Chapter Fifty
Peter
When the phone went again I sighed looking at the display
"Looks like the Cullens want to talk again Major"
Bella had woken up now and looked at Jasper
"What did I miss?"
"Jake and Alice want to see you".
"No. I don't want to see them"
"I told them you'd probably feel that way but they are...persistent".
"Hey Bells, how about you just say a few words to them on the phone. Might shut the Pup up".
She looked at Jasper imploringly
"Do I have to?"
"No, you don't have to do anything Bella".
She nodded and leaned back into him as I answered
"Alice Cullen what can I do for you now? People will start thinking we've got something going on if you keep ringing me".
Jasper
I knew something was wrong by the way Peter stopped talking suddenly and groaned,
"f f f why?"
He looked over his shoulder at me,
"Trouble Major. Jake told Charlie"
Bella started and looked terrified "He did what?"
"He told Charlie Bella was still alive and now he wants to see her too"
I looked down at Bella and cuddled her more tightly
"I think we have a problem now Bella. If Charlie knows he's going to want to see you and he's going to want an explanation. Now we can just disappear so he'll never find you and I'll do that if it's what you want. There is one problem with doing that though. He's going to keep looking and eventually he'll find out something, Jake will have difficulty in explaining his part in this and keep Charlie in the dark about our world. Or you could talk to Charlie and take it from there. Whatever you decide I'm, with you all the way"
"Me too Bells, I've decided I like you after all"
Bella managed a smile at that.
I held out my hand and took the phone
"Wait".
I looked at Bella
"You want some time to decide?"
As the tears started she shook her head,
"No I'll talk to Charlie"
"Is Charlie there? Put him on"
I handed the phone to Bella, whose hands were shaking.
Charlie
I couldn't believe I was going to talk to my daughter. A daughter I'd thought dead for the past year and a half.
"Bella?"
"Dad"
"So Jake was telling the truth. You are alive"
"Yes Dad. I'm so sorry but I couldn't tell you"
"Yeah you could. I'd have looked after you Bella whatever you did, or he did".
"He didn't do anything Dad, neither did I. It was you, you put yourself in danger and I had to do something".
"Come home Bella".
"I can't Dad"
"Sure you can, we can sort it all out Bells"
"I can't Dad I'm sorry"
"Is he stopping you?"
"No"
I heard Bella start to cry and then heard him on the phone
"Bella's too upset to talk any more. I'm sorry about what happened Charlie. I didn't know either until very recently then I went to find her"
"Why didn't you tell me? Didn't it occur to you that I might be able to find her?"
"No it didn't Charlie. Look Bella's really not up to talking right now. We'll be stopping for the night soon. If she's feeling better I'll ask he to ring you then".
"No, you tell her to ring me".
"Can't do that Charlie. She's all grown up and she makes her own decisions but I will suggest it might be a good idea. Now could you put Jake on the phone"
I passed it over to Jake who took it with a grin
Jake
Now the high and mighty Major was in the shit!
"Yeah?"
"You're an idiot. A dangerous idiot."
"I'm not scared of you leech"
"Mind your mouth Dog. Remember Charlie's there. You've already put him in danger again. Just remember I will find you Jacob Black if anything happens to him"
"I'll be in Forks waiting, any time you want to make something of it".
He put the phone down and I passed it back to Alice.
"Right Jake, I want to know what happened, all the details".
"He can't tell you the details Charlie. It's too dangerous".
"I can handle danger Carlisle,. What I can't handle is being lied to, and taken for a fool, something you all did. Now sit down and tell me why my daughter found it necessary to fake her own death and go on the run"
Carlisle
I wasn't sure how little would satisfy Charlie but whatever I told him would cause problems so I sat down and crossed my legs.
"I'm very sorry Charlie but until you speak to Bella again I can't tell you anything more"
"More? You haven't told me shit so far"
"I'm happy to wait until she rings again then I can tell you anything she wants me to but I warn you Charlie it wont be enough for you, and I can't tell you as much as you want".
"Is Jasper involved in this?"
"Only by association. He had nothing to do with the fake accident and he knew nothing about Bella until a few weeks ago".
"But he found her?"
"Yes he did, with some help from Alice"
"But if Alice helped her to run why would she help him find her? It doesn't make any sense"
"I think it was an unfortunate slip of the tongue Charlie, but a lucky one as it turned out".
"Why?"
"Bella was very unhappy Charlie and I think she was seriously thinking about ending it all".
"Are you telling me my daughter tried to commit suicide?"
"Yes Charlie but she's in good hands now"
"Yeah the same ones she was in when she went missing last time"
"It wasn't his fault what happened, I assure you".
Charlie
Someone was taking the piss and it was getting me really mad. I've got a good mind to arrest you all for faking a death"
"As I said Charlie you could never prove it without putting Bella in danger".
"Right that's enough, I get answers now or I'm getting my gun".
"It wont help you Charlie, trust me" explained Jake
Fuck you Jake.
The phone ringing stopped him and he snatched the receiver up
"Bella?"
He thought his conversation was private at least on her side but we heard every word and she knew that so she was very cagey. She agreed to meet Charlie but only if he came alone and a friend of hers picked him up from a pre arranged point. Any sign of followers and it was all off. I could see he thought this was overkill but he had no alternative but to agree. She promised to text him with a rendezvous point in a couple of days before finishing the call with,
"Love you Dad".