Chapter Sixty One

Charlie

Despite what I said to Jake I was worried about what he told me and I decided Jasper and I needed to have a chat alone if I could get him away from Bella that is. When I got to the Cullens the smell of cooking had my mouth watering. Esme opened the door to me with a beaming smile,

"Charlie dinner's almost ready and Bella is going to join you. She's been up a couple of hours and says she's hungry."

That was good news and I saw her sitting at the table as I went to wash my hands. She and I had dinner together alone.

"Where's your shadow Bells?"

She smiled, "I sent him to get his dinner while we had ours"

"Doesn't it bother you that he drinks blood?"

She shook her head, "No more than it concerns me we kill and eat animals. What's the difference?"

She had me there,

"I guess as long as he isn't killing humans I shouldn't worry. I spoke to Jacob Black today"

She stopped smiling, "Oh. What did he say? That he did it all for me I'll bet"

I grinned, "Pretty much yes, but I've told him to stay away from you and the Cullens. I just hope he listens or next time I'll lock him up."

She looked at me more closely, "What else did he say? I know there was more."

I shook my head "I'll speak to Jasper about the rest".

"He warned you that Jasper is dangerous didn't he? Did he tell you about Jaspers past because I know all about it. He was quite honest about it."

"Then I'm sure he'll tell me too Bells."

We finished our meal in silence but I knew there was something on her mind, "Spit it out Bells I know there's something you want to tell me."

She shook her head "No its just something Edward said to me and you reminded me of it. Something I need to ask Jasper myself."

After dinner we went through to the lounge to join the others. Emmett was playing a computer game and moaning because no one would play with him. Rose and Esme were deciding on patterns for some new curtains and Carlisle was reading.

"Charlie. I hope your day wasn't too arduous" I walked over to sit opposite him,

"You mean was Jake a good boy?"

He nodded with a small smile, "Yes I guess I do"

"Well he's been warned so I'll just have to see if it sinks in. Thanks for the hospitality by the way."

"No problem Charlie. You are welcome any time."

Jasper walked back in at that point and I watched as he went straight to Bella, kneeling down at her side and pulling her into an embrace. To me it was a rather open display of affection but none of the others appeared to notice.

"I missed you" he said kissing her on the cheek.

She smiled up at him and put her head on his shoulder, "Missed you too".

I coughed embarrassed, and he looked over at me with a grin.

"Jasper would you take a walk with me. There are a few things I'd like to talk to you about"

He nodded and got back up, "Sure Charlie"

No one else moved but I was aware of their eyes on us as we walked out into the dusk.

Jasper

I thought I knew what had happened, Jake had put doubt into Charlie's mind. What I didn't know was what exactly he'd said.

"Jasper I have to ask you something and I hope you feel able to answer. I'm not interested for myself but you can appreciate I'm concerned for Bella".

"OK Charlie if I can answer, I will".

"Now I'm asking as Bella's father not as a Police Officer understand that"

I nodded, "Understood."

"Jake told me something this morning that got me thinking. I know he's lied about you before so I thought I'd ask you outright. He said you were a killer and I don't think he meant your feeding habit. He said you'd killed women and children. Now if that's true I want to know about it. If its not, then end of story."

I sighed, "I'm not sure you want to hear my story Charlie. It's not a nice one and I'm sure you'll feel differently about me after, but you asked, so here goes."

Charlie

I heard Jaspers story with a growing horror. He was right, it wasn't pleasant but he didn't hold anything back, I got chapter and verse. When he finished he turned to look at me,

"I think I know what you are going to say now Charlie and I accept why you say it but I can't leave Bella."

I didn't answer him straight away I was still thinking about what he'd told me. Jake was right, Jasper was a dangerous individual with a bloody past, but Jake hadn't told me for any reason other than to make me take Bella away from the Cullens.

"I think I'd like to talk to you with Bella and Carlisle present.

He nodded, "OK Charlie" and he strode back ahead of me as if trying to outrun his demons.

Bella

I knew when I saw Jaspers expression that Jake had done a hatchet job on him and Charlie had listened. As Dad followed him in I looked at his face, but for once Charlie's face was unreadable, something that probably made him a good Police Officer. Jasper touched Carlisle's shoulder and mumbled something to him.

"I think we'll take this up to my study if that's acceptable Charlie?"

Dad nodded and followed Carlisle upstairs. Jasper came to me then and helped me up.

"Charlie wants you there too"

"What did he say? Jake told him about you didn't he? It's so unfair Jasper."

He looked at me and managed a smile, "Whatever Charlie says will make no difference Bella. I'm not going anywhere. Lets see what he has to say before we start planning ways around it."

He picked me up and carried me upstairs to join the others. Stairs were still beyond me at present. He put me down outside the door and we walked in, hand in hand, to sit in the two remaining chairs side by side.

Charlie

I knew what Jasper and Bella were thinking but Carlisle was more open, whether being a father to his foster children had made him a little more thoughtful I didn't know, but he wasn't pulling up the drawbridge for a siege just yet.

"Carlisle, Jake told me a story this morning about Jasper. It concerned me so I asked him to explain it when we went out this evening. It was a very disturbing story and I can't say it didn't distress me because that would be a lie. While he was telling me though, I realized something. I was listening to someone who had escaped the horror of his early life. A man who had turned his life round with the help of his adoptive family. A man I could admire for his strength of character. If Bella were involved with Major Whitlock I'd have her on the next plane to somewhere now. But she isn't, my daughter is in love with Jasper Hale a totally different man altogether and that is a man I can admire, a man I'd be proud to call son.

Bella

I listened to Charlie's words but I couldn't believe it was my father talking. Somewhere along the way he'd stopped looking at me as his little girl and started to see me as a young woman who had made her choice. Jasper spoke as Charlie stopped, "Thank you for that Charlie. I didn't think you would look at it that way but I'm glad you did. I will look after Bella, she is the most important thing in my world and the best that's ever happened to me. And I promise you that she'll never see the Major unless there's no other way to keep her safe."

"Well that's good enough for me."

Charlie got up and came over hand outstretched to shake Jaspers.

"So what are your plans now kids?"

"As soon as Bella is well enough we'll be looking for a place of our own, somewhere I can look after her until we find Edward and Alice. I'm expecting news any time from my friends,."

I saw that Charlie agreed with the plan but he was sorry to see me going.

"Will you be staying around here or moving away?"

I waited to hear Jasper's reply to this. "That's up to her Charlie, I have friends in Oregon and I did think it might be nice for Bella to have someone she knows close by."

"They the friends looking for Edward now?"

He nodded,

"So they'll help with her security?"

"Yes Charlie. They're very fond of Bella anyway."

"I see. OK then, I take it you'll visit?"

"Yes Charlie and you'll be welcome to come visit any time."

It was settled, Jasper and I were going to find a home of our own. I knew Charlie would have preferred me to get married first but I didn't think he wanted to push his luck too far.