happens okay?" I nodded and the three stepped away from the car. I started the engine and drove out of the garage. I watched in the rear view mirror as Edward waved to me. I smiled to myself. "What are you smiling about?" Ness asked, looking back to the house. "It's nothing."
The drive took a few hours. I weaved in and out of the traffic as if it wasn't there. We passed the 'Welcome to Forks' sign, and gently nudged Renesemee who fell asleep. Her skin was boiling hot. I checked the heating but it wasn't on. Perhaps she was coming down with a temperature. I pressed my hand against her head, the coolness waking her up.
"Ness babe, we've arrived. Are you feeling ok, you seem a little hot?" She pressed her hand against her head. "Yeah I'm ok, just a one off temperature I think." I had always hoped that the vampire side of her would mean she wouldn't catch any infections or diseases. I was wrong after I spent a few nights with her while she had some sort of flu.
She looked out the window and watched the trees passing by. "How come Jacob didn't want to come?" I asked, I would have thought he would have stayed with Ness, or come and see the pack at least. "I told him not to come; I thought it would be nice if it was just us two. We could have a girl's night or something." She smiled and I smiled back.
"Yeah that would be fun. We're at the hotel." We pulled into the hotel and checked in. We didn't book a large room or suite; even if we liked our comforts it would be best to keep it small. We didn't want attention drawn to us because of what room we ordered.
"So you can order the room service and I'll pick the film," I tossed the menu over to her; she didn't catch it but instead was holding onto her stomach. "Got stomach pains hun?" I stood up and sat next to her on her bed and rubbed her back.
"No mum, I'm ok." She moved off the bed and headed to the phone. "I'll get some pizza." She smiled and dialled room service.
We watched two films before Renesemee succumbed to sleep. I lay down on the bed next to her and placed her hand on my face. I relaxed and watched her dreams, pictures of me and the rest of our family. They were so contrasting from when she was younger. When her dreams changed to personal moments with Jake I moved her hand from my face and headed to the window. I stared deep into the forest behind our window and thought over all the times I had spent in the forest. I caught my reflection in the window and looked into my eyes. The colour was a few shades darker from the last time I had hunt. I looked over to Ness, sound asleep on the bed, opened the window and jumped out…
"Well there not that bad I guess. It could have been a lot worse." I looked at my clothes and held them up against me. Alice had given me a knee-length black skirt, and a fitting black blouse. I didn't need a coat or jacket, but I was provided one as a prop. I had black high heeled shoes, with diamond like studding near the toe and on the buckle.
Renesemee wore a simple black dress with a bow on the back, and a short black cardigan with a few sequined patterns on it.
We both stood infront of the mirror and admired what each other was wearing.
"Mum, put this on," she handed me a make-up brush, "It's just a bit of blusher, just to make you look like you have rosy cheeks. You look too pale." I smiled and applied the make-up. "Ready?"
"Honestly Ness, not really. I don't know if I can go through with this. I was there at the hospital and that itself was too much." I sat down on the bed "I don't know if I'm able to go Ness."
"Come on Mum, you're this far. Just say your final goodbyes. If it gets too much we'll leave, but we can pull through this. Come on," She tugged my hand, and pulled. "Ok seriously mum I'm not as strong as you, please get up." I smiled then stood up. I wrapped my arm around her, and we walked out the door.
The church was unusually packed. Even though it was a small church, it seemed that Charlie was a very popular man.
I assumed that a lot of the people would have been from the force Charlie had worked in, but apart from that I didn't think so many people would come to pay their respects.
I noticed Sue close to the altar. I was so happy when he decided to marry her, because I knew he wouldn't be alone anymore. I led Nessie with me and we made our way up to her. She looked so upset. Her eyes were staring into space, a crumpled tissue in her hand.
"Erm…Sue." I said my voice somewhat apologetic.
"Oh, hello. I can guess that you're Charlie's great-grand children, am I correct?" I nodded, surprised at how she had recognised us so quick. "Don't be surprised, I can see his and his daughter's features in both of you. I'm happy you came. If you don't mind me asking, isn't Bella coming?"
Renesmee looked up to me. I knew some questions of a sort would pop up about my whereabouts, but I hadn't thought of anything yet. "Erm…her husband, Edward, he got into an accident. She hasn't left his side since. She says she would like to be here but she says he needs the company." I hoped my face could help improve the lie. I'd had years of practice, but always thought I would give myself away.
"I understand. If you don't mind." She went to turn away, but I still wanted to contribute somehow.
"Erm, Sue," she stopped and turned around. Renesmee looked at me confused, "I was wondering, my Nan had made a speech sort of thing that she wanted me to say, is it ok if I have a few minutes to talk about Charlie?" She looked at me then nodded, "Of course, I'll just talk with the priest. When do you want to-"
"Whenever you can fit me in will be fine," I answered. I thanked her and we went and took our seats.
"What was that all about Mum? There's more of a chance now someone will recognise you since they'll all be focused on you!"
"Shh, keep your voice down. I feel like I have to do this for him, you may not understand but I do."
"Ok, so you go up there. When you introduce yourself who are you going to say you are, 'Bella Cullen looking better than ever.'"
"Hey, I'll think of something." My eyes scanned the room. My attention brought to something else. My nose reacting to something…
"Hey mum, look over there." I followed her line of sight to see her looking at a group of four or five tall, muscular men standing by the door. All wearing black suits, with their ties done up loosely. Their skin was dark, and I knew without a doubt where they came from. "Looks like the La Push gang have come to pay their respects."
"What, are they...wolves?"
"Come on Ness, don't act so surprised, you're married to one for God's sake."
"Yeah but, I don't think I've seen many, apart from Jake I mean, and the odd few who come to visit. It's strangely odd."
I tried to focus on what they were saying. All four were scrunching up their noses and scanning the room for something - most probably us.
"Have you heard anything yet?"
"No not yet, all we know is that two vampires are visiting Forks within these few days," said one guy who looked as though he was in charge of the pack whilst Jake wasn't here. You could hear that authority in his voice.
"So what are we waiting for?"
"Some have said that these two we are not supposed to kill."
"What?" said two or three of them at the same time. "What do you mean? They're vampires aren't they?" A couple of them nodded in agreement.
"There's a reason there is a treaty you know. With a coven of vampires called the Cullens. They're different, and they're off bounds." A couple of moans of disappointment rose from the group. "You'll do as I order you to. Ok?"
"Yeah, but we all know you're not the real Alpha in command. That Jacob Black is still around."
"Exactly, he's still around. According to our sources one of these vampires is his imprint." A couple of gasps, and silence from shock. "Our law forbids us to harm another mans/wolfs imprint. Obviously if something happens we might have to decide something else." I stopped listening to them as I heard the slow saddening music being played. I breathed in deeply and turned around.
The door opened and the priest entered, followed by 6 men, grouped in twos, supporting the coffin which held the lifeless body of my dad. The lump in my throat rose, but I couldn't force it down. I tried to focus on my breathing, to hold my tearless sobs back. I looked to Nessie who tried to keep it strong, but fell at the last hurdle as a large tear rolled down her cheek. I held her hand and whispered to her that we'll get through this.
The procession lasted a few minutes, and then the actual mass started. A few bible passages were read, and a few stories told by a friend from work, then by Sue who told us how fortunate she was to have him as a husband. Even a La Push resident told how much a friend he was to some of the people down at the reservation. It was closing to an end when the priest came up to the stand, "We do have one extra person who would like to speak on behalf of Charlie's daughter Isabella." Bella I thought to myself. "Erm, would you like to come up." I stood up and made my way towards the stand.
What was I actually going to say?
I made my way up to the stand, listening to the whispers responding my attendance.
"Wow, don't you think she looks like Bella."
"It's terrible that she couldn't come to her own father's funeral."
"She's definitely one of the vampires, she matches the description, her skin is white, do you reckon it's actually Bella, I heard she was turned."
I ignored them and stepped up onto the stand. "Hi, for those who don't know me, my name is…Alice, and erm, on behalf of my grandmother, Bella; she wants me to say a few things.
"Charlie was a strong, independent man, and even though he was alone for a large part of his life, he cared first and foremost for his family. First, with his first love Renee, and for the past forty odd years, a bonded relationship with Sue, a close friend, and loving wife. For the first few years of my life, I would visit for a few weeks, and so my own personal bond wasn't very strong. But when I was seventeen, I was fortunate to live with him and our relationship as father and daughter grew. I was able to trust him with loads of things, including talking about my own troubles I went through. He was there for support, and I couldn't have thanked him more for being there, and not just for me, but for those who needed it. He was a great chief, a great man, a great father.' Thank you"
I managed to hold my emotions as I walked off the altar, but as soon as I passed the coffin the sobs began to start and I broke down. Nessie stood up and walked to me and hugged me. A quiet round of applause begun and I gratefully nodded to them. I sat back down and hid my face against Nessie's shoulder, sobbing quietly.
"Thank you, Alice. We shall continue with the…" The words of the priest faded away in my mind as I continued sobbing into Nessie's shoulder. I lifted my head to see the coffin being led out and the procession of people following it out of the church.
As the coffin passed, I stood up, and turned to Renesmee when she was still sat down, holding her stomach, her face pale white. "Ness are you ok?" I went to press my hand to her head when she pulled away and stood up, her hand held to her mouth. "Mum, I've got to-" she turned and went away from me. "Nessie" I shouted, but she continued on, passing the group of lads from La Push. I watched as their eyes followed Nessie out of the church. Their noses scrunching ever so slightly, enough to set them off. They whispered to each other then stalked her out of the room.
"Oh no, Renesmee."