Chapter Eighty One
Charlie
Bella and Jasper had finally bought a cabin in the hills close to Peter and Charlotte and I was glad because Bella and Charlotte had become like sisters over the last few months. She never stopped talking about the wedding preparations Charlotte was making and the dress she'd hand sewn. The four of them visited me once I settled in properly and it was a fun weekend. I went hunting with Peter and Jasper although I insisted on animals as prey. At first Jasper was reluctant to hunt with me watching but I was curious to see how easy it was for a vampire to kill say an elk or a deer. Both of who were fast. It was Peter who took over in the end,
"Fuck! If you're going to act the pussy I'll do it myself but I'm telling you now Charlie there is no way I'm drinking any Bambi blood, that taste of Bugs Bunny was enough for my delicate constitution.
We came across four deer drinking at a small stream and I was impressed at their tracking ability but this was the difficult bit, taking down a deer with bare hands and only leg power. Jasper and I found a comfortable place to watch from while Peter set off with a huge grin
"You are aware he's just showing off Charlie?"
"Of course but I'm still curious and its the only way to get some understanding of Bella's world. Remember this is all a mystery to me and I'd like to know she's not putting herself in danger or torturing some animal unnecessarily."
"None of us would do that Charlie. Unlike humans most of us don't play with their food."
I nodded but I wasn't persuaded, at least not until I saw Peter in action. He was a mere blur and the deer weren't even alerted until it was way too late to act to save themselves. He had the largest by its neck and snapped it cleanly straight away, the animal hardly had time to be frightened let alone be in pain. Then he threw the animal over his shoulder like it weighed nothing and carried it back to us dropping it at my feet.
"There you go Charlie, you can hand out venison to your friends and they'll be impressed at your hunting skills."
I smiled, of course he was showing off, that was a part of Peter's charm, I'd grown to like him.
The damn thing was way too heavy and awkward for me to carry so Peter slung it across his shoulders once more and carried it back to my pick up tossing it in the flat-bed like it was a sack of feathers.
"Right well now I've shown you how its done I'm off for some real hunting. I'd ask you to come along Charlie but then you'd be forced to lock me up and I'd escape and things would get really fucking messy so I'll see you two later."
We watched him go and then drove back to my place where Jasper offered to help me dress the deer.
"Do you know how?"
He grinned,
"Charlie. When I wa a boy there were no supermarkets, not many food stores, everything was this fresh so yes I remember how"
He did too and made a good job of it, better than me actually,
"Have you heard from Renee recently?"
"No why?
"She's rung me a couple of times wanting to know where Bella is and what she's doing, The woman disappears from the face of the Earth for weeks at a time with her new husband and then suddenly she expects everyone to drop everything and fawn all over her. Let me tell you she is not in a good mood Jasper and Renee in a bad mood is a dangerous animal."
"I did suggest Bella ring her but I think she's avoiding the "when are you coming to visit" conversation."
"Well I don't think you can keep her at bay for ever."
"The thing is Charlie that she will see Bella is so different now, her eyes, her skin"
"Jasper Renee sees what she wants to see, what she expects to see. Tell her Bella has been ill and she'll see Bella as an invalid. As long as Bella is OK around humans I don't see she has much choice."
Jasper
Of course Charlie was right, we had been avoiding the issue but it couldn't go on indefinitely and the last time Bella had spoken to her mother things did get a little heated.
"Good idea Charlie. I'll talk it over with Bella"
"Just one thing, if you do please warn me first because the first person she's gonna ring is me. Either to gloat or berate me for not telling her Bella was sick."
"We wont tell her that you know"
"You don't need to son, I'm automatically in the wrong every time. I got used to it after the first few months. Besides Renee doesn't know you and Bella are living together ands about to get married and I pray she never finds out or the deer wont be the only thing getting killed and dressed!"
Bella and I discussed Charlie's idea and she thought it was a great one but rather than drop her dad in it she suggested that we all meet up together at his place,
"That way we don't have to worry about the sun and if Renee sees you accept me looking pale it will stop her worrying so much."
Charlie wasn't enamoured of the idea at first but Peter talked him round, only because he wanted to meet Bella's mother himself after hearing about her. Personally I thought this was a really bad idea but somehow Peter always got his way, this time by offering to pick Renee and Phil up from the airport.
"I mean you can't Bella, you're the invalid and The Major can't, he's supposed to be looking after you, a kind of masculine Florence Nightingale you might say."
"And me?"
Peter smiled at Charlie,
"Well you could go but then you'd be trapped in a car with your ex and her husband for that long drive back. Still if that's what you want Charlie..."
"No, its fine Peter, you go but do me a favour and don't wind her up before she gets here, please."
"I'm insulted my friend, I know how to behave when the need arises"
"Yes Peter but it never quite does so I'll be going with you, just to make sure."
He scowled at Charlotte,
"You spoil all my fun girl but OK"
Bella
I rang Renee with the good news and she was thrilled , at least until I told her the arrangements we'd made,
"Oh Bella you can't possibly expect Phil and I to sit in Charlies house making small talk, really I thought you would have understood"
"Its difficult mum, I'm not supposed to get over tired and flying down to Florida is just too much for me. Besides I thought by now you would manage a couple of hours in dad's company"
"A couple of hours? I'm not flying all that way for two hours Bella talk sense."
"I meant you to fly up and spend a couple of days here in a motel, I'd better tell now that I have a boyfriend and he's willing to pay for your flight. He really wants to meet you."
"Where are you staying Bella?"
She sounded suspicious and I knew she wasn't going to like the answer but I ploughed ahead,
"At dads, it's better for me than a motel mum."
"I see, so I get to visit you a couple of times while Charlie has you staying there."
"It's the only way I could manage mum but if you feel that way you don't..."
"Of course we'll come, oh by the way, whats the matter with you anyway? You aren't pregnant are you?"
"No, I've had a bad virus and it's really made me ill, I look really pale and I don't have any energy that's why I wanted to stay with Charlie and not in a hotel full of strangers. Jasper, that's my boyfriends name by the way"
She hadn't asked about him, too busy moaning about dad thus far,
"Will arrange the plane tickets, all you have to do is get to the airport, our friend Peter and his wife will pick you up at this end"
That mollified her at least for now. She was then inquisitive about this boyfriend of mine, blaming him for keeping me from bothering with her and despite my protests I knew the visit wasn't going to be pleasant but it was necessary.