Dear readers, I know it's been forever. I had lost my mojo but it seems to be back!
It was a surprise to find Charlie at home when I got back from the school. My legs were practically wobbling and I had the hardest time standing straight. My head was still buzzing with Esme's hateful words. I didn't blame her for them. She was blinded with rightful anger and I was pretty sure I would have reacted the same way if placed in her situation.
Charlie raised his head when he heard me. Sitting in the couch like this, a little slouched and kind of defeated looking, my heart hurt for my father. I'd hurt him deeply, I knew it. He was a very ethical man, literally in love with traditions, the whole white picket fence and I had no doubt disappointed him.
"Hey, Dad." I whispered, trying to keep a normal voice even if I knew my white as chalk face would betray me in a second.
"What happened?" He asked, immediately picking up on the expression of my face. I must have looked terrible because he cringed.
"Bells? Tell me."
"She saw us at school." I mumbled, my eyes apprehensively waiting for his reaction.
"Oh, dear. What did she say?"
"She threatened to call the police. I think she's going to do it." I watched his eyes harden and he decidedly sat up, rubbing his knuckles on his temples, chasing a probably persistent headache.
"She won't, I'll go talk to her." He got up, grabbing his jacket before walking to the door, never once looking at me.
"Dad! Wait, please."
He slowly turned around, his hesitation palpable and painful to witness.
"What? Time is crucial here. We can't afford to waste any."
"I know, I know." I took a deep breath and for the first time I felt ready to be honest with my father. "You're disappointed and I can't blame you. This is a very weird and unusual situation, one I never thought I'd be in one day. I thought I'd live the traditional life, get married, have kids and all that."
"That's what I thought too." Charlie grumbled, tiredly blinking his eyes.
"Yes, well it didn't happen Dad. I tried it with Jake and you saw how it ended. Maybe I'm not cut out for that kind of life."
"What are you saying? You're using that kid to add a little excitement to your boring life?" His anger started to rise again.
"No, that's not what I'm saying. Sometimes, you think you can be happy settling in life. That's what I learned, Dad, true love is not settling. It's passion, it's raw, it's difficult sometimes but it's the best feeling."
"It's not true love, Bella, the guy is seventeen, foe Christ's sakes!"
"That's not what I see. When I met him, I felt myself become alive and that never had happened to me. He's the one for me, Dad and maybe, maybe he feels the same about me, Dad." My voice broke at the end and a few tears escaped.
Charlie cleared his throat, watching me with an expression mixed with understanding and embarrassment. He didn't approve but he was starting to see what I felt.
"We'll talk later, alright? I need to have a chat with Esme Cullen."
Bella's father was sitting on the big armchair, the one Dad always used to sit in when he was watching a game. He seemed nervous and jittery, which didn't surprise me. The look on my mother's face wasn't exactly one that'd put you at ease. She was gritting her teeth and her hand was squeezing her mug so hard her knuckles were white.
"Edward, I think you should leave the room. Chief Swan and I have things to discuss."
"Mom…"
"I think he should stay." He interrupted in a strong voice.
"Excuse me?"
"After all, this concerns him. More than you, in my opinion." Clear, honest eyes were observing me intently. There was curiosity there and maybe anger but no malice at all. I relaxed slightly.
"Of course it concerns me!" Mom spluttered.
"Alright, but Edward stays too."
"Fine." She sighed, her hands trembling. Guilt invaded me once again.
"I believe we have to find a solution to that whole ordeal that wouldn't destroy your son's or my daughter's life, don't you think Mrs. Cullen?"
"Your daughter deserves to have her life destroyed. I know you love her but can't you see how wrong what she did was?"
Charlie Swan sighed deeply. He put his coffee mug back on the table and seemed to brace himself for the next part of the conversation. Wise man. Our future depended on his next words.
"My daughter and your son have been irresponsible and acting like fools, I agree with you." He interrupted to gauge our reactions. Seeing my mother's shocked face and my angry expression, he raised his left hand, as if to stop us.
"Yes, I include your son in the equation, Mrs. Cullen. He's almost eighteen and he's not a child anymore, almost an adult. And Edward, yes my daughter and you have been acting impulsively and foolishly because you never measured the consequences of your actions."
A tense silence followed. Mum was still angry but the iron grasp around the mug had loosened. She was now looking at Charlie instead of the wall. I decided it was time for me to say something.
"Mr. Swan, I know what we did shocks you and my mother and I don't know how to defend our actions as you called them. We were simply..."
"In love, I know that. It's a powerful emotion, isn't it? Makes us all do things we never thought we'd be capable of. If you look at me, you'd never think I spent the last twenty years trying and yet never managing to forget Bella's mother. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, Mrs. Cullen."
"How dare you manipulating what happened to us? I know what love is. Love is building a foundation, having kids and a nice life together." Mom retorted.
"Love can be that way, yes. Reasonable and accepted by conventions. Sometimes, it works and sometimes it doesn't. It seems our children are not the reasonable type and have decided to love each other whether society accepts it or not. We can't understand it but if being together makes them happy, who are we to judge?"
"Edward is a child!" Mom shouted.
"No, I'm not." I answered in my calmest voice. "I know you're worried about me but I'm not a little kid anymore, Mom. I beg you to reconsider your position. Please."
She suddenly and unexpectedly broke into sobs, as if she had been restraining them for hours, which she probably had.
"You'll always be my little boy."
Charlie stayed prudently silent through all this, letting us to our moment. I knew then that Mom wouldn't sue Bella but our problems were far from over. I saw Charlie check his cell and raise his eyebrows. Surprise and shock were written all over his face.
"Are you alright, Mr. Swan?" I asked, still comforting my crying mother.
"Not really. Bella just sent me a text."
"What happened?" My voice was frantic with worry.
"She's moving to Paris, she found a job."
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