"So what did Edward Cullen want yesterday?" Jessica queried.
"he offered me to carpool with him to Seattle"
"you cried!" She exclaimed - proving the impossibility of a normal conversation. I gave her a pointed look. Then she snorted. "Did it have anything to do with - "
"I was upset because Edward won't leave me alone" I replied icily. She looked awkward and then she let it go."You know, I've never seen him sit with anyone but his family before. Or Dr Cullen come to school"
"weird" I agreed.
That night at dinner, Charlie seemed odd. He looked at me uncomfortably. We sat down for dinner. "Bella" I looked up wondering what it was this time. "Has Dr Cullen came around latley?"
"Umm, I fainted at school, He drove me home" I said trying to sound casual.
"The neighbours, urgh, said they saw you and Dr Cullen acting inappropriatly. Care to explain."
I looked up, indecided on giving up and confessing. He sighed, seeing my innocent look. I suppose the only reason Chralie wasn't going off was because, he hadn't seen me this happy in a long time. "Come on Bells, put an old man out of his misery" He sighed again as I examined my hands.
"How long did Dr Cullen stay?" He tried a new tactic of exposure.
"5 minutes – He helped me upstairs Dad" I said reassuringly.
"Bella – Dr Cullen is a happily married man. Why don't you fancy any of the boys your age?"
"I – didn't do anything"
"Bella!" My luck wasn't obviously lasting.
"It was a kiss on the cheek!"
"The neighbours saw several ... kisses. Bella - I have people worried about you. I'm worried that you're gettin' involved with a married man" I gave him a very defiant look. We didn't speak for a while as he calmed himself. After a few minutes and a sigh.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" He tried gruffly.
"He dropped me off, I kissed him on the cheek, he walked me upstairs" I said fanatically.
"the neighbours say different" Charlie said shortly to his dinner plate.
"... I... Dad ..."
"Were you or were you not behaving inappropriatley with Dr Cullen?"
I opened and shut my mouth three times before I could even think of one excuse that Charlie would believe. I left it hanging, he sighed. " I called your mother" I glared at him for a long time, "I'm taking you down to Dr Cullen to apolgize" I opened and shut my mouth twice.
He got his keys.
**********************************
"Good evening Mrs Cullen" This must be Esme, the adoptive mother and apparent wife of Dr Cullen. She smiled half-heartedly, shyly. Esme had a heart-shaped face framed by caramel curls. She was small, slender, yet less angular. She nodded to Charlie.
"Bella, It's nice to meet you, finally" she pointedly looked back at Carlisle, who was sitting on the lounge with the TV off.
"Hey, Bella" Alice called enthusiastically. Every one seemed to know me. Jasper followed Alice cautiously. "Hello" he said in a small and restrained voice while he kept his distance. "Hello Jasper". I walked through the doorway with stiff Charlie.
Charlie nudged me. I sighed.
"I'm sorry Dr Cullen. The neighbours saw me being – inappropriate... Is there anything - I can do to make it up to you?" His smile faltered into a concerned gaze. He shook his head to clear it and looked at Charlie.
"Can I talk to you for a moment chief Swan?" Carlisle looked at Charlie with shame written on his face.
Charlie and Dr Cullen ascended the stair way.
I turned to Esme. "I'm sorry – If you have any feelings for him – I – I'm so sorry" I said hesitantly. She smiled warmly, a little shy.
"It's alright Bella" She led me to the lounge and we both sat down, comforatbly. "Will they ever tell me their secret?" Esme almost grinned – like the rest of them. I heard laughs from upstairs. Esme seemed smug from the moment she saw me on the doorstep. Since, I'll find out anyway, I dropped the 'what are you' question. I heard footsteps, Charlie and Carlisle came down the stairs. Charlie was pale and wide-eyed. "Esme, your not married – or – or attracted to Dr Cullen" he went over the recent information, "why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I've always wanted children, so we became a proper family. We wanted the children to grow up with parents" He nodded, swallowing.
"Bella – let's go" Charlie was flailing – he didn't know how to handle this much shock. Esme walked over to comfort Charlie, she offered him a seat in the dining room offered him a seat.
Carlisle squeezed my shoulder. "I told him my real age" He said almost inaudibly. I nodded. Charlie could not be contained - he sat in the dining room just until he saw Carlisle walk over to me.
Charlie explained that we must go – he had a big day tomorrow – and he almost stumbled out the door. I noticed Rosalie, Emmett and Edward at the top of the stairs. Carlisle walked me to the door. I kissed him audibly. I turned to see Charlie's outrage face turn purple.