Chapter Twenty Seven
Bella
I had to make Charlie believe me,
"Do you remember the old red truck?"
"Yeah"
"You bought it from Billy Black as a welcome home present"
He looked up and smiled,
"Bella loved that truck, I was worried she'd hate it but she really liked it."
"Yes and I remember when I went out to school one day and found you'd put new tyres on it for the bad weather. I think it was the day the security guard went missing."
His eyes brightened with curiosity,
"Yeah that's right. Poor Waylon died soon after, animal attack"
"Edward dropped me off at the station and we came home together."
"How do you know all this?"
"Its me dad, Bella."
He thought, struggling to make sense of what he was hearing as I struggled to think of something that might prove I was his daughter,
"I remember the talk we had after Edward left, you told me sometimes we have to settle for what's best for us. I gave you a really hard time. Then the motorbikes"
His hand came out and touched my cold cheek,
"It is you Bella, really you."
I nodded unable to speak as I heard Jasper lighting the fire and putting the kettle on then a blanket settled round Charlie's shoulders and I pulled it round him closer.
"It's very cold dad"
"Yeah, I should have split some logs but the old hands don't like using the axe any more."
He lifted them, misshapen by arthritis and shaking.
"Good job I don't use a gun these days. Probably shoot my damn foot off!"
I smiled then took the mug of hot coffee from Jazz as he offered it over Charlies shoulder and disappeared again. I held it until I thought Charlie could manage it without burning himself and he sipped slowly sighing in contentment.
"I forget the last time I had real coffee, it's just like you used to make."
"That bad eh?"
We laughed together and sat talking about old times holding hands for the next hour as Jazz worked around us, warming the house, cleaning the kitchen, and by the sound of it putting the washer on. As I watched Charlie's head fell back and I saw he was asleep so I took the empty mug from him and covered him with the blanket.
I went to find Jazz who was upstairs stripping the beds.
"I think he's slept in both and they need fresh linen"
"Thank you. I have to stay for a while Jazz."
"I know, that's why I'm putting fresh linen on both beds, just in case we get a few minutes."
I had to smile at his expression but I was very grateful for all he had done thus far.
"There's plenty of logs chopped. I think someone has been coming round to do it without your dad knowing, probably Jacob, it smells like wolf. There are some meals in the freezer too, home cooked and probably from the same source. The fridge is bare and so are most of the cupboards so I thought I might do a shopping run before it gets light, stock up."
I took my mate in my arms and projected all the love and gratitude I felt to him, he smiled and kissed me,
"Don't worry Bella we're here as long as we're needed, you just have to stay out of sight. I doubt many people will remember me."
"Even less know me so I guess it's a good job I decided to swing by after all"
We turned to the door and Jasper sighed,
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I guess, hi Garrett good to see you again would be asking a little too much. Peter rang, said you might be grateful for a little help.
" Excuse me Garrett but I need to go check on my dad."
"Sure we can catch up later. In the meantime The Major and I can sort things out here."
Once she'd gone I continued our conversation,
"So the old man's dying I hear."
"Yes and Bella wants to be here for him, he's cut himself off from the rest of the world, he thought that Bella was dead and blamed himself."
"Guilt trip, most painful of all. Well she can't be seen by anyone here without alarm bells ringing and neither can you really but the good residents of Forks have never had the pleasure of my acquaintance so I can be the face they see. Do we know how long he's got?"
"Alice reckoned a few days, maybe two now but I'm not sure he's gonna die straight off, she said something about a stroke or something."
"Shit that's not good is it? Well I can stay as long as you like, provided Bella doesn't mind that is."
She'll be grateful for your help, especially if it makes it easier to keep out of sight For now the place is pretty dirty and we need some groceries."
"Tell you what. I'll do the clean up, you do the shopping. I wouldn't have a clue what to get."
"You think I have?"
"I'll write you a list Jazz and thank you Garrett, it will be much easier with a fresh face to open the door to doctors or whoever. We can say you're a distant relative just looking him up and found him sick. He's still asleep so I thought I'd better see what we're going to do. It breaks my heart to see him like this, remember what he was like when I was a teenager?"
"I remember him before you came to live with him, and when he heard you were coming back to Forks Carlisle said he was like a boy with the keys to the candy store. He was very proud of you Bella."
"And I left him thinking I was dead all those years. I even checked up on him once just after I helped you escape from the Volturi. I came back to Forks and there he was, visiting my grave. I should have spoken to him then but I didn't know what to say and now its too late."
"No, he knows you're here Bella and that you survived"
"Jake knows too don't forget. If he finds out we're here do you think he'll try anything?"
"I think the wolves are probably gone now Bella, after all there are none of us living here these days and I don't think the three of us turning up for a few weeks will start a full-scale phasing again."
"I hope you're right because I don't want to fight the Quileutes but I wont be chased away either Jazz"
"Maybe if you explained to Jake why we're here it might help."
"And maybe someone could fill me in, what wolves?"
"Sorry Garrett I forgot you wouldn't know. The Quileutes are a guardian tribe."
"Great I can get my ass chewed off by an overgrown puppy! Still it might make the visit more interesting"
"No fighting Garrett."
"Major, now I know why Peter asked me to come, I never get any fun"