Chapter Forty Four
Alice
I had to decide what to do now, I'd told Jake and of course he wanted to rush over to Charlie and tell him the news. The problem with that was we were the ones who'd arranged her fake death and we'd been supportive to him ever since, so how did we tell him it was all a lie now without getting into deep trouble? I wasn't even sure Bella would want him to know, or even want to come back to Forks, after all she'd run away with the Major in the first place!
"But we can't not tell Charlie surely?"
"Jake, it's not that easy. Don't you think we should let Bella decide? Or at least talk to her first?"
"OK, ring them"
"Jake she's still recovering from an overdose, don't you think she might want a little time to settle down?"
"Well let's go down there. I want to see for myself she's OK "
"Let me ring them first. We don't know where they are yet, or what their plans are"
He wasn't happy but he saw my point.
Jake
It wasn't that I didn't trust the Major but I needed to see Bella for myself, just to check she was really OK and I knew she'd want Charlie to know. After all, what reason could she have for keeping him thinking she was dead? I'd wait a while but if Billy and Harry found out I knew and didn't tell him they'd rip me to pieces and then tell him themselves. I was concerned how we were going to explain our actions, after all we could hardly go up and say Hi Charlie, just to let you know Bella isn't dead after all. She never was, but we sent her away and faked the accident to stop you getting killed by a bunch of vampires. No that wouldn't fly!
I stood over Alice as she rang Charlotte again, and listened to the conversation.
"Hi Charlotte I just wanted to know how Bella's doing".
"I don't know Alice. I only heard from Peter and he didn't say much just that she's been asleep ever since they got her out of the hospital. The Major's with her now in a motel while Peters gone to get her some food".
"We would like to come and see her, just to put our minds at rest. Could you find out where they are?"
"I'll ask the Major but I can't promise anything. He's going to be very protective of her now".
"I'm sure but I don't think its unreasonable to let us see her"
"I'll get back to you".
Charlotte
This was a complication we could do without because I knew what the Majors answer was going to be, Alice was right at the top of his shit list now and I couldn't see him wanting her anywhere near Bella. Still I phoned him anyway. He didn't answer straight away which was unusual for him so I let it ring.
"What?"
"Well hello to you too"
"Sorry Char, what's the problem?"
"Hows Bella? You haven't rung".
"Nothing to tell, she's been asleep most of the time"
"I had a phone call from Alice Cullen"
I waited but there was just an ominous silence
"She and Jake want to see Bella"
Still no answer
"They're worried about her, they just want to see she's OK"
"NO"
If it had been a receiver with a cradle I'd have heard the smash but as it was the phone just went dead.
Well, that went well! I decided to give it a while before passing his message on so I drove towards our place. I wanted to get everything ready just in case Bella decided she wanted to come back with us. To be honest I had no idea what she night want to do, but I could hope.
Alice
Jake prowled the room like a caged wolf waiting for Charlotte to ring back.
"What's taking so long?" he moaned.
"Maybe they are waiting for Bella to wake up, she could speak to us herself then".
"You don't think he'll want us to see her do you?"
"Well I don't think we are top of his Christmas card list Jake. He blames us for the whole mess"
"If he hadn't come sniffing around Bella none of it would have been necessary"
"In fairness, I think I encouraged it. Remember I saw them together."
He put his arms around me and squeezed tight,
"I know but it's not as if we hurt her intentionally"
"No but he's not thinking clearly at the moment".
"Well he better straighten out his head quick because I want to see Bella and I'm not taking no for an answer."
"I didn't think you would, but lets just wait till she gets back to us".
Charlotte
I put it off as long as I could before ringing Alice back, but unfortunately it was Jake who answered,
"Alice went out for a while but you can tell me Charlotte, How is Bella?"
"I don't think she's with it yet Jake. Maybe you should wait a while before you visit".
"He said no didn't he?"
"He's worried about her"
"I don't give a fuck about his feelings. You tell him I want to see Bella and I'm not taking no for an answer so either he tells me where they are or I'll come looking".
"Jake I really don't think its a good idea to threaten him at the moment, well its never a good time to threaten the Major but now is a really bad time for it".
"I could care what he wants. If I don't hear back from you in the next hour Alice and I are coming down and we will find out where he is".
"I'll pass your message along"
"Yeah, you do that and give him this number, he can speak to me himself".
I sometimes wondered how I got caught up in the middle of these things but I rang him back,
"Yes Charlotte what now?"
"Hey, don't shoot the messenger"
"You spoke to Alice Cullen?"
"No I spoke to Jacob Black, or at least I talked and he shouted. Great conversation by the way. I don't get paid enough to take this shit"
"You don't get paid at all Char, you do it all for love, so what did the puppy have to say?"
"He's not happy"
"Shame"
"He wants you to ring him. He wants to see Bella"
"Or?"
"Or he and Alice are coming down anyhow and they will find out where you are, his words not mine"
"So the puppy has teeth".
"Are you going to ring him or do you have a message for me to relay?"
"No"
"Fine. I'm on my way home. I thought I'd get the place ready in case Bella decides to come home".
"Thanks Charlotte. Gotta go she's waking up"
Bella
I heard voices and I knew he was talking to someone on the phone, he didn't sound happy. I opened my eyes as he threw the phone down with a curse.
"Problems?" I croaked at the same time as the door flew open and Peter sauntered in,
"Hey, it wakes! Hi Bells. Your devoted servant has been on a hunting expedition on your behalf. See I come bearing gifts".
He upended the contents of two carrier bags on the bed and I was partially buried under bottles cans and packets. I heard a crack and an oath as Jasper hit him and he in turn jumped back
"What? I was only showing my lady what I got for her"
"Number One she isn't your lady and Number Two, it might have been a better idea to put the stuff on the table rather than burying her under it"
"OK, OK. Who's Mister Grumpy today?"
I laughed and they both looked at me
"I've missed you two" I said taking both their hands
"See, she is my lady too"
Jasper took my hand from Peter's and held it himself.
"Back off Captain before I pull more than you're epaulettes off".