Chapter Seven
Charlie Finds Out
August 31st 2006 (12pm)
As Bella and Edward walked up the driveway to Charlie's front door, everything suddenly seemed more final. This would be the last time she'd be here as a resident of Forks (though unlike when she'd first arrived) she would be back for visits at every opportunity. Finding the spare key she let herself in clutching onto her husband's hand as she heard voices in the front room. From a distance she could see Sue and Leah with Charlie in his usual seat. Wrapping an arm around Edward's firm waist the newlyweds entered the living room just as Sue was about to start telling her fiancé about their world.
"Hope you don't mind us being here for this Sue? Seth's up at the house with Jake."
"This involves you too Bella. We were just about to start."
"Will someone tell me what's going on? What involves Bells?" Charlie asked.
"Charlie can you remember the stories Billy used to tell you when you were kids about the Quiluette people turning into wolves?"
"I remember, he always insisted they were just folklore stories?"
"At the time that's what he had to tell you, but you know three people who turn into wolves Charlie, one of them is in this room."
Charlie turned from Sue to look at Edward noticing the shake of his head turning to his soon to be stepdaughter, at her quick nod the confused father of one looked toward his daughter which brought forward the one particular story that Billy had told him when they were growing up. One about a vampire family who didn't drink from humans, yellow eyes instead of red. Turning back to his son in law his eyes widened at the realisation.
"You're a vampire?"
"Yes, myself and my family." Edward said softly.
"And you Bella?"
"I'm um... ...going to be one of them. A vampire that is, I agreed to go through college beforehand. Edward is my mate." Bella explained instinctively moving closer to her husband.
"So when you left last summer?" Charlie prompted.
"It was to protect her, I stupidly thought leaving her behind was for the best, I now see that it was the worst decision of my existence. I've heard what Bella went through and I can assure you now I was going through exactly the same thing. I never wanted my life for Bella but I've long since given up fighting against it. She was born to be a vampire and I promise you, no matter what happens you won't lose your daughter. We move around so people won't get suspicious, but visiting won't raise suspicions since you live here."
"So you weren't in Florida when you left. Where exactly did Bells and Alice run off to?"
"Volterra, I went to get myself killed, provoke our leaders enough that they'd give me peace. Just as I stepped into the sun, she was there pulling me away from the sun. With Alice's visions we were able to hold off on being hurt because Aro saw a vision of Bella as one of us. I didn't mean to hurt Bella, Charlie I've long since realised I need to talk to my wife. I'll never forgive myself for putting her through all those months of hell."
With Edward leaving nothing out, Bella realised her father would ask what prompted him to leave in the first place, that part of the conversation she wasn't sure he could handle going through the disastrous 18th birthday. With Edward rubbing her back gently the tension in her body left just as quickly as it arrived, thankfully Charlie didn't seem to realise as he watched the newlyweds interact with each other; he knew there was something more than just a breakup between the two of them, now the way she had behaved made sense.
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Once Charlie knew everything apart from Jasper being the reason he'd insisted they leave (it had been agreed between Edward and Jacob it would be best not to mention it in front of Leah) Bella had agreed to tell Charlie why when they were alone. Edward had just finished his story when there was a loud banging noise coming from outside. Standing up slowly, Bella growled under her breath as she noticed who it was.
"If she starts anything I swear pregnant or not I'll leave." Bella muttered to her father.
"Who is it?"
"Renee." Edward said quietly.
"How did you know that?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Some vampires have extra talents, something they had as a human but wasn't as prominent. I have the ability to read minds."
"Read minds? Oh boy."
"You can talk later please get the door." Bella urged.
"Alright Bells I'll get it. Don't get worked up."
Bella took deep breaths to calm herself down before curling up on the couch next to her husband, the tension leaving her shoulders as she felt his cool hand against her baby bump. Their daughter calming down to a light kicking as she felt her daddy's touch. She knew Renee would pull something like this, she thought once she'd had time to think about it she would accept her decision but just like in Phoenix and when Edward left it seemed that her mother was going to try and take her back with her. From the corridor she could hear Charlie trying to reason with his ex wife. Before anyone could ask if everything was okay, Renee Dwyer barged into the living room.
"Isabella Marie Swan you get your bags packed right now. I'm taking you home, I let you come to your father and look what happens, pregnant and married at eighteen. Are you trying to relive my mistakes."
"So I'm a mistake am I mother? And last time I checked my last name is Cullen not Swan you'd know that if bothered to show up, as for the baby she's not the reason we got married, we found out just before the wedding but I was pregnant beforehand. I'm not you and Edward isn't Dad. You weren't ready for a child. You've been looked after by me since I was old enough to cook then you married Phil and he does everything for you. When are you going to realise I'm not a little girl anymore."
"You're eighteen Bella. You don't know what love is."
"I don't know what love is, really? Don't you remember the catatonic state I was in when Edward left TO PROTECT ME. Without him I simply exist, I'd rather die than live without him again. So if that's the only reason you came you can turn around and leave now. I'm happy without you, Charlie is happy without you and your granddaughter will be happy without you. The only way you're ever getting to see her is if you drastically get off your high horse. Dad I'll see you tomorrow before we go I'm sorry I can't stay here with her like this."
"No problem Bells. Drive safely." Charlie said looking at his son in law.
"I will, my wife doesn't like me driving too fast."
"Fair enough, I'll call by later, save Bella coming out again."
"Thanks Charlie."
"Anytime son."
As Charlie watched his daughter leave with her husband he could have strangled his ex wife. If he's known just what Bella did for her mother growing up he would have fought harder to keep her with him. Looking back it was clear Renee used his job as a police officer against him to make him give up on their marriage. From the corner of his eye she watched Sue and Leah leave out the back door giving him space. If Renee though she could barge into his house and demand things she was in for a rude awakening.
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Ten minutes later after he was calm Charlie turned on Renee preparing to give her a long overdue wake up call. He'd never been the biggest fan of Edward but his ex wife didn't know the full story and now he was glad she never would. Taking calming deep breaths the police chief watched as Renee sat down as if she still owned the place. Bella was right this woman didn't deserve to know his granddaughter, she didn't deserve to have her own daughter in her life never mind a child.
"Do you ever think about what you're saying before you open your mouth. That girl loves you, loves you so much she's given up her childhood taking care of you, newsflash Renee you we supposed to take care of her not the other way around. Edward has made his mistakes, however you have no clue as to why he left last September I do. And after your shouting match with your daughter, your pregnant daughter I wouldn't tell you even if she wanted me to."
"You can't talk to me like that Charlie we aren't married anymore." Renee fumed.
"The Renee I was married to wouldn't have spoke to her daughter the way you just did, it's not like the kids rushed into this from what I've heard Edward asked Bella the night they returned last year and she said no. They worked through their problems before they got married, I'm proud of the woman she's become, she's going to college and will be s wonderful wife. The Cullens love her like she's been with them for years and Jake likes him. I suggest you leave and call Bella when you remember that she's a grown up. Goodbye Renee."
Without a response Renee stood up flouncing out of the house, she wasn't a bad mother. She'd definitely been too young but that didn't give Charlie the right to say the things he did. Getting back into the taxi that brought he straight from the airport she began to wonder whether she had been too hard on her daughter Bella had always has a mature head on her shoulders. Once she got back to Jacksonville she'd call Bella, maybe she cold salvage their relationship if Bella would allow it. Time is a great healer, she hoped the space would give Bells the time she needed to heal from her trying to take her away and they could move forward. She didn't know what she'd do if she lost Bella.