Chapter Fifty Six

Charlie

I couldn't think of anything but Carlisle's words and the actions I had taken as a result of them. Knowing I had been under his influence didn't help much, I kept seeing Bella's horrified and disappointed expression when she saw I didn't believe her. I spent the next few weeks trying to track down Bella and the Cullens but it was as if they had all simply disappeared from the face of the earth. Had Carlisle lied this time? I couldn't see what he would hope to achieve but then what did he achieve last time except to split our family apart? I considered speaking to Renee but what good would it do? The harm was already done and we could never regain Bella's trust even if she believed what Carlisle had said. If he'd spoken to her and explained then why hadn't she contacted us? The only possible reason was because she didn't believe him or she just couldn't get over the way we had treated her. As more weeks passed with no word and no trace of her or the Cullens I had to accept that I had lost her altogether. If only the Cullens had never moved to Forks how different our lives would be today.

Bella

I received word from Carlisle that he had spoken to Charlie and told him the truth although if he thought that would change the way I felt about him he was sadly mistaken. Nothing could make right the damage he had caused and Esme by her silence was just as bad. We had updates from Athenadora and Marcus regularly, Sulpicia was content enough and acting as if nothing had happened so Chelsea's power was working fine on her, not that we had anticipated any problems. Carlisle was still trying to see Edward who was under close arrest in the clock tower and bitching constantly because he hadn't been allowed a piano. Marcus had decided that until he could control himself better and stop acting like a spoiled brat he would have no luxuries. None of us liked to bet how long that would take knowing Edward as we did! I did wonder if Carlisle had used his gift to try persuading them to let him see Edward but it seems they had thought of that and Marcus who was in charge of Edward had kept his distance from Carlisle until the warning was delivered,

"If he does then we will view it as breaking the terms of Edward's exile and he will be executed"

Marcus and Athenadora weren't stupid!

Esme had rung Rose and asked her to visit with Emmett but the two of them decided that they'd had enough of Italy for a while and preferred to stay well away. I knew Esme felt this more than anything but I also thought she would soon find something to occupy herself, she had many talents and sure enough after a couple of months Athenadora reported she was helping at a nursery in the town, under the watchful eye of the Volturi of course.

When trouble came it was from an unexpected quarter, somehow Charlie had traced the Cullens to Italy and was on his way there to confront Carlisle. This was highly dangerous but I wasn't sure what to do. In the end we decided to meet Charlie at the airport and get him away from Volterra before trying to explain the situation, telling him as little as possible. I understood Charlie's motivation and I accepted that he had been influenced by Carlisle but I still couldn't get past the fact that he had shipped me back to Renee because he was ashamed of me. For this reason I wanted to say as little as I could and Jasper agreed to do the talking for both of us if I found it too difficult.

"If the Volturi find out you know they'll kill him don't you?"

"Yes but what else can we do? He wont leave it Jasper I know my dad, or at least I thought I did."

His face when he saw me waiting in the terminal lit up but when I just turned and walked over to Jasper it fell, there was no way I was greeting him as I once would have. He slung his flight bag over his shoulder and joined us watching Jasper warily.

"Bella what are you doing here? Carlisle said he didn't know where you were."

"He doesn't."

"So you aren't living in Volterra with them then?"

"No. Why are you here?"

"I have a topic I wish to discuss with the doctor."

"No you don't, its all too late. Please go back while you are still safe."

Jasper was looking round uneasily,

"I think we should leave the airport before we're spotted."

Charlie followed us out to the car and slid in the back looking at me strangely,

"What's happened to you Bella? You look different."

"I am but it's not safe for you to ask questions. Just listen then fly back to Forks"

"Bella please. I know the way I treated you was wrong but Carlisle explained how he manipulated me. I'm sorry kiddo."

"OK apology accepted. Will you go now?"

"Look I know I really upset you Bella but don't keep pushing me away. I'm your father and I want to be in your life, yours and your young mans."

Charlie was looking at Jasper puzzled,

"Do I know you?"

"I don't think so. If you did you'd be looking more worried than you are. Bella's right. There's nothing you can do now and confronting Carlisle will just get you killed. Go home Chief Swan."

He appealed to me again,

"Please Bella don't do this"

"It's no worse than you did to her, besides which this is for your own safety. If you go to Volterra you will die."

Charlie leaned forward and took my hand dropping it again in shock,

"What in Gods name has happened to you? You feel cold and hard."

"I am but I'm also happy and that's all you need to know. There is some knowledge that is just too dangerous."

"Now what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You really don't want to know Chief trust me."

Dad looked at Jasper's eyes in the mirror and sat back, the first signs of unease on his face,

"Are you threatening me?"

"No, just stating a fact. I'm driving you to Rome, there's a flight leaving tomorrow morning and you should be on it."

"Are you trying to keep me away from my daughter?"

"No you did a good job of doing that yourself, I'm just trying to keep you alive for her sake. Personally after the way you treated her, excuses or not, I'd prefer to kill you myself."

I took Jaspers hand in mine and squeezed it smiling as he leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"So this is it? You washed your hands of your mum and I completely?"

"Yes, I have no choice now but in all fairness you washed your hands of me first, a long time ago. I'm just returning the favour. And as I said its safer for you. We're leaving Italy and we wont be back so don't try finding me again and please stay away from Volterra if you value your life."

"Bella I'm a cop, is there something illegal going on there? Is that why you want me to stay away? Are you caught up in something? Because I can help and I'm sure the Italian authorities would want to know too."

Jasper shook his head,

"You're wrong there, the authorities stay away from Volterra and no we aren't caught up in anything, Bella is perfectly safe I promise you."

He tried to talk me round the rest of the journey but by the time we pulled up outside the airport in Rome he knew he'd lost. We went inside with him and Jasper picked up the ticket he had arranged before hand that would take my dad back to Seattle. As he handed it to Charlie I saw a tear in my dads eye and that hurt, but not as much as his suspicion and lack of trust had. I kissed his cheek and took Jaspers hand once more.

"We wont meet again dad but I truly forgive you and I hope you take our advice and stay away from Italy."

"It would be a good idea to keep our meeting from the Quileutes too."

Charlies eyes darted to Jasper,

"Why?"

"The less people who know we met the safer you will be."

As we turned away I saw the tear trickle down Charlie's face and it hurt but there was no other way and we were soon driving away from the airport ourselves, planning to fly home from Florence.